Stokes interview and moving

[FavoredOnes 4]

Well, that's cool. One less thing to worry about.

Can write more about the Stokes Interview? Perhaps the list of questions?

Yeah, I needed to write my experience once I was refreshed. I had to travel from NY back to the state where I work immediately after the interview. Anyway, I will say my experience wasn't typical; he barely asked us questions since when he saw all the evidence we had, he asked "did you show them all this stuff at the first interview?" Here's my experience:

We got to the building a bit early and met up with the lawyer (I should really consider a career change). We waited for a long time before we were called so while we were waiting, the lawyer was quizzing us; he scared us about not having things like wedding bands or celebrating the wedding but thankfully none of that came up. We eventually got called in maybe 1.5 hours after our scheduled appointment.

He asked if we had any documents we wanted to submit. Our notice for stokes didn't say to bring any specific documents, so we just brought whatever evidence had accrued since our last interview: more pictures, evidence that we visit each other despite living apart, phone records (we didn't have this before), most recent bank statement, prescriptions showing we go to the same doctor etc.

He looked at the pictures and asked us which ones we'd like to give him. We kept saying he could keep whatever he wanted and then he goes "it's not what I want" lol. Anyway, we picked about three more pics out for him to take. Then he flipped through our file for what seemed like ages, as if he was looking for the red flag that might have caused us to be sent for a stokes. When he was done, he reluctantly told us he was going to have to question us separately. My US citizen husband left to the waiting room and he questioned me first. Here are the questions:

-My full name and DOB

-My husband's full name and DOB

-My address (I gave the brooklyn one)

-Describe the house we live in when standing in front of it.

-Do we have any joint accounts and with what bank

-Do I have any separate accounts (to which I answered yes)

-What schools I went to: undergrad grad and medical school.

-Where I was living when I met my husband.

-Where my husband was living when I met him and with who.

-Where I work and based on my out of state answer, he asked where I live while working.

-Whether I live in a house or apartment out of state.

-Who else lives with me where I live out of state and their names.

-Have my husband and I taken any trips together in the last 3 months and what was the purpose.

-How much is rent at the marital home (the breakdown)

-What utilities do we pay and who is the provider for it.

-Where did we get married

-How many brothers do I have.

-What do I do for a living?

-How many hours a week do I work?

-What does my husband do for a living?

-What are my husband's work hours like?

-Where was my husband working when we met?

-How often do we get to see each other with our work schedules (so I just explained that I only started working in June and that's when we started living separately). He wrote down my work start date and all the trips I said we'd taken to see each other.

It couldn't have been more than 30 questions, If I remember more I'll add to this thread. Anyway, he called in my husband while I went to wait in the waiting room and in say 5 minutes, the lawyer came out and called me back him. He gave me the thumbs up and said once the IO was done questioning my husband, they (IO and lawyer) gave each other a look saying "we got it".

The IO explained to me that we had a match on all questions; that we responded as we should have and didn't sound rehearsed. He said he would approve the petition then went on to ask me "yes/no" questions. He said it might take a few weeks to get something in the mail. The IO escorted us out.

We were out of there by 1:30pm and by 2:10pm we received the card production email, then later in the day we received notice of approval of I-131.

I have to say I am so grateful it all worked out and thankful that for this last half, I had work to keep me busy, so I didn't worry as much.

It's funny the way the stokes offices are, we could here another interview going on beside ours and it was definitely not going well. Our IO had to roll his eyes several times and he and the lawyer ended up discussing about how someone needs to say something about the lack of privacy (our lawyer was going to take it up) lol! I felt bad for the couple next door, they sounded so screwed!

Congratulations, glad you had a good experience on your second interview! Now, go, and enjoy life!

Thanks ALS!!! I am def. living and enjoying it.