February 2010 filers??

[EmVee 4]

And how about phone text messages? Has anyone heard of someone showing the IO their phone during the interview? My phone shows hundreds of text messages from the day we met.

There's some debate over whether or not you can bring phones in with you to the building. Some people report being made to take their phones back to their car before security let them in, and other people say they were able to sit in the waiting room and make calls! Maybe it's to do with the model of the phone? (i.e. phones with internet and cameras probably aren't allowed) So you could try bringing it, but don't rely on it as key evidence.

[Luckygoat 2]

Hey guys, I got my EAD card production order on the 24th, uscis updated 26th (today). Hopefully its mailed out this week because im suppose to report to work tomorrow for my first day.

As for the above comment, we will just leave our phones in the car to safe.

Off topic...what are you guys wearing, lol. I know this is funny but we went out shopping for things to wear today. We're pretty big on style so we use any opportunity to dress up. My wife wants me to wear a tie but I don't want to over do it. I just got a button up and gray slacks, and she got a really dressy blouse and some gray slacks as well. I heard some people say they just wear anything, jeans or whatever...I guess its whatever fits your personality.

[EmVee 4]

I have a grey bodycon dress with a black belt from my "secretary" days. LOL. So I'll probably wear that. My husband is going to wear charcoal slacks and a grey button-up shirt. Basically, we're dressing as though it's a job interview.

But I'm sure as long as you look neat and well put-together, it should be fine. They just don't want people arriving in the clothes they wore the night before, or gym shorts.

[ninnie 0]

I have a grey bodycon dress with a black belt from my "secretary" days. LOL. So I'll probably wear that. My husband is going to wear charcoal slacks and a grey button-up shirt. Basically, we're dressing as though it's a job interview.

But I'm sure as long as you look neat and well put-together, it should be fine. They just don't want people arriving in the clothes they wore the night before, or gym shorts.

hi emvee,

God bless and good luck for your interview.

impress them.

regards,

ninnie

[EmVee 4]

hi emvee,

God bless and good luck for your interview.

impress them.

regards,

ninnie

Aw, thank you! I'll do my best to impress them, lol!

Hey guys..... my EAD was approved yesterday. But hey, I'll still need it until I get the residency card, right? It's not... TOTALLY useless... Hehehehe!

[Luckygoat 2]

I have a grey bodycon dress with a black belt from my "secretary" days. LOL. So I'll probably wear that. My husband is going to wear charcoal slacks and a grey button-up shirt. Basically, we're dressing as though it's a job interview.

But I'm sure as long as you look neat and well put-together, it should be fine. They just don't want people arriving in the clothes they wore the night before, or gym shorts.

LMAO @ Secretary days...sounds nice. I just realize your interview is tomorrow. Good luck, cant wait until u get back tomo and let us know that your interview was only 5mins, approved and passport stamped. Thats was we're hopin for, lol. wishful thinkin.

[luckykat 1]

There's some debate over whether or not you can bring phones in with you to the building. Some people report being made to take their phones back to their car before security let them in, and other people say they were able to sit in the waiting room and make calls! Maybe it's to do with the model of the phone? (i.e. phones with internet and cameras probably aren't allowed) So you could try bringing it, but don't rely on it as key evidence.

Well, my local office allows you to take them in. There IS a sign in the waiting room that said "No phones" or something like that, but that didn't stop one British woman from chatting away merrily the day I went in for my biometrics.

Just thought if it came to it, I could just pull my phone from my bag and show the texts.

[nats6624 0]

Aw, thank you! I'll do my best to impress them, lol!

Hey guys..... my EAD was approved yesterday. But hey, I'll still need it until I get the residency card, right? It's not... TOTALLY useless... Hehehehe!

Good Luck!!

[nats6624 0]

Hey guys, I got my EAD card production order on the 24th, uscis updated 26th (today). Hopefully its mailed out this week because im suppose to report to work tomorrow for my first day.

