AOS Living in Two States

[bluelikethat 0]

Hi all,

I am currently waiting for my AOS -- my husband and I filed a marriage-based application in July. I am a little nervous about the interview process because we currently live in two states. We lived together in NC for over a year before our marriage, but before we got married I had to take a job in Pittsburgh. We are both university professors and jobs are few and far between. We got engaged just before I left for the job in 2014, and we got married this summer. I still consider our home in North Carolina to be my home -- as a university professor I only have to be in PA for the semesters, and I can do my research work from NC during all breaks, including the long summers. I go back about every other weekend during the semesters, or sometimes he comes up here to see me (I have two stepsons so I like to go there to see them as much as possible). We filed a huge stack of papers documenting our relationship, including evidence of joint financial assets, including evidence that we are each other's beneficiaries on retirement and life insurance policies and joint bank accounts and credit cards, as well as pictures of me with him and his family (including his sons) over the last four years. Of course I am looking for a job in NC and trying to find a way to move back home, but it is so hard to find a tenure track job in your field, and this was the closest I could get. It's not an ideal situation, and we're both pretty miserable about it, but we're trying to think long-term, and when you've spent 6 years doing a Ph.D. it's hard to just say "oh well, pity about my career..."

My question is this: do you think that this will present a huge problem in the interview?

Thanks for any thoughts you might have on this. My case says its ready to schedule for an interview here in Pittsburgh, and I'm just waiting anxiously for the date to appear so we can arrange for my husband to come on up here for it and hope that we won't have any troubles.

[heo luoi 206]

If you have documentation of your travels/back and forth and explain it as well as this I think you should be fine, unfortunately haven't gone through myself. good on you to do what you need to do. Be honest and forthcoming as I assume it may come up. GL to you community updated.

Edited September 25, 2015 by coldhands

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

It's a reasonable story and they are pretty good at knowing the real couples from total fraudsters.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based Visas to AOS from Work, Student & Tourist Visas ~

[Anh map 2,098]

Life happens.It sounds like you have the "normal" comingling of finances along with the "bonus" of maintaining two households. Tell your story and explain as needed.

I'd be confident if I were in your shoes.

(I take back all kind and helpful words if you are connected with Dook)

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

While it would be a red flag for many couples, in your situation I believe you will be fine due to the nature of the job, your visits home and your co mingling

evidence. The way you described it, it makes sense.

[AKOL 3]

My question is this: do you think that this will present a huge problem in the interview?

I don't think you will have problems, If you have problems I will have problems I am a PhD student in one state and my husband is a PhD student in a different state on the other side of the US. As you well know this is not uncommon within academia, and I am sure we are not alone in this. Me and my husband submitted many letters from friends, family and even one from our previous landlord as part of our proof. As other people have said, make sure you have many pictures, proof of travel etc. We even submitted copies of paperwork from when we ship our animals back and forth when we celebrate Christmas. I am still waiting for interview, and even though I am telling you it probably wont be any problems at the interview I am worried too I think everyone are no matter what!