Interview on Feb. 22nd at Chicago DO, and I am approved !!!!!!!!!!!!

ema76

Registered Users (C)
Incredible, but I have a problem with the forums all morning long. And after having write down my interview experience a few minutes ago, when I hit the submit button, I just had a blank page. Nothing......
So, now, I have to re-write everything. It's not that I mind to write again, it's just that my first thread was really long and explicit :( .
I have to shorten everything now !
We had our interview appointment at 11.05. We left home at about 8.00. And of course, Chicago would not be Chicago if there was no traffic jam, so we left the highway to take an alternate route. After spotting the INS building, we looked for a parking. We enter the building at 10.00.
The security went fast and we went to the 2nd floor where we waited for about 1 hour and 45 minutes !! Yes, so long ! The guy called us at 11.45 and we took the elevator to the 23rd floor where the small waiting room was full. We waited there another 20-25 minutes, and then a man came from the hallway and called my name. We followed him in his office. He went out and came back with toys for my daughter to play with. I can tell you she was very happy to see them because she was getting impatient with all the wait !! The officer swore us in and we sat down. He asked us for ID's. He then asked us if we were at the same address, we said yes. Here are the questions he asked me :
- my I-94 (I gave him my son's and my expired passports with them inside, he took the I-94's and gave the passports back) ;
- my date of birth ;
- my social security # ;
- if I was employed.
He asked for the originals of birth certificate, marriage certificate. Also for copies, that he took for the file.
While I was answering, he wrote every answer with a red pencil on the I-485 that I submitted few months ago. Then he turned towards my husband and asked his date of birth. He then asked for my husband's paystubs and proof of employment letter. I gave again originals and copies. He smiled and asked my husband, joking, how many jobs did he got. He then gave a paper to my hubby to sign and date (I didn't even read what was on there, but I know now that's regarding our I-130's), he did that and then I signed and dated the paper. He made a joke with my son and asked him his date of birth. My son told him and I think the officer was impressed he knew it, hahaha...
He asked for my son's original birth certificate and then the copy. Then the same for my husband's. He gave another paper to my husband to sign and date, then to my son.
After that he asked for documents on both our names and I gave him copies of :
- gas bills,
- phone bills,
- bank statements,
- car insurance,
- house papers.
He made a few jokes asking my son if he was married, had a job and kids. We laughed. Then I saw him put a stamp on the docs and saw a red APPROVED on it ! Yay ! I said to myself. I didn't show my emotions, of course. He gave us the papers where it's written that we have been granted the LPR status. Oh ! I almost forgot to tell that he stamped our passports and told us the GC should arrived in 2 weeks :D .
He said to us Good luck to you ! and asked us if we had any questions for him. I asked him if he wanted to see some pictures (that reminds me of someone :rolleyes: :D ) and he said he did not needed to !
We shake hands, thank him and left his office.
Man, in the elevator, I kissed my hubby, I was so excited.
I know I have been boring to you all with my questions and all !! I thank everyone in this forum who helped me answer the questions I asked. Thanks for all the advices and support that you gave. We really need that !
Jane, my dear, a special thanks to you !
I am sorry not to have posted the interview experience yesterday, but I was so tired !!
Overall the officer was very pleasant, nice and kind of friendly :eek: . The interview last for about 30 minutes but he took most of that time to punch-hole every doc I gave to him :) !
I am relieved, you know the feeling, right ?
To everybody, God bless ! Thanks again for all the help !

Ema.
 
woohoo.... :D Another successful interview!! Im happy for you.
CONGRATS !! GO CELEBRATE!!! :)

So i assume your GC is not conditional?
 
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Ari and Rex thanks a bunch !!!

I forgot to mention that the officer asked for the 2004 tax return. He asked if we have filed for the 2005, we said we will this month ! I gave him the copies. Wow ! I am so relieved now. We are going to celebrate probably tomorrow at Olive Garden. That's where we went when hubby got his GC !! ;)

Ema.
 
Congratulations Ema !!! Well done!

It's great everything went smoothly with your interview.
Did the officer ever ask you for the affidavit?
 
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RareGold, Cherr, thanks !!!!
Myjuls, thanks ! The officer did not even ask for my husband's affidavit of support. I guessed the new paystubs were enough and he got the affidavit from before.

Ema.
 
Oh yes indeed, Meers ! I feel so relieved ! I know I worried too much, but can I do ? I am like that ;) .

Ema.
 
Thanks AOS_GUY !! Yes, I was surprised how nice he was !
We have always an idea of INS officers to be cold-blooded people. I think they teach them to be like that to intimidate people who are not in a bona fide marriage ;) . I forgot to tell also that the officer totally forgot to ask for the EAD cards and I gave them to him before leaving his office.

Wow ! It's a strange feeling, really ! 10 years of LPR status ! I don't have to apply for citizenship right away, hahaha...
I wish good luck to anyone who is waiting for his/her GC interview. Don't be stressed if you are married for the good reasons ;) ! I know, it's easy to say, but hard to do !

Ema.
 
ema76 said:
Wow ! It's a strange feeling, really ! 10 years of LPR status !

I could understand your feeling. However, I must correct you on something. Your LPR is not for only 10 years; rather it is for a lifetime. However, your plastic green card would be good for only 10-yrs, which you would need to renew it upon its expiry.

The reason for your interview to have a easy-one is because officer was aware of the longevity of your marriage unlike most of the cases in this category.

Unless you violate the terms of your LPR, you will remain to be a LPR of this country. However, if I were you, I would file for US citizenship after 2 yrs and 9 months, because the immigration laws are very tricky. I mean an alien could be forgiven for doing something wrong prior to obtaining a LPR (thru filing a waiver), but there is a zero tolerance policy for the same alien once s/he becomes a LPR. Not even US citizen children and spouse would be able to save a LPR from a deportation who will face not only a deportation but also a LIFETIME bar to re-enter into the US in any category.

Congress is making laws tougher and tougher everyday. The new bill that will be debated next month in the Senate has a proposition that if it passes, then even one time of reckless driving will make a LPR deportable. Right now, a small act of domestic violence is a done-deal to trigger a deportation. A little argument could be interpretated differently by INS. Thus, it is better to immune yourself from deportation. Just my 2 cents.

Congratulation.
 
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Thanks Kamrans !

JohnnyCash, I totally agree with you. I was joking when I wrote that. I cannot wait to apply for my citizenship !! It's good I have "only" those 2 years and 9 months until then ! I know how they make it harder and harder to change laws and I know they are fast in changing them.

Ema.
 
Congratulations!!!

Ema, Congrats!!!! :) And thank YOU for your contribution to the community. Keep visiting us once in a while as a lot of ppl here hope to gain from your experience n knowledge on the topic.

USC
 
Congratulations, Ema. :)
I'm very happy for you!
You deserve a day off from the forum to celebrate your new status. ;)
We expect you right back after that. :)
 
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