initial interview...too soon?

[athena_ny 1]

If you look at our timeline, our AOS package wasn't received until March 2nd, 2007. Our biometrics appt is for April 10th, 2007. No RFEs yet, or anything.

But today I came home and our interview is April 26th, 2007. My husband is a tourist visa overstay (again, apparent from our timeline) and we only got married January 5th. The lease on our current apartment was signed by him, his sister, and mother when we weren't even sure if I was still on vacation and returning home, or staying. (He's been living in FL dealing with family issues, I moved here from NY - I am the USC.) I was thinking we'd have enough time that we'd have moved by then, we'd get things sorted out and our evidence would be a lot stronger. I have a photo album with pictures from my first two visits, then various family occasions since I moved here, and of course our wedding. A letter from my current employer (have to make up a new I-864 since my job has changed in the last month) stating he's the beneficiary on my life insurance...he's also added to my dental insurance but I don't have anything official on that yet since it's been so recent.

We opened a bank acct recently, but I was using my old one because the company I was working for couldn't get my direct deposit to work with Bank of America because the company was stupid... and he prefers to use his old account - he has his own reasons that are completely valid - money is tight and sometimes I don't think he wants me knowing how tight.

He's an authorized user on two of my credit cards - but there's no real documentation on my statesments of this, just the cards that are in our wallets with the same acct numbers.

I mean, we'll have only been married less than three months, do they expect a ton at that point? I was expecting more time, so now I'm freaking out.

I'm also freaking out that getting an interview this soon is a very bad sign

[Dr_LHA 3]

I don't think they pull you into interview early because they think something is wrong with your case. It just seems that things are going quick these days.

Its a good thing! You have your interview, best to get that over with as soon as possible. Remember - they can't deny AOS because your husband overstayed his visa.

[athena_ny 1]

I don't think they pull you into interview early because they think something is wrong with your case. It just seems that things are going quick these days.

Its a good thing! You have your interview, best to get that over with as soon as possible. Remember - they can't deny AOS because your husband overstayed his visa.

He has unauthorized work as well - I know it is forgiven but I still worry. Long story as to the unauthorized work - but it's not really relevant, I guess.

In my warped mind I'm thinking they scheduled it early so they can deny him. I'm just worried that they won't think we have enough proof...but at the time of the interview we'll have been married just under 4 months! I know they look at the whole picture, and can tell people that over and over again all day, but when it comes to my case it's like a panic button has been pushed.

Thanks for the reassurance.

[Dr_LHA 3]

I have a friend who was in your situation. Husband came on a tourist visa and never left, worked and stayed illegally for 8 years, fell in love, got married to a USC. Now he has his green card.

[athena_ny 1]

I have a friend who was in your situation. Husband came on a tourist visa and never left, worked and stayed illegally for 8 years, fell in love, got married to a USC. Now he has his green card.

He came to visit his dad, his mom needed a surgery and his dad wanted her to get it here, was going to return for a student visa but by the time that happened he'd already overstayed, then his dad died and he was going to leave, but was advised there was probably a solid lawsuit behind the death ... anyway, he's not proud of how things have panned out but not ashamed either and our marriage is real, so I shouldn't be worried but I'm a worrier. I get it from my dad

Thanks so much for the advice and kind words (okay, reassurance )

[florida_guy07 0]

I have a friend who was in your situation. Husband came on a tourist visa and never left, worked and stayed illegally for 8 years, fell in love, got married to a USC. Now he has his green card.

He came to visit his dad, his mom needed a surgery and his dad wanted her to get it here, was going to return for a student visa but by the time that happened he'd already overstayed, then his dad died and he was going to leave, but was advised there was probably a solid lawsuit behind the death ... anyway, he's not proud of how things have panned out but not ashamed either and our marriage is real, so I shouldn't be worried but I'm a worrier. I get it from my dad

Thanks so much for the advice and kind words (okay, reassurance )

My wife also overstayed her B2 visa for a little over 5 years.. she has worked 3 jobs illegally and I have spoken to 2 different attorneys as well as a LOT of research and we are not even one bit worried about his overstay, we're, however, worried because like you we have been married for only 4 months and we don't have a LOT of things in our names, but we are hoping for the best, our marriage is also real and I feel like this is just a step we have to take to fix her situation.... worrying is part of it, but like us, you dont really have another option.

I don't think your quick interview date has ANYTHING to do with the fact that he overstayed. Not at all. Don't worry... everyone is used to waiting for 2...3 years for AOS and today things are moving very very fast. Which we are not complaining about... right ?

Relax and good luck with your interview.

[athena_ny 1]

I have a friend who was in your situation. Husband came on a tourist visa and never left, worked and stayed illegally for 8 years, fell in love, got married to a USC. Now he has his green card.

He came to visit his dad, his mom needed a surgery and his dad wanted her to get it here, was going to return for a student visa but by the time that happened he'd already overstayed, then his dad died and he was going to leave, but was advised there was probably a solid lawsuit behind the death ... anyway, he's not proud of how things have panned out but not ashamed either and our marriage is real, so I shouldn't be worried but I'm a worrier. I get it from my dad

Thanks so much for the advice and kind words (okay, reassurance )

My wife also overstayed her B2 visa for a little over 5 years.. she has worked 3 jobs illegally and I have spoken to 2 different attorneys as well as a LOT of research and we are not even one bit worried about his overstay, we're, however, worried because like you we have been married for only 4 months and we don't have a LOT of things in our names, but we are hoping for the best, our marriage is also real and I feel like this is just a step we have to take to fix her situation.... worrying is part of it, but like us, you dont really have another option.

I don't think your quick interview date has ANYTHING to do with the fact that he overstayed. Not at all. Don't worry... everyone is used to waiting for 2...3 years for AOS and today things are moving very very fast. Which we are not complaining about... right ?

