SECOND INTERVIEW

[junglejao 0]

My husband had his AOS interview on January 16, 2009. It was a very easy interview- we had a ton of evidence (most of which the woman didn't even look at) and were asked only very basic questions (name, address, SS number). The officer said everything looked fine on the surface for approval, but that she was still awaiting a couple of routine background checks. For some reason (I honestly believe we were just put on a shelf somehwere and forgotten), we've been waiting in limbo ever since. We have filed official inquiries, gone to several InfoPass appointments, etc., but we're always just told they are waiting on background checks. I contacted our Congresswoman's office a couple of weeks ago, and they inquired on our behalf with the same result.

Well, I just got a call from the officer who interviewed us. She left a message saying that several unsuccessful attempts had been made to contact us (which I found very surprising since we've had no previous messages, letters or e-mails). She said she'd like to interview us a second time. I immediately called back and told her I was very happy to hear from her. She said she thought it would be a good idea for us to meet for a second interview before moving forward with the case. I asked if she could tell me what had caused such a long delay, and she said that they have tried several times to come to our home! Now, I have to tell you that we have been totally prepared for this, and up until about month ago when I read some very compelling arguements against allowing them to enter, we were actually HOPING they would come. My husband and I have since discussed exactly what we would say if they showed up (we've been advised by a lawyer not to authorize entry into our home without a warrant), but the plan has always been to definitely open the door and aknowledge them so they could see that he is there in the house. I told the officer that I was very surprised to hear that they had visited our house as my husband is always at home. She asked if maybe he was afraid to answer the door?! What would he be afriad of??

We made an appointment for a follow-up interview next Thursday. She told me that the office had moved since our last interview- I asked if it was in the same place as the InfoPass appointments as we have been there several times over the past couple of months to inquire about the case- she said she had not been advised of those visits.

On one hand, I'm happy something is finally happening, but on the other hand I am EXTREMELY frustrated right now. I am completely stressed out trying to collect updated bills, statements, photos, etc. We were prepared the first time around, and becuase they didn't bother to complete the case, we now have to go back again with a cloud of doubt hanging over our heads. We're automatically at a disadvantage walking in there as she has some reason to think our relationship may be fraudulent. She doesn't remember that the first time around, it was so obviously NOT a fraud that she didn't bother to ask us anything more than just very basic questions or look at our photo albums. You can say that it should still be just as obvious, but it's nevertheless incredibly daunting.

If anyone has any advice or could tell us what to expect at this second interview, we'd be most grateful. Please cross your fingers for us!!

Thanks,

Jennifer

[trillium13 84]

I don't have personal experience with this, but generally it seems as though "second" interviews are more intensive. Usually a second interview is done when they have reason to believe that your relationship may not be genuine.

Go prepared to answer hard questions. I don't know if they will do what's called the "Stokes" interview, but I would be prepared. Bring all the evidence you've already brought and more to prove your relationship.

Good luck!

[TBoneTX 45,273]

Go prepared to answer hard questions. I don't know if they will do what's called the "Stokes" interview, but I would be prepared. Bring all the evidence you've already brought and more to prove your relationship.

Si, man. See the pinned thread in the "US Consulate" forum for a bit about the implications of Stokes interviews (si man, it's embassies, but the same principle). Also, your lawyer is correct: Do not permit any official, especially Federal agents, to come into your home without a warrant! Standard practice is either for the person who answers the door (it had better be you, the USC) to come outside to talk with them, closing the door behind you as you do so, or to talk with them through the closed door. Tell them politely yet firmly that correct protocol is to set an appointment to speak with you, just as you have been required to do throughout the entire legal-immigration process. Keep us posted, si man!

[Devkpaik 1]

My husband had his AOS interview on January 16, 2009. It was a very easy interview- we had a ton of evidence (most of which the woman didn't even look at) and were asked only very basic questions (name, address, SS number). The officer said everything looked fine on the surface for approval, but that she was still awaiting a couple of routine background checks. For some reason (I honestly believe we were just put on a shelf somehwere and forgotten), we've been waiting in limbo ever since. We have filed official inquiries, gone to several InfoPass appointments, etc., but we're always just told they are waiting on background checks. I contacted our Congresswoman's office a couple of weeks ago, and they inquired on our behalf with the same result.

