My Interview Experience, Garden City NY

[sasaqlain 24]

Hi All,

So, I am not sure what the end result is going to be, but maybe you would be able to make something of it.

We reached USCIS building at 7:45 AM and were told to sit in the waiting area after submitting our I-485 at the booth. We were ushedred to the 2nd floor at 8:15AM. There were lots of couples/people there for one case or the other. Our interview was scheduled for 8:30AM but our name was called at around 9:30AM. The middleaged Officer seemed to be an experienced one and asked us to follow him to his office. He asked us to raise our hands and took our oath. Then when we were seated, he asked for ID's. I was expecting questions related to my AOS from B-2 and that too immediately after my arrival. To my surprise, his first question was when was the baby due. The he asked what I did? I told him, I still managed my business back home. He asked my wife about her job and asked us if it was a traditional marriage where families were involved. I told him we were decision makers but yes, families were involved. Asked us about the hospital where the baby was to be born. He was going through the file that was already on his desk while flipping my Passport too. Asked about our previous marriages and divorce decrees.

He asked my wife since it was a spousal petition, he doesn't see our I-130 petition on file. I was a bit surprised and showed him the Approval Notice for I-130. He seemed surprised and took the Notice from me.

He asked me about my hometown and we discussed various cultural things. The only problem that arose was that He didn't seem convinced on the copy of my previous divorce. he wanted to see the original whereas I had submitted a copy with a certified translation. He said, he wont give me a RFE, and keep the file before the supervisor gets his hands on the file. Since the Original divorce document is a requirement, he said I should have it mailed from back home and personally deliver it to the USCIS building. He said, to simply write his name on the envelope and leave it at the front desk when it arrives. What bothers me is that he returned my I-94 and wrote CR6 pending on my passport( WHAT DOES CR6 MEAN?). I asked him if he needed to keep my EAD card or the AP. To which he said, he doesn't need them. His words," when you have your green card, even you won't need the EAD and AP and should just discard them." But he did say that if I don't submit the divorce documents, the case seems deniable. I didn't know it was that big of a deal. In the end he asked me the typical Yes/No questions from the I-485. To which I replied NO to all.

The IO never asked anything about my intentions, my B-2 status or anything. He asked to see pictures and took out a clear picture of us to keep in file. I offered joint statements and Tax documents and other things. he seemed least interested in them but took out one or two papers from some of them for filing. In the end, he said, thats about it, and smiled and saw us out the door.

What I am confused on, is that it didn't seem like an interview. The IO never asked any of the questions that I was expecting and had it been not for the divorce document, it would have been a flawless interview. I tried explaining that what I had submitted was all that was needed, but then gave up, thinking that he probably wants to see the original document that isn't even in english. I have already asked for the documents to be sent to me through fedex.

Atleast the worry is over now. The ball is in their courts. Whatever the outcome.

What do you guys think?

PS: I thank Christerra22, kittykisses73, SeptemberGold, trillium13, miyaki, immi_007, Bobby_Umit, Tuchy, furiousng for your support, help and words of encouragement. VJ made it possible for us this far. My gratitude to you all!

Edited July 21, 2009 by saspak

[familyguy 2]

It is a code that means your I-485 is pending, and if approved you'll be a Conditional Permanent Resident, if you had been married 2 years then it would be IR6

[Kittykisses73 1]

Hey! We had a problem with my husband divorce document yesterday in Orlando! She seemed uncertain what to do because they don't look like ours & it worried me a bit, but we got the glorious "card production ordered" email today so it must have turned out ok. I hope yours does too! You may want to have them translated as well so when you send them in, they won't have anything to come back to you for! Our interview was about like yours LOL none of the questions we expected & the IO was so nice & personable, I must say we were pleasantly surprised! We got approved in 139 days! I feel so fortunate!

Let me know how yours comes out!

Best of luck!

[sasaqlain 24]

Hey! We had a problem with my husband divorce document yesterday in Orlando! She seemed uncertain what to do because they don't look like ours & it worried me a bit, but we got the glorious "card production ordered" email today so it must have turned out ok. I hope yours does too! You may want to have them translated as well so when you send them in, they won't have anything to come back to you for! Our interview was about like yours LOL none of the questions we expected & the IO was so nice & personable, I must say we were pleasantly surprised! We got approved in 139 days! I feel so fortunate!

Let me know how yours comes out!

Best of luck!

Congratulations! I hope, i receive something before i have to submit the original documents. Pray for me.

[christera22 8]

Saspak bhai salam walequm. See I dnt think him not taking the I-94 & EAD is any problem. Because our IO told us that its a pattern of some offices to take them, some dnt. Now you are fretting over the CR6 thing which is nothign but a good news. Familyguy almost told you the same thing but didnt explain it to you properly. To all who posts here, some guy here is is big tension and we can take some more lenient attitude while explaining stuff.

