Minneapolis-St. Paul MN Office AOS Filers

[elmers 293]

Guys, we got on spot approval today!! No written proof was given, just verbal. my.uscis.gov is still stuck at interview was scheduled whereas egov.uscis.gov says new card is being produced.

 

Our appointment was in the afternoon. We got there about 40 minutes earlier and parked in their underground garage - costs $18 btw. We went through security (you can bring water but no food I believe) and checked in at the front. They have a nice and large waiting area facing west. We got called in 5 min after our appointment time by what appeared to be a stern dude. We followed him to an office where we were sworn in first. He asked my wife (USC petitioner) her name, birth day & place, address, who she lives with (she said elmers, my husband - & he laughed), my name, my birth day & place, if I had any immigration proceedings against me (she said no), if she works now & where, and if we have any kids (we said no). Then he asked me my name and bunch of questions from I-485 like if I was in a communist party or if I'd do terrorism here or if I've voted or have claimed to be US citizen, etc. As he was asking these questions, he himself knew how dumb the questions were so all in all, he turned out to be a chill dude. Then he asked my wife what was our story - she explained how we met for barely a minute and that was it! He did not go through our 7 lb binder full of documents and did not ask to see any updated information. He said he was approving our case and that the card should be mailed within 2 weeks from some facility in TN. The whole "interview" lasted maybe 6-7 min. Our IO dude told us that they do not provide printed proof anymore unless they either need more time or they deny the case. 

 

We prepared a lot and I was a bit nervous/stressed tbh but we were relieved when he said "I am clicking yes on your case" and he did right in front of us. Overall, it was a great experience for us and we were glad to have been assigned to this nice IO. In our experience, he and everyone else we encountered in that building, were very nice and just doing their jobs. You all will be fine. Good luck to everyone!!

[pamawemo 78]

Congratulations! That's awesome. Glad things went smoothly for you.

[elmers 293]

8 hours ago, pamawemo said:

Congratulations! That's awesome. Glad things went smoothly for you.

Thank you.😊 MSP office is slow but has nice people working there!

[Colorred 30]

11 hours ago, elmers said:

Guys, we got on spot approval today!! 

Congratulations!! Thank you for adding details in your post, helps a lot. Hope your card arrives sooner than the 2 weeks. 

I just got my interview notice so starting our preparations. We frontloaded the application packet so not sure whether to bring same things again or new supporting docs since last year or both? But I’d rather be prepared like you did and have the officer not ask for it than leave anything at home. 

 

Congrats again.

[elmers 293]

18 minutes ago, Colorred said:

We frontloaded the application packet so not sure whether to bring same things again or new supporting docs since last year or both? But I’d rather be prepared like you did and have the officer not ask for it than leave anything at home.

Thank you! And I agree: better to be over-prepared and take more evidence than not. We too had frontloaded our applications yet printed pretty much everything we had sent so that we would be ready to produce any document, old or new. We took with us any new documents we had acquired in the past year (name changes, new passports and licenses, new tax transcripts with joint return, joint bank accounts, etc etc) and took two binders - one with copies and one with original. Our IO did not ask for anything but we probably got lucky to have such a short, easy interview!

[pamawemo 78]

3 minutes ago, elmers said:

Thank you! And I agree: better to be over-prepared and take more evidence than not. We too had frontloaded our applications yet printed pretty much everything we had sent so that we would be ready to produce any document, old or new. We took with us any new documents we had acquired in the past year (name changes, new passports and licenses, new tax transcripts with joint return, joint bank accounts, etc etc) and took two binders - one with copies and one with original. Our IO did not ask for anything but we probably got lucky to have such a short, easy interview!

I'm curious what people used to "front-load" your AOS application. What did you submit above and beyond the list of requirements? Thanks.

[payxibka 10,045]

40 minutes ago, pamawemo said:

I'm curious what people used to "front-load" your AOS application. What did you submit above and beyond the list of requirements? Thanks.

Joint accounts,  comingling of assets, joint purchases,  etc.

[pamawemo 78]

6 hours ago, payxibka said:

Joint accounts,  comingling of assets, joint purchases,  etc.

OK, thanks; we didn't include anything of that nature with our application but will have a file of documentation that demonstrates our bona fide marriage when we attend our interview.

 

Did you guys ever attempt the DVS for your wife's driving permit?

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, pamawemo said:

OK, thanks; we didn't include anything of that nature with our application but will have a file of documentation that demonstrates our bona fide marriage when we attend our interview.

 

Did you guys ever attempt the DVS for your wife's driving permit?

No.  We still have ssn issues,  biometrics issues (lack of appointment).  Haven't focused on this much 

[JosephRose 82]

Hello everyone! Did my interview on July 11 and got approved the next day. Good luck to all.

[JosephRose 82]

By the way, here our the evidence of our relationship we brought on interview..

 

*Joint Filed Income Tax Return

*My Fidelity 401K account that shows I’m married to my husband and listed him and our son as beneficiaries 

*Monthly lease for the apartment we live in that has both our names and signatures 

*Amazon Prime Household Account that has both our names.

*Copy of our Report of Marriage 

*Photocopy of my new Passport Bio Page that is already under my married name

*Photo Album (I would suggest you print big photos, mine was all minis that’s why IO did not add them to the file but just took a very close look of them.)

 

I was worried because we did not have joint bank account, and health insurance but it all turned well. Now anxiously waiting for my GC to arrive in the mail, I keep checking the mail. How long do you think it will arrive from the day of approval?

[JosephRose 82]

Just now, JosephRose said:

By the way, here our the evidence of our relationship we brought on interview..

 

*Joint Filed Income Tax Return

*My Fidelity 401K account that shows I’m married to my husband and listed him and our son as beneficiaries 

*Monthly lease for the apartment we live in that has both our names and signatures 

*Amazon Prime Household Account that has both our names.

*Copy of our Report of Marriage 

*Photocopy of my new Passport Bio Page that is already under my married name

*Photo Album (I would suggest you print big photos, mine was all minis that’s why IO did not add them to the file but just took a very close look of them.)

 

I was worried because we did not have joint bank account, and health insurance but it all turned well. Now anxiously waiting for my GC to arrive in the mail, I keep checking the mail. How long do you think it will arrive from the day of approval?

Oh I also forgot to mention, text messages together.. 

[elmers 293]

5 minutes ago, JosephRose said:

I was worried because we did not have joint bank account, and health insurance but it all turned well. Now anxiously waiting for my GC to arrive in the mail, I keep checking the mail. How long do you think it will arrive from the day of approval?

Hey, congrats! We got on spot approval also on the 11th and the card arrived at St. Paul USPS this morning. Tracking says it will be delivered tomorrow. So, about a week.

[JosephRose 82]

2 minutes ago, elmers said:

Hey, congrats! We got on spot approval also on the 11th and the card arrived at St. Paul USPS this morning. Tracking says it will be delivered tomorrow. So, about a week.

Wow.. congratulations to you as well.. how did you manage to get tracking?

[elmers 293]

6 minutes ago, JosephRose said:

Wow.. congratulations to you as well.. how did you manage to get tracking?

USPS informed delivery! Free to sign up but may take 1-2 days before you see what mails are coming to you.