Interview tomorrow... final checklist help

[MrMadCat 18]

Here is what I have got together for the interview tomorrow. I made copies of all of this. For the record I am adjusting from VWP.

Interview letter

Copy of all original submissions for I-130, I-485 including a copy of the RFE. Wife = USC.

My Passport + Wife Passport

My Birth Certificate + Her Birth Certificate

Her drivers license in her new name.

My State ID card

My EAD + Advance Parole card

My Biometrics letter with Biometrics processing stamp on back

All the letters sent to us by USCIS

Vaccine record (I already submitted the medical in the beginning so this is all I have left which was given at the time I received my vaccines)

I-864 copy (was already submitted but have it just in case)

- Wife 2011 tax transcripts

- 2011 W-2s

- 5 pay stubs for the last few months (these are the thing we didn't intitially submit so we are taking them with us for the interview)

- Letter of employment, date, salary, hours etc

Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate

Joint Bank account statements that list both our name

Copy that I am listed as primary beneficiary on her stock and health plan in event of her death

Copy that I am dependent on her health insurance

I am named on one of her credit cards (I didn't have SSN then but still named)

My SSN card and her SSN card showing her new name

15 pictures from time together. A few when she went to visit me in England, some of our wedding in Vegas, some of various other places like NYC.

My boarding pass I used to enter the country

Her ticket stubs that she used to fly to England in Jan to visit me.

Her receipt of payment from the bed and breakfast she stayed in England for 5 nights which is in my home town.

I think that's it. I only just got my EAD a month ago and SSN a couple of weeks after so I haven't really had much to do anything, but we've been married for 6 months and I think we have got together quite a bit of evidence in that time. I am not on her lease, she owns her house, nor am I on the utility bills or anything like that. I think having the state ID card which clearly has our address on it we can use that also to prove we are living together. Am I missing anything else?

Edited November 19, 2012 by MrMadCat

[kintu 4]

i personally think you are good to go sir , we have a identical case and my interview is in a week and i just got my SSN today.i will be getting the State ID tomorrow(thanks for reminding).good luck for the interview and do share your experience. cheers

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Wow...all of us are approaching our interview. Phew! It sounds you got it down Mr. Cat. I have similar stuff as you do except for the Driver's license part. Our address is different on it, but we both changed it at the DMV, but they just don't issue you a new one because of that, but just write it in their system. So, on that one our address is different. But other than that, we'll be bringing along similar stuff. Now, I just wonder, are you and your wife will dress up all fancy for the interview? Did you guys hear anything about how people dress for this interview?

Good luck Mr. Cat and kintu!!! Come back and tell us all the questions! Mine is in about two weeks away....>.<

Good luck!

[GreenTrain 1]

Now, I just wonder, are you and your wife will dress up all fancy for the interview? Did you guys hear anything about how people dress for this interview?

Good luck Mr. Cat and kintu!!! Come back and tell us all the questions! Mine is in about two weeks away....>.<

Good luck!

I guess one should go in formals or business casuals.

[MrMadCat 18]

We are back from our interview. I will describe exactly how it went and what happened.

First we took everything I listed here in several folders, and made a copy of that too. We got up at 6am and proceeded to get ready. I wore khakis, a simply white shirt and an old man sweater. I'm 29 but hey, the old man look seems to suite me, haha. Anyway we arrived at 7:20 for our 8am appointment. Security wouldn't let us through until 7:50. We went back to the car and waited about 30 minutes before going back in, in which I handed my interview letter, my idea and so did my wife hand her idea over. I put all the folders on the xray belt, my wrist watch, my glasses and stepped through the scanner. My wife followed after and we went to the elevator, but we weren't allowed up just yet. After about 5 minutes (was 7:55 by then) we were allowed up into the elevator and we were the first ones in the waiting lobby. I put my interview letter onto a tray at the reception desk and we sat down. A few other people arrived by then, and at around 8:10 a man comes out and calls my name (so we were the first ones that morning).

