AOS Interview in Seattle, WA

[radacos 0]

We had our interview today at 1 PM, in Seattle.

We got to the DHS building at about 5 minutes before 1, waited approximately 5 minutes to go through security, then went up the stairs to the second floor and sat down in the waiting area. There was quite a bit of a wait, around 30 minutes, and we were finally called in. (We didn't get any numbers, by the way, the officer just called our name.) The officer looked bitter and jaded, not particularly pleasant, so I guess we got a little bit nervous. She led us into her office, told us to take a seat, asked how long we had been married and then swore us in. After that, she asked for our IDs and verified our address. She asked me for my passport, took out the I-94, and asked me about my previous status and my previous entries into the US. She went on to ask me the list of questions on I-485. Then she asked us how we met and how we decided to get married. Tip: mentioning that we met as a booty call did not seem to sit very well with her, and neither did the fact that we eloped. But we explained the context and she understood. She asked my spouse what his current employment situation was, but did not ask for an employment letter or paystubs. Finally, she asked us for documents with both our names on it. We didn't have a whole lot, but we explained why (no lease because my spouse owns our condo, no auto insurance because I don't drive, etc.), and showed her online prints of our joint account activity and copies of the credit card statement on which I am an authorized user. Interestingly, she didn't even really glance at the papers I had brought, and took no extra copies from us. Then, she said, "Let me see if I have everything. Yes, I think I do", explained about lifting the conditions, and told me the green card should arrive in about 10 days. She asked if we have further questions, and I asked about getting the passport stamped; she explained that they do not do that anymore, since the GCs arrive very quickly (which is what a lot of VJers have been saying, too). That was it!

The interview was not particularly pleasant, nor was it a piece of cake. The officer didn't look at any of the proof we had brought, but for more than half of the 15 minutes we spent in her office, she seemed circumspect and suspicious. Towards the end, she softened up a little, and I saw her smile a few times. But I definitely sensed that she was carefully scrutinizing us.

After we left the building, my spouse started harping on me a little bit, telling me that he wished he could have said a few words, himself. He actually thought that we had been put "on probation", and that was the reason we had only gotten an 2-year GC, but then I explained that you can only get a 10-year one if you've been married for over 2 years! Anyway, he did say that I looked very nervous, and I am sure that is correct. I don't know if this made her suspicious at first, but, as a word of advice, do try not to be nervous!

Thank you, VJers, for your input and advice. It has been very helpful!

Good luck to everyone!

[Autumnal 25]

Congratulations and I'm sorry that wasn't the nicest experience in the world for you. But it's done!

A question for you -- did you tend to answer her questions in fair detail, or did you just provide a bit of information (IE: "We eloped to marry.") and then waited for her to ask you for more details?

[raymaga 25]

Congrats on the approval.

My daughter's AOS interview was in Seattle a few weeks ago, but we got a very nice officer for her interview.

My daughter's Green Card arrived 12 days after her interview.

[lissa04 3]

Congrats!!!

I would have loved to see her face when you were mentioning about the booty call!!!!LOL

Lissa

[skoopie 0]

Quick question - for your previous entries in the US, did she only ask you about your last entry in the US or to list all your entries to the US ever? Just curious.

Congrats!

[chocolaterie 0]

congrats!

[one_coolchiq 0]

congrats!

[radacos 0]

Thanks, guys!

To answer your questions, she asked me about my last entry into the US when she removed the I-94 from my passport. Then she asked me if I had ever entered the US before on the same visa. I answered yes, and I also volunteered that I also had two previous entries as a tourist. I don't know if she would have asked if I hadn't volunteered that. But she did look through the passport thoroughly, although she didn't seem to stop and investigate every little entry stamp.

As far as volunteering more info than she seemed to ask for, I usually answered to the point. The eloping detail came up when she asked us how we got married. I said that we tied the knot in New York, and she asked me if we had pictures. That's when I said we eloped, and my spouse interjected and started giving details at that point. She didn't really have much of a conversation with us, for what it's worth. She didn't seem to give much in the way of acknowledgement of our answers. For instance, she asked me what I was studying in school, I answered, and she said nothing (people usually give some sort of feedback at this point, like "Oh, that's interesting." etc. etc.).

All in all, it wasn't horrible or very difficult. She didn't ask "difficult" questions, nor did she confront us directly. Towards the end, when she was explaining about the Lifting of Conditions, she even said that we won't be called for an interview unless they suspect fraud, "which she didn't think would be the case". That was nice. But the overall feeling that you are being scrutinized by an official who is not favorably disposed towards you *and* has power over you is unsettling. Don't get me wrong, some of the officers that I saw were very affable and friendly to the applicants they were calling in. We just got a somewhat disgruntled civil servant.

Anyway, enough ranting! Like so many people have been saying, the interview is not a huge big deal, and I'm convinced that in the overwhelming majority of cases, the interviewer is able to tell very clearly whether your relationship is legit. So don't worry and good luck!

[snz1802 0]

Congratulations to you

[SanDan 0]

Congratulations

[Jasman0717 9]

Congratulations

[ktun 0]

CONGRATULATIONS!!

And thank you for sharing an interview experience that wasn't a 'piece of cake.' I'm sure it will help many of us who will be having our interviews over the coming months.

[den_y2005 0]

congrats

[pri 0]

congrats

[john_and_marlene 162]