Separate interview and no decision

[mjaskiew 8]

My friend had an interview for AOS today. He is applying for AOS his wife is USC. After a few questions they were separated because the IO did not like their responses. Each was questioned for about an hour and asked about 100-150 questions, including when was the last time you had sex (so pretty much like Stokes interview). For the most part their responses are the same, but they had some discrepancies (such as what did you do for your husband's birthday, they both said went to the restaurant but gave different restaurant name). After the interview the IO told them she would send the letter stating what other documents proving bona fide marriage they need to send. What do you guys think about it? Is this a good sign? Thank you!

[HeatDeath 430]

I think this is definitely a good sign.

From what I've read of Stokes interviews, if they had failed outright they would have been notified immediately. A Stokes interview is (from what I've read) generally only invoked if the IO is virtually certain of it's impending failure and just requires documentation to justify the intended denial. The fact that they have not yet been denied outright means that they passed the Stokes interview (their answers matched on a sufficiently high percentage of the questions - it's a strictly numerical threshold) and, assuming they can produce the requested documentation, may no longer be in imminent danger of denial.

Edited April 8, 2010 by HeatDeath

[Nartaki 7]

Do you know what kind of responses got them seperated in the first place? Did they bring enough evidence of bonafide marriage to show the IO?

If the IO states she needs more evidence of bonafide marriage, then probably its more of a paperwork issue.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Heck, I don't even remember for sure what we did on my husband's birthday and that was just 3 months ago! If you eat out pretty regularly it would be easy to mix up the names of a restaurant. I hope the interviewer is realistic enough to realize that even in the best of marriages you don't recall every single detail of every single day, even the more important days. Yes, it does sound more optimistic than not, so hopefully they will get their decision soon.

[mjaskiew 8]

Thank you for your responses. We also think and hope it would be just a matter of sending more documents proving comingling etc.

I think they had a really bad luck today. The IO seemed to be questioning/not believing pretty much every single answer. What they think triggered the separate interviews was the fact that her parents do not know about the marriage. But this is what is it is, she is not in the best terms with her parents , she does not talk to them, so they just said the truth. Also, he is eight years younger, but I'm just guessing this might have been a red flag for the IO. Hopefully they will get the letter soon, so they can stop worrying about it... Will keep you updated. I will also try to get the questions together and write it down, it might be helpul for others.

Edited April 9, 2010 by mjaskiew

[TBoneTX 43,045]

From what I've read of Stokes interviews, if they had failed outright they would have been notified immediately. A Stokes interview is (from what I've read) generally only invoked if the IO is virtually certain of it's impending failure and just requires documentation to justify the intended denial.

This may be true generally, but at the Guayaquil (Ecuador) consulate, Stokes interviews are standard operating procedure if the USC is not present for the fiance/e's or spouse's FIRST interview. The Stokes is not conducted by an American; the answer (pass or fail) is not given immediately or even in what reasonable persons would consider a timely fashion; the requests for additional information thereafter can seem never-ending; and the USC is treated like even more of a criminal (if possible) than the foreign fiance/e or spouse. Interviewees in Guayaquil would be overjoyed to experience a "regular" Stokes interview, sigh man.

[Alla 3]

My friend had an interview for AOS today. He is applying for AOS his wife is USC. After a few questions they were separated because the IO did not like their responses. Each was questioned for about an hour and asked about 100-150 questions, including when was the last time you had sex (so pretty much like Stokes interview). For the most part their responses are the same, but they had some discrepancies (such as what did you do for your husband's birthday, they both said went to the restaurant but gave different restaurant name). After the interview the IO told them she would send the letter stating what other documents proving bona fide marriage they need to send. What do you guys think about it? Is this a good sign? Thank you!

I think it's okay. In worst case they might have the second interview. It's normal not to answer all questions perfectly the same. I read somewhere that it's suspicious if you answer every single question out of 150 the same.

[mjaskiew 8]

This is the list of the documents they had for the interview: car insurance, joint checking account statement, joint tax return, lease from the apartment complex showing both their names (the IO was very unsatisfied that the wife did not sign the contract, they explained that the husband moved in a few months before he even met the wife, hence lack of wife's signature on the contract form - the IO did not believe this explanation!). I think that's it, also they did not have any pictures with them.

The wife is studying right now and she only has a part time job, so they asked a friend to be the I-864 sponsor. The IO asked a bunch of questions about the sponsor, implying that the husband has an affair with the sponsor!!! I mean, how can they say something like that?? When the USC wife was interviewed separately, the IO talked about the sponsor again, saying "your husband married you just for the green card, but he really doesn't love you"... This really was a nightmare, they, however, stayed composed and polite for the whole time... They are really frustrated right now though, not knowing what is next...

Here are some of the questions they were asked during the separate interviews: date of engagement, what did the husband/wife eat for breakfast yesterday, who woke up first yesterday, when was the last time you had sex, what form of contraception do you use, gifts for Christmas/birthdays, what did you do last Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, birthday, what furniture do you have in the apartment/bedroom, what side of the bed do you sleep, names of parents/sibling.

All these questions look like classic Stokes interview questions.

One more thing - probably important - the IO took husband's I-94, she also went over his I-485 form making sure everything is correct. He was also asked all these 12 or so "no" questions. In my opinion, this is also a good sign (especially taking the I-94).

[Laura & Kyle 16]

Age alone is not a reason and would not cause a red flag, unless it's based on the country the person is AOSing from. My husband and I are more than 8 years in difference, me being older, and I am the USC. However, Kyle is from the UK.. but age alone is not a red flag.

[Nartaki 7]

I think the age difference did contribute towards their seperation at the interview. For you Laura and Kyle, the age difference didnt seem to matter because there were no other "red flags" in your application. However in this case, the absence of pictures and maybe the lack of the signature of the USC spouse would make it appear suspicious. I think they did have other good solid evidence of bonafide marriage presented and maybe thats why I am being optimistic in this case.

[besaangel 17]

As you stated, his taking of the I-94 is more likely than not, a good sign as a denial would have caused the IO to leave the I-94 in the passport and the husband to revert to his previous status. This is a bit unnerving but they should be just fine. As said in the previous post, the absence of pics may be a minor issue but IOs typically like and prefer to see pics of the happy couple together versus having to read and review bank account and leases.

[thongd4me 69]

My friend had an interview for AOS today. He is applying for AOS his wife is USC. After a few questions they were separated because the IO did not like their responses. Each was questioned for about an hour and asked about 100-150 questions, including when was the last time you had sex (so pretty much like Stokes interview). For the most part their responses are the same, but they had some discrepancies (such as what did you do for your husband's birthday, they both said went to the restaurant but gave different restaurant name). After the interview the IO told them she would send the letter stating what other documents proving bona fide marriage they need to send. What do you guys think about it? Is this a good sign? Thank you!

I'd just wait for the letter and leave it at that. No sense in presuming a 3rd party like myself

would be clairvoyant about an interview that they didn't participate in.

If I put myself in that situation and it was I who was trying to adjust status in Thailand,

you can bet I wouldn't remember the Thai name of the restaurant we went to, but I might

remember things as what train stop it was near or what major intersection or landmark

it was near. Not everyone remembers things in exactly the same way and they should

take that into consideration.