August 2010 Filers

[slider100 8]

Congratulations!

[Bruin85 9]

APPROVED!!! (I think) The IO would not give us a definite answer as to whether we were approved or not, because she said she has to go over everything in the file next week and make sure the fingerprints are clear and everything is in order. But she said everything looks good and we will be sent a letter with the decision, so I'll assume my wife was approved. She said if we do not receive a letter within 60 days then come back to the office. (It better be much sooner than that.) She also explained that she will need to apply for her permanent green card 90 days before the conditional one expires and that the expiration date will be printed on the card.

Anyway, here are the specifics for those who are interested: Our appointment was for 9:30am, and we arrived at the Federal building about 45 minutes early. For those of you who have early morning appointments at the downtown LA office, be aware that you can park across the street for a flat rate of $8 if you arrive before 9am, which we did. When we walked into the office, we were surprised at how empty it was. We figured that since this was the LA office and that our appointment was scheduled 6 weeks in advance that the office would be packed, but actually it was very quiet.

As we sat in the waiting room, at first I had my hands in my pockets. Then I realized,in case our IO happened to see us while we were sitting there, we should look like a couple. So I then sat with my arm around the back of my wife's chair and moved closer to her and kind of leaned into her. My wife told me later that she did she our IO walk by and look at us at one point while we were waiting. Anyway, about 10:10 (40 minutes after our scheduled appointment time) the IO called us in. Seems that she is an Obama fan and a Laker fan, because the walls of her office were covered with pics of Obama and also the Lakers, and one with the Lakers and Obama at the White House. Anyway, she asked for our id's and my wife's I-94 and then swore us in.

The next thing she asked for was our original marriage certificate and my wife's original birth certificate. I handed her the original of the marriage certificate but we didnt have an original copy of the birth certificate so I handed her a xerox copy. She said no, I need an original. I said we did not have an original, and she said that will hold up your case then because I need to compare the copy to the original. Now I was getting worried. I then told her that the reason we don't have the original is because it was taken from my wife when she went thru immigration at LAX. She looked thru the file and said well, it's not here. Now I was really, really worried, then all of a sudden she said, oh wait, here it is. I don't know why they took it from you at immigration but anyway, it's right here. I was thinking Thank god.

She then asked us if we paid to do the medical again because she noticed a 2nd medical report in our file and we didn't have to do that since my wife already did one in Manila. I told her that I just paid the doctor to transcribe the I-693. She said oh, ok, because all he did anyway was check off a few boxes. What I didnt tell her was that I did that because of all the warnings I had read on VJ about how we might get a RFE if we didnt.

Then she asked my wife for her full name and address. I was surprised that my wife was able to remember it, however, she left off the apt number and the zip code. I think this must have been important, because the IO then specifically asked her what the apt number is and then specifically asked her what the zip code is. Luckily she remembered it.

The IO then asked my wife what were the names of her parents. She asked my wife for the last 4 digits of her Social Security number. She didn't know the answer to that one since she has only had it a few months. She also asked my wife if she was working (which I thought was a silly question since she only got her EAD a couple weeks ago) she answered no, so the IO said she would put down housewife.

She then said that the following are silly questions and kind of sensitive but I have to ask them, and she proceded to ask the questions from the application, such as about prostitution and taking over the govt, etc.

That was it! The IO never asked to see any pictures nor asked to see any financial documents. Too bad I spent so much time and effort printing up pictures and having my wife's name added to our utility bills, lease, bank account, credit card, life and health insurance, etc, and making sure I had all the statements and made xerox copies. I also had copies of letters addressed to both of us. She never ask to see ANY of that. I'm glad I didn't go thru the trouble of having my friends sign affidavits. She didn't even ask how we met nor any questions about the wedding or the reception. I guess we looked legit to her so she didn't bother going beyond the minimum that was required. Also, my wife told me later that maybe when the IO saw all the stuff that we brought into her office that she decided we were obviously prepared and so she didn't feel the need nor the desire to look at it.

Anyway, hope that helps those of you who still have your interviews ahead. Good Luck to you all!

[amykathleen2005 441]

Received greencard in the mail today!

[MM+EV 0]

Received greencard in the mail today!

Congratulations

[K and L 27]

Congrats to the recent interviewees! Don't forget to change your status to AOS (approved)!

[dierathy 2]

EAD approved yesterday and card ordered! Yupi!

[newlyweds2010 208]

EAD approved yesterday and card ordered! Yupi!

[amykathleen2005 441]

APPROVED!!! (I think) The IO would not give us a definite answer as to whether we were approved or not, because she said she has to go over everything in the file next week and make sure the fingerprints are clear and everything is in order. But she said everything looks good and we will be sent a letter with the decision, so I'll assume my wife was approved. She said if we do not receive a letter within 60 days then come back to the office. (It better be much sooner than that.) She also explained that she will need to apply for her permanent green card 90 days before the conditional one expires and that the expiration date will be printed on the card.

