Interview in 2 days and need advice

[mishab 1]

If you do not know our story:

The interview letter got lost in the mail and the interview date and time was known only after calling the INS.

We finally got the official letter few days ago stating that the interview is this Friday (1/30) and after looking at the list of documents to bring to the interview have realized that we do not have the original divorce papers for my husband (US citizen). I found a copy (at least it looks like a b/w copy) of the divorce decree, which might as well be the original. I simply do not know. My husband does not remember if any of the stamps or signatures on the divorce decree were in color, but the one we have looks and feels like a copy.

We probably have time to run to city hall to get the official copy or take the chance and see if this one will work. Note: a copy of this divorce decree was sent along with all forms going back 4+ years, so there should be no surprises.

What should we do?

[TBoneTX 43,058]

You can try to get the original, but I'd wait to see if this one works. Given the paper trail, you might not even be asked for or about it. Let us know what happens.

[ExPatty 502]

We probably have time to run to city hall to get the official copy

Do that Why risk it? At least you'll know you tried and, if you can't get it in time, see if it matters at the interview. Otherwise they'll delay adjudication and make you grab that later and you'll have to wait for a new interview date!

Good luck!

[Worried_joel 6]

My advice is go to the City Hall to get an certified copy. You can just go there in person to make certified copies from them. It has a official stamp from city hall onto the copies. You don't have to make appointment to go down. GO NOW!! =)

[Kintsukuroi 6]

The IO wanted to see the certified copy of my divorce decree even though I submitted a copy with the application. Other than my green card this was the only document the IO requested to see during my interview. I applied on the 5yr rule. I would go get the certified copy.

[mishab 1]

First of all compared to my GC interview 3 years ago, today's citizenship interview was a disaster. I start by saying that I arrived at the office at 20 minutes before my appointment. I spent more than 2 hours in the waiting area before my name was called.

The first thing the immigration officer asked was my husband's driver license and joint bank statements. I said I do not have my husband's driver license as it was not in the list of documents needed for the interview. The officer asked where my husband is and i replied waiting outside. She seemed satisfied.

We went over the application. She had a strong accent and my English is still under development, so it was hard to understand each other. She asked "Your husband was married two times?" I said yes. She said that on the application I put "that he was married once". I said yes, he was married once before, but is married now to me. She was not happy with my answer and started asking me more about his previous marriage. For example she asked if i know the name of his former wife and whether I have met her. I politely answered that I know the name and that we have never met.

When we got to the "trips taken outside the country", the interview got pretty ugly. She was asking me why i have travelled so frequently and the duration of the stay outside was a concern. I said that during summer I travel home so the kids can spend time with their biological father and I spend time with my family. She did not like that. She was asking how my husband feels about me being away for ~3 month per year. I said he is fine, in fact he comes to see us and we travel together.

Then the officer started asking questions if my husband and I ever separated. I said no. But it felt like that her opinion was already made up because I spend several months per year away.

She was asking tricky questions about the children such as "Does your husband have children?" I said no and she replied: "What about your daughters?" I said my husband is their step-father, but they have biological father who lives abroad and they travel to the home country to be with him. That is the verbal agreement. She did not like that either.

What is funny is that she did not look at any of the documents that I brought with me: marriage cert, divorce papers, etc. It does seem as if she already put a red flag next to my travel and wanted to dig deep into that.

Anyway, i passed the civic and english tests without any issues and was told to provide additional evidence about legitimacy of my marriage.

Pretty upset now because he suspicion has no merit.

[TBoneTX 43,058]

*** Pre- and post-interview threads merged. ***

[TBoneTX 43,058]

[Moderator hat off]

What were you asked for specifically?

If you don't have these yet or if you didn't provide them, craft them in a hurry:

-- wills

-- medical powers of attorney

-- similar documents that go with these

You'll appreciate having these in "life" even more than as good evidence for USCIS's purposes.

[mishab 1]

TBoneTX: Of course we sent the requested information as soon as I got home. I feel frustrated that I have brought every piece of document the INS asked for, but not a single document was looked at. Instead the officer asked for my husband's driver license. How would I know to bring it? How would my husband be without a license? Is this some sort of a trick they use to see if we live together and I have access to his driver license?

[ExPatty 502]

Sorry to hear it went well, but if they are asking for additional info and your marriage is indeed legit, you should be optimistic that you can prove it as such.

As far as the focus on the marriage, people in their role are trained to focus on points that concern them. The fact you were not asked about much else may indicate that the interviewer had no real concern about them.

[JimmyHou 610]

Is this some sort of a trick they use to see if we live together and I have access to his driver license?

I don't know if I'd call it a trick, but yes; that's exactly what they're doing.

For whatever reason, your interviewer wasn't 100% convinced that you're still together, so he/she asked for something relatively easy for you to get unless you're estranged from your spouse.

This is just a guess, but I bet they'll also see how long it takes you to respond... if it takes more than a day or two, it could indicate that you and your spouse are on good terms but are not living together.

This isn't the fist unusual request I've read about in the last two months... there definitely seems to be something that has triggered a closer look at most 3-year cases. Maybe marriage fraud cases have gone up recently.

[mishab 1]

Thank you all for your replies.

I just want to say that it I would find it suspicious if I had my husband's driver license with me. She could have asked me to text him and let him come upstairs and give me the license, but to ask me for to show his license, when such a requirement was not part of the list of required documents, is unfair. Again, I brought everything that was listed on the yellow and the interview invitation letters.

Anyway, all we can do now is to wait and see. Hope it wont take too long for them to make the decision.