May 2015 AOS Filers

[-Shana- 152]

Interview is on Wednesday, just finished preparing my AOS from K-1 documents. Here's my checklist:

Passports + Copies of ID pages

SSN's + Copies

Birth Certificates + Copies

Drivers Licences + Copies

Marriage certificate + Certified copy

Health insurance card + Copy

Bank statement (Joint account)

Tax return (Filed jointly)

Car insurance (under both names)

Spouse's employment letter (he had and left a job in the time waiting for the AOS interview) + Copy

Spouse's 2 months of pay stubs

EAD Card + Copy

I-94

Photographs

All visa documents (kept in a folder so not so hard to take with us)

Interview notice (the golden ticket!)

I've got 3 folders, 1 with original documents, 1 with documents we don't mind handing over + copies of important original documents and 1 with all my previous visa journey history. Feeling fairly organised right now!

Let me know if you see anything that I'm missing.

[wbeem 568]

Hi Shana!

We didn't have an interview so I can't help with your list, but saw you posted here. I just went to your timeline and profile about an hour ago to see how things are going with you. I've not been good at keeping up with the forums since we got here. It's good to see that you are near the end of this phase of the process. All the very best for your interview. I'm sure it will all go smoothly and then you can relax for another 21 months before phase 3

[-Shana- 152]

Hi Shana!

We didn't have an interview so I can't help with your list, but saw you posted here. I just went to your timeline and profile about an hour ago to see how things are going with you. I've not been good at keeping up with the forums since we got here. It's good to see that you are near the end of this phase of the process. All the very best for your interview. I'm sure it will all go smoothly and then you can relax for another 21 months before phase 3

Thank you for getting in touch! I'm glad you didn't need to go through an interview after all the waiting you did before for your K-1. I'm sure it was a huge relief just to be together again and start life as normal. It is hard to keep coming back to a forum about a process you'd rather forget about! I've always respected the long timers who still stick around to give people advice. Thanks again!

[zeta054 111]

We brought tax returns, medical, photos, bank accounts statements, Passport, driver license, I-94. Our CO didn't look at half the stuff just photos and bank accounts in our joint names. It is always better to be prepared and bring more than needed and copies just in case u need to reference back to any documents.

[dhmarch11 1]

How do you renew your EAD? I still have the Notice the speeds the application for an extension that came with my EAD and I don't really know the process.

[-Shana- 152]

How do you renew your EAD? I still have the Notice the speeds the application for an extension that came with my EAD and I don't really know the process.

Exact same process as when you applied for it the first time, only this time you tick the box "Renewal". Don't send payment with it, you get it for free.

[-Shana- 152]

Actually, I'm not sure if you need to pay. I was filing for an EAD with my AOS package after adjusting from a K-1 visa, so I know I don't need to pay for EAD renewals. Not sure about you though - look on the USCIS website for information when downloading the new EAD forms.

[dhmarch11 1]

Just read that as long as it was filed after July 30, 2007 then the renewal fee is free. Thanks for the info btw.

[-Shana- 152]

Haha, sorry, I wasn't very informative! I didn't really find much info on EAD renewals since the majority of people get their green cards before a year. But once I read the forms I was able to pull up my old files and basically replicate the form except I ticked "renewal".

Something that I did come across that threw me off was when filling out information about my old EAD - when it says "who issued the EAD?" it's based on the 3 letter code in the case file code you were given. So for me it was MSCXXXXXXX which meant Missouri (MSC) issued my EAD - which as far as I can tell is not in the instructions that USCIS provide, I found that on some blog: http://support.citizenpath.com/hc/en-us/articles/202589018-How-do-I-answer-which-USCIS-office-for-question-11-on-Form-I-765-

Also, when you received your first EAD you might have received a letter with some barcodes on. I sent the original barcodes off with my EAD renewal packet (made a photocopy for my records) because the letter said it might speed up the process. Not sure if it's true, but worth a shot!

Edited May 11, 2016 by -Shana-

[-Shana- 152]

Hey everyone. Interview was today. The good news is that my fear of being asked for another medical was never brought up. The bad news is that our IO was a nasty piece of work. I had read the reviews of the Denver office for AOS interviews and most had been glowing. A lot of people said how friendly the staff were and how they were approved on the spot. Not us!

Our IO made us swear an oath as per usual, she then looks through my application and asks me to confirm my information. She then asks me some of the questions that I answered on the application, you know the weird ones that ask "were you ever a part of the communist party?" etc. I say "no" to every one of them, but my husband stupidly snickered at one of them. She looked at him and said "What exactly is so funny about this?" and he apologised immediately and said "it's not funny, I'm sorry" and she says "these are all very serious questions." He profusely apologises again and the interview continues.

