July 2011 Filers

Thank you sweet15 and Lili758.

Here's how it went:
Our interview was scheduled for 1:45pm and we got there at 1:15pm. There were three couples waiting ahead of us and by the time we got called 2 more couples had arrived. After what seemed like forever (40 mins), my husband's name was called. Only one of the couples who were ahead of us got called before us. IO had a huge smile (thank god). He walked us back to his office and were sworn in then seated.

IO then says “I already went through your file and pictures and everything seems pretty much bona fide but I still have to ask you a few questions because it’s standard procedure.” He then asks for our id and asks if we had any additional paperwork that we wanted to add to our file. We gave him a copy of a utility bill and our insurance cards. He also looked at the additional pics we brought along with us but didn’t keep them.

Questions to me: Where did you guys meet? When did you get engaged? Where did you get married? Who was at the wedding? What did you do after the wedding? What is your current address? What was your previous address?

Questions to husband: When did you come the US? Did you come with the intention to stay? Do you work? Do you go to school? Lastly, all the I485 yes or no questions.

IO then said: Congratulations, I am going to approve your green card but just need to complete a background check. The confirmation that card production was ordered came in at 9:15pm. Talk about going to bed extra happy. Lol.

The total interview lasted a maximum of 15 mins. IO spoke really fast and was joking through the entire interview.

Good luck to the rest of you!
 
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Anybody filed in California/San Jose ?

Anybody filed in California/San Jose ?

Wanted to check how fast its' moving in California specially in Bay Area like San jose.

Do we have any members applying in CA?

It would be great if they report their Timeline and interview experiences!

Thank You !
 
Lili758 said:
IM ON THE WAGON TOO GUYS!!!! JUST RECEIVED EMAIL NOTIFICATION FOR THE 1ST OF FEB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'M SOOO EXCITED/NERVOUS... MOST EXCITED I BELIEVE :))) Cant' stop smiling!!
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Congrats..... thats good news. Keep smiling and dont be nervous at all..... :D
 
ananga73 said:
Okay I just returned from my first international trip since I received my card. Everything was kosher. I think the lines for the visitors moved faster than those for citizens/permanent residents.

I might just decide to surrender my green card and back to using visas. ;);)
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We were waiting for the GC and then finally got to go on our Cruise out of Miami for 4 days. It was nice to breeze through for my wife with her green card. Its a great relief to pass customs and flash your GC....... next stop USC for her in 2014..... countdown has begun:D
 
Review before interview?

I always wondered if they do proper review of the documents before the interview or just at the time of the interview?

If they do early review is it done by same io who is going to interview you?


So, its' better to send more documents/evidences with the application or to carry at the interview?

Iessac and all: Please let us know your thoughts.


Iessac said:
IO then says “I already went through your file and pictures and everything seems pretty much bona fide but I still have to ask you a few questions because it’s standard procedure.”
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BetterWorld said:
I always wondered if they do proper review of the documents before the interview or just at the time of the interview?

If they do early review is it done by same io who is going to interview you?


So, its' better to send more documents/evidences with the application or to carry at the interview?

Iessac and all: Please let us know your thoughts.
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The IO that interviewed us in March 2010 didn't see our file before we got there. She called my wife's name and when we got to her office, she looked at the interview notice and said that she didn't recall seeing this file and didn't have it in her office. It turned out it was in another office and the IO was able to find within a couple of minutes. Our interview took about 30 minutes.

We sent in a lot of evidence with our original package. After the oath, the IO asked the verify basic information questions, I-485 NO questions, how we meet and if we had any pictures. She asked to see our IDs, our original marriage certificate, my citizenship documents, my wife's passport (removed the I-94), my wife's original (certified) birth certificate, and the photos that we brought. The only issue that we had in terms of documentation was the IO asked my wife was where on her birth certificate does it say what date her birth was registered, and my wife replied that it is not on birth certificates for her country. The IO nicely said that she was going to double check with her supervisor. Came back a couple of minutes later with the birth certificate and said it was ok. At the end of the interview, the officer said she was going to make a recommendation for approval to her supervisor.
 
Documents with Application Vs Documents at the Interview !

That bring up the thought "Documents with Application Vs Documents at the Interview !"

How we should proceed, whether we should try to send as many as possible documents with the application or we should aim to take more documents at the interview (min required with the application)?

Is there anything like 'Initial review' of the application exists ? (Do they review the applications before the interview and make up their minds ?)

