We got approved!!

[Silke 1]

Today was the big day. We had our AOS interview in SF! We got up extra early (5:30am) and left the apartment at 7:00am to give us plenty of time to get to our interview scheduled for 10:30am. We got into the city around 8:15am and parked at the Portsmouth parking garage which was only about three blocks from the Immigration Building. After we arrived, we went to take a look at the building, then spent time waiting for our interview in the lounge of the nearby Hilton hotel. We arrived at the front door of the Immigration Building around 9:30am (1 hour before scheduled). However, they did not let us in and told us to wait until 30 minutes before our scheduled time. Around 9:50am, the 10:30am and earlier group was called in. We knew about the security restrictions and therefore left everything nonessential in the car or at home. My husband brought his watch, keys, wallet and three photo albums, and two folders showing proof of our relationship. I did not bring my purse (although others did and got in without problems), but brought my wallet and one additional album. I wore a polo shirt and slacks along with a blazer, my husband wore a button up shirt and slacks. The attire of those we saw in the waiting room ranged from full business suits to jeans and t-shirts. About half of the couples we saw were accompanied by their lawyers. Even though our interview was scheduled for 10:30am, we did not get our names called until 11:15am. During our wait we saw numerous couples go in and out. Most were pretty emotionless as they walked out of the interview room, so it was hard to tell if they got approved or not. We were welcomed into the interview suite (I say suite because there was a central room with 3-4 separate interview rooms attached) by a nice male officer. We were taken to his office and were immediately sworn it. The atmosphere was relaxed and the officer apologized for making us wait. He then asked us to provide as many items as we could from a list which was taped to the side of his computer monitor. From the top of my head, these included: DL, Passport, EAD, SS cards, current employer letter, 2006 tax documents. He said not to worry if we did not have everything, just to give him what we had. After this, he flipped through our I-485 and confirmed that everything was correct. Specific questions he asked me were to state my full name as well as my maiden name. State my full address and phone number. He also asked for our cellular numbers, we gave him my husband’s. He asked me for my birthday as well as my husband’s birthday. Next, the ‘no questions’ were asked (Have you ever been arrested? Have you ever applied for a Green Card? etc). Then the IO showed us the marked copy of our I-485, pointed to the section for Alien Number (which had been crossed out and replaced by a new number) and said “This is going to be your Green Card number”. Right then and there, not more than 5 minutes into our interview, we knew we had been approved. He stamped some papers and had me sign a document. He then asked my husband where we had met and how long we had been living together. He also asked him when he had proposed and where we had been married. He turned to me next and asked who had attended our wedding and who the witnesses had been, and if we had had a reception afterwards. Satisfied with my answers, he asked to see all the documents we brought showing joint holdings. We gave him utility, phone and internet bills, our employer letter showing I was the beneficiary to my husband’s 401K and medical insurance (along with the actual insurance cards), and bank statements. He just glanced over these documents and filed them away. We then showed him our four photo albums. He took some time looking at them and made some nice comments. We narrated him through each of the albums and he seemed to have a good time looking at them. He next stated that my name check had already been completed and that he was approving us today. He then explained about the removal of conditions process and congratulated us. That was it. The interview only lasted a total of 15 minutes. I didn’t get my passport stamped, although if we had had plans to travel outside the country in the next couple of weeks, he would have accommodated us.

Thank you all for your support and the vast amount of knowledge posted on the VJ forums. Without it all, we would have not been so well off. Good luck to all those with upcoming interviews, you will all do fine. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me and I will answer them the best I can.

[~*Maria*~ 1]

Congratulations :dance:

[sunandmoon 450]

Congrats. enjoy your two year vacation from USCIS. thanks for posting your interview experience. we'll be having our interview next month in San Francisco.

[MsAM 2]

herzlichen glueckwunsch!!!

[Cécy 44]

Congratulations and thank you for the detailed post!

The more I read about interviews by VJ members the better I feel about it. We're even joking with my husband on what silly questions they might ask.

[~krakatoa~ 27]

Dear Silke,

Yay, congrats! I know I've been saying this for the nth time, just that I'm very happy for you & husband Mark! Enjoy and celebrate, watch out for that touch and welcome notice update in your portfolio!

