AOS App and Interview Experience

[ranjen0703 0]

Hopefully this can help my fellow AOS applicants.

When the flight stewardess asked me to fill up the form I-94 in the plane, I didn't realize how important it was. I didn't know what to do with it, if I had to keep a copy of it or just give the whole thing to the Immigration Officer. The Immigration officer would stamp that said form the date of your 90th day stay in the US and therefore you have to get married and send your AOS (form 1-485) app before that date. You have to makes sure that the officer is giving you a copy of it. I sent my I-485 App together with my EAD app on Sept 15, 2009. I received NOA1 after a week, and my Biometric Appointment notice 4 days after. On October 13, 2009, me and my husband went to the nearest USCIS office and had my biometric and photo taken. The process was smooth and efficient that the entire process took about 10 mins or so. Then on the last week of October I received my EAD ID wohooooo!

Somewhere on the 3rd week of November I received my Interview appointment notice. In that notice, you are given a list of things to bring. It's recommended that you bring the mentioned docs, but the most important docs that the officer would ask from you are the proofs of relationship like a joint account statement, if you're under your spouse's insurance, if your name is on the house title or anything at all that could prove that authenticity of the relationship. In my case I brought a thick folder of docs but the interview officer was only asking for my husband's health and life insurance with my name as the beneficiary and the I-94 form. He also asked me to provide wedding and vacation pics. But he didn't bother to ask for our marriage certificate. The interview questions were very simple

Example:

NAme of your Spouse

You and Your Spouse' Birthday

Do you live together? What's the address?

How did you meet?

Where and when did you get married?

Do you have kids on your previous marriage?

Another tip - don't bring cellphones or any electronic device inside the building. We made that mistake and my husband had to rush back to the car to leave our phones there, and boy the parking lot where our car was parked was about a 3 min walk (6 min in total). When we finally reached the interview area, there were about 15 people seated there but among us I was called first (waiting was only 2 min). The officer was really nice, friendly, and accommodating. He said that I should expect my green card somewhere in Feb or March of this year. I'm crossing my fingers that it will be soon. One interesting thing he told us was that once I get my green card I should be able to travel outside US. This is just awesome! But I have doubts about it because I also heard that it's only after the lifting of conditional residency (2 years of stay) that I can travel outside US. Well, one good thing to do is to call USCIS to verify this info if one has to really go out of the country. This is all I can share with you as of now. If you questions, just go ahead and fire it up...

Good Luck to all of us!

[mamaSue 38]

I'm happy it all went well for you!

You can travel outside the US with a conditional GC.... no problem!

We've travelled a lot since I got mine.... never had a problem at all!

A conditional GC is a GC in all senses.... you just have to remove conditions after 2years if you want to keep it!

[HeatDeath 431]

Yep. Just carry your PI passport (remember to keep it valid) and your 2-year green card and you're good to go. Just remember that when you're traveling somewhere, check with their embassy website to see if you, as a PI citizen, need a visa. The green card should get you into Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and (maybe the EU countries) without a special visa, but anywhere else, and you probably need a visa, the same as any PI citizen.

[ranjen0703 0]

Yep. Just carry your PI passport (remember to keep it valid) and your 2-year green card and you're good to go. Just remember that when you're traveling somewhere, check with their embassy website to see if you, as a PI citizen, need a visa. The green card should get you into Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and (maybe the EU countries) without a special visa, but anywhere else, and you probably need a visa, the same as any PI citizen.

Oh wow! It's really awesome to know that! Thanks for the info, confirmation and advice guys!

[v333k 59]

Oh wow! It's really awesome to know that! Thanks for the info, confirmation and advice guys!

That is correct. Your 2 year conditional GC is just a GC that expires in 2 years. Make sure you don't travel a lot though and for periods greater than 6 months. This is a restriction to satisfy the residency and not the 2 year GC. Also, make sure to keep record of all your documents from this point forward and they are with both your names so you can provide them as evidence when you apply for Removal of Conditions (ROC) 2 years from now.

Regarding travel: If you do travel together, then make sure you keep airplane itineraries as evidence - it helps. Wherever you travel, you are traveling under your PI passport so double check if your destination country requires a visa for PI citizens or not - best thing is to call the local embassy/consulate and mention that you are a PI citizen with a US GC.

One final comment: Remember that you are responsible for filing for ROC and it you forget then it is your fault. You are allowed to file within 90 days from your 2-year GC expiration date and not any day earlier.

Congratulations on your AOS!

Edited February 6, 2010 by v333k