Married to US Citizen; AOS interview; I-765

[pacman1241 0]

Here is our story: we got married on June 5th 2012 in Athens, GA. It was a small wedding ceremony and only our family members were present. We took plenty of pictures together as we knew this would come in handy when I go in for my interview. We exchanged vows and wedding rings and began our new journey together.

My wife and I are both college students living in two separate states. She lives in GA and I live in TN (6 hour difference while driving).

I filed my application on June 21 (I did hire an attorney because I did not want to take any risk) and received a letter back on June 27 saying that they received my file for I-765 and I-485 and gave me a case status online tracking number.

I checked this site from the first day all the way until my interview. (I was way too hyped up and just wanted to hear back news ASAP) But I knew I had to play the waiting game just like everyone else.

Finally on July 1st 2012, I got a letter for my biometrics appointment which was two and a half weeks later (July 18th). Days dragged by, just waiting to get this process done with.

Biometrics was super easy. Just go in to the office, drop in the notice letter in the slot and wait for your name to be called. Then they do the finger printing and out you go.

The wait after biometrics was the worst. I did get the I-485 notice for interview to be held in Memphis, TN on August 30 at 1:00 PM.

Weeks before the interview day, we started gathering every little piece of information that linked us together. I did not have a license or a SSN and I did not live with her currently so I could not sign up on her lease or have health insurance with her or car insurance. The only documents I had were

1. Joint Bank Account

2. Gym Membership

3. Bus tickets on my end and Plane tickets on her end. If you are in a relationship, save EVERY ticket. It will be worth it in the end.

4. We saved a lot of our letters that we wrote to each other, movie tickets, restaurant receipts, adventure tickets, game tickets that we attended

5. Pictures (We saved up at least a 1000 pictures of us being together, with our family, with friends) to show that we were happy and in a serious relationship

The days leading up to the interview, we practiced like this was life or death. We prepared and asked possible interview questions almost every time we talked on the phone. We were so overprepared.

Finally the day came for the interview, I was so nervous going in. I had an attorney present with me to the interview (BEST DECISION EVER MADE).

If you are planning to hire an attorney, I highly recommend you do so. Don't look at the money part, make sure they have a good reputation (like mine was). Our interview appointment was at 1:00 P.M. and we arrived there at 12:35 and waited until our attorney arrived to drop the letter in the slot.

At 12:45, I dropped the letter in the slot and five minutes later, my attorney arrived. I got called in around 1:05 P.M.

When we entered the IO's office, he told us to stand up and lift your right hand to take an oath. We said yes we will only say the truth and then the interview began.

The IO asked me my name, address, and date of birth.

Asked if I had SSN (I said No).

He asked my wife the same thing. My wife had SSN.

He went on to ask me how I met my wife and where we met and when it was. I answered truthfully.

He then went on to ask me the questions about if I had ever committed a crime in the US or helped someone get into the US illegally....I said No.

He asked if we lived together before marriage and I said no.

The gentlemen was SUPER nice. Very friendly and sociable. He was really shocked to see people our age getting married (I was 22 and my wife was 20).

He asked for our joint assets and I gave him EVERYTHING I prepared with. Bus tickets, joint bank account, gym memberships(with our names on it), my wife's plane tickets, PayPal account money transfers.

He then looked at our original birth certificate and original marriage certificate and turned to his computer.

There was silence for at least a minute. My back was sweating, I was so nervous.

Finally he broke the silence with "Congratulations, I am approving your case. You should get your green card within 30 days."

The IO was so kind to us and understood our situation. He also commented right after saying "Man you look like you are about to explode."

I was jumping with joy inside of me. I could not believe it. I have been waiting for this day since 2001 and finally everything I did paid off. I thanked God in my head first and then shook the IO's hand and said Thank you for everything! He printed us an approval letter and walked us out to the door.

I checked my status online and I got the welcome message and that I will soon become a permanent resident (conditionally) since we were married for only 3 months.

My wife and I are so happy right now. But I feel so deflated and drained out by the immigration process. I feel like a giant monkey has been lifted off my back and I am excited to start my future once my green card arrives.

I had to write this post because I read hundreds of posts on here before my interview and they helped me tremendously! I couldn't sleep for weeks so I ended up reading on other people's cases.

