Rescheduling of (Initial) AOS Interview

[Team J and B 2]

We sent in our AOS package (I-864, I-765, I-131, I-485) on June 5, 2008.

I've had one RFE for the I-693 in July during that time, and no touches on any of case types since then.

Our EAD and AP were approved near the end of August.

I've had to reschedule my biometrics once (no problem with that).

Today I received our "Request for Applicant to Appear for Initial Interview." It is for mid-November. I would very much like to reschedule it for December 2008. However, I did a search and did not receive many hits for rescheduling of AOS interviews, some say doing so can likely cause denial?

I need some advice, please. If we could reschedule for a month later it would be wonderful, so my husband would not have to fly six hours to attend the interview and fly six hours back, as he's working on a big project on the east coast. He is on an extremely tight deadline for the month of November and will not be in the west where we are. But if you all think we should keep the given appointment date, he will need to fly here, attend, then fly out a few hours later.

Also, I have a trip five-day trip planned for Canada two days later. If I request to reschedule the interview, does that affect my AP?

It does say on the appointment letter: If an emergency, such as your own illness or a close relative's hospitalization, prevents you from appearing, call the USCIS [asap]. Neither of us nor any close relative of ours is deathly ill. Is illness the ONLY reason they will accept to reschedule the interview?

Thank you for reading,

J of Team J and B

Edited October 22, 2008 by Team J and B

[Heliosphan 1]

To be frank: They don't really care how much of an inconvenience this interview is to your lives. It's up to you to show up.

Extreme circumstances need to be backed up by some kind of evidence. So not to be mean, but go to the interview and don't reschedule unless it's something extreme.

[TayRivers 4]

Go to the interview, no matter how hard it is to get there. I know a couple who tried to reschedule their interview because it was on his wife's due date for having their baby. They called the 1-800 help line and explained, they were told they would hear something soon. Well 4 weeks later they get a letter telling them their AOS has been denied for failing to attend their interview. It took then another 8 months to get it all sorted out and $$$$'s in lawyer fees and fees for the motion to re-open. When they eventually attended their interview the IO told them that an interview will only be rescheduled if it is a life or death situation and supporting evidence is brought to the interviewing office.

Also if you plan on traveling to Canada within a few weeks of your interview you will need to take evidence of your travel so that if you are approved at your interview you can request a I-551 stamp in your passport incase your Greencard does not arrive in time.

[Carlawarla 1]

Given your circumstances, it might be really inconvenient for your husband to come to the interview, but from what I've seen here on VJ, you really have little choice. As an earlier poster said, they really don't care if it's "inconvenient" for you. Sorry. There have been a few people that wanted to reschedule, have got an INFOPASS appointment, thought it was rescheduled, didn't show up for the original interview and then were sent a denial letter. They had a huge mess on their hands because my understanding, unless someone can correct me, is that the denial of AOS is NOT appealable.

[Team J and B 2]

We will be attending the interview on the given date. Thanks to those who confirmed my query.

Go to the interview, no matter how hard it is to get there. I know a couple who tried to reschedule their interview because it was on his wife's due date for having their baby. They called the 1-800 help line and explained, they were told they would hear something soon. Well 4 weeks later they get a letter telling them their AOS has been denied for failing to attend their interview. It took then another 8 months to get it all sorted out and $$$$'s in lawyer fees and fees for the motion to re-open. When they eventually attended their interview the IO told them that an interview will only be rescheduled if it is a life or death situation and supporting evidence is brought to the interviewing office.

Also if you plan on traveling to Canada within a few weeks of your interview you will need to take evidence of your travel so that if you are approved at your interview you can request a I-551 stamp in your passport incase your Greencard does not arrive in time.

TayRivers: I did not know about needing an I-551 stamp in my passport to travel outside of the USA. I thought once I had received AP, I could travel anywhere I wanted outside of the USA for short trips, as long as I brought my AP papers and any supporting documents that prove I was in AOS with me. Had you not told me about asking for the I-551 stamp, I wouldn't have known that.

On a side note, if I attended the interview and then traveled to Canada two days later (without telling the interviewer I had planned to travel in the next couple of days), would I have faced any problems reentering the USA? Also, does the interview affect my travel plan two days later at all, ie. is my five-day trip put on hold now? The only thing I can think of that would affect my trip is if they request any further documents and I need to submit them before traveling.

[TayRivers 4]

B)-->

QUOTE(Team J and B @ Oct 22 2008, 11:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We will be attending the interview on the given date. Thanks to those who confirmed my query.

