My wife and I decided to go early so even tho our interview was for 3:30PM, we left for Dallas around 10:30AM. We live 45 minutes north of Dallas in a small town called Denison/Sherman. We wanted to go on a shopping spree before the interview. We did and then around 2PM we started heading towards the place which was in Irving (Dallas sort of). Good thing we were early because the place was tricky to get to. The map we got from Mapquest was not that accurate and we did not have a GPS. Luckily, after some turn around and cul-de-sacs, we found the actual building and since we were more than 45 min early (50min to be exact), we sat in the car and waited an other 20min, then we went inside the building. We first went hrough securty check ( had to empty pockets and take off belts lol), then went upstairs to the actual lobby were a lady took our Interview notice and put it in a box and then she gave us a pager ( If you went to Olive Garden restaurents you know what I speak of, it is a Coaster call that vibrates and flashes when it is your turn). We sat down and there were about 5 or six other couples and/or families waiting. I guess we were the last people to get there because nobody else came after us in the lobby. We saw other couples being silent and just plain worried, but my wife and I were just being ourselves and talking and joking and looking relaxed ( which we were). After about 45 minutes (15 min after our interview time) we got called in. It was actually funny cuz the lady came to the computer and entered the next number then turned around to see who it was but we were the only couple left in the room so it drew a laughter. So she walked us into to the room and before we sat down she swore us in. she asked me to sit on the left and my wife on the right side (which i thought was weird-maybe it was OCD or something lol-I hope she's not reading this).
She first asked us for ID's, SS cards, work permit, travel doc (which i didn't apply for, so none for me), and my passport.
She then went on to ask my wife for my birthday and asked me, her.
She asked also how me met, when we got married (June, Friday the 13th, 2008.... I know right!!!!! what a lucky day!!!)
She then asked my wife how old she is, to which she replied 18. she then quickly hit back with "how old were you when you got married?"
My wife said 17. Then she was like did you bring the notorized letter signed by both your parents from when you went and applied for the marriage license. I was like we didn't need any notoized letter to get married. We just needed both her parents at the courthouse to sign their consent and show ID's. She was like I dont think so, you do need a notorized letter from both parents to get the permission to be married. She paused for a second then decided to go inquire about it to her supervisor. She came back and told us that we were right that the law changed and she didnt know about it.
She started telling me about the conditional GC and how to remove condition, at which moment i knew we were good. She then left the room 2 or 3 times when she noticed my wife was holding a photo album and said, "oh, you brought pictures! Let me see those." She was about to take the album away when I said to her if she needed copies of the pictures we made some for her. To which she said "ya give me the copies" then gave us back the album. She then asked my wife "how do your parents feel about you marrying outside your race?" (my wife is caucasian and I'm black). My wife just replied, "My parents raised me to see people by their personalities rather than the color of their skin. Plus my sister has two interracial children so..."
She said "thats good." Then added "Congratulation, I am approving you for the GC!!!! Everything looks good!!!"
She then went on to exlain again about the conditional GC, then asked if we had any questions. I asked her if she was going to keep my EAD, she said yes then I asked if I could get my passport stamped and she said I would not need it because she was going to place the card production order right now and it would be about 10 to 14 days till I get it in the mail. She said if I had an emergency I could come back with the aproval notice she gave me and they would then stamp it. She then looked at us and said " Yall just a happy couple, aren't yall?" with a big smile, then she said that was it and escorted us out back to the lobby and said "have a safe trip home!!!".
My wife and I were just so excited and relieved that it was over.... For now lol... All and all it took roughly about 10 to 20 minutes, we were in and out. She mostly flipped trough the folder and papers and beside her not knowing the law regarding marriage for under age in Texas, it was pretty easy. Easier than I thought. My wife later said that before we went through all that immigration stuff she had no clue what Immigrants have to go through to get legal and/or residency. She feels so bad for people going through all this, us included.
Thank you all for your support and prayers. It helped us a lot and I wish the best to all and everybody still waiting or about to start the waiting game. If you are true to your heart and just be yourselves, victory shall be yours!!!! .
Edited by pacificleye, 16 March 2009 - 10:56 PM.
