Interviewing post covid

[Travel619 0]

Has anyone has their gc spousal interview since the reopening? Is it still face to face? I read that someone did it through a tablet? Not sure if that meant zoom ?

[geowrian 22,338]

Not Zoom, or another typical conference/video call suite.

There is/was a pilot program that USCIS was trying out where you did the interview via a video conference. But it is all within the USCIS Field Office still, not online. It's just not physically face to face.

Edited August 19, 2020 by geowrian

[Travel619 0]

14 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Not Zoom, or another typical conference/video call suite.

There is/was a pilot program that USCIS was trying out where you did the interview via a video conference. But it is all within the USCIS Field Office still, not online. It's just not physically face to face.

Oh really? Are they still doing that? So u go in, get sworn in and show your photos etc to a computer ? 

[geowrian 22,338]

5 minutes ago, Travel619 said:

Oh really? Are they still doing that? So u go in, get sworn in and show your photos etc to a computer ? 

It's hard to say. I only saw a few reports from people months ago and nothing more recent.

[Travel619 0]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

It's hard to say. I only saw a few reports from people months ago and nothing more recent.

Btw since you've probably seen a lot of couples come through here, do you know what are the reasons a gc can be denied even if married to usc? I know some things can be forgiven so what are the reasons a couple can be denied if they can pass the bonafide part?

[geowrian 22,338]

5 minutes ago, Travel619 said:

Btw since you've probably seen a lot of couples come through here, do you know what are the reasons a gc can be denied even if married to usc? I know some things can be forgiven so what are the reasons a couple can be denied if they can pass the bonafide part?

There's lots of possible reasons, although typically one knows if they may have an issue or not. The most common ones tend to be:

Bona fide marriage

Public charge

Criminal grounds

Health/Medical (transmissible disease, harm to oneself or others, vaccinations, etc.)

Misrepresentation/Fraud

Unlawful entry

False claim to US citizenship

National security

[Travel619 0]

3 minutes ago, geowrian said:

There's lots of possible reasons, although typically one knows if they may have an issue or not. The most common ones tend to be:

Bona fide marriage

Public charge

Criminal grounds

Health/Medical (transmissible disease, harm to oneself or others, vaccinations, etc.)

Misrepresentation/Fraud

Unlawful entry

False claim to US citizenship

National security

What's misrepresent /fraud ? Like straight up lying on application?

 

when would one have the opportunity to claim us citizenship?

 

[geowrian 22,338]

19 minutes ago, Travel619 said:

What's misrepresent /fraud ? Like straight up lying on application?

 

when would one have the opportunity to claim us citizenship?

A material misrepresentation is a false statement (in person or on a form) that was willful and material.

So it's basically a lie to an immigration official, or otherwise false information used to procure a benefit. This could be on the visa application, at the interview, in any documents presented to get the visa, anything said to CBP upon entry, anything in the AOS interview, etc.

A lie here means you reasonably knew or should have known it was false. Material refers to impacting one's eligibility for the benefit being requested. A lie about the weather very likely isn't material. A lie about criminal offenses very well could be material. A falsified required document almost certainly would be misrepresentation or fraud.

The USCIS Policy manual has a section on misrepresentation and fraud if you wan to read more.

 

Some common examples:

Fake or stolen US passport

Voting or (intentionally) registering to vote

marking that you are a USC on the I-9 (the form used to verify work authorization), or even a job application could qualify.

[Scandi 4,181]

It's been fairly common to do interviews via a tablet now after covid-19, but I have only seen citizenship interviews being conducted this way. Several such cases in the citizenship groups on facebook for instance. It also differs between field offices.

 

Like Geo said, you still have to go to your field office and wear a mask when you meet with the IO. Once it's time for the actual test the IO leaves the room and you two communicate via a tablet. Seems like they do it this way mainly so you (and the IO) are able to take the mask off during the test, as they will hear you better and it'll be easier for both of you to communicate. 

Edited August 19, 2020 by Scandi

[Callistora 6]

13 hours ago, geowrian said:

It's hard to say. I only saw a few reports from people months ago and nothing more recent.

I just did a marriage interview (AoS from B2 for my Canadian husband) 5 days ago.  It was on a tablet. We were sworn in on the tablet, showed all documents through the tablet and any documents we submitted we put into a folder that was placed on a 72 hour hold before reaching our IO.  I assume our IO was in the office somewhere else although there were almost no cars in the parking lot.  Only people we saw was security and a front desk person.

 

We've not yet heard back though 😢.  Our IO wouldn't be able to touch our documents/medical exam until yesterday.  Hoping they aren't too backed up and we hear soon.

Edited August 19, 2020 by Callistora

[SalishSea 18,161]

9 hours ago, Callistora said:

I just did a marriage interview (AoS from B2 for my Canadian husband) 5 days ago.  It was on a tablet. We were sworn in on the tablet, showed all documents through the tablet and any documents we submitted we put into a folder that was placed on a 72 hour hold before reaching our IO.  I assume our IO was in the office somewhere else although there were almost no cars in the parking lot.  Only people we saw was security and a front desk person.

 

We've not yet heard back though 😢.  Our IO wouldn't be able to touch our documents/medical exam until yesterday.  Hoping they aren't too backed up and we hear soon.

Don't worry if you don't hear back right after the 72 hours.  We didn't receive the "new card is being produced" message for a couple of weeks.  This was right at the start of Covid, and USCIS was as busy as ever.  

[Callistora 6]

10 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Don't worry if you don't hear back right after the 72 hours.  We didn't receive the "new card is being produced" message for a couple of weeks.  This was right at the start of Covid, and USCIS was as busy as ever.  

Yeah I'm assuming they are just backlogged, although I've been quite impressed with how quick the Raleigh office is. I just like to worry. I wish I had asked him if he thought we'd be approved but I didn't think it was appropriate and didn't want to offend him after having a good interview lol. I'm just hoping we hear back before the possible furloughs at the end of the month. Hopefully they delay them again or get whatever funding they need to keep working.

[SalishSea 18,161]

Just now, Callistora said:

Yeah I'm assuming they are just backlogged, although I've been quite impressed with how quick the Raleigh office is. I just like to worry. I wish I had asked him if he thought we'd be approved but I didn't think it was appropriate and didn't want to offend him after having a good interview lol. I'm just hoping we hear back before the possible furloughs at the end of the month. Hopefully they delay them again or get whatever funding they need to keep working.

Honestly, I don't believe the furloughs will happen.  In the 11th hour, the funds will be made available.  Look at previous, widespread government shut-downs as an example.

 

If furloughs are necessary, they will be temporary.  I would worry more for the visa petitions that are just arriving around that time.  You're very nearly done with the process until ROC.

[Callistora 6]

1 minute ago, Jorgedig said:

Honestly, I don't believe the furloughs will happen.  In the 11th hour, the funds will be made available.  Look at previous, widespread government shut-downs as an example.

 

If furloughs are necessary, they will be temporary.  I would worry more for the visa petitions that are just arriving around that time.  You're very nearly done with the process until ROC.

Well we should get a 10-year green card. Next month we will have been married for 4 years.  Then hopefully he can become a citizen in a few years.

[SalishSea 18,161]

1 minute ago, Callistora said:

Well we should get a 10-year green card. Next month we will have been married for 4 years.  Then hopefully he can become a citizen in a few years.

Even better!  Best wishes and please let us know what happens.