REQUEST FOR STOKES INTERVIEW!! WTH!!

[Know_Ledge 6]

Hello All,

Firstly here's a link to my 1st interview experience.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/329983-interview-yesterday-at-uscis-long-island-ny/page__p__4906668__fromsearch__1#entry4906668

Today, I received a letter requesting a 2nd interview at Federal Plaza for next month, October 2011. The reason for appointment said "I-130 APPLICATION FILED BY SPOUSE, PETITIONER MUST BE PRESENT"

I'm so depressed and stressed, don't know what to think What went wrong? My husband and I felt fairly excited about out 1st interview. Why would they suspect us of marriage fraud?!!

Please help us guys, this journey is so long and hard. I've been doing my research about this "Stokes Interview" but I would really appreciate some help from u guys. What do we do now? What can we expect at this interview? What if they deny us?

Any response is appreciated.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Here is an article on Stokes Interviews in NY. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/nyregion/13fraud.html?pagewanted=all

[Know_Ledge 6]

Here is an article on Stokes Interviews in NY. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/nyregion/13fraud.html?pagewanted=all

Thanks Harpa

[Deema & Wayne 28]

I'm surprised that you need to go in for a stokes interview, it seemed that your interview went really well

[Know_Ledge 6]

I'm surprised that you need to go in for a stokes interview, it seemed that your interview went really well

That's what I thought too...I have no idea what caused this. The IO seemed satisfied at the interview, so I guess after they reviewed our file, they became suspicious of something. Can't come up with any reason!

[Dakine10 5,452]

Please help us guys, this journey is so long and hard. I've been doing my research about this "Stokes Interview" but I would really appreciate some help from u guys. What do we do now? What can we expect at this interview? What if they deny us?

Any response is appreciated.

IMO, nothing you posted indicates any reason that you would have to go to a Stokes interview. At the same time couples are not just selected randomly for these. There must be something they didn't like.

Is there a large difference in your ages? Was his previous wife also from a foreign country? Could she or someone else have something against your marriage and gave information/misinformation to USCIS?

Figuring out why you were selected would be helpful in preparing for the interview, since that's about all you can really do now. From what I have read about the Stoke's, prepare for the questions ahead of time as best you can, don't try to wing it, and don't ever try to guess. If you don't know something about your spouse, it's acceptable to say that - it's much better than guessing wrong. From reading previous posts, they seem to have a large list of mundane questions - what you did, what you wore, what you ate, what color is something and so on. Then sometimes they ask more personal ones.

I have lived with my wife for 10 years now. I don't know what color her toothbrush is, can't always remember what I got her for the past Christmas and sometimes I couldn't even say what we had for dinner the previous night. We have a picture in our bedroom that I think is a bunch of flowers but I'm not 100% sure. But if we had a Stokes interview in a few weeks, I would be doing my best to make a note of and remember those kinds of things.

[vicsingh05 0]

Well don't worry about the interview it should not be that hard for you if everything that you wrote on the forms is true. The age is never an issue because that's not an issuein their law book but they definitely suspected some in your docs. Any misdemeanor on your or your husbands record could have caused it. Me and my wife are 20 years apart in age difference and there was no issue with them because all our docs matched. I was asked questions that I never thought off but if you guys are really married then it should'nt be an issue.

Good luck! Be confident!

[Know_Ledge 6]

IMO, nothing you posted indicates any reason that you would have to go to a Stokes interview. At the same time couples are not just selected randomly for these. There must be something they didn't like.

Is there a large difference in your ages? Was his previous wife also from a foreign country? Could she or someone else have something against your marriage and gave information/misinformation to USCIS?

My husband is 44 and I'm 30. His wife is also a USC and I can't think of anyone that would have something against us. I have a 13 months old daughter and I remember the IO asking my husband "This is your daughter right? My husband said no, it's my stepdaughter. The IO asked him, if he was ok with that and if he was sure. I also overstayed my visa by 4 months.

My mother also lives in the States(even though I have nothing to do with her) I remember the IO looking surprised when I told him that. I honestly don't know what to think, my husband and I are so confused and stressed now What will happen if they deny us? How could they think of tearing a family apart?

[Know_Ledge 6]

I have lived with my wife for 10 years now. I don't know what color her toothbrush is, can't always remember what I got her for the past Christmas and sometimes I couldn't even say what we had for dinner the previous night. We have a picture in our bedroom that I think is a bunch of flowers but I'm not 100% sure. But if we had a Stokes interview in a few weeks, I would be doing my best to make a note of and remember those kinds of things.

My husband has really bad memory esp. when it comes to names and dates and very trivial things. I'm worried this might cause a problem.

[Know_Ledge 6]

Well don't worry about the interview it should not be that hard for you if everything that you wrote on the forms is true. The age is never an issue because that's not an issuein their law book but they definitely suspected some in your docs. Any misdemeanor on your or your husbands record could have caused it. Me and my wife are 20 years apart in age difference and there was no issue with them because all our docs matched. I was asked questions that I never thought off but if you guys are really married then it should'nt be an issue.

