Interview, Infopass & Timing

[thongd4me 69]

This morning (June 14) I just set up an infopass meeting for June 24.

After I did that, my wife called and said she got the interview invitation letter for July 27.

Her plan was to go to Thailand on July 3 and come back the first week in August,

as my wife's son in BKK will have his university graduation ceremony in July (before July 27).

My wife is a little unhappy (not upset, but not glad) about this.

Our goal for the infopass on June 24 is now to speed up the advance parole process,

if we don't get the AP before then.

Should we request a change of the interview date to allow her to spend a full month in

Thailand, or would it be better just to get her back in time for the interview, which should

be doable according to the graduation ceremony date?

Since we have to show them documents regarding the graduation, I don't think we may have

a good case for postponement, since we were notified of the interview in sufficient time.

Any experience or intuition regarding this?

When I get home I'll check to see if the AP was approved by this action, but I doubt it.

[katie & sifa 25]

This morning (June 14) I just set up an infopass meeting for June 24.

After I did that, my wife called and said she got the interview invitation letter for July 27.

Her plan was to go to Thailand on July 3 and come back the first week in August,

as my wife's son in BKK will have his university graduation ceremony in July (before July 27).

My wife is a little unhappy (not upset, but not glad) about this.

Our goal for the infopass on June 24 is now to speed up the advance parole process,

if we don't get the AP before then.

Should we request a change of the interview date to allow her to spend a full month in

Thailand, or would it be better just to get her back in time for the interview, which should

be doable according to the graduation ceremony date?

Since we have to show them documents regarding the graduation, I don't think we may have

a good case for postponement, since we were notified of the interview in sufficient time.

Any experience or intuition regarding this?

When I get home I'll check to see if the AP was approved by this action, but I doubt it.

I have read several horror stories about people changing the interview date, believing everything was fine and then being denied for not showing up on the original appointment date. If I were you I'd have her back here for the appointment she has scheduled just to be on the safe side.

[juliava 80]

I wouldn't recommend rescheduling the AOS interview date. That might generate long delays on the case. Of course, the decision is in your hands.

[NYC-KK 0]

I read a number of posts about this on this website strongly recommending against rescheduling an interview. One poster said that he had heard stories about them giving a new interview date on request, but then receiving a rejection notice once the original interview date had past. Therefore, I advise you to get her back here for the interview. Also, I would not plan to arrive just one day before the interview. You will want to make sure she has time to get here in the event something goes wrong with her planned flight.

[Vivi6 12]

They should have approved AP by now, maybe they can give you emergency AP at the infopass appointment?

On the other hand, you might get approval this week and AP might be there before the infopass appointment. As for the interview I would not reschedule and I would have your wife come back to the us 3 or 4 days before the interview. That might cut the trip to Thailand by a few days but you'll be on the safe side. I think she should be able to leave July 3rd if they give her AP at the infopass or if it's approved in the meantime-- which is what should really happen!

Keep us posted and congrats on getting the interview letter!

[thongd4me 69]

They should have approved AP by now, maybe they can give you emergency AP at the infopass appointment?

Yes AP is the main reason for the infopass now.

In the event we get that, we'll go to the interview in any case

armed with the evidence we would be expected to provide in

the actual interview.*

On the other hand, you might get approval this week and AP might be there before the infopass appointment.

However, there is hope of getting the AP before the interview.

As for the interview I would not reschedule and I would have your wife come back to the us 3 or 4 days before the interview.

Agree 100%; she is still not decided whether to go for the ceremony for a few weeks or wait until later to go for at least a month.

Her last word on that is she will ask her son what he wants her to do. Her ex husband says she should come for the ceremony.

That might cut the trip to Thailand by a few days but you'll be on the safe side.

I think she should be able to leave July 3rd if they give her AP at the infopass

or if it's approved in the meantime-- which is what should really happen!

Keep us posted and congrats on getting the interview letter!

Excellent post, thanks

*I don't know if they do "dry runs" for the interview if she gets the AP,

but from what I've gathered an infopass meeting may have an impact on

the final outcome.

In any case, if we don't get the GC from the infopass (highly unlikely to get it I think),

she will have to come back in time for the interview, which won't be a problem.

[thongd4me 69]

I re-checked the interview invitation - it's July 20 -

still no problem as the graduation ceremony is on July 8.

[Vivi6 12]

I re-checked the interview invitation - it's July 20 -

still no problem as the graduation ceremony is on July 8.

Good, so maybe she can leave as soon as she is done with the infopass if they give her AP there- or hopefully she will have AP approved soon!

I hope she succesfully recovered from all her surgeries by the way

[thongd4me 69]

Good, so maybe she can leave as soon as she is done with the infopass if they give her AP there- or hopefully she will have AP approved soon!

I hope she succesfully recovered from all her surgeries by the way

Yes she is well on her way and the question of working is kind of moot now

because of that and her plans for travel. Once she comes back & gets the GC

she will be looking for work.

I was home today and a family friend came from Idaho with her Canadian husband.

My wife gave them lunch which they didn't expect, made me proud to show her Thai hospitality.

Since we were home together, I decided to call the USCIS "canned live"

help line just because, well, I CAN.

Didn't expect anything.

And I wasn't disappointed!

They said the AP or EAD would likely be approved within 6 months,

thank you very much. Boy would I love that job, reading from a script

all day long...

That's why we are still planning to talk to an IO at 26 Federal Plaza NYC

on June 24 to try and speed up the AP so she can travel in July & come

back in time for the interview.

[thongd4me 69]

June 16 => AP mailed on June 16 and EAD production ordered.

Just waiting for her to go to Thailand for son's graduation & return in time for AOS interview on July 20.

Thanks for all the good wishes.

We still have an infopass date for June 24 but might cancel that as we are just waiting for the interview now.

We could bring lots of evidence for an interview on that date (maybe hoping for a sympathetic IO)

and see if we could score her GC so she could spend more time with her son in Thailand.

Hope springs eternal, but foolishness is forever...am I pushing my luck?

Edited June 17, 2010 by thongd4me