AOS (marriage) Interview in August, Recieved form G-56 today =(

[wahound 0]

Hi,

Me and my wife had a successful AOS interview late August of this year. I believe its standard practice of USCIS not to reveal whether the application was denied or approved on spot and they let one know by mail. Still, the body language of the IO said everything seemed fine.

Today I recieved a letter from USCIS (form G-56) asking me to show up in person one month from now at a NY office. The info provided in the notice was:

ASK FOR: ANY ADJUDICATION OFFICER

REASON FOR APPOINTMENT: ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS INTERVIEW

BRING THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS: ID, such as passport and originals of documents sent to us & additional documents we asked

Now, There are no additional documents requested by the USCIS. So why am I going back to their office ?! Also, my case was outside the normal processing time so the USCIS customer service had launched an enquiry and gave me a referral Id for beyond regulatory time frame. Could this be in connection to that ?

- Responses would be much appreciated

P.S. Is this stokes? if so, why is my wife not asked to come in the notice. can stokes occur in absence of spouse?

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

It's not a Stokes interview or they would have also requested your wife to attend. You've been called in for a second interview. The letter doesn't really give enough information to try to glean why they want to interview you again. You probably won't find out until you get there.

Don't miss the interview. If you miss a general call-in then they are allowed to proceed as if you failed the first interview.

[wahound 0]

Can this possibly be a harbinger of bad news ? =(

[VanessaTony 3,567]

No idea if it's bad. Your wife should attend even though it doesn't mention her. It COULD be a Stokes, that's my personal opinion.. better to be safe than sorry.

What visa are you adjusting from?

Please update your timeline so others can benefit from your experience and your profile to reflect that you are now AOS (pending). The timeline function is up the top called "immigration timelines". To update your profile click on "settings" (up the top right of the page) then the "profile" tab, then "change profile information" (which should be the default one that opens). Then scroll down to Immigration status where it currently says nothing and change it to "AOS (pending)".

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Can this possibly be a harbinger of bad news ? =(

Well, a general call-in is not usually good news, but a lot of people are approved anyway. Sometimes people get a general call-in before the scheduled date of their first interview. In those cases, they actually conduct the main interview at the call-in, and the field office is just taking advantage of some free time to get caught up. You won't really know until you get there.

@Vanessa: I refuse to update my profile. It's my singular act of defiance on VJ!

Seriously, when people ask questions about things like AOS, and the answer is very much dependent on how they began the process - K1, B2, etc. - I really appreciate seeing that information in their profile, rather than "Adjustment of status pending". It avoids having to ask the obvious "How did you enter?" question. Since I appreciate seeing it in other people's profiles, I'm reluctant to remove it from mine.

[wahound 0]

ok i updated the things you asked me to the best of my knowledge.

There is something id like to mention that I didnt earlier. I had switched over from a F-1 visa and my I94 said D/S or duration of stay. i had overstayed a little.

The IO did not take the I-94 from my passport and surprisingly we had never submitted our Birth certificates and she did not ask for them either on the day of the interview. The medical which is valid for 1 year was a few weeks away from expiring but USCIS had repeatedly said over the phone that as long as its valid when submitted it does not matter if it expires in posession of USCIS and hence I would not need to take it over.

On the day of the interview the IO did mention that my medical had expired and I told her what USCIS had mentioned over the phone. She nodded her head in approval but said she would need to speak to her supervisor regarding that and following general yes no questions she let us go with a smile.

Could the fact I still have my I-94 slip with me be the reason of them wanting to see me? so they can possess it ?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Seriously, when people ask questions about things like AOS, and the answer is very much dependent on how they began the process - K1, B2, etc. - I really appreciate seeing that information in their profile, rather than "Adjustment of status pending". It avoids having to ask the obvious "How did you enter?" question. Since I appreciate seeing it in other people's profiles, I'm reluctant to remove it from mine.

LOL. I do actually agree so I think I might suggest to the Captain to have "entered as" or something in the profile... but the reason i like it changed was actually proved today in this thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/283214-g-325-formonly-for-wife-or-me-too/

The first couple of people thought the OP was filing a K1 so they answered wrong. Which then prompted this thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/283393-g-325for-both-of-us/

So... yeah. I think the option to see both is a good idea

ok i updated the things you asked me to the best of my knowledge.

There is something id like to mention that I didnt earlier. I had switched over from a F-1 visa and my I94 said D/S or duration of stay. i had overstayed a little.

