Bad Interview Experience :-( - Fairfax VA

[QueenComley 295]

They had a Lawyer there, if anything truly inappropriate had been said the Lawyer could have stepped in.

The way it reads they had a challenging case and made it worse. Wondering why the Lawyer did not give them some guidance beforehand. But perhaps he did and the OP ignored it.

Absolutely agree with Boiler on the Lawyer front.

Our Immigration Lawyer is a tough cookie and fantastic at what he does. He told us of previous cases where the IO has got a little power happy with my attorneys clients during interviews and my Lawyer has stepped in.

Although our AOS Interview was very cut and dry we wanted our Immigration Lawyer there just incase this kind of scenario panned out, luckily it was plain sailing and we were in and out in 5 minutes, but had the IO got inappropriate or asked things that were unnecessary I know my Lawyer would have stepped in just as Boiler suggested your Immigration Lawyer should have done.

[RiverDeep 7]

They had a Lawyer there, if anything truly inappropriate had been said the Lawyer could have stepped in.

The way it reads they had a challenging case and made it worse. Wondering why the Lawyer did not give them some guidance beforehand. But perhaps he did and the OP ignored it.

"The way it reads they had a challenging case and made it worse" ....Really?? There was nothing about our case that was any different than other VJers who got on the spot approvals. The IO wasn't scrutinizing our case. If he done that I wouldn't have had any problem with him doing his job. The issue was his rude snarky comments that made no sense for him to say. Reread what I posted.

He asked us what type of wedding we had. I said it was religious and specified Christian. He looked at me and said in rude tone "You're a Christian?". I simply stated yes.

He asked my husband about his religion. He said I'm a Muslim. The IO again in his rude tone said " I know your're a Muslim, I was waiting on you to say you're a Christian". My husband and I just sat there with this dumbfounded look on our face.

The IO would make these out of left field nonsensical statements that had nothing to do with our case.

As far as our lawyer stepping in. He and my husband are friends. He has also seen worse interviews than the one we had and thought ours was mild in comparison. If those folks were worse than ours all I can say is "God help those poor souls!". His frame of reference and the fact the he and my husband are friends is probably why he didn't step in. He probably didn't want to rock the boat and make matters worse. Afterwards our lawyer told us he didn't hear anything that would give the IO grounds for a denial. He also said there is no consistency when it comes to how USCIS handles cases because of the "human factor"...ie IO's personality, IO's discretion, Some IO's lazy and some aren't.

"Wondering why the Lawyer did not give them some guidance beforehand. But perhaps he did and the OP ignored it." Our lawyer did admit he should have prepared us better so there was no ignoring of sound guidance. Our told us afterwards he thought we handled things well.

[QueenComley 295]

I feel your Lawyer let you down in a sense. You PAID him for his service, for his expertise, for peace of mind and for him to attend your appointment. You are his CLIENT. I couldn't are less if it was my Lawyers brother, let alone his buddy giving me an unnecessary hard time during my interview... My Attorney better step in and do the job he was paid to do.

[Sulaimon & Brandy 20]

_{How unfortunate to have such a harsh and scrutinizing interview. I wish you the best and a positive outcome. I too am very out spoken and answer out of turn its a problem I have had all my life. It just seemed that the interviewer was having a very bad day. That was here in the United States??????}

[RiverDeep 7]

I feel your Lawyer let you down in a sense. You PAID him for his service, for his expertise, for peace of mind and for him to attend your appointment. You are his CLIENT. I couldn't are less if it was my Lawyers brother, let alone his buddy giving me an unnecessary hard time during my interview... My Attorney better step in and do the job he was paid to do.

Thankfully we didn't pay him for coming. He did it as a favor to us. I wasn't aware the lawyer could intervene when the IO got out of line. I guess it pays to have someone well versed in immigration law such as your lawyer.

[RiverDeep 7]

_{How unfortunate to have such a harsh and scrutinizing interview. I wish you the best and a positive outcome. I too am very out spoken and answer out of turn its a problem I have had all my life. It just seemed that the interviewer was having a very bad day. That was here in the United States??????}

I wasn't speaking out of turn. The main problem was the IO didn't "specify" who was to answer. He would look at paperwork and ask a general question that either me or my husband could answer. So I would step up and answer the question. Apparently, he didn't like that. He felt at one point I wasn't letting my husband speak. Whereas if he said his name first and then asked the question I would have sat there silently and let him answer.

