November filers

[dirtyweebesom 8]

stupid gringos

That made me laugh!

Sorry to hear about your RFE, but hopefully you will be able to get it taken care of quickly.

By the way, can you please explain the exact meaning of the term "gringo"? I thought "gringo" only referred to Americans but I used to volunteer to teach ESL to recent Mexican immigrants, and they always joked that I was a "gringa" because I had pale skin and blue eyes. I was, like, "Nooooooooo, I'm Scottish!" but they said it didn't matter. I don't want to be a "gringa"! :-(

[noirdior 0]

stupid gringos

That made me laugh!

Sorry to hear about your RFE, but hopefully you will be able to get it taken care of quickly.

By the way, can you please explain the exact meaning of the term "gringo"? I thought "gringo" only referred to Americans but I used to volunteer to teach ESL to recent Mexican immigrants, and they always joked that I was a "gringa" because I had pale skin and blue eyes. I was, like, "Nooooooooo, I'm Scottish!" but they said it didn't matter. I don't want to be a "gringa"! :-(

hahahahha well it is a nickname towards united statians but i guess many people in latin america feel light skinned and fair coloured people are gringos too. It happens all the time! I hope you were offended though hahah

[dirtyweebesom 8]

I hope you were offended though hahah

Too right, I was!

[IstanBulls 1]

oh no! my I - 485 was put on hold because theyre requesting me for initial evidence. I logged onto my account online it says the same thing without letting me know what they want specifically so i may be prepared to do this rapidly grrrrrr i bet ya i can get any of their jobs and do it better. stupid gringos grrr sorry freinds im just bummed about it but oh well. I hope all is good for you!

Sorry to hear about RFE. Probably, the request will be for something small. I would ask October and septembe filers forum what they were asked for RFE. Hopefully this resolves soon so that things will start oving again. Good luck

[IstanBulls 1]

Still no new "touches" for me. Bah humbug! If I'd known this was going to be the case, I'd have waited to do my biometrics after getting my hair cut, so I'd at least have a cute picture on my EAD and green card. :-)

Still no touches for me either. I feel like we'll have to wait for a while to see a new update. I was really excited when I saw one touch after another in two days. But hey, I think we should still be OK.

This wait is killing I know I am being inpatient. hope we see some action soon

[FortLaudy 10]

Sorry for the late post, been out galavanting with the hubby all day long.

My walk-in for my bio appointment was succesful!!!! in fact NOBODY else was having their bios/interviews or anything done there at the same time, the place was Empty except for us... and they didn't even check the date on my appointment paper, so strange there were more employees than "Customers", signs of the bad US economic times maybe??

Everyone was very friendly and joking around a whole lot, in fact as soon as the hubby and I walked in a security guy immediately asked me if I was brazillian... #######? must be my big booty or something, I have no idea... he even had to look at my passport to be sure I wasn't "brazillian" what the heck? haha! Then he asked my husband where he was from and when he answered the guy didn't quite understand so I piped up "he's a gringo" lol... then another guy laughs and says... "hey now lady, you're on our territory now, watch what you call us" ... lol I was surprised at all this banter but it was just very relaxed and everyone seemed to be fooling around in that place.. while I was having my fingerprints/photo taken two employees were having it out with each other but in a joking way, my husband could hear the whole conversation and told me about it later and the IO doing my fingerprints says the two have been going at each other all day long... haha

Of course the pic was not flattering, but besides that the IO had to cast a "shadow" over my head with a folder cause my hair was so blonde/white against the backdrop she said it looked like i had no hair! then she goes "but you shouldn't worry about the pic, just about when you have that card in your hands, that's the best" I could tell she was an immigrant too... I was in and out in about 10 mins... they even made me complete a "customer satisfaction survey" afterwards, lol...

We're going for our interview at the same place and I think, by what I could tell from the place today, we'll have no nasty IO's to worry about (fingers crossed!)

[marie09 5]

Sorry for the late post, been out galavanting with the hubby all day long.

My walk-in for my bio appointment was succesful!!!! in fact NOBODY else was having their bios/interviews or anything done there at the same time, the place was Empty except for us... and they didn't even check the date on my appointment paper, so strange there were more employees than "Customers", signs of the bad US economic times maybe??

