January 2010 AOS Filers

[Markieboy 104]

I just received my Welcome Notice (I-797)! (it was mailed from the National Benefits Center in Missouri)

Notice Date 04/01, Postmark 04/02, Received 04/08

This is to notify you that your application for permanent residence has been approved. It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to permanent residence status in the United States.

Congratulations, Fatima!

Great, great news!

[F & J 21]

Congratulations! I'm hoping the green card comes today. Last card production email was 4/5 and last touch was 4/6. Maybe it was mailed out that day....

Thank you! ^___^ I'm hoping the touch yesterday meant they mailed mine out too. Gauging from the EAD card (2nd card production email 03/12, touched 03/15 - postmarked 03/15, received 03/17), maybe the green card will come in the mail tomorrow or Saturday at the earliest? I'm hoping there are no errors on it too - we talked to our IO about me just keeping my middle name (he said that most people from the Philippines opt to drop their middle name) and I remember he had to edit something on his computer. My welcome notice actually came with no middle name so I'm kind of worried. In any case, it's probably not a big deal like he said because the middle name isn't that important.

Congratulations, Fatima!

Great, great news!

Thank you so much, Markie!!!

Edited April 8, 2010 by Fatima and Jim

[Calypso 464]

I hope the entries on your card are accurate, Fatima.

My name there is: My family name (husband's), my three first names, and my middle initial (from my father's name).

Card expires 03/29/2012

Resident since 03/29/2010 (that's my interview date)

[F & J 21]

I hope the entries on your card are accurate, Fatima.

My name there is: My family name (husband's), my three first names, and my middle initial (from my father's name).

Card expires 03/29/2012

Resident since 03/29/2010 (that's my interview date)

I really hope so too! I was surprised when I saw the welcome notice and there wasn't a middle name - not even an initial - but I figured that before my hubby asked about the name change, our IO probably assumed that I'd drop my middle name - based on his previous experiences with Filipina AOS applicants.

My hubby and I have resigned ourselves to the fact that Michigan just doesn't allow the middle name change unless you file a petition at court. Since I'm probably going to apply for naturalization, I guess it doesn't matter much. I could change my middle name then - but then it'll be such a hassle to get my name on all the other documents changed (financial docs, health insurance, military-related docs, etc.). I'd rather just do it once (I have to change everything to my previous middle name because right now we have all our docs with my middle name as my father's last name). I love my mom's maiden name anyway so I'll be happy to keep it

Edited April 8, 2010 by Fatima and Jim

[F & J 21]

I just got another email update:

I guess that means they mailed the green card today?! *crosses fingers*

Post-Decision Activity

On April 8, 2010, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

[Calypso 464]

I just got another email update:

I guess that means they mailed the green card today?! *crosses fingers*

Post-Decision Activity

On April 8, 2010, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

I received my green card barely two hours after I got that e-mail on Monday.

[Mford019 0]

Just wondering, but I have not had a case update since they received the 485, has anyone else had this? Both EAD and AP updated everytime until we received the cards, but we had our interview, we were approved and still the case status has a date of feb. 2.

[menina 50]

I just got another email update:

I guess that means they mailed the green card today?! *crosses fingers*

Post-Decision Activity

On April 8, 2010, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-375-5283 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-375-5283 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-375-5283 end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-375-5283 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

I got that same email today. I was hoping it would be like EAD where we got the card and the email in the same day and we would have the green card waiting in the mail when we got home, but no luck. Hopefully it was mailed today for both of us.

Edited April 9, 2010 by menina

[cherryblossom2010 0]

We had the interview today and was approved!!! Yay

Fatima, can you update my status on your spreadsheet? Thank you in advance

[andana_dj 0]

Just wondering, but I have not had a case update since they received the 485, has anyone else had this? Both EAD and AP updated everytime until we received the cards, but we had our interview, we were approved and still the case status has a date of feb. 2.

Same here.... Hopefully this is not a problem and we will receive the card in mail soon

[Calypso 464]

We had the interview today and was approved!!! Yay

Fatima, can you update my status on your spreadsheet? Thank you in advance

Congratulations!

[cherryblossom2010 0]

Hi guys, I went to the interview today at 26 Federal Plaza in New York, New York, and want to hear what you think of it.