Sometime I wish he did separate us so it would have been more clear who was to speak at that moment.

Thanks for the good wishes.

[QueenComley 295]

Thankfully we didn't pay him for coming. He did it as a favor to us. I wasn't aware the lawyer could intervene when the IO got out of line. I guess it pays to have someone well versed in immigration law such as your lawyer.

That's good to hear that you never paid for the Lawyer and I am sorry for the attitude of your IO.

I had a prep meeting one day with my attorney ahead of my AOS Interview, and he said a few years ago a client of his had an AOS interview. The IO asked questions which my attorney's client answered thoroughly and truthfully. The IO smirked, turned to my lawyer and said " I see you trained your client well".

My Lawyer said he was dismayed and told the IO in no uncertain terms to NEVER question his integrity as a Lawyer, and to never question his work ethic or how he preps his clients. The IO backed down, apologized and her and my lawyer now have what my lawyer describes as "a good working relationship and a better understanding of each other"

P.S.... yes, I got that particular IO for my interview LOL!!!!!

[QueenComley 295]

I wasn't speaking out of turn. The main problem was the IO didn't "specify" who was to answer. He would look at paperwork and ask a general question that either me or my husband could answer. So I would step up and answer the question. Apparently, he didn't like that. He felt at one point I wasn't letting my husband speak. Whereas if he said his name first and then asked the question I would have sat there silently and let him answer.

Sometime I wish he did separate us so it would have been more clear who was to speak at that moment.

Thanks for the good wishes.

" He would look at paperwork and ask a general question that either me or my husband could answer. So I would step in and answer the question. Apparently, he didn't like that"

During my prep meeting with my lawyer this was actually discussed. He said that some officers like partners stepping in, answering the other ones questions and speaking together to answer a question... after all, this is what genuine couples do in every day life, it shows the IO how you would naturally interact. He also said that some IO do not like this. He said that the IO should make it clear who they are wanting to answer which specific question, and if they do not like you speaking amongst yourself or answering each others questions they will politely ask you to refrain from doing so.

Generally at my AOS interview the IO asked direct questions to us individually (confirm name, address, date of birth...), However, when she asked how we met, how our relationship developed etc she did state that either of us were free to answer.

Edited March 12, 2014 by QueenComley

[nab-400 16]

I'm sorry about your experience and i ma sure you will good news soon. In my case when i tried to adj status from 2 yrs green card to 10 yrs. everyone told me that i will be having interviewed soon, we sent all paper work and waited, and one day, I received a letter from USCIS stating that it was denied because insufficient proof of relationship like I did not enter marriage in good faith, my heart just stopped, knowing that i sent everything, Insurance, life insurance, joint bank account, even a car, I bought my wife as gift, tax filing together, my wife had kids, and letter from school and their doctor that i was always there when they have issues....after we file the adjustment, and right before receiving the letter from USCIS, me and my wife, we were bidding on some house, and finally, we won the bid, and we bought the house jointly, so after that i sent the deed to the USCIS, and kept calling USCIS everyday (my 2ys green card was expired, and I had only letter stating it was extended for one year). Two weeks later after the deed has been received, I check the mail and found a letter looks like from USCIS; I was curious and scared to open it, and when I open it ITS MY GREEN CARD. So I never had an Interview :-).

The point of this is sometime based on experience you had , you think it's the worst happening to you; you just have to be patient and God will help you go through it.

[RiverDeep 7]

" He would look at paperwork and ask a general question that either me or my husband could answer. So I would step in and answer the question. Apparently, he didn't like that"

During my prep meeting with my lawyer this was actually discussed. He said that some officers like partners stepping in, answering the other ones questions and speaking together to answer a question... after all, this is what genuine couples do in every day life, it shows the IO how you would naturally interact. He also said that some IO do not like this. He said that the IO should make it clear who they are wanting to answer which specific question, and if they do not like you speaking amongst yourself or answering each others questions they will politely ask you to refrain from doing so.

Generally at my AOS interview the IO asked direct questions to us individually (confirm name, address, date of birth...), However, when she asked how we met, how our relationship developed etc she did state that either of us were free to answer.

"He said that some officers like partners stepping in, answering the other ones questions and speaking together to answer a question... after all, this is what genuine couples do in every day life, it shows the IO how you would naturally interact."

