I-485 AOS Interview

[582summit 0]

Hi all

We are scheduled for AOS interview on 01/20/2012. I have some concerns regarding our case.

Ours is sorta complicated case. Well, we were in relation for more than 2 years before we got married(06/03/2011) and we didn't live together before marriage. Also she was studying in NY and since I was a consultant I had to move frequently for the job. So I wasn't in NY. But we have quite extensive chat and phone bills and we used to visit each other once in a while during holidays and vacations. We started living together in September 2011 (after 3 months of marriage). Our current apartment lease is in Idaho (where I work) and she had the job offer in NY (it was offered her last year in Dec 2010 to start job in Jan 2012). So once I get my EAD I am planning to search for job in NY and move back there. (I was there before I started working).

Do you think this distant relationship would be a problem in the interview? We did registered marriage in NY court and only her Uncle-Aunt were present there. Is that going to be a problem too?.

Any kind of suggestions would be really appreciated.

Thanks

Nik

[jojolicious 38]

Shared residence is important after the marriage as well as commingling of financial resources. The lease in Idaho has both your names? Will the lease in NY have both names? Do you plan to wait until you have a job before you move with her or do you plan to move at the same time as her regardless of whether or not you have found a job there? Will she be moving before the interview?

As long as you can show why other family members were not there and that both families are aware of the marriage you should be fine in this regard. It would be helpful if you had pictures to show that you have met each other's families though

Edited December 21, 2011 by jojolicious

[Lau975 1]

I am in a similar situation that our parents weren't there for our wedding. I am thinking that all we can do is simply say the truth and I agree as long as we can show that our parents know and they have met each other we should be okay! But I do feel a little nervous as well. Good luck in this process!

[ceadsearc 516]

Not living together is a red flag. But IOs know that sometimes it is necessary in certain circumstances like yours. Be prepared to explain, be prepared to provide evidence you regularly see each other, and be prepared to present evidence of a bonafide marriage. And try not to stress too much. You aren't the first.

[582summit 0]

Shared residence is important after the marriage as well as commingling of financial resources. The lease in Idaho has both your names? Will the lease in NY have both names? Do you plan to wait until you have a job before you move with her or do you plan to move at the same time as her regardless of whether or not you have found a job there? Will she be moving before the interview?

As long as you can show why other family members were not there and that both families are aware of the marriage you should be fine in this regard. It would be helpful if you had pictures to show that you have met each other's families though

Thanks jojolicious for your advice.

Idaho lease have both of our names. NY lease would also have both of our names. I have to wait until I get the Job in NY to move there. And since her job starts from 01/04/2012 she has to move before the interview.

Well in regards to why parents were not in the marriage: my parents are here in Alabama. They couldn't come because it was decided in short time when I was in NY visiting her. And her parents are in india so that's why they couldn't come. Do you think this is wise reason to tell to IO regarding my parents? My wife had met with my parents before we got married and we do have pictures for that too.

Thanks a lot again

[ceadsearc 516]

No need to volunteer the info about where your parents were, but there's a good chance they'll ask so just be honest if they do.

[582summit 0]

Not living together is a red flag. But IOs know that sometimes it is necessary in certain circumstances like yours. Be prepared to explain, be prepared to provide evidence you regularly see each other, and be prepared to present evidence of a bonafide marriage. And try not to stress too much. You aren't the first.

Yea I know not living together after marriage is not a good sign and I hope IO understands the situation. We didn't even had ring ceremony so we don't have rings also. We were planning to go to India this December for our official traditional marriage and ring ceremony. I hope not having rings won't create problems.

Any advise?

[582summit 0]

I am in a similar situation that our parents weren't there for our wedding. I am thinking that all we can do is simply say the truth and I agree as long as we can show that our parents know and they have met each other we should be okay! But I do feel a little nervous as well. Good luck in this process!

Yea I am hoping for the best. Do you mind me asking what documents are you planning to take with you to show that your parents were not there. Are you planning to have any affidavit from your parents or something like that? (if you have the same case as mine )

Thanks

[Little_My 464]

We got married at Manhattan City Hall in February, and neither set of parents was there, not even my husband's even though they live in the US. It never came up, we weren't even asked about it. We did have a traditional bigger wedding in Finland in July, but we never had to bring it up as the topic of our families not being at city hall was never mentioned.

[582summit 0]

We got married at Manhattan City Hall in February, and neither set of parents was there, not even my husband's even though they live in the US. It never came up, we weren't even asked about it. We did have a traditional bigger wedding in Finland in July, but we never had to bring it up as the topic of our families not being at city hall was never mentioned.

That's nice...though everything is legit sometimes it's really hard to explain the reason why or why not. I hope we won't be in that situation.

[jojolicious 38]

Yea I am hoping for the best. Do you mind me asking what documents are you planning to take with you to show that your parents were not there. Are you planning to have any affidavit from your parents or something like that? (if you have the same case as mine )

Thanks

You're over-thinking it None of my family was at our wedding ceremony (just his family and friends) but six months later we held a huge wedding reception (with a reenactment ceremony for the benefit of my family and friends). The IO only looked at a few pics from the wedding ceremony album and didn't ask us about who was or wasn't there. The IOs know that the beneficiary often has family in another country that can't make it to the wedding.

Your families have met. You have your lease. Take pics of the ceremony in India. Work on your other evidence of a bona fide marriage.

Rings can be bought, evidence faked but chemistry doesn't lie. I think the IOs can tell a lot by how you interact with each other at the interview. (That being said, still take your ring receipts because you never know if you'll need them)

Answer the questions asked by the IO openly and honestly without over-sharing. Good luck!

[trillium13 84]

Neither of our families was at our courthouse ceremony either, and it was never brought up. We did have pictures from the ceremony though.