very likely denied first interview

[Jovana and Amir 0]

Hello Everybody!

Me and my husband went for our first interview today and didn't go well. We went there with emotions and knowing each other, some classic set of evidence but with fact that his parents still do not know that we are married 'cause they are extremely traditional muslims and Amir is kind of black sheep in the family. That was a Big minus. The general feeling we got was that we looked like a couple more like a young love (one the officer also had when he was young, ironically) and that isn't good enough for ever lasting bonafied marriage, that he, as my boyfriend is actually helping me stay in the country. Any attempt of explanation was turned into putting words into our mouths and manipulating our words. 15-20 mins conversation ended in very small chances to pass and not wanting to say anything about what happens after denial. Now we are waiting for that infamous letter with little hope and fear for notorious second interview 'cause like I said emotions, knowing each other and life together wasn't in focus of immigration officer's attention today. Personally I don't have any questions for now, just wanted to share my experience with other and let know people that even confidence we had as a young couple simply wasn't good enough.

Any comment is welcomed!!!

Sincerely Jovana and Amir

[Minya's wife 25]

Hello Everybody!

Me and my husband went for our first interview today and didn't go well. We went there with emotions and knowing each other, some classic set of evidence but with fact that his parents still do not know that we are married 'cause they are extremely traditional muslims and Amir is kind of black sheep in the family. That was a Big minus. The general feeling we got was that we looked like a couple more like a young love (one the officer also had when he was young, ironically) and that isn't good enough for ever lasting bonafied marriage, that he, as my boyfriend is actually helping me stay in the country. Any attempt of explanation was turned into putting words into our mouths and manipulating our words. 15-20 mins conversation ended in very small chances to pass and not wanting to say anything about what happens after denial. Now we are waiting for that infamous letter with little hope and fear for notorious second interview 'cause like I said emotions, knowing each other and life together wasn't in focus of immigration officer's attention today. Personally I don't have any questions for now, just wanted to share my experience with other and let know people that even confidence we had as a young couple simply wasn't good enough.

Any comment is welcomed!!!

Sincerely Jovana and Amir

What were you being interveiwed for? Who is the US citizen, you or Amir? Are you married, or is he your fiance? Were you denied, or had a second interview ordered? Please give us more detail, before we can comment. Also, please fill in your timeline.

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

I kind of wonder why it matters if his parents know or not know that you guys are married or not.. during my interview they never asked us anything about that :S

[soniew910 0]

Possible Scenarios:

1) You may get an appointment for a second interview in the mail 2-3 months later. I would gather evidence.

2) You may get a Notice of Intent to Deny, which gives you 30 days to respond and submit evidence (family affidavits, personal affidavits).

Most likely, scenario #1 will happen.

[Mr Zee 0]

It seems that you don't know the outcome of your interview yet. I would concentrate on gathering evidences. What Muslim country is your Prince from? if your marriage is intended for life time, families should know yet they don't have to approve... Again there is no black sheep in "traditional family" there is differed traditionalism.

[^KK^ 3]

Interesting story...I wish you the best.

[edp333 9]

I kind of wonder why it matters if his parents know or not know that you guys are married or not.. during my interview they never asked us anything about that :S

We were asked if both of us met each other's parents, so we provided pictures as proof. The pictures satisfied the interviewing officer.

[Jovana and Amir 0]

Well I am married to Amir who is an USA citizen. I was an au pair in upstate NY. We knew each other for 6-7 months before I moved in after program, lived with him for 4 months, got married, filed this after 3 months. His parents are originally from Egypt and they raised their children in very traditional way. His mom was even searching him (and his brothers) a muslim wife when he was 20-22. Just so you can understand why we don't want to tell them over a phone cause they live 3 states away. But we both have our view of religion and faith that we weren't allowed to explain during the interview. We still don't know the outcome of our first interview but the officer was pretty pesimistic from the start. He did mention letter and response within 30 days whicH would be "Intent to Deny" or rejection or pass which I doubt.

the bottom line is we went there open about everything but never did we think of being attacked. I guess if it comes to second interview our attitudes are going to be more assertive.

[Anh map 2,098]

When did you come to the US? what visa did you come to the US with? What is the visa expiration date?

When did you meet your husband?

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

I kind of wonder why it matters if his parents know or not know that you guys are married or not.. during my interview they never asked us anything about that :S

We were asked if both of us met each other's parents, so we provided pictures as proof. The pictures satisfied the interviewing officer.

Ahh I understand.. yeah they did ask us a similar question about that.. although we didn't showed them the pictures, he did ask if we actually met... but that was also just about it.

