AOS Interview complete, but no answer given.

[Jonathan Matthies 1]

We had our 2nd AOS interview today, the first 'interview' is detailed Here. I paid for a professional translator, and a lovely lady whom we had never met, but who has lived maybe a mile from my family for 23 years, was assigned to us. We were not given a decision today. Instead the Officer said we'd receive his decision in the mail.

We had a different officer, but the tone of the interview was similar to the first one. However, since we had a translator, this interview was not prematurely stopped. We spent 15 minutes in there in total, and he mainly asked cursory questions about her birthday, mother/father name, etc. He asked where Denis' father was, and if they were married (still in Russia and never officially married). He wanted copies of joint documentation. We provided health insurance, car insurance, joint bank accounts, and an Xcel Energy bill. I forgot to copy the insurance cards, and he seemed slightly miffed with that omission. He did not want to see photos or correspondence, just joint accounts.

Denis started fidgeting 3 minutes in, as a 5 year old usually does, but at least he wasn't yelled at. The officer asked Denis if he could wait silently 5 or 10 minutes, and then we'd be done. And 10 minutes later we were done. He only asked me a couple questions, when/where we met and if this marriage was real and not a sham. He then stepped out a minute, perhaps to photocopy our driver's licenses (as he had them in his hand when he left). As we were escorted out he mentioned that his decision would come in the mail. And that was it.

It was easy, but we still have no definite answer. I am assuming it's a yes, but I could be dead wrong. At least they weren't apprehended right there in the office and carted away; so I'll take this experience as a victory.

I hate waiting. You'd think I'd be used to it, but I'm not.

[1HappyGuy 45]

It sounds to me like you have a winner. If there was really something that was going to cause him to disallow your AOS, he would have made it pretty clear. So, put me in the "Yahoo, you finished a major step column". :dance:

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

We had our 2nd AOS interview today, the first 'interview' is detailed Here. I paid for a professional translator, and a lovely lady whom we had never met, but who has lived maybe a mile from my family for 23 years, was assigned to us. We were not given a decision today. Instead the Officer said we'd receive his decision in the mail.

We had a different officer, but the tone of the interview was similar to the first one. However, since we had a translator, this interview was not prematurely stopped. We spent 15 minutes in there in total, and he mainly asked cursory questions about her birthday, mother/father name, etc. He asked where Denis' father was, and if they were married (still in Russia and never officially married). He wanted copies of joint documentation. We provided health insurance, car insurance, joint bank accounts, and an Xcel Energy bill. I forgot to copy the insurance cards, and he seemed slightly miffed with that omission. He did not want to see photos or correspondence, just joint accounts.

Denis started fidgeting 3 minutes in, as a 5 year old usually does, but at least he wasn't yelled at. The officer asked Denis if he could wait silently 5 or 10 minutes, and then we'd be done. And 10 minutes later we were done. He only asked me a couple questions, when/where we met and if this marriage was real and not a sham. He then stepped out a minute, perhaps to photocopy our driver's licenses (as he had them in his hand when he left). As we were escorted out he mentioned that his decision would come in the mail. And that was it.

It was easy, but we still have no definite answer. I am assuming it's a yes, but I could be dead wrong. At least they weren't apprehended right there in the office and carted away; so I'll take this experience as a victory.

I hate waiting. You'd think I'd be used to it, but I'm not.

Doesn't sound like anything worrisome. Some offies and some officers prefer to just coolect all the data and do everything in writing. Some of the questions are verification questions. They asked Alla her moethers name, date of birth, etc as he held her G-325 in his hand. We were enevr asked any questions regarding if our marriage was legit and never asked to show any evidence, though we had plenty. Sounds like some routine questions. I think if there was any problem there would have been some more questions asked.

[engineer21 51]

I agree, it sounds like an interview well done!

I hope you get some good news soon

[slim 1,514]

It was easy, but we still have no definite answer. I am assuming it's a yes, but I could be dead wrong. At least they weren't apprehended right there in the office and carted away; so I'll take this experience as a victory.

When we went to our AOS interview they did the same thing. No definite answer but nothing bad either.

A few weeks later, it was all good.

We went on Friday for Naturalization interview. I couldn't go in this time so I don't know exactly what happened but it seems much like last time. Routine questions followed by "we'll let you know."

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

When we went to our AOS interview they did the same thing. No definite answer but nothing bad either.

A few weeks later, it was all good.

We went on Friday for Naturalization interview. I couldn't go in this time so I don't know exactly what happened but it seems much like last time. Routine questions followed by "we'll let you know."

