AOS October 2016 filers

[Dreaming-big 13]

I don't check my mail box often but today I surprisingly found a letter for interview, although my status hasn't been updated. The letter was dated May 15 and interview for June 26th. I did just use my parole card on May 1st when I came from visiting the UK, so I think I may have prometed them to look into my file as I haven't heard anything since October 5th.  But really happy to see some progress on my AOS. 

[furuzan 0]

I have filed mid September and my field office is Atlanta. I have been waiting for interview for 7 months. From what I have read there is at least a month between interview notice and the interview. So I decided to visit my parents abroad for a few weeks this month, hope they won't send an interview notice that is like immediate. Thanks for sharing your experience, made me feel a bit better...

[JaMerican_2019 34]

Can anybody tell me what is on the interview letter to take with me? My interview has been scheduled since May 12 and I have still not received the notice. I put in a service request and they sent me a letter that I have to wait until 3 days before the interview before they can do anything. I'm honestly just trying to be organized and I get flustered at the last minute also I work right up until my interview date so not much time to do anything 

[Canuck2016 12]

21 minutes ago, EmpressBab said:

Can anybody tell me what is on the interview letter to take with me? My interview has been scheduled since May 12 and I have still not received the notice. I put in a service request and they sent me a letter that I have to wait until 3 days before the interview before they can do anything. I'm honestly just trying to be organized and I get flustered at the last minute also I work right up until my interview date so not much time to do anything 

Here you go. Although they asked for I-864   I was not asked for it at the interview

[JaMerican_2019 34]

3 minutes ago, Canuck2016 said:

Here you go. Although they asked for I-864   I was not asked for it at the interview

Thank you so much! I don't even know what time my interview is but I have all those that they are requesting. I have the 2016 tax transcripts. I'll just be patient 

[Canuck2016 12]

26 minutes ago, EmpressBab said:

Can anybody tell me what is on the interview letter to take with me? My interview has been scheduled since May 12 and I have still not received the notice. I put in a service request and they sent me a letter that I have to wait until 3 days before the interview before they can do anything. I'm honestly just trying to be organized and I get flustered at the last minute also I work right up until my interview date so not much time to do anything 

Pictures is a strong point. Although I had like 50 letters and cards from my daughter spanning like 20years ( Never threw away a single letter or card) the IO main issue is pictures. Did not seem impressed by explanation a to why I did not have many pictures. All our events I was basically the photographer and I did not appear in many pictures. Any pictures of my daughter and myself would be in the possession of other family members.

[K_NZ 2]

Hey EmpressBab, I remember you saying you were also being processed at the Seattle office. I had my interview today, it went pretty smoothly - she made me verbal answer all the questions from the i-485 form regarding criminal history, association with terrorists etc. Confirm your name, address, spouse name and dob. Then moved on to asking us how we meet, activities we like to do together. Where we got married and who attended. Asked about how life is now living together and then evidence we want to submit based on relationship - all we had showing joint paperwork was recent tax return and car insurance. we also had photos from the wedding showing us with guests and then a couple of snaps from our honeymoon. They didn't approve our case on the spot due to some internal papers that she didn't have and mentioned if in the missing file they find there is something missing we may get a RFE or worse case another interview. As we have not had any RFE this whole process I'm pretty confident it will all be fine and it is just a matter of waiting for internal processing to get their sh!t together. We had copies and originals of everything they request on the letter but as that is all submitted with the original paperwork the most important things to have are anything showing the joint relationships (she said tax return is very useful for this if you filed together) so now we are back to waiting.. Good luck with your interview

[proven999 1]

Had our field office interview today. It was at 10AM in the morning. We arrived at around 9:25AM. Checked in at security door just like TSA at the airports. Then we walked to the Reception desk where we showed our appointment letter. The lady checked us in and asked us to wait at one of the offices till a officer calls our name.

Around 10:10AM, my name was called by an officer who walked us inside. It was an Caucasian Lady, not very old, maybe in her 30s-40s. She asked us to place our documents and stuff on the chair, but keep standing as we will be sworn in. After swearing, we were asked to get seated and show the appointment letter, our passports, Drivers License and EAD document.

 

After she checked those in our file, she proceeded to ask me questions like my name, address (basically checking all the information that my wife put in the I-485 form). She asked when was the last time I entered the US and under what visa and crosschecked that on my passport. When she was satisfied, she asked the yes/no questions of being involved in a felony, terrorist organization affiliation, weapons, blah blah (all these are also on the form that we filled up)

 

Then she asked me my address, who I live with (my wife), her name, my profession, etc. I have been here on a F1 and a H1 so she gathered details of that from me. Then she asked my wife her profession and how/when we met. My wife told her all the answers. Then came the question of families, siblings, parents etc. After we answered those questions, she asked when did we decide to get married and who started that topic. We gave satisfactory answers to her questions.

