AOS Bloomington, MN

[knadik 0]

Thought I would post our experience for future AOSers in Bloomington, MN!

My generally impression was a good mix of 'Minnesota-nice' with professionalism. (Friendly, but serious; I saw a variety of officers shaking hands, holding doors, smiling etc). The guards in Bloomington were more friendly than the guards at the Consulate we went to for my husband's K-1.

As for the actual interview, she asked my husband the usual "What is your address?", "What is your mother's name?" (I think she may have asked him about all or close to all of the information on the form) etc and checked off on the I-864 we had previously turned in as his answers matched the form. She actually spent a good amount of time verifying things like that.

We had brought a huge canvas bag full of several albums, correspondence, even the frame people signed at our wedding as well as a large file box full of evidence. I volunteered some albums which she looked at and from there the only thing she asked for was proof of residence (we gave her mail we had received, but forgot to give her the letter from my parents saying we lived with them etc; we also gave her joint bank account info and she kept one of our statements). She did not ask for new 2005 tax info or pay stubs or for any further proof of relationship (all of which we had).

She asked about employment for both of us (we both work at the summer school now) and I have a regular teaching job for the fall. She didn't ask for proof of either the summer employment or the fall employment, so I offered proof of the fall employment (including salary) and she kept it. She asked how we met (and even how we got to know each other...like did we exchange numbers, emails etc after we met), she asked who attended our first (small) wedding, who we live with, if we had ever had a period of separation, who came from my husband's family for the first wedding and for the second one, when did they leave etc etc.

She then said she can't approve us yet because the civil surgeon who filled out my husband's vaccination supplement did not do it correctly. Boy was I FIREY MAD with that clinic. For the vaccinations that my husband didn't need, the doctor had failed to check off why (the right side of the form) as well as he had forgotten to fill out part three of the form (whether he is cleared or not of the requirement). So, after talking to several people at the only clinic with a civil surgeon in southern Minnesota (where we had gone before), I got them to redo his form correctly this time (I said we need it today, we will be there in 75 minutes) and we flew down I-35 from Bloomington straight to Albert Lea, grabbed the form and flew back to Bloomington, making it back to the USCIS office 10 minutes before it closed!

Just a note, the only USCIS-related thing she actually took from us was my husband's I-94. We are travelling to Mexico next month and I asked her when the Green Card should arrive. She asked us if he had an AP and I said yes. Then I said, oh, but I thought you take that from us. She said no, she did not. That he can use that to travel if the Green Card doesn't arrive in time.

Oh yes, when she was asking us all those questions about jobs, our life etc, she took notes on what we said (down to the details such as the city, school and grade I will be teaching).

[Nicola&Matthew 0]

Well congratulations and thank you so much for posting your expereinces with the MN office. I've seen a number of us waiting on AOS interviews at MN so I'm sure it will be usefull to all of us.

[ssalburo 0]

congrats!!!

[camaleon 0]

[Garfield fan 0]

Congrats !!