My interview review with a confused IO that made a lot of mistakes

[kcoyclay1 98]

Hi guys, today I had my interview at 26 Federal Plaza, NYC. We were scheduled for 2:30 so my husband and I decided to get there long before time just in case of any delays in the subway. We got there about 12:35 and walked around a bit before going inside the building, where we had to take off our shoes and place all our belongings in a tray for scanning. We were allowed to take our cell phone with us but not allowed to use it. We got to the waiting room about 1:25pm where about 5 couples already seated. We went to the appointment window and gave the lady seated there our interview letter and were told to sit a while and wait for our names to be called. About 5 more couples and their lawyers came after us. As we sat waiting we noticed that all the couples were being called and we were still seated; even those who came after us were called in and interviewed. We also noticed that each interview took almost an hour and I became quite concerned when I saw that it was four o clock and we were the only couple in the room.

About five minutes later a middle aged lady came to the door with another couple that she apparently just finished interviewing and call my name. She was pleasant and took us down a long hallway to her office where she swore us in.

She then told me to take out every original document I had with me including photographs. She then proceeded to ask questions based on the G-325A. As she asked me about where I lived I realized that she was doubting my answers as she couldn't find the answers I was giving her on the G-325A. She was stating incorrect dates and had missing information and it was then that I realized she was making notes on what seemed to be my husband's G-325A. I told her that she was using the incorrect G-325A to which she apologized and searched for mine.

She then asked my husband my birth date, where we met, how long we were dating before marriage, if he knew my parents and if they were at the wedding and why not, what is my favorite food and if he knew my family members and how many brothers and sisters I have. She asked him about his past marriage and why he got a divorce.

She asked me how many children my husband has to which I responded that they were all grown and he has three. She also asked me why I took so long to get at a divorce from my husband and I told her that we were separated for 14 years and had moved on with our lives, furthermore I was not interested in getting married until I met Stan. She asked if I have ever met Stan's parents to which I answered that they were deceased and she asked me what age was my husband when they passed. I told her I didn't know. Now these people died when I was 10 yrs old and I wasn't in a frame of mind to be calculating how old Stan was when they died. They didn't die together so I was not going to be racking my brain as to how old my husband was because they died in the 70's, so I told her I do not know how old he was. She asked me how long I lived at each address stated on the G-325A and why did we move to our last address ( stupid question) I told her the place was too small. She asked me what is my telephone number and my last address and when I told her address she proceeded to tell me that it was incorrect. I found out that she was looking at the Landlord's address with the big word LANDLORD written beside it. I had to point out her mistake yet again to which she apologize again - where do they get these quacks from? She then made a note of our address. She truly sounded confused.

So as not to bore you with all the nonsense that went on let me cut to the chase. She asked my husband if he was employed and he responded that he was receiving monthly pension and social security. She told us that we might need a sponsor as she didn't not know if that would be considered usable income. I told her that the amount is well above the poverty guideline but she said that she had to make sure it was ok to approve that type of income as affidavit of support. I read somewhere in the USCIS site that pensioners can use their income. I thought that as it was SURE income then that would not be up for question but she didn't seem to know for sure. She then asked me to give her the copies of our birth certificate, passport, social security card, lease, pension, will, joint lease etc and she looked at my EAD.

She finally asked me all the questions on the application to which I answered "No" or "definitely not" then she wrote on my I-94 and took some pictures from my album, wrote in my passport " the date of the interview, my A #, her office room #., 485 pending/sec 245 and something that looked like ISO CONDIT". She told me that after she reviewed the documents she will make a decsion and let us know if she needed more evidence, if we were approved or denied. To which I I made sure to inform her that we have been married for 2 years.

I am truly disappointed at having an IO who seemed to be confused about the requirements of the USCIS and who made so many mistakes to which I had to be correcting her and asked some real dumb questions. I might as well be doing her job. We had every bit of document to support our relationship, she just wasn't doing her job well. I hope that everything will be okay and that I receive my welcome letter soon. This has been a horrible experience. I am sure there were more questions but I am too frustrated to think right now.

When I got home I got online and spoke an immigration officer and this is what he told me:

QUESTION: I just had my interview today and was told by the interviewing

Sent to Immigration Law Experts April 29 2009 at 9:36 PM

I just had my interview today and was told by the interviewing officer that she had to find out if my US Citizen husband's pension and social security income can be used as income or if he needs a sponsor. His total gross is more than the poverty guideline. She approved my I-130 but I-485 is pending her review. She also took my I-94 and told me I should get an answer within 60 days. I noted that she wrote "I-485 pending/sec 245". We have been married for two years and she also wrote ISO CONDIT" in my passport. Do we need a sponsor even though my husband is above the poverty guideline and is his income acceptable? What does sec 245 has to do with all of this?

Answer

April 29 2009 at 9:42 PM (5 minutes and 49 seconds later)

His pension income and social security income should be acceptable. Honestly she should have just asked a supervisor right there if she did not know.

Section 245 is the section that controls adjusting of status for a non-immigrant to lawful permanent resident. It isn't 245(i), if that is what you are wondering. So this is normal what you are seeing.

I am just hoping that this confused, uninformed woman will get on top of my case and mail my welcome letter today. :angry:

[^KK^ 3]

You know that I'm praying for the best!!! Thanks for sharing your story.

KK

[Cino 5]

His income should be sufficient & acceptable. Yes IO sounds like a rookie or something &

also she has asked so many dumb questions. Maybe it will take time but in the end you will see a

"Welcome Letter" eventually.

[kcoyclay1 98]

His income should be sufficient & acceptable. Yes IO sounds like a rookie or something &

also she has asked so many dumb questions. Maybe it will take time but in the end you will see a

"Welcome Letter" eventually.

Thanks guys.

[KPC 0]

His income should be sufficient & acceptable. Yes IO sounds like a rookie or something &

also she has asked so many dumb questions. Maybe it will take time but in the end you will see a

"Welcome Letter" eventually.

Thanks guys.

I'm thinking good thoughts for you..and also hating Federal Plaza..they don't seem to approve anyone on the spot there, but so far it seems everyone hears good news eventually (except my husband, whose interview was on March 11 and still no news!). Good luck!