our L.A. interview this morning Add to Watch List Options

[Arnold_and_Joan]

We just finished our interview in downtown L.A. this morning and here's our experience:
First of, it was for 7:30AM So we were busy all night preparing all the documents and printing pictures, makeing copies etc. We arrived around 6:40AM and there's a line outside already. LINE ON THE RIGHT of the steps btw. There was some other line on the right. We got in around 7:30AM and turns out there were only a few people going to the same floor we are. We were the 3rd couple inside waiting.

We got called in by our interviewer about 10-15 minutes after we sat down. He was really serious looking guy. Didn't smile, was curt and formal, very serious and I was prepared for getting a hard time. After we swore an oath to tell the truth, he went through our file, asked just for these:
- my driver's license
- Joan's passport w/ I-94
- Joan's Employment Authorization card
- Any other picture ID Joan had
- I brought out my US Passport to prove Citizenship, though he never asked for it
He asked each one of us to state out names, aksed if we've been married before, if we have children, asked me for home phone number, and basic yes or no questions. Ex. You're here on fiance visa? You married before the 30 days were up? Nothing really tricky or trying to make us verify that we're doing this legally. Then he went through the questionnaire in the application and had Joan answer yes or no - the questionnaire being - Have you taken drugs, sell them, are you a terrorist, criminal, etc.
Then he asked for the following:
- a copy of our marriage license. They don't seem to have a copy in file
- bank statements, insurance statements, etc. Anything to prove we've lived together - mostly statements. We brought a load of junk mail just in case. He made copies of those.
That was it. Except he didn't say "You're approved" or anything. He just said he'll re-review the file later this afternoon and then decide then. But right now everything seems ok. He went on to explain the Conditional Residency status Joan's getting, how to remove it later, things do and not do that may get her deported. etc. He NEVER even asked to see pictures and we spent so much time trying to get an album together. Oh well.

TIPS:
- Do not bring your cell phone. A friend of mine was asked to walk all the way back to the parking lot to leave it in the car. You can't deposit it with them.
- You can bring snacks and water. Though the waiting room said you can't, we had it because Joan's pregnant and she needed crackers and water. I had the water bottle sticking out of my jacket pocket and no one said anything.
- Make copies of everything, just in case they need it. I mean everything - driver's license, passport, bank statements, insurance statements, even copies of some of your wedding pictures, EVERYTHING. We're lucky that our interviewer makes copies in case we forgot something. We've read how other places send you back out to make it yourself.
- Be organized. We bought one of those accordio folders in a box with handle. Labeled everything so when we were asked to pull something out, we didn't spend too much time riffling through papers to find it.
- Most of all- RELAX, you have nothing to hide.

QUESTION:
I was surprised by the Conditional Residency part. I wasn't expecting it. Did everyone get it too? I mean being married less than 2 years before the interview means EVERYONE right? It wasn't mentioned much in any of the discussions here. For those who don't know. You'll be given a 2 year conditional Green Card. This is to prevent false marriages to get green card. You will go for ANOTHER INTERVIEW at the end of that 2 years to get a new one(?) or have the condition removed.

Well, good luck to everyone else. We're still in the dark as to whether we should be celebrating or not yet. I wish he would've just said, you're approved or you'll be getting your green card soon. Now there's more waiting???!!

[DeeZee]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Hope you'll get the good news soon! Congrats in advance!

[Dave and Helena]

Everyone who has been married less than 2 years when they are granted lawful permanent resident status will receive permanent resident status on a conditional basis. Within 90 days before the 2-year anniversary of when you became a permanent resident you must apply to remove the conditional status.

[JoanBill]

We just finished our interview in downtown L.A. this morning and here's our experience:
First of, it was for 7:30AM So we were busy all night preparing all the documents and printing pictures, makeing copies etc. We arrived around 6:40AM and there's a line outside already. LINE ON THE RIGHT of the steps btw. There was some other line on the right. We got in around 7:30AM and turns out there were only a few people going to the same floor we are. We were the 3rd couple inside waiting.

We got called in by our interviewer about 10-15 minutes after we sat down. He was really serious looking guy. Didn't smile, was curt and formal, very serious and I was prepared for getting a hard time. After we swore an oath to tell the truth, he went through our file, asked just for these:
- my driver's license
- Joan's passport w/ I-94
- Joan's Employment Authorization card
- Any other picture ID Joan had
- I brought out my US Passport to prove Citizenship, though he never asked for it
He asked each one of us to state out names, aksed if we've been married before, if we have children, asked me for home phone number, and basic yes or no questions. Ex. You're here on fiance visa? Youmarried before the 30 days were up? Nothing really tricky or trying to make us verify that we're doing this legally. Then he went through the questionnaire in the application and had Joan answer yes or no - the questionnaire being - Have you taken drugs, sell them, are you a terrorist, criminal, etc.
Then he asked for the following:
- a copy of our marriage license. They don't seem to have a copy in file
- bank statements, insurance statements, etc. Anything to prove we've lived together - mostly statements. We brought a load of junk mail just in case. He made copies of those.
That was it. Except he didn't say "You're approved" or anything. He just said he'll re-review the file later this afternoon and then decide then. But right now everything seems ok. He went on to explain the Conditional Residency status Joan's getting, how to remove it later, things do and not do that may get her deported. etc. He NEVER even asked to see pictures and we spent so much time trying to get an album together. Oh well.

TIPS:
- Do not bring your cell phone. A friend of mine was asked to walk all the way back to the parking lot to leave it in the car. You can't deposit it with them.
- You can bring snacks and water. Though the waiting room said you can't, we had it because Joan's pregnant and she needed crackers and water. I had the water bottle sticking out of my jacket pocket and no one said anything.
- Make copies of everything, just in case they need it. I mean everything - driver's license, passport, bank statements, insurance statements, even copies of some of your wedding pictures, EVERYTHING. We're lucky that our interviewer makes copies in case we forgot something. We've read how other places send you back out to make it yourself.
- Be organized. We bought one of those accordio folders in a box with handle. Labeled everything so when we were asked to pull something out, we didn't spend too much time riffling through papers to find it.
- Most of all- RELAX, you have nothing to hide.

QUESTION:
I was surprised by the Conditional Residency part. I wasn't expecting it. Did everyone get it too? I mean being married less than 2 years before the interview means EVERYONE right? It wasn't mentioned much in any of the discussions here. For those who don't know. You'll be given a 2 year conditional Green Card. This is to prevent false marriages to get green card. You will go for ANOTHER INTERVIEW at the end of that 2 years to get a new one(?) or have the condition removed.

Well, good luck to everyone else. We're still in the dark as to whether we should be celebrating or not yet. I wish he would've just said, you're approved or you'll be getting your green card soon. Now there's more waiting???!!

Thanks for sharing your interview experience

The Conditional Residency or 2 year conditional greencard is being mention or discuss during a CFO seminar. And before the end of that 2 years you need to remove the condition and go to another process again. Proofs need to be file and send again including a copy of your greencard.

Hope you get the good news by now!

[the.ronin]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience!! If all goes well, we'll also have our interview in L.A. as well.

[TOMN]

Thanks for sharing.

[DakotaK1]

Thnks for sharing this with us

[mc2000ch]

Thank you for sharing

[joemaria]

congratulations!!!
Hope u got ur greencard soon...thanks for sharing!

[Ovaltine Jenkins]

Congratulations Hopefully you get the card soon