AOS Interview

[Mrs. NSA 6]

First off, I want to say We did it! Approved Permanent Resident GC on its way!

We want to share our experience with you all who are starting your AOS filing, I have read a few who have shared and all though they were helpful sometimes i was still going what about this or what about that. Hopefully this post will be more informative. I do want to say that it seems know two couples actually go through the same exact experience. My husband (beneficiary) and I (USC) started our K-1 a year and a month ago. The K-1 were a breeze, we were approved fairly quick, our experience didn't get very complicated till we filed our AOS after we married in November. We combed through our packet over and over again before we sent it, we even had to rush back to the post office after we had sent it, it took us about 15 minutes to realized we forgot to put the passport photos in the packet that we had just spent a fortune to get done. We made it to the post office and they were very helpful and found our packet, helped us maneuver the photos in the already sealed packet and resealed. Funny now, but at the time we were like OH ####, what are we gonna do! But all was well and it was mailed. We did receive a RFE, to our despair , the RFE was on the I-485, we were over the limit for income by about 2k but they still request more income we suspect it had to do with property evaluation and the length of time it took, of course in this economy my property value had depreciated, we needed a co-sponsor. My sister had already offered so now it was a matter of sending the information in. As we were going through this we were watching most of who had filed in December, already getting approved with no interview for their GC. It was very depressing and stressful! We received our notice about a week after returning all this information My husband received his EAD and AP. So please note all processing does stop as soon as you have a RFE request so as soon as you can return the requested information ASAP. Then it was about 3 weeks we received our notice that we had a interview date a WHOLE month away. I couldn't believe it, a WHOLE month! We used this month to collect everything and anything we could possibly think of to take. Your interview letter will state everything you need. We went over board I am sure, but all I kept thinking is what if and I didn't take this or that and they requested it when we were there The last week, has been the most stressful through the whole process, the stress of what if he is denied , what if . What are we gonna do?

Today was our interview at 10:50am, We woke up bright and early, got the kids off to school. My husband and I had decided that this was a important date, that dressing for the occasion was a know brainier. We both looked well kept and well prepared when we walked out the door at 9:30. We stopped for a quick breakfast(drive through) and we were off. We arrived in Orlando at the immigration office at 10:25. With two briefcases full busting at the seams in tow, we held hands and went through the doors. When you walk in they have a line for you to give photo I.D and interview letter, then you go through a metal detectors. ( We had already turned off our cell phones before we entered the building) the line could take awhile, so please allot yourself time to make it through it! Then it was off to a window to turn in our interview letter and we were told to take a seat and our name would be called. We were called in to the interview on time, very surprising, we grabbed our bags and headed down the corridors following our IO ( immigration officer) to her office. She was very friendly. She asked us both for our photo I.D after we has sat down, then she asked us both to raised our right hands to swear all we said was true and correct. Then she said I am gonna start with the beneficiary. The questions she asked were: Name , birthday, country of birth, how many marriages, how many kids, address. Alot of flipping through our 3 inch thick folder she already had. She asked alot of questions you answered in you packet already, I suspect to see if you answer differently. Then she asked me, Name, marriages. That was it.. she looked up after more flipping and said I am gonna approve you, you will recieve you card in about 7 days with a welcome letter , please read it carefully. then she went through what we need to do to change him from conditional to unconditional in 2 years and what form to fill out, She said from this day forward I want to see your life as a married couple when you file again in two years. i couldnt believe it she didnt asked for any thing else, she didnt ask for any of our information we brought in our huge brief cases. She said do you have any questions.. of course my husband said yes, can you at least look at our picture book. I about died LMAO. She said of course this is the best part of my job. The when she was done we collected our stuff , shook hands and out we were. The whole interview if we lucky took 10 minutes. We just recieved the email from USCIS that the Card is in production. All in one day.

I really hope this was helpful, and please if you have any question , please ask. I would also like to state, my husband and I did this whole process by ourselves, no lawyer. We did use Visa Journey as a guide, so thank you VJers! We are so happy and thankful! :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

[Mrs. NSA 6]

Just wanted to add my timeline in with this to:

11/13/2011 POE LAX ( My love is finally HOME!)

11/19/2011 Married (6days)

11/25/2011 Filed Marriage License (6 days)

12/08/2011 Sent AOS Packet ( I-485, I-130, I-797 (13days)

12/12/2011 NOA ( Packet received) (4 days)

02/16/2012 RFE (70days)

02/20/2012 Sent Requested Evidence Back (4 days)

02/24/2012 Notice of Receipt of Evidence (4 days)

02/25/2012 Production of EAD/AP Combo Card (1 day)

03/02/2012 Mailed EAD/AP Combo Card (6 days)

03/05/2012 Received EAD/AP Combo Card In Mail (3 days)

03/14/2012 Received Interview Notice for 4/18/2012 (9 days)

04/18/2012 Notice of Approval for GC (35 days)

Total of 161 days in the AOS process!

[Andie 147]

Aww ... congratulations you two

Its all pretty scary really... as people say - to know that someone that doesn't even know you gets to decide your destiny. So happy it all worked out and best wishes for your future together.

[Mrs. NSA 6]

Hey Andie, wow, where have you been. Thank for the congrates........ How is your visa going?