March 2013 Filers

[tony&lace 2]

hi tony and place did they find your work permit yet! hope they do soon!

No they still didn't find it...I think I lost hope on it being recovered

[Milly522 0]

hi milly522 congratulation on your approval! glad to know your interview was quick and easy! just so we know what evidence did u send in and also what did u bring to the interview? finally what are the questions that were asked! it would be greatly appreciated thanks alot!

No problem!

As evidence of bona fide marriage, I sent when originally applying

- Several letters from friends and family (my parents, my brother, my best friend, my cousin, who had all met my husband, and my husband's best friend who is a lawyer in Georgia);

- Probably about 150 pictures, all labelled with who/when/where, and split into "booklets" with themes on it (like family outings with my step son, home life, honeymoon, etc);

- A print out of our bank account with both names on it;

- A copy of our zoo family membership card;

- Monthly statements from Charter, our cable/phone/internet company with both names on it.

I didn't have an I-94, because I'm Canadian and they don't issue one to Canadians automatically when we cross the border (you have to request one, and I had no intention of getting married and staying when I came, so no reason to request one), so I had

- a statement explaining that;

- a sworn statement saying where I entered and when

- a letter from my employer I had with me when I entered to explain that I still had a job and was on a 6 month leave and expected to resume my functions by the end of June (I entered in late december 2011), just in case they questioned my ties to Canada at entry;

- another letter from my employer, saying I had only resigned from my job on July 1st, about a month after my wedding, and was still employed by them throughout my stay here with full intention to return;

- A copy of my passport, which was not stamped upon entry because I drove in.

Aside from that, I submitted the usual - marriage certificate and certification of marriage, my husband's divorce decree and settlement from a previous marriage, passport pictures, copies (and translation from french) of my birth certificate and copies of his birth certificates, etc. I had a record of my vaccinations that I copies and sent in with the sealed medical exam, and sent tax returns from 2009, 2010 and 2011. We didn't have the 2012 returns, but I sent in all the papers we had received concerning it, plus a note saying it had not been filed yet, plus a full year of pay stubs from my husband and a praising letter from his supervisor. I also attached sworn statements regarding the translations to all french documents, which I did myself.

I had everything in folders, clearly labelled with a table of content written on top of each, and those were inside bigger folders for categories like "evidence of bona fide marriage" contained smaller folders, and was itself contained in the big I-485 folder, which was held together by rubber bands and bender clips.

To prepare for my interview:

- I made a scrapbook with stuff I had kept from our trips, valentine's day, honeymoon and etc. I had stuff like cards sent to us by friends, or left for us with complimentary dessert by the hotel reception for our birthdays (which is the same week), the cork from a bottle of sparkling wine with the date on it, etc. I also made a nice photo album on the CVS website.

- I had all my originals in one folder (the important stuff like birth certificates, passports, marriage certificate, divorce decree from previous marriage, etc, but also anything else that I had photocopies, like bills, membership cards, etc). I had the same folder and subfolder system for I pile of documents I thought they would ask (copies of passport, copies of all certificates and decrees, copies of my step-son's birth certificate and a letter from his teacher saying I was very involved in his daily life and school work, along with mother's day gifts and valentine's day gifts from him, copies of the letters we had originally sent, more membership stuff like our YMCA membership things, our 2012 tax returns.)

In the end, they asked to see nothing at all at the interview - not the originals, not copies, not the scrapbook, not the album.... I think it was probably because we had submitted more than enough evidence prior to that. I would still bring them tough - and I can just reuse them when I submit for removal of conditions in 2015. Plus, better to have them and not need them, then to not have them and be denied because of it

When we got to the interview, we waited on the 2nd floor for about 30 minutes, then a man came out and asked us to wait on the 3rd floor. We waited there for maybe 15 minutes, and then the man came back with a second younger man. We think he was probably a trainee, because he said nothing and just observed. In the office, they asked to hold our hand and swear we would speak the truth, then they asked;

- Each of us to say our name, address, date and place of birth (at least twice);

- They asked me if *I* had children;

- I had apparently written my husband's job on my side of the application, so they asked about that and if I was here on a work permit since 1999 (I would have been 13 ), and when we clarified it was my husband's job, they just circled it and made an arrow to show it was on the other side, My husband's SSN also had a typo in one instance, so they clarified that.

- They asked to see my SSN.

- They asked to see both our passports

- They asked me what my intention was when I entered the US in december 2011. I explained that I was here to visit, and basically, for us to see if our relationship was solid enough (we were pretty sure it was, we adore each other, I had already stayed 6 months the year before), and look for job opportunities if I wanted to apply for jobs and a work permit after I went back home. As it came closer to the time I had to leave, it became obvious that being apart would be too hard, and even though we had no intention to do so when I came, he proposed and we got married two weeks later. I mentioned that it was why I had no I-94, I had no intention to return and had a job waiting for me in Canada, so I had no reason to ask for a I-94. He asked when I quit my job, and I said it was a month after the wedding, and said there was a letter from my boss supporting it in my files. He found it and nodded.

- They asked me the regular "are you a spy", etc list of questions that we already had to answer with the I-485 form.

Then they said "thank you, please step into the waiting room for a few minutes". We assume at this point he was basically showing the trainee what to do/how to make a decision, because they simply came out about 10 minutes later, with big smiles, saying congratulations right there in the waiting room. They had a sheet of paper saying "congratulation, you are now a permanent resident and you will receive your card within 30 to 90 days" and gave us back our passports.

The interview itself probably lasted 5 minutes.

