Got a question or two. . .or 5. . .I don't know how many, I'll just ask the questions as they come to me. 
I'll give the whole saga to this point. . .
My wife came to the United States from Australia on the Visa Waiver Program in December of 2001. We had known each other prior to this, but we were going to see if we thought marriage would work out for the two of us. She had her return ticket back to Australia ready to go and everything if it didn't. In late February, we made our appointment with the local Justice of the Peace, and on 1 March 2002, we were married. (I'm a U.S. Citizen, born and raised in America, for the record.)
Literally an hour after we were married, we sent Forms I-130 and I-485 to the Mesquite, TX service center. All we were waiting for was the marriage certificate, so after we got that, we sent everything off. The I-485 was subsequently returned because we were told they couldn't be filed concurrently (something which was apparently changed in the interim). My wife stayed with me here in the States the entire time. . .hasn't left the country to go anywhere else in the entire 3+ years we've been married. Every time we've moved in the interim (and I'm Active Duty military, so we've moved twice since we've been married. . .from Alabama to Mississippi and from Mississippi to Washington State), we've informed the INS/BCIS/USCIS of our new address, she's been receiving all correspondence at that address with no problems, etc. Neither of us has done anything illegal since the petition was filed (or before that, for that matter. )
As soon as we got notice that our I-130 had been approved, we immediately filed the I-485 with the office in Nebraska, and eventually requested that it be transferred to the closest office, which is the one up in Seattle. Now, we have our interview tomorrow, and I'm not worried about it, really. . .just nervous. (I hate interviews of any sort.) So, my questions are. . .
1) Will the time my wife overstayed between the filing of the I-130 and the subsequent I-130 approval/I-485 filing be held against us? Remember, she's remained in the U.S. the entire time. . .hasn't left the States at all. From what I've read on here, if you don't leave the country, you should be alright.
2) What all should we bring for this? I'm trying to remember what the letter we received asked for. So far, we're bringing our checkbook (has both our names on it), marriage license, a copy of our lease, a checking account statement, my military ID, my wife's military dependent ID. . .anything else that anyone would advise bringing?
3) Assuming that she gets approved (and from what I've come to understand and what I've read on here, there's no reason that she shouldn't), will she get a temporary card of some sort? If she does, will that temp card allow her to work if she wants to?
Phew. . .think that's everything. Thanks to everyone for their time and their responses. Both are greatly appreciated.
I'll give the whole saga to this point. . .My wife came to the United States from Australia on the Visa Waiver Program in December of 2001. We had known each other prior to this, but we were going to see if we thought marriage would work out for the two of us. She had her return ticket back to Australia ready to go and everything if it didn't. In late February, we made our appointment with the local Justice of the Peace, and on 1 March 2002, we were married. (I'm a U.S. Citizen, born and raised in America, for the record.)
Literally an hour after we were married, we sent Forms I-130 and I-485 to the Mesquite, TX service center. All we were waiting for was the marriage certificate, so after we got that, we sent everything off. The I-485 was subsequently returned because we were told they couldn't be filed concurrently (something which was apparently changed in the interim). My wife stayed with me here in the States the entire time. . .hasn't left the country to go anywhere else in the entire 3+ years we've been married. Every time we've moved in the interim (and I'm Active Duty military, so we've moved twice since we've been married. . .from Alabama to Mississippi and from Mississippi to Washington State), we've informed the INS/BCIS/USCIS of our new address, she's been receiving all correspondence at that address with no problems, etc. Neither of us has done anything illegal since the petition was filed (or before that, for that matter.
)As soon as we got notice that our I-130 had been approved, we immediately filed the I-485 with the office in Nebraska, and eventually requested that it be transferred to the closest office, which is the one up in Seattle. Now, we have our interview tomorrow, and I'm not worried about it, really. . .just nervous. (I hate interviews of any sort.) So, my questions are. . .
1) Will the time my wife overstayed between the filing of the I-130 and the subsequent I-130 approval/I-485 filing be held against us? Remember, she's remained in the U.S. the entire time. . .hasn't left the States at all. From what I've read on here, if you don't leave the country, you should be alright.
2) What all should we bring for this? I'm trying to remember what the letter we received asked for. So far, we're bringing our checkbook (has both our names on it), marriage license, a copy of our lease, a checking account statement, my military ID, my wife's military dependent ID. . .anything else that anyone would advise bringing?
3) Assuming that she gets approved (and from what I've come to understand and what I've read on here, there's no reason that she shouldn't), will she get a temporary card of some sort? If she does, will that temp card allow her to work if she wants to?
Phew. . .think that's everything. Thanks to everyone for their time and their responses. Both are greatly appreciated.
