MAY 2010

[engineer21 51]

I can't believe the interview is over and we are approved! I'm so glad we had the VJ community during this process. Good luck to everyone who have yet to do the interview. It's really not as bad as you think it's going to be!

Congrats!!!!! So happy for you guys!

Time to celebrate :dance:

[cbrniner 1]

I can't believe the interview is over and we are approved! I'm so glad we had the VJ community during this process. Good luck to everyone who have yet to do the interview. It's really not as bad as you think it's going to be!

Congrats :dance:

[engineer21 51]

Congrats :dance:

Any news on your step son's application?

[Leigh Ann 8]

Congrats barcelona!

My husband is starting work today and I'm starting on the 16th so any questions we get about work might be problematic. We'll have to get our selves together before the interview, for sure.

[cbrniner 1]

Any news on your step son's application?

Funny that you asked ...LOL Yesterday I called USCIS in the morning to have his I130 expedited based on financial loss to an individual (he is staying with his grand mother who is retired and funds are limited) and also that his mother is here and been approved on everything , both I130's were filed concurrently .... USCIS put the request in for the expedite ..

Later yesterday afternoon we got a text and email saying that the request was denied ....errrrr we werent to Happy .....so I got on the phone right away with my US senators office and they had me send some papers ....While we were out yesterday afternoon I got a call from California Service center but they didnt leave a message , so we just figured that they were just confirming what the text had already told us ..

So this morning right at 8am the phone rings and its USCIS California Service center again , the lady called to Apologize (she started out with), apparently when she was going over my stepsons expedite request she hit the wrong button ...She wanted to let us know that the expedite had been approved and apologized many times after that .... So were hoping to get his I130 approval soon so it can move on to the NVC ...It was a great way to start the morning for sure ...

[Felipe23 2]

We got there around 9:15 and went through security. After we checked in, we waited for 1.5 hours! There were so many attorneys (it's a bad sign when the attorney tells the client, "this doesn't make sense!" while going through the paperwork). At least one couple was separated for their interview. Our interview lasted about 25 minutes.

Some questions were:

- How did we meet?

- What is your wife's cell phone number? Work number? Who picks up the phone at her work?

- What is your wife's birthday? What is her age as of today?

- What have you learned about your husband during the time you've known him (for this my immediate answer was "a lot?")

- Which gym does your husband go to?

- Have you met your husband's parents?

- How much is your rent? (The IO asked to see the lease)

- What are your building's amenities?

- Do you have cable? Do you have any premium channels?

- Have either of you been married before? Do you have any children?

- Who are the people in the photos?

The IO took 2 of our photos and stapled to the back of the file. The IO also took all our documentation we brought (utility bills, copy of insurance card, life insurance information, joint checking account statements, rent statement). The FedEx envelope was also folded and in the back of the file.

We asked for the stamp in the passport, but the IO said we'll probably receive the GC in the mail before our September trip. I'm assuming that means we were approved. The IO took the I-94, wrote in the passport about the interview, and told us about the 2 year conditional GC.

Oh, if anyone has their interview at 26 Federal Plaza, remember that:

- The front entrance is on Broadway

- Give yourself about 20 minutes to clear security

- Check in is on the 8th floor, the interview is on the 4th floor, and the bathroom is on the 6th floor

- If you're bringing bills and statements, punch holes at top (anything to make the IO's life easier)

- Bring lots of photos

I can't believe the interview is over and we are approved! I'm so glad we had the VJ community during this process. Good luck to everyone who have yet to do the interview. It's really not as bad as you think it's going to be!

Congrats Barcelona!

seems like the interviews on the Federal Plaza are more detailed(well that's where the biggest stoke unit is located)

anyways nothing to fear if there is nothing to hide:)

T minus 6 days

[barcelona 0]

Congrats Barcelona!

seems like the interviews on the Federal Plaza are more detailed(well that's where the biggest stoke unit is located)

anyways nothing to fear if there is nothing to hide:)

T minus 6 days

I didn't know that. I overheard 2 attorneys in the waiting room and they were talking about a couple who had to do a stokes interview. Scary.

Good luck Felipe23. Are you going to Federal Plaza?

[meijie 9]

That interesting, so when I start working now I have to pay those.

You do not have to pay medicare and SS if you are F-1, provided you have been in the USA less than 5 years. If you have been in the USA for more than 5 years, you are considered a resident for tax purposes and have to pay it. Of course with the GC, we're all residents now. No more 1040-NR.

[Felipe23 2]

I didn't know that. I overheard 2 attorneys in the waiting room and they were talking about a couple who had to do a stokes interview. Scary.

Good luck Felipe23. Are you going to Federal Plaza?