** moved from "Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from Family Based Visas" to "Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas" as you are adjusting from a F1 visa and the prior forum is for K1, K2, K3 & K4 **

[wahound 0]

With a few days to go for this interview, me and my wife are both extremely jittery.

Could someone please answer a question relating to this.

If a couple is called for a stokes interview, does the appointment notice mention it clearly as "stokes" or is it a term thats understood by the people receiving the second interview ?

Reason I ask is, the G-56 doesn't say stokes anywhere, neither is my wife asked to come. We went to the local office where they asked us to come and the lady behind the desk just said to follow instructions and presence of my wife could be optional. ( I hope she knew what she was saying ).

[amykathleen2005 441]

I don't know this for certain, but from what I have heard from other people their notices have specifically said "Stokes".

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

With a few days to go for this interview, me and my wife are both extremely jittery.

Could someone please answer a question relating to this.

If a couple is called for a stokes interview, does the appointment notice mention it clearly as "stokes" or is it a term thats understood by the people receiving the second interview ?

Reason I ask is, the G-56 doesn't say stokes anywhere, neither is my wife asked to come. We went to the local office where they asked us to come and the lady behind the desk just said to follow instructions and presence of my wife could be optional. ( I hope she knew what she was saying ).

Only in New York. That particular type of interview is called "Stokes" because of a case in New York that ended up becoming a precedent. The New York field office has a "Stokes Unit" specifically for conducting these type of interviews. Other USCIS field offices use the same tactic, and many informally refer to them as "Stokes interviews", but I've never heard of any USCIS field office other than New York actually using the word "Stokes" on any notice. The New York office will inform the applicant to appear at the "Stokes Unit".

I've also never heard of a USCIS field office planning a Stokes interview without specifically asking both the applicant and sponsor to appear. If only one is asked to appear, and both appear anyway, then they could certainly use the opportunity for a Stokes interview, but if they are planning it in advance they would ask both to appear.

I honestly don't know what to tell you. The fact that they didn't keep your I-94 may be completely benign, or it could be an important clue. I really don't know. The point is that, good or bad, you must appear. If you don't then you will certainly be denied.

[wahound 0]

Thanks for your help.

[wahound 0]

Hi,

Sorry there was one little thing that I mentioned but failed to ask upon. Sorry for being a pest.

My file was transferred from Lincoln to NY as I had temporarily moved with my in laws (in ny) as my mother in law is a heart patient and needed 24/7 assistance. How they found out I dont know, but even aaftr trying to convince them that my residence in NY is temporary they would not let me move my file back to lincoln.

CAn the NY office exercise discretion based on the input from lincoln office (succesful interview)) or do they have to go over all the procedure again.

Thanks

[realcool1 0]

Hi,

Sorry there was one little thing that I mentioned but failed to ask upon. Sorry for being a pest.

My file was transferred from Lincoln to NY as I had temporarily moved with my in laws (in ny) as my mother in law is a heart patient and needed 24/7 assistance. How they found out I dont know, but even aaftr trying to convince them that my residence in NY is temporary they would not let me move my file back to lincoln.

CAn the NY office exercise discretion based on the input from lincoln office (succesful interview)) or do they have to go over all the procedure again.

Thanks

Please let us know how the visit went i guess may be they dnt have all your file.try as mush as possible to take new evidence along.they didn't ask but just take it along. my case is till pending also

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Hi,

Sorry there was one little thing that I mentioned but failed to ask upon. Sorry for being a pest.

My file was transferred from Lincoln to NY as I had temporarily moved with my in laws (in ny) as my mother in law is a heart patient and needed 24/7 assistance. How they found out I dont know, but even aaftr trying to convince them that my residence in NY is temporary they would not let me move my file back to lincoln.

CAn the NY office exercise discretion based on the input from lincoln office (succesful interview)) or do they have to go over all the procedure again.

Thanks

Each field office will have it's own policies, as dictated by the federal courts that have jurisdiction over that district. However, USCIS is still a single federal agency. They aren't supposed to make you start over just because your file has been moved from one field office to another. That said, because they have discretion with an AOS case they can ask for pretty much anything they want, which includes making you provide evidence you've already provided to another IO at another field office. This may not technically be starting over, but it would probably feel like it.

I am really curious how they found out you were in NY, and if that has anything to do with why you got called in again.

[wahound 0]

Well, my wife resumed her College education in NY since she wasnt goign to take a semester off sitting at home since we got pulled to NY from lincoln.

That and she resumed her old job with a bank part time. I dont know if these things are checked in background checks.

Either way ill let you guys know in a few days

Thanks