AOS FILERS: OCTOBER 2008

[Canadianmade 1]

ok so I have a kind of stupid question:)I made copies of every document and I am bringing both the originals and the copies with us to the interview.when they ask for a document do I show the copy of that document or the original?I mean if they want to keep it do they ask me if they can keep it or if i have a copy?

or should I just hand them the copies and if they ask the originals then show the originals???

I would suggest to show the original and then offer a copy. That's what I'm going to do anyway.

Yes that's what we did and the adjudicating officer really appreciated that.

Congrats BTB!!!!!

Congrats Sweet!!

Canadian...i've still got my fingers and toes crossed man!

Thanks Kang Lang for the support. I havent heard any word yet from aholes yet lol. I hope all ends well.

Hopefully today's the day Canadian ... rooting for you big time.

Hey man thanks alot for the support Eli, still have no news to share with you guys yet because I havent heard a damn word from aholes yet. Good luck to you my friend.

[Canadianmade 1]

I'm finally back from the USCIS office, and we are APPROVED!!! :dance:

Our appointment was at 10:00, but we were only called in at 11:10.. and all the waiting was really nerve-wrecking!

We were finally called in and introduced to the officer that interviewed us, who scared us right away by telling us he had just finished the paperwork for 2 arrests for sham marriage!! Obviously he did that to intimidate us, but since we had nothing to hide we actually showed we were very calm and his attitude changed right after that. He asked us for the original passport and marriage certificate, my husband's divorce papers, how we met, where, where did we live and currently live, the names of my husband's kids and how old they are.

Then he looked at some of the wedding pictures we brought and said he didn't need any more paperwork from us. He went through my medical and signed it off, then took out a big stamp with "APPROVED" on it and stamped a couple of papers with it.

He took my I-94, my EAD card (sigh.. I wanted to keep it as a memory..) and my AP papers and told me we will have to remove conditions in 2 years since we have been married for less than 2 years (even if we're only 4 months short!).

Then we had to sign some paper and date it and that was it. He congratulated us for being his first real marriage of the day (!!), and told us we should get the card in 10 days. If not, he even gave us his name and phone number to call him!!

Overall, we were in and out in 15 minutes.. too bad we waited over an hour to be called!

I'm happy!! Now we're immigration free for one year and 9 months.. then we start again! LOL!

Good luck to everyone else with pending interviews or pending approvals (Canadianmade, you're in my thoughts and I hope something good will happen very soon!)

Good luck everyone!!

:dance:

Hey Rosie sorry I havent posted in 2 days have been at work, I am taking classes to become a nurse aid so I am not around during the day very much. CONGRADS on getting approved for your green card and thank you for sharing your interview experience and so glad you got the green card approved. At least you know you can accept the job in San Diego now, congrads. Go and celebrate with your husband and enjoy being USCIS free for 21 months. Thanks Rosie, I do hope something good happens in the end for us as well and still havent heard a damn word from these aholes. If I hear something you guys will definately hear about it believe me. Thanks for the positive words of encouragement.

Thanks for the Boston details Beantownbabe.....only 2 days to go until we go through the same thing....

Good luck Fuzzymiss on your interview and bring us back an approval. Let us know how your interview went.

[Mehmet.Turkey 0]

thanks alot for the opinions i hope we are gonna do ok? my wife is so nerveous and making ne the same actually in personel i m calm. but man this AOS process made tired, i ll be going on vacation after i got approved

10/21/08 (Day 0) - Application Sent (I-130, I-485/I-864/I-693, I-765)

10/22/08 (Day 1) - Received Date (USPS over night)

10/29/08 (Day 8) - Check Cashed

10/30/08 (Day 9) – Received NOA (I130-I485-I765) Dated 10/31/08

10/31/08 (Day 9) - I130, I765, ONLINE BUT I485

11/02/08 (Day 12)- Received Biometrics appointment scheduled 11/15/08

11/07/08 (Day 17)- Biometrics Done Early walking in Norridge,Illinois

11/17/08 (Day 27)- Request for Evidence letter for I485 (they were asking for I94 Arrival record) It took 5 days to arrive online letter was sent 11/12/08

11/18/08 (Day 28)- Request Evidence is I94 sent along with I20,( I was a student), NON immigrant visa page on the passport, also, approval letter of F1 status, because i changed my status after i came to USA.