I'm glad we have supported each other throughout this journey!

**hugs**

M.

[Leney 0]

I'm very happy for you!

[Peggy 1]

Congrats

[Gomez 3]

Congatulations!!!

[arch and cel 0]

Today was the big day. We had our AOS interview in SF! We got up extra early (5:30am) and left the apartment at 7:00am to give us plenty of time to get to our interview scheduled for 10:30am. We got into the city around 8:15am and parked at the Portsmouth parking garage which was only about three blocks from the Immigration Building. After we arrived, we went to take a look at the building, then spent time waiting for our interview in the lounge of the nearby Hilton hotel. We arrived at the front door of the Immigration Building around 9:30am (1 hour before scheduled). However, they did not let us in and told us to wait until 30 minutes before our scheduled time. Around 9:50am, the 10:30am and earlier group was called in. We knew about the security restrictions and therefore left everything nonessential in the car or at home. My husband brought his watch, keys, wallet and three photo albums, and two folders showing proof of our relationship. I did not bring my purse (although others did and got in without problems), but brought my wallet and one additional album. I wore a polo shirt and slacks along with a blazer, my husband wore a button up shirt and slacks. The attire of those we saw in the waiting room ranged from full business suits to jeans and t-shirts. About half of the couples we saw were accompanied by their lawyers. Even though our interview was scheduled for 10:30am, we did not get our names called until 11:15am. During our wait we saw numerous couples go in and out. Most were pretty emotionless as they walked out of the interview room, so it was hard to tell if they got approved or not. We were welcomed into the interview suite (I say suite because there was a central room with 3-4 separate interview rooms attached) by a nice male officer. We were taken to his office and were immediately sworn it. The atmosphere was relaxed and the officer apologized for making us wait. He then asked us to provide as many items as we could from a list which was taped to the side of his computer monitor. From the top of my head, these included: DL, Passport, EAD, SS cards, current employer letter, 2006 tax documents. He said not to worry if we did not have everything, just to give him what we had. After this, he flipped through our I-485 and confirmed that everything was correct. Specific questions he asked me were to state my full name as well as my maiden name. State my full address and phone number. He also asked for our cellular numbers, we gave him my husband’s. He asked me for my birthday as well as my husband’s birthday. Next, the ‘no questions’ were asked (Have you ever been arrested? Have you ever applied for a Green Card? etc). Then the IO showed us the marked copy of our I-485, pointed to the section for Alien Number (which had been crossed out and replaced by a new number) and said “This is going to be your Green Card number”. Right then and there, not more than 5 minutes into our interview, we knew we had been approved. He stamped some papers and had me sign a document. He then asked my husband where we had met and how long we had been living together. He also asked him when he had proposed and where we had been married. He turned to me next and asked who had attended our wedding and who the witnesses had been, and if we had had a reception afterwards. Satisfied with my answers, he asked to see all the documents we brought showing joint holdings. We gave him utility, phone and internet bills, our employer letter showing I was the beneficiary to my husband’s 401K and medical insurance (along with the actual insurance cards), and bank statements. He just glanced over these documents and filed them away. We then showed him our four photo albums. He took some time looking at them and made some nice comments. We narrated him through each of the albums and he seemed to have a good time looking at them. He next stated that my name check had already been completed and that he was approving us today. He then explained about the removal of conditions process and congratulated us. That was it. The interview only lasted a total of 15 minutes. I didn’t get my passport stamped, although if we had had plans to travel outside the country in the next couple of weeks, he would have accommodated us.

Thank you all for your support and the vast amount of knowledge posted on the VJ forums. Without it all, we would have not been so well off. Good luck to all those with upcoming interviews, you will all do fine. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me and I will answer them the best I can.

Congratulations Silke were so happy for you!

And good luck to all those with upcoming interview including me.

[RosaMystica7 0]

Congrats!

[Mephys 2]

Congratulations!!!!

[JessiPooh 0]

CONGRATS!!!!!

[TracyLuis 0]

Wonderful news to hear!!!

[archie07 0]

CONGRATULATIONS