Divorced, filed I-751 without a spouse

[Miss J 2]

I am sharing my story in public in hopes that this will be helpful for other battered women out there.

STORY: I was young and stupid, fell in love with an #### and married him in a local court (no pictures, no guests, just tons of empty promises and unfulfilled dreams). Husband was a malicious jerk who don't deserve an amazing person like me (I will spare you the details). He got so nasty and terrible that I had to leave him to survive. I would literally die if I stay with him. Anyway, I divorced him and I filed the I-751 alone in Feb '10, with the help of an amazing lawyer. (Thank God!) I got my status extension letter within a month. This is a letter that extends your conditional green card for a year or until the USCIS process your case. Few months later, I got a letter asking me to do the biometrics. (I forgot when, I didn't keep track) I got a letter 2 weeks ago, asking me to go for my I-751 interview. I didn't know what to expect, so of course I google for help. Oh my god, the things I read online was scary. I was a train wreck for 2 weeks, because I thought the interview will definitely go wrong in some way. Even though my marriage was 100% legitimate and my lawyer was optimistic about my case, I was still super nervous about the interview.

Anyway, after going through the process, I want to demystify some untrue and crazy things I read online. I hope this will help other people going through the process:

Myth#1 - USCIS only interviews I-751 applicants who have a weak case

- I don't think this is true because I had an I-751 interview. My green card was approved within 10 minutes.

Myth#2 - they will quiz you in excruciating details until you get a wrong answer

- After reading the forums, I thought USCIS agents are horrible people who are experts at asking stupid, elaborate questions just to play mind games. Needless to say, I was super nervous about the interview. This myth was totally busted after my interview today. The agent I met was a very nice man, and none of the questions he asked were unfair. Retrospectively, I doubt anyone wants to be an ####. If you are legit, there is nothing to hide and nothing to be afraid of.

Myth#3 - Reading other people's experience will help prepare me for the interview

- NO WAY! I was more nervous than I needed to be after reading some forums. When I google I-751 interview, the majority of people had their application denied. Please don't compare your application to other people's. It is unhealthy and unhelpful. Everyone has a different story. I think people who has a success story are too happy moving on with their lives that they wouldn't have time to share it on a forum here. People who had bad experiences desperately need supports, hence they scavenge whatever help they can get. Don't think too much of the bad experience. If you didn't do anything wrong, you have nothing to hide.

My words of advice for other people going through the process is to stay calm. The worst thing you can do is to be nervous about the interview, and act guility during the interview. When you are calm, you walk in confidence and the positive attitude transpire and the agent can see it. If you act nervous, the agent can see that, too, and of course they will probe you with stupid questions just to make sure you are not guility. At the end of the day, USCIS agents are people, too. Nobody wants more work than they need to, so don't give them a reason to do extra work on you.

Anyway, this is my story. I hope it is helpful to you. I am not a lawyer and definitely not an expert at immigration, so I really can't help more than sharing my story.

I sincerely hope your immigration process will go smoothly. And while you wait, enjoy life. There is no reasons for you to waste a good year worrying about the status when everyone knows that government employee works slowly. Good luck!

[limenaluv91 34]

Well said

[Krikit 1,165]

Congratulations.

Moving from AOS Process to Effects of Major Changes.

[fizzapal 0]

Congrats! When did you file your I 751 waiver?

Did you go get stamp in your passport after your extent ion letter expired?

Where did you file? Vsc or California ?

Did you get RFE for more documents?

I'm asking this because it's been 1yr since l filed my i751 and l have never had from them.

[Miss J 2]

Thanks!

I filed in I-751 in Feb 2010.

I don't have to go get stamps on my passport. I filed in Massaachusetts.

I don't know what RFE is. I hear the process takes pretty long, but I got a receipt from them within a week after I filed.

Congrats! When did you file your I 751 waiver?

Did you go get stamp in your passport after your extent ion letter expired?

Where did you file? Vsc or California ?

Did you get RFE for more documents?

I'm asking this because it's been 1yr since l filed my i751 and l have never had from them.

[fizzapal 0]

I don't know what RFE is. I hear the process takes pretty long, but I got a receipt from them within a week after I filed.

Again congrats, RFE = request for more evidence. I'm from Massachusetts too.I have been waiting for one 1yr now.but you just gave me hope that one of this days they will approve my case just like you. Did you go to Lawrence or Boston for interview?they only gave you 2weeks notice till interview?

[MacTO 6]

Congrats!

I just filed I-751 myself but guess what? It came back to me with the reason of me filing it too early (before 90-day window). The thing is that I was filing it with a waver. So, I am questioning what I did wrong here. I even checked d. under Part 2. Basis for Petition on the form I-751. And it came back to me with that reason!!!

Any advice would be appreciated.