Holtsville, NY interview- Approved!

[doctorbeat 6]

Interview experience

Holtsville, NY

My wife and I had our interview last Thursday (july 21st)

We were so paranoid about being late, that we arrived an hour and a half early!

After we passed through security, we checked in at the registration desk and they took our appointment letter and told us to take a seat.

It was a pretty big waiting area, and the place was quite busy.

We were dressed smartly, but noted that very few other people were, most were dressed in jeans and tshirts.

Our appointment was for 9:00am, but we weren't called in until 9:57am.

The interviewer, Officer P., was extremely nice.

As she led us down the corridor to her office, she apologised for keeping us waiting, told us that our application seemed to be in order, and that she could see that we were a genuine couple.

She made a few jokes about me being English, and really put us at ease.

When we arrived at her office, she told us that she had already decided to approve us, (she said 'I mean, come on, you've got a baby!) and that we just had to go through some formalities.

She swore us in, told us to take a seat, and asked for copies of our birth certificates.

Then she asked how we met.

I answered that we met on Facebook, and she said 'a lot of people meet that way nowadays'.

Then she asked us if we had some photos with us, to which we replied that we had.

She told my wife that she had to ask me some questions, and asked her to use the time to select a good photo of us for the records.

While my wife was looking for a suitable photo, Officer P. and I went through the standard questions, even joking a little about the espionage one (James Bond).

When we had finished, she looked at the photo my wife had chosen, said it was lovely, and put it in the file.

Then she explained that because we had been married 22 months, we had just fallen short of the two-year requirement, so I would be issued a conditional permanent resident card.

She briefly explained the removal of conditions process, and then asked us to go back into the waiting room while she finished the paperwork.

When we got back to the waiting room, we checked the time.

It was 10:05, which meant that the interview lasted an incredibly short eight minutes!

A few minutes later, she came back out and handed me my stamped passport and a welcome letter.

She wished us good luck, and that was that!

We left the office and stood outside for a bit, a little stunned at how easy the interview was.

Officer P. had not asked to see any of our paperwork, the pile of greetings cards, the affidavits from friends, joint bank statements, or even the photographs, except for the one she asked my wife to pick out.

I put this down to the following:

We had been married for almost two years by the time of our interview.

I am only eligible for conditional permanent residency, so further checks will be made in the future.

We have a baby. 

Controversial maybe, but I am from a first world country, and thus have no real motive to commit marriage fraud.

My wife and I look like a couple. People often tell us that we go well together.

We are of similar age and background and it shows.

I think that an experienced interviewer can spot a genuine couple within seconds. 

After all of the worry for the past couple of years, we were just stunned that it was all over.

We stood outside the office waiting for a cab, and for the first time, I was able to look at my wife and know that I wasn't going to lose her.

It's weird living with that hanging over your head, the idea that at any given moment, I could have been deported and barred from the country for a decade.

What's even weirder is that after having it hanging over our heads for our entire relationship, the problem went away in an eight minute interview.

We checked the website later that evening, and saw that it had been updated to 'document production', so my card should be here soon.

I recieved my 'Welcome to the United States of America' letter today, four days after the interview.

What a relief!

We just want to say a big thank you to everybody who helped us on our journey.

We really could not have done this without you

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Great story! So happy for you! The IOs are very good at their jobs: they put people at ease and can tell who is for real and who is not. Of course, being similar age and background really helps alleviate their concern too. Celebrate!

[doctorbeat 6]

Yes, if there's one thing I have taken away from this, it is that the IO's really do know what they are doing.

I'd say that if you're a real couple, you really do have absolutley nothing to worry about, but by the same token, if your intention is to commit mareiage fraud, you probably haven't got a hope in hell.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Yeah, there was a story on here though about a bigamist who was approved, and it made me really angry. The person was not divorced in their home country and got married here. Hopefully the system works eventually and they get caught.

But most of the time, the IOs and COs are very good. When people get denied, I always think it was with good cause, no matter how much they complain and insist their marriage is real.

I'm glad tattoos weren't a problem this time for you

[doctorbeat 6]

I believe tattoos helped us a great deal.

Both of us are pretty heavily tattooed, and I think that's part of the reason why people say we look right together.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I believe tattoos helped us a great deal.

Both of us are pretty heavily tattooed, and I think that's part of the reason why people say we look right together.

lol. If that's the reason people say that they aren't looking too deep, are they?

[daryl&lada 8]

Congratulations!!!

[doctorbeat 6]

I just realised that I forgot to mention something important!

I was a VWP overstayer.

I overstayed for well over a year, and this was not a problem. The IO didn't even mention it, even when I handed over my long-expired I-94.

Despite the recent scare, VWP overstay is a non issue.

[Myopia 93]

I have been really busy with the kids as school is out but I do check in from time to time. I am soooo happy to know that it all went well for you. Big sign of relief, eh?

No interview in sight for me but it's all good. I'd rather have an interview in the fall anyways

Stay golden. Told ya!

[JohnandWendyB 21]

Thanks for your post. You are making us feel more at ease. I have always read that if it is real you have no cause for worry but of course with the love of my life on the line, I am gonna worry!!! Thanks!