Everyone was very friendly and joking around a whole lot, in fact as soon as the hubby and I walked in a security guy immediately asked me if I was brazillian... #######? must be my big booty or something, I have no idea... he even had to look at my passport to be sure I wasn't "brazillian" what the heck? haha! Then he asked my husband where he was from and when he answered the guy didn't quite understand so I piped up "he's a gringo" lol... then another guy laughs and says... "hey now lady, you're on our territory now, watch what you call us" ... lol I was surprised at all this banter but it was just very relaxed and everyone seemed to be fooling around in that place.. while I was having my fingerprints/photo taken two employees were having it out with each other but in a joking way, my husband could hear the whole conversation and told me about it later and the IO doing my fingerprints says the two have been going at each other all day long... haha

Of course the pic was not flattering, but besides that the IO had to cast a "shadow" over my head with a folder cause my hair was so blonde/white against the backdrop she said it looked like i had no hair! then she goes "but you shouldn't worry about the pic, just about when you have that card in your hands, that's the best" I could tell she was an immigrant too... I was in and out in about 10 mins... they even made me complete a "customer satisfaction survey" afterwards, lol...

We're going for our interview at the same place and I think, by what I could tell from the place today, we'll have no nasty IO's to worry about (fingers crossed!)

Congratulations Shani! So happy for you... That's so cool that they were cracking jokes the whole time... Your ASC sounds awesome

[IstanBulls 1]

Sorry for the late post, been out galavanting with the hubby all day long.

My walk-in for my bio appointment was succesful!!!! in fact NOBODY else was having their bios/interviews or anything done there at the same time, the place was Empty except for us... and they didn't even check the date on my appointment paper, so strange there were more employees than "Customers", signs of the bad US economic times maybe??

Everyone was very friendly and joking around a whole lot, in fact as soon as the hubby and I walked in a security guy immediately asked me if I was brazillian... #######? must be my big booty or something, I have no idea... he even had to look at my passport to be sure I wasn't "brazillian" what the heck? haha! Then he asked my husband where he was from and when he answered the guy didn't quite understand so I piped up "he's a gringo" lol... then another guy laughs and says... "hey now lady, you're on our territory now, watch what you call us" ... lol I was surprised at all this banter but it was just very relaxed and everyone seemed to be fooling around in that place.. while I was having my fingerprints/photo taken two employees were having it out with each other but in a joking way, my husband could hear the whole conversation and told me about it later and the IO doing my fingerprints says the two have been going at each other all day long... haha

Of course the pic was not flattering, but besides that the IO had to cast a "shadow" over my head with a folder cause my hair was so blonde/white against the backdrop she said it looked like i had no hair! then she goes "but you shouldn't worry about the pic, just about when you have that card in your hands, that's the best" I could tell she was an immigrant too... I was in and out in about 10 mins... they even made me complete a "customer satisfaction survey" afterwards, lol...

We're going for our interview at the same place and I think, by what I could tell from the place today, we'll have no nasty IO's to worry about (fingers crossed!)

That's awesome, congrats. BTW, which ASC local office is this, for the spreadsheet? I am sorry, I have been asking lot of questions nowadays.

I also had a very similar walk-in story. When I went in, there was nobody, When I was filling out the paperwork, they were joking around with me, being very friendly and pleasant.

I was also in and out of there in 15 minutes.

[FortLaudy 10]

This was at Oakland park, fl - a very new facility, almost a year old.

Yes, please update my info, I love looking at that spreadsheet you made!

No touches this evening though, but the next step is ordering of the EAD card, right? I know this wait is unbearable, but just try and keep busy until then and it should be on its way shortly... we should be glad that the places are so empty, that means our paperwork gets processed faster maybe and the IO's are not swamped with work and miserable...

[IstanBulls 1]

This was at Oakland park, fl - a very new facility, almost a year old.

Yes, please update my info, I love looking at that spreadsheet you made!

No touches this evening though, but the next step is ordering of the EAD card, right? I know this wait is unbearable, but just try and keep busy until then and it should be on its way shortly... we should be glad that the places are so empty, that means our paperwork gets processed faster maybe and the IO's are not swamped with work and miserable...

Thank you I am trying to be on top of this spreadsheet.

I had two touches in two days right after the walk in. Yes, the next step is EAD. You are right that we should be glad. In other forums, I have seen it's the case that ASCs are empty. Keeping the fingers crossed...

[dirtyweebesom 8]

Everyone was very friendly and joking around a whole lot, in fact as soon as the hubby and I walked in a security guy immediately asked me if I was brazillian... #######? must be my big booty or something, I have no idea...

Ha, that made me smile!

Congratulations on getting your biometrics out of the way. And, yup, now all you have to do is wait!

