March 2013 Filers

[tashired 18]

did he ask anything about the baby, or did u send in her birth certificate whem u filed! congrats and thank you soo much!

Not a problem Rich, we sent in her birth cert copy in the original package. In the interview he said " I do see here, you guys have a baby so tht means you were in a relationship for a while before you got married" when we presented him her original birth cert. Hope this helps...

[Blue Bianchi 77]

Tomorrow's the big day! Nervous and excited

[ddkorestin 10]

Tomorrow's the big day! Nervous and excited

best of luck blue bianchi

[CarlaDave 27]

Tomorrow's the big day! Nervous and excited

Good luck Blue!

[Ebbie 1]

GL BLUE!!!!!

[BlueDevil 61]

Good luck today, Blue!! Rock it!

[CiaoBella23 0]

Thank you for posting your review, Tashired! So happy for you & your hubby!!! I only hope our interview goes ask smoothly & quickly as yours

Here is a question for those of you that have received your drivers license ... Did you have to surrender your license from your home country? We're just curious if Dave will have to surrender his when he goes for his permit on Friday.

We're in Cali and we didn't have to. The permit means he can only drive with licensed drivers over 18 though, which I guess is different from how they used to do it for foreign immigrants already having a license. Then they can take the driving test any time after and get the license, good till the date of expiration of the GC (for us, two years)

[CarlaDave 27]

We're in Cali and we didn't have to. The permit means he can only drive with licensed drivers over 18 though, which I guess is different from how they used to do it for foreign immigrants already having a license. Then they can take the driving test any time after and get the license, good till the date of expiration of the GC (for us, two years)

Thanks, Doll

I wonder if at the end of 2 years, if the process is simply renewing it or if ya'all have to re-test. I've had my license for over 30 yrs and have never had to retest. I've only had to renew it either online or via snail mail. It will be interesting to see how the process works for LPRs.

[Blue Bianchi 77]

Approved! Very pleasant experience too Details to follow.

[CiaoBella23 0]

Thanks, Doll

I wonder if at the end of 2 years, if the process is simply renewing it or if ya'all have to re-test. I've had my license for over 30 yrs and have never had to retest. I've only had to renew it either online or via snail mail. It will be interesting to see how the process works for LPRs.

We already asked them this you have to renew in person, bringing in your new 10-year GC, but as long as no traffic incidents in the meantime no retesting:)

[CarlaDave 27]

Approved! Very pleasant experience too Details to follow.

WooHoo, Blue!!!!! Congrats! We can't wait to read your review

We already asked them this you have to renew in person, bringing in your new 10-year GC, but as long as no traffic incidents in the meantime no retesting:)

So, if the DL expires in conjunction with the 2 yr, does that mean ya'll will have a period where you won't be licensed pending approval of your 10 year?

[CiaoBella23 0]

WooHoo, Blue!!!!! Congrats! We can't wait to read your review

So, if the DL expires in conjunction with the 2 yr, does that mean ya'll will have a period where you won't be licensed pending approval of your 10 year?

Exactly :/ and they said during that period, he won't be able to drive

[CarlaDave 27]

Exactly :/ and they said during that period, he won't be able to drive

THAT absolutely sucks! Especially so if we're both working ... where we live public transportation is non-existent.

I wonder how long he'll have to go unlicensed!?!

[CiaoBella23 0]

THAT absolutely sucks! Especially so if we're both working ... where we live public transportation is non-existent.

I wonder how long he'll have to go unlicensed!?!

What the lady at the DMV recommended was to start the renewal of the GC process as soon as possible, so he goes the least amount of time un licensed. What a mess though:/ honestly, you'd think they'd have a better system worked out!

[Blue Bianchi 77]

Hello all!

First off, I'd like to thank everyone on the March list, and the February list, and the April list, and all those other anonymous people in the other forum's that I have learned from. Reading other AOS applicants' experiences really helped prepare me well for my application, my wait process and the interview. I hope that my input helps other people in return. Thank you so very much! I have yet to hold my GC in my hand, but am already relishing this freedom from immigration paperwork and deadlines (at least for two years!). So, here is my barebones review of our interview process.

Location

USCIS @ 12484 East Weaver Place, Centennial, Colorado

Getting there

This USCIS office is right smack in between Denver's busiest highways. Best to get to the area with at least an hour to spare. There are cafes and restaurants a few blocks away to kill time in. Not public transportation-friendly.

Some context on our case
- Adjusting from H1B status
- No known red flags
- In a relationship for 7 out of 10 years of knowing each other
- We are both in our 40s
- No children and not previously married

Bona Fide documents submitted in the AOS application
- Colored copy of marriage certificate
- Joint car insurance
- Joint apartment lease
- 8 photos

Additional Bona Fide documents brought to interview (original and duplicate):
- Letters from both our 401k companies stating that we are each other's designated beneficiaries
- Joint car ownership
- Summary of benefits from my employer stating that my husband is the beneficiary of my employment-sponsored insurance and that he is on my employment-based health insurance
- Our health insurance cards
- Joint electric bill
- Three most recent pay stubs showing my tax status as married
- More photos of the wedding and reception and from our 10-year friendship and romantic relationship

What the IO asked to see and added to the file
- Some of our new photos
- Letters from both our 401k companies stating that we are each other's designated beneficiaries
- Joint car lease
- Summary of benefits from my company stating that my husband is the beneficiary of my employment-sponsored insurance and that he is on my employment-based health insurance

Interview sequence
- IO asked for our passports and drivers licenses, my social security card, and my EAD/AP card, all of which she made copies of
- IO gave a brief explanation of what the interview is for (to determine if the marriage is real), then asked us to stand up, and swore us in
- She went through the AOS application, verifying both our basic information (full names, address, date of last entry into the US, types of nonimmigrant visa used, etc)
- Then the yes or no questions
- She asked both of us details about each other (city of birth, parents' names, birthdays, etc..)
- Then she asked us to tell our story
- Then she asked for pictures and additional bona fide documents.
- We chatted a bit about the photos. This part was actually very nice.
- I wasn't even done giving her all the additional bona fide documents I brought (I brought seven. I had just finished showing her the third.), when she said she was going to approve my AOS application.

- She took my I-94s and told me about removal of conditions procedures and to expect my card in three to six weeks.
- Fin! The interview probably lasted 20 to 25 minutes.

Impressions on our IO
Our IO was a Latina woman in her early to mid-30s and very congenial. She was methodical and thorough during the interview, but not afraid to share a little about herself. She struck me as someone who has pride in and derives meaning from her work.