Interview Question

[C-ma'am 684]

No problem! Ask away. My advice is to start collecting documents now!

Yes! I remembered that advise from you, and I'm already hoarding papers away lol

[MosesandI 0]

Our interview is next Monday. I will be flying out tonight to bring all of the necessary documents and to be there for moral support (and hopefully bring her home with me.) We front loaded our petition with photos, boarding passes etc. I put together a pretty comprehensive Packet 3 with heaps of financial stuff which we submitted on August 16. We were given our interview date on August 20 for August 27!

As I understand it, the CO is behind glass kind of like a bank teller. We have all our documents in 3 3 ring binders (Financials, Evidence of Relationship and Original Documents) In each binder there is sheet protector with a an additional copy of each document.

Here's my question: should I just make 3 stacks of the copies of the documents and clip them together for presentation to the CO or wait for him/her to ask for a specific document? I really don't want my fiancee to have to be leafing through the binders. I'm hoping someone that's done this can offer some suggestions. Thanks.

You have everything done perfectly! MY husband and I filed for the I130 petition for him and they didnt need to keep the original documents of birth certificates and everything they just needed to see that we had them. They kept the few pictures that we had and also our copies of bank statements etc. Plus the fact that we went in together and filed helped so you should be fine. I must say i would be impressed with the effort you put into he documents. Why didnt I think of using a three ring binder? Would have been much easier to keep up with the paper work!

[Karee 4,191]

Thanks for that. We will get her SSN straight away and then get a joint checking account. I will also add her to my health insurance. Once she gets her license I will of course add her to my auto insurance. I tend to save stuff, often too much so I will start a new file with a view to the AOS and ROC. Thanks again!

Not sure if I mentioned this to you before. Make sure she has a proper birth certificate translated in to English. What the consulate accepts as proof of birth, and what USCIS accepts are 2 different things. I know of a few people that came on K visas from Thailand, and once they got here and filed for AOS, they ran into all kinds of issues with the birth certificate.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Since we had my wife and two children and have been through the entire process for all three, we have had a lot of interviews.

DO NOT bind the documents in any way, you will just have to un-bind them to hand them over. I used expandable folders with 13 pockets (that's the way they come) and put the needed documents into the pockets and labeled them. When my wife or one of the boys had an interview it was all prepared for them. Open the folder and hand over the document they ask for. If they do not ask, do not hand it over.

Best to have the orginal document, a copy and a translation (if needed). When they ask for the documents, hand over the contents of that pocket, get the original back before you leave. Make sure you have all your originals before you leave.

Now that our journey is complete I have destroyed all the former "back up" documentation and kept only the official notices and approvals for each step in one binder for each person. Once that process (AOS, ROC etc.) is complete you really no longer need the back up info you presented, just the notice which says you are approved.