Interview successfull - Follow to join case

[bijujoseph99]

My wife's Follow to join Immigrant visa Interview was successfull.

Time Line :
-------------

Marriage : 6/2002.
My GC was approved :10/2002.

But my wife could not come to USA because of her studies.
Started follow to join after my approval.

Applied I-824 : 11/2002. This is still not approved.
Receipt I-824 : 12/2002.

So when I had gone to India last June 2003. I applied AC-140. The hardship I mentioned was that my I-824 is very slow.

Following is the email I received for AC-140.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >From: "Chennai, IV" <ChennaiIV@state.gov>
> >To: "'XXXXX" <XXXX@hotmail.com>
> >Subject: RE: Immigrant Visa for Wife
> >Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2003 16:18:48 +0530
> >
> >For following to join cases, we need confirmation of principal
applicant's
> >Legal Permanent Resident Status (LPR) from the Immigration and
> >Naturalization Service (INS). So after the principal applicant receives
> >his/her green card in hand please send the following notarized documents
> >to our office after you get the
> >Approval Notice (Form I-797)
> >Entire Passport pages
> >Green Card (Both sides)
> >Marriage Certificate
> >Applicant's Birth Certificate
> >Local address.
> >
> >We will verify the LPR status with the INS and send packet #3 to
> >applicant's address. This may take 5 to 6 months time.
> >
> >Customer Service Unit
> >American Consulate General
> >220, Anna Salai
> >Chennai 600 006
> >India
> >Phone - 91-44-28112060(dir)/ 28112000(board)
> >Fax - 91-44- 28112020, 28112027
> >Website - http://chennai.usconsulate.gov
> >
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: XXX [mailto:XXX@hotmail.com]
> >Sent: Monday, April 28, 2003 3:10 PM
> >To: chennaiiv@state.gov
> >Subject: Immigrant Visa for Wife
> >
> >
> >Hi,
> >
> >My Name is XXX. I got Married last year June 2002. I got my
> >employment based green card last year October 2002. My wife is studying
in
> >Bangalore, India and her studies will be over soon. Since she was in
India,
> >I had to file for her Green Card as follow-to-join and so applied I-824
> >last
> >
> >November 2002(to send my approved Green Card File to chennai Consulate)
> >after my Green Card was approved.
> >
> > The procesing of I-824 is very slow now at vemont service center. I
was
> >thinking if I could get an appointment for IV for my Wife by submitting
our
> >Marriage Certificate/my Green Card.
> >
> >I would appreciate any reply.
> >Thank you
> >XXX

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Applied AC-140 : 6/2003.
Packet 3 Rcvd : 12/01/2003
Packet 3 sent : 12/08/2003
Interview : 2/26/2004

Most of the questions during Interview was verify our marriage and it was a short interview. My wife and most people there had to redo their Adit style photo at foto India, chennai.


The interesting thing is that the I-824 process is very slow in VSC and in my case it is still not approved. So Initially when I talked to my attorney(renowned in Boston area), he was not aware of AC-140. But I forwarded the email from Chennai Consulate and got the Notorized copies of I-824 recept, I-140 approval and I-485 approval from lawyer while I was in India.

That's my story. Good luck to you all.

 

[ap_ranj]

bijujoseph99,

Could you please post the interview experience of your wife? Were you allowed to accompany her to the intervie? What type of questions were asked?

My wife and I fall under similar scenario. I had to leave the company that sponsored my green card and now am working for a new company. Would they see this as a red flag?

Thanks much!
AP

 

[bijujoseph99]

follow-to-join Interview

I did not go to India for my Wife's Follow to Join Immigrant Visa Interview.

Her Interview was staright forward. They only asked her to autheniticate our Marriage. She provided our

1. Marriage Certificate (Special Marriage Act)
2. Church Marriage Cert.
3. Marriage Invitiation Card
4. Photo Album.

They asked for proof like a recent email from me. My wife told she does not have any.

Over all the Consulate Office was skeptical and doubted her case. He finally told her that it looks like fraud, even after providing all the documents. But he anyway issued her Immigrant Visa.

I had also changed my job after my GC approval and it should not matter. But you will have to provide W-2 and Tax return for past 3 years.

My wife got here Plastic Card and her SSN also.

Thats all .....