RFE at the interview :(

[mimimimimi 0]

I thought we were in a movie at our interview today. We arrived one hour before, and were in the waiting area. Suddenly, a security guard told everyone in the lounge to get off the building! We were all sent to the parking lot! We saw police arriving, sirens, and nobody knew what was going on. And it was super cold outside, and I felt pitty for the elder people and people with babies. The most annoying thing is that they did not seem to be in a rush at all. We were all outside (yeah, hundreds of people) for more than one hour. I was afraid they would tell us to re-schedule, and hubby would have to get another day off work, etc... but luckily they called us all in again.

Our interview, hubby says, lasted 15 minutes but it seemed like a lifetime.

The IO called my name, and told me and hubby to follow him to his office. He then said: "you first" (to husband) - we didn't understand he wanted hubby to go in and sit on the far chair, and then me in the next one. We thought he wanted to interview us separately! then he said to my husband - no, you both go in, you sit first, then she sits in the next chair! it was not a language issue - as hubby misunderstood it as I did!

He asked if I spoke English, and if I would need a translator. I said my English is good, and I would not need one. Apparently that's a common thing. He then proceeded to ask for our original proofs of identity - USC hubby passport and birth certificate, same for me. He looked at the originals VERY closely.

He then asked my husband: how did you meet your wife? My hubby told him the month/year, and that we met online - and which online site and the details about how it happened, and that we exchanged emails till we met a couple of weeks later and hit it off.

He asked if we had pictures - and he looked at ALL the pictures (I was really surprised about it) in the 3 albums we brought! he murmured something like: that's good, we can see your ongoing relationship. He also saw the wedding album and asked to keep a picture of us together at the civil ceremony. He also said: who cooks all this food that's in the pictures? And my husband said: both of us. We all laughed.

He then asked for proof that we "live together", or something like that. we gave him electric, gas and cable+net bills in both names for 1-3 months. He asked if we had bank statements together. I gave him one statement, that's what we had. he asked when was the account open. We volunteered our joint 2008 tax returns and he was happy we had it.

He asked my hubby what does your wife do for a living? He said I am unemployed now, but I am an architect. He then asked me what was hubby position - I answered that and said who he worked for, and the company. he then asked me what was that company about. I told him. he asked hubby to elaborate. he said that it was basically what I said, and added two more points.

He asked if we had a joint lease and I said no, because I had a lease before by myself. he asked hubby: so you moved in with her? he answered: yes. he then asked me where did my husband live before the marriage? I said he lived with his mom, and before that, at college. he asked me where does his mom live, and I said the address.

He also asked if we had a joint health insurance, and we did so we gave him the copy and showed him the original card.

He also asked me what did hubby graduate in. I said his major, but that he probably wasn't going to work in that area.

He asked my husband how many years did I live in each country listed on my bio I guess... I was glad hubby had a good memory cause he told the guy the story of my life, which honestly, I didn't even know he knew by heart

He then started looking very closely again at my birth certificate and the certified translation I brought. oh, man. I would never imagine what followed happening... the translation agency I PAID to do it, because I was not sure if USCIS would accept a translation done by me, scr*** up! grrr! initially, they sent me only one copy only although I paid for two. I complained, and they sent me another copy by mail. that's the copy I took to the interview - and I did not have a second look at it... silly me!!! can you believe it? - it was a certified translation of a someone else!!! I was so angry, cause we put everything together so neatly, answered all the questions with no hesitation, and because of other people's incompetence, I was not approved today - he said he was going to need me to send him my (right) certified translation. and... he would go through the case, and I should wait UP TO 2 months for the decision! man... I pouted. Of course, I was sad. He then said, to my surprise: "no pouting! I could have denied, but I am not". Wow. Like, he's giving me a chance to send the right original in. I can't believe this is happening.

Of course, I am pissed. I was planning to go see my elder parents at my home country very soon. I really don't feel comfortable traveling with the AP, and I won't.

