Back from our Interview

[khwaidee1 196]

Back from the interview this morning at 7:15 am.

Short story: we're approved!

Long story: Got there at 6:40. Got to waiting room at 7:15. Got called in at 7:45. The IO was a very relaxed and gracious man. Started off by commenting on how much evidence we provided and that he only had time to go through half. Asked my wife if she has ever been arrested, been deported or was in removal proceedings, no, no and no. He then started going through all of our stuff. He made a comment that "if we were approved" which made me feel like I was going to be ill. He started BSing about our trips, his vacations etc. In fact, more than half the time was just chit chat small talk. I told him we brought additional stuff and he said he would get to it. He then asked for my wife's GC so he could make a copy of it for my wife because he was going to keep her GC. When I asked why he said because we should be receiving the new card in 2-3 weeks and that we were approved. I asked him point blank why we got an interview and he said somebody at Laguna Niguel "flagged" our petition, possibly due to age (54/40). He said we provided much more than he usually sees and it was all good stuff. I asked if there is a statistical requirement that they interview a certain percentage of petitions and he said no, there is no such thing. Continued to talk about his plans for retirement later this year and a cruise that he was going on that we went on.

We then moved on to what I had brought; 2014 tax transcripts, more bank statements, more boarding passes, photos, cards etc. He was very impressed that I had brought all this new stuff and only took the tax transcripts, bank statement and made a copy of a 8 X 10 photo of from Laos April 2015. He then proceeded to type up the approval letter and we were done at 8:15. I was stressing hard the past week given what we had initially provided and no RFE. Interestingly, I made an e-request for being beyond normal processing times and a week later got the interview notice. Maybe they're connected, who knows.

We have a few months break from our friends at the USCIS before we file for naturalization in October. Glad this part of the journey is done!

Edited June 26, 2015 by khwaidee1

[EireneFaith 54]

Congratulations

[TBoneTX 43,043]

Great news -- congratulations!

The IO might be unaware about the statutory requirement to interview (what is it?) 5% of ROC petitions because the selections for same are made at a different level, long before he gets any files of interviewees.

[mananto 36]

Back from the interview this morning at 7:15 am.

Short story: we're approved!

Long story: Got there at 6:40. Got to waiting room at 7:15. Got called in at 7:45. The IO was a very relaxed and gracious man. Started off by commenting on how much evidence we provided and that he only had time to go through half. Asked my wife if she has ever been arrested, been deported or was in removal proceedings, no, no and no. He then started going through all of our stuff. He made a comment that "if we were approved" which made me feel like I was going to be ill. He started BSing about our trips, his vacations etc. In fact, more than half the time was just chit chat small talk. I told him we brought additional stuff and he said he would get to it. He then asked for my wife's GC so he could make a copy of it for my wife because he was going to keep her GC. When I asked why he said because we should be receiving the new card in 2-3 weeks and that we were approved. I asked him point blank why we got an interview and he said somebody at Laguna Niguel "flagged" our petition, possibly due to age (54/40). He said we provided much more than he usually sees and it was all good stuff. I asked if there is a statistical requirement that they interview a certain percentage of petitions and he said no, there is no such thing. Continued to talk about his plans for retirement later this year and a cruise that he was going on that we went on.

We then moved on to what I had brought; 2014 tax transcripts, more bank statements, more boarding passes, photos, cards etc. He was very impressed that I had brought all this new stuff and only took the tax transcripts, bank statement and made a copy of a 8 X 10 photo of from Laos April 2015. He then proceeded to type up the approval letter and we were done at 8:15. I was stressing hard the past week given what we had initially provided and no RFE. Interestingly, I made an e-request for being beyond normal processing times and a week later got the interview notice. Maybe they're connected, who knows.

We have a few months break from our friends at the USCIS before we file for naturalization in October. Glad this part of the journey is done!

Good stuff. Congratulations.

[aurpol 17]

Congrats!

[Pitaya 2,576]

That is great news !!! Congratulatons !!!

Maybe after almost two years since USCIS agreed to the recommendations that the CIS Ombudsman sent to USCIS regarding how people in the ROC process were being treated like serfs, adjudicators are finally getting the appropriate training on the actual updates and changes as it relates to the Recommendation 56 memorandum.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/nativedocuments/Response_to_CISOMB_I-751_Recommendation_Signed_7-10-13.pdf