Garden City interview experience

[clairvoyant 0]

The appointment time was 1:30PM on 7/17/2006.

We went to Hempstead station visa LIRR.There is a bus terminal in front of the LIRR station.

Took LIRR bus to 117 stewart Ave.Should ask driver where to get off.

The building is so big .Be carefull that the entrance is located on east side of building.

It takes 5 minites from west side to east side of building by walk.

We arrived at 1:20PM. Went through normal security check and passed the interview letter to windows 1 on 1st floor. Wait until 3:00. A lady took us to 2nd floor. Waited for 15mins.

Asian lady officer took us to her office. Not cubicle , does it mean a superviser?

Anyway, She asked us if laywer is with us. "No." because We submited G-28 but we didn;t take him.

We signed the waiver of Laywer presence. No oath. then it started all of the sudden.

She asked us the evidence of relationship , passport , employment letter, utility bill, birth certificates of us.

Concurrently She asked my wife questions like a strict teacher.My wife gets so nervous.

(She intented to make us in a rush. and want to make us nervous maybe)

When was the wedding? When your husband enter to US? What did he do for living? and so on.

Have you met his parents? My wife is a english speaker but ,

she couln't answer smoothly because she was too nervous.

She asked the photos of us . We showed her 20 of them.And she asked us to pick up two of photos for her to keep(no sunglasses ,face front).

Then she started to ask me. How may sisters or brothers my wife has?

When did you make bank accounts. I couldn't remeber so I said so.

And many should-be-answered-"No" questions.

I cannot remember much because I was also so nervous.

She asked me to show her my tax return. I didnt bring the photo copy ,only original.

So she took my original tax return.

Our problem is that we filed taxreturn as singles.

I must be a problem. But we didn't know if that is problem.

She took my I-94, return AP and EAD and IDs , and other utility and lease docs.

She wrote something on my Passport.

It says we took interview on 7/17/2006 @garden city as AOS pending.

Finally she said the mail will be sent to us in weeks or a month or months.

Actually , it was so tough experience. we got too nervous. and no stamps......

What I learned from this is that we should have practiced more for the interview not to get nervous.

And we should have filed tax return jointly. make photocopies of all.

Hope your interview will be easy one.And I wish we will get approval soon.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Sorry to hear you had such a ###### of an interviewer. I'm sure everything will be fine though!

[Peter Miami 0]

Thank you for posting your experience. I am sorry it went so rough but hopefully everything when well.

Good luck,

Peter Miami

[Gatorfan 0]

Sorry to hear about your experience. I believe the fact she took your I-94 and other docs may a good sign.

Good luck and hopefully you will hear something soon.

[arprofe 0]

Don't worry. Although we had a great experience at Garden City I can tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We thought we were going to get the GC in a few days as some of our friends in different states did, even those close to us in NJ and CT. Just for you to know, expect to wait at least 6 weeks to hear from them.

My wife finally got her Welcome letter yesterday although no GC yet but I know is coming soon!! I have to believe that.

Anyway, as many had told me before, for Garden City the wait is at least 6 to 8 weeks.

Did they tell you you were approved?

I was told during my interview that we were approved so maybe they said it to you and you were so nervous that maybe you missed that.

Don't worry, you will hear from them soon.

arprofe

Edited July 18, 2006 by arprofe

[tomica52 0]

It all went well, so that is all that matters. I think you were nervous as well which made the whole experience even worse...

Hope yo uget your GC soon.

[mamata 1]

Don't worry. Although we had a great experience at Garden City I can tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. We thought we were going to get the GC in a few days as some of our friends in different states did, even those close to us in NJ and CT. Just for you to know, expect to wait at least 6 weeks to hear from them.

My wife finally got her Welcome letter yesterday although no GC yet but I know is coming soon!! I have to believe that.

Anyway, as many had told me before, for Garden City the wait is at least 6 to 8 weeks.

Did they tell you you were approved?

I was told during my interview that we were approved so maybe they said it to you and you were so nervous that maybe you missed that.

Don't worry, you will hear from them soon.

arprofe

I had an interview at Garden city as well. The lady who conducted my interview also a Asian woman. She asked me the same as you posted. My hubby didn't give her the good answer since he didn't realize that it's so important. She took my I94 and wrote on my passport that I 485 pending/CR6. I have no idea what's gonna happen to my status. I have check the case online and found nothing changed or touch.

Just hope everything will going well.

mamata

[stevey 0]

I think all will be well clairvoyant. Hope you get the approval letter and green card soon.

Are all the interviews english only at Garden City? My wife can speak english, but is not fluent. Anyone know if they would provide an interviewer who can speak spanish to her at Garden City??? Can we bring a translator?

[clairvoyant 0]

To stevey:

I think you can go with interpretor.Some guy seemed to be with interpretor.

To mamata;

Maybe she is the same officer as mine. She wrote the same thing on my passport.This might be for reentering US cause I am going to a trip overseas.

And Our status are "AOS Pending" until the decision be made.

On USCIS Status online site, Nothing happened.

To arprofe:

I am sure that She didn't say I was approved.

And she didn't take my AP and EAD.

[camaleon 0]

I am in the same boat, am waiting for mine too the guy told me that I should get an anwser in a month or so...

Lets see whta happend.

[pri 0]

Thanks for sharing your experience...

Sorry to hear... But dont worry..Everything will fall in places..

All the best and God Bless

[NigerLA 1]

To mamata;

Maybe she is the same officer as mine. She wrote the same thing on my passport.This might be for reentering US cause I am going to a trip overseas.

And Our status are "AOS Pending" until the decision be made.

On USCIS Status online site, Nothing happened.

I just read your quote saying the writing on your passport by the Interviewing Officer is for travelling overseas. I do not believe that and neither should you, it is not a visa and cannot be used in a place of a green card.

Except you have your advance Parole letter in your hands, I would strongly not advice you to do that. I had that written on my passport as well and the Officer clearly said, it does not take the place of a green card.

All the best.

[clairvoyant 0]

Fortunately , I finnally got Green card in my hand.

Thanks everyone.

I went to Japan last week and I found that my case was approved online. Then I returned to US last Sunday with AP.

Here is how I went through the JFK POE with AP.

They had my wife (US citizen) and I (AOS pending at this time) be on the visitors line. She just gave her passport to the officer.I gave Passport ,Advance Parole(2 letters) and I-94. No questions from him.

He took us to other room with no door.He passed all stuff to other office and he left. In a minute the officer approved me and gave back the whole things to me.(Didn't take one of my APs). It went so smoothly.

Then I got welcome letter at home and have got GC now.

Remember that AP entry needs I-94 and be on the line of visitors.

Hope this helps.