Well we were all ready to go for my biometrics next week and what do I find in the mail this morning? An interview notice for 3/21. My biometrics aren't even done yet (3/12)! The only good things about it is that it is before my planned trip to Canada on 4/9 and before DH leaves for pre-deployment training.

A couple of questions:

- Do you think we should bring our kids with us?

- Also, it says to bring my passport, but my passport is expired. I was going to get it renewed during my visit to Canada. We are crossing at a land border crossing so I will not need a passport. So what do I do? There's definitely not enough time to get one now.

-Do they typically approve or deny a case right then and there at the interview?

I am so stressed out now! Definitely NOT a good b-day present!

you should definitely try to get a valid passport... that is what they recommend me all the time... why dot you go the Canadian embassy in the states and explain your problem I am sure that if you pay extra they will expedite your passport (at least my country does)
If I would you, I will bring my children! of course that is a big evidence!!! be calm!! why worry!!
I am not sure if they approved you right there... most likely
I wish I would at least have an interview I send my paper on June 2007 to TSC I was transfer to VERMONT on January 31… still waiting…

Wow! I'm surprised too. Don't stress, you have the proof that you are legitimately married, and you have two wonderful babies. If it was me, I wouldn't bring my son (just because of his age) and I have his birth certificate, what more prove do you need that your kids exist?

Bring their birth certificates and all the other information you submitted. I'm sure this is just for quality control... and who knows, they may approve you right there and then.

PS, I *think* you need a valid barcoded passport to cross over the boarder by land too as of Jan 31, 2008. It was phase 2 of the Western Travel Initiative, you can read more about it here: http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1200669485238.shtm

Good luck to you

Try not to stress out too much. Spiderette is right. This could just be a quality control interview and your file just happened to be the one randomly picked for it.

They usually give you the approval during the interview unless the name check is still pending.

OK, I am trying to breathe. I have nothing to hide so I need to quit stressing out!

The only thing that's still worrying me is the passport issue. There's not enough time to get a new one.

Spiderette - Passports are not needed at land crossings until 2009. What is now needed is proof of citizenship (Birth Certificate works) and picture ID (I have a military ID) so I will be OK. Before Jan. 31 2008, some people could cross the border only on oral declaration which is what was abolished.

And if they thought the docs I sent were insufficient, wouldn't they have RFE'd me before requiring an interview?

I think some interviews are at random, so you'd not necessarily get a RFE beforehand. Good luck, I'm sure it would be fine!! I wouldn't bring kids (unless I had a baby and had to), but lots of photos and the birth certificates. I'm sure it will be fine, and I would actually love to have an interview to speed up this process, myself.

Good luck!!

My cousin and her husband (from a european country) were requested to have an interview, too--it was quick and easy since they brought their newborn!

To put you at ease, one of my good friends was in the same situation as you are - they attended their interview with a expired passport. The agent just reminded them to renew it - that was all! Their interview came too soon for them to renew! I think you are in better shape having an expired passport then having nothing in your hands! (My personal thoughts!)

In regards to your kids - hey take them, if you are comfortable - but you got to take their birth certificate with you - regardless of their presence!

Asamu

Unless there's something dark and weird you're not letting onto here, I would bet it's a random thing. Absolutely, bring the young'uns. Give the baby some prune juice beforehand, too, so you'll have to do a diaper change with a really loose poopies that needs lots of wipes. Ask the interviewer if you can use his/her desk for the change and toss the used wipes and diaper in the trash under his/her desk.

Well, I think you should be worried!

It's well known that you Canadians have been abusing our immigration laws for years!

It's justifiable for the USCIS to be suspicious for you're probably looking to leave Canada because it's just waayyyy better to live here......

Seriously, I wouldn't be too concerned. It's just a bureaucratic process whereby you'll need to justify your marital existence to some dimwit that believes that Canadians are abusing the U.S. immigration laws.....

LOL @ the 2 previous posts.

Nah James, nothing dark and weird here. Just a really straight forward case so I've got to believe that it's a random thing...the other option is for me to believe that they like wasting their time! Now isn't THAT a novel idea! As for the kids, I think I will bring them because at AOS, the officer asked us how come our son wasn't with us when she saw his BC. Nevermind that the letter said NOT to bring young children!!! Anyways, I'm taking them this time. And no need for prune juice here, my little princess seems for some reason to always have EXPLOSIVE diapers at the worse possible time! LOL

Thanks Asamu, your info really calmed me down. I am happy to know that my passport being expired is not going to be an issue.

Thank you everyone for your input.

As I said, NOT a good b-day present...as if turning 30 wasn't depressing enough!! LOL