The Road From the Lockbox with No Bagels

[finallyfree 2]

Yay for you and your wife!

[thongd4me 69]

Yay for you and your wife!

Thanks

Next job - round trip ticket to Thailand!

[thongd4me 69]

Thanks

Next job - round trip ticket to Thailand!

Just got her a ticket on British Airways, a little over $1,900, for 28 June - 17 July.

It seems the premium for "summer" travel is world-wide, it's quite a lot more than I usually pay.

Apparently it has zero to do with the seasonality in Thailand and more to do with when Americans

have their vacation time.

[Justine+David 218]

Good for making the return 3 days before the interview...you never know what may happen!

[thongd4me 69]

Good for making the return 3 days before the interview...you never know what may happen!

Yes I hope that's enough "wiggle room."

She will have an 11 hour layover in Heathrow and I got her 20 UK pounds in case she needs

to get something from a restaurant.

The EAD (Employment Authorization Document) came today in the mail, so we have everything

she needs before the interview. Assuming she passes the interview & is waiting for the hard copy

of the GC, she will be able to apply for work with the EAD, so that is good news indeed.

Good for making the return 3 days before the interview...you never know what may happen!

Yes I hope that's enough "wiggle room."

She will have an 11 hour layover in Heathrow and I got her 20 UK pounds in case she needs

to get something from a restaurant.

The EAD (Employment Authorization Document) came today in the mail, so we have everything

she needs before the interview. Assuming she passes the interview & is waiting for the hard copy

of the GC, she will be able to apply for work with the EAD, so that is good news indeed.

[thongd4me 69]

26 Federal Plaza, NYC - 7:30 AM interview passed, not a glitch or a blip - I knew her son's day, month & year of birth.

(more details to follow) The interview was conducted with both of us in the room and the interviewer was very

professional but friendly - a young Asian guy. He covered everything required & she got the I-551 stamp which

enables her to travel & work immediately; GC in 1-6 months he said. :star: :star:

[finallyfree 2]

Congratulations!!! :dance:

[thongd4me 69]

Here is what happened in more detail:

We were the 2nd on line (arrived at 26 Federal Plaza at around 6:00 AM for a 7:30

appointment) but when we went up to the 8th floor we had to do a double rest-stop

so others got ahead of us to register in the queue of AOS applicants.

At the front door, the security guard checked our interview appointment invitation

and passports, to be sure we were in the building for a valid reason.

Once inside, the line started moving at around 7 AM and we went through the screening.

We didn't have to remove shoes (only if they would likely set off the alarm).

Having a little wait while others went ahead of us was not entirely a bad idea,

it allowed us to collect our thoughts and re-check our documents (probably around

25 pounds worth). We had two photo albums (4x6) with 100 pics in each (neither

were full but we arranged them according to either date or content (we had

shots of the outside & inside of our house & apartment as well as meetings

with friends and family and trips that we did in and around NYC).

We were very fortunate in getting a nice young Chinese guy for an interviewer.

This put my wife at ease immediately. He had seen our file and had to ask the

required questions (not prostitute, terrorist, member of Communist party, etc.)

as well as routine ones about each other and family members. (We had to recite

each other's birthdates and he asked me her son's birthdate but didn't ask her

my daughters birthdates - he just asked her how many kids I had & she replied

correctly. She said that she forgot my birth YEAR but she answered that question

correctly because she took a look at my passport before we went in for the interview.

I had prepared a detailed affadavit (notarized) from my neighbors but he said

that wasn't necessary even after I offered it. I also had an affadavit from

6 co-workers who have met my wife on more than one occasion - didn't ask for

that either.

He did ask for a color photocopy of my passport that I gave willingly and

he took a few pics from our albums (about 3-4) that he stapled into the file.

He took a photocopy of our marriage certificate (we had originals and a few

photocopies). I told him a few details about her son that he didn't ask for

but was impressed I'm sure that he graduated from the best university in Thailand

and has a job with a major international company.

He didn't speak too quickly for me but occasionally there was a word that

stumped my wife and he was very understanding and immediately chose a

simpler word that she could understand.

At no time did I jump in and try to answer for her or prompt her in any way.

I'm sure he appreciated that on my part. She showed confidence in me and I

showed confidence in her.

