AOS interview in Seattle

[chuck911 0]

Been away a while and aside from Doudis don't see a lot of familiar people. That's good I guess: people come, find help, succeed and move on. About the success part, or my way of helping:

Our AOS interview in Seattle was last Thursday. Unlike all other visits to this USCIS office they didn't waste our time. Interview was for 1:30, they called her name at 1:32.

We brought all requested documents but the CO already had a file with everything in it and only asked to see a couple things- ID, medical, new tax returns, proof of living together, etc. He phrased it somewhat different but under proof of living together when he saw joint bank account his expression said that's all I need. Of everything we brought he spent the most time looking at photo's of us together. We brought maybe a dozen, everything from trips to eating in restaurants to just sitting around at home. A regular photo essay of connubial bliss! Anyway, he seemed to enjoy it. The rest of his job must be rather boring...

There was one thing we were a bit worried about- I am unemployed. Was laid off in a big corporate merger and decided to go back to school and change careers. This happened even before going to Russia. While I had researched all the requirements and knew I should be okay within the statutes, still you hear all kinds of stuff on these message boards that can make you worry. "They look VERY CLOSELY at the pay stubs." That kind of thing can worry you when you have no fricken pay stubs at all!!!

So here is my main advice to anyone worried about anything: DO NOT worry about other people's opinions here. Even the ones that seem very experienced and knowledgeable, they are only giving their opinion or point of view. Only thing you need to worry about is the relevant law or rule. Find that and if you are okay by that then don't worry, because that is what they must follow.

Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, the Affidavit of Support part of the interview. When the CO asked where I work and I said "student" he said oh yeah, but you have money. Technically my tax return shows income just above the minimums. And as I said before, technically (the law) is what they look at. Hardly batting an eye he moved on to the next subject, vaccinations, which frankly he seemed MUCH more concerned about than income. I think this is because he had already familiarized himself with my financial situation and was comfortable before we even came in, but he had no idea what immunizations she had until he saw the medical docs. But that's just my opinion!

Through the whole process we gave short, direct yet pleasant answers. That is one bit of good advice I got, keep your answers short and to the point. It protects you and helps speed the interview along. Because these guys do have a lot of these to do! On the way out I commented to him how nice and quick it was, starting on time and all. He said yes they give him 30 min per interview! Well that is almost exactly how long it took, as we were out of there by 2pm!

Oh yeah, just before the end he said he will approve the application, and explained about filing the I-751 for permanent green card. We had some questions about that. So really, the actuall interview part of the interview was only about 20 minutes!

Cheers!

[Cliff_Ksenia 0]

Congrats! Thanks for the details as we should be having our AOS in a few months and info like this makes the stress less.

[idocare 3]

congrats to you both, I live in Tacoma, where abouts do you all live !!!

[chili74 0]

Congratulations!! Thanks for the report.

[obender 0]

thanks chuck! congrads on AOS!

nice to hear from familiar people indeed. i remember how you've tried to cool down my optimism about 3-4 months K-1 processing time when i first appeared here (you were kinda right it took 4.5 months he he)...

anyways, good luck with your field change!

AOS

02-14-06 I-485 mailed

03-06-06 NOA1 (thank you express registered US mail, two weeks must be a record of some sort!)

03-23-06 Biometrics

[Jasman0717 9]

Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

[chuck911 0]

congrats to you both, I live in Tacoma, where abouts do you all live !!!

We live on Rose Hill in Redmond.