My AOS interview in Las Vegas - APPROVED!!!

[bstand 4]

So I had my AOS interview on 20 Oct 2015, at Las Vegas USCIS office at 9.25am. We were there on time, got called to do the fingerprint and photo then sat back and waited for about 15 mins for my interview. My name was called and my husband and I followed the immigration officer to the room. Can't remember the officer's first name but I think his last name was Mazzam or something like that. He was an old white man and very nice. We took an oath before taking our seats. In front of him he had all the files I sent over the past year. First thing he asked was my ID so I showed him my passport then he asked if I have a SSN and EAD (which I got them 2 months ago) so he can update our file. He also asked my husband for his ID and if he's still working at the same company and how long. Then he asked me those questions like terrorism, criminal history, etc. which I said 'no' to all. He asked if we brought some photos which I did and it's a mini size photo album with 23 photos to be exact including 8 wedding photos, 8 photos of us together and 7 group photos of friends and family. He liked that I had photos of my in-laws and husband's friends. I asked him if he wants a copy of our marriage certificate and he said 'no it's fine...where did we get married?' I said 'downtown vegas'. Then he wanted some other evidence like documents/letters that has both our names on it. We didn't have a lot but we explained to him that I'm currently not working hence why my name is not on any bills/rent etc, and we live with my bro-in-law and all utility bills are under his name. I think he understood our situation so he said 'that's ok'.

These are just some of the things I brought to my interview and gave copies to the IO:
1. Copy of lease agreement under my husband's name only.
2. Copy of husband's bank statements for 3 months but he later added me to his account (now joint account). However, I didn't get my debit card on time (bank screwed up) and latest statement didn't have my name on it so we provided a letter from our bank confirming that it's a joint account.
3. Copy of car insurance, although both our names on it I'm only listed as his spouse and not covered on the policy. We explained this to the officer that they wouldn't add me because I don't have a driver's license.
4. Copy of mobile phone plan under my husband's name; online plan/profile under my name.
5. Copy of joint gym membership.
6. Copy of vet bills with both our names on it.

He did ask for the rent transactions but we told him my husband has another account (not a joint account) from another bank which is the same bank as our landlord so it's convenient when paying the rent and for that bank statements we didn't think about bringing it since we have the lease agreement. The officer said 'it's ok then'. He also asked (which makes sense) if our joint bank statements we provided had any transactions that was spent on female stuff related such as women's clothes, nail salon etc. we said 'no'. I told him that I don't really need to buy clothes because I have too many and majority of the time we use cash (which is true) so he said 'that's fine'. He asked if there's anything else we want to add so I said 'we have cards from our family' but he didn't want those. In their eyes it's probably not a strong evidence. I could tell he wanted us to give him more evidence but at the same time I think he also understands that it's quite hard to have all these things when only one of us is working and we're still settling down and I've only been here under a year. There's really nothing else we could do but just explain our situation. I brought all the required documents like a bunch of them with me and even made copies of every single one of them but he only needed the ones that had both our names on it. He asked if we have any questions which we said 'no'. He then gave us a paper and explained to us how the permanent resident card works and we have to remember to file a form 90 days before it expire and that we'll also get something in the mail within 5 weeks etc. He didn't exactly say I was approved even though it was kinda obvious and he said his supervisor will make the decision even though he said 'we're good'. It was actually kinda funny how he said it. I've read on this forum that they take the i-94 during the interview process but the officer didn't take mine so I'm not sure if that's good or bad? So that's one thing I forgot to ask the officer.

Overall, my interview went well and only lasted about 15-20 mins. Oh and we weren't asked about how we met, what's his mother's name or any of those Q&A thing. My husband and I weren't nervous at all and just relieved that we're done with the interview.

My advice to anyone who's preparing for their interview is to bring as much evidence as you can. Most important thing is to bring copies of any joint account that you have ie. bills, bank statements (incl rent transactions if u can), lease, insurance, phone plan just to name a few. Joint gym membership and vet bills def help too especially if you don't have enough joint accounts. In regards to the photos, def include group photos with the in-laws and friends, I think Immigration officers likes that.

So later that day, I checked my case status online and got this message:

"Welcome Notice Was Mailed"
On Oct 20, 2015, we registered your permanent resident status and mailed you a Welcome Notice for Receipt Number MSCXX. Please follow the instructions in the notice. Your new permanent resident card should arrive by Dec 19, 2015, after this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address."

YAY!! WE GOT APPROVED!!!

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

Remember to not take out your frustration on your spouse

keep each other's spirtis up

this is a time of courtship for you, so treat it that way

when discouraged, find someone (a freind) who will listen to you vent

DON'T LET THIS PROCESS BEAT YOU

If you are strong and love deeply, you can win

WE DID

and ours was about as hard as it could be

started in July 2009 and ended with visa granted in JUly 2015

you will not go thru this

but we prayed to God

we keep each other motivated and now we are saying elhamdo lellah (Thanks to God)

Talk to others here that understand what you go thru / that helps

and

THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALWAYS

[KASH2011 382]

Congrats!

