Our sad interview experience in Garden City

[thongd4me 69]

I am an american citizen (black) and my wife is a Canadian citizen born in romania. We went to our interview on the 4th of aug at garden city. All

racially mixed couples you should be advised that there is an officer who is very prejudiced against mixed

couples. This officer only asked 6 to 7 questions and came to the conclusion that our marriage is a fraud.

=>>Did you answer most of the questions correctly? Was there one question that resulted in a dirty look from the IO?*

We are very much in love to each other and we were shocked to hear that we have been sent for a stokes interview.

She could not tell our so called lawyer (stay away from Oltarsh and associates) what is the reason she has sent us to the stokes interview.

Her decision has been made 1-2 min after she started to interview us

when she started to write in my wife's passport "Pending". We have answered all her questions and she did not even want to take a look at our evidence

.She just threw everything in the file .We had lots of proof of a bonafide marriage (which our marriage is) :

-deed of the time share condo we bought together

-joint bank statements from 2009

-joint credit card statements

-joint annuity ownership

-joint T-mobile cell family plan

-my life insurance with wife beneficiary

-letter from my mother that we have lived with her since Feb 2009 (we got married in Jan 2010)

-endless number of pictures with us in various location(we had 3 trips to Las Vegas,one trip to Atlantic City,one to my daughter i New Hampshire)

with both of us, as well as alll my family and friends.

The only thing we think has triggered questions is that I have been married 3 times before (but all my former wives are USC) and my wife has 2 divorces

from another country and has never been petioned by an USC before.

We have hired another attorney, a real fire brand lady who will help us with the stokes interview and we hope that with our love to each other and our faith in God will be

ok at the Stokes interview which will be on Aug 24th.

*I'm trying to understand your reason for having a lawyer in the first place,

as from the list of good evidence that you gave didn't indicate anything

that would be a "red flag" regarding a possible immigration violation in

the past that would disqualify one or both of you.

Being called for a Stokes interview does not necessarily mean your

adjustment case will be thrown out, but I'm a little curious as to (other

than your statements regarding the prejudiced IO) why your approval

was deferred this time around. Did one or both of you give wrong

answers to any of the questions (or merely answers that the IO

PERCEIVED as wrong)?

If you feel better with another lawyer for the next round, by means

go ahead. However, there has been a lot of discussion about

interviews (including Stokes interviews) on VJ that should be

enough preparation. You yourselves have to provide the answers

in the interview.

If there was (in your view) apparent misconduct on the part of the

IO, why didn't your lawyer point this out? If you hired a lawyer to

be at the interview, what was the lawyer's take on what happened?

I don't think an IO would overtly play on the topic of race,

but what signs indicated that this was his covert agenda?

Was all the lawyer did just to shrug his shoulders?

[PaigeOsvald 2]

I am an american citizen (black) and my wife is a Canadian citizen born in romania. We went to our interview on the 4th of aug at garden city. All

racially mixed couples you should be advised that there is an officer who is very prejudiced against mixed

couples. This officer only asked 6 to 7 questions and came to the conclusion that our marriage is a fraud. We are very much in

love to each other and we were shocked to hear that we have been sent for a stokes interview. She could not tell our so called lawyer

(stay away from Oltarsh and associates) what is the reason she has sent us to the stokes interview. Her decision has been made 1-2 min after she started to interview us

when she started to write in my wife's passport "Pending". We have answered all her questions and she did not even want to take a look at our evidence

.She just threw everything in the file .We had lots of proof of a bonafide marriage (which our marriage is) :

-deed of the time share condo we bought together

-joint bank statements from 2009

-joint credit card statements

-joint annuity ownership

-joint T-mobile cell family plan

-my life insurance with wife beneficiary

-letter from my mother that we have lived with her since Feb 2009 (we got married in Jan 2010)

-endless number of pictures with us in various location(we had 3 trips to Las Vegas,one trip to Atlantic City,one to my daughter i New Hampshire)

with both of us, as well as alll my family and friends.

The only thing we think has triggered questions is that I have been married 3 times before (but all my former wives are USC) and my wife has 2 divorces

from another country and has never been petioned by an USC before.