[FortLaudy 10]

Hey guys, I know we still have a long road ahead before we get to the interview stage, but I'm already worried about 1 thing... My hubby and I don't have a joint lease or mortgage... he moved into my leased townhouse before we got married, he owns 2 houses already and is now in the process of complete renovation of the house he was living in before and plans on renting it out afterwards. So I had an existing lease with my landlord which ends February 2010 ! I never added my hubby on the lease for a few good reasons.

I found out that my landlord was not paying the home owner's association fees shortly after moving in, also they dragged #### for 3-4 weeks to replace a burnt out dryer and broken fridge, and then later on found out they haven't paid any mortgage on the place we're in since well before we moved in... and yes, we got served with papers (as current occupants do) that the place is now in foreclosure proceedings! So I just had a bad feeling that she would somehow try to increase our monthly rent (which is already damn high!) if I want to add my hubby to the lease, she's just a coniving thief like that...(on the lease, i'm listed as the only occupant allowed... for a 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, yes my dogs needed the space, lol) We found out her and her husband own 5 other properties which they haven't paid mortgages on in years and are renting out pocketing the money...

So I recently wrote her a letter saying that I'm aware that the place is going under foreclosure and that I would like to remain there on a month-to-month basis after February 2010 when the lease is up... (she still owes me last month, security and pet deposit!) I'm guessing that the foreclosure proceedings can take Months so we'll be fine living here for a few months longer... We also don't want to really move right now being in the middle of this AOS process and we're also actually hoping that this place will foreclose and we'll have first dibs on actually buying it - I've already been talking to our bank and they've said that with a good down payment and me having a social security # and a job (hopefully by then!!) they see no reason why we can't buy a house... This place is great, close to college, big, a great starter home and investment property, will probably be short-sold etc.

So the question is, I know that at the interview stage it's very important for the I.O. to see a joint lease/mortgage... Should I sign another lease with this thief of a landlord of mine which includes my hubby (probably at a higher monthly rent, hopefully not) or should we just explain the foreclosure situation and about our scaly landlord to the IO and hope they believe us? I also see no point in being added on the mortgages of my husband's other houses as he bought it before we got married and we don't plan on living in either of them.. one's in California and the other one is too far from college and the dog park for me and we want to rent it out and buy a place in this area we're in now... Please anyone with some advice?

[marie09 5]

Hey Shani,

We're not going to have a joint lease or mortgage either. My husband owns our house. He purchased it with a friend from college (who doesn't live here - he has a wife and kids.) My hubby and him are business partners and they have offices and a workshop in the downstairs of the house... Then we live in the upstairs. While it's awesome we have a house - i'm definitely concerned too that we won't have a joint mortgage/lease. I'm hoping long term we'll buy somewhere together but with me not working right now - that's a long way off! Also my husband's company pays the utilities so we aren't going to have joint utilities either. Though we are hoping to set up a separate phone line from all the business lines. Though even that isn't going to be simple given all the telephone lines already here. We do however, have joint bank accounts, credit cards and hope to buy a car together once I am working again. Also my hubby added me onto the home association members thing for this house - so I can use the gym etc...

I think we're going to get his business partner to write an affidavit explaining he co-owns the house but we both live here and the utilities situation. Maybe we'll have someone that works in the offices too write an affidavit verifying we both live here together. Maybe you can get friends/neighbors to write affidavits verifying they know you both live there together.

I kindof wish an IO could come visit us like in that movie Proposal - they'd only have to walk around our house and would know in seconds we are a legit married couple.

I think we'll both be ok though. I've read a few cases on here where people didn't have a joint lease/ mortgage... I haven't heard of any denials because of it. I remember one where they lived with the in laws so had no bills/lease etc... They had the in laws write an affidavit but were never asked for it at the interview and were approved right away. It seems some interviews the IO's are really tough and ask for proof of everything. Others the people bring zillions of evidence and are not asked for anything - the IO's don't even look at the additional statements.

Fingers crossed for all of us

Edited December 4, 2009 by marie09

[IstanBulls 1]

Hey guys, I know we still have a long road ahead before we get to the interview stage, but I'm already worried about 1 thing... My hubby and I don't have a joint lease or mortgage... he moved into my leased townhouse before we got married, he owns 2 houses already and is now in the process of complete renovation of the house he was living in before and plans on renting it out afterwards. So I had an existing lease with my landlord which ends February 2010 ! I never added my hubby on the lease for a few good reasons.