As for the above comment, we will just leave our phones in the car to safe.

Off topic...what are you guys wearing, lol. I know this is funny but we went out shopping for things to wear today. We're pretty big on style so we use any opportunity to dress up. My wife wants me to wear a tie but I don't want to over do it. I just got a button up and gray slacks, and she got a really dressy blouse and some gray slacks as well. I heard some people say they just wear anything, jeans or whatever...I guess its whatever fits your personality.

Yayyy!!! hopefully that means i will get mine to since i seem to be getting everything like 3 days later than you!!

[nats6624 0]

Hey guys, I got my EAD card production order on the 24th, uscis updated 26th (today). Hopefully its mailed out this week because im suppose to report to work tomorrow for my first day.

As for the above comment, we will just leave our phones in the car to safe.

Off topic...what are you guys wearing, lol. I know this is funny but we went out shopping for things to wear today. We're pretty big on style so we use any opportunity to dress up. My wife wants me to wear a tie but I don't want to over do it. I just got a button up and gray slacks, and she got a really dressy blouse and some gray slacks as well. I heard some people say they just wear anything, jeans or whatever...I guess its whatever fits your personality.

I can't believe you guys are going so formal. I had no idea what to wear. I don't own and khaki slacks or anything to wear i only own jeans, but now i feel like that is under dressing.

[EmVee 4]

I'm back... and we were approved!! He printed out a congratulations letter and said I'll receive my GC in the next few weeks.

Now, to the story. Because I know you guys want every detail, LOL!

We arrived REAAALLY early because we were paranoid about long lines. It took us nearly 25 minutes to find parking (there was also lots of traffic because of a cop's funeral in downtown LA) but when we got to the building the line was fairly short. In fact, one of the guys operating the scanner commented that he'd rarely seen so few people at that hour of the day!

Sadly, inside was a different story. We went on up to the fourth floor where a very nice officer at a help desk asked us how early we were. When we said over an hour, she laughed and told us to go get food because there were lots of people ahead of us and all the officers were on lunch. So we went outside again and wandered around until noon, but there was really nothing to do so we ended up back upstairs again. We handed in the notice and sat down to wait.

Most of the people there had lawyers with them, and translators. And some of them were dressed so super casually!! One lady was just in a tracksuit, and there was a teenage girl there in tiny shorts and flip flops. So much for dressing neatly, LOL! Anyway, our appointment was scheduled for one, but it was one thirty before we were called. Meanwhile, I tried to keep an eye on who was going in, so I could let you guys know. It seemed that they called people in together, but sometimes they would send one person back out again for AGES. We were called together.

The officer was a very nice African guy, really friendly and easy-going. He swore us in, then handed me back the photos, certified birth cert and certified marriage cert that I'd send in originally. We gave him our IDs and he asked me to verify my name, address, date of birth, and parents' names for the form. Then he asked my husband how we met. Tony gave him the brief background story, and the guy was happy enough with that. He then asked me if I had any documents to show we were currently living together. I handed over the lease agreement, back account records, phone records, gym membership and Netflix account statement. He looked them over and joked a bit about having a gym membership but never using it, which we agreed with. He asked if I needed him to photocopy anything so I could take the originals and I said they were all copied already so he could hang on to them, which he was happy about. Then he just said, "In two years time you will have to make sure you get the 10 year residency card, because if you don't and this expires you may be subject to deportation." I just stared at him for a minute then said, "Does this mean I have a green card?" and he laughed and said, "Yes, congratulations to you both."

