GC Interview Experience - Not Approved (Yet)

[fornehal]

A little background first. Filed for my I-130 in 02 based on my wife who is a permanent resident.(5 yrs would be up in Mar 07). My 130 got approved last year and applied for EAD. Finger-printing done and got EAD last month. Interview was scheduled for 15th Aug.

Went to Newark DO office yes'day. Interview was at 10:30. They wouldn't let us in till 10:00.Waited outside the building for 20 mins. Once in, the usual security hassles, cell-phones off, blah blah blah..Handed in my notice. Sat in the waiting room for close to 2 hrs. Forced to watch Cartoon network (scares me to think to what will I do when we have kids..shuddder ). Looked like peple who came in with a lawyer, always got called first. Counted about 6-8 people who came after us and got called in before us and all of them had lawyers with them. Anyways, a lady officer calls us in. Made us take oath. Asks for both of our passports and ID(driver's license). She asked for my wife's GC. In a very aloof/business like tone, she said she is gonna ask some questions to each of us and we should answer them truthfully. She asked my wife my full name, my father's name, and my place of birth. My wife fumbled on my place of birth, since as per old customs, I was born at my grandmother's(mom's mom) place. She couldn't quite name and said the name of my hometown. She said no and I asked if I could explain the situation. She started to write something down and I started giving explanination about the custom back in our country. She stopped writing and said ok, explain. Walked her through and she seemed to accept the explanation. Then she started to ask me questions. Her parent's name, marriage date, where, state, birth- date. etc etc.She was asking question fast and not related. Got the feeling she was practised and kind of trying to catch me off-guard. But all of them were standard questions. Then she asked for proof of joint-living(her words). From index file folder, I pulled out the bunch showing joint bank account statement, car insurance, medical insurane from work for both of us, joint utility and cable bill, our individual credit card bills showing the same address for both of us, iternary from Orbitz for our last vacation together. I had kept the file folder on the desk, and she seemed to look at it and then ask, so all other documents are in there. I assumed she wanted more docs and I said yes. She said, Good. That's okay. I don't need anything more(I am guessing she saw the organized documents and was satisfied.). She said she would need to make copies of all the common documents(they were all original bills/statements) that I given her since the file would need them. I said its okay, you can keep the original. At this point she closed the file and I was thinking okay we are through.

Then she says the words, I was hoping not to hear. She said, "I cannot approve you case for 2 reasons. 1. FBI background check is not done yet. I have no idea of when it would be done, since its completely another department. And secondly, there no visa numbers available for your category. As soon as the numbers become available, I will approve the case. "
She then started to show me a printout of the visa bulletin for the last 2-3 months. In short, she said she doesn't when the priority date will move by how much. In the mean time, I can use my EAD to work. I asked what if I want to travel outside, would I need to get Advance Parole. She asked what visa are you on right now, I said H1. She again looked at my file, and waving a hand said, ah, Yes. You can apply for advance parole.

She stamped my passport, with something F2/FX6 or something like that. Basically it was the same category that was on the visa bulletin. And then she rushed us out. (was close to her lunch time and looked like she couldn't wait to escort us out).

So, basically have to wait for the mail to come when the priority date becomes current. I am assuming that now I can work freely for any employer with my EAD and can travel in and out of the country once my Advance Parole comes through. Am I right here? Looking at the date, looks like there more than 2 yrs of wait still .

I was surprised as to if the visa numbers are not available, why was I called for the interview. Anyways, that's how it went down. If you guys want to know anything else, please ask. AND I would really appreciate if somebody could confirm my assumptions about EAD/Advance parole/2 yr wait to get the plastic.