The interview was not too bad. Our IO asked for the original copy of of marriage certificate and our birth certificates, our wedding photos (she took two photos with our family members in them), a copy of our health insurance card, joint bank account statement, lease agreement (she made a copy of the first page), and a copy of our 2009 joint tax return. She also asked for our utility bills with both of our names, but we told her that my husband pays bills and the bills don't have both names on them. She said then she didn't need them. She asked my husband how we met, if he has met my parents, and so on. She asked me how long I have been working in the U.S., if I have met my in-laws, and if we are planning to have a baby soon. Then she went through the questions on the form.

Then she wrote down on my passport her name, my A#, and today's date, AND gave me a letter with 5 paragraphs with check boxes. My letter had the 3rd paragraph's box checked stating "your case is being held for file review in order to prepare a decision. you will be advised by mail as to a decision on your application. no additional information is necessary from you at this time, however, if upon further review, additional information or evidence is required, you will receive a notice in the mail. please respond to any requests in a timely manner. failure to do so will result in denial of your application. please allow 60 days from today's date before making an inquirty on your case."

I asked IO if I was approved. She said "you're approved with me. But my supervisor has to review it and will make a decision. you should hear from us within 30 days. But if you don't hear from us in 60 days, come back to us on the 3rd floor of this building."

Our IO was generally nice. But my husband and I were very confursed.

What do you guys think?

I think Cherryblossom has an interview tomorrow in NYC, right? You should get there about 40 min before the interview time. There was a long line at the metal detector, and it took us about 30 min to get thru that, and we waited another 40 min from the time we dropped off our interview letter until we were called by IO. Good luck! And please let us know how it went.

SSON, Thank you for wishing us luck and remembering my interview date

Here is how my interview went:

My interview appointment was on 2:30pm.

Since we are currently planning for our wedding, my husband suggested that we go and see the officiant who is located in Staten Island. Yes, Staten Island... It was really like the Murphy's law (Anything that can go wrong will go wrong). We were not able to see the person we had appointment with... then after that, when we were heading back to the Staten Island ferry, the bus did not come!! I mean, we were waiting for the bus for a good hour. We couldn't even catch a cab. Anyway, finally when we got to the ferry, it was a little past 2pm... The ferry only ships every 30 minutes and we missed the 2pm ferry. I was so upset with myself. By the time we got on the ferry, it was 2:30pm. Yes you read that right, 2:30pm, my appointment time. By the time we reached the Federal Plaza, it was almost 3:30pm, one hour late for the appointment. The receptionist was not happy with our delayed arrival, which is totally understandable but we kept apologizing. He went inside and miraculously they took us in!!!!! We were so relieved. I think this has to do with the fact that there were only one couple in the waiting area too.

The interview itself was very very straight forward. IO sworn us in and then collected the I-94 and the EAD card. Then he asked us for the evidence of bona fide. We showed him pictures from our engagement party, civil wedding, lease, this month's rent bill, joint tax return and joint bank statement. He then proceeded to ask my husband questions like how did we meet?, where did you celebrate your wife's birthday last year?, why do you have separate health insurance? etc. Then IO asked me questions but all based on the forms we have submitted for AOS. Soon after he said that we are approved and he took my passport for stamping as I still have not received my AP. It was a nerve-wracking day for me but I am so so happy it had a happy ending and the process is over until 21 months from now.

Congratulations!

Thank you

Edited April 9, 2010 by cherryblossom2010

[sciencenerd 56]

It seems like interviews are going very well - thanks again for everyone posting their experiences. It definitely lessens my anxiety a bit. My wife and I are meeting with our lawyer today to prepare for our interview - I even feel nervous about that! I don't know why I'm so nervous about it - we have a lot of documentation, we've been together for many years, and I'm sure it's going to be fine. But, yeah, it helps to read about how things have gone for y'all. We're still getting together a little documentation, but my wife was able to get her driver's permit this week and the SSN has helped me add her to most of the financial accounts. Just 3 1/2 weeks to go. Good luck to everyone who has upcoming interviews!

[menina 50]

Hmmm...well, another touch today after the approval notice email stating it was sent April 8th was received yesterday. I wonder if that means that the green card was sent out only today? I was hoping to see the green card this weekend. I know that others have received the email and the green card in the same day, so here's to still hoping.

[MARM 7]

Hubby received greencard in hand today!