Go to the interview, no matter how hard it is to get there. I know a couple who tried to reschedule their interview because it was on his wife's due date for having their baby. They called the 1-800 help line and explained, they were told they would hear something soon. Well 4 weeks later they get a letter telling them their AOS has been denied for failing to attend their interview. It took then another 8 months to get it all sorted out and $$$$'s in lawyer fees and fees for the motion to re-open. When they eventually attended their interview the IO told them that an interview will only be rescheduled if it is a life or death situation and supporting evidence is brought to the interviewing office.

Also if you plan on traveling to Canada within a few weeks of your interview you will need to take evidence of your travel so that if you are approved at your interview you can request a I-551 stamp in your passport incase your Greencard does not arrive in time.

TayRivers: I did not know about needing an I-551 stamp in my passport to travel outside of the USA. I thought once I had received AP, I could travel anywhere I wanted outside of the USA for short trips, as long as I brought my AP papers and any supporting documents that prove I was in AOS with me. Had you not told me about asking for the I-551 stamp, I wouldn't have known that.

On a side note, if I attended the interview and then traveled to Canada two days later (without telling the interviewer I had planned to travel in the next couple of days), would I have faced any problems reentering the USA? Also, does the interview affect my travel plan two days later at all, ie. is my five-day trip put on hold now? The only thing I can think of that would affect my trip is if they request any further documents and I need to submit them before traveling.

If you are approved at your interview then your AP will be taken from you as it is void as soon as the approval is entered into the system, that is why you need either a greencard or a I-551 stamp in your passport, if you take evidence of your intended trip with you to the interview and you are approved ask for the Stamp as you will not have enough time to get the greencard.

If you are not approved then you will still have your AP and can use it on your trip.

[Team J and B 2]

Thank you for your succinct reply, TayRivers. Exactly what I need to know. So if approved, I either travel on AP or on I-551 stamp in passport; and if approved on that day, my travel plan is safe.

If worse comes to worst, I get denied AOS, I guess my travel plan will be for a one-way ticket to Canada and deportation will start immediately.

Approval or denial, I get to go to Canada in mid-November.

[Carlawarla 1]

I was one of the people who had a choice about whether to apply for EAD and AP at the same time as AOS...back in the old days. Anyway...I didn't apply for AP. At my interview, I was given a stamp in my passport after the AO asked if I'd been back to Canada etc. I said no, she said..well, in case you want to go back before you get your GC, here. She stamped my passport and initialed it and put a date on it for one year expiry. I got my GC about a week later, but I was thankful, given I might have to wait awhile for my GC. I have read on here more times than not however, that offices are not routinely, and some offices have STOPPED this practice.

Personally, in my opinion, I'd post a new thread asking who was given a stamp at YOUR local office. Hopefully there are people here on VJ that can respond specifically to YOUR office. IF they're not giving it at your office, and again, the stamps are now only given at few offices, and are far and few between, you might want to rethink your travel plans. Or, you might want to make an INFOPASS appointment and ask them about this. Maybe they don't have to take your AP papers from you at the interview. That would be a good thing to know so that you can use them to cross the border. Maybe you can find out at an INFOPASS appointment if they DO give out stamps at that specific office.

I would leave little to chance. Find out asap so that your travel plans aren't disrupted. Please let us know what you find out if you decide to go for an INFOPASS appointment. It would be good information for others.

Best of luck!

[cdn_in_wa 1]

B)-->

QUOTE(Team J and B @ Oct 22 2008, 09:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thank you for your succinct reply, TayRivers. Exactly what I need to know. So if approved, I either travel on AP or on I-551 stamp in passport; and if approved on that day, my travel plan is safe.

If worse comes to worst, I get denied AOS, I guess my travel plan will be for a one-way ticket to Canada and deportation will start immediately.

Approval or denial, I get to go to Canada in mid-November.

If they don't approve you right away, you can still use your AP (if you have it and haven't overstayed before applying AOS). I asked this at our interview last week. We were told 'approved, pending review'. So I asked, 'can I go to Canada and if I do, can I use the AP or what should I do?' I was told that I could still use the AP, but as usual it is up to the CBP to let you back in or not.

Needless to say, I won't be going to Canada unless something urgent comes up.

[Team J and B 2]

Thanks for the heads up, Carlawarla. I will make it known to the interviewer my plan to fly to Canada in the next two days.

My interview is at the SF office at 630 Sansome Street in downtown SF. I'll post here to let others know who my interviewer was (if I remember) and whether my AP papers were taken from me or given an I-551 stamp.

Hope I don't get any grief from them.

[Team J and B 2]

Thank you for the post, cdn_in_wa! That's really great info to know! I'm going to print out this whole thread before my interview. I've got a serious case of pregnancy brain, I am so forgetful that I have to write everything down and there are stickies all over my work space.

