interview on Monday (Dec 3rd)

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Hey everybody:

So, my interview with my husband is coming up Monday, December 3rd. I apologize, but I will write down a great detail of our story, how we met, and what documents we're taking along, and please, PLEASE, any suggestions, or ideas that I could obtain still, or should change, please let me know. So, I'll start first with our story, then with the papers we're taking along.

I, the wife, is the international student here in the US. I have started my PhD program back in Fall 2009. I met my now husband online back in 2007. We were emailing back and forth just casually. Then I went to the US to do my GRE (at the time my country did not have GRE test center- now it may, I haven't followed up on that!). So, in Fall 2008 we met in person. Then I went back to my country to finish my last year as I only came to do my GRE that is required for graduate programs in public universities (in case someone is not aware what I'm talking about). So, we continued emailing to each other. Then I started my PhD in fall 2009 and we met up again. And again, and again. We became good friends, and often we would try to meet at the weekends for a quick bite, or a movie. Then in summer 2010 we decided to go further as boyfriend/girlfriend. We continued to meet on and off, I met his family, siblings, and got invited to his sister's wedding. Then this summer in June, 2012 he proposed me and I said yes. So, this is in short our story.

Now before I go into the papers, some more info that might be relevant. I have lived in the US since I was 6 years old and I only went back to my country to do my undergrad studies as I'm a twin and our parents couldn't pay for two kids at the same time for university here, while in my country there's no tuition fee. So anyway, this means I had social security card for a long while (don't ask how my parents obtained it, or what visa I was on, I was a kid and did not care to pay attention to these facts) and during my high school years I obtained my Driver's license as well. So in that perspective, I grew up here, got most of my education (except for undergrad) and got all my vaccination here except those that are required before age of 6. Anyway, now comes the paper and concerns.

Of course I'm taking all the copies of forms and evidences that I have included in my original AOS package. This includes the forms, the civil surgeon envelope, and evidences as rental insurance on both of our names, PG&E bill showing I pay for that, Comcast (internet, TV) bill showing my husband is paying for that, rental lease agreement on both of our names, joint bank account on both of our names, 4 affidavits of support, two from his side (his sister, and his sister's husband) and two from my side (my former high school teacher and her husband whom I have known for 10 years now and kept in contact basically almost on a weekly bases ever since I graduate from high school), tax returns from the last three years of my husband's, copies of our passports (only biographical page, but for me also visa page), copies of my I-94, and copies of my I-20 that will expire in June 2014.

And now, for the interview, we are also taking: NOA letters (all of them including the one which was stamped for biometrics appointment), new EAD card, and old one (I've got one during high school so I could work at that time), verification of employment letter from my husband's employer and from mine as well that states the rates of wages, as well as W-2 from me from the last three years and copies of my last three years of tax returns, pay stubs from both my husband and my employer from the last three months, an unofficial transcript from me to show that I am in good academic standing, and I will want to continue my education, all other documents that I have found from my parents' folder of what visa they were on at certain times (note: not through the whole time, I don't know what happened with the missing ones and they have since passed away so I cannot ask them about these documents), obviously birth certificate of my husband and mine (mine also includes official translation into English), auto insurance on both of our names, photoalbum including photos of our friendship, relationship, marriage and after, and also tons of emails printed that shows the dates how we've been emailing to each other since 2007 and how our relationship has progressed to get as far as us getting married .

Oh, and all these (except photos) have copies to take along as well.

So, what my concern is:

1. our driver's license is different (I have changed mine to where I live now, but DMV just changed it over their computer, but new driver's license was not issued as mine will only expire in 2015), while my husband never changed his driver's license address for issue number two below

2. we don't live together. He is working and I am a student. I cannot move out of the city my school in and up until the beginning of November I did not have a car, hence commuting was impossible. Now, it is not, but it would be hard for me to drive every single day to school. And same for him. He is working, so it is hard for him also to be able to move to my city. And this is my biggest concern. I know it is a red flag to live apart, but do you guys think they will be more forgiving seeing this is really due to school issues? What do you guys think?

Thanks and cross your fingers for us, please!

[ndu26 114]

You seem to have a pretty solid case with your background and length opf your relationship.....and I did dnot read you say you are out of status so that is good. Just go with other means of proving bonafide relationship like joint bank accounts etc. The rest will depnd on you two during the interview, how you comport yourselves to handle whatever questions come from the officer so truthfully and confidently explain why you both are living apart for now. All they are after is to make sure your union is genuine. Best wishes!!!

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Thanks ndu26. I am still nervous though, and really hope people will give some advices (if any available) to comfort me. LOL Fingers and toes crossed peeps! I will do the same for any of you!

