bad AOS interview experience, need some advice

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

I believe you will hear about an approval soon if it's just her being miffed about the previous marriages. Chill and relax.
There is no reason to have panic attacks over.
You don't need a lawyer for the situation you are describing.

Our AOS journey has been a hot mess and I am not worried.

Filed May 2015 (yes over 3 years ago).
Interview September 2016
Home visit July 2017

Crickets since then.
He is not getting deported if you are denied, he will just file again.
I highly doubt he will be denied.
You may get a home visit so make sure you are cool, calm and collected from here on and stop freaking out.
You know you are legit so behave like it with confidence. Confidence matters. Vibes matter.

 

[sparkles_ 456]

Awww, big hugs to you, I believe you guys will be ok and have decent approval odds. I dry heaved in the parking lot for a little bit after our interview, we also had a rough one. 

 

But let me tell you, we got the approval text less than a week later and I felt certain we were doomed based on the cumulative of things with our case plus the grilling by the IO. Our cumulative included deportation proceedings and a home visit.

 

The IOs are trained to watch how you react to the questions and some will try and trip you up hoping you will freak out and admit something or totally fall apart, they watched you as you came in the building and they watched you as you waited too. She asked for your photos in the end, ours also eased up on that last 5min span. These people are looking for panic in fraudulent couples about to screw up big time, you two clearly showed sadness/nerves and again, they know the difference. 

 

I dont think you need to lawyer up yet, but it could not hurt to make some phone calls and get a lawyer who is affordable at least in your contacts in case. I don't think you are facing a NOID either, perhaps a second interview, but it's just my two cent. 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 27, 2017 by sparkles_

[inloveVEN 46]

Sorry to hear that

 

did she gave you a letter?

 

Our experience was similar, the agent was very rude with us. showing her worst face like making sarcastic jokes with our photos at the end she gave us a letter saying that in this moment they cannot have a final decision ( Administrative Process ). My wife asked "so what is next it means  we are going to wait a lot ?" and she answered No i usually answer my cases fast. it was a friday and we were so sad, like what else? if we are in a real marriage what else we can show? later in the waiting room i could see several couples sad after the interview.

This monday doing a very big effort i went to my job and at11am i received a text saying that my petition was approved and more messages and text and emails. At the end of the day the last message was saying that the card was ordered. I couldn't believe, my wife called USCIS and they confirmed the decision.  this week i received a welcome letter, and the green card. that is why i want to know if they gave you a letter?

 

As far as i could understand your message you were not denied. Is this correct?

 

[TBoneTX 45,299]

12 hours ago, catdog514 said:

1.  she dropped the aggressive attitude a little bit and told us that she was a senior employee there that doesn't normally do interviews anymore but that day 5 people had called in sick and so she was really busy and would look over our case in between the rest of her work.

 

2.  She said she might just approve it

1.  This is the heart of the matter, surely.

2.  This is what to focus on.

[hitexuga 48]

Hi there,

 

I don't have much to add in terms of advice, but I do think that you shouldn't blame yourself! This whole process is already so stressful as it is, let alone when you're being grilled by a stern officer about your past life...I think you should have a clean consience ...

 

I really hope things turn out well for you! The only small thing I was gonna suggest is maybe you could proactively gather documents to prove your past marriages ended and that your new marriage is legit, just in case they ask for more proof then you already are more prepared to submit it quickly... but I honestly have no experience with this type of situation so feel free to ignore! 

[Dashinka 24,505]

Like everyone else I am sorry you had to endure this, but there are some bright spots.  As you said the IO seemed to soften a bit when looking at the pictures and she did state she had to review this with her supervisor which is a very common response that many receive during an AOS interview.  Our interview was similar although I don't remember the IO questioning me much.  In our case we got the form at the end and the response that she had to review it with her supervisor.  My wife was approved a couple days later.  

 

Keep thinking good thoughts and check your status in a day or so, and hopefully everything will be fine.  Beyond that, as others have suggested, start preparing for a potential Stokes interview by getting to know each other even more than you already do.  There are resources online that show potential questions that may be asked during a Stokes so you may want to start there.  I agree with others that I don't believe a lawyer is necessary at this point.

