April 2013 Filers

[discoverusa 258]

ddkorestin, any news?

[Happy03 0]

hello! Our interview is almost here, we have all our documents ready and in order as well as pictures. I dont feel nervous or stress yet because im dealing with a cold .which is taking all my energy away.I will embarrassed at the interview if I stay sick till then. lol

But I think we are ready, we couldn't get all the documents we wanted but hopefully what we have will be enough,as soon as we have more info I will let you know.

I'm sure we are going to be very very nervous tomorrow night and before the interview, specially me..

[Kpo87 1]

I think everybody got there greencards n just left. Hellooooooooo. Where's everybody? ??? Even tho I've been approved I think I'm just addicted to coming here.

I completely agree!

[Kpo87 1]

Thank you Kpo87 for that advice. I am not worried about our evidence since we have plenty. Like you said, It's the unknown that makes me stressed.

My husband makes fun of me whenever I am on VJ website. He's like: "Are you talking to your family again?" I know it sounds cheesy, but it sort of feels like family here. Just a group of people who understands and supports each other.

Thank you guys.

You are welcome. If you need to know anything else id be happy to help. have you checked the reviews on the immigration office you will be visiting? It really is a great support system because we all know what each other are going through. I'm so glad I found this site.

[ddkorestin 10]

ddkorestin, any news?

not really, attended the in infopass and the lady checked the system and told me that my IO has not approve my case. am contacting the congressmen tomorrow and hopefully that works

[discoverusa 258]

You are welcome. If you need to know anything else id be happy to help. have you checked the reviews on the immigration office you will be visiting? It really is a great support system because we all know what each other are going through. I'm so glad I found this site.

Yes, I checked the reviews. Nothing alarming there. I guess there is nothing left, but to wait and see what happens.

not really, attended the in infopass and the lady checked the system and told me that my IO has not approve my case. am contacting the congressmen tomorrow and hopefully that works

Sorry to hear that. I hope you'll be approved soon.

[exogenesis 2]

Yes, I checked the reviews. Nothing alarming there. I guess there is nothing left, but to wait and see what happens.

Sorry to hear that. I hope you'll be approved soon.

Hi discoverusa,

I noticed in your timeline that you received a "testing and interview" status update for the I-485 on May 22 but did not receive an interview date until nearly two months later, July 18.

I'm curious, did you contact the USCIS after 30 days from receiving the "testing and interview" update, or did you just wait it out? I'm currently in a similar position - I received a "testing and interview" status update on July 8th but have yet to receive an actual interview date over 5 weeks later. I wonder if the Denver office is just really slow or if I should be concerned.

Thanks for your time.

[tony&lace 2]

Recieved my welcome letter today! I feel welcomed lol

[discoverusa 258]

Hi discoverusa,

I noticed in your timeline that you received a "testing and interview" status update for the I-485 on May 22 but did not receive an interview date until nearly two months later, July 18.

I'm curious, did you contact the USCIS after 30 days from receiving the "testing and interview" update, or did you just wait it out? I'm currently in a similar position - I received a "testing and interview" status update on July 8th but have yet to receive an actual interview date over 5 weeks later. I wonder if the Denver office is just really slow or if I should be concerned.

Thanks for your time.

I got really excited when my status changed to 'testing & interview' little bit over a month after filing. I thought it will be a matter of days (no RFE either should speed up the process). Then days changed into weeks... I called after 30 days but nothing could be done. I was told it's still within processing limits. I started doing some research about my local office and I realized in Hartford, CT it takes about 2 months until the interview is scheduled. This calmed me a bit. I just knew what to expect and tried not to get too worked up about it.

I know it is hard seeing other people get their interview date after only few days in 'testing & interview' step. Try to keep yourself busy. Read reviews of your local office.

Good luck with everything.

[Ty Webb 0]

Hi all,

We had our interview today and I received my card production notice a few minutes after we left.

My wife and I had to cut a holiday to California short to fly back for the interview and we only arrived back in New York this morning. We were quite anxious when our flight to LaGuardia got delayed by three hours, but we made it to Federal Plaza for our 2:15pm interview with plenty of time to spare. We had to wait about 90 minutes to be called. There was no discernible order to when they called out the numbers, with some people with later numbers getting called well before us and other people who had been seated when we arrived still there when we left.

Our IO was professional, but friendly. She asked us how we met, where we went for our first date, each others birth dates, the names of our parents etc. My wife earned less than the threshold for sponsorship in 2011, but she never asked about this, nor asked to see any of our tax returns, my wife's payslips or the employment contract for her new job.

