Hey everyone,
Here's an update on my case:
While I was preparing the documents for submission, I reached out to my congressman, explaining the whole situation and informing them that I was going to resubmit my I-485 form. I resubmitted the I-485 form on May 2nd. They accepted my case on May 8th, and on May 16th, they noted that my fingerprints were taken. On June 7th, I received a response from USCIS stating that they had not received any returned mail for my interview notice, so it was my fault that I missed the interview. However, they have received my new case and scheduled an interview for June 27th. Yesterday, June 12th, I received the interview notice by mail. There’s an attached checklist of documents I need to bring with me.
I have a few concerns about which documents I actually need to bring, especially considering all the issues with Form I-693 that I've been seeing in various forums.
- The scanner didn't capture the marker color well, but if you look closely, you can see that the public charge section is highlighted. The thing is, I didn't work much last year for several reasons and only worked the last quarter. However, I've been working hard this year and my income significantly exceeds the poverty line. I also have a substantial amount of savings in my bank account. Will it be sufficient to show my bank statement for the last month and pay stubs for the last five months (since June isn’t over yet)?
- Is Form 325-A still required? I've seen on various sites that it's no longer needed because the information it contains is now included in the I-485, but I couldn't find confirmation of this on the USCIS website.
- Regarding Form I-693, do I need to see a doctor for a new one? I had a medical exam in early January 2024, updated my COVID vaccine, and got a flu shot. Also, when I needed the form again for submission, I visited the doctor for a new form in early May. The thing is, my documents and I-485 form were in one envelope, and the I-693 form was in another because it was sealed in a 9 x 12 envelope. I decided to send them together in similar envelopes rather than finding a larger envelope to fit the I-693 into the I-485. I placed both envelopes inside a large USPS envelope and attached a cover letter explaining the contents and the separate envelopes.
Sorry for the long message. I thought it would be helpful to lay out the issues in detail.
Hey everyone. Just wanted to share my interview experience with you all:
The interview was scheduled for June 27th at 9AM. I arrived at 8:45. At the entrance, they checked all my things through a metal detector. In the large waiting room, I approached the check-in window. A disgruntled woman took my invitation, asked if I had any accompanying people or lawyers, and directed me to the far end of the hall to wait.
There were two screens in the hall, but I didn’t know what they were showing. They called me at 9:20. Upon entering the office, I was asked to put my things on the table, raise my right hand, and swear to tell the truth. Nobody took my phone. No one took or looked at my passport either.
The officer informed me that the officer who was supposed to conduct the interview was not there, but he would do it instead, gather all the necessary data I brought, and pass it to the original officer. The officer would make a decision the next day.
He asked why I didn’t show up for the first interview. I replied that I didn’t receive the invitation letter. I noticed he had two of my cases: the old one and the new one, even with my photos. Interestingly, the cases were hole-punched at the top and all the documents were "stitched" together. The I-485, I-693, diplomas, birth certificate translations—everything was clipped together. He asked my name, place of birth (city and country), citizenship, my parents’ names, where they live, my height, how I make a living, and if I had ever received a visa before.
He asked for the documents I brought as proof of financial independence. He added them to my case. He asked if I had the I-134 form. I said no. This form shows that someone is financially supporting you. He wrote on a small square piece of paper: I-134-NO, Evidence of personal financial assets-YES.
Then came the questions: if I was associated with terrorists, drugs, alcohol, jail, violence, communists, private military organizations, etc. If I had ever illegally crossed borders, if I had experience handling weapons. The only question where the answer was "Yes" was if I had received cash assistance.
He asked for my driver's license (ID) and employment authorization document (EAD) to scan them. Although I had already sent copies of these in my case twice. While he was out, I saw a letter from the FBI on his desk with my details, photo, thumbprint, and three lines with the word PASSED.
When he returned, he asked me to sign the end of the I-485 and that concluded the interview. He said this should be enough, but if they need anything else, they would contact me. The interview ended at 9:40. Total interview time: 20 minutes.
It’s worth noting that the interview was on a Thursday. On Friday, I didn’t get a case update. I was going through all the scenarios of what could be wrong. Living through to Monday, July 1st, I got an update at noon: New Card Is Being Produced. On Wednesday (July 3rd), I got an update: Case Approved. On Tuesday (July 9th), I got an update: Card Was Mailed To Me. On July 8th, I received a new SSN, the same as my old one, and on July 12th, I received my green card