She then goes on to ask us when did we meet and at first we gave very brief answers. She goes on to say "this is the interview, now is the time to prove your case to me" so I perk up immediately and begin telling her all about our relationship (and my husband chimes in too). After a few questions about our story, as well as asking us if we're planning on a wedding or to have kids, she goes on to say "what evidence did you bring with you?" I hand over a tax return that we filed jointly, car insurance copy, health insurance copy, certified copy of our marriage licence, photos, flight itinerary saying we had a trip to New York together in January and then a bank statement of our joint account. She says "you only brought one [bank statement]?" and I answered yes. Then she asks me if I had any other accounts so I said "yes, I have a personal checking account" and she looks confused and points to the bank statement and says "isn't this your checking account?" so we go on to explain that we have a joint account for joint purchases such as bills, groceries and things we buy for us both to use and we both have personal bank accounts where we buy clothes, video games, things that we use individually so we're not buying personal items using our money that goes towards rent. Her tone was kind of aggressive at this point, kind of like "if you have a joint account why do you need your own?"

After that she asks us what the plan is, so we talk about our move to Georgia to pursue Film work since the industry is booming there right now and she asks us if we're renting or buying. We say renting and she asks us if we have a lease. We say it arrived just yesterday then says "didn't you bring a copy with you?" and I said "no" to tell the truth - to be honest my husband didn't get around to signing it. She then sorta says "well it had arrived just in time for your interview..." implying that we should have brought it. I couldn't do or say much other than "I didn't bring it" which made me feel dumb.

Then she says "do you have you anything else to give to me?" and when I say no she then asks me about the home address and is it ok to still receive mail there in case she needs a request for more evidence. We say yes, since it's our BF's parents house, but we will be changing out address when we move. Then she tells me "you've submitted some good evidence here, I will do some more checks and IF I'm comfortable with approving you then I will do so within 1-2 months." The way she said it was really off putting...

I've read so many cases of people being approved on the spot and walking away with a notification that their card is being processed. I then asked her if I would submit any RFE's to her directly or someone else and she said "oh no, it'll be coming to me and not a lockbox." I tried to remain as calm and personable as I possibly could but once we were out of sight I couldn't help but feel that the whole thing went terribly! She made me feel like I didn't bring enough evidence and I guess looking back because of my husbands snickering perhaps she thought we weren't taking it seriously?! I mean, we've known each other for 14 years and we're heading into our 7th anniversary as a couple, we weren't nervous because of that, but we still brought all the paperwork with us. I thought that I had done enough but the way she spoke to us made me feel like I should have dumped 14 years worth of emails on her lap.

I honestly feel really annoyed and upset that it looks like I'll be facing another wait as well as the chance of a RFE if she decides that our evidence wasn't enough.

[gpiper 77]

A lesson for everyone there. One wrong move however small or unintentional and you are on the back foot throughout the interview! Her perception of you however wrong it feels is something that only she can express as she was the one interviewing you.

Being together 14 years kind of proves this isn't fleeting and quite genuine but she wins!

She knows quite well what a couple of months delay means to you both but as judge and jury what she says goes!

Sometimes they just get a kick out of it so let it slide and wait for the approval that will come your way.

Edited May 11, 2016 by gpiper

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Hey everyone. Interview was today. The good news is that my fear of being asked for another medical was never brought up. The bad news is that our IO was a nasty piece of work. I had read the reviews of the Denver office for AOS interviews and most had been glowing. A lot of people said how friendly the staff were and how they were approved on the spot. Not us!

Our IO made us swear an oath as per usual, she then looks through my application and asks me to confirm my information. She then asks me some of the questions that I answered on the application, you know the weird ones that ask "were you ever a part of the communist party?" etc. I say "no" to every one of them, but my husband stupidly snickered at one of them. She looked at him and said "What exactly is so funny about this?" and he apologised immediately and said "it's not funny, I'm sorry" and she says "these are all very serious questions." He profusely apologises again and the interview continues.

She then goes on to ask us when did we meet and at first we gave very brief answers. She goes on to say "this is the interview, now is the time to prove your case to me" so I perk up immediately and begin telling her all about our relationship (and my husband chimes in too). After a few questions about our story, as well as asking us if we're planning on a wedding or to have kids, she goes on to say "what evidence did you bring with you?" I hand over a tax return that we filed jointly, car insurance copy, health insurance copy, certified copy of our marriage licence, photos, flight itinerary saying we had a trip to New York together in January and then a bank statement of our joint account. She says "you only brought one [bank statement]?" and I answered yes. Then she asks me if I had any other accounts so I said "yes, I have a personal checking account" and she looks confused and points to the bank statement and says "isn't this your checking account?" so we go on to explain that we have a joint account for joint purchases such as bills, groceries and things we buy for us both to use and we both have personal bank accounts where we buy clothes, video games, things that we use individually so we're not buying personal items using our money that goes towards rent. Her tone was kind of aggressive at this point, kind of like "if you have a joint account why do you need your own?"

