How to explain missing AOS interview?(merged)

[chicinchic 1]

My parter and I filed for AOS back in June, and booked our honeymoon for January. Unfortunately, our interview was scheduled during our trip and I called the USCIS office to reschedule an appointment as soon as we received our notice. There were just over two weeks between the receipt of notice and the date of departure, and the tickets were non-refundable. I thought we would receive a new rescheduled date but instead we received a request for a written explanation as to why we missed our original interview date. The honeymoon was also in my field site (I'm an anthropologist), if that matters.

[Boiler 45,553]

Not that surprising, they say jump, you say how high.

[chicinchic 1]

I can't seem to edit the OP, and I realized that in my fatigued state, I didn't state the question! Is the fact the we missed the trip for a reason other than illness or medical emergency grounds for denial? Or is it sufficient to say that the flights were non-refundable and that financial hardship would be entailed in skipping the trip?

[chicinchic 1]

My parter and I filed for AOS back in June, and booked our honeymoon for January. Unfortunately, our interview was scheduled during our trip and I called the USCIS office to reschedule an appointment as soon as we received our notice. There were just over two weeks between the receipt of notice and the date of departure, and the tickets were non-refundable. I thought we would receive a new rescheduled date but instead we received a request for a written explanation as to why we missed our original interview date. On a page on the USCIS site, it says there are no penalties for rescheduling an appointment, but elsewhere it says that you can only miss an appointment for medical emergencies. How should I frame my recent trip--that it was a research/honeymoon combined trip that couldn't be cancelled and rescheduled due to financial hardship? The honeymoon was also in my field site (I'm an anthropologist), if that matters.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Doubtful that they would be very sympathetic

[spring333 44]

It is easy, cancel your honeymoon. what is more important for you, partying or adjusting status?

[chicinchic 1]

Obviously the latter, but from the phone conversation, I thought that an interview date was going to be rescheduled, so we went abroad and returned (I have AP, and had given this time period in my original AP application). Upon our return, we found the USCIS letter.

[Anh map 2,098]

The truth is always a better choice than trying to make the trip something it wasn't.

[Ontarkie 14,234]

~~Duplicate thread merged. Please do not make more then one thread for the same or similar topic.~~

[aaron2020 11,651]

You should frame it with the truth. Spin doctoring your honeymoon as a necessary trip is not going to get you a sympathetic USCIS officer. Trying to BS someone trained to spot it and has heard it all is not going to solve your problem, it will only make it worse.

Come off as an adult. Don't come off sounding like my teenage son with BS excuses for why he didn't do the task I told him to do.

I would treat someone with respect if he gives some back. BS me, then I don't care what you have to say.

[Cathi 5,757]

The only answer is to tell them the truth. Period. Do you honestly think that they will believe your honeymoon was some sort of research trip? I know I don't and I am sure they won't either. Don't try to bullsh*** anyone.

[chicinchic 1]

I actually did some work-related research while there, although it was minimal. As an unemployed academic without any research funds, I don't see why I trip that combined pleasure and research is unfathomable. Our destination was chosen with my research in mind.

[neoblast 138]

I actually did some work-related research while there, although it was minimal. As an unemployed academic without any research funds, I don't see why I trip that combined pleasure and research is unfathomable. Our destination was chosen with my research in mind.

You seem to be doing exactly what you are being advised not to do. Going on vacation on honeymoon without a receipt from your request did not make much sense. I think being denied AOS is much worse than having lost your trip.

Like the others say, keep it honest and stop trying to spin it.

[cdneh 3,112]

I actually did some work-related research while there, although it was minimal. As an unemployed academic without any research funds, I don't see why I trip that combined pleasure and research is unfathomable. Our destination was chosen with my research in mind.

USCIS do not care how you 'frame' your trip. You cannot produce a medical emergency when the actual facts are that you had non refundable tickets, which by the by, they do not view as financial hardship either. There is no way to spin this into a favorable light.

Any time you are dealing with the USCIS, you give them the plain, unadulterated truth. You give them what they want, the way they want it.

[Mollie09 1,543]

I actually did some work-related research while there, although it was minimal. As an unemployed academic without any research funds, I don't see why I trip that combined pleasure and research is unfathomable. Our destination was chosen with my research in mind.

Because that "minimal work-related research" you did while you were there wouldn't be enough to justify missing the interview.