01/07/09 (Day 108) Card Production Order (Received email at 8:20) EAD

01/14/09 (Day 115) Card Production Ordered (another email saying EAD ordered again)

01/14/09 (Day 115)Interview Received March 9 at 11:00am Chicago office

03/09/09 Interview

01/16/09 (Day 117) EAD Received in the mail

[Canadianmade 1]

Alright, the details now - as promised!

So as you know, I was concerned because of the huge snowstorm we were having overnight. I was scared that the offices would close and we'd arrive to a canceled interview. We left on time and made our way to the office. When we got there, security was very tight. Jackets, belts etc had to come off, then walk through the metal detector or be wanded down. My daughter at 21 months had to get out of the stroller and walk through the detector by herself, which raised a smile.

We all used the restrooms and it was only then that I actually realized "Oh shoot! This is really going ahead! NOW!" It was 10.15 and we had a 10.30 appointment. We found the waiting room, checked in and then were sent to check in somewhere else too. The guy at the second place told me he'd pull my file and to go back to the first waiting room. As soon as we got back and sat down a door swung open and our last name was called at 10.30 on the nose!

Our interviewer was an older, heavy-set straight faced man and I almost ran over his feet with the stroller, which was quite comical. Okay, so on to the room. We get there and he swears us in. Then don't you know it, our daughter starts acting up! She is fussing and half-way crying and squirming to get down and I'm thinking "Is my nightmare really coming true?!!!" Once I settled her down, (very quickly!) the AO suddenly became so sweet and started talking to my daughter, and telling her "I know all about you!" Then he went on to tell us about his 10 Grandchildren...He shuffled papers and then asked for my passport, EAD and I-94 card. Checked off a few things on his paperwork, then asked my husband for his original birth certificate. His question to me was "Do you know his date of birth?" to which I replied "Yes." He waited for a half second and said "Do you want to tell me?!" It made us chuckle a little bit and he then asked my husband for my date of birth also. He then asked what my father's name was. Hmm, I thought that was kind of odd - wouldn't you ask what the spouse's parents name was?!!! So then he wanted to see our original marriage certificate and my husband's divorce certificate - and asked if my husband was only divorced once, then joked "What, was one time enough?!" to which my husband replied "Yes, one divorce is enough!" and it made the AO smile. He then started telling us how hard it was to go through a divorce and that he went through one himself, etc. etc. etc. Then went on to tell us what seemed like his whole life story, he's 66 and on his third career, how he came out of retirement because after his divorce he just laid around watching tv, eat and sleep. How he started his own business, how he is going to retire in Texas because his wife is Mexican and they will be able to take day trips to see her family! All this while he is going over my paperwork! And let me tell you this - I saw him very early on in the chit-chat/interview(!) stamp a big red "APPROVED" on the top of one of the papers! So for all intents and purposes, we were approved without all the fluff that we brought with us. I get the impression that he was really just verifying information infront of him. There was no inquisition, no blindfold or shooting squad - just a chat with Grandpa really! All said, he talked more about himself than we ever did. Almost at the end of the interview he said "Do you have anything with joint names on, like a bank statement?" So I was very deliberate in what I gave him, Health insurance, Dental insurance and a bank statement - that was it. Seems like he would have been okay with just the bank statement though. He glanced at it and turned to the photocopier beside him and before he could even lift the top I said "Oh those are copies - you can keep any of those..." He puffed up and said "Oh then that makes my job even easier!" He put them in my file and said to my husband "Well the good thing is, your wife is VERY organized!" and we all laughed. At this point my daughter was playing with the photo book we'd brought and she was trying to open it - the AO asked her "Oh do you have something you want me to look at?!" Clearly he wasn't bothered with photos though, so I didn't even offer them up any further.

So the last part, he asked me about three of the standard "Are you a terrorist" questions and then said "And just to make your husband happy - do you plan to practice Polygomy here in the United States?!" He did more paper shuffling, typed information into his computer and then said, "So it's a Conditional Residency card...blah, blah, blah" I don't even remember that part because I was so happy I tuned out, doing little dances in my head! When I tuned back in, he was telling me how important it is to lift the conditions or I could get deported and no they don't remind you to do it, etc. Then he told me "Your card should be in the mail in 2-3 weeks." When my husband asked him about us travelling, the AO told us that they used to stamp passports right away but since things are done so quickly now, they don't have to. AO told me that if I really want to travel and don't have the card, then to make an Infopass and they will give a temporary stamp.