Do we have any guys who have such experiences where IO told them "Your file already looked nice so we don't need much to ask you" or something like that?


dhlunar said:
The IO that interviewed us in March 2010 didn't see our file before we got there. She called my wife's name and when we got to her office, she looked at the interview notice and said that she didn't recall seeing this file and didn't have it in her office. It turned out it was in another office and the IO was able to find within a couple of minutes. Our interview took about 30 minutes.

We sent in a lot of evidence with our original package. After the oath, the IO asked the verify basic information questions, I-485 NO questions, how we meet and if we had any pictures. She asked to see our IDs, our original marriage certificate, my citizenship documents, my wife's passport (removed the I-94), my wife's original (certified) birth certificate, and the photos that we brought. The only issue that we had in terms of documentation was the IO asked my wife was where on her birth certificate does it say what date her birth was registered, and my wife replied that it is not on birth certificates for her country. The IO nicely said that she was going to double check with her supervisor. Came back a couple of minutes later with the birth certificate and said it was ok. At the end of the interview, the officer said she was going to make a recommendation for approval to her supervisor.
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As with everything about this process, it depends. We sent a ton of stuff with our application. First thing the IO said was "its clear this is a genuine marriage" and "I don't need to see any more documents". The only things he checked was our passports.

Clearly this was an IO who had reviewed our file before the interview. I believe there also many IO's who do not review the file before the interview and hence for them, it wont matter if you submitted a lot of initial evidence or not.

Personally I am of the view that it cannot hurt if you hit them with enough stuff during the initial submission.

BetterWorld said:
That bring up the thought "Documents with Application Vs Documents at the Interview !"

How we should proceed, whether we should try to send as many as possible documents with the application or we should aim to take more documents at the interview (min required with the application)?

Is there anything like 'Initial review' of the application exists ? (Do they review the applications before the interview and make up their minds ?)

Do we have any guys who have such experiences where IO told them "Your file already looked nice so we don't need much to ask you" or something like that?
Click to expand...
 
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ananga73 said:
As with everything about this process, it depends. We sent a ton of stuff with our application. First thing the IO said was "its clear this is a genuine marriage" and "I don't need to see any more documents". The only things he checked was our passports.

Clearly this was an IO who had reviewed our file before the interview. I believe there also many IO's who do not review the file before the interview and hence for them, it wont matter if you submitted a lot of initial evidence or not.

Personally I am of the view that it cannot hurt if you hit them with enough stuff during the initial submission.
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We sent in a ton of information with the original application. We wanted to overdo the amount of documents that we sent in, because the worst thing in the world is to get a RFE and have your case on hold. Also, the case doesn't get sent to the que to be scheduled for an interview or forwarded to the local office until NBC is satisfied with the case. If the IO had the file before the interview, I suspect the process would of gone a lot smoother during the interview, since she would of had a better idea what was in there and what she though on the case.

If you send a bunch of documents or even the bare minimal amount of documents with the application you will still be required to have an interview since that is a requirement under the law.
 
I-130 after GC approval?

Ananga, i saw you got approval for I-130 after your GC approval.

Is it normal? What is purpose of approval after I-485?

Could anybody pls help me understanding this relation between I-130 and I-485? :confused:


ananga73 said:
Finally got my my I-130 approved! lol
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dhlunar said:
We sent in a ton of information with the original application. We wanted to overdo the amount of documents that we sent in, because the worst thing in the world is to get a RFE and have your case on hold.
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Sometimes sending too much information backfires, as they spot something in the documents that looks like a discrepancy or makes them want more information. Then you get an RFE or they demand that you submit more documents after the interview to address the issue.

Another risk is that an excessively large pile of papers can make them put your case on hold and work on other cases instead. They have quotas for how many cases to process per week/month/etc. and if your case looks like it will take extra time it may collect dust while they work on other simpler cases.
 
BetterWorld said:
Ananga, i saw you got approval for I-130 after your GC approval.

Is it normal? What is purpose of approval after I-485?

Could anybody pls help me understanding this relation between I-130 and I-485? :confused:
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I received the I-130 approval also about a month later after the i485 approval.
 
Another blooper

USIC just sent me a text and email that my permanent resident card was picked up by the USPS on 28th October, lol.
 
Interview

Hubby and I were scheduled for our interview yesterday (1stFeb) at 9a , 26 Federal PLaza Building in NY. We got to the main waiting area around 830 after clearing security check and what not. We waited for almost an hour until we were called. This elderly woman came to escort us through the double doors and right into her office. She swore us in and asked that she have family photos and supporting documents, so I handed her those. She asked that we sit, then said to me " I am going to now ask your husband some questions, please do not answer or attempt to unless I ask you to"..:S, so I simply said sure!