No garden city

[meijie 9]

- What is your wife's cell phone number? Work number? Who picks up the phone at her work?

CONGRATS Barcelona!!

Wow, I'm glad I didn't get that question. Hubby's answer would be, "I don't know (it's in my phone), I don't know, and I don't know because I've never called her at work."

[adethony 2]

Congrats to everybody that has been approved.

Nothing seems to be happening on the cases that were sent to CSC.

It seems the interview route is faster than the transfer to CSC.

[hoppla 1]

Funny that you asked ...LOL Yesterday I called USCIS in the morning to have his I130 expedited based on financial loss to an individual (he is staying with his grand mother who is retired and funds are limited) and also that his mother is here and been approved on everything , both I130's were filed concurrently .... USCIS put the request in for the expedite ..

Later yesterday afternoon we got a text and email saying that the request was denied ....errrrr we werent to Happy .....so I got on the phone right away with my US senators office and they had me send some papers ....While we were out yesterday afternoon I got a call from California Service center but they didnt leave a message , so we just figured that they were just confirming what the text had already told us ..

So this morning right at 8am the phone rings and its USCIS California Service center again , the lady called to Apologize (she started out with), apparently when she was going over my stepsons expedite request she hit the wrong button ...She wanted to let us know that the expedite had been approved and apologized many times after that .... So were hoping to get his I130 approval soon so it can move on to the NVC ...It was a great way to start the morning for sure ...

I'm happy to hear that it is moving forward! What a scare though, clumsy IO people

[engineer21 51]

Funny that you asked ...LOL Yesterday I called USCIS in the morning to have his I130 expedited based on financial loss to an individual (he is staying with his grand mother who is retired and funds are limited) and also that his mother is here and been approved on everything , both I130's were filed concurrently .... USCIS put the request in for the expedite ..

Later yesterday afternoon we got a text and email saying that the request was denied ....errrrr we werent to Happy .....so I got on the phone right away with my US senators office and they had me send some papers ....While we were out yesterday afternoon I got a call from California Service center but they didnt leave a message , so we just figured that they were just confirming what the text had already told us ..

So this morning right at 8am the phone rings and its USCIS California Service center again , the lady called to Apologize (she started out with), apparently when she was going over my stepsons expedite request she hit the wrong button ...She wanted to let us know that the expedite had been approved and apologized many times after that .... So were hoping to get his I130 approval soon so it can move on to the NVC ...It was a great way to start the morning for sure ...

funny (NOT!) how someone on their end pushing the wrong button can mess up your entire day..

Well at least she was nice and apologized! So glad to hear everything got straigtened out. yay!

Hope it moves quickly from this point on!!

[Indomex 10]

Hi all

My wife and I are filers who had our interview today in San Francisco. We had a very cold East Asian lady who grilled us for a long time (my estimate is 30 minutes but it seemed really long). In the end she didn't take my I94 and gave us a printout that said the case was under further review. She didn't seem to imply that more documentation was needed but said that we will get a notice if more info is needed. My wife and I were together for almost 5 years before we got married and have a lot of joint documentation that we submitted and the interviewer complained that we didn't provide enough pictures!

Interestingly, I have already received my AP and my EAD is on the way. I am wondering if anyone else had a similar experience but mostly I am just reporting on our fairly frustrating experience to add to the knowledge here on the board.

Hi all, I said I would post here about any follow up action on my case after our less than perfect interview. Well here it is.

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Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production

On August 4, 2010, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

This step applies to applications that result in an applicant receiving a card (such as a "green card") or other document (such as a naturalization certificate, employment authorization document, travel document, or advance parole). Applications will be in this step from the time the order to produce the card/document is given until the card/document is produced and mailed to the applicant. You can expect to receive your card/document within 30 days of the approval of your application.

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What a relief! Yet another May filer approved. Boy do I need a drink. Thanks to all of you VJers for your kind words, sense of humor and the joint waiting....

[hoppla 1]

Hi all, I said I would post here about any follow up action on my case after our less than perfect interview. Well here it is.

------------------------------

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production

On August 4, 2010, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, 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.

This step applies to applications that result in an applicant receiving a card (such as a "green card") or other document (such as a naturalization certificate, employment authorization document, travel document, or advance parole). Applications will be in this step from the time the order to produce the card/document is given until the card/document is produced and mailed to the applicant. You can expect to receive your card/document within 30 days of the approval of your application.

-------------------------------

What a relief! Yet another May filer approved. Boy do I need a drink. Thanks to all of you VJers for your kind words, sense of humor and the joint waiting....

Congrats!! I can imagine what a relief that must be! I'm happy for you and have a drink for VJ too!!