That was it!!! He told us he'd walk us out, which he did and then we waited for about fifteen minutes in the waiting room for a letter which says I've been approved and became a Conditional Resident on that day (words to that effect...) Then off we went, back into the snow! Yesterday was a very good day...

That's it...I have go and eat lunch after that marathon essay!

Hey Beantown very cool interview experience and thank you so much for sharing the experience with us all and glad you guys had such an nice and easy interviewer. CONGRADS to you again and you definately need to celebrate. Your USCIS free for 21 months. At least now once the card comes you can go to the UK to visit friends and family.

congrats Rosie!!!!!

Hey eck2006 good luck to you on your interview this Friday. Bring us back an approval and let us know how it went.

[Canadianmade 1]

Where is my buddy? Canadianmade - where are you today?!!!

Hey Beantown how its going? I have been taking nursing aide classes to become a nurses aid, so thats why you havent seen much of me lately. I am taking the classes for 2 weeks and then I graduate and I will be working as an aide full time and then within 4 months I have to take a state test to become a certified nurses aid, but its called STNA state tested nursing aide. Thats whats new but otherwise than that, we still havent heard a damn word from the aholes called USCIS, nothing I tell you. I hope it works out in the end and we get the approval so my wife and I can go to Canada to visit family and friends.

Where is my buddy? Canadianmade - where are you today?!!!

I haven't seen any posts from him today.. I'm just hoping he's going to get good news soon!

Hey Rosie I have been pretty busy this week actually as I explained in the post to Beantownbabe, I am taking nursing aide classes for 2 weeks to become a nurses aide to work as one, so thats why you havent seen much of me lately. I hope I will hear something good soon, still pending and waiting.

[Canadianmade 1]

Where is my buddy? Canadianmade - where are you today?!!!

I haven't seen any posts from him today.. I'm just hoping he's going to get good news soon!

Come back Candianmade - but I do understand your silence.

Sometimes it's hard to post, especially when you see so many happy stories and you're stuck in the system. It happened us with the RFE for our AOS. You see your VJ friends go ahead and while you are happy for them it's hard to remain gracious.

Sometimes it's better to say nothing than to start sounding like a stuck record (which if you look at my posts in early January is very easy to do). Not the Canadianmade is btw ... but I know if we run into diffs on the 17th, I'll be moaning plenty on here about it.

As helpful as VJ and the Internet is for this process, it can have the opposite effect too, as you can start to obsess about dates and time frames.

That said, I hope the geezer is OK.

R

Hey Eli whats up my friend? I am still around my friend, I have not disappeared, I have actually been taking classes to become a nurse aide that started this week actually and will be going till the 13th of March and will graduate. Once I graduate I will be working as a nurse aide and within 4 months I have to be state tested to be certified so I am doing that right lately. I am glad to have a job though honestly in this shitty economy thanks to my lovely wife for hooking me up. I have been trying like crazy to apply for work, online, newpapers, you name it I tried it, and nothing so my wife encouraged me to take nursing aide classes and so glad to be doing it and have work as it is such a secure job in Ohio. Inregards to not hearing anything has been so damn frustrating and being held up by the system sucks, lately though I havent been thinking much about it because I have something to do now which makes it alot better. It is very hard to see others have such a great interview experience and have such a smooth process and my interview was the worst one in this thread by far I believe right now, I am very very happy for all of my friends on VJ who got approved believe me I am, but its hard I will admit that. I think it is absouletly awesome that everyone on here has been so supportive to us and saying positive things about everything working out in the end, I really appreciate it, thank you everyone. I now know how it feels to be held up in a process now Eli, I do remember when it was happening to you, I felt so bad for you guys and could only imagine how frustrating it was to be in the dark about your process and feeling like nothing was ever going to happen. I think VJ is the greatest site for immigration and so glad to have met so many friends on here, immigration is an roller coaster effect on peoples emotions because at the end when you get approved its the greatest and most happiest moment in a couples life or it can be a frustrating and irriating situation having to wait and go through all the stupid beaucratic ####### that USCIS puts people through to the sad ending of not getting approved its amazing the stories you hear though. I am very thankful for this site because of this site I was able to file everything correctly with NO RFEs no problems not to say people who got RFEs didnt file properly, but its USCIS being stupid, but just learning what I did learn was very benefical. I still havent heard anything yet my friend, still waiting and pending but when I do you will hear about it. Good luck to you on your interview and I know you will be approved. Thanks again for the support my friend and I am still around dont worry.