We have hired another attorney, a real fire brand lady who will help us with the stokes interview and we hope that with our love to each other and our faith in God will be

ok at the Stokes interview which will be on Aug 24th.

wow thats crazy!...I really cant stand that your whole freekin life is depending upon someone's mood or biases...especially when you provide all the required info..then whats the problem?...do you need a vial of blood??...good grief, I hope things work out for you and your honey..keep us informed.

[gvt 0]

I am an american citizen (black) and my wife is a Canadian citizen born in romania. We went to our interview on the 4th of aug at garden city. All

racially mixed couples you should be advised that there is an officer who is very prejudiced against mixed

couples. This officer only asked 6 to 7 questions and came to the conclusion that our marriage is a fraud. We are very much in

love to each other and we were shocked to hear that we have been sent for a stokes interview. She could not tell our so called lawyer

(stay away from Oltarsh and associates) what is the reason she has sent us to the stokes interview. Her decision has been made 1-2 min after she started to interview us

when she started to write in my wife's passport "Pending". We have answered all her questions and she did not even want to take a look at our evidence

.She just threw everything in the file .We had lots of proof of a bonafide marriage (which our marriage is) :

-deed of the time share condo we bought together

-joint bank statements from 2009

-joint credit card statements

-joint annuity ownership

-joint T-mobile cell family plan

-my life insurance with wife beneficiary

-letter from my mother that we have lived with her since Feb 2009 (we got married in Jan 2010)

-endless number of pictures with us in various location(we had 3 trips to Las Vegas,one trip to Atlantic City,one to my daughter i New Hampshire)

with both of us, as well as alll my family and friends.

The only thing we think has triggered questions is that I have been married 3 times before (but all my former wives are USC) and my wife has 2 divorces

from another country and has never been petioned by an USC before.

We have hired another attorney, a real fire brand lady who will help us with the stokes interview and we hope that with our love to each other and our faith in God will be

ok at the Stokes interview which will be on Aug 24th.

OP, read this article from the New York Times in preparation for your Stoke's interview:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/nyregion/13fraud.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Also read the Agency worksheet:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/nyregion/USCIS_Fraud_Referral_Sheet.pdf

Quote from article: "Barbara Felska, a star of the Stokes unit, said her message to couples was: “Do not fear Stokes if your marriage is real — all you need is love!”"

This is just another step to take. Good luck!

[thongd4me 69]

OP, read this article from the New York Times in preparation for your Stoke's interview:

http://www.nytimes.c...ner=rss&emc=rss

Also read the Agency worksheet:

http://graphics8.nyt...erral_Sheet.pdf

Quote from article: "Barbara Felska, a star of the Stokes unit, said her message to couples was: "Do not fear Stokes if your marriage is real all you need is love!""

This is just another step to take. Good luck!

Good resources; I have a feeling they may do video surveillance of the waiting room -

it may pay to act confident/happy there instead of appearing to have a pre-interview melt-down!

As I recall we were joking/flirting and observing the other couples,

guessing what was up with them

Edited August 12, 2010 by thongd4me

[skynaut 29]

I am an american citizen (black) and my wife is a Canadian citizen born in romania. We went to our interview on the 4th of aug at garden city. All

racially mixed couples you should be advised that there is an officer who is very prejudiced against mixed

couples. This officer only asked 6 to 7 questions and came to the conclusion that our marriage is a fraud. We are very much in

love to each other and we were shocked to hear that we have been sent for a stokes interview. She could not tell our so called lawyer

(stay away from Oltarsh and associates) what is the reason she has sent us to the stokes interview. Her decision has been made 1-2 min after she started to interview us

when she started to write in my wife's passport "Pending". We have answered all her questions and she did not even want to take a look at our evidence

.She just threw everything in the file .We had lots of proof of a bonafide marriage (which our marriage is) :

-deed of the time share condo we bought together

-joint bank statements from 2009

-joint credit card statements

-joint annuity ownership

-joint T-mobile cell family plan

-my life insurance with wife beneficiary

-letter from my mother that we have lived with her since Feb 2009 (we got married in Jan 2010)

-endless number of pictures with us in various location(we had 3 trips to Las Vegas,one trip to Atlantic City,one to my daughter i New Hampshire)

with both of us, as well as alll my family and friends.