We follow him into the room and I go to sit down, but he says we got to swear an oath and so I quickly stand up. He says raise your hand, and I raise my left hand instead of my right. He goes "other hand" and I say "oops!" and put my right hand up. After being sworn in we all sit down and he asks to see my passport and my wife ID (she used her driver's license). We hand that to him and he goes over my passport page to page. Then he asks me my date of birth and full name, in which I give that to him. He then asks my wife the exact same question, and she answers. He goes over a few other questions such as, how I entered the country, and date we got married. Asked for my SSN which he wrote down on some of the paperwork. Also asked where we got married.

Then he asked me the yes/no questions like do you plan to overthrow the US government, etc. I said no to all of them. He then leans back and starts asking about how we met, where we met, etc. Just general stuff about how our relationship developed. I said we met last year and gave him the month, and told him what site. Also stated my wife (then girlfriend) went to visit me in England first before I came to US. My wife said that before my flgiht was to go home, a month after arriving, she didn't want me to go back and so we got married. He seemed satisfied with that answer. He talked about whether our families know each other and my wife said that I have met her mum, but she hasn't met mine since my mum can't travel. Also he asked how our parents reacted to our wedding. We were just honest, said we didn't tell them for a certain amount of time because we eloped. He asked briefly if I am working and what I did before I came here. I was honest and said I didn't work before I came here, and that I am currently looking for work. He also seemed satisfied with that answer. While he was going through the forms writing stuff and dates down, he said "Did you guys see an attorney for filing this?", we said "No". He then said "you've both done an excellent work with the paperwork" and smiled.

We had stacks of folders with us but the only thing he took was my SSN card to write it down since I didn't remember the number, and my passport and wives driver's license. Oh and he said that not to use the EAD card after the greencard, so I asked if I get to keep it as a memory. He said sure.

Then he pulled out a booklet that says "Welcome to the United States" a guidebook for new immigrants. He then asked do I know what the next step is from here, and I said...removal of conditions? He nodded yes, and explained what we need to do to remove conditions. He said, he needs to do some final reviews of our paperwork but said "Your greencard should arrive before 2 weeks". He smiled, and I asked "Is that it?", and he said "yes, we're done" and smiled, showed us to the door and complimented us again on the good initial paperwork.

That was it... I have no production email yet or anything but... I take it we're going to be approved? He didn't care to see anything we had in our folder, he just seemed content with our answers. I won't lie, I was nervous and anxious before it, but the guy was friendly, smiled, listened to our answers and it was overall a pleasant experience. The interview took 15 minutes.

[kintu 4]

Wow...all of us are approaching our interview. Phew! It sounds you got it down Mr. Cat. I have similar stuff as you do except for the Driver's license part. Our address is different on it, but we both changed it at the DMV, but they just don't issue you a new one because of that, but just write it in their system. So, on that one our address is different. But other than that, we'll be bringing along similar stuff. Now, I just wonder, are you and your wife will dress up all fancy for the interview? Did you guys hear anything about how people dress for this interview?

Good luck Mr. Cat and kintu!!! Come back and tell us all the questions! Mine is in about two weeks away....>.<

Good luck!

Thank you for the wishes

[kintu 4]

We are back from our interview. I will describe exactly how it went and what happened.

First we took everything I listed here in several folders, and made a copy of that too. We got up at 6am and proceeded to get ready. I wore khakis, a simply white shirt and an old man sweater. I'm 29 but hey, the old man look seems to suite me, haha. Anyway we arrived at 7:20 for our 8am appointment. Security wouldn't let us through until 7:50. We went back to the car and waited about 30 minutes before going back in, in which I handed my interview letter, my idea and so did my wife hand her idea over. I put all the folders on the xray belt, my wrist watch, my glasses and stepped through the scanner. My wife followed after and we went to the elevator, but we weren't allowed up just yet. After about 5 minutes (was 7:55 by then) we were allowed up into the elevator and we were the first ones in the waiting lobby. I put my interview letter onto a tray at the reception desk and we sat down. A few other people arrived by then, and at around 8:10 a man comes out and calls my name (so we were the first ones that morning).