Slim, you know this means you won't be married to a Russian anymore.

[slim 1,514]

Slim, you know this means you won't be married to a Russian anymore.

We've talked a bit about that and we're going to start telling everyone she's from Cincinnati. When they ask about her accent, we're going to say "East Side. Faaaaaar East Side."

She will still be Russian though even though she'll renounce allegiance to all other countries in her ceremony. I guess she'll be somewhat like a spy with two passports and a P-22.

[Jonathan Matthies 1]

Katya received her welcome letter today. It was postmarked on the 27th; which was the day of the interview. Now to rest for 2 years and do this ####### all over again.

edit: random thought, Denis starts kindergarten in under a month. Since I have no interview to worry about, I get to devote all my worrying to school. Oh #######.

Edited July 30, 2010 by Jonathan Matthies

[engineer21 51]

Katya received her welcome letter today. It was postmarked on the 27th; which was the day of the interview. Now to rest for 2 years and do this ####### all over again.

edit: random thought, Denis starts kindergarten in under a month. Since I have no interview to worry about, I get to devote all my worrying to school. Oh #######.

Congrats!!! That was fast!

[slim 1,514]

Katya received her welcome letter today.

Excellent!

edit: random thought, Denis starts kindergarten in under a month. Since I have no interview to worry about, I get to devote all my worrying to school. Oh #######.

Don't worry about him at all. He's going to do great. Kids at that age are like sponges and he'll soak up both English and American culture in no time.

In all seriuosness, you could probably have him and mom doing lessons together because they'd probably benefit her just as much as him. Maybe not kindergarten, but in the next year or two. I know when I was first learning Russian I used a lot of kids books and elementary learning tools.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Katya received her welcome letter today. It was postmarked on the 27th; which was the day of the interview. Now to rest for 2 years and do this ####### all over again.

edit: random thought, Denis starts kindergarten in under a month. Since I have no interview to worry about, I get to devote all my worrying to school. Oh #######.

Congratulations!

Kindergarten should be relatively easy. Our youngest was in 8th grade and I worked for hours with him every night, but he made astounding progress! Throw them in with a bunch of other kids and they do great, really! Pasha speaks English as well as Alla and Sergey that had many more years of formal education and has much less accent than either of them.

One of our friends moved here when her son was about 5 years old. He speaks English completely without an accent at all. He speaks Russian well also. Have Katya speak in Russian to him and you speak in English. The child will speak both very well.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Excellent!

Don't worry about him at all. He's going to do great. Kids at that age are like sponges and he'll soak up both English and American culture in no time.

In all seriuosness, you could probably have him and mom doing lessons together because they'd probably benefit her just as much as him. Maybe not kindergarten, but in the next year or two. I know when I was first learning Russian I used a lot of kids books and elementary learning tools.

Absolutely, childrens books are good for Mom also. I used lots of them when learning French and also catalogs...Like "Canadian Tire" catalogs. How do you think you learn the names of all the tools?! My favorite? "Scie Sautuese" which means, literally, "jumping saw". It is the name for a jig saw.

[slim 1,514]

My favorite? "Scie Sautuese" which means, literally, "jumping saw". It is the name for a jig saw.

I think my favorite Russian words like that are "paltsi na nogi." (Fingers on feet.) It's so funny to me when my wife wants a foot massage and says something like "Davai. Get my fingers."

[Jonathan Matthies 1]

He's gaining his English vocabulary by the week, without any formal 'training' or lessons from me. Kids really are a sponge. A while ago I started mixing the few Russian words/phrases I know with their English counterparts. I'd ask for water/voda, milk/malachko, or ask him shto ti hochesh/what do you want, etc. etc. We'd play hide and seek and I'd count 1-10 in russian/english at random times. He's started asking me questions in English and then turning around to ask mom/grandma the same question in Russian. Or Katya will tell him something in Russian, and he'll ask me about it in English.

I am very excited to help him with his studies, as I'm sure Katya and his Babushka are. I'm just worried about all the fatherly ###### coming my way. Nothing Earth shattering, but meetings with teachers, playground fights, all that ####### is coming too soon.

[1HappyGuy 45]

Congratulations on the AOS approval. Check out the requirements for the 10 year card and don't let too much time pass before getting that set up. Also, put the date for application on a long term calendar. You don't want to forget to apply within that proper time line.

I'm sure that Denis will adapt quite quickly in school. Hopefully you had him watching children's TV on PBS or other good channels to give his English skills a boost. He will start to pick it up quickly, rest assured.