So, I went home, and found the certified translation and fedex it for delivery next day at 10AM. yeah, expensive!

Because you get kind of nervous, we didn't notice at the time, but he took our original bills, bank statement and tax return - instead of the copies I made for everything!

He also took my I-94, he said I didn't need it anymore or something similar.

In the end, my husband asked him if there was going to be necessary to have another interview. (ahhh! why did he ask that? I think he doesn't even know what that means! hehe) but I was kind of glad he did, because the IO said: no, it looks like it won't be necessary. Is it a good sign???

So, what do you guys think? Is the fact he took my I-94 a good thing, or not? Looking at how we answered all the questions without hesitation, and the documents we gave him, a sign that it will be successful?

How long does it usually takes them to approve a case after an RFE at the interview is sent in? Is it something you guys see being dragging forever? Is the "up to 60 days" a normal thing?

I have to take our computer to fix tomorrow, bet it will take a week - but I will try to see the answers when I can.

[clolita 0]

hey there! i've had my interview too, today, at NYC. we weren't approved either, but the officer took our I-94. we had a somewhat hard interview. we were told we will get a decision within 60 days. sorry im not much of a help, just dropping by to wish you good luck.

[mimimimimi 0]

I am sorry to hear this, clolita.

I can also say our interview wasn't easy either.

Oh well, good luck to both of us. Let me know of any news.

hey there! i've had my interview too, today, at NYC. we weren't approved either, but the officer took our I-94. we had a somewhat hard interview. we were told we will get a decision within 60 days. sorry im not much of a help, just dropping by to wish you good luck.

[Diazy 10]

mimigrant, I hope everything will be all right!

They took your I-94 - it is a good sign!

I think, you will be approved less than in 60 days.

[mimimimimi 0]

Diazy, thanks for the wishes, thanks a lot, really. I wish you well in your case too, I know you also had some stones on your

way.

Oh my, is it really a good sign he took the I-94?

mimigrant, I hope everything will be all right!

They took your I-94 - it is a good sign!

I think, you will be approved less than in 60 days.

[Marikiya_dhr 0]

Im sorry to hear that u guys had a hard interview... but i think the fact that he took ur I-94 is a good sign.

Good luck to both of you.

[blarf 0]

dang that sucks but it seems that you'll sort the problem out really quick. i got my interview tomorrow morning and i have way less documents than you did. i hope i'll be alright with what i got

[Goldfee111 3]

mimigrant and clolita u should not be worried...when they took ur i94 this is really a good sign..i had my interview on 3/3 and wasnt approved right there because another officer had to look over that case and i got the welcome letter yesterday...

so sometimes they dont approve right there because they are not authorized to do it...dont be worried:-)

[MissStacey 1]

I too got an RFE at my AOS interview. It was all medical related- the Doctor who did my physical in Canada made an error and it was fixed and faxed to the Consulate during my K3 interview.

When I got to the AOS interview, they had both the fixed and not fixed copy and told me to go for another physical and drop off the results- just the Doctor's exam which took all of 30 seconds. Seriously- he looked in my eyes with a flashlight and checked my knee reflexes.

After waiting several months, I made an infopass and they couldn't help me. There was a rush to get Citizenship papers done and my file hadn't been looked at.

I kept waiting and got another RFE to go get a TB skin test- not sure why because I had a chest X Ray but I went and got it done and dropped off the results and waited again.

It did work out great though- those RFE's pushed us over the 2 year anniversary and I got the 10 year card instead of the 2 year.

[mimimimimi 0]

thanks Marikiya_dhr. blarf, like the immigration specialist told me: "you take what you have" so don't worry about this part - focus on getting relaxed and the way you answer to questions. good luck! Goldfee111, it is really good to hear this, thank you for posting. 'Cause if you think about it in a cold way - it's true, he probably couldn't approve the case without having the correct needed translation. Still, it hurts to think that I may have to agonize for two months because of a stupid incompetent translation company. argh. Hope to be as lucky as you.

