New York City AOS timeline & Interviews

[girlisima 0]

As many interview dates are drawing closer, please don't forget to update us on your interview experiences like the October filers who didn't come back to talk about their interview experiences(ludijay and bricejustin)

[bricejustin 0]

Sorry for the delay on updating you guys about our interview....

A few things first, I already got my GC last week!!! Exactly 2 weeks after the interview.

Our interviewer was a little mean and rude. Her demeanor was definitely not welcoming nor anything close to being nice. When she led us to the room, in a very nasty manner she says, "before you sit down, I have to swear you in". So she swore us in, then we just had to sit ourselves because she did not say anything afterwards.

She started asking my wife normal questions as to how and where we met, address, age, when we got married, our love story, things about our work and finances, our apartment, my family, names age and location of my immediate family, etc. The whole time she was asking questions, she had a blank face. She was asking one question after another--like an automatic riffle gun! We were not able to expound our answers because the moment she hears the first word of our answer, she would throw another question. The hardest questions she asked my wife was, "what is the address of my former school here in the city" and "how many times I have entered USA in my entire life". Fortunately, we were able to answer all her questions; also because we are a legitimate couple and we have known each other for a while, and have been living together for a while.

After questioning my wife, it was my turn to receive her bullets. With the same rude manner she asked me normal questions like what she first asked my wife. She asked me about the wedding and reception, my wife's family, where my wife works, the address, name of company, office phone number, floor of the office in the building, my wife's manager's name, what she exactly does, and specialization of the work she does for the company. I was also asked where and when my wife graduated and what she took up in college and grad school. Again, we were able to answer all her questions.

After the questions, she asked for pictures and other supporting documents. We gave her our 2 photo albums. She went thru the pictures ONE BY ONE for both albums, and took around 5 pictures. Then we gave her all the latest statements and joint documents my wife and I have.

Compared to all the interviews I have heard here, I think we had the worst interview. lol She asked A LOT of questions. I really understand the number of questions she asked us. It is their job to really find out if the marriage is true. I actually appreciate her being detailed. What I did not appreciate is her demeanor during the interview. She was obviously trying to intimidate us and trying to power trip. I don't think her manner of questioning was necessary-- she kept on looking at us from head to foot then back to the head again--- as if she was belittling us. At the end of the day, we are just glad it is all over. She had a lot of questions but there was nothing we cannot answer because our marriage is true and legitimate.

We are just really really glad this is over!!!!

Advise to those who will have their interview soon, be prepared! Even legitimate couples get nervous and even legitimate couples do not know EVERYTHING considering the fact that they have limitless questions they could ask. Just be prepared and organized with your documents. And be real and try to be comfortable as much as possible. I wish all of you to get a nicer interviewer! lol

Good luck to all of you guys!

[siasimba 9]

To the above poster...

Holy COW!!!! that seems to be the most strict I have seen here beside ones from stokes interviews. I am having my interview in NYC in 2 days. Now I am getting a bit nervous. I have been married to my wife for one year, but don't know everything about her. I know she has traveled out of the country since I met her, but not since the last 10 years.

If you don't mind me asking, but how long have you been married before filing? or how long both of you knew each other?

Random question though, do these interview people have a Manager? or someone above them ?

[bricejustin 0]

Hi,

I have been married to my wife for more than a year now. It took us 6 months after the wedding before we submitted our application. We have been together for 2 years now.

I know that there are questions that even legitimate couples do not know the answer. I guess, you just have to be honest and say " i dont know" then explain yourself. My wife was asked how many times I have entered US in my lifetime. She said, " i am not so sure". It is an acceptable answer. Better be honest that lie and make stories.

Good luck!

To the above poster...

Holy COW!!!! that seems to be the most strict I have seen here beside ones from stokes interviews. I am having my interview in NYC in 2 days. Now I am getting a bit nervous. I have been married to my wife for one year, but don't know everything about her. I know she has traveled out of the country since I met her, but not since the last 10 years.

If you don't mind me asking, but how long have you been married before filing? or how long both of you knew each other?

Random question though, do these interview people have a Manager? or someone above them ?

[Karisha 0]

HI ALL,

I have a good news Today we had our Interview @ Garden City, and we're approved!!! My passport was stamped It was very very easy interview...Officer was very nice and polite...he didn't ask many questions....Never asked for our joint documents...Only asked for picture album, and few questions to my husband (USC) about his previous marriage, then he asked me I-485 questions and that's it Thanks God!!!!! Good luck to everyone!!!!

[siasimba 9]

Hello. Just had my interview at NYC field office. Appointment was for 9am. It is now 10am. I will give detail information when I get home.

[EmmillJ 1]

Hi all, thank you for posting your interview updates. It's been 38 days since I did my biometrics walk-in and we're hoping the EAD card comes any day now. I used to hope that we would get our interview date before the EAD so that I would just get the GC at one time, but considering the wait time for NYC applicants I'd be happy to work while we were waiting....

siasimba: I am looking forward to reading your experience, my fingers are crossed!!