Good luck! Be confident!

I don't have record, never had a run in with the law, anywhere. My husband however does have a record. He was incarcerated for about 5 years back in 96. Would that we a issue. Also, he doesn't make alot of money, he has 3kids(living in a different State) but we make it work. I was working before before I got my EAD, just so I could help my husband with the expenses.

[P & T 14]

My husband is 44 and I'm 30. His wife is also a USC and I can't think of anyone that would have something against us. I have a 13 months old daughter and I remember the IO asking my husband "This is your daughter right? My husband said no, it's my stepdaughter. The IO asked him, if he was ok with that and if he was sure. I also overstayed my visa by 4 months.

I was working before before I got my EAD, just so I could help my husband with the expenses.

Are you sure of some of the things you are saying? I didnt read your first experience, but just looking at what you are saying now, I would try to better communicate answers for an interview. In these few posts, you've called some other woman his wife (not ex-wife) and you've also said that you were working before having an EAD. I thought that was an illegal no-no....... You keep this up and you might shoot yourself in the foot and shut the door on yourself...... If this is a language barrier, because English certainly isnt easy, perhaps you can use this time to train yourself- when speaking with fluent english people, you openly acknowledge that your english is improving, calmly think a bit more before you speak and relay what you really mean to say. I know when I speak with folks that acknowledge upfront that they are ESL, I provide more leeway with what they are probably trying to say or clarify with them rather than assuming they literally meant what came out of their mouth...... Regardless, I hope things go well for you.

[Know_Ledge 6]

Are you sure of some of the things you are saying? I didnt read your first experience, but just looking at what you are saying now, I would try to better communicate answers for an interview. In these few posts, you've called some other woman his wife (not ex-wife) and you've also said that you were working before having an EAD. I thought that was an illegal no-no....... You keep this up and you might shoot yourself in the foot and shut the door on yourself...... If this is a language barrier, because English certainly isnt easy, perhaps you can use this time to train yourself- when speaking with fluent english people, you openly acknowledge that your english is improving, calmly think a bit more before you speak and relay what you really mean to say. I know when I speak with folks that acknowledge upfront that they are ESL, I provide more leeway with what they are probably trying to say or clarify with them rather than assuming they literally meant what came out of their mouth...... Regardless, I hope things go well for you.

Thnak you for your reply P&T. I am the wife and I meant to say ex-wife, my apologies for the mistake. In regards to working before EAD approval, I know it's a no-no, but lying is not an option for me and I strongly believe in being honest. Nerves will sometimes get the better of people and I think that's what happened to me.

[Deema & Wayne 28]

Thnak you for your reply P&T. I am the wife and I meant to say ex-wife, my apologies for the mistake. In regards to working before EAD approval, I know it's a no-no, but lying is not an option for me and I strongly believe in being honest. Nerves will sometimes get the better of people and I think that's what happened to me.

I think I read somewhere that working without authorization is generally overlooked for the spouse of a USC, please correct me if I'm wrong.

[NinjaLadyBug 23]

Know_Ledge, You mentioned that you had a 13 month old daughter (not with your current husband correct?), which means that when you filed she was only 8 months old. Can you detail your timeline to include when you were married and dating and how old your daughter was at that point?

This may be important because your timeline may have given rise to their suspicions.

How old was your daughter when you married your current spouse? Did you date him while you were still pregnant with the other mans child or did you meet your hubby after you had your little girl?

If so, the courtship between you and your hubby was quite short no? If you were pregnant while you dated your husband, you have to explain what can be seen as an unusual practice.. If you had known him prior to the relationship that resulted in the birth of your daughter, and had been on and off for years, this could make a little more sense but still unusual.

Is the time between your husbands divorce and your marriage short? If so how long?

You also said you overstayed your visa. Although this is not a dis-qualifier, understand that your entire timeline tells a story that may not give the OI the warm fuzzies...

Just remember not to panic. The age of your child does give rise to a red flag that you may not have seen. Try to be objective. You gave birth to another mans child, met and married your new husband and quickly filed your petition after being out of status for 4 months. This is the time to really think about how your relationship can be seen in the eyes of an officer. Getting married to someone else after having a baby so soon can met with raised eyebrows to someone who has only spent 15 mins getting to know you. That doesn't mean you don't have a perfectly romantic and legitimate story to tell. You just have to be objective about your situation...

Lastly, everything you said here:

"He was incarcerated for about 5 years back in 96. Would that we a issue. Also, he doesn't make alot of money, he has 3kids(living in a different State) but we make it work. I was working before before I got my EAD, just so I could help my husband with the expenses"

... can be loosely translated to, I married an ex - con, who has weak bonds with his children, and have been financially supporting him in return for immigration benefits...

Remember, be objective about every aspect of your relationship and therein you'll find the answers...