Interview in Islamabad for Green Card

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BritishGuy

Registered Users (C)
Hello All, just want to post my wife and daughters (a minor)experience of her 'Green Card' interview in Islamabad, Pakistan today.

By the way, I'm a US Citizen and am sponsoring my wife and daughter (who are both non-US citizen/residents).

She was asked to turn up at 8am to the US Embassy in Islamabad, as she did, she was asked to do her fingerprints and then waited around until 9:30pm. She was then called to a desk where she was given some of the documents that she had I had sent in to the USCIS along with the I-130 application. She was then asked to wait. About 30 mins later she was interviewed (which lasted about 3 minutes).

She was asked:

1) Who is the petitioner
2) When did she talk to me last
3) Where she has traveled in the past (travel history)
4) And who the child is that she has with her (my daughter)

That was it. He then said that everything looks ok. He kept my wife and my daughters passports and said that they should be getting the passports back in about 2 weeks via American Express office in her home town (Lahore).

Now I have a question. I've read in may peoples experiences that people are usually issued a 'Blue Form' or a 'Green Form' (usually for Administrative Purposes). My wife got neither. Is this a 'good' sign or what? I'm not sure what to think.

Does this mean that she's approved, or quite the contrary? My wife did stress to the interviewing officer that she'd rather hang onto the passports as both her and my daughter may have to travel shortly. He told her that they should have the passports back in 2 weeks. I'm assuming that this is positive, but I'd like to hear other peoples recent experiences.
 
Sorry for not clarifying. Me and my wife have been married 2 years and 10 months. We have a daughter, she's 18 months old. This is out first and only marriage and we have one daughter. All fairly vanilla. We also have another one on the way in April 2012 - this was mentioned to the interviewing officer. Actually, he knew this as the medical report (that is done for immigration) stated this.

There really doesn't seem to be much doubt in the way of the legitimacy of us being married and all. Well, I hope that assumption isn't too premature!

Just a bit confused as everyone on these immigration forums spoke of a 'Blue' and 'Green' form and we got neither. Actually, we got nothing and were told that we should expect out passports back in about 2 weeks. Not sure what to make of this.
 
With the length of your marriage and having a daughter together, and not having any complicating issues (criminal record etc.) the approval will be a slam dunk. That's why the interview was so easy. It's just a matter of time for the consulate to complete the final paperwork and formalities. 2 weeks is enough time for that.
 
From a previous thread, the OP applied for citizenship before his daughter was born, but it wasn't approved until after the birth.
 
I love the investigative nature of internet forums!

Jackolanturn is absolutely correct. My daughter was born in the UK while I was still waiting for my US Citizenship. Ahhhhhhh - you're bringing back memories of that LONG hard wait for my citizenship!!

We have another one on the way in April and as I understand it - IF, IF my wife is granted Permanent Residence in the US in the form of a Green card, then my child will automatically be eligable for USC. As for my 18 month old daughter, IF both my wife and daughter are given Permanant Residency, then the moment my daughter has an I-55 (I think that's what the stamp is -correct me if I'm wrong), then I can go and get her a US Passport the very next day.

These things are all a result of them being approved for Permanent Residency.

I just hope that the fact that my wife wasn't given a 'Green' or 'Blue' form is positive - though I'm not entirely sure. There was another couple there on the day and it seemed they didn't get the very talked about 'Green' or 'Blue'. Are these forms even used, or are they from days gone by?
 
BritishGuy said:
We have another one on the way in April and as I understand it - IF, IF my wife is granted Permanent Residence in the US in the form of a Green card, then my child will automatically be eligable for USC.
Click to expand...

Your understanding is incorrect. Your wife gaining LPR status has no bearing on whether your new child will be granted US citizenship at birth. However, your wife becoming an LPR before the birth would enable the child to obtain instant LPR status at the POE following birth outside the US.

As for my 18 month old daughter, IF both my wife and daughter are given Permanant Residency, then the moment my daughter has an I-55 (I think that's what the stamp is -correct me if I'm wrong), then I can go and get her a US Passport the very next day.
Click to expand...
Again, your wife's LPR status doesn't affect* this. Your citizenship alone would be enough for your 18-month-old daughter to derive US citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act.

The stamp is I-551.

*except indirectly with the custody aspect. The Child Citizenship Act requires the citizen parent to have at least shared legal and physical custody, and if your wife remains outside the US (or lives inside the US separately from you) you'll have some extra hoops to jump through to show that you have legal custody.
 
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Jackolantern,

Let me just clarify something - not sure I'm understanding this correctly. When we have our 2nd child in April 2012, me being the US Citizen parent (regardless of my wife's status) will NOT make the newbon eligible for US Citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act? I was thinking the the child will be.

As far as the newborn being eligible for USC, well with the I-551 stamp in the passport (given if my wife is a LPR) that will automatically be 'converted' to a US Passport will it not (all other things being equal - as me and the Mrs staying together in the US etc).
 
BritishGuy said:
Let me just clarify something - not sure I'm understanding this correctly. When we have our 2nd child in April 2012, me being the US Citizen parent (regardless of my wife's status) will NOT make the newbon eligible for US Citizenship under the Child Citizenship Act? I was thinking the the child will be.
Click to expand...

The relevant distinction is whether your wife is a citizen or noncitizen; if she's a noncitizen, it doesn't make a difference whether she's an LPR or nonimmigrant or illegal immigrant as far as citizenship at birth is concerned (other than the indirect aspects involving custody).

The baby will be a USC if born in wedlock outside the US regardless of your wife's LPR status, assuming you've met the other relevant conditions (5 years presence in the US etc.). If your wife is also a US citizen at the time of birth, that 5 year requirement would be waived, which makes the burden of proof much easier when applying for the baby's passport.

See http://travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_5199.html

I should clarify that statement I made before (clarifications added in blue): "However, your wife becoming an LPR before the birth would enable the child to obtain instant LPR status at the POE following birth outside the US if the child did not already qualify for citizenship at birth".


As far as the newborn being eligible for USC, well with the I-551 stamp in the passport (given if my wife is a LPR) that will automatically be 'converted' to a US Passport will it not (all other things being equal - as me and the Mrs staying together in the US etc).
Click to expand...
The newborn will be a USC at birth as I explained above. If born outside the US, the birth should be reported to the US consulate in that country, with an application for a US passport and Consular Report of Birth Abroad. The consulate would then issue a US passport before entry to the US, with no I-551 stamp necessary. The 18-month old is the one who would first get an I-551 stamp and you can then use that to apply for her US passport.
 
Thanks for the detailed clarification. Much appreciated.

Just thought I'd add that my wife received both her and my daughters passports today with visas and all in them! They're ready to travel to the US!!! That took all but 4 days from the interview in Islamabad to receiving the passports in Lahore. Am over the moon!

Hmmmm...... what should we expect now when me, my wife and my daughter travel to the US? We're planning to go through JFK.
 
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