I cannot wait for my green card to arrive in the mail!

SO HAPPY!

[natalieblake 0]

congratulations!!!

[Que Saudade 284]

Congratulations..

But please explain to me how the attorney made the difference in your case?

It is apparent you would have been approved anyhow.

So many go through this process and these interviews with no attorney and get the same result. I believe you would have had the same result, plus more money in your pocket....

[Rachel & Tom 9]

Here is our story: we got married on June 5th 2012 in Athens, GA. It was a small wedding ceremony and only our family members were present. We took plenty of pictures together as we knew this would come in handy when I go in for my interview. We exchanged vows and wedding rings and began our new journey together.

My wife and I are both college students living in two separate states. She lives in GA and I live in TN (6 hour difference while driving).

I filed my application on June 21 (I did hire an attorney because I did not want to take any risk) and received a letter back on June 27 saying that they received my file for I-765 and I-485 and gave me a case status online tracking number.

I checked this site from the first day all the way until my interview. (I was way too hyped up and just wanted to hear back news ASAP) But I knew I had to play the waiting game just like everyone else.

Finally on July 1st 2012, I got a letter for my biometrics appointment which was two and a half weeks later (July 18th). Days dragged by, just waiting to get this process done with.

Biometrics was super easy. Just go in to the office, drop in the notice letter in the slot and wait for your name to be called. Then they do the finger printing and out you go.

The wait after biometrics was the worst. I did get the I-485 notice for interview to be held in Memphis, TN on August 30 at 1:00 PM.

Weeks before the interview day, we started gathering every little piece of information that linked us together. I did not have a license or a SSN and I did not live with her currently so I could not sign up on her lease or have health insurance with her or car insurance. The only documents I had were

1. Joint Bank Account

2. Gym Membership

3. Bus tickets on my end and Plane tickets on her end. If you are in a relationship, save EVERY ticket. It will be worth it in the end.

4. We saved a lot of our letters that we wrote to each other, movie tickets, restaurant receipts, adventure tickets, game tickets that we attended

5. Pictures (We saved up at least a 1000 pictures of us being together, with our family, with friends) to show that we were happy and in a serious relationship

The days leading up to the interview, we practiced like this was life or death. We prepared and asked possible interview questions almost every time we talked on the phone. We were so overprepared.

Finally the day came for the interview, I was so nervous going in. I had an attorney present with me to the interview (BEST DECISION EVER MADE).

If you are planning to hire an attorney, I highly recommend you do so. Don't look at the money part, make sure they have a good reputation (like mine was). Our interview appointment was at 1:00 P.M. and we arrived there at 12:35 and waited until our attorney arrived to drop the letter in the slot.

At 12:45, I dropped the letter in the slot and five minutes later, my attorney arrived. I got called in around 1:05 P.M.

When we entered the IO's office, he told us to stand up and lift your right hand to take an oath. We said yes we will only say the truth and then the interview began.

The IO asked me my name, address, and date of birth.

Asked if I had SSN (I said No).

He asked my wife the same thing. My wife had SSN.

He went on to ask me how I met my wife and where we met and when it was. I answered truthfully.

He then went on to ask me the questions about if I had ever committed a crime in the US or helped someone get into the US illegally....I said No.

He asked if we lived together before marriage and I said no.

The gentlemen was SUPER nice. Very friendly and sociable. He was really shocked to see people our age getting married (I was 22 and my wife was 20).

He asked for our joint assets and I gave him EVERYTHING I prepared with. Bus tickets, joint bank account, gym memberships(with our names on it), my wife's plane tickets, PayPal account money transfers.

He then looked at our original birth certificate and original marriage certificate and turned to his computer.

There was silence for at least a minute. My back was sweating, I was so nervous.

Finally he broke the silence with "Congratulations, I am approving your case. You should get your green card within 30 days."

The IO was so kind to us and understood our situation. He also commented right after saying "Man you look like you are about to explode."

I was jumping with joy inside of me. I could not believe it. I have been waiting for this day since 2001 and finally everything I did paid off. I thanked God in my head first and then shook the IO's hand and said Thank you for everything! He printed us an approval letter and walked us out to the door.

