Interview experience in Dallas

[Alex13 5]

Hey folks! Thought I'd do a separate post detailing my interview experience in Dallas.

We got there about 12.45 and my appointment was at 1. We got called in at probably around 1.10pm, our I.O made no eye contact whatsoever, he was an older white man probably around 70 years old. Real old school, looked like an ex-cop. I thought 'man, this isn't what I was hoping for..' and I was (sort of) right!

He swore us in and began grilling us fairly quickly. Finding any small discrepancy in our application, there's a bit where it LOOKED like it asked us to list any kids from our relationship, so we didn't list any. My wife has kids, my step-kids, but we genuinely thought it was asking for children of this marriage. So he really looked us over on that one.

He asked for any documentation with our names on it together - we gave him our sublease agreement with our names on it as proof of residency, and a college registration form that has me listed as a spouse. We told him that was what we were able to get hold of with no SSN etc, and he very sternly said again 'is there ANYTHING else with your names on' etc.. my wife was desperately trying to hold herself together throughout all this, as was I, my mouth was so dry the whole time. I tried my best to be stoic and calm-headed and I think it worked. Legitimately explained how we met, and he very carefully and slowly looked through our photo album. He also read a couple of letters/affidavits friends had written on our behalf.

Throughout looking through all these things, he gave no indication of any emotion other than suspicion (maybe not suspicion.... careful deliberation?), didn't crack a smile after we told the funny anecdote of how we met etc.

I thought, well, we've offered explanations for everything, I think we seem genuine and honest, he noted my wife's nervousness so I guess it was clear to him that it means a lot to her to have this work out. But I thought 'he's never going to tell me today if I've been approved though', at best he'd maintain stonefaced and tell me my petition was under review etc...

Anyway, he sat there and every so often just looked at us. Then he fiddled around for ages on the computer, stapling things etc, and he casually said 'Congratulations on becoming a Permanent Resident'! I was like 'excuse me?' (wasn't being a smartass, genuinely couldn't hear him coz he was a bit old and mealy mouthed) and he repeated it. Unbelievable! Me and my wife hugged, she cried, we were ecstatic etc, he then smiled and my wife hugged him and I shook his hand (twice, I think) and we told him how ecstatic we were etc. He said the card production would take a few weeks, and gave me a piece of paper with permanent residency info on it etc.

Amazing! What a surreal, weird day. The interview experience was horrible, absolutely stomach-churning. But we got approved! So I'm ecstatic, delighted, but the experience itself was pretty grim.

I guess my advice to people going through a horrible interview experience is this - I guess some I.O's just operate that way to determine truth, don't let it shake you and you still might end up with a great result! I guess the guy did a good job, and I guess we did a good job at remaining calm and steady.

Thank you for ALL the help I've received on this board. I honestly couldn't have done it without you. I haven't been posting here long, but reading and taking in advice for a LONG time. The advice I've received here is absolutely invaluable.

Thank you!x

[desmond&molly 5]

Congratulations! And that was very descriptive interview experience, I could almost see your officer and your excitment when he said you're approved

[Alex13 5]

Thanks! Haha, yeah it was pretty intense. I can't really describe it.

My wife filed her tax return as 'Single' - only because the Married Filing Separately thing asked for a SSN which I didn't have, and it said 'filing status' as opposed to 'marital status' so we chose 'Single' - LUCKILY we amended the tax return a few months ago when we realized it was wrong when we were filling out college financial aid forms for my wife, and LUCKILY I brought it with me.

As soon as we were sworn in he asked 'so.. when did you get married?' and so I answered 'Feb 5th 2009'. And he's like 'hmm... so can you tell me why you filed SINGLE on your tax return?' and it was downhill from there, or so we thought! Luckily I had the amended tax return and he seemed satisfied with that.

He also, when studying my wife's drivers license, noted that she had an old address on there, and proceeded to tell her it's highly illegal etc. (note to anyone that didn't know this!)

Afterwards, my wife told me that she saw him stamp 'APPROVED' on a document about halfway through the interview, but she didn't know if that just meant that a particular page was approved, or whatever, since the interview was going so strangely! She thinks maybe he was just toying with us after about halfway through. It WAS odd how quickly he was all smiles etc after he approved us!

[Alex13 5]

Another thing, I received no stamp in passport and I still have my I-94 (he gave them both back to me, which I thought really was a BAD sign) - does this mean anything significant or is it a non-issue?

[trillium13 84]

We had our interview in the same office. They didn't take anything of ours and we were approved right then also. No stamp. Took about 2 weeks to get the GC. Dallas runs a little slow.

Congrats!!

[Myopia 93]

I really loved this description. Congrats!

[Zebraden 0]

Congrats! I kept checking back yesterday to see how things went.

Fingers crossed ours goes as smoothly. Although... a more cheerful IO might be nice.

[Pupsik 4]

congrats...less than a month until our interview...getting nervous....

[la2011 5]

Awesome! Told ya not to worry in my other thread

Have a great weekend, you guys must feel relieved it's over with!

[Alex13 5]

Thanks guys!

I'm certainly going to stick around on here and hopefully I'll be able to help others the same way I was helped. Pay it forward!

Fingers crossed for you Pupsik and Zebraden. Just keep your heads and it will all go fine! If we could make it through that I.O, I'm sure you guys will be fine!