[jhunjhun 7]

Hello mimigrant, don't worry.....I was given an RFE after our interview for our tax r eturn for 2008. The IO doesn't want to give us an approval at the same day because my wife's income for yr 2007 was below the poverty limit. Our interview was conducted on Feb. 11, 2009. I've waited until I got my SSN and filed our tax return on Feb 18, 2009. We took the copy of our tax return on Feb 19, 2009 to our local USCIS office. On Feb 23 my AOS and I-130 were approved. We received the welcome letter and I-130 notice of approval on Feb 26. I got my GC on March 5, 2009. Since, your AOS approval is 100%, you will hear something soon from them. Good luck!!!!!!!

[mimimimimi 0]

Wow, MissStacey, what a mess. I am sorry to hear this. This is all so unfair and messes up with people's lives. And thing is, well, who really cares beside you?... for them, we're just a number, after all.

Edited March 11, 2009 by mimigrant

[mimimimimi 0]

aww, jhunjhun thanks for your post. It's so good to hear these things when we're stressed out and disappointed.

so, by your answer and some other answers, it seems the standard is them saying 60 days, but once they get the needed documents, they usually approve it in a week?

oh my, I wish it will be approved quickly. I want so badly to go see my elder parents, and I don't want to use AP. (before you guys ask why, my immigration specialist said do not use it under any circumstance, some IO at the POEs do not even know what that is, I decided not to take any risks).

thing is - he clearly said 60 days... is that so I don't bother them - but it is usually much faster?

by law, do they HAVE TO make a decision in 60 days?

Edited March 11, 2009 by mimigrant

[jhunjhun 7]

aww, jhunjhun thanks for your post. It's so good to hear these things when we're stressed out and disappointed.

so, by your answer and some other answers, it seems the standard is them saying 60 days, but once they get the needed documents, they usually approve it in a week?

oh my, I wish it will be approved quickly. I want so badly to go see my elder parents, and I don't want to use AP. (before you guys ask why, my immigration specialist said do not use it under any circumstance, some IO at the POEs do not even know what that is, I decided not to take any risks).

thing is - he clearly said 60 days... is that so I don't bother them - but it is usually much faster?

by law, do they HAVE TO make a decision in 60 days?

She told us that we can either mail the requested documents or take it in person. We asked her if she's going to approve our case once the requested documents were being received and she said "YES". The 60 days might be a rule of thumb for USCIS to meet their deadlines.

Good luck! Did you ask the IO if he's going to approve your case once the requested documents were being submitted?

[mimimimimi 0]

You are smart you did ask. But my gut feeling told me not to ask, I thought it would be somehow inappropriate. But as I said, my husband naively asked if a 2nd interview would be required, and he answered "no, I don't think it will be necessary". Why would he call us for another interview anyway, if we answered everything correctly and had all the proof he asked for and are obviously a couple?

Well, I think only that one document was missing... I hope. I had more documents I could have volunteered, but I didn't because people say don't volunteer, give them only what they ask. I hope it was the right move. This area is highly unclear to me - what to volunteer or not.

Also, unlike you, I was not given the option to bring the missing document in person. It would be cheaper for me to do so, instead of fedex overnight, as I did. The guy was tough, and I am normally tough too, but he was the kind of guy you don't want to argue with. So I just didn't ask much, specially after he said: "no pouting!" when I pouted. he he. I understand they have rules to follow and he is just doing his job, and most of all it's not his fault that I got the wrong translation from the company, but still... this is quite frustrating, because you keep thinking your case can be left in a desk for months because of one single document.

One more thing I forgot to mention in my original post: he did ask me all the "did you ever" questions... do they ask these questions to people they don't intend to approve?

She told us that we can either mail the requested documents or take it in person. We asked her if she's going to approve our case once the requested documents were being received and she said "YES". The 60 days might be a rule of thumb for USCIS to meet their deadlines.

Good luck! Did you ask the IO if he's going to approve your case once the requested documents were being submitted?