[Canadianmade 1]

I definitely hope so, too, Eli.

Thanks alot KIMCORENE for the support and havent heard a damn thing yet. I do hope to hear something and this is so unbeleivabe trust me and I know you know a bit about USCIS and this whole not knowing ####### and glad your out of that ####### now.

Sometimes it's hard to post, especially when you see so many happy stories and you're stuck in the system. It happened us with the RFE for our AOS. You see your VJ friends go ahead and while you are happy for them it's hard to remain gracious.

I'd probably do the same thing...

But I was really hoping to hear some good news from him. I just can't believe it's taking so long!

I cant believe it is taking that long Rosie I have no idea what to damn think but taking these classes for work has been making me think less about it and I have not gone anywhere I am still around but have no news to share yet.

HI Everyone my interview is coming up on monday i m going to do 2008 married joint separate return tax tomorrow. gathering all the paper i have i will post it what i have so far.

10/21/08 (Day 0) - Application Sent (I-130, I-485/I-864/I-693, I-765)

10/22/08 (Day 1) - Received Date (USPS over night)

10/29/08 (Day 8) - Check Cashed

10/30/08 (Day 9) – Received NOA (I130-I485-I765) Dated 10/31/08

10/31/08 (Day 9) - I130, I765, ONLINE BUT I485

11/02/08 (Day 12)- Received Biometrics appointment scheduled 11/15/08

11/07/08 (Day 17)- Biometrics Done Early walking in Norridge,Illinois

11/17/08 (Day 27)- Request for Evidence letter for I485 (they were asking for I94 Arrival record) It took 5 days to arrive online letter was sent 11/12/08

11/18/08 (Day 28)- Request Evidence is I94 sent along with I20,( I was a student), NON immigrant visa page on the passport, also, approval letter of F1 status, because i changed my status after i came to USA.

01/07/09 (Day 108) Card Production Order (Received email at 8:20) EAD

01/14/09 (Day 115) Card Production Ordered (another email saying EAD ordered again)

01/14/09 (Day 115)Interview Received March 9 at 11:00am Chicago office

03/09/09 Interview

01/16/09 (Day 117) EAD Received in the mail

Good luck to you on your interview this coming Monday Mehmet.Turkey. Bring us back an approval and tell us how it went.

[Canadianmade 1]

Where is my buddy? Canadianmade - where are you today?!!!

I haven't seen any posts from him today.. I'm just hoping he's going to get good news soon!

Come back Candianmade - but I do understand your silence.

Sometimes it's hard to post, especially when you see so many happy stories and you're stuck in the system. It happened us with the RFE for our AOS. You see your VJ friends go ahead and while you are happy for them it's hard to remain gracious.

Sometimes it's better to say nothing than to start sounding like a stuck record (which if you look at my posts in early January is very easy to do). Not the Canadianmade is btw ... but I know if we run into diffs on the 17th, I'll be moaning plenty on here about it.

As helpful as VJ and the Internet is for this process, it can have the opposite effect too, as you can start to obsess about dates and time frames.

That said, I hope the geezer is OK.

R

Yeah, I guess I can understand that too...The place just isn't the same without at least a post a day from CanadianMade though!

I am still around LOL, I didnt know it wasnt the same with me not posting, I am still around guys, I have been busy with work.

[Canadianmade 1]

Good luck Monday is right ... I must submit our taxes before the 17th also. I think we can claim back $83 ... yipeee.

On another note, we paid $1650 for flights to Ireland back in January. Today Continental sent me a promo for 25% discount of flights to Europe. $900 for two - return - inc. taxes etc. Gutted.

But if anyone wants cheap flights to Europe PM me for the code.

R

Damn $1650 for flight tickets to Ireland, I dont know if that is normal prices or not but it sounds expensive. After you paid for the tickets and everything thats when they decide to give you guys the discount bastards. That sucks about the taxes situation and yeah make sure you file before your interview.

good luck mehmet turkey!

canadian...i wish i could dom ore but until you get your approval my fingers and toes are crossed!

Thanks again Kang Lang, I do hope we will get approved in the end also.

[Fuzzymiss 2]

Hey guys, just to let you know we had our appointment today at the Boston office and we are APPROVED!

So the low-down..we go to the JFK building and go through the x-ray security, and then to the room on the letter. They tell us to go to another room and the guy takes my interview notice and tells me to go back to the original room. So w wait, and its filling up with loads of people and quite a few have lawyers..getting nervous...