He printed off the letters and we chatted a bit more about making sure I notified them of an address change while waiting for the green card, and he said my married name would be on it. I asked about travel and he said my passport being in my maiden name shouldn't be a problem but if I wanted to be extra cautious I could carry my marriage cert to show the officers at the border. Then he gave me the letters. As he did so, he noticed the huge pile of photo albums and scrapbooks I had lugged into the room and he jokingly said to my husband, "I'm guessing your wife spent a lot of time making these, I'd better look at them or she'll go away saying what a mean man I am for not taking the time." So he flipped through the photos, complimented me on the scrapbooks (though he really wasn't paying attention; typical man. Sigh) and then he asked us to follow him outside to photocopy our IDs. He reminded me to cut up my EAD once I got my green card, showed us the exit and wished us all the best of luck in our lives together.

It took ten minutes, if even that long. And now all the stress is behind us - at least for another 18 months.

[Luckygoat 2]

I'm back... and we were approved!! He printed out a congratulations letter and said I'll receive my GC in the next few weeks.

Now, to the story. Because I know you guys want every detail, LOL!

We arrived REAAALLY early because we were paranoid about long lines. It took us nearly 25 minutes to find parking (there was also lots of traffic because of a cop's funeral in downtown LA) but when we got to the building the line was fairly short. In fact, one of the guys operating the scanner commented that he'd rarely seen so few people at that hour of the day!

Sadly, inside was a different story. We went on up to the fourth floor where a very nice officer at a help desk asked us how early we were. When we said over an hour, she laughed and told us to go get food because there were lots of people ahead of us and all the officers were on lunch. So we went outside again and wandered around until noon, but there was really nothing to do so we ended up back upstairs again. We handed in the notice and sat down to wait.

Most of the people there had lawyers with them, and translators. And some of them were dressed so super casually!! One lady was just in a tracksuit, and there was a teenage girl there in tiny shorts and flip flops. So much for dressing neatly, LOL! Anyway, our appointment was scheduled for one, but it was one thirty before we were called. Meanwhile, I tried to keep an eye on who was going in, so I could let you guys know. It seemed that they called people in together, but sometimes they would send one person back out again for AGES. We were called together.

The officer was a very nice African guy, really friendly and easy-going. He swore us in, then handed me back the photos, certified birth cert and certified marriage cert that I'd send in originally. We gave him our IDs and he asked me to verify my name, address, date of birth, and parents' names for the form. Then he asked my husband how we met. Tony gave him the brief background story, and the guy was happy enough with that. He then asked me if I had any documents to show we were currently living together. I handed over the lease agreement, back account records, phone records, gym membership and Netflix account statement. He looked them over and joked a bit about having a gym membership but never using it, which we agreed with. He asked if I needed him to photocopy anything so I could take the originals and I said they were all copied already so he could hang on to them, which he was happy about. Then he just said, "In two years time you will have to make sure you get the 10 year residency card, because if you don't and this expires you may be subject to deportation." I just stared at him for a minute then said, "Does this mean I have a green card?" and he laughed and said, "Yes, congratulations to you both."

He printed off the letters and we chatted a bit more about making sure I notified them of an address change while waiting for the green card, and he said my married name would be on it. I asked about travel and he said my passport being in my maiden name shouldn't be a problem but if I wanted to be extra cautious I could carry my marriage cert to show the officers at the border. Then he gave me the letters. As he did so, he noticed the huge pile of photo albums and scrapbooks I had lugged into the room and he jokingly said to my husband, "I'm guessing your wife spent a lot of time making these, I'd better look at them or she'll go away saying what a mean man I am for not taking the time." So he flipped through the photos, complimented me on the scrapbooks (though he really wasn't paying attention; typical man. Sigh) and then he asked us to follow him outside to photocopy our IDs. He reminded me to cut up my EAD once I got my green card, showed us the exit and wished us all the best of luck in our lives together.

It took ten minutes, if even that long. And now all the stress is behind us - at least for another 18 months.

WOOP WOOP...lets pop some champagne for Emvee. lol. ok now let me go back and read details now.

