Denverites, or anyone else interested

[amyandluis 0]

So here's the story.

Our AOS interview is here in Denver this coming Friday and because of the timing (a bit earlier than we expected), we're just a little bit scrambly and nervous.

We wanted to have a traditional engagement and wedding setup, although since we're in this whole immigration thing we had to compromise. We got engaged last June, Luis came here in September on the

K-1 Visa. We were married legally at the courthouse, low profile just like we wanted two weeks later. Thing is, NOW we're planning a wedding. The date is May 20, with a chapel and bridesmaids and family from Mexico and the whole nine. So we have no wedding PICTURES or anything, but I have a big old wedding folder of confirmed reservations and contracts. Should I just bring that and explain the situation? Think we'll have any trouble?

Also, any Denver folks, say hey... I think I read there's a few other couples headed to the office around the same time (this week I think?). If you're getting ready, well best of luck to you, and if you've already been, any tips???

Thanks gang!

Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Amy and Luis

[rejane 1]

Was at Denver office things went pretty smooth....

Good luck on your interview

[hcj 0]

Wedding pictures are not a requirement. Nor is a traditional wedding ceremony and celebration. If you want, you can bring some receipts showing you have reserved the place for your reception, etc. -- choose a few documents from your big planning binder. IMO there is no need to bring the whole thing.

More important than the wedding reception is evidence that shows you have comingled your finances. Joint bank accounts, joint taxes if you've filed for 2005 already, joint credit cards, both names on your lease/deed/mortgage, joint ownership/debts, beneficiary of each other's retirement accounts, joint insurance policies, etc.

Also bring pictures of the two of you together with your family and/or friends. You can bring pics from the civil ceremony day if you took some. Also Christmas cards or other correspondence addressed to both of you, with the postmarked envelopes, if you kept them.

Good luck, the interview will probably be anti-climactic after all this anticipation!

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

We were married in Vegas with just the 2 of us. No problem at the interview.

[motu 5]

Had no problems in Denver. He didn't even open the envelope containing our pictures, all he was interested was in the folder containing proof of relationship. I have posted details earlier, if you want search for 'Denver' or 'Freezing in Denver.' Good Luck

[Mirorgate 0]

Our AOS went smoothly.

What they specifically asked for from us:

Copy of and viewing of Marriage Cert

Upto date W2's and job letter

Other proof they asked us for: copy of her on my insurance, life insurance, Apt lease, letters written to the both of us. We had photos, but they didn't request them, so you might not need them, and there is nothing that states that they HAVE to be of wedding... so get together photos would work i'd say, the Vac supplement also. I believe that was all, since they had all other information from original packets (I129F, AOS packet, etc), just I guess checking to see what we had. Took about 20 minutes in total. The waiting was the long hard part in the waiting room.

Still, it'd be a good thing to bring what the AOS letter says since this is only what they asked us for.. just giving info to show that it's generally not as hard as people fear by the amounts of paperwork.

[amyandluis 0]

So we had our interview today, and it went 90% smoothly...

For some reason we had to wait a LOOONG time before they called us in... about an hour and a half. There was literally no one left in the waiting room but us, and I started wondering if I had the wrong day, but finally they called us back.

The interviewer was a really nice guy. He first asked us for our ID´s, then just flipped through our application, asking verification questionse every now and again, I think to make sure the stories matched. How did we meet, what was I doing in Texas at the time, etc. Then the ¨are you a terrorist¨ questions for Luis. He DID want copies of all my wedding stuff (contracts with photographers, florists, etc.) and made copies of all our photos. He took copies of our bank statement and insurance stuff, as well as my employment letter, new Affidavit and pay stubs.

He never asked for tax info, and already had Luis´translated birth certificate. Then, get this, he´s asking Luis where in Mexico he´s from, then pulls out a printed up map of Mexico he had just made from an airline website and asked Luis where the good beaches are. So that was a light point.

After 15 minutes, he printed something up and said ¨well guys, your paperwork is all excellent, no problems there, but the FBI check hasn´t cleared yet.¨ So basically what that means is more waiting. He said it could take a while to complete, but it´s a common situation, especially for folks who zip through the process as quickly as we did. I actually just read a post on here from folks in Pittsburgh who ran into the same thing, so we´re certainly not alone. In the meantime the EAD and AP will work just fine.

So the interview is over! Yay Denver!!

Take care and good luck folks,

amyandluis

[HolyMoly 0]

Congrats!

[Autumnal 25]

Congratulations!

[motu 5]

I think you had the same guy we did - very nice and quite thorough. Congrats - Now you have to wait a few weeks like we are waiting too.