My husband and I were talking together at times and it is what couples naturally do. He would answer the question and I might add information or he might answer the question then I would come in and add information so that the "Whole Picture" is painted. We did this with well meaning intentions so that the IO had all the details. We didn't know we were doing something wrong. The IO did reference this when he scolded me and told me "I see you like to talk and when he is speaking to my husband I need to be quiet" and made the statement my husband and I keep talking together.

"He said that the IO should make it clear who they are wanting to answer which specific question, and if they do not like you speaking amongst yourself or answering each others questions they will politely ask you to refrain from doing so."

Bingo! If he had done this it wouldn't have happened.

[QueenComley 295]

"He said that some officers like partners stepping in, answering the other ones questions and speaking together to answer a question... after all, this is what genuine couples do in every day life, it shows the IO how you would naturally interact."

My husband and I were talking together at times and it is what couples naturally do. He would answer the question and I might add information or he might answer the question then I would come in and add information so that the "Whole Picture" is painted. We did this with well meaning intentions so that the IO had all the details. We didn't know we were doing something wrong. The IO did reference this when he scolded me and told me "I see you like to talk and when he is speaking to my husband I need to be quiet" and made the statement my husband and I keep talking together.

"He said that the IO should make it clear who they are wanting to answer which specific question, and if they do not like you speaking amongst yourself or answering each others questions they will politely ask you to refrain from doing so."

Bingo! If he had done this it wouldn't have happened.

I agree with you.... Even if the IO did not like you adding information, there is a way for him to explain that he did not want you to do that. I understand IO's have a huge and important job to do, but manners and politeness cost nothing.

[twopeepsaz 3]

I agree with you.... Even if the IO did not like you adding information, there is a way for him to explain that he did not want you to do that. I understand IO's have a huge and important job to do, but manners and politeness cost nothing.

That begs the question. Some people are naturally bully's, but arent these interviews being video taped? I am not clear on why this was a difficult case. What made it difficult? It seems like most of the IO's people encounter are good people and very professional. Being in Business, I have found that sometimes you need to give a little pushback, like the lawyer mentioned above that told the IO not to question his integrity. I wonder if a little pushback would help things or maket them worse.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you guys! Best of luck!!!

[QueenComley 295]

That begs the question. Some people are naturally bully's, but arent these interviews being video taped? I am not clear on why this was a difficult case. What made it difficult? It seems like most of the IO's people encounter are good people and very professional. Being in Business, I have found that sometimes you need to give a little pushback, like the lawyer mentioned above that told the IO not to question his integrity. I wonder if a little pushback would help things or maket them worse.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you guys! Best of luck!!!

To my knowledge my AOS was not video taped at all... I think only stokes interviews are Video taped.

I remember my interview lasting less than 5 minutes... In that whole time IO never even made any particular eye contact with us, and it seemed the decision was pre-determined and she was just going through the motions of shooting off a few questions.

Of course I was overjoyed at the simplicity of the interview and how easy it was for us, but when I walked away I felt a little deflated. The IO never congratulated us, never shook our hand until we prompted the hand shake first, and just said "I Have approved your green card, expect it in more than 2 weeks". No smile, no well done, no congratulations...

In my mind I was expecting it to be this magnificent moment... tears of joy.... a huge congrats.....Me profusely thanking the IO etc... LOL!!!

I commented to my husband as we walked out... that IO had our whole lives in her hands....her decision would affect us forever, but to her? Just a days work. Just another case. Just another couple. We were probably her easiest case of the day.

She was NOT rude at all, was not short or snappy or aggressive. But made virtually NO eye contact with us at all. I was out of there in less than 5 minutes.

[aussie_jason 195]

Lets look at this from the perspective of USCIS for a moment:

- Someone is visiting the US on a B2 visa from a country that has recently suffered from a lot of civil unrest, they would have been admitted by CBP for a max of 6 months but they could have extended that through ELIS while in the country but they likely don't have that long left on their period of authorized stay

- They meet a USC citizen

- Date for a "short time"

- Get married at what appears to be a civil ceremony with just the required one witness

- File for AOS

To prove their marriage is bona fide they provide a long list of accounts, insurance and other paper work that people can generally be quickly added to (and usually just as quickly removed from) along with the marriage certificate, a small number of photos and some "cards from family". The OP's family apparently lives in the US but her husband is yet to meet them due to financial reasons yet here they are in the middle of AOS and with a lawyer.

Don't get me wrong I'm not questioning whether the marriage is bona fide or not but if you look at it from the point of view of USCIS then I'm not surprised they were given a hard time at the interview.

[Boiler 45,486]

She also had congratulations cards from co workers.