Well, I just got a call from the officer who interviewed us. She left a message saying that several unsuccessful attempts had been made to contact us (which I found very surprising since we've had no previous messages, letters or e-mails). She said she'd like to interview us a second time. I immediately called back and told her I was very happy to hear from her. She said she thought it would be a good idea for us to meet for a second interview before moving forward with the case. I asked if she could tell me what had caused such a long delay, and she said that they have tried several times to come to our home! Now, I have to tell you that we have been totally prepared for this, and up until about month ago when I read some very compelling arguements against allowing them to enter, we were actually HOPING they would come. My husband and I have since discussed exactly what we would say if they showed up (we've been advised by a lawyer not to authorize entry into our home without a warrant), but the plan has always been to definitely open the door and aknowledge them so they could see that he is there in the house. I told the officer that I was very surprised to hear that they had visited our house as my husband is always at home. She asked if maybe he was afraid to answer the door?! What would he be afriad of??

We made an appointment for a follow-up interview next Thursday. She told me that the office had moved since our last interview- I asked if it was in the same place as the InfoPass appointments as we have been there several times over the past couple of months to inquire about the case- she said she had not been advised of those visits.

On one hand, I'm happy something is finally happening, but on the other hand I am EXTREMELY frustrated right now. I am completely stressed out trying to collect updated bills, statements, photos, etc. We were prepared the first time around, and becuase they didn't bother to complete the case, we now have to go back again with a cloud of doubt hanging over our heads. We're automatically at a disadvantage walking in there as she has some reason to think our relationship may be fraudulent. She doesn't remember that the first time around, it was so obviously NOT a fraud that she didn't bother to ask us anything more than just very basic questions or look at our photo albums. You can say that it should still be just as obvious, but it's nevertheless incredibly daunting.

If anyone has any advice or could tell us what to expect at this second interview, we'd be most grateful. Please cross your fingers for us!!

Thanks,

Jennifer

Just wanted to say I'm really sorry that this is happening to you guys. It's just another example of another incompetent person working in the system. Once again, I'm sorry to hear that's happened to you and I hope everything works out for you guys.

Just out of curiosity, you guys were really kept in limbo for 10 months? That's absolutely absurd. It's just wrong and disgusting.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My husband had his AOS interview on January 16, 2009. It was a very easy interview- we had a ton of evidence (most of which the woman didn't even look at) and were asked only very basic questions (name, address, SS number). The officer said everything looked fine on the surface for approval, but that she was still awaiting a couple of routine background checks. For some reason (I honestly believe we were just put on a shelf somehwere and forgotten), we've been waiting in limbo ever since. We have filed official inquiries, gone to several InfoPass appointments, etc., but we're always just told they are waiting on background checks. I contacted our Congresswoman's office a couple of weeks ago, and they inquired on our behalf with the same result.

Well, I just got a call from the officer who interviewed us. She left a message saying that several unsuccessful attempts had been made to contact us (which I found very surprising since we've had no previous messages, letters or e-mails). She said she'd like to interview us a second time. I immediately called back and told her I was very happy to hear from her. She said she thought it would be a good idea for us to meet for a second interview before moving forward with the case. I asked if she could tell me what had caused such a long delay, and she said that they have tried several times to come to our home! Now, I have to tell you that we have been totally prepared for this, and up until about month ago when I read some very compelling arguements against allowing them to enter, we were actually HOPING they would come. My husband and I have since discussed exactly what we would say if they showed up (we've been advised by a lawyer not to authorize entry into our home without a warrant), but the plan has always been to definitely open the door and aknowledge them so they could see that he is there in the house. I told the officer that I was very surprised to hear that they had visited our house as my husband is always at home. She asked if maybe he was afraid to answer the door?! What would he be afriad of??

We made an appointment for a follow-up interview next Thursday. She told me that the office had moved since our last interview- I asked if it was in the same place as the InfoPass appointments as we have been there several times over the past couple of months to inquire about the case- she said she had not been advised of those visits.

On one hand, I'm happy something is finally happening, but on the other hand I am EXTREMELY frustrated right now. I am completely stressed out trying to collect updated bills, statements, photos, etc. We were prepared the first time around, and becuase they didn't bother to complete the case, we now have to go back again with a cloud of doubt hanging over our heads. We're automatically at a disadvantage walking in there as she has some reason to think our relationship may be fraudulent. She doesn't remember that the first time around, it was so obviously NOT a fraud that she didn't bother to ask us anything more than just very basic questions or look at our photo albums. You can say that it should still be just as obvious, but it's nevertheless incredibly daunting.

If anyone has any advice or could tell us what to expect at this second interview, we'd be most grateful. Please cross your fingers for us!!

Thanks,

Jennifer

NEVER let anyone into your home without a warrant. I am surprised you need an attorney to tell you this. Our 4th grade civics teacher told us this.