The only thing we think has triggered questions is that I have been married 3 times before (but all my former wives are USC) and my wife has 2 divorces

from another country and has never been petioned by an USC before.

We have hired another attorney, a real fire brand lady who will help us with the stokes interview and we hope that with our love to each other and our faith in God will be

ok at the Stokes interview which will be on Aug 24th.

According to your explanation, I too tend to believe that your case was denied most likely because of your divorces (both of you). Also, did she entered on a K1 visa, only to marry a year later?

I think you shouldn't considered the denial based on the race issue, I think it's more because of red flags raised from multiple divorces.

All the best luck though!!

[thongd4me 69]

I think the OP should fill in his timeline as completely as possible

(no penalty for approximations if you don't remember exact dates).

Timeline

The multiple divorces raise a general flag, not a racist one.

Also, I don't see where the OP said they waited a year to get married.

The OP could also fill out immigration info and other things in his profile.

Thanks & good luck

[Nwanyioma 11]

Sorry to hear about the ordeal that you are facing. Maybe you should get in contact with your state's senator/congressman for more assistance. All the Best.

Nwanyioma

[rocal 0]

We would like to thank everyone for your support and answers, you all are great people.

I have to mention a few things :

- we hired a lawyer to make sure the papers are filled out correctly and his fees included

interview representation. The lawyers at the firm are 2 brothers and the daughter of one of them.

We have talked to one of the brothers first and he took care of the papers, but when it came to the interview he told us

he cannot come because the interview was too early (7 AM) and too far from where he lives , which left us in shock.

He said that his brother would be with us for the interview. Garden City is New York area, Long Island.

Ok, the brother came with us, but he knew NOTHING about the case and therefore he did not say anything to the IO.

So, this was our fault or bad luck for choosing that attorney firm.

-we went to another lawyer who heard our story and she said that there are cases where mixed couples are

denied because of IO not liking mixed couples, but this is an assumption, we do not know the reason we have been denied.

The new lawyer has talked to the supervisor in Garden City and he said there is nothing wrong with our file, but the attorney we had at the interview

had to talk with the IO at that time...there is nothing it can be done now.

As per this new lawyer, the stokes interview has been scheduled because

we just have been suspected for marriage fraud. If there is any another immigration issue , that is a separate problem.

My wife did not come with a K visa. TN visa is a visa work for Canadians and Mexicans.

She did not divorce to get married for green card, she has been separated for 4 years from her husband and divorced 1 year before

our marriage. Also, why would she need a TN visa to come here and get married as some people are judging us

when Canadians don't need visa to enter US ?

It just happened that she fell in love with an USC, that is all. She is the best thing has ever happened in my life

and nothing will tear us apart. People don't have to be judged by the number of marriages, that is my opinion.

But, yes the immigration has the right to double check and we hope everything will go good, as there is nothing to be afraid of.

The IO made her decision way too soon during our interview. As I mentioned before, she wrote that pending in her passport 2-3 min after we entered her office, then she

started with the questions.

Now, our life is in the hands of an immigration officer and I don't think this is fair.

Again, we thank all of you for your great support and we will keep you posted.

[jrmejia 31]

OP, read this article from the New York Times in preparation for your Stoke's interview:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/nyregion/13fraud.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Also read the Agency worksheet:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/nyregion/USCIS_Fraud_Referral_Sheet.pdf

Quote from article: "Barbara Felska, a star of the Stokes unit, said her message to couples was: “Do not fear Stokes if your marriage is real — all you need is love!”"

This is just another step to take. Good luck!

Read both links..good reading

Edited August 13, 2010 by jrmejia

[jrmejia 31]

We would like to thank everyone for your support and answers, you all are great people.

I have to mention a few things :

- we hired a lawyer to make sure the papers are filled out correctly and his fees included

interview representation. The lawyers at the firm are 2 brothers and the daughter of one of them.

We have talked to one of the brothers first and he took care of the papers, but when it came to the interview he told us

he cannot come because the interview was too early (7 AM) and too far from where he lives , which left us in shock.

He said that his brother would be with us for the interview. Garden City is New York area, Long Island.