[Luckygoat 2]

Most of the people there had lawyers with them, and translators. And some of them were dressed so super casually!! One lady was just in a tracksuit, and there was a teenage girl there in tiny shorts and flip flops. So much for dressing neatly, LOL! Anyway, our appointment was scheduled for one, but it was one thirty before we were called. Meanwhile, I tried to keep an eye on who was going in, so I could let you guys know. It seemed that they called people in together, but sometimes they would send one person back out again for AGES. We were called together.

Wow I guess it depends on your personality because I would never go to any sort of interview not professionally dressed. Tracksuit? lol to me thats so inappropiate and tacky. What did the people there look, im just curious to know what would trigger the interviewer to seperate the couple.

[furiousng 2]

Congrats on your successful interview!

[nats6624 0]

I'm back... and we were approved!! He printed out a congratulations letter and said I'll receive my GC in the next few weeks.

Now, to the story. Because I know you guys want every detail, LOL!

We arrived REAAALLY early because we were paranoid about long lines. It took us nearly 25 minutes to find parking (there was also lots of traffic because of a cop's funeral in downtown LA) but when we got to the building the line was fairly short. In fact, one of the guys operating the scanner commented that he'd rarely seen so few people at that hour of the day!

Sadly, inside was a different story. We went on up to the fourth floor where a very nice officer at a help desk asked us how early we were. When we said over an hour, she laughed and told us to go get food because there were lots of people ahead of us and all the officers were on lunch. So we went outside again and wandered around until noon, but there was really nothing to do so we ended up back upstairs again. We handed in the notice and sat down to wait.

Most of the people there had lawyers with them, and translators. And some of them were dressed so super casually!! One lady was just in a tracksuit, and there was a teenage girl there in tiny shorts and flip flops. So much for dressing neatly, LOL! Anyway, our appointment was scheduled for one, but it was one thirty before we were called. Meanwhile, I tried to keep an eye on who was going in, so I could let you guys know. It seemed that they called people in together, but sometimes they would send one person back out again for AGES. We were called together.

The officer was a very nice African guy, really friendly and easy-going. He swore us in, then handed me back the photos, certified birth cert and certified marriage cert that I'd send in originally. We gave him our IDs and he asked me to verify my name, address, date of birth, and parents' names for the form. Then he asked my husband how we met. Tony gave him the brief background story, and the guy was happy enough with that. He then asked me if I had any documents to show we were currently living together. I handed over the lease agreement, back account records, phone records, gym membership and Netflix account statement. He looked them over and joked a bit about having a gym membership but never using it, which we agreed with. He asked if I needed him to photocopy anything so I could take the originals and I said they were all copied already so he could hang on to them, which he was happy about. Then he just said, "In two years time you will have to make sure you get the 10 year residency card, because if you don't and this expires you may be subject to deportation." I just stared at him for a minute then said, "Does this mean I have a green card?" and he laughed and said, "Yes, congratulations to you both."

He printed off the letters and we chatted a bit more about making sure I notified them of an address change while waiting for the green card, and he said my married name would be on it. I asked about travel and he said my passport being in my maiden name shouldn't be a problem but if I wanted to be extra cautious I could carry my marriage cert to show the officers at the border. Then he gave me the letters. As he did so, he noticed the huge pile of photo albums and scrapbooks I had lugged into the room and he jokingly said to my husband, "I'm guessing your wife spent a lot of time making these, I'd better look at them or she'll go away saying what a mean man I am for not taking the time." So he flipped through the photos, complimented me on the scrapbooks (though he really wasn't paying attention; typical man. Sigh) and then he asked us to follow him outside to photocopy our IDs. He reminded me to cut up my EAD once I got my green card, showed us the exit and wished us all the best of luck in our lives together.

It took ten minutes, if even that long. And now all the stress is behind us - at least for another 18 months.

Congratulations !!! Wow i am so glad your interview went great and you had a nice guy.. I hope i get someone like that next tuesday! So he didn't really keep anything you brought in? or he kept the copies? Were you extremely nervous?

Edited April 27, 2010 by nats6624