I feel like I'm living a nightmare

[erik_23ph 12]

Hi. I have some questions. After your interview did the officer mentioned about your Green Card being sent to your address? Did the officer gave you a piece of paper that says 'Notice of Interview Result'? Did you receive any kind of email or text from USCIS or has your case updated on USCIS website days after the interview?

Your interview maybe went very well but after every interview they would still hold them for further review. During that period maybe the supervisor reviewing your case found something. It is also possible that you or your spouse said something unintentionally that trigger suspicion. Anyway, I'm very sure this is very frustrating for you and your spouse but since your marriage is real, there is nothing to worry about. Just need to sit down and try to remember everything about the relationship.

Very best of luck!

[erik_23ph 12]

Wait a minute, you mentioned below you were married last November. Do you mean November 2015? And your interview was 2 months ago? If today is January, two month ago would be November right? When did you file your AOS application?

You see. I'm sure this is just typo error. But probably during the interview you were very relaxed and confident BUT gave some wrong info or wrong dates unintentionally don't you think?

Hi! Sorry my brain is a little scattered. We have been dating for close to 4 years and we were married last November. We are young (24 and 25) and we moved from Canada (he is a USC also). I was born in Russia though and mved to Canada when I was a kid (possible red flag?)

We provided bank statements, photos with both families, emails, facebook screenshots, joint leases for the past 2 apartments, me on his health insurance, utility bills in both our names, birthday cards, hotel and flight info for joint trip to Mexico, and flight itinerary for a trip for my mom's 50th birthday with my family etc.

I cannot remember right now off the top of my head but we had quite a bit... she didn't ask to see any of what we brought to the interview and said it was in our file. I brought extra and updated stuff that I was showing her as I went but she didn't really care.

It was the most casual interview.. she hardly would let me get a word in cause she wanted to talk about one of our vacations in detail.

Edited January 12, 2016 by erik_23ph

[Darnell 8,478]

Overstays are forgiven once you apply for AOS through marriage.

Eh, a fine point, but instead, it's my understanding that the Overstay is forgiven when the green card is ordered for production. Not to simply 'apply'. there's a span o time between those two timeticks where it's possible that a human in this exact situation is turned away at the border, their departure seen as abandonment of the AOS case, even with AP in hand.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

If she was asking for alot of details regarding a certain trip or vacation maybe that triggered something. If you and your husband are genuine you should do just fine. Research possible questions. PM Lala64. She had a stokes interview she may be able to shed some light. I'm not sure how spending money on a lawyer is going to help.

Good Luck!

[lala64 93]

Hi guys!

This forum was a wealth of info for me while applying.. we had our interview in NYC about 2 months ago and we thought it went amazingly well.

The interviewer was a funny and super nice lady.. she asked us a few basic quesitons and for the most part we chit chatted and laughed with her. It was super comfortable and totally not what I expected.

At the end she told me I would be receiving my card in the mail in 60 days or so.

We went out and celebrated thinking this awful process was finally over..

It has been a little over 60 days so I was getting scared and was about to inquire about my status.. thinking perhaps they misplaced a document or something like that.

Little did i know.. that would have been so much better than the reality..

today we got notice for a second interview... this time a Stokes aka the one where they separate and basically interrogate you because they believe you are committing fraud.

I can't stop crying and I'm an absolute mess. I know that it's not the end of the world but I am so confused why this happened.. we had a great interview .. to the point that I wasn't at all scared and I'm usually an anxious person!

I'm so confused what they found to be weird.. and if she didn't believe our marriage then why didn't she ask us more questions or want to see the evidence we brought..

or maybe it's something else and I have NO idea what it can be which only makes me more terrified.

I'm going t look for a lawyer tomorrow when I'm a little less upset.. I don't know what the point of this post is but I am in utter shock and I just feel like I needed to vent

Has anybody gone through this? any words of advice?

thank you all

Stay strong. regardless of if they Stoke you or not. If in a true relationship there is nothing they could ask you that you wouldn't already know. Good Luck! I was stoked during the fiancé visa process and truly it is a pain in the rear but you have to do what you must. Don't waste tears or stress over it there is nothing to do but do it and then celebrate again. Good luck

[TBoneTX 43,133]

*** Thread moved from "AOS from WS&T Visas" main forum to the Case Progress subforum. ***

[Unidentified 2,930]

Getting a lawyer is a complete waste of money. You don't need one.

