Interview experience

[nmic7 3]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share some thoughts here. VJ has helped us very much during this process and I hope that maybe our experience will help others in the future.

We had our interview yesterday, May 5 2014, at the USCIS office in Fairfax, VA. I am the USC and my wife is the beneficiary. We were scheduled for 8:40 a.m. and got there around 8:00 a.m. with a bunch of documents, namely: all the originals for the documents that we sent with our application, a photo album, and some more evidence (copies of debit cards in both our names, a voided check that shows both our names, and latest bank statements for our joint checking account; joint health insurance; joint dental insurance; 2013 tax return - which I filed as single at first because my wife didn't have an SSN but as soon as she got one, we ammended it to Married Filing Jointly; receipts for wedding bands; plane tickets, hotel tickets and different other tickets from our latest trip and for our upcoming trip; forms from work showing that I have listed my wife as beneficiary in case something happens to me; also, I recently started a new job so I brought my latest and only paystub and a letter from my employer; my wife's SS card and paystubs - everything listed was original plus copy).

First of all, I really liked everything about the office - very clean, spacious, everyone was very friendly and nice. We left our interview notice at the front desk and at about 9:00 a.m. an immigration officer (African American man, in his 50s) called my wife's name. We both got up, took the files and the photo album and followed him. We felt relieved that he was very easy going and polite. He smiled all the time, opened the doors for us, etc.

After entering his office, he asked us to remain standing so we can take the oath. Then we sat down and said he will begin talking to the petitioner. He started verifying all the information in the forms which was related to me - full name, SSN, address, names of parents, phone number, etc. After this, he turned his attention towards my wife and started asking the same questions related to her information. Everything was fine so he procedeed to the yes/no questions on the form. I must add that he kept smiling all the time and maintaing a very relaxed atmosphere. After the questions, he asked me how we met. I told him our story for a few minutes. He seemed to really enoy it. My wife would occasionally say something, or he would make a joke or ask a question. Very nice. I kept wondering when something would go wrong - maybe he would change his attitude or maybe he would interpret something the wrong way. But that didn't happen. After stating the facts, he asked if we had pictures. My wife handed him the photo album and we was very impressed. She actually made a beautiful scrap book with our pictures and different stickers and small stories. He complimented her and joked about how you can tell that a woman put it together. Also, when I was telling him how we met, he took some notes on a post-it which he placed in our file. He looked through the album, sometimes asking where a certain picture was taken. He returned the album to my wife and then asked if we want to add anything to the file. That's when we showed him the additional documents and he kept all the copies except the pay stubs and employment letter - he said that he doesn't need those. We forgot to make a copy of the wedding bands receipts so he said he will make one and return it to us. After this, he asked me what I do for a living and what are our plans for the future. He then said that we will get a decision in the mail in 2-3 weeks and that things move fast nowadays. He escorted us to the waiting room while he made a copy of the receipts, then came back to give them to us, and said goodbye. Overall it was a wonderful experience, he was such a nice guy, the kind of person one would like to have as a friend.

At around 3:30 p.m. yesterday, the status of the i-485 changed to the following:

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production
On May 5, 2014, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

Afterwards, at around 9 p.m. it changed to:

Your Case Status: Decision

On May 5, 2014, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before receiving your card, please call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

And the i-130 changed at the same time to:

Your Case Status: Post Decision Activity

On May 5, 2014, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

How long does it usually take to get the GC in the mail after this point? Do the notice and GC come as separate mailings? It's a little confusing that the status of the i-485 changed two times, but I've read that this is common. Also, do they send the tracking number and everything the same way they did for the EAD?

Thanks again for everyone who posts on this forum and gives helpful information!

I would be happy to answer any questions regarding our process.

Cheers!

[HollyGolightly 72]

Congratulations! Expect to get the GC in about a weeks time. There will be a separate notice for the petitioner notifying him of the approval of the petition. They'll all come in the mail around the same time.

[Girl from Celebes 588]

Congrats for the approval. Time to take a short break from immigration papers, lol.

[mike281 1]

Hi everyone,

.....

How long does it usually take to get the GC in the mail after this point? Do the notice and GC come as separate mailings? It's a little confusing that the status of the i-485 changed two times, but I've read that this is common. Also, do they send the tracking number and everything the same way they did for the EAD?

Thanks again for everyone who posts on this forum and gives helpful information!

I would be happy to answer any questions regarding our process.

Cheers!

Congrats on your successful interview! We just had our interview on April 30th at the office in New Orleans, LA. Unfortunately, I didn't find the office to be as nice as the one you visited. In particular the security guards were quite unprofessional in that they were constantly talking loudly to each other complaining about their jobs. They were friendly enough though, and the officer who interviewed us was great (friendly, professional, patient)

Now, to answer your questions based on our experience. We each received a notice 3 days after our interview. One notice for the 485 and one for the 130 in separate envelopes, the 485 addressed to the beneficiary and the 130 addressed to the petitioner. If you check on your status at the uscis website they will give you a tracking number once your green card has shipped (via USPS). In our case it is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, exactly 1 week after our interview.

Congratulations again on making it through this process!

[VJnew 8]

Congrats to you guys.Filing this month,hope to have a good experience too

[Erica & L 50]

Congrats! I've read read a few threads where people had not-so-pleasant experiences at that office, glad it went well!

[sweet cakes 326]

Cheers to you and your wife for the approval! And thank you for sharing your experience! It's refreshing to read positive reviews from the interview.

[nmic7 3]

Thank you everyone!

Congrats on your successful interview! We just had our interview on April 30th at the office in New Orleans, LA. Unfortunately, I didn't find the office to be as nice as the one you visited. In particular the security guards were quite unprofessional in that they were constantly talking loudly to each other complaining about their jobs. They were friendly enough though, and the officer who interviewed us was great (friendly, professional, patient)

Now, to answer your questions based on our experience. We each received a notice 3 days after our interview. One notice for the 485 and one for the 130 in separate envelopes, the 485 addressed to the beneficiary and the 130 addressed to the petitioner. If you check on your status at the uscis website they will give you a tracking number once your green card has shipped (via USPS). In our case it is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, exactly 1 week after our interview.

Congratulations again on making it through this process!

Congrats to you too! I didn't get anything in the mail yet, but I just got a status update that the card was mailed!

Congrats to you guys.Filing this month,hope to have a good experience too

Good luck!!! VJ has helped us so much, I hope it will help you guys as well!

Congrats! I've read read a few threads where people had not-so-pleasant experiences at that office, glad it went well!

We read them too and were also a bit scared but it went very well. Good luck to you too, hope your interview will be scheduled soon!