And we finally get called after what seems like an eternity but was probably about 15 minutes and I'm pretty sure we got the same guy as Beantownbabe cos he mentioned he was on his 3rd career. We had to take the oath to tell the truth and then we sat down and he had all the paperwork we had sent on the desk. He asked us for birth certificates, passports, my EAD, my I-94. He asked us for each other's dates of birth, some bills with our names on them and confirmed a few details already on the form. I brought much more than this but that's all he asked for After a lot of stamping and signing places he then asked the 'are you a terrorist' questions, and it was difficult to keep a straight face in all honesty. And he took out the large red stamp pad and stamped approved right on the form.

He then mentioned about removing conditions and said we were to wait for a letter back in the waiting room and to have a nice day! So we got the letter after about 30 minutes wait and that's it!

Thank you so much to all the visa journey members who have helped us with questions we've had over this confusing process. No doubt we will see many of you over in the removing conditions forum in 18 months time! Good luck with upcoming interviews and speedy approvals to all!

Fuzzymiss :dance:

[KIMCORENE 0]

:dance: :dance: CONGRATULATIONS!

[Mehmet.Turkey 0]

hey congratulations mine is on monday

Hey guys, just to let you know we had our appointment today at the Boston office and we are APPROVED!

So the low-down..we go to the JFK building and go through the x-ray security, and then to the room on the letter. They tell us to go to another room and the guy takes my interview notice and tells me to go back to the original room. So w wait, and its filling up with loads of people and quite a few have lawyers..getting nervous...

And we finally get called after what seems like an eternity but was probably about 15 minutes and I'm pretty sure we got the same guy as Beantownbabe cos he mentioned he was on his 3rd career. We had to take the oath to tell the truth and then we sat down and he had all the paperwork we had sent on the desk. He asked us for birth certificates, passports, my EAD, my I-94. He asked us for each other's dates of birth, some bills with our names on them and confirmed a few details already on the form. I brought much more than this but that's all he asked for After a lot of stamping and signing places he then asked the 'are you a terrorist' questions, and it was difficult to keep a straight face in all honesty. And he took out the large red stamp pad and stamped approved right on the form.

He then mentioned about removing conditions and said we were to wait for a letter back in the waiting room and to have a nice day! So we got the letter after about 30 minutes wait and that's it!

Thank you so much to all the visa journey members who have helped us with questions we've had over this confusing process. No doubt we will see many of you over in the removing conditions forum in 18 months time! Good luck with upcoming interviews and speedy approvals to all!

Fuzzymiss :dance:

[Beantownbabe 1]

Hey guys, just to let you know we had our appointment today at the Boston office and we are APPROVED!

So the low-down..we go to the JFK building and go through the x-ray security, and then to the room on the letter. They tell us to go to another room and the guy takes my interview notice and tells me to go back to the original room. So w wait, and its filling up with loads of people and quite a few have lawyers..getting nervous...

And we finally get called after what seems like an eternity but was probably about 15 minutes and I'm pretty sure we got the same guy as Beantownbabe cos he mentioned he was on his 3rd career. We had to take the oath to tell the truth and then we sat down and he had all the paperwork we had sent on the desk. He asked us for birth certificates, passports, my EAD, my I-94. He asked us for each other's dates of birth, some bills with our names on them and confirmed a few details already on the form. I brought much more than this but that's all he asked for After a lot of stamping and signing places he then asked the 'are you a terrorist' questions, and it was difficult to keep a straight face in all honesty. And he took out the large red stamp pad and stamped approved right on the form.

He then mentioned about removing conditions and said we were to wait for a letter back in the waiting room and to have a nice day! So we got the letter after about 30 minutes wait and that's it!

Thank you so much to all the visa journey members who have helped us with questions we've had over this confusing process. No doubt we will see many of you over in the removing conditions forum in 18 months time! Good luck with upcoming interviews and speedy approvals to all!

Fuzzymiss :dance:

Wonderful! Congratulations!! Was his name Bernard Zenus or something like that? Well done!

[Beantownbabe 1]

Aha! Good to hear from you CanadianMade! I'm glad it's career stuff keeping you away from us! Your time is coming, I know it is taking an eternity but won't it all be worth it soon?! Keep on keepin' on, buddy!

[Kang Lang 7]

congrats fuzzymiss!