After about 10 or more minutes, he said we should wait in the waiting area

for the result of the interview. If it was a failure I would have thought

I'd been struck by lightning while standing knee-deep in a swamp.

He called us to a window after a brief wait and said that the stamp was

valid for employment and any amount of travel immediately, even if the

green card takes a month or longer to come.

[Justine+David 218]

congratulations! very excited for you!!

see you in removing conditions!

[menina 50]

Congratulations!

[SOULEY8946 1]

Here is what happened in more detail:

We were the 2nd on line (arrived at 26 Federal Plaza at around 6:00 AM for a 7:30

appointment) but when we went up to the 8th floor we had to do a double rest-stop

so others got ahead of us to register in the queue of AOS applicants.

At the front door, the security guard checked our interview appointment invitation

and passports, to be sure we were in the building for a valid reason.

Once inside, the line started moving at around 7 AM and we went through the screening.

We didn't have to remove shoes (only if they would likely set off the alarm).

Having a little wait while others went ahead of us was not entirely a bad idea,

it allowed us to collect our thoughts and re-check our documents (probably around

25 pounds worth). We had two photo albums (4x6) with 100 pics in each (neither

were full but we arranged them according to either date or content (we had

shots of the outside & inside of our house & apartment as well as meetings

with friends and family and trips that we did in and around NYC).

We were very fortunate in getting a nice young Chinese guy for an interviewer.

This put my wife at ease immediately. He had seen our file and had to ask the

required questions (not prostitute, terrorist, member of Communist party, etc.)

as well as routine ones about each other and family members. (We had to recite

each other's birthdates and he asked me her son's birthdate but didn't ask her

my daughters birthdates - he just asked her how many kids I had & she replied

correctly. She said that she forgot my birth YEAR but she answered that question

correctly because she took a look at my passport before we went in for the interview.

I had prepared a detailed affadavit (notarized) from my neighbors but he said

that wasn't necessary even after I offered it. I also had an affadavit from

6 co-workers who have met my wife on more than one occasion - didn't ask for

that either.

He did ask for a color photocopy of my passport that I gave willingly and

he took a few pics from our albums (about 3-4) that he stapled into the file.

He took a photocopy of our marriage certificate (we had originals and a few

photocopies). I told him a few details about her son that he didn't ask for

but was impressed I'm sure that he graduated from the best university in Thailand

and has a job with a major international company.

He didn't speak too quickly for me but occasionally there was a word that

stumped my wife and he was very understanding and immediately chose a

simpler word that she could understand.

At no time did I jump in and try to answer for her or prompt her in any way.

I'm sure he appreciated that on my part. She showed confidence in me and I

showed confidence in her.

After about 10 or more minutes, he said we should wait in the waiting area

for the result of the interview. If it was a failure I would have thought

I'd been struck by lightning while standing knee-deep in a swamp.

He called us to a window after a brief wait and said that the stamp was

valid for employment and any amount of travel immediately, even if the

green card takes a month or longer to come.

[/quote

FANTASTIC JOB GUYS... AWESOME

[thongd4me 69]

Strange as it may seem, she got an email from USCIS

and the USCIS website had the SAME correct information

regarding her case status - Approved:

Document production or Oath Ceremony

On July 20, 2010, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

This step applies to applications that result in an applicant receiving a card (such as a green card) or other document (such as a naturalization certificate, refugee travel documents or advance parole). Applications will be in this step from the time the order to produce the card/document is given until the card/document is produced and mailed to the applicant. You can expect to receive your card/document within 30 days of the approval of your application.

There have often been disconnects between the two but in this case they agree.

Passport has I-551 stamp & she's good to go!

[thongd4me 69]

Applied for SSN on July 27 with the I-551 stamp on her passport - it's effectively the same as the GC

which also carries the I-551 number.

The clerk said he didn't know if the stamp would be accepted but the system did accept it.

He claimed there would be a month wait - that seems a little suspect, so we will check on

that after 2 weeks have passed without getting the SSN.

[thongd4me 69]

Green Card (very very high tech) came in the mail yesterday (August 2, 2010)

-> 127 days from sending the AOS package.

No more USCIS for another 2 years! :dance: :dance:

[MRStee 19]

Green Card (very very high tech) came in the mail yesterday (August 2, 2010)

-> 127 days from sending the AOS package.

No more USCIS for another 2 years! :dance: :dance:

Wonderful story, thank you for sharing!