AOS Interview

[yehaww 0]

I'm a little nervous about our interview tomorrow. I've read that the interview is normally waived at this point unless there is a problem. I'm American and my wife is Swedish. She arrived on K1 in June and we married in July. Because she hasn't had a work permit, we didn't bother with a SS# and I haven't added her name to any bills or anything and she doesn't have a bank account here. I'm just paying the bills myself. We've been waiting for all the BS to pass through and then start clean, getting a new apartment or house with shared lease, etc. But all of a sudden we have this interview and all of a sudden I don't really have any bonafide proof other than photos of our marriage ceremony, which was basically us and the officiant, and photos of us together, out and about over the last 4 months. We have photographs submitted earlier going back to 2007 that show us together with my family at various points.

I hear that some interviews go pretty quickly without hardly any questions. Then you hear nightmare stories about people being separated and interrogated and quizzed on parent's birthdays and phone numbers.

I wasn't worried until I started reading up on people's interview question lists. I guess I just expected an interview like this to come at a later date. I'm not sure how 2 people in our situation are expected to get things settled in a few months when the Fiance in question isn't even allowed to look for work. We've just kind of put everything on hold until we know for sure that she will get the green card,then once she has that, we know we can go ahead with things. I just assumed she'd need a SS# for a bank account and most of my utilities are paid for in my rent.

Anyway, I'm probably worried for nothing. All we can be is honest about the situation. We are just pretty much taking copies of everything we've submitted and received so far, with some new photos and a cell phone bill that has her name and our address on it.

[Barbara J 115]

I'm a little nervous about our interview tomorrow. I've read that the interview is normally waived at this point unless there is a problem. I'm American and my wife is Swedish. She arrived on K1 in June and we married in July. Because she hasn't had a work permit, we didn't bother with a SS# and I haven't added her name to any bills or anything and she doesn't have a bank account here. I'm just paying the bills myself. We've been waiting for all the BS to pass through and then start clean, getting a new apartment or house with shared lease, etc. But all of a sudden we have this interview and all of a sudden I don't really have any bonafide proof other than photos of our marriage ceremony, which was basically us and the officiant, and photos of us together, out and about over the last 4 months. We have photographs submitted earlier going back to 2007 that show us together with my family at various points.

I hear that some interviews go pretty quickly without hardly any questions. Then you hear nightmare stories about people being separated and interrogated and quizzed on parent's birthdays and phone numbers.

I wasn't worried until I started reading up on people's interview question lists. I guess I just expected an interview like this to come at a later date. I'm not sure how 2 people in our situation are expected to get things settled in a few months when the Fiance in question isn't even allowed to look for work. We've just kind of put everything on hold until we know for sure that she will get the green card,then once she has that, we know we can go ahead with things. I just assumed she'd need a SS# for a bank account and most of my utilities are paid for in my rent.

Anyway, I'm probably worried for nothing. All we can be is honest about the situation. We are just pretty much taking copies of everything we've submitted and received so far, with some new photos and a cell phone bill that has her name and our address on it.

You could have applied for an SSN anytime after you married whether you think she needs it or not. You need SSN for most things drivers license joining anything so I hope you did not have any issues.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

You could have applied for an SSN anytime after you married whether you think she needs it or not. You need SSN for most things drivers license joining anything so I hope you did not have any issues.

Correction, they can only apply for a SSN while her I-94 is still valid with at least 2 weeks left on it... otherwise they cannot get a SSN.

If she already has a SSN, then she can change her name on it to her married name even with an expired I-94, but only if she already has one.

[yehaww 0]

The interview was fine. The woman was super friendly. She didn't seem to have a problem that we hadn't gotten a SS# yet. She said that it's perfectly normal for people to wait for the Green Card to get their SS#. She approved us for the 2 year conditional green card, so we have 2 years to gather the information that proves we are living together like a lease and bank accounts and insurance and all that. That seems perfectly reasonable to me. 2 years makes a lot more sense than expecting everyone to have joined up their lives completely in a matter of months, especially when the Fiance in question has just moved here.

So it's all good. The only question left is whether or not her green card will arrive in the mail before she is scheduled to leave to go back to Sweden for Christmas. They said no longer than 3 weeks. She leaves in 19 days....

It's hard to believe we made it through all the hurdles.

Edited November 30, 2010 by yehaww

[VanessaTony 3,567]

The interview was fine. The woman was super friendly. She didn't seem to have a problem that we hadn't gotten a SS# yet. She said that it's perfectly normal for people to wait for the Green Card to get their SS#. She approved us for the 2 year conditional green card, so we have 2 years to gather the information that proves we are living together like a lease and bank accounts and insurance and all that. That seems perfectly reasonable to me. 2 years makes a lot more sense than expecting everyone to have joined up their lives completely in a matter of months, especially when the Fiance in question has just moved here.

So it's all good. The only question left is whether or not her green card will arrive in the mail before she is scheduled to leave to go back to Sweden for Christmas. They said no longer than 3 weeks. She leaves in 19 days....

It's hard to believe we made it through all the hurdles.

Congratulations **fingers crossed** you get the card before she leaves. You might want to give yourself a deadline to make an infopass in case she needs to get the GC stamp in her passsport (called an I-551 stamp).

Travel safe

[yehaww 0]

Thanks! The woman mentioned that if it isn't here by the 16th, that we should make an appointment, although she also made it sound like they only stamp passports in emergencies, not for vacations. I'm not sure what the big deal is? Would it be so difficult just to stamp someone's passport, even if it's just so that they can go on holiday? She stamped about 10 other things in the interview, what's one more?

