After the Interview @Arlington
Friends
I had the interview at Arlington yesterday (April 6th), My I-485 case was approved and Officer stamped my passport. Officer said, I should get the GC in 3-6 months
Details for friends looking at my details for the first time
I started my Green Card process back in Feb'2000 with a Job adv. in Washington Post.
VA/EB2
6/2000 - Labor was applied
10/2000 - Labor was approved
11/2000 - I-140 was applied
5/2001 - RFE about my company financials
8/2001 - Replied with all the documents (My company gave all the details, but Attorney never made it faster)
9/10/2001 - I-140 was approved
1/2002 - I-485 was filed @VSC
5/2002 - FP1
11/2002 - Applied for EAD2
12/2002 - EAD was approved
7/2003 - my case was TD'ed to Arlington office
10/2003 - Applied for EAD3
2/2004 - Went to Arlington, Got the Appointment to get EAD
2/25/2004 - Went there again and they gave me EAD3. my wife is not working, so she did't go with me, though I have applied for her as well
2/15/2003 - Got the interview letter and FP2 notices
3/2004 - FP2 is done
4/6/2004 - D Day and GC is approved
Interview preparation
Though my case is pretty simple, I did not want to take any chanes.
I have been saving all my pay stubs, added my wife name to Power bill, Bank , Phone, wireless, Apartment lease, 3 years of tax returns, Drivers License should match the current address.
Paid $30 to Bank of America and got the letter with last 12 months deposits and my wife establishment date
I took my marriage album, pictures from all my vacation, friends visiting trips
Interview
Just to be on the safe side, I took my attorney also along with me. Now I can say, probably I dont need, I did't know then. I advice any one to go with attorney, Just in case
After dropping the interview letter in the slot, we waited about 45 minutes. Officer came and called my name and my wife's name
Three of us followed the officer and officer took our Fingure prints and made us sign in 2 places (Don't know why)
Then we went to officer's room and took oath
Officer started asking simple questions like My name, SSN, DOB, Place of birth,
Mothers name, fathers name, nationality, if I ever did any fraud, arrests, commited any crime, my emplyer name, Job title
Asked my Birth certificate
then 3 years Tax returns (did't even look, just filed)
There were few typos (Thanks to my attorney's clerk. I was mad to look at those) on my I-485 form, officer corrected with red pen and putting a check mark on all others
Asked when was the last time I entered into US and with what visa. Then asked for Advance parol.
Asked if I had the copy of passport. I made copies of everything but for the passport(donno why). Officer told us, if we want GC to be approved today, then we will have to produce the copy same day. My attorney said, there is a copy shop close by and he said we would give it in 20 min. Officer said ok. Asked the slimilar questions for my wife. My wife told her year birth wrong and corrected herself after few seconds. Officer asked if she is nervous. She honerstly said, little bit. Officer said you dont need to be and gave us a smile.
Asked us to show some proof that we are staying together. here my preparation helped me.
I gave Copies of Bank Monthly Statement, Apartment lease, Bank america Letter, Power bill, Phone bill and a Picture of us
Officer filed all of them patiently.
Officer then took our passports and made copies of the pages with information in it (you make sure take all the pages )
Officer came back and said, I am not feeling like sending you back for copies, so I made copies for you, but in future make sure you bring the copis. I said sure.
Officer asked for my EADs. I put one after another 3 EADs and my wife's 2 EADs on the table. Officer kind of frowned (maye be looking at 3EADs I guess). Officer said, If I apporve your GC, then we will keep all these. I said, its ok.
Officer opened one of the file cabinet doors and opened a box and took out a red stamp. then one after another officer stamped and wrote on the passports with our A numbers and validity for one year from Yesterday. then officer showed our passports with the stamp to us and said that the cards would arrive in the mail in about 3-6 months.
By the way the officer is, She. She was simple and she made us comfortable. All through the process I was very cool, though I was nervous the day before the interview. Since people gave an impression about Arlington office, I was expecting rudeness. I guess these officers are different from the ones we face when we go for AP or EAD.
My advice
Just be cool. Do your job and let it come
Make sure you have all the documents ready, Though you get sufficient time between the letter and Interview date. better have all the preparations ready and have a list of things to do when time comes. People say about talking to Senators, I dont know if that works, since every one is in the same boat, it would help if the case has taken unusually long or the local office is other than Arlington. I personally followed my case with excitement till Feb'03. Once I realized things are not going smooth, I just let it go. Then the tranfer further frustrated me. Definately GC process taught me how to be patient beyond.. beyond any one can imagine.
Anyway Goodluck to all those still in the waiting phase. Your turn will come and
GOD BLESS you ALL
Reds
PS: I am not sure if I will be visiting this page regularly, if you guys have any questions, you can email me
ksreds@yahoo.com