My Green Card Interview - no approval on the spot.

[pretzelchoc23 0]

So I had my interview in NY Federal Plaza today. My interview time was at 2:30pm and we had to through security after entering the building. We had to take off our shoes, belts and put all belongings on the belt to be scanned. We then went up to the 4th floor and went to the room indicated on the interview letter. We had to give the man behind the counter our letter and he then gave us a number and told us to go to another room. I do suggest getting to your meeting at least 30 minutes prior as we got there 15 minutes before and had to rush. We then sat and waited for our number to be called. About 3:00pm an asian lady called us and we went into a room with her. We had to take an oath and then we sat and she asked me for our original birth certificates, marriage certificate and ids. Unfortunately I did not have my birth certificate, my husband (the sponsor) did. I had to explain to the lady that my Mum had sent me my birth certificate from Australia over 2 weeks ago express and it still isn't here. I told her that I believe it was delayed due to Christmas and New Year. I gave her some colored scanned photos of it and she took a look. She then asked one of us to tell her how we met, our story etc. Then she asked for our proof of our marriage, I gave her everything - conversations between us, bus and travel tickets, life and medical insurance, rental agreement, rent checks, bank statement, credit card statement, receipts of gifts bought for each other including our ring receipts. She asked when I had moved to be with my husband and what was the address. She noticed we had moved apartments in the same complex and asked us why. Then she asked when we had moved back to NY and where did we live. She asked about the place we live in now and the address, how many rooms it has and how many floors does the building have. She also noticed that we had lived in two different apartments in the same address and asked us why. She definitely was a stickler for details. She made a comment that we get our apartment for a good price. She mentioned that we travel a lot and she asked when the last time was that we travelled. She then asked us for some photos and I had a lot....I had actually taped them onto paper and wrote captions under them. She mainly kept the photos with family and friends and kept a couple of us. I really think they care more about the photos with family and friends more than anything. She commented how young my husbands mum looked. She then asked us each for our spouses full name, date of birth, parents names. She asked us if we were working at the moment and I gave her some paystubs. She also asked me where my husband worked. She noticed my husbands paystubs had an old address that we used for our mail and asked us why it had this address. My husband told her that he hadn't changed it but I had told him to, he gets direct deposit so he honestly had forgotten about it. She asked a lot of questions.....I was kind of surprised as I know some people can only get asked a couple of questions. We were both really relaxed, and didn't really revise questions before hand as we know we have a real marriage and we both wanted to be natural. She gave us a paper saying that our case needs to be reviewed and no decision can be made yet. I really thought I would get a decision on my case today so I am little upset. Do you think I got a RFE as I didn't have my original birth certificate? I really hope I don't have to have a second interview. Can anyone shed some light? Their experience?

[pretzelchoc23 0]

I forgot to add that she told us that we will get a decision within 60 days. I was so tempted to ask her if we were approved but I didn't. She told us about how if I am approved I will receive my card and it will be valid for 2 years conditional residence and then before the 90 days is up I will have to apply to have the conditions removed......I just want an answer!!!! The waiting game begins..............

[Darnell 8,478]

hi ! what visa did you use to enter the USA ?

[pretzelchoc23 0]

Visa Waiver. I did not have my I-94 in my passport though.....as I had lost it and had to get a new one along with my AOS.

[thespoons 33]

I read that getting approved on the spot is rare. I had my interview and got the same result as yours and they approved it after 9 days. Just be patient good luck!

[pretzelchoc23 0]

Thank you thespoons, I just need to be patient

[Pitaya 2,576]

~Moved from Fam.-based AOS to WSTourist-based AOS Forum~

~Adjusting from Tourist/visitor-VWP~

[Starkilla09 366]

I forgot to add that she told us that we will get a decision within 60 days. I was so tempted to ask her if we were approved but I didn't. She told us about how if I am approved I will receive my card and it will be valid for 2 years conditional residence and then before the 90 days is up I will have to apply to have the conditions removed......I just want an answer!!!! The waiting game begins..............

Your interview looks like it went well, it's just a waiting game now till you officially receive notification of approval. Not everyone gets approved on the spot though, as sometimes reviews have to be made with supervisors before approval within a couple of days or few weeks in majority of the cases or couple of months in some. By law USCIS has 120 days to give you a decision post interview, so if it delays that long make an infopass to "force" a decision. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't take that long though as your case is typical to many ones here.

Edited January 8, 2016 by Starkilla09

[TBoneTX 43,057]

*** Thread shifted further from "AOS from WS&T Visas" main forum to the Case Progress subforum. ***

[BigDaddy28 228]

Honestly I dont think you should worry, I went through the same 5 years ago and the guy approved my application 2 days after my interview. You will get approved its just a waiting game now. Good luck

[amberammo9915 19]

I read that getting approved on the spot is rare. I had my interview and got the same result as yours and they approved it after 9 days. Just be patient good luck!

Hello, sorry to butt in ..my AP was approved today, does it follow that my Employment Application is approved too? Thanks for your reply.

[QueenComley 295]

I arrived here on visa waiver also and was approved on the spot at the AOS interview. We were in and out in five minutes. But... I read on here all the time of a decision not being made straight away and that's seems fairly normal and standard. From what you have stated on here you guys answered each question well and submitted plenty of evidence. Im sure everything is fine. Keep us updated on when you hear anything else.

[sia82 10]

not sure if you lived here illegally for a while, that might be the reason why you got plenty of questions. you'll definitely be approved. i got approved on the spot and our lady even told me "welcome to america" which was kind of cute. you had a very tough interview considering the proofs you have, be proud of it

[QueenComley 295]

not sure if you lived here illegally for a while, that might be the reason why you got plenty of questions. you'll definitely be approved. i got approved on the spot and our lady even told me "welcome to america" which was kind of cute. you had a very tough interview considering the proofs you have, be proud of it

I was out of status nearly a year, not discussed, not brought up, never mentioned, never an issue. Overstay is generally forgiven when you apply AOS.

[sia82 10]

I was out of status nearly a year, not discussed, not brought up, never mentioned, never an issue. Overstay is generally forgiven when you apply AOS.

yea it is forgiven, but a tougher interview wouldn't surprise me especially in a city like nyc where the "market" of fake marriages seems pretty common