[Team J and B 2]

...Personally, in my opinion, I'd post a new thread asking who was given a stamp at YOUR local office. Hopefully there are people here on VJ that can respond specifically to YOUR office. IF they're not giving it at your office, and again, the stamps are now only given at few offices, and are far and few between, you might want to rethink your travel plans. Or, you might want to make an INFOPASS appointment and ask them about this. Maybe they don't have to take your AP papers from you at the interview. That would be a good thing to know so that you can use them to cross the border. Maybe you can find out at an INFOPASS appointment if they DO give out stamps at that specific office.

I would leave little to chance. Find out asap so that your travel plans aren't disrupted. Please let us know what you find out if you decide to go for an INFOPASS appointment. It would be good information for others.

Best of luck!

In reference to the above suggestion from Carlawarla, see below.

Our interviewer was Officer R. P*wley in the San Francisco office (I'll leave it up to you to figure it out). He did give me a stamp in my passport that was valid for three months of crossing the USA border (only three months as the two-year GC should be received way before the three months is up).

If you plan to travel within the next three months of your AOS interview, I highly urge you to let your interviewer know so s/he can stamp your passport for reentry permit.

Some fyi for the San Francisco office to keep your interview simple and sweet:

There are washrooms in the waiting area. Don't touch the American flag in the waiting area. Don't blab about nothing. Less is more. Dress presentably. Don't wear lowriding jeans and a midriff-baring top even if you got the body. Have all IDs and appointment letter ready in your pocket upon entry to the building. Yes and no to direct questions will suffice. Best to keep all your paperwork, keys, wallet in a clear folder so security and interviewer can see. Lastly, photocopy everything, even those bank/deed/car/utilities statements because they will take the original if you don't have copies.

I don't know why people get nervous about these interviews. There is no need to be. And don't try to make chit chat with the interviewer. We didn't say one word on our walk to the interview room. Afterward just say thank you, shake hands, and leave. One thing I disliked about interviewing is the interviewee making nervous chit chat and trying too hard to impress. No need to impress here - they know everything about you anyway!

Hope this helps. Relax! It's a breeze.

J of Team J and B

Edited November 12, 2008 by Team J and B

[Renee1997 0]

Hey you guys...

When did you requested for rescheduling your interview? Did you do it right away when you got notice? I just called uscis and they said it is fine, they took my request and were super nice. I called on a same day I got that notice. Hopefully I will get it. I planned trip to Poland long time ago. I am going for my friend's wedding. I already bought plane ticket. People at uscis were very nice over the phone...

...Personally, in my opinion, I'd post a new thread asking who was given a stamp at YOUR local office. Hopefully there are people here on VJ that can respond specifically to YOUR office. IF they're not giving it at your office, and again, the stamps are now only given at few offices, and are far and few between, you might want to rethink your travel plans. Or, you might want to make an INFOPASS appointment and ask them about this. Maybe they don't have to take your AP papers from you at the interview. That would be a good thing to know so that you can use them to cross the border. Maybe you can find out at an INFOPASS appointment if they DO give out stamps at that specific office.

I would leave little to chance. Find out asap so that your travel plans aren't disrupted. Please let us know what you find out if you decide to go for an INFOPASS appointment. It would be good information for others.

Best of luck!

In reference to the above suggestion from Carlawarla, see below.

Our interviewer was Officer R. P*wley in the San Francisco office (I'll leave it up to you to figure it out). He did give me a stamp in my passport that was valid for three months of crossing the USA border (only three months as the two-year GC should be received way before the three months is up).

If you plan to travel within the next three months of your AOS interview, I highly urge you to let your interviewer know so s/he can stamp your passport for reentry permit.

Some fyi for the San Francisco office to keep your interview simple and sweet:

There are washrooms in the waiting area. Don't touch the American flag in the waiting area. Don't blab about nothing. Less is more. Dress presentably. Don't wear lowriding jeans and a midriff-baring top even if you got the body. Have all IDs and appointment letter ready in your pocket upon entry to the building. Yes and no to direct questions will suffice. Best to keep all your paperwork, keys, wallet in a clear folder so security and interviewer can see. Lastly, photocopy everything, even those bank/deed/car/utilities statements because they will take the original if you don't have copies.

I don't know why people get nervous about these interviews. There is no need to be. And don't try to make chit chat with the interviewer. We didn't say one word on our walk to the interview room. Afterward just say thank you, shake hands, and leave. One thing I disliked about interviewing is the interviewee making nervous chit chat and trying too hard to impress. No need to impress here - they know everything about you anyway!

Hope this helps. Relax! It's a breeze.

J of Team J and B