We follow him into the room and I go to sit down, but he says we got to swear an oath and so I quickly stand up. He says raise your hand, and I raise my left hand instead of my right. He goes "other hand" and I say "oops!" and put my right hand up. After being sworn in we all sit down and he asks to see my passport and my wife ID (she used her driver's license). We hand that to him and he goes over my passport page to page. Then he asks me my date of birth and full name, in which I give that to him. He then asks my wife the exact same question, and she answers. He goes over a few other questions such as, how I entered the country, and date we got married. Asked for my SSN which he wrote down on some of the paperwork. Also asked where we got married.

Then he asked me the yes/no questions like do you plan to overthrow the US government, etc. I said no to all of them. He then leans back and starts asking about how we met, where we met, etc. Just general stuff about how our relationship developed. I said we met last year and gave him the month, and told him what site. Also stated my wife (then girlfriend) went to visit me in England first before I came to US. My wife said that before my flgiht was to go home, a month after arriving, she didn't want me to go back and so we got married. He seemed satisfied with that answer. He talked about whether our families know each other and my wife said that I have met her mum, but she hasn't met mine since my mum can't travel. Also he asked how our parents reacted to our wedding. We were just honest, said we didn't tell them for a certain amount of time because we eloped. He asked briefly if I am working and what I did before I came here. I was honest and said I didn't work before I came here, and that I am currently looking for work. He also seemed satisfied with that answer. While he was going through the forms writing stuff and dates down, he said "Did you guys see an attorney for filing this?", we said "No". He then said "you've both done an excellent work with the paperwork" and smiled.

We had stacks of folders with us but the only thing he took was my SSN card to write it down since I didn't remember the number, and my passport and wives driver's license. Oh and he said that not to use the EAD card after the greencard, so I asked if I get to keep it as a memory. He said sure.

Then he pulled out a booklet that says "Welcome to the United States" a guidebook for new immigrants. He then asked do I know what the next step is from here, and I said...removal of conditions? He nodded yes, and explained what we need to do to remove conditions. He said, he needs to do some final reviews of our paperwork but said "Your greencard should arrive before 2 weeks". He smiled, and I asked "Is that it?", and he said "yes, we're done" and smiled, showed us to the door and complimented us again on the good initial paperwork.

That was it... I have no production email yet or anything but... I take it we're going to be approved? He didn't care to see anything we had in our folder, he just seemed content with our answers. I won't lie, I was nervous and anxious before it, but the guy was friendly, smiled, listened to our answers and it was overall a pleasant experience. The interview took 15 minutes.

Congratulations madcat , thanks for sharing your experience.good luck for your life ahead

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Oh gosh, wow!! What a relief, eh? Congratulations and thank you so much for the detailed info on your interview. Phew! You guys must be really relieved!!! Now, make sure you guys celebrate it!!! WOW! I'm very happy for you guys! Woohoo!!! Now, rest, and enjoy life!

[GreenTrain 1]

Congrats, & wish you all the fun in coming life !!

[deborabr 16]

Congrats and thanks for sharing!!! =)))

[MrMadCat 18]

Hey all I am happy to give an update and say that progress has been made. I received an approvement on my I-130 and on the I-485 it was updated to "On November 20, 2012, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later."

I guess this is good news Thanks for everyone who has helped us on our journey and answered all the questions we had early on. I no longer have to worry like I used to every day. The what if question of "Will I get approved or denied" isn't lingering over me, and I don't have to worry about "Will I call this home or my home back home...home" If that makes sense.

[Droseo 0]

Congrats!!! Yay

[Xanax 349]

Congratulations.