October 2009 AOS Filers

[km24 0]

Thanks for the info Greg and Congratulations! =)

Congrats Greg. That sounds pretty painless!

Our interview is on Monday but I will be headed down Manchester for work this weekend and we'll just stay down there. We're getting the paperwork arranged today before we go.

I will post an update when we get home on Monday afternoon.

Bye for now!

Good luck Hudons! We'll be having our interview on Tuesday.. Kinda nervous..

[RebeccaAndPhil 5]

There are a lot of us with interviews this week! It will be nice when the week is over, eh?

[Flyer92 2]

I received my Green Card in the mail today. Looking back...this process went by quickly. Just little over 2 months from when they received it to me holding my Green Card in my hand. Hope everyone gets approved and their cases processed quickly. All the best Hudons...can't wait to hear you give the good news!

[Greg001 0]

I received my Green Card in the mail today. Looking back...this process went by quickly. Just little over 2 months from when they received it to me holding my Green Card in my hand. Hope everyone gets approved and their cases processed quickly. All the best Hudons...can't wait to hear you give the good news!

Congrats Flyer. Now you're set for a year and 9 months.

[Flyer92 2]

Congrats Flyer. Now you're set for a year and 9 months.

You got it!

[hudons 0]

Hi everyone!

So here's the good news: APPROVED!

I am so happy it doesn't even seem real yet.

We arrived in Manchester office 10 minutes early for the interview armed with 2 folders of everything we could find and 2 photo albums. It was really busy when we arrived, although because the office is so small there were only 2 other couples - both with attorneys.

A guy called us in about 15 minutes after the scheduled time and we followed him to his office. He didn't smile once but he was very professional. He told us to take a seat and asked for our passports. Immediately he tore my I-94 out of my passport which I took to be a good sign, I guess I was just hanging on to whatever positive signs I could. He then asked for my EAD and social security card, took a good luck at everything and asked what visa I arrived on. I told him J1, he asked what my program was, I told him and he asked for my IP-66. I don't know what an IP-66 is so I got a bit worried and gave him my DS-2019. He said that was what he wanted but they had changed the name of the form. (Other J1s remember this to save any unnecessary stress!)

He then asked us to raise our right hands and swore us in. He asked how long we had known each other, how long we had been married and where we met. He read out our address, my DOB and country of birth and asked if it was correct. He then showed me a page of I-485 with my signature on it and asked me if that was my signature. HE asked if it was only 2 of us living at that address, I said yes. He asked me all of the "Have you ever....." questions and ticked them as I answered. The whole time he never even looked at us, he was clicking things on his computer and writing on a form.

He asked my husband for his pay stubs and as he is an Americorps volunteer, commented that he was heeding Obama's words. He almost cracked a smile! He then said the name of our joint sponsor and asked who she was, my husband said it was his mother.

He pulled out a red stamp and made 2 stamps then gave our passports back with my EAD and SS card. Finally, he looked up and said "Your case is now approved, you are a conditional permanent resident." At which point I started crying and he explained all about renewal etc etc. Pretty embarassing but it was just such a relief.

That is all he asked. No questions about intent to marry on my J1, no questions about our personal life...... nothing. He didn't look at any of the evidence so we're pretty sure the case had been decided before we walked in to the room. Still better to be over-prepared.

Thank you so much to everyone who has put my mind at rest and helped me through this. I'll see you all in here in 1 year 9 months! It'll be a lovely VJ reunion! Best of luck to everyone with upcoming interviews, particularly Rebecca and Phil our fellow J1-ers. You have nothing to worry about.

[marie09 5]

Wow! Congrats Hudons & thanks for sharing

[Laura & Kyle 16]

That's a wonderful approval story, Hudons! Congratulations and thank you for sharing it with us!

[RebeccaAndPhil 5]

Hi everyone!

So here's the good news: APPROVED!

I am so happy it doesn't even seem real yet.

We arrived in Manchester office 10 minutes early for the interview armed with 2 folders of everything we could find and 2 photo albums. It was really busy when we arrived, although because the office is so small there were only 2 other couples - both with attorneys.

A guy called us in about 15 minutes after the scheduled time and we followed him to his office. He didn't smile once but he was very professional. He told us to take a seat and asked for our passports. Immediately he tore my I-94 out of my passport which I took to be a good sign, I guess I was just hanging on to whatever positive signs I could. He then asked for my EAD and social security card, took a good luck at everything and asked what visa I arrived on. I told him J1, he asked what my program was, I told him and he asked for my IP-66. I don't know what an IP-66 is so I got a bit worried and gave him my DS-2019. He said that was what he wanted but they had changed the name of the form. (Other J1s remember this to save any unnecessary stress!)

He then asked us to raise our right hands and swore us in. He asked how long we had known each other, how long we had been married and where we met. He read out our address, my DOB and country of birth and asked if it was correct. He then showed me a page of I-485 with my signature on it and asked me if that was my signature. HE asked if it was only 2 of us living at that address, I said yes. He asked me all of the "Have you ever....." questions and ticked them as I answered. The whole time he never even looked at us, he was clicking things on his computer and writing on a form.

He asked my husband for his pay stubs and as he is an Americorps volunteer, commented that he was heeding Obama's words. He almost cracked a smile! He then said the name of our joint sponsor and asked who she was, my husband said it was his mother.

He pulled out a red stamp and made 2 stamps then gave our passports back with my EAD and SS card. Finally, he looked up and said "Your case is now approved, you are a conditional permanent resident." At which point I started crying and he explained all about renewal etc etc. Pretty embarassing but it was just such a relief.

That is all he asked. No questions about intent to marry on my J1, no questions about our personal life...... nothing. He didn't look at any of the evidence so we're pretty sure the case had been decided before we walked in to the room. Still better to be over-prepared.

Thank you so much to everyone who has put my mind at rest and helped me through this. I'll see you all in here in 1 year 9 months! It'll be a lovely VJ reunion! Best of luck to everyone with upcoming interviews, particularly Rebecca and Phil our fellow J1-ers. You have nothing to worry about.

Thanks so much for your interview review!!! It's so nice to hear an approval from a J1 visa! CONGRATS on your approval too!! This is wonderful!

[laurelmike 0]

Congrats Hudons

[RebeccaAndPhil 5]

Thanks for the info Greg and Congratulations! =)

Good luck Hudons! We'll be having our interview on Tuesday.. Kinda nervous..

GOOD LUCK TOMORROW KM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ReeRee 0]

Congrats Hudon and Flier!!! Great story:)

[hudons 0]

That's a wonderful approval story, Hudons! Congratulations and thank you for sharing it with us!

Thanks! I enjoyed reading your timeline, it made me laugh. My dad is from Scotland, I hope you enjoyed your time there. What a beautiful place. Best of luck with your journey, stick with the VJ crew, these guys are awesome!

Good luck today KM!! I look forward to hearing your news!

[km24 0]

We're done with our interview this morning. Whew! No questions asked regarding our relationship, my status, how we met, etc.. He just reviewed my I-485 form and told us to wait for the card to arrive in mail and congratulated us! :dance:

Again thank you VJ members for the help and support! Good luck for those who will be having their interview soon..

[hudons 0]

Fantastic news Km. Did you receive your e-mail update yet?

I didn't get mine until this morning. Still no card production update though!