 

Then she asked about our marriage, engagement, honeymoon. We got engaged twice, once here and once in my home country, same for our marriages, so we told her all of that. We even told her about our honeymoons (we took 2 of those too)

 

After this she asked my wife what kind of supporting documents we had. My wife gave our recent tax returns, phone bills, bank statements, credit card statement, checkbook and copy of our licenses as it had our home address. I told her we have lots of pictures if she wants to see. She collected all the documents. Some of these were additional documents from what we had sent before, so she added these to our file.

 

Then she asked to see some 'fun pictures" We showed her our India engagement album, and other albums. She loved the photos, and asked who were my parent, siblings etc. Then she asked if she can get a few of those photos to add in the file. We already had sent out a few, so she checked those, and asked to give a few from our honeymoon. We gave her a few, she took copies of those. My wife even showed a couple of photos on the phone.

 

She compiled it all and said that she had all the information she needed. Then she said that the Green Card is usually for 2 years and then we go through the same procedure of providing new evidence for the renewal as we will get in the notice 60 days before the 2 year GC period. She said that if we have enough documentation and they are satisfied with it, they won't even call us for a in-person interview. It was evident that our Green Card was approved, but she didn't say that She said to check our case status for the result.

 

We thanked her for her time and walked out. Checked the USCIS website on our way to home and it says 'New Card Is Being Produced'

 

Couple of things to note:

1] The officer lady told us that if we travel (we are traveling end of this month) before getting a green card, then it invalidates our case (IDK if that is true)

She said that there have been instances where applicants have traveled out of the country before their interview and they have denied them by asking to apply again -- Can anyone tell me what she was talking about?

 

2] The appointments work on a first come first serve basis, so even if you have a appointment  maybe an hour later, as long as you are checked in, you will be picked in the order in which you arrived.

 

Hope this helps you all, thanks to everyone who guided us all. We did it all just with the help of this website and no lawyers (our case was pretty straight too )

Congrats to everyone who has gotten their cards, best wishes to those who have their interviews, and hang in their to those who haven't heard anything.

 

Hope our experience was able to help you all.. yours for sure did help us. Thank you!!!

 

 

[Journeyvisa2016 6]

On 5/24/2017 at 9:52 PM, bigjailerman said:

Finally..congrats!!

Congrats

Edited June 7, 2017 by Journeyvisa2016

[Scandi 4,101]

9 hours ago, proven999 said:

1] The officer lady told us that if we travel (we are traveling end of this month) before getting a green card, then it invalidates our case (IDK if that is true)

She said that there have been instances where applicants have traveled out of the country before their interview and they have denied them by asking to apply again -- Can anyone tell me what she was talking about?

If you don't have an Advance Parole document they won't let you back into the US, even if your greencard status has been approved. You need the physical greencard in your hand to get back into the US, or a valid AP.

[Venice1012 35]

On 6/5/2017 at 1:49 PM, EmpressBab said:

Can anybody tell me what is on the interview letter to take with me? My interview has been scheduled since May 12 and I have still not received the notice. I put in a service request and they sent me a letter that I have to wait until 3 days before the interview before they can do anything. I'm honestly just trying to be organized and I get flustered at the last minute also I work right up until my interview date so not much time to do anything 

Hey if you submitted your I693 with your package you may need to check your copy if a Gonorrhea test was done and included. If not you'll need to take the test and bring it with you in a sealed envelope or you case status if approved will only say pending until you supply them with it or the case will be rejected. ...

Congrats everyone

[JaMerican_2019 34]

Just now, Venice1012 said:

Hey if you submitted your I693 with your package you may need to check your copy if a Gonorrhea test was done and included. If not you'll need to take the test and bring it with you in a sealed envelope or you case status if approved will only say pending until you supply them with it or the case will be rejected. ...

Congrats everyone

I didn't submit it with it and I did it in December so I'm sure it's on there 

[JaMerican_2019 34]

If my husband wasn't born here do they still need his birth certificate? We can't find his 

[Dutchster 1,106]

I got a reply to my service request last week about I-485. The e-mail came from the USCIS Memphis field office so I assume it has been transferred from the NBC to Memphis. It said;

"USCIS has reviewed your service request. According to the USCIS records, your application is still pending. At this time, we anticipate you should receive a decision or other notice from USCIS within 90 days of this notice. Please be advised that posted processing times are goals based on field office averages.These goals are subject to change and can vary from office to office."

Still hoping for a interview waiver because it's a rough 5,5 hour drive to Memphis 

[Scandi 4,101]

4 minutes ago, Dutchster said:

I got a reply to my service request last week about I-485. The e-mail came from the USCIS Memphis field office so I assume it has been transferred from the NBC to Memphis. It said;

"USCIS has reviewed your service request. According to the USCIS records, your application is still pending. At this time, we anticipate you should receive a decision or other notice from USCIS within 90 days of this notice. Please be advised that posted processing times are goals based on field office averages.These goals are subject to change and can vary from office to office."

Still hoping for a interview waiver because it's a rough 5,5 hour drive to Memphis 

At least that's something. I know the word of USCIS isn't worth much so the "90 days" can be totally inaccurate, but at least you know where your case is at now and that maybe the service request will make things move along. I'm crossing my fingers for a interview waiver for you! ♡