MAY 2010

[adethony 2]

So, here is my experience....

We got to USCIS in Irving, TX around 11.45am and our appointment was at 12.15pm. We walked in, to security where we showed our interview letter and he stamped "draft" (?) on it. He also asked me if i had brought the cashier's check and after I freaked out and gave him a scared look, he laughed and said no, I'm just kidding!! I told him he got me worried, USCIS has already got a lot of my money and I don't want to pay more and he agreed that it was an expensive process and we moved on.

Walked upstairs (2nd floor) and turned in our interview letter at the reception/front desk and the lady gave us a restaurant style buzzer (think Chili's). We looked for a seat in the very full waiting area and got stopped by our lawyer who was there with another couple. Their appointment time was 11.30 am and they said it was about an hour wait. We sat down with them and talked about snowboarding and health care until their buzzer rang.

There were IOs coming out from three different doors and it moved on pretty quick, we were mostly people watching and then our buzzer rang. We walked up to the reception area where a tall man was waiting, he looked confused at us, took the buzzer and said "I think I have the wrong couple" (I thought for myself...here we go...)and then he asked me "What country are you from?" I said Sweden, and he said OOH! Then it is the right ones. I asked him if he expected a blond, blue-eyed girl and he said yes. (This happens to me all the time, so I figured that out when he looked confused) We laughed, I told him my mom is blond and blue-eyed and that I get that all the time. He said he thought I was Brazilian (again, get that ALL the time!) and that my hubby was Italian or Hispanic (he gets that a lot too haha!) We walked in to his office. This is where it starts getting weird....or weirder haha!

We sit down, my file is already on his desk. He explains that there are 2 parts to the interview, first he goes through the application to make sure everything is there and then he asks for evidence that we are living together/bonafide marriage. He asked if I had any questions and I said not yet. Note! He did not make us swear. He starts going through the file, not asking questions, just more telling me...Your name is xx, your birth date is xx, your parents names are xx etc. I just said yes, yes... and he made check marks on the application. He asked me about 3-4 questions from the I-485 and I answered No, No, No...again he checked marked it. He said oh, I see XX is a co-sponsor to help out financially (didn't ask how I knew her or anything) and in the end of the application where the word collage I had made with some pics from 2008-2010 and he said oh, and here are some pics and I guess this is from Dallas and not your small town on a pic from St Pattys and I said yes and we all laughed. I told him I had more photos and he didn't say anything or didn't hear. My hubby told him that you can kind of see the time line by looking at his hair (he has short hair now, but it has been long and short during our relationship) and the IO said ah yeah, I didn't think about that, you're right. All the time while he went through the application we were talking about all kinds of stuff (non immigration related) like Texas, languages etc etc. Then he said Okay, you're application is fully complete. I don't see a reason to not approve your wife today to my hubby. I said, great! Asked if they stamp passports and he said only if it is an emergency, but the process for GCs are automatic now and much faster than it used to be so I would have it in about 2 weeks. He said he would put it in the system today. He told me that this was a conditional GC and that we had to apply for ROC etc. I said, I know and then we got up, shock hands and walked out. I forgot to check what time it was when we went in, but we were there for 5-10 min and walked out the building at 1.08pm.

We walked past the office where my lawyer and the other couple were and they were still interviewing them. They are not in cubicles in Irving, but small private offices with glass windows.

So, he didn't ask us ANY questions!!! Not one! Not how did you meet, nothing! Not even our DOB, address, he just read my info out loud from the application. Didn't ask my husband anything. He didn't ask for ANY documents and I'm not just talking about evidence, no driver's license, passport, I-94, EAD...NOTHING!!!! When we were done, I put my huge file folder back into my bag and said ok, I'll put my life back in the bag then and he just smiled. SO WEIRD!!!

Elus, please let me know if you have any question at all about the Irving office or my experience! It is a new building, only 2 years old and there is a lot of (free) parking in front of the building.

Congrats Hoppla!! I tolu you. I'm very happy for you.

[hoppla 1]

This is an awesome experience for you. Wow you don’t just know how your great success has an impart in me right now.It seems you bolstered and lifted my confidence now to 80%.Mine is two weeks to come and I have prepared everything intact. This is your week,please enjoy it.

I am a Master’s student and I am still on F1 visa,though my profile account is showing pending permanent resident.Do I have to take my I-20 form along with me to the interview??It wasn’t among the listed document we should provide.

Well so far as of today,we have gathered together the documents below,with your experienced,can this documents strike a cord on the IO.

1. ***Joint bank account,

2. *** AT&T internet & cable bill

3. *** Water bill

4 *** Energy(gas) bill.

5. ***Joint family(AT&T) phone bills,

6. .***Joint family LA LITNESS bill

7. *** Notarized Affidavit from two friends .