'CR6'. which stands for CONDITIONAL. That means as becasue you are married less than two years, you wd get a 2 yrs conditional green card. So thats a good news. Means IO wants to approve you Saspak.

But why he wants the original divorce certificate ?? wdnt it be ok if you mail a notarized photocopy to him ? I guess if his supervisor doesnt give a RFE then theres nothing that can stop the approval.

Try to understand something Saspak, whenever the IO doesnt want to see something , it means he is satisfied with whatever he has......... your proof with the baby is quite a good evidence.Thats why he asked you about the hospital where the baby was to be born.

I dnty understand how can the I-130 application get lost ?? and why is he not aware of the I-130 approval ?

I dnt think there is anything to worry other than a RFE. I think you shd get a email or update online on your I-130 & I-485 within couple days. If it happens then no need to send any more docs. IF not then i guess its good to send a translated , notarised copy of the divorce copy.

You wd be fine ......... keep us updated ...............we are here with you like a family Saspak. Keep trust on the God.

Edited July 22, 2009 by christera22

[trillium13 84]

Hey saspak! Glad that part is over for you. I know how nerve racking it is for sure. Sounds like all that's really holding you up is your divorce certificate. Sounds like something that's easily taken care of. Hope you receive it quickly. Strange about the I-130, but you had the notice, so this is good.

I know what you mean about expecting more questions-we did too. Didn't get any. Our IO didn't take anything from us either (I-94, EAD) , so I wouldn't put too much emphasis on that.

If all they're worried about is a proper divorce certificate, and you can provide one, then I think you have no problems at all, just MORE waiting. I think if they had wanted to deny you for any other reason, you'd have known it by now.

Will be anxiously awaiting your post that your card production has been ordered!

[furiousng 2]

It sounds like your only hold up now is the divorce documents original. All will be well in the end and you will soon post your CPO. Keep your head up man. Cheers!

[visacheck 3]

Just give them what they want and you'll be fine. Dont even worry about it. I know it would have been a lot better if you were approved right there and then instead of getting a "verbal RFE" but im sure you're application will be approved.

[Septembergold 0]

Well, you`ve had your interview! That`s half a battle! Or 3/4 )) It`s great that you Can provide your divorce decree, so it`s not something to worry about. Just a little bit more waiting. But once that`s taken care of, you`re done!

I`m sorry you`re having all these obstacles. But you`re almost there! Hang on!

And what could happen is that you can get an online update saying you were approved in a couple of days, even without submitting anything. But I`m glad you`re prepared anyway. Hang on!!!

P.S. Our IO didn`t take my I-94 or EAD either.

[sasaqlain 24]

Thank you all! Your words have given me hope I was advised never to argue with the IO otherwise I wanted to tell the kind officer that the document he required didn't really matter since it was already accepted by the USCIS and thus I-130 was approved. I dont know why the same document became an issue for the I-485. But, I'll receive the original in 2 days and take it personally to the USCIS office.

One other thing I am wondering. I know there is no way I will be able to get to see the IO when I do go. he asked me to leave the documents in an envelope at the reception. I believe any document that you send becomes the property of USCIS and gets attached to your file. How am I going to get my original Divorce Decree back. What if it gets lost or never reaches the concerned officer. I won't have any proof, if later on they deny they didn't receive it. When I came back home, I went through the file that I had taken to the interview. The IO did keep the copy of the divorce along with its translation in his file. So why take something that you werent even satisfied with. Man this is so confusing

Anyways, I am grateful to all you friends for being there for me, whenever I needed help.

May God Bless us all!

Edited July 22, 2009 by saspak

[justkris 0]

hello saspak,

i think christera22 is obsolutely correct. what ever he says is ture. sure god will help you.just send them whatever they asked for.

good luck.

[sasaqlain 24]

hello saspak,

i think christera22 is obsolutely correct. what ever he says is ture. sure god will help you.just send them whatever they asked for.

good luck.

Thank You justkris. Have you decided what course to take on your case?

[rrobin 2]

hello saspak,

i think christera22 is obsolutely correct. what ever he says is ture. sure god will help you.just send them whatever they asked for.

good luck.

Thank You justkris. Have you decided what course to take on your case?

How fresh is your divorce? If the latest marriage happened within weeks or months of the divorce, officer may suspect fraud. Additionaly, any overwriting or smudge on the copy (or its translation), if present, may have prompted the officer to suspect forgery.

Once you provide the original, you should not have a problem, at least in theory.

Edited July 22, 2009 by rrobin

[sasaqlain 24]

Ohh, The divorce was finalized way before I remarried. But I should have been given some sort of indication on my case, subject to verification.