received interview letter but scared

[Winning 2]

hello everyone I just received my interview for the AOS and I am scared because it seems that they are really strict. The checklist that they put in the letter makes it seem that way. Everything we sent out we did through an immigration lawyer and I would say that everything in the letter we already sent. Should I get into my lawyers office and get copies of all those documents either way just in case there is a problem during the interview that they did not receive any packets? Some people tell me I should not be worried my process has been smooth and we never received any RFE which makes me feel that if something would have been wrong from the start we would have already seen it. (right?)

[mof 15]

hello everyone I just received my interview for the AOS and I am scared because it seems that they are really strict. The checklist that they put in the letter makes it seem that way. Everything we sent out we did through an immigration lawyer and I would say that everything in the letter we already sent. Should I get into my lawyers office and get copies of all those documents either way just in case there is a problem during the interview that they did not receive any packets? Some people tell me I should not be worried my process has been smooth and we never received any RFE which makes me feel that if something would have been wrong from the start we would have already seen it. (right?)

Correct - you do not need to be worried about this if your case is straight-forward. The interview letter pretty much always asks you to bring all the papers that you already submitted. Therefore, bring copies of all the forms you sent in. Also, bring originals and copies of all the evidence you already submitted when you filed. In addition, bring originals and copies of all the additional evidence you plan to bring to the interview. If you have translated documents, make sure that the translator attaches a certification of proper translation to the documents (and bring a copy of that as well).

If one of the required items had been missing from you application packet, they would have sent you an RFE. I have no idea why they require you to bring most of that paperwork with you - but everyone gets that request!

I created a folder with various categories (such as ID's, SS# Cards, bank accounts, birth certificates, insurance documents, photos, etc) and for each category, I included original and copy. For example, my foreign birth certificate plus a copy, the original translation of the birth certificate plus a copy, the original declaration of the translator regarding correctness of the translation plus a copy.

Also, I thought about all the various little documents to could support my case even if they were NOT listed in the interview letter. I felt that I had one chance to prove my case and that it wouldn't hurt to simply have as much with me as I reasonably could. In my case, I included SS# cards even though they were not mentioned anywhere in my interview letter. The one thing our IO asked for during the interview were those cards! I was just thrilled that I had put them in my folder (along with copies, of course). Do NOT stress too much about that either: My wife had a previous marriage annulled but since that was 20 years ago, she simply no longer has any documentation of that event. The IO asked her for it and she stated that she no longer had it - and that was just fine with the IO. They can be lenient, too.

For starters, make a copy of the interview letter and check each item off the list once you put it in a folder - that way, you will know that you have everything covered and it will give you some reassurance that you are, indeed, prepared. For me, the biggest worry was knowing that I had everything I needed -the checklist was invaluable.

The folder will also help you in giving the IO whatever he or she requests without having to leaf through pages and pages of documents. Remember that the IO's time is valuable as well and that you ought to be mindful and respectful of that.

Lastly, keep in mind that IO's are human, too - they are not some bureaucratic monster just trying to rip your life apart. Be professional, prepared, and respectful and you will be just fine.

Edited June 6, 2011 by mof

[Dave&Roza 748]

We went in and the IO swore us in. She then said that the medical and vaccination records were received and everything was okay. She then mentioned that my affidivat of support was fine. She then had us sign a form stating we were willing to proceed without our lawyer. She then asked for our IDs and made photo copies. Then came the hard part as she ask my wife question after question after question. These questions were:" What is your full name," What is your date of birth," "Where were you born," "What is your address," "What is your Mother's name," "What is your Father's name," and one of the hardest of them all was "What is your SSN". As the wife answered each question the IO checked it off with a red pen. The only thing she asked to see was the marriage license which I showed her the original and gave her a certified copy--I had already included this but that is what she wanted. No other information collected. Took about 20 minutes in all. The last thing she did was to tell us that since we have been married for less than two years we will have to remove the conditions on her 2 year GC.

Very easy. Good luck, I hope it goes as well for you as it did for us.

Dave

Edited June 6, 2011 by Dave&Roza

[LlamaInvasion 76]

I brought in copies of the whole application package/the documents they requested in the interview letter. Didn't need any of 'em. We only had to present IDs, and evidence of a bona fide marriage (I had the evidence we submitted in our application, as well as a couple of additional things). Personally, I like to bring copies to be safe, but you really shouldn't worry. Good luck on your interview.

[Winning 2]

We went in and the IO swore us in. She then said that the medical and vaccination records were received and everything was okay. She then mentioned that my affidivat of support was fine. She then had us sign a form stating we were willing to proceed without our lawyer. She then asked for our IDs and made photo copies. Then came the hard part as she ask my wife question after question after question. These questions were:" What is your full name," What is your date of birth," "Where were you born," "What is your address," "What is your Mother's name," "What is your Father's name," and one of the hardest of them all was "What is your SSN". As the wife answered each question the IO checked it off with a red pen. The only thing she asked to see was the marriage license which I showed her the original and gave her a certified copy--I had already included this but that is what she wanted. No other information collected. Took about 20 minutes in all. The last thing she did was to tell us that since we have been married for less than two years we will have to remove the conditions on her 2 year GC.

Very easy. Good luck, I hope it goes as well for you as it did for us.

Dave

did you do your process with the help of a lawyer? would it be better for me to request for my lawyer to accompany me to the interview?

[Maxximus1074 14]

did you do your process with the help of a lawyer? would it be better for me to request for my lawyer to accompany me to the interview?

If your Lawyer charges you extra for coming along, then don't do it - seriously, a lawyer is permitted to be at the interview but they are not really allowed to speak with you during the interview, basically sit in the background. I even read somewhere that a lawyer interfering, even if its rephrasing a question of the IO isn't a good thing ....

But like me pre-posters said, it's more nervewrecking because you know what's at stake, yet the normal regular interview is not really complicated.

Again, bring copies and originals, from own experience my IO didn't want to see many of them. We also had 3 Picture albums, one with wedding pix/guest book, one I made my wife as a anniversary gift from our adventures since we met, and one with misc. pictures including family events like Thanksgiving. In the end the IO just flipped through the wedding pix and took a few copies of pictures showing us with our parents. Otherwise the interview is about verifying what you filled out in the forms, like all the questions in form 485 about terrorism, drugs etc. and possibly about your latest entry to the US. We also had to verify our phone numbers and birth dates and my wife was asked a few questions about when we met and if we met our parents.

Must be a german thing - me, too had a folder with categories - but I split mine up into the different forms and then also into document categories of my wife and me.

Good luck with your interview!!

Keep us posted

Maxximus

p.s. keep on mind, there is some locations, like in San Francisco, where they rarely tell you on the spot if you got approved, they even didn't take my I-94 and EAD from me, gave me a letter about further review but also told me already to remove conditions of this first green card of mine - yet she never said congratulations, never smiled ..... so it doesn't mean anything if you only get a "check back with us after xx days if you don't hear from us" ....

Edited June 6, 2011 by Maxximus1074

[katiemanny 64]

Unless your marriage is fraudulent, there's nothing to be scared of, you don't even need your lawyer at your interview, again unless your case has red flags all over it. It'll be you, your Spouse and the IO. Your lawyer will have to wait in the lobby.

[mof 15]

Must be a german thing - me, too had a folder with categories

I think I got that idea from reading one of your posts....