Ok, the brother came with us, but he knew NOTHING about the case and therefore he did not say anything to the IO.

So, this was our fault or bad luck for choosing that attorney firm.

-we went to another lawyer who heard our story and she said that there are cases where mixed couples are

denied because of IO not liking mixed couples, but this is an assumption, we do not know the reason we have been denied.

The new lawyer has talked to the supervisor in Garden City and he said there is nothing wrong with our file, but the attorney we had at the interview

had to talk with the IO at that time...there is nothing it can be done now.

As per this new lawyer, the stokes interview has been scheduled because

we just have been suspected for marriage fraud. If there is any another immigration issue , that is a separate problem.

My wife did not come with a K visa. TN visa is a visa work for Canadians and Mexicans.

She did not divorce to get married for green card, she has been separated for 4 years from her husband and divorced 1 year before

our marriage. Also, why would she need a TN visa to come here and get married as some people are judging us

when Canadians don't need visa to enter US ?

It just happened that she fell in love with an USC, that is all. She is the best thing has ever happened in my life

and nothing will tear us apart. People don't have to be judged by the number of marriages, that is my opinion.

But, yes the immigration has the right to double check and we hope everything will go good, as there is nothing to be afraid of.

The IO made her decision way too soon during our interview. As I mentioned before, she wrote that pending in her passport 2-3 min after we entered her office, then she

started with the questions.

Now, our life is in the hands of an immigration officer and I don't think this is fair.

Again, we thank all of you for your great support and we will keep you posted.

If you two have nothing to do hide, don't worry about the stoke interview. Sometime it is normal procedure.

[thongd4me 69]

We would like to thank everyone for your support and answers, you all are great people.

I have to mention a few things :

- we hired a lawyer to make sure the papers are filled out correctly and his fees included

interview representation. The lawyers at the firm are 2 brothers and the daughter of one of them.

We have talked to one of the brothers first and he took care of the papers, but when it came to the interview he told us

he cannot come because the interview was too early (7 AM) and too far from where he lives , which left us in shock.

He said that his brother would be with us for the interview. Garden City is New York area, Long Island.

Ok, the brother came with us, but he knew NOTHING about the case and therefore he did not say anything to the IO.

So, this was our fault or bad luck for choosing that attorney firm.

-we went to another lawyer who heard our story and she said that there are cases where mixed couples are

denied because of IO not liking mixed couples, but this is an assumption, we do not know the reason we have been denied.

The new lawyer has talked to the supervisor in Garden City and he said there is nothing wrong with our file, but the attorney we had at the interview

had to talk with the IO at that time...there is nothing it can be done now.

As per this new lawyer, the stokes interview has been scheduled because

we just have been suspected for marriage fraud. If there is any another immigration issue , that is a separate problem.

My wife did not come with a K visa. TN visa is a visa work for Canadians and Mexicans.

She did not divorce to get married for green card, she has been separated for 4 years from her husband and divorced 1 year before

our marriage. Also, why would she need a TN visa to come here and get married as some people are judging us

when Canadians don't need visa to enter US ?

It just happened that she fell in love with an USC, that is all. She is the best thing has ever happened in my life

and nothing will tear us apart. People don't have to be judged by the number of marriages, that is my opinion.

But, yes the immigration has the right to double check and we hope everything will go good, as there is nothing to be afraid of.

The IO made her decision way too soon during our interview. As I mentioned before, she wrote that pending in her passport 2-3 min after we entered her office, then she

started with the questions.

Now, our life is in the hands of an immigration officer and I don't think this is fair.

Again, we thank all of you for your great support and we will keep you posted.

Good you dropped the lawyer with the lame excuses.

If all they are claiming is "marriage fraud" then just prepare like hell for the Stokes.

Get all the ideas from the new lawyer and then double & extend them so you know

more details about each other than each of you does about yourself.

[Krys & Nova 2]

So sorry this happened to you and your wife. Try not to jump to the conclusion that it's based on race, it could be anything... I do think they observe us in the waitng room before we are interviewed. It seems that the IO made up her mind before the interview started. Good luck on our 2nd interview, I'm sure everything will work out in your favor.

Edited August 13, 2010 by Krys & Nova