I-485 interview question

[tominaz 0]

Hi. Hopefully someone can help me with this. My wife has been notified of our I-485 interview appointment. It's scheduled in March.

Situation: within our I-485 application, we had to provide a court disclosure for a false arrest on her behalf that has been expunged by the courts. Her country has a service called Disclosure Scotland that you have to go through to get such records. It's somewhat expensive and timely to do so. We sent the original certified copy we received by post in with our I-485 packet. As always instructed, I made photocopies of EVERYTHING, so I have a copy of it.

Question: Am I required to bring yet another certified copy to the interview? Or can I just bring a photocopy of the file (which I intended to do) with me to the interview? I'm not sure I'd get it in time if I had to order yet another certified copy.

And if I am required to produce yet another certified copy, why don't instructions to tell you to get 2 or 3 certified copies of everything at the outset? I'm a bit miffed, because based on their wording, it seems like I have to bring an identical case file to what I submitted to USCIS already.

I'm an attorney (I don't practice immigration law) and I'm still completely baffled at how vague and poorly worded the application and now forth going instructions have been. It's amazing and completely unnecessary.

Thanks for the help.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

The IO will have the original you already sent. You do not need to bring another. If I were you, I'd bring the copies and ask if I could switch out the original for a copy.

[bigdog 376]

You supplied the original, just bring copies. Trade out the original for your copy, then you have your original back. We sent copies good color and they never asked for the original. We over prepared had a complete copy of everything for the IO, you are in PHX also. The IO was professional, polite and to the point. Contact me outside this if you need further.

[tominaz 0]

Thank you very much for the replies. This makes more sense. I will do as suggested.

It's amazing that no one at the USCIS could answer such a simple question for me. Glad this forum exists.

Thanks again.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

The interview notice says provide originals of everything submitted and then in parentheses it says: (unless already submitted). The call center people can't give any advice - and they shouldn't - they are not trained adjudicators/lawyers. They just read from a screen.

[tominaz 0]

The interview notice says provide originals of everything submitted and then in parentheses it says: (unless already submitted).

See, now you have me worried again. It doesn't say "unless already submitted" after every evidence/document request. Hence my question. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I am an attorney. I get paid to study and figure out the ambiguities of language in documents. The list is vague and request for more original documents is completely redundant.

I'm going with I just need copies of everything, as I've already provided originals. I hope this will be ok. I have an appointment with the local office in 10 days to make sure.

Thanks

Edited February 3, 2012 by tominaz

[himher 634]

Consider this a lesson learned

Never send originals of ANYTHING that you cannot quickly reproduce.

Exception: Medical. No choice LOL

Best of luck on your interview. Ours in 2008 was pretty painless FYI

Hi. Hopefully someone can help me with this. My wife has been notified of our I-485 interview appointment. It's scheduled in March.

Situation: within our I-485 application, we had to provide a court disclosure for a false arrest on her behalf that has been expunged by the courts. Her country has a service called Disclosure Scotland that you have to go through to get such records. It's somewhat expensive and timely to do so. We sent the original certified copy we received by post in with our I-485 packet. As always instructed, I made photocopies of EVERYTHING, so I have a copy of it.

Question: Am I required to bring yet another certified copy to the interview? Or can I just bring a photocopy of the file (which I intended to do) with me to the interview? I'm not sure I'd get it in time if I had to order yet another certified copy.

And if I am required to produce yet another certified copy, why don't instructions to tell you to get 2 or 3 certified copies of everything at the outset? I'm a bit miffed, because based on their wording, it seems like I have to bring an identical case file to what I submitted to USCIS already.

I'm an attorney (I don't practice immigration law) and I'm still completely baffled at how vague and poorly worded the application and now forth going instructions have been. It's amazing and completely unnecessary.

Thanks for the help.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

The interview notice says provide originals of everything submitted and then in parentheses it says: (unless already submitted).

See, now you have me worried again. It doesn't say "unless already submitted" after every evidence/document request. Hence my question. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I am an attorney. I get paid to study and figure out the ambiguities of language in documents. The list is vague and request for more original documents is completely redundant.

I'm going with I just need copies of everything, as I've already provided originals. I hope this will be ok. I have an appointment with the local office in 10 days to make sure.

Thanks

Does it not say that at the top of the list? I am not questioning your reading ability, and neither should you question mine.