By about half way through, I felt more comfortable and it seemed like she was just gathering the necessary information for the packet, rather than testing us. I was hopeful that we would get a decision right away, but, by the end, she told us that it all looked very good and she would make a decision before the end of the day or early next morning. My phone battery had died, but by the time I got home and checked my email my status had changed to "card production."

It's been a great stress reducer to read about so many other success stories on this thread. I never felt particularly worried that we wouldn't be approved, but there is always that nagging what if at the back of your head. It's such a relief to have the process be over, combined with a little pride that I managed to navigate the whole thing without needing a lawyer.

Edited August 14, 2013 by Ty Webb

[CarlaDave 27]

We are a bit stumped ...

When applying for jobs most require a high school diploma. How does Dave prove he completed his minimum schooling in the UK?

I keep explaining to him that it's the equivalent of our diploma yet they don't receive anything like we do.

He was actually told by some asinine person here (non VJ) he has to get a GED.

Advice?

[kiwivisa 8]

We are a bit stumped ...

When applying for jobs most require a high school diploma. How does Dave prove he completed his minimum schooling in the UK?

I keep explaining to him that it's the equivalent of our diploma yet they don't receive anything like we do.

He was actually told by some asinine person here (non VJ) he has to get a GED.

Advice?

Interesting, my job bought me to the USA so Ive never had to go through this. But if I change jobs I'm sure Ill come accross this same issue!

If it were me, Id put in my resume something like:

"1993 - 1997 - xxxx secondary school - Completed all years achieving Level S6 SQA (Equivalent of USA Diploma)"

And then if after a few interviews if it became apparent that employers were asking to see proof of his education back home then I'd draft up a nice certificate myself and get it printed onto some card stock. .

Arguably you are not doing anything fraudulent since he actually has completed his education. The worst that will happen (And I cant imagine anyone ever going to this trouble), is they call the school back in the UK, at which point the school would be able to confirm he had completed his schooling anyway.

But that's just me......

[discoverusa 258]

We are a bit stumped ...

When applying for jobs most require a high school diploma. How does Dave prove he completed his minimum schooling in the UK?

I keep explaining to him that it's the equivalent of our diploma yet they don't receive anything like we do.

He was actually told by some asinine person here (non VJ) he has to get a GED.

Advice?

I wonder if he could ask his parents to look for a High School diploma in his family house. Maybe there is a way to contact the school and ask them to send a copy of diploma or some kind of transcript.

You wouldn't even have to translate it since it's already in English.

I haven't done it before so I am not sure if this will work. Just proposing some ideas.

If he has taken any college courses in UK or Scotland he may be able to transfer those if he chooses to go to college here. But that's another story/process.

[Blue Bianchi 77]

Hi exogenesis,

The Denver office can be slow. See my timeline.

Best,

BB

Hi discoverusa,

I noticed in your timeline that you received a "testing and interview" status update for the I-485 on May 22 but did not receive an interview date until nearly two months later, July 18.

I'm curious, did you contact the USCIS after 30 days from receiving the "testing and interview" update, or did you just wait it out? I'm currently in a similar position - I received a "testing and interview" status update on July 8th but have yet to receive an actual interview date over 5 weeks later. I wonder if the Denver office is just really slow or if I should be concerned.

Thanks for your time.

[Blue Bianchi 77]

Congratulations!!!

Hi all,

We had our interview today and I received my card production notice a few minutes after we left.

My wife and I had to cut a holiday to California short to fly back for the interview and we only arrived back in New York this morning. We were quite anxious when our flight to LaGuardia got delayed by three hours, but we made it to Federal Plaza for our 2:15pm interview with plenty of time to spare. We had to wait about 90 minutes to be called. There was no discernible order to when they called out the numbers, with some people with later numbers getting called well before us and other people who had been seated when we arrived still there when we left.

Our IO was professional, but friendly. She asked us how we met, where we went for our first date, each others birth dates, the names of our parents etc. My wife earned less than the threshold for sponsorship in 2011, but she never asked about this, nor asked to see any of our tax returns, my wife's payslips or the employment contract for her new job.

By about half way through, I felt more comfortable and it seemed like she was just gathering the necessary information for the packet, rather than testing us. I was hopeful that we would get a decision right away, but, by the end, she told us that it all looked very good and she would make a decision before the end of the day or early next morning. My phone battery had died, but by the time I got home and checked my email my status had changed to "card production."

It's been a great stress reducer to read about so many other success stories on this thread. I never felt particularly worried that we wouldn't be approved, but there is always that nagging what if at the back of your head. It's such a relief to have the process be over, combined with a little pride that I managed to navigate the whole thing without needing a lawyer.