8. *** letters address to both of us or to the same address.

9. *** wedding photos and photos before marriage up to 350 pics.

10. *** Driver license name changed to married name.

11. *** Her Social security card now on our marriage name

12. *** My learner permit driver license card with the same address.

13. ***Hotel receipt for our honeymoon.

14. ***A trip together to North Carolina,whitehouse,Baltimore,virginia in July to see her parent again(That would proof plane ticket and photo taken).

The address on our interview is in** Irving circle east lobby**

Again CONGRATS

Thank you!! I'm so happy it made you feel better about it! Most of the officers looked nice and my lawyer who knows most of them told us that they are normally good/nice in the Irving office. The address is correct, I don't know why they print out the "lobby" on there since it is not really part of the address. You will see the main doors and the security through the big glass windows.

You have more than enough evidence. I did bring all my I-20s even though I graduated with my MBA in Nov 2007 and I probably didn't need to. I would tell you to bring them since you're still in school, just to be sure, but they might not ask for them...like for us they might not ask for anything, who knows

Congrats Hoppla!! I tolu you. I'm very happy for you.

Thank you adethony!!! I know, you did and you were soooo right!

[elus 3]

Thank you!! I'm so happy it made you feel better about it! Most of the officers looked nice and my lawyer who knows most of them told us that they are normally good/nice in the Irving office. The address is correct, I don't know why they print out the "lobby" on there since it is not really part of the address. You will see the main doors and the security through the big glass windows.

You have more than enough evidence. I did bring all my I-20s even though I graduated with my MBA in Nov 2007 and I probably didn't need to. I would tell you to bring them since you're still in school, just to be sure, but they might not ask for them...like for us they might not ask for anything, who knows

Thank you adethony!!! I know, you did and you were soooo right!

Thanks very much.I will take the I-20 along.

[ValerieA 350]

Congrats, hoppla!

[hoppla 1]

Congrats, hoppla!

Thanks Valerie!! No updates on the website yet though.

[immi267 0]

So basically I called USCIS customer service yesterday just to see how come I had no updates on my cases since June 30 just to see what the response would be. I spoke to one of the nicest ladies ever and I woke up this morning at 7:30 am and there`s a text on my phone that says....

Application Type: I765 , APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production

On August 17, 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.

How long after did most persons cards arrive? I can finally drive....well legally now...

[hoppla 1]

So basically I called USCIS customer service yesterday just to see how come I had no updates on my cases since June 30 just to see what the response would be. I spoke to one of the nicest ladies ever and I woke up this morning at 7:30 am and there`s a text on my phone that says....

Application Type: I765 , APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production

On August 17, 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.

How long after did most persons cards arrive? I can finally drive....well legally now...

Yay!!! That's great news!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

How long after did most persons cards arrive? I can finally drive....well legally now...

Expect it within 14 business days! (don't count saturday or sunday)

[hoppla 1]

How long after did most persons cards arrive? I can finally drive....well legally now...

Remember you get three notices (most of the time) when the wording changes from "ordered" to "mailed" in the message is when they actually send it. The blue dot should go back to post-decision at that time too.

Edited August 18, 2010 by hoppla

[ValerieA 350]

Remember you get three notices (most of the time) when the wording changes from "ordered" to "mailed" in the message is when they actually send it. The blue dot should go back to post-decision at that time too.

Unless you are me. Sigh. I got 3 'card production ordered' for the EAD, then the mailed, then the 'returned by USPS', then the 'mailed to current address' one, before receiving it in the mail (2 days after the last email). Totally my fault for moving when they were sending my EAD, just bad timing. With my GC, I got 4 'card production ordered', the last one a week after the third one. Then, finally, 6 days after that (Monday), I got my 'mailed' email, and am hoping it is in my mail today. Will likely go squirrely if it isn't. Oh wait, that name is taken.

Edited August 18, 2010 by ValerieA

[hoppla 1]

I got the first txt & email!!! Now it feels real!! :dance:

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

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production

On August 18, 2010, we ordered production of your new card.

Blue dots: I-485 went to Card Production o I-130 still in Initial Review but was touched.

[Leigh Ann 8]

I got the first txt & email!!! Now it feels real!! :dance:

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

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production

On August 18, 2010, we ordered production of your new card.

Blue dots: I-485 went to Card Production o I-130 still in Initial Review but was touched.

Exciting!

[candyricardo 1]

Thanks Valerie!! No updates on the website yet though.

congratulations Hoppla!!

[hoppla 1]

congratulations Hoppla!!

Thank you!!

[Young Love 5]

Big congrats to immi267 and hoppla!

I love seeing cards being ordered