[Marina-Del 10]

Sounds to me like you came to the US on some sort of work visa, met your current hubby and now you are applying for AOS? Is this right? And if so, which visa were you on?

How long have you been married?

What evidence did you show them at the original interview?

[Jovana and Amir 0]

Well au pairs are live in nannies that come here on j-1 visa for a year or two (by choice). After a year I applied for change of status into B-2 cause I wasn't sure what do I want to do next. I don't even have usa ID or drivers licence. B-2 was denied 8-10 months after but I filed for AOS before B-2 expired. The immigration people told me that if I filed AOS before B-2 expiration I shouldn't have had problem and I didn't, officer didn't pay almost any attention to that. But what Officer did tell me was that since B-2 was denied at the end I was here illegally even if my B2 case was pending and that I am not allowed to travel now anywhere even with approved advance parole. So our idea of Serbia, Egypt trip this year is definitely off.

I showed pics, list of last activities of our joint account, my cell phone is in his name (cause of my none existing credit history), he has me on his car insurance, old lease (cause for new one we needed a good credit and i have none so we didn't put me in and when we explained that officer wasn't pushy about it), letters I got and his pay stub coming to same address ( he said but it doesn't say his name) and then I got a ticket for running a red light once with my husband's car so I showed that as well.... that was it...

The biggest problem was his parents not knowing and not having me on his health insurance what we can easily change with some extra cost we wanted to avoid since I didn't get my work permit and currently unemployed and Amir is still young not established person in his company.

and Yes!!! Officer was upset for us not knowing when did we open our bank account. Both of us said summer last year but he kind of wanted to give him more accurate answer. I personally don't know who remembers all those trivialites like exact months of opening a bank account but next time we will be better prepared.

The annoying thing was that he was ironic since we entered the room and started convincing us that the stuff we brought to the interview could be "made up" and false for example letter from german friend didn't have my husbands name on it; so what about active joint account and my phone on Amir's name- "everybody can do that" (officer said), and I could have deliberately get a ticket for running a red light but for other formalities that Amir and I didn't do that could as easily be "arranged" he made such a fuss... literaly played with our words! he didn't ask us ONE THING about us besides to presvade him why i love amir... even then he cut me after first example that crossed my mind to say....

sorry if i write too much...

[rrobin 2]

Well au pairs are live in nannies that come here on j-1 visa for a year or two (by choice). After a year I applied for change of status into B-2 cause I wasn't sure what do I want to do next. I don't even have usa ID or drivers licence. B-2 was denied 8-10 months after but I filed for AOS before B-2 expired. The immigration people told me that if I filed AOS before B-2 expiration I shouldn't have had problem and I didn't, officer didn't pay almost any attention to that. But what Officer did tell me was that since B-2 was denied at the end I was here illegally even if my B2 case was pending and that I am not allowed to travel now anywhere even with approved advance parole. So our idea of Serbia, Egypt trip this year is definitely off.

I showed pics, list of last activities of our joint account, my cell phone is in his name (cause of my none existing credit history), he has me on his car insurance, old lease (cause for new one we needed a good credit and i have none so we didn't put me in and when we explained that officer wasn't pushy about it), letters I got and his pay stub coming to same address ( he said but it doesn't say his name) and then I got a ticket for running a red light once with my husband's car so I showed that as well.... that was it...

The biggest problem was his parents not knowing and not having me on his health insurance what we can easily change with some extra cost we wanted to avoid since I didn't get my work permit and currently unemployed and Amir is still young not established person in his company.

and Yes!!! Officer was upset for us not knowing when did we open our bank account. Both of us said summer last year but he kind of wanted to give him more accurate answer. I personally don't know who remembers all those trivialites like exact months of opening a bank account but next time we will be better prepared.

The annoying thing was that he was ironic since we entered the room and started convincing us that the stuff we brought to the interview could be "made up" and false for example letter from german friend didn't have my husbands name on it; so what about active joint account and my phone on Amir's name- "everybody can do that" (officer said), and I could have deliberately get a ticket for running a red light but for other formalities that Amir and I didn't do that could as easily be "arranged" he made such a fuss... literaly played with our words! he didn't ask us ONE THING about us besides to presvade him why i love amir... even then he cut me after first example that crossed my mind to say....

sorry if i write too much...

Is Amir younger than you?

[Jovana and Amir 0]

Amir is 23 and I am 24....

[lovers0720 1]

I'm sorry to hear about your Interview experience. Let's just hope for the best.