[noxreallyxhonest 0]

we just came back from our interview at Garden City... it went Ok. she swore us in, asked for ID then immediately asked for a copy of a previous visa that i knew i'd included in the application, i went through my copy of ]the file trying to find it, but my hands were shaking and i couldn't find it.

she was pretty harsh and got super annoyed when we didn't have copies of our joint health insurance to put in the file, she asked us questions about our address, our jobs, then she asked me how we'd met. i relayed the story which is quite long, as quickly as i could cos she seemed impatient and pretty uninterested.

she asked for other supporting documents, i gave her our joint savings account letter and the original copy of our lease, where we've lived together for 3 years, even though i knew she had copies of all of this in the file. then she found the copy of the visa already in the file, she warmed up a little but not too much, and took the I-94 and wrote in my passport, and said we may receive a letter from them asking for the health insurance cards copies, even though we showed her the cards and we'd walked past a photocopier on the way to the office.......

we arrived at the interview not particularly worried, but left a bit shaken......

we came home around 5:30pm, i checked emails around 6pm and there was an email from USCIS saying that they'd ordered production of my new card

so i guess that means that all is good and i'll get the card in a few weeks

super pleased, but kind of emotionally drained after this whole thing.....

oooofffffff

really glad for this forum, otherwise we would have been a lot more confused and worried

[siasimba 9]

Hello, First off I started this thread back in March because of the delay in NYC interview appointment. I am very happy to see that we have helped dissipate many anxiety for couples including myself.

My interview was at 27 Federal plaza, NY. Appointment was at 9am. we arrived on the 8th floor by 8:50am. 20 mins later, we were told to go to the fourth floor 4-130. 10mins after being in room 4-130 we were escorted to another room where we would be waiting for the ISO to call us. Sitting there for 5mins the ISO came and she called us for the interview. At that time, it was about 9:35am. When we stepped into her room she asked us to stand and swore us in. Then she asked us if we had our original documents and that she would need to see them. She wasn't smiling or anything. Just a very stern face.

1. She asked my wife (beneficiary) our address

2. She asked me what my wife's full name is.

3. She asked my wife what is my full name.

4. She asked my wife where I was born.

5. She asked us how we met

6. She asked both of us of each others birthday

Then the ISO asked us for joint accounts, insurance, utility bills, wedding pictures and original documents. I gave her copy of our health insurance card, gas bill, electric bill, car insurance policy, home insurance policy, our guestbook pictures, other pictures, wedding invitations, and of course all the original documents.

She literally looked through EACH AND EVERYONE of our photos. She asked my wife a few question of who the person was in the picture.

She looked at our wedding invitation as our invitation was very intricate and custom made, so she was very impressed with that.

She reviewed our insurance, joint bank accounts, bills, and original documents.

Her and my wife talked a little bit about our culture and how our parents felt since she is Indian and I am Chinese. Then she asked us about our profession as both of us are physicians. Then she took my wife's passport and wrote down that her I-485 is pending and we would need to wait 2-8 weeks for the green card. She also told us that we would need removal of condition and that they will notify us 90 days before our term is up. Finally she wished us both a happy marriage.

Just checked my receipt # and no update yet on USCIS website.

Good luck to everyone else. I have waited 10 months from start to finish.

[siasimba 9]

interview on 9/8/11 --> card production 9/9/11

[girlisima 0]

Congratulations to all of you! I am next for this Tuesday. I pray I meet the same success that you all of had.

[ubamama 5]

Congratulations to all of you! I am next for this Tuesday. I pray I meet the same success that you all of had.

u will. i wish you the best of luck

[icaruslol 1]

I GOT MY INTERVIEW DATE!!! I just received an e-mail this morning saying that the interview date is on October 18 at the National Benefits Center(wherever that is). I'm sooo happy, I have been waiting for an update since June and I got it today!!

[girlisima 0]

I just got back from my interview.We were scheduled at the Federal Plaza for 8.15am. We got there around 7.45, and they took us to a small waiting rooom with other petitioners. We got called in by our ISO at 9am, and the interview lasted for about 25mins.

She swore us in, then she immediately asked for our IDs(drivers license).She asked us for passports, birth certificates, marriage certificate, and joint account documents and joint sponsor stuff. We got an RFE right in the middle of the interview because the W-2 for our joint sponsor for 2010 was not included in the tax packet we provided. (I am going to go back later today or tommorrow to turn it in.)

She then proceeded to ask us the "no" questions. Afterwards she asked us for our full names(I have a long middle name and it was funny and scary when my husband struggled with my middle name,I thought she would raise an eyebrow but she just smiled at him),DOB, place of birth, when we got engaged, how we met, our hobbies away from each other,parents name, address, zipcode, we we lived before getting married.

I am not really sure about this part: She told us after she came back from the copy room that once the I-130 has been approved, that I would get a notice in 3 wks, and I should try and get the rfe so she can also approve the I485 also. She didn't explicitly say you are approved, she didn't stamp my passport or take my I94. So, the waiting game begins again for me....

Overall, the experience was very professional, the ISO was professional and it was what we were expecting.

[EmmillJ 1]

Thank you for sharing your interview experiences!!

We probably won't get called for an interview until next year (the rate at which the NYC office seems to be going), but I got an email notice this morning aaaaaaand they've ordered production of my EAD card!!!!!

Very good news because my hubby works full time and goes to school and it will feel great to contribute for a change....