From what I've been reading, most people seem to get theirs in about 2 weeks. She said one lawyer told her that his clients got theirs in 4 days. Worst case scenario, I guess I can mail it to her. Certified, signature required, insured and all that.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thanks! The woman mentioned that if it isn't here by the 16th, that we should make an appointment, although she also made it sound like they only stamp passports in emergencies, not for vacations. I'm not sure what the big deal is? Would it be so difficult just to stamp someone's passport, even if it's just so that they can go on holiday? She stamped about 10 other things in the interview, what's one more?

From what I've been reading, most people seem to get theirs in about 2 weeks. She said one lawyer told her that his clients got theirs in 4 days. Worst case scenario, I guess I can mail it to her. Certified, signature required, insured and all that.

I assume it probably is a risk of identity theft or something. While your wife could get a new passport, someone could be walking around with her passport claiming they're an LPR when they're not.

Steal the card, sure again you'll need a new card but the old one can be deactivated (like a credit card). Not sure if that's actually the reason, but it makes sense to me to wait. They used to give them out all the time.

Another reason could be they don't seem to be saying the word "approved" as often.. sometimes they indicate you are approved but don't give the I-551 stamp because in actuality your file is reviewed before the card is sent. If they find something missing or not quite right, they've already given you a stamp, you kinda have proof they told you you were approved..

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Another reason could be they don't seem to be saying the word "approved" as often.. sometimes they indicate you are approved but don't give the I-551 stamp because in actuality your file is reviewed before the card is sent. If they find something missing or not quite right, they've already given you a stamp, you kinda have proof they told you you were approved..

I think this is probably the main reason. While USCIS could certainly revoke the immigrant's status if something came up, they can't remove that stamp from the immigrant's passport, or confiscate the passport.

[yehaww 0]

Another reason could be they don't seem to be saying the word "approved" as often.. sometimes they indicate you are approved but don't give the I-551 stamp because in actuality your file is reviewed before the card is sent. If they find something missing or not quite right, they've already given you a stamp, you kinda have proof they told you you were approved..

I don't think that's the case. She gave us a stamped letter stating that we were approved and took away the Temporary Work Permit card, which we only had for 30 days. So the word "approved" was said and is in writing on an official document from Immigration. In any case, I guess we're playing the waiting game and hoping for a quick turnaround.

[Sarah and Mahmoud 0]

Congratulations on your approval! Your post was helpful for our situation as well - my husband couldn't be added to my lease since he has no credit history, and couldn't be added to my credit card because he has no income, and couldn't get a job because he has no EAD.. Circular, huh?

Great to hear you were approved without the documentation of living together, etc. Two years does sound more realistic for sure! We will provide the same (pictures, family plan phone bill, etc) to show we're together - wish us luck!

SM

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I don't think that's the case. She gave us a stamped letter stating that we were approved and took away the Temporary Work Permit card, which we only had for 30 days. So the word "approved" was said and is in writing on an official document from Immigration. In any case, I guess we're playing the waiting game and hoping for a quick turnaround.

Well that's good then! In that case it should be pretty easy for you to go to a local office and get a I-551 stamp (with proof of your flights).

[yehaww 0]

Well that's good then! In that case it should be pretty easy for you to go to a local office and get a I-551 stamp (with proof of your flights).

I hope so. She just made it clear that they don't stamp for vacations, just emergencies. I thought our Travel Parole papers would be fine to let her back in the country. That's why we got it. I guess it's just bad timing. If she hadn't been approved, then the paroles would have worked, but know that she's approved, they're no good anymore. AND they took her EAD card so she really doesn't have anything now, other than a letter saying that she's approved. I guess I'll start worrying in about 2 weeks if she doesn't have the green card in hand.

[yehaww 0]

Congratulations on your approval! Your post was helpful for our situation as well - my husband couldn't be added to my lease since he has no credit history, and couldn't be added to my credit card because he has no income, and couldn't get a job because he has no EAD.. Circular, huh?

Great to hear you were approved without the documentation of living together, etc. Two years does sound more realistic for sure! We will provide the same (pictures, family plan phone bill, etc) to show we're together - wish us luck!

SM

We had some packages and letters that her Mom and my Mom had sent to her at our apartment. That was really all we had as far as address verification. When I added her to my cell phone plan, I told them to put her name on my bill, but when I went to print one out for the interview, I saw that they hadn't done it right. She was only on there as an account manager. Both lines were under my name. So I couldn't even use that. But we had photos ranging back to 2007, 18 months before we even filed for the Fiance Visa and also photos with my family, so I think we had a pretty good case. At least proof that she's met my family and friends.

[keka 1]

Correction, they can only apply for a SSN while her I-94 is still valid with at least 2 weeks left on it... otherwise they cannot get a SSN.

If she already has a SSN, then she can change her name on it to her married name even with an expired I-94, but only if she already has one.

I try to change my name after the wedding for my SSN and they dont allow me because my I-94 have 12 days left . . really can i do that? . . should i go and fight? i mean talk with a supervisor or something? . . I got my SSN before my wedding , the second week that i arrive to the US . .

Edited December 2, 2010 by keka

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I try to change my name after the wedding for my SSN and they dont allow me because my I-94 have 12 days left . . really can i do that? . . should i go and fight? i mean talk with a supervisor or something? . . I got my SSN before my wedding , the second week that i arrive to the US.

Yes you're allowed to change it after the I-94 is expired.. but sometimes the SSA has trouble knowing their own rules. HOWEVER there is no need to. You can just wait till you get your EAD or GC and it will be easier then.