 

Good Luck and keep us informed.

[Shanny89 1]

Sorry for that negative experience you have. Just think positive and be patient (being patient is probably the most nerve racking point), them telling you that you will get a decision they made in the mail is pretty normal. I assume its something they have to say based on the books. A Lot of these USCIS agents lose themselves in these interviews and may get distracted into believing their job is to intimidate the couple instead of getting to know about and understand the nature of the relationship. The only thing i wished you did was not hold anything back and memorize your dates THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, however it's a little too late for "should haves" and "could haves" at this point like i mentioned earlier, think positive and be patient. Sometimes things aren't always as bad as they may have seemed. 

 

Good luck and please keep up updated...

[xillini 71]

I am so sorry for bad experience. I do hope the best luck for your results and keep us updated. 

 

Just one thing to inform you is when your AOS is successfully completed, as a USCS you do have every right to write the formal complaints letter addressing your concerns, experiences, and opinions to your House Representative or Senate. Although your voice may not really change USCIS's practice of aggressively vetting immigration cases, it may be used against USCIS in the long term. But again, only after your AOS is successfully completed, I would recommend do this. 

 

Again best luck and please keep us updated!

[TBoneTX 45,299]

Thread is moved from the main "AOS from K1/K3" forum to the Case Progress subforum.

[catdog514 34]

Wow, thank you all so much for being so kind and encouraging. And for reading my long freakout of a post in the first place! I am feeling so much better today even though we are still waiting to hear anything, and I really have all of you lovely individuals to thank for that, you've helped put me at ease.

 

To answer some questions, we were not told we were denied even though I felt like she was implying that until she seemed to flip a switch towards the end. Honestly, the whole experience could be summed up like this:

IO: Sit down and shut up! I think you're a terrible person and I'm going to make it difficult for you to defend your very personal/painful life history. Don't touch each other and don't show me your photos or talk about your relationship, that's gross. I'm thinking it's a no....

us: whaaaaa...??

IO: Fine, show me those photos. flip flip flip, sigh. Alright look I'm angry and busy, I might just say yes get out of here I don't have time for this.

 

She did not give us a letter or form or anything, and at the time I could not wait to get away from her. I do wish I had said more, but done is done for now. Thanks for the compassion and level-headedness guys.

 

I am probably going to try to tune out and put my mind elsewhere for a while, to avoid obsessing too much when I just need to be patient. I'll definitely report back when I hear anything. Best of luck to everyone going through this crazy stuff!

[catdog514 34]

Well, I am feeling a little silly right now. But also ecstatic because I just got a notification from the app saying that the card has been ordered!!! 

 

Thank you all again!! That was resolved so quickly, I almost don't believe it.

 

Anyway, I'm glad I posted this, for future folks who might stumble upon it. My advice is be confident and prepared for your interview, but do not expect the interview to be easy just because you are in love and feel your case looks fine. Be prepared to have to talk about difficult personal issues that you might feel shouldn't have anything to do with your marriage. Try not to take rudeness or aggression personally and if your IO is making you uncomfortable, just breathe, try to stay calm and present, and remember that it is only a tactic. Cheers everyone, I wish you all success and happiness. 

[geowrian 22,337]

Congrats!!!!

[mcs 686]

16 minutes ago, catdog514 said:

Well, I am feeling a little silly right now. But also ecstatic because I just got a notification from the app saying that the card has been ordered!!! 

 

Thank you all again!! That was resolved so quickly, I almost don't believe it.

 

Anyway, I'm glad I posted this, for future folks who might stumble upon it. My advice is be confident and prepared for your interview, but do not expect the interview to be easy just because you are in love and feel your case looks fine. Be prepared to have to talk about difficult personal issues that you might feel shouldn't have anything to do with your marriage. Try not to take rudeness or aggression personally and if your IO is making you uncomfortable, just breathe, try to stay calm and present, and remember that it is only a tactic. Cheers everyone, I wish you all success and happiness. 

Congratulations!!! So glad that your awful ordeal had a happy ending. 

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Congratulations !

[Suudsu 66]

Hooray, that's great news!