Why do some get on-the-spot approval while others have to wait?

[snooki703 7]

Hey y'all,

I'm trying to stay calm before the interview and just be as efficient as I can about collecting evidence to bring in, which makes me wonder:

What exactly separates a couple that gets instant approval at the interview from couples that don't receive any decision until two weeks later/two days later/etc.?

Is it because couples who get instant approval have overwhelming evidence/financial docs/pictures, while those who don't come a little empty-handed? Or is it completely arbitrary? Also is it just me or is there an increasing trend towards I.O.'s not giving instant approvals at interviews, based on recent reviews I've read on VJ....

I am going insane! Happy. Wednesday.

[amykathleen2005 441]

I think alot has to do with the policies of an individual office. Some offices will automatically state you are approved while others such as Cleveland will typically say they need to do more processing and will approve the next day or so.

[LIndsay1811 0]

I wondered that same question.. But we were officially approved yesterday during our interview. I felt good during the entire interview and i felt like we would get approved. (not that it wasn't really terrifying..) Anyways, I think it may have something to do with the rank of the officer that interviews you. Our officer was a supervisor and she actually went through the file and stamped it 'approved' with a big stamp in red ink, several times. Then she said..'congratulations you are officially a legal permanent resident' to my husband. It was really cool and we were so relieved. I went in there with the notion in my mind that we wouldn't know until later when we drove back home and I was pleasantly surprised when she told us the result.

If I were you, i'd try to worry about that less than the other things and just go in with a positive attitude and expect not to get an immediate decision. That way if you get one you'll be so excited!

By the way, we received an email and an sms 2.5 hours later that card production had been ordered.. So I assume that even if she hadn't 'told' us that we were approved, it would have only taken another 2.5 hrs before we would have known.

[xxtinaxx 14]

The officer who interviewed me looks like Mexican-ish. She didn't smile AT ALL during the interview. She asked us a few questions real fast. I mean we didn't have enough time to answer one question properly yet she moved on to another one =.=. I kinda messed up since I didn't understand what she was talking about when she said some name in my language with her ACCENT. After 3 times of trying to understand what she said, I said it was my dad's name because it sounded SIMILAR to his name. But turned out it wasn't. I really misunderstood >.<. And finally she asked if I had anything to submit to her. I turned in our tax return of 2010, the letter from my mom in law stating that we've been living with her for free, my co-sponsor's amended I-864 plus his latest paychecks and my I-94. Then she walked us to the door and didn't say anything whether we were approved or denied. After all, it was NOT good experience for both of us since we were so nervous that we kinda messed up plus we didn't have too many evidences. To be honest, I'm SO worried. We've been living together every single day, from the time we started moving in to present, except the time we are at work. I'm REALLY worried right now.

Edited March 23, 2011 by xxtinaxx

[ValerieA 350]

I honestly don't know. I did include a fair amount of bonafides with our application, and it really felt like we were pre-approved at the interview, just the way she worded things.

[snooki703 7]

Just asked my lawyer this question. She basically confirms what Lindsay says (congrats on the approval, btw!), its a seniority issue. Low ranking I.O.'s sometimes have to look like they're doing quality control and get the approval from their supervisors, higher ranking I.O.'s seem to have more discretion in this way.

xxtinaxx - I'm sure it will all work out - we always read about people who get the card production email or welcome letter two weeks later. Your evidence seems legit. Worst case scenario would be RFE, and it doesn't sound like you have any reason to be suspected for fraud. Stay strong, you'll make it.

[LIndsay1811 0]

The officer who interviewed me looks like Mexican-ish. She didn't smile AT ALL during the interview. She asked us a few questions real fast. I mean we didn't have enough time to answer one question properly yet she moved on to another one =.=. I kinda messed up since I didn't understand what she was talking about when she said some name in my language with her ACCENT. After 3 times of trying to understand what she said, I said it was my dad's name because it sounded SIMILAR to his name. But turned out it wasn't. I really misunderstood >.<. And finally she asked if I had anything to submit to her. I turned in our tax return of 2010, the letter from my mom in law stating that we've been living with her for free, my co-sponsor's amended I-864 plus his latest paychecks and my I-94. Then she walked us to the door and didn't say anything whether we were approved or denied. After all, it was NOT good experience for both of us since we were so nervous that we kinda messed up plus we didn't have too many evidences. To be honest, I'm SO worried. We've been living together every single day, from the time we started moving in to present, except the time we are at work. I'm REALLY worried right now.