I checked my status online and I got the welcome message and that I will soon become a permanent resident (conditionally) since we were married for only 3 months.

My wife and I are so happy right now. But I feel so deflated and drained out by the immigration process. I feel like a giant monkey has been lifted off my back and I am excited to start my future once my green card arrives.

I had to write this post because I read hundreds of posts on here before my interview and they helped me tremendously! I couldn't sleep for weeks so I ended up reading on other people's cases.

I cannot wait for my green card to arrive in the mail!

SO HAPPY!

congrats!!!!!!!!! i love reading things like this because it makes me and my soon to be husband feel so much better...... im so happy for you guys....... and thank you for this..........

[pacman1241 0]

Congratulations..

But please explain to me how the attorney made the difference in your case?

It is apparent you would have been approved anyhow.

So many go through this process and these interviews with no attorney and get the same result. I believe you would have had the same result, plus more money in your pocket....

The reason we hired an attorney was: 1. To be on the safe side. 2. We were living separately because of schools in different states and we felt like having an attorney present could help us convey the message to the IO about our situation. And our attorney did help us convey the message to the IO. She was highly recognized and a well respected attorney so maybe reputation had something to do with it?

[TimeTravel 78]

She was highly recognized and a well respected attorney so maybe reputation had something to do with it?

I dont see if reputation of attorney would make any different. It all depend up to you. IO makes decision based on your case, how you respond, etc etc.

Hiring an attorney could be PLUS if one doesn't want to deal with all paperwork, and wants to ensure that everything is fine. I personally hired an attorney ( very reasonable price ) for my CR-1/IR-1 to prepare all paperwork as I didnt want to take any risk as I was new to all at that time, but for my next stage - citizenship, I would love to do it myself! As I have learnt alot of things from VJ, and pretty confident to do paperwork myself

[waiting_for_aos 11]

@pacman Congrats!!Thank you very much for posting this! I am in the same situation. My wife is going to school in Oklahoma and I am working in Oregon. I am really worried about interview because we live in different states. Your experience gave me hope!!

[pacman1241 0]

@pacman Congrats!!Thank you very much for posting this! I am in the same situation. My wife is going to school in Oklahoma and I am working in Oregon. I am really worried about interview because we live in different states. Your experience gave me hope!!

I'm glad I could give you some hope. I pray that you find success at your interview.

One advice I would give to you is that you should take as MANY pictures of yourself with your wife and her family and your family. Pictures help a lot! Especially if you do not have many joint assets together.

Overall, IO understand couples may live apart due to schooling purposes. You just have to be honest and convince them that your marriage is Bona Fide.

[waiting_for_aos 11]

I'm glad I could give you some hope. I pray that you find success at your interview.

One advice I would give to you is that you should take as MANY pictures of yourself with your wife and her family and your family. Pictures help a lot! Especially if you do not have many joint assets together.

Overall, IO understand couples may live apart due to schooling purposes. You just have to be honest and convince them that your marriage is Bona Fide.

Thanks for tip pacman! I have hundreds of pictures of my wife and me but only 30-40 pictures with her family I do have pictures at different locations though such as Las Vegas, Oregon and Oklahoma. Hopefully that will be sufficient! I do have a video of our wedding ceremony with about 50-60 of our family and friends but unfortunately IO's dont look at videos.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Congrats!

[jueribizu 0]

Congrats.

[pacman1241 0]

Thanks for tip pacman! I have hundreds of pictures of my wife and me but only 30-40 pictures with her family I do have pictures at different locations though such as Las Vegas, Oregon and Oklahoma. Hopefully that will be sufficient! I do have a video of our wedding ceremony with about 50-60 of our family and friends but unfortunately IO's dont look at videos.

Yes, I believe that will be sufficient enough. And have a positive attitude when you are in the interview and have all documents READY to hand it to the IO when asked. Have all of it out and ready to give it to the IO as soon as he asks.

I hope and pray for the best!

Good luck!

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

*** Moving from AOS from Family Visa to AOS from Student Visa Progress Update forum ***

Congrats!

[Timon 26]

Congratulations man. I can feel your joy through your post. Thanks for the advise. Best of luck to you and your wife.