Interview low-down NYC

[lilycarter 1]

Hey All,

So we had our interview today, and it was not what I was expecting at all. The lady called us, and asked us straightforward questions like where did each-other work/study (addresses), when was our last trip, did we have children, if we had been separated since we got married, for recent pictures and then said we could go and sit down whilst she photocopied my husband's passport.

When she came back out to return the passport, we asked to go back in to see her, as I was a bit confused and worried as I thought we would find out what the decision was and also was surprised we didn't get more questions. So, my husband asked for us to return for some clarification.I then explained that I thought we would have the personal questions etc as this was our first ever interview with USCIS. She expressed surprised and seemed pleased that this was our first interview, and said it was probably because we had a good case when we filed for our K1 fiancee visa. She also explained that the personal questions are not common, and that every case is very different.

I explained that I was concerned as we didn't have a lot of the financial evidence as times have been tough (thank goodness my husband got a good job at a bank in February , but that was after the application) and that we had none of the "co-mingling" of assets that the RFE had asked for. anyway she said that the finances were a very small part of it, which surprised me. She said that the USCIS understood people couldn't provide all that evidence, and that you "can't give us what you don't have". I even said I wanted my husband to put me on bills for the AOS and she agreed with him that you should never do something just for immigration, if it doesn't make sense( he didn't want my credit to possibly get messed up).

I also showed her my wedding dress and bill, as now we are financially solvent again we are having a proper ceremony in Italy this summer, and she said what a lovely dress it was and asked to photocopy that. We also explained we don't have rings, again as we were broke, and she said it really didn't matter, they understood, and that it wasn't what was important.

She was very cool and helped me to calm down, as I was really quite upset as I thought (stupidly) that if she didn't ask us many questions it meant we wouldn't get approved. She even said "don't worry you'll get another green card" (although not sure that is a definite confirmation so not getting excited). When we walked out my husband joked with her that "thank goodness you let us back in or I Would have had a meltdown on my hands" and they both laughed about it.

All in all it was quite an odd but good experience. She told us never to listen to other people or go online to check things out (lol and here i am on VJ) as not one single case is the same. She said they just wanted to check we were still together, and living as a couple. That was all they were really concerned about, and at some time during the immigration process they like to see everyone for an interview.

SO, sorry if it doesn't all make sense. I didn't want to write every last thing and make the post too long, but feel free to ask me questions and I hope this is the right forum.

Thanks

Lily

[TigerTeddyBear 26]

Thank you for posting and congratulations!

[MsZ 6]

Great Story.

[queuedup 1]

Congratulations!!

[MsZ 6]

You know, it almost sounds like you were chosen for an interview at random. They certainly didn't have any issues with your application!

[OBX 51]

Congratulations.

[lilycarter 1]

Thanks everyone! Sorry for the delay in responding, and yes I am very excited!!! I just hope she wasn't telling me that to get us out of the office lol

Have a great weekend!

Lily

[EmmillJ 1]

I love that you had no problem asking the IO for more info. Congrats and thank you for sharing!

[simel1110 4]

Great! I'm glad she was so amicable. I find the ones at the field offices are quite pleasant in my experience and very helpful. Our AOS interview was so nice, I wanted to stay and talk more to the IO lol.

I agree, you read a lot of horror stories online, but each case is different and looked at differently. I'm glad it went well for you!

And through these last 4 years the only people I've ever had trouble with are the level one customer service reps at the national number. IO's have been so helpful.

Edited June 16, 2011 by simel1110