This is a stokes interview. BOTH of you need to be fully prepared. Read up on it. If you have an attorney, now is the time to call them

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Go prepared to answer hard questions. I don't know if they will do what's called the "Stokes" interview, but I would be prepared. Bring all the evidence you've already brought and more to prove your relationship.

Si, man. See the pinned thread in the "US Consulate" forum for a bit about the implications of Stokes interviews (si man, it's embassies, but the same principle). Also, your lawyer is correct: Do not permit any official, especially Federal agents, to come into your home without a warrant! Standard practice is either for the person who answers the door (it had better be you, the USC) to come outside to talk with them, closing the door behind you as you do so, or to talk with them through the closed door. Tell them politely yet firmly that correct protocol is to set an appointment to speak with you, just as you have been required to do throughout the entire legal-immigration process. Keep us posted, si man!

Close the blinds if you have to. Any attempt at coercion to allow a search is because they do not have enough information to GET a warrant. I ASSURE you, if they wanted a warrant, and could get one, they would show up with one in hand. I PROMISE you they will do this. There is NO WAY a law enforcement official of any kind, not even a dog catcher, is going to leave it up to YOUR disgression whether he can search your home UNLESS HE HAS TO. Never forget that. Never. DO NOT give him permission that he otherwise CANNOT obtain.

Tbone is advsing you to be polite and he os probably correct, and the scheduling an appointment thing is really effective, I belive. My initial reaction would be to meet them at the door with a shotgun and tell them to get the ** off my property immediately. I would go with Tbone on this one!

[Nagishkaw 510]

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_some_sa...rview_questions

[TBoneTX 45,273]

My initial reaction would be to meet them at the door with a shotgun and tell them to get the ** off my property immediately.

As utterly, 100% appealing as this approach would be, the government has forgotten that "the claim & exercise of a Constitutional right cannot be converted into a crime," and you would likely be surrounded very quickly by a SWAT team, or at "best" you would end up on a List (enemy of the State, etc.). We are only a couple of Supreme Court rulings (or fewer) away from the already-eviscerated Fourth Amendment being turned into a true inkblot.

Gary's words about warrantless attempts-at-search are succinct and elegant, and they should be thumbtacked to our foreheads at all times, si man.

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

First off, who are the people that come to your house? Are they immigration officials or law enforcement officers who conduct criminal investigations? Even if they are federal agents, they are not there in a criminal investigation capacity.

It's one thing to refuse to let a law enforcement officer who is conducting a criminal investigation into your home versus one who is there to verify information.

Here's the way I look at it... you may jeopardize your case if you don't allow them to come in, even though we have the right to refuse entry to anybody without a warrant. It's the old "If you don't let us in, you probably have something to hide" mentality. If some case worker decides that you didn't let his boys in to your home because you were hiding something, he can just deny your case right there if he thinks it's fraud (in his opinion). This is very subjective. If he thinks that it's fraud, he's within his right to deny you. And then good luck.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

First off, who are the people that come to your house? Are they immigration officials or law enforcement officers who conduct criminal investigations? Even if they are federal agents, they are not there in a criminal investigation capacity.

It's one thing to refuse to let a law enforcement officer who is conducting a criminal investigation into your home versus one who is there to verify information.

Here's the way I look at it... you may jeopardize your case if you don't allow them to come in, even though we have the right to refuse entry to anybody without a warrant. It's the old "If you don't let us in, you probably have something to hide" mentality. If some case worker decides that you didn't let his boys in to your home because you were hiding something, he can just deny your case right there if he thinks it's fraud (in his opinion). This is very subjective. If he thinks that it's fraud, he's within his right to deny you. And then good luck.

IGNORE THIS POST AS IT IS DANGEROUS!

[junglejao 0]

Yes- let's not even go there. We have decided it is best for us NOT to allow them in our home based on everything we have read and been told. Other people can choose to do as they like, but this is our decision. I don't want this to turn into one of those threads as that isn't really the point of my post. Thanks to all who have offered helpful advice.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

One piece of advise on the Stokes interview that i've read btw is that if you are not 100% sure of your answer it is better to say you can not remember or you are unsure. Don't guess whatever you do.

Edited November 5, 2009 by Sousuke

[rsn 135]

One piece of advise on the Stokes interview that i've read btw is that if you are not 100% sure of your answer it is better to say you can not remember or you are unsure. Don't guess whatever you do.

This sounds about right. If they do interview both individuals separately, conflicting answers could spell trouble.

[trillium13 84]

One piece of advise on the Stokes interview that i've read btw is that if you are not 100% sure of your answer it is better to say you can not remember or you are unsure. Don't guess whatever you do.

Good advice.

[onedaysoon79 0]

my best wishes for you guys, hope everything goes great!