Interview in Fort Smith, AR

[taminatress 0]

Hello everyone,

I wanted to come on and let you know about my interview experience yesterday. Particularly for anyone on here that has overstayed as I had, this might give you some hope. I know it can be a difficult and lonely experience being outside the system. Many of us are just here to be with the people we love and sometimes end up making uninformed, bad decisions. I want to tell you that it is still possible for your dreams to come true!

I had come here on a visit and met my now husband. I visited a number of times and then on my last visit in Aug, 2005 I ended up not returning. I mostly thought I could stay due to some very bad lawyer advice, so please do your own homework too, don't just rely on what one lawyer says. There are good ones and not so good ones.

Anyhow, I ended up not returning to Canada and moved in with my sweetie. He was also Canadian. In 2006 he applied for his citizenship. He had lived here 20 years legally by then. In 2007 we were married. In Feb 2008 we filed the package for me to adjust status in the US.

My husband and I were very nervous and made sure we were well prepared before heading off that day. We brought our wedding photo album and some other random photos of us with our families showing how long we'd known each other. We had joint bank statements, house ownership papers, all the wedding cards we received and some postcards from relatives addressed to both of us as well as originals of all the document copies we had submitted.

We arrived about 45 minutes early for our 11am appointment. The waiting area was showing the inauguration as it was Jan. 20, which was great because it gave us something to focus on besides just being nervous. We got to watch Obama get sworn in, listened to his whole speech and then shortly after that a man stepped out and called my name. I was confused and said, "Just me or should my husband come too?" Thankfully, he meant for both of us to come. For a minute I thought they were going to do some weird separate interview tactic. Scary!

When we got to his office we swore to tell the truth and he had us sit down. One of his first questions was about the name on my application. I had put my maiden name on there since I was going to do the name change when I got through the immigration process. He asked if I would want that name on my card or if I were taking my husband's name because if they put the card in my name and I wanted to change it there was a $300 fee and a bunch of hassles. I couldn't believe my ears. Was he really already talking about me having a green card??!!At that moment my husband and I relaxed considerably.

Then he went through the "no" questions, but not all of them I think. He confirmed our address, my parents names and checked my passport. He then asked about my last entry into the US. I was nervous about this because I had a stamp from 2004 but my last entry was actually 2005. In Canada they rarely stamped passports when driving across the border, they would just wave you through. I explained that I had been admitted legally by an agent and he put me at ease by saying he knew about wave throughs because he used to work at the border. Oh happy day! He noted that my passport had been valid when I crossed and that was about it.

He said everything looked good and that IF he approved me that day I would get the card in about 3 weeks. Be sure to check the mail he said. He asked if we had questions and we asked a few things mostly because I think we were in shock that it was so easy. He never actually said he would for sure approve me, but he certainly hinted numerous times that he would.

The agent was friendly. He looked at pretty much nothing that we brought. He only checked my passport and our driver's licenses when we first sat down. It seemed apparent that he had decided our fate before we even showed up! So, we were ecstatic when we left because it seemed like everything was in order, but I was still reserving just a shade of doubt. Until....

Later that night I received an email saying, "card production ordered" !!!!!!!!! The email said I will get the card in the mail within 30 days. I am so freakin' happy I can't even express it!

Finally legal in AR!

[Beantownbabe 1]

Gosh that must feel wonderful! Congratulations and be sure to celebrate by flying back to visit Canada!

[Thai family 0]

Congratulations! Your story should give some others hope.

Thai Mom

[taminatress 0]

It does feel wonderful indeed and we are planning a Canada trip for this summer. My grandparents are ailing and I am so relieved to be able to see them soon.

[Canadianmade 1]

Congradulation Taminatress for getting approved for your green card Thank you for sharing your story and interview experience with us all, and it gives me tremendous hope because, I am in the same situation as you were and my interview is coming up in a week and a half. You should definately celebrate with some molson canadian beers . My wife and I are planning to visit Toronto once I get my green card.