Anyway, here are the specifics for those who are interested: Our appointment was for 9:30am, and we arrived at the Federal building about 45 minutes early. For those of you who have early morning appointments at the downtown LA office, be aware that you can park across the street for a flat rate of $8 if you arrive before 9am, which we did. When we walked into the office, we were surprised at how empty it was. We figured that since this was the LA office and that our appointment was scheduled 6 weeks in advance that the office would be packed, but actually it was very quiet.

As we sat in the waiting room, at first I had my hands in my pockets. Then I realized,in case our IO happened to see us while we were sitting there, we should look like a couple. So I then sat with my arm around the back of my wife's chair and moved closer to her and kind of leaned into her. My wife told me later that she did she our IO walk by and look at us at one point while we were waiting. Anyway, about 10:10 (40 minutes after our scheduled appointment time) the IO called us in. Seems that she is an Obama fan and a Laker fan, because the walls of her office were covered with pics of Obama and also the Lakers, and one with the Lakers and Obama at the White House. Anyway, she asked for our id's and my wife's I-94 and then swore us in.

The next thing she asked for was our original marriage certificate and my wife's original birth certificate. I handed her the original of the marriage certificate but we didnt have an original copy of the birth certificate so I handed her a xerox copy. She said no, I need an original. I said we did not have an original, and she said that will hold up your case then because I need to compare the copy to the original. Now I was getting worried. I then told her that the reason we don't have the original is because it was taken from my wife when she went thru immigration at LAX. She looked thru the file and said well, it's not here. Now I was really, really worried, then all of a sudden she said, oh wait, here it is. I don't know why they took it from you at immigration but anyway, it's right here. I was thinking Thank god.

She then asked us if we paid to do the medical again because she noticed a 2nd medical report in our file and we didn't have to do that since my wife already did one in Manila. I told her that I just paid the doctor to transcribe the I-693. She said oh, ok, because all he did anyway was check off a few boxes. What I didnt tell her was that I did that because of all the warnings I had read on VJ about how we might get a RFE if we didnt.

Then she asked my wife for her full name and address. I was surprised that my wife was able to remember it, however, she left off the apt number and the zip code. I think this must have been important, because the IO then specifically asked her what the apt number is and then specifically asked her what the zip code is. Luckily she remembered it.

The IO then asked my wife what were the names of her parents. She asked my wife for the last 4 digits of her Social Security number. She didn't know the answer to that one since she has only had it a few months. She also asked my wife if she was working (which I thought was a silly question since she only got her EAD a couple weeks ago) she answered no, so the IO said she would put down housewife.

She then said that the following are silly questions and kind of sensitive but I have to ask them, and she proceded to ask the questions from the application, such as about prostitution and taking over the govt, etc.

That was it! The IO never asked to see any pictures nor asked to see any financial documents. Too bad I spent so much time and effort printing up pictures and having my wife's name added to our utility bills, lease, bank account, credit card, life and health insurance, etc, and making sure I had all the statements and made xerox copies. I also had copies of letters addressed to both of us. She never ask to see ANY of that. I'm glad I didn't go thru the trouble of having my friends sign affidavits. She didn't even ask how we met nor any questions about the wedding or the reception. I guess we looked legit to her so she didn't bother going beyond the minimum that was required. Also, my wife told me later that maybe when the IO saw all the stuff that we brought into her office that she decided we were obviously prepared and so she didn't feel the need nor the desire to look at it.

Anyway, hope that helps those of you who still have your interviews ahead. Good Luck to you all!

Congrats!!!!

[usmcwife 3]

I finally got my biometrics appt letter. Nov 9th, Yay. It will be 3 months to the day from when we sent in the AOS.

[groovywlee 0]

Hi, all

Congratulations to all the approved...

I have received 2 AP letters yesterday without any notice. It's been 8 days since AP case showed up at the site.

And, also received e-mail/text notice that EAD has been sent out.

Seems everything goes fine with me.

Waiting for the AOS interview on Nov.17 hoping I can get the GC before DEC, after the interview.

Also, hoping everything goes well with all of you, too...

[SisJ 13]

Finally Received Biometric letter App Nov 15 @ 3:00pm ...Wish i could do a walk in , but i'm just glad i finally received it!

[newlyweds2010 208]

Finally Received Biometric letter App Nov 15 @ 3:00pm ...Wish i could do a walk in , but i'm just glad i finally received it!

try it! you have 20 days before the appointment, try going there one of the next days. the worst that can happen is that they will tell you to come back on the day of your appointment.

[SisJ 13]

try it! you have 20 days before the appointment, try going there one of the next days. the worst that can happen is that they will tell you to come back on the day of your appointment.

Well i thought about it, but the place is an hour away from me, so to attempt a walk in and be rejected would mean having to drive back and forth twice and not to mention the gas...so i'll just wait till the Date and plus it fits perfectly into my schedule

[newlyweds2010 208]

Well i thought about it, but the place is an hour away from me, so to attempt a walk in and be rejected would mean having to drive back and forth twice and not to mention the gas...so i'll just wait till the Date and plus it fits perfectly into my schedule

ok that makes sense. I didn't think about the distance. I tried a walk-in (unsuccessful) because my office is a few blocks away from my house. after the biometrics things will speed up considerably. good luck!

[slider100 8]

Congratulations!