After that she asks us what the plan is, so we talk about our move to Georgia to pursue Film work since the industry is booming there right now and she asks us if we're renting or buying. We say renting and she asks us if we have a lease. We say it arrived just yesterday then says "didn't you bring a copy with you?" and I said "no" to tell the truth - to be honest my husband didn't get around to signing it. She then sorta says "well it had arrived just in time for your interview..." implying that we should have brought it. I couldn't do or say much other than "I didn't bring it" which made me feel dumb.

Then she says "do you have you anything else to give to me?" and when I say no she then asks me about the home address and is it ok to still receive mail there in case she needs a request for more evidence. We say yes, since it's our BF's parents house, but we will be changing out address when we move. Then she tells me "you've submitted some good evidence here, I will do some more checks and IF I'm comfortable with approving you then I will do so within 1-2 months." The way she said it was really off putting...

I've read so many cases of people being approved on the spot and walking away with a notification that their card is being processed. I then asked her if I would submit any RFE's to her directly or someone else and she said "oh no, it'll be coming to me and not a lockbox." I tried to remain as calm and personable as I possibly could but once we were out of sight I couldn't help but feel that the whole thing went terribly! She made me feel like I didn't bring enough evidence and I guess looking back because of my husbands snickering perhaps she thought we weren't taking it seriously?! I mean, we've known each other for 14 years and we're heading into our 7th anniversary as a couple, we weren't nervous because of that, but we still brought all the paperwork with us. I thought that I had done enough but the way she spoke to us made me feel like I should have dumped 14 years worth of emails on her lap.

I honestly feel really annoyed and upset that it looks like I'll be facing another wait as well as the chance of a RFE if she decides that our evidence wasn't enough.

Just keep checking your online status, I bet it won't take 2 months but rather a few days or couple of weeks.

Some IO's act like they have a corn cob stuck up their butts.

At least this is behind you. Make sure you have the kitchen sink for ROC, it is worse with the evidence than AOS.

[-Shana- 152]

Thanks for the response guys, I needed somewhere to vent so I appreciate your replies.

I've had my moment of anger, a little cry and now I'm ready to move forward and just keep checking my case and see what comes our way. Even if we did get an RFE we have enough evidence that proves we're genuine - I'd be happy to submit the years worth of photographs that we've accumulated, the paperwork, IM & email exchanges over 14 years, letters from any number of the 80 mutual friends we have and have met throughout our lives together - so I shouldn't be too worried. I guess after almost a years worth of waiting for an interview having that gratifying moment of hearing we've been approved on the spot was taken from me and it worried/upset me. I really did want this part to be over with!

I still feel a little ticked off, I can't lie, but nothing I can do now. As you said, Ebun, it's behind me now. Will definitely be on guard for the next step on the path to citizenship!

[B-2-Z 37]

Shana - It sounds like you had someone that just wanted to be a ###### because she should. Once you get approved(I'm sure you will!) you should file a complaint against her. Even if nothing happens, it'll go on her permanent file. Too many people get away with abusing their powers just because they can in these offices. I know what you mean about the years of evidence, part of the RFE we got was for more relationship evidence...we lived together since 2009...Really? Lol.

In happier news... I woke up to see a text from 12:30am last night to check my status. FINALLY approved, dated May 10th(I called them yesterday the 11th and they couldn't tell me that?!). They totally skipped the step about updating whether or not they got my RFE AND they ignored my service request completely. Huge relief to me as my parents are coming in June, but the biggest airport is in Canada so we have to pick them up there.

Edited May 12, 2016 by B-2-Z

[-Shana- 152]

Shana - It sounds like you had someone that just wanted to be a ###### because she should. Once you get approved(I'm sure you will!) you should file a complaint against her. Even if nothing happens, it'll go on her permanent file. Too many people get away with abusing their powers just because they can in these offices. I know what you mean about the years of evidence, part of the RFE we got was for more relationship evidence...we lived together since 2009...Really? Lol.

In happier news... I woke up to see a text from 12:30am last night to check my status. FINALLY approved, dated May 10th(I called them yesterday the 11th and they couldn't tell me that?!). They totally skipped the step about updating whether or not they got my RFE AND they ignored my service request completely. Huge relief to me as my parents are coming in June, but the biggest airport is in Canada so we have to pick them up there.

First of all, congratulations! I'm glad the frustrations are finally over. How nice of them to not confirm your RFE *sigh*

If you don't mind me asking, what did you submit in your RFE? I have a feeling our IO might do the same to us despite all the evidence we've submitted over the years.