[military-wife 9]

So I had my AOS interview on 20 Oct 2015, at Las Vegas USCIS office at 9.25am. We were there on time, got called to do the fingerprint and photo then sat back and waited for about 15 mins for my interview. My name was called and my husband and I followed the immigration officer to the room. Can't remember the officer's first name but I think his last name was Mazzam or something like that. He was an old white man and very nice. We took an oath before taking our seats. In front of him he had all the files I sent over the past year. First thing he asked was my ID so I showed him my passport then he asked if I have a SSN and EAD (which I got them 2 months ago) so he can update our file. He also asked my husband for his ID and if he's still working at the same company and how long. Then he asked me those questions like terrorism, criminal history, etc. which I said 'no' to all. He asked if we brought some photos which I did and it's a mini size photo album with 23 photos to be exact including 8 wedding photos, 8 photos of us together and 7 group photos of friends and family. He liked that I had photos of my in-laws and husband's friends. I asked him if he wants a copy of our marriage certificate and he said 'no it's fine...where did we get married?' I said 'downtown vegas'. Then he wanted some other evidence like documents/letters that has both our names on it. We didn't have a lot but we explained to him that I'm currently not working hence why my name is not on any bills/rent etc, and we live with my bro-in-law and all utility bills are under his name. I think he understood our situation so he said 'that's ok'.

These are just some of the things I brought to my interview and gave copies to the IO:

1. Copy of lease agreement under my husband's name only.

2. Copy of husband's bank statements for 3 months but he later added me to his account (now joint account). However, I didn't get my debit card on time (bank screwed up) and latest statement didn't have my name on it so we provided a letter from our bank confirming that it's a joint account.

3. Copy of car insurance, although both our names on it I'm only listed as his spouse and not covered on the policy. We explained this to the officer that they wouldn't add me because I don't have a driver's license.

4. Copy of mobile phone plan under my husband's name; online plan/profile under my name.

5. Copy of joint gym membership.

6. Copy of vet bills with both our names on it.

He did ask for the rent transactions but we told him my husband has another account (not a joint account) from another bank which is the same bank as our landlord so it's convenient when paying the rent and for that bank statements we didn't think about bringing it since we have the lease agreement. The officer said 'it's ok then'. He also asked (which makes sense) if our joint bank statements we provided had any transactions that was spent on female stuff related such as women's clothes, nail salon etc. we said 'no'. I told him that I don't really need to buy clothes because I have too many and majority of the time we use cash (which is true) so he said 'that's fine'. He asked if there's anything else we want to add so I said 'we have cards from our family' but he didn't want those. In their eyes it's probably not a strong evidence. I could tell he wanted us to give him more evidence but at the same time I think he also understands that it's quite hard to have all these things when only one of us is working and we're still settling down and I've only been here under a year. There's really nothing else we could do but just explain our situation. I brought all the required documents like a bunch of them with me and even made copies of every single one of them but he only needed the ones that had both our names on it. He asked if we have any questions which we said 'no'. He then gave us a paper and explained to us how the permanent resident card works and we have to remember to file a form 90 days before it expire and that we'll also get something in the mail within 5 weeks etc. He didn't exactly say I was approved even though it was kinda obvious and he said his supervisor will make the decision even though he said 'we're good'. It was actually kinda funny how he said it. I've read on this forum that they take the i-94 during the interview process but the officer didn't take mine so I'm not sure if that's good or bad? So that's one thing I forgot to ask the officer.

Overall, my interview went well and only lasted about 15-20 mins. Oh and we weren't asked about how we met, what's his mother's name or any of those Q&A thing. My husband and I weren't nervous at all and just relieved that we're done with the interview.

My advice to anyone who's preparing for their interview is to bring as much evidence as you can. Most important thing is to bring copies of any joint account that you have ie. bills, bank statements (incl rent transactions if u can), lease, insurance, phone plan just to name a few. Joint gym membership and vet bills def help too especially if you don't have enough joint accounts. In regards to the photos, def include group photos with the in-laws and friends, I think Immigration officers likes that.

So later that day, I checked my case status online and got this message:

"Welcome Notice Was Mailed"

On Oct 20, 2015, we registered your permanent resident status and mailed you a Welcome Notice for Receipt Number MSCXX. Please follow the instructions in the notice. Your new permanent resident card should arrive by Dec 19, 2015, after this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address."

YAY!! WE GOT APPROVED!!!

Thanks for the advice! once I get my SSN, we will get a joint account and i'll get my U.S. driver's license so he can add me to his insurance.

We also have gym membership for both of us.. the contract says I am paying so.

Our phone bill is under my husband's name, but I have my own number and he does too.

So I think we are great.. the only thing we have to get done is the lease to have under both of our names.

[Heather&Kevin 25]

So I had my AOS interview on 20 Oct 2015, at Las Vegas USCIS office at 9.25am. ........................

Thanks for all the information and advice - we're in Vegas - AOS interview date coming soon!