I found out that my landlord was not paying the home owner's association fees shortly after moving in, also they dragged #### for 3-4 weeks to replace a burnt out dryer and broken fridge, and then later on found out they haven't paid any mortgage on the place we're in since well before we moved in... and yes, we got served with papers (as current occupants do) that the place is now in foreclosure proceedings! So I just had a bad feeling that she would somehow try to increase our monthly rent (which is already damn high!) if I want to add my hubby to the lease, she's just a coniving thief like that...(on the lease, i'm listed as the only occupant allowed... for a 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, yes my dogs needed the space, lol) We found out her and her husband own 5 other properties which they haven't paid mortgages on in years and are renting out pocketing the money...

So I recently wrote her a letter saying that I'm aware that the place is going under foreclosure and that I would like to remain there on a month-to-month basis after February 2010 when the lease is up... (she still owes me last month, security and pet deposit!) I'm guessing that the foreclosure proceedings can take Months so we'll be fine living here for a few months longer... We also don't want to really move right now being in the middle of this AOS process and we're also actually hoping that this place will foreclose and we'll have first dibs on actually buying it - I've already been talking to our bank and they've said that with a good down payment and me having a social security # and a job (hopefully by then!!) they see no reason why we can't buy a house... This place is great, close to college, big, a great starter home and investment property, will probably be short-sold etc.

So the question is, I know that at the interview stage it's very important for the I.O. to see a joint lease/mortgage... Should I sign another lease with this thief of a landlord of mine which includes my hubby (probably at a higher monthly rent, hopefully not) or should we just explain the foreclosure situation and about our scaly landlord to the IO and hope they believe us? I also see no point in being added on the mortgages of my husband's other houses as he bought it before we got married and we don't plan on living in either of them.. one's in California and the other one is too far from college and the dog park for me and we want to rent it out and buy a place in this area we're in now... Please anyone with some advice?

I think as long as you have other documents, it should not be a problem. The reason I am saying this is that a really good friend of mine was in the similar situation. He lives here in San Francisco and working. His wife lives in Los Angeles doing her PHD. They were also really concerned that this would create a big problem at the interview. Just because of this reason, they got an attorney. Otherwise their case is very straight forward. Just for the background info. They have been going out for the last two years. Almost every other weekend they see each other.

For the interview, they created 2 big photo albums, included their joint account, all the airline tickets showing they traveled up and down. His wife changed her last name to his last name. Pretty much with all these documents, they went in the interview on November 18th. And the interview lasted only 15 minutes. My friend told me that after few mintues into the interview, the IO told them that he can figure out if a marriage is fake or not. And told them that they should not be worried about anything. My friend said that this kinda made things easier. The the IO just asked how they met. Looked few pictures and told them that they are a really cute couple. The IO never asked about why they live in two different cities or anything else. At the end IO told them that they are approved.

Based on this story, as long as you have all the other supporting documents, you should not worry about the lease part. Hope this helps.

[FortLaudy 10]

Thanks guys, signing another lease with this landlord would really be a pain in the butt for us as she's so conniving, and in Florida, as renters, you have little recourse and rights when it comes to dealing with landlords and living in properties going under foreclosure... You're bound to a lease (even if you know the damn person won't pay your security deposit back) until the lease is up or the bank takes the property back which ever comes first.... and signing yet another lease with this landlord is just crazy!

But I guess if that's what immigration requires then we can always ask this landlord if we can sign a joint lease on a "month-to-month" basis until the foreclosure has gone through and we can either buy the place or buy/rent another place... So far from what I've read about interviews though, the more "evidence of bona fide marriage" one has at the interview the easier it goes, so I guess it's just another thing we have to do to please "immigration", even though it annoys us, lol

My husband is hilarious on this issue of having to prove our marriage is legitimate... completely oblivious! he thinks I should be able to go get a job or we can get a joint home loan, just because we're married and sent off the paperwork.. lol... he cannot believe we have to "prove" we have a legitimate marriage to anyone... One day I just had to slap him, he goes "why don't we just prove we consummated our marriage by doing it right in front of them at the interview or sending them a videotape" OMG !!!!! he doesn't take this whole process nearly as seriously as I do and everything seems to go in the one ear and out the other when I discuss things with him about the timeline/process: the other day when I told him we have to go to the ASC place for me to do my biometrics, he goes "oh, so you have to go to be sworn in as an american citizen" LOL ! Well it's one of the reasons why I married him, his wackyness and easy-going ways, so no complaints