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Thanks ndu26. I am still nervous though, and really hope people will give some advices (if any available) to comfort me. LOL Fingers and toes crossed peeps! I will do the same for any of you!

Oh and to confirm to you: yes, I am not out of status, and have not been ever. I am maintaining my F1 status even now as we speak....and yes, I do have a joint bank account as well.

If anyone have more suggestions/ideas I am more than happy to find them here posted down... Thank you in advance!

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Okay, besides one person, please, please anyone have anything to share? This is a pretty big forum, kind of sad to see only one person was willing to give some insights....tomorrow is right here and I'm really nervous! >.<

[Tanja08 11]

I don't think it is a red flag to live apart if you have a good reason, just take all your evidence.

You will do just fine! Good luck to you!

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

I don't think it is a red flag to live apart if you have a good reason, just take all your evidence.

You will do just fine! Good luck to you!

Thanks Tanja...I'm so freaking out because of this fact....like I know I have plenty of "evidences" but this "living apart" thing really scares me....you're kind! Thanks again! And I will update you guys on how the interview went (hopefully I won't be bawling). Thank you, thank you!

[Tanja08 11]

Don't freak out! Be honest and confident! I know its easier said than done!

There are many couples who live apart because of schooling or work or whatever reason, it doesn't make your marriage less legit . It's not going to be forever!

Just explain yourself!

[Tanja08 11]

How did it go?

[Xanax 349]

How did it go?

^^

[AnotherLostSoul 167]

Hey everybody: Thanks for all the best vibes, I got back from the interview today. It was very very simple. So we got there half an hour earlier and sat down in the waiting area (after security check). Instead of the appointed 2:30pm we got in at 3pm, but it was very smooth. We, before sitting down, sworn in that we'll say the truth. Then the lady asked us, "So, how long the two have known each other" I replied, 2007. She was then "Oh, you guys are dating since 2007?" I told her, "no! We were first were just emailing to each other for a year, then in late Fall 2008 we met in person. Then we would meet on and off depending on how our weekend would look like and over the years we became good friends. I met his family, ans siblings, and we hung out a lot with them too, but then at the summer of 2010 we decided to go further and see if we could built our friendship into a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. And then we ended up getting married." The lady asked us, when we got married. We told her this July 26, 2012. She then asked us "Do you guys have a joint bank account? Are you guys have a house, or on a lease together? Do you guys have insurance together?" We started telling her while trying to pull out the documents from our big pack that "Yes, we have joint bank account. Yes, we're renting an apartment and our lease is on both of our names, let me show that too you as I'm looking for the bank statement And we have renter's insurance, and car insurance together I'll get that to you, but we don't have health insurance together as I am under the school's student insurance plan as I'm a student and he could not be on that insurance, and the coinsurance he could get is the one he is currently under already". So while I was searching for all these, she was going like "Do you have some pictures you could show me?" So, I stopped looking for the joint bank account, rental lease, insurances, and gave her the photo album. We looked through it, and explained on the photo who is who, Disneyland pictures we went together, wedding we attended of his friend, as well as his siter's wedding where I actually caught the bouquet. Pictures of our 4th of July, or even stupid McDonald's pictures as we're freaks of McDonald's, then it contained our wedding photo where I explained her who is who on my husband's family, and I explained her why, although I'm very young, my parents are not there (they have passed away already), then my husband's brother's marriage in Utah, and on and on. In the middle as she was looking through the photos she asked if we lived together before we got married. We told her no, due to my husband's religion that states that people cannot cohabit prior to marriage and we respect that. The funny thing is, she did not ask if we're living together now which we don't as I'm a student and I cannot leave my town, while my husband has a job somewhere else. That was like my biggest fear that this will totally make us being denied. Then she closed the photoalbum and I guess they have all sorts of records as she all of a sudden was like "So, I actually see you basically grew up here in America. Is that by your parents?" And I told her that actually yes. My dad got a job here and we moved here when I was six years old, and my mom side are all from the US (namely CT, and FL) so we moved here when I was young and I grew up here as a kid. She was like "oh okay, that is why you don't have an accent at all. I was amazed how well you speak English". LOL So, then she just told us it is a temporary green card, gotta remove the conditions two years later and so on. And that was it! We brought tons of stuff, and she did not even look at them..like besides the photo album, she did not even look at anything at all. It was weird....except at the very beginning for our driver's license, and passport. And I already checked USCIS case and it already says "Card production". WOW! That was really quick...the interview was a breeze, and the whole process was a breeze... I'm very happy. Thank you for all of you!!!

[Tanja08 11]

Congratulations!!!

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

Congrats!

[loc 0]

Congrats

Now it's our turn tomorrow. Please pray for us. Thanks

[femery 1]

Congratulations!! ))