I wouldn't worry too much. It's like Snooki703 said.. You have a legit relationship and Worst case scenario you just get an RFE. I'm sorry you had a bad interview. Please keep us updated on what happens! Best of luck to you,

lindsay

[bbutterfly 12]

I guess I have one reason to add to this topic. After she swore us in, the first thing that came out of her mouth was, I won't be able to make a decision today.

We got there 15 minutes before the time and she didn't take us until around 9, she said she was trying to go through the file and that we had submitted too much evidence!!! What? I have heard of not enough, but she said it was too much, consequently she needed more time to go through it

She didn't even ask for more evidence, I had to ask her if she needed stuff like joint tax return, joint credit card statements that we didn't submit before. She took it, barely look at our pictures. She didn't take the affidavits from friends, saying that they are not strong evidence, and that if we didn't have enough evidence she could have needed it but we had more than enough

She did not ask for my passport nor my I94, so I still have that with me( which worries me a little, since I noticed that they usually take it when they are going to approve you right?)

She also asked us the usual questions and then how we met? ...

The interview in itself was more like a conversation more on the friendly side, but professional, short and straight to the point

After we asked her how long it would take for us to hear from her she said, she doesn't know but if we don't hear from her in 120 days to contact them

And she gave us the whole removal of condition speech and concluded the interview

The waiting game continues and it sucks but we are trying to stay positive

[xxtinaxx 14]

I guess I have one reason to add to this topic. After she swore us in, the first thing that came out of her mouth was, I won't be able to make a decision today.

We got there 15 minutes before the time and she didn't take us until around 9, she said she was trying to go through the file and that we had submitted too much evidence!!! What? I have heard of not enough, but she said it was too much, consequently she needed more time to go through it

She didn't even ask for more evidence, I had to ask her if she needed stuff like joint tax return, joint credit card statements that we didn't submit before. She took it, barely look at our pictures. She didn't take the affidavits from friends, saying that they are not strong evidence, and that if we didn't have enough evidence she could have needed it but we had more than enough

She did not ask for my passport nor my I94, so I still have that with me( which worries me a little, since I noticed that they usually take it when they are going to approve you right?)

She also asked us the usual questions and then how we met? ...

The interview in itself was more like a conversation more on the friendly side, but professional, short and straight to the point

After we asked her how long it would take for us to hear from her she said, she doesn't know but if we don't hear from her in 120 days to contact them

And she gave us the whole removal of condition speech and concluded the interview

The waiting game continues and it sucks but we are trying to stay positive

I'm sorry for your situtation too . Stay strong there [ Even though I told you and myself that, I'm still worried ] T.T

And thank you Snookie [ lol, I love Jersey Shore too ] and Lindsay for supporting us

Edited March 24, 2011 by xxtinaxx

[katgrl 14]

Snooki, don't worry! You need to just go in with confidence. If you have a bonafide marriage, you should have nothing to worry about. That doesn't mean that Tina and bbutterfly do not. Just that they had unfortunately bad experiences with the IO (or approval process.) I believe they will both get approved!!! You can read my interview experience here http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/299755-aos-interview-green-card-approved/page__p__4539695__fromsearch__1#entry4539695 Ours was at the same office as bbutterfly. We must have had different IO's.

[Maxximus1074 14]

Oh boy.. I hear ya on that one - during my interview the IO asked for the passport and realized it was one I had received just a few months before the interview. She asked where my old one with the visa and I-94 is and I explained that they are lost and showed her the replacement I-94 letter I have received from USCIS. She looked at that I-94, raised her eyebrows and put it back down on the table.

At the end of the interview she asked me to pack everything away including that I-94 and my EAD but didn't say about if she is approving or denying my AOS. Despite her already telling us on how to do the ROC if I got approved and that normally cards, if approved, are sent within 2 - 3 weeks I wasn't too sure if we passed due to she not taking my I-94 and EAD card. In the end, a few hours later I got the status update email that card production was ordered.

I know from other posters here that the San Francisco office barely gives out their decision on the spot. Talked to my wife about it and she made a good point: If you deny someone the petitioners could be getting totally mad and threaten the IO, create drama right there in the office, plus its easier not to tell that into someones face. Also, if you have someone jumping around the office, the waiting area because they got approved could be distracting towards other applicants and make them question why they didn't pass the interview thinking they have all the evidence in the world etc.

MAxximus