Questions to Hubby:
What is your wife's birth date?
Where was your wife born?
What are your wife's parents name?
Where do they live?
Where was your wife living when you got married?
Why are you listed single on your paystubs? ( he explained)
Do your employers know that you are married?
Who pays the rent?
How much is the rent?

Questions to me:
Where does your husband work?
What is your date of birth?
She flips through the paperwork.....
Does your husband have any nieces/nephews?
she then asked me the yes/no questions.

She went through the documents, took some pictures, letters, joint account statement, photocopies of wedding cards, wedding card cards
When it was over she said that we do not have enough documents to prove that the marriage was bonafide! My heart sank!!!!! She asked my hubby do we have our phones on the same account, he said no and that when we met each other I was already with my own carrier and he was with another and he saw no need to have it changed because we were very content with what we had. Then she asked him, why wasnt I on his insurance and he explained as well!

Then she asked my husband again does your employers know that you are married?..he answered yes again! She asked that we get a letter from them saying that they are aware we were married, she also asked that we bring in the recent tax and w2 (2011) which we did together (thankfully) and a copy of the original lease because we have been subleasing our apt from a family member for over 2 years now. We said sure we can provide these things. She asked that we return with these documents before 3:30 in the afternoon!! So we hurried along, went to my hubbys job went to the house got the lease, go to my hubbys tax guy have the recent tax forms printed and went back to see the Mrs. we waited 45 mins before we saw her. She called our names once again, we proceeded to the window and told her that we have the documents that she requested , handed it to her, she went through them...said great , thank you! You will be hearing from us soon, you can also check your case online if you do not hear from us in 60 days please call the 1800 # . I asked her is she needed my i94 she said no, she thinks she already has a copy,she checked and then said that was fine! we said Thank you! ( I think she said you welcome) lol. and we left!!!! So far no updates, but I am thinking positively!!
She has more than enough docs!
 
Wow! And you had all that together by 3:330? Kudos to you. I think the deadline she gave you was unreasonable. Think positive, I am sure you will get the positive result soon.
Lili758 said:
H

Then she asked my husband again does your employers know that you are married?..he answered yes again! She asked that we get a letter from them saying that they are aware we were married, she also asked that we bring in the recent tax and w2 (2011) which we did together (thankfully) and a copy of the original lease because we have been subleasing our apt from a family member for over 2 years now. We said sure we can provide these things. She asked that we return with these documents before 3:30 in the afternoon!! So we hurried along, went to my hubbys job went to the house got the lease, go to my hubbys tax guy have the recent tax forms printed and went back to see the Mrs. we waited 45 mins before we saw her. She called our names once again, we proceeded to the window and told her that we have the documents that she requested ,
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ananga73 said:
Wow! And you had all that together by 3:330? Kudos to you. I think the deadline she gave you was unreasonable. Think positive, I am sure you will get the positive result soon.
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Thanks Ananga, I am definitely going to! ...Thankfully my interview was at 9a because there would be no way I would have been able to pull it off! And we don't live to far from Fed Plaza, maybe 1/2 hour train ride so that made it a bit easy.
 
Lili758 said:
Thanks Ananga, I am definitely going to! ...Thankfully my interview was at 9a because there would be no way I would have been able to pull it off! And we don't live to far from Fed Plaza, maybe 1/2 hour train ride so that made it a bit easy.
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Wow I'm sure your case will be approved. She sounds thorough and strict. I too am in NY and have my interview there (not sure when as yet though). I was holding my breath when you wrote she said you didn't have enough evidence. Then I let it out when she gave you a chance to bring in the other documents right away.

I hope I have enough evidence. Seems to me she wanted a whole lot.
 
sweet15 said:
Wow I'm sure your case will be approved. She sounds thorough and strict. I too am in NY and have my interview there (not sure when as yet though). I was holding my breath when you wrote she said you didn't have enough evidence. Then I let it out when she gave you a chance to bring in the other documents right away.

I hope I have enough evidence. Seems to me she wanted a whole lot.
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I am certain it will be too :) but she was indeed very strict and thorough!!! I filed on July 18/11 and got my interview notice on Dec.28th via email (5months after). Please bring all that you have/ or can possibly find. It is better to have everything than be under prepared!! Victory loves preparation :)
 
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