Relax and good luck with your interview.

That's why I'm worried! So many people wait forever I'm like "oh no this can't be good." Which is stupid, but I get panicky. Didn't know what I was getting into when I met him, I guess. ^.^

PS - we have the same anniversary! ... which is the same as my parents'. Even weirder.

Edited March 31, 2007 by meow mix

[Winterjade_SF 0]

My wife also overstayed her B2 visa for a little over 5 years.. she has worked 3 jobs illegally and I have spoken to 2 different attorneys as well as a LOT of research and we are not even one bit worried about his overstay, we're, however, worried because like you we have been married for only 4 months and we don't have a LOT of things in our names, but we are hoping for the best, our marriage is also real and I feel like this is just a step we have to take to fix her situation.... worrying is part of it, but like us, you dont really have another option.

I don't think your quick interview date has ANYTHING to do with the fact that he overstayed. Not at all. Don't worry... everyone is used to waiting for 2...3 years for AOS and today things are moving very very fast. Which we are not complaining about... right ?

Relax and good luck with your interview.

So - visa overstayer situation here as well. My family brought me to the US when I was 10, and until I graduated from college I was on a number of various visas - L2, F2, F1... but technically I've overstayed since '96... I also began working in the winter of '95 and have been with the same company since then.

I met my future husband in Jan., 2005, we started dating that summer, moved in April 2006 and I told him of my "situation" in November. He proposed on Christmas night, 2006, and we were married in a civil ceremony January '07.

We started the AOS/ EAD process in March, as well; though we've only gotten so far as a biometrics appt. We've slowly been collecting various bits of documentation about our lives together - and it sounds that we have just about the same things as you do. I'd maybe try to get your name on the apartment lease -- the landlord shouldn't be adverse to it if you two are living there...

Good luck to you, and congratulations on the speed of your process! We're nervous about our situation as well - we've hired an attorney who has reassured us that things would be fine.

Please keep us posted.

Edited March 31, 2007 by wjinsf

[athena_ny 1]

My wife also overstayed her B2 visa for a little over 5 years.. she has worked 3 jobs illegally and I have spoken to 2 different attorneys as well as a LOT of research and we are not even one bit worried about his overstay, we're, however, worried because like you we have been married for only 4 months and we don't have a LOT of things in our names, but we are hoping for the best, our marriage is also real and I feel like this is just a step we have to take to fix her situation.... worrying is part of it, but like us, you dont really have another option.

I don't think your quick interview date has ANYTHING to do with the fact that he overstayed. Not at all. Don't worry... everyone is used to waiting for 2...3 years for AOS and today things are moving very very fast. Which we are not complaining about... right ?

Relax and good luck with your interview.

So - visa overstayer situation here as well. My family brought me to the US when I was 10, and until I graduated from college I was on a number of various visas - L2, F2, F1... but technically I've overstayed since '96... I also began working in the winter of '95 and have been with the same company since then.

I met my future husband in Jan., 2005, we started dating that summer, moved in April 2006 and I told him of my "situation" in November. He proposed on Christmas night, 2006, and we were married in a civil ceremony January '07.

We started the AOS/ EAD process in March, as well; though we've only gotten so far as a biometrics appt. We've slowly been collecting various bits of documentation about our lives together - and it sounds that we have just about the same things as you do. I'd maybe try to get your name on the apartment lease -- the landlord shouldn't be adverse to it if you two are living there...

Good luck to you, and congratulations on the speed of your process! We're nervous about our situation as well - we've hired an attorney who has reassured us that things would be fine.

Please keep us posted.

We didn't hire an attorney, we did the ppw through Catholic Charities who said that it didn't look too complicated etc etc. He had an immigration attorney but it was too much money at the time and we wanted to do things as quickly as possible.

We thought about getting my name on the lease, but we're moving in a few months anyway - we have tons of mail - some addressed to me at the old apt (we moved to this one within 3 weeks of my arrival in FL, but at that point it wasn't sure if I was staying in FL or not), and a lot from this place.

I can print out the cell phone bills from the last few months - they show his number and my number, but my name is the one on that, and I think I'm going to put our credit cards in the binder the morning of the appt as evidence.

We have Christmas cards, Valentine's Day cards, cards/letters I wrote to him before I moved in with him - it seems like a decent amount of evidence, but just not a lot of joint bills etc at this point. It takes longer to get everything switched over than I thought it would ;x

[LaL 418]

the only thing I can see as a result of a quick filing to interview time period would be fbi namecheck. the quicker the interview, the higher the possibility it is not completed yet.

good luck on the interview - wait until u see that trailer (ewww) unless they have made some renovations.

[athena_ny 1]

the only thing I can see as a result of a quick filing to interview time period would be fbi namecheck. the quicker the interview, the higher the possibility it is not completed yet.

good luck on the interview - wait until u see that trailer (ewww) unless they have made some renovations.

I thought the same thing but while the name check issue will suck, I'd rather hear "approved pending name check" instead of "DENIED"

I'm sure that's the case for all though.

[florida_guy07 0]

You seem very convinced that you will be denied... that's not good.

[athena_ny 1]

You seem very convinced that you will be denied... that's not good.

No, I don't think we will be. I'm a worrier. No reason for us to be denied, he entered the country years before he met me, and our marriage is genuine. I plan for the worst. It's in my genes. I'm going to make sure I show them there's no reason to deny us, and honestly I think that's better than being nonchalant about the whole thing.

Just saying that given the other option, "approved pending name check" isn't a bad thing.

I can talk to as many attorneys and experts on this as I want, but until the interview is over, I will be nervous, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Don't confuse nerves for "convinced we'll get denied" - if I was so convinced that we'd get denied, would I have spent the thousand or so dollars? Nope.