[richinlove 2]

thank alot< that indeed was alot of info to take in! but i greatly appreciate it! i will definately use this as a guideline! once again i greatly appreciate and i think everyone here will also appreciate it

[Caramel Swirl 54]

No they still didn't find it...I think I lost hope on it being recovered

I just read another post, that they actually went to the post office and lo and behold their card was in a nice 'next to never' pile...luckily that 'postperson' had great customer service qualities and the patience to look.

[Caramel Swirl 54]

Hey Tash, are you ready for Saturday...I can't wait to hear your story.

[kokoninicko 1]

got my GC in the mail today! weee!

[imjustagirl 0]

got my GC in the mail today! weee!

Congrats!

I got e-mail that mine was mailed out today

[tashired 18]

Hey Tash, are you ready for Saturday...I can't wait to hear your story.

Omgosh Caramel, im here fretting thought ww would have been so prepared but then life happens, good news got work permit on the 1st got a job by the 6th (ist interview) so ive been busy with tht, then the baby and I got sixk with the flu and had to go to the doctors and bfore I know it Saturday is almost here aaargh! Im working like 8 to 8 this wk nice to make money but absolutely no time to make my photo copies or print more pics....

So, im just gonna do my best, wasnt planning to take the baby, but after her getting the flu from daycare dont wanna leave her if we dont have to, plus she is our back up evidence lol so bright an early satdeh mawnin we shall go.. Also my husband thinks its a joke and will not seriously try to prepare, after 3 yrs he still pronounces my dads name wrong ... Deep breath out, we shall see girl, we shall see.

Ps. Congrats to u and everyone gettin gd news, if I nvr told u already, been so out of it

[Caramel Swirl 54]

Omgosh Caramel, im here fretting thought ww would have been so prepared but then life happens, good news got work permit on the 1st got a job by the 6th (ist interview) so ive been busy with tht, then the baby and I got sixk with the flu and had to go to the doctors and bfore I know it Saturday is almost here aaargh! Im working like 8 to 8 this wk nice to make money but absolutely no time to make my photo copies or print more pics....

So, im just gonna do my best, wasnt planning to take the baby, but after her getting the flu from daycare dont wanna leave her if we dont have to, plus she is our back up evidence lol so bright an early satdeh mawnin we shall go.. Also my husband thinks its a joke and will not seriously try to prepare, after 3 yrs he still pronounces my dads name wrong ... Deep breath out, we shall see girl, we shall see.

Ps. Congrats to u and everyone gettin gd news, if I nvr told u already, been so out of it

Aaawww...bummer...the flu can be so annoying and yes you better take her cause she might be too fussy and don't want anyone but her mami and papi,,

Wow,,,you have your plate full, baby, job, hubby and plus GC preparation, but I'm sure you will do great. You have more than enough evidence through that little buddle of joy you have there.

My husband was the same thing, he just joke it out, of course me wanting to box him nuff time, cause I was just all nerves. But he actually did great (demeanor wise, cause they didn't ask us much)....

Good luck girl and thanks for the congrats!

[ClydesdaleCouple 75]

12 days till our interview!!!

Any advice Marchies???

[tashired 18]

So I'm putting my stuff together for toms and we seem to have a few piles of paper coming together nicely... I better get back to bed, another 12hr shift today... These last few days bfore the big day is nerve racking!

You guys have been the best! Big warm hug to all the Marpril filers, cause somehow march and april filers this year are like one month combined, k off to bed.

Clydesdale couple, my advice if u havent already started is putting everything together, using interview notice as checklist. Make a to do list of everything u feel will complete ur evidence file and start knocking those out over the time u have left.

Lastly give ur spouse and urself little quizzes. Didnt think we needed this, but it turns out my husband doesnt know the date we met or how I styled my hair for our date lol just kidding but seriously ask the simple sruff like phone numbers, what does ur spouse actually do in their job, not just the title.... U guys will be fine

Dont woryy..about a thing, cause.. Every little thing... Man tht commercial is stuck in my head. Okay sleepies u win! Im Off to bed. Have a great day guys

Edited June 28, 2013 by tashired

[Blue Bianchi 77]

Good luck Tashired! Yours is this weekend, mine is on Tuesday. Pretty excited! Hope to hear about your interview experience. Will share mine as well.

So I'm putting my stuff together for toms and we seem to have a few piles of paper coming together nicely... I better get back to bed, another 12hr shift today... These last few days bfore the big day is nerve racking!

You guys have been the best! Big warm hug to all the Marpril filers, cause somehow march and april filers this year are like one month combined, k off to bed.

Clydesdale couple, my advice if u havent already started is putting everything together, using interview notice as checklist. Make a to do list of everything u feel will complete ur evidence file and start knocking those out over the time u have left.

Lastly give ur spouse and urself little quizzes. Didnt think we needed this, but it turns out my husband doesnt know the date we met or how I styled my hair for our date lol just kidding but seriously ask the simple sruff like phone numbers, what does ur spouse actually do in their job, not just the title.... U guys will be fine

Dont woryy..about a thing, cause.. Every little thing... Man tht commercial is stuck in my head. Okay sleepies u win! Im Off to bed. Have a great day guys

[CarlaDave 27]

Good luck to Tashired and Blue Bianchi on your upcoming interviews!!

ClydesdaleCouple .. we're getting closer to our dates!

[Caramel Swirl 54]

All the best Tash and Bianchi....knock them out of the ball park!!!

[tashired 18]

Good luck to Tashired and Blue Bianchi on your upcoming interviews!!

ClydesdaleCouple .. we're getting closer to our dates!

Thank u so much Carla and Dave and Blue ~ Up all nigh like one direction :/ like I just cant sleep...