[Deagle 494]

Really? I have heard hiring a lawyer is crucial. Both for moral support/ prep and making sure they don't coerce your answers while in the interview.

It doesn't seem like a second interview is a "normal" thing to happen... it seems like it's a pretty terrible thing that happens when they suspect your are committing fraud and they are therefore trying to catch you in lies with the intention of denying your case..

Or am I just overreacting?

I just hear of cases with little evidence, strange discrepancies or huge age gaps and stuff and we're none of those things... and on top of that, our interview went so well!!!! she told me to expect my GC in the mail so when the doorman said I had a letter from USCIS I ran home from work soooo excited to FINALLY have my GC so I could go back to Canada and visit! I was looking up flights on the way...

This is the last thing I ever expected..

Relax, nothing unusual, I know it would be better if there was no 2nd interview but hey, it happens! You are not the only one whos asked for another interview. The lawyer wont help you at all, does any lawyer know your partner more than you do? have any lawyer lived your daily life with you? I dont think so. If you really believe that your relation is genuine, then go there with the required documents if theres any, and gather every proof you can. Good luck.

[ExPatty 502]

Hi guys!

This forum was a wealth of info for me while applying.. we had our interview in NYC about 2 months ago and we thought it went amazingly well.

The interviewer was a funny and super nice lady.. she asked us a few basic quesitons and for the most part we chit chatted and laughed with her. It was super comfortable and totally not what I expected.

At the end she told me I would be receiving my card in the mail in 60 days or so.

We went out and celebrated thinking this awful process was finally over..

It has been a little over 60 days so I was getting scared and was about to inquire about my status.. thinking perhaps they misplaced a document or something like that.

Little did i know.. that would have been so much better than the reality..

today we got notice for a second interview... this time a Stokes aka the one where they separate and basically interrogate you because they believe you are committing fraud.

I can't stop crying and I'm an absolute mess. I know that it's not the end of the world but I am so confused why this happened.. we had a great interview .. to the point that I wasn't at all scared and I'm usually an anxious person!

I'm so confused what they found to be weird.. and if she didn't believe our marriage then why didn't she ask us more questions or want to see the evidence we brought..

or maybe it's something else and I have NO idea what it can be which only makes me more terrified.

I'm going t look for a lawyer tomorrow when I'm a little less upset.. I don't know what the point of this post is but I am in utter shock and I just feel like I needed to vent

Has anybody gone through this? any words of advice?

thank you all

Your post doesn't match your thread title. I've read of some nightmares on these forums. All you have is a second interview and, if you are presenting yourselves honestly to immigration, you don't have a great deal to worry about.

[naniani711 0]

Your post doesn't match your thread title. I've read of some nightmares on these forums. All you have is a second interview and, if you are presenting yourselves honestly to immigration, you don't have a great deal to worry about.

Haha, I see where you're coming from but it certainly felt that way yesterday. After all the stress, time and money of this whole process, this is not what I was expecting.. but yes you are right

Stay strong. regardless of if they Stoke you or not. If in a true relationship there is nothing they could ask you that you wouldn't already know. Good Luck! I was stoked during the fiancé visa process and truly it is a pain in the rear but you have to do what you must. Don't waste tears or stress over it there is nothing to do but do it and then celebrate again. Good luck

thank you

Wait a minute, you mentioned below you were married last November. Do you mean November 2015? And your interview was 2 months ago? If today is January, two month ago would be November right? When did you file your AOS application?

You see. I'm sure this is just typo error. But probably during the interview you were very relaxed and confident BUT gave some wrong info or wrong dates unintentionally don't you think?

November 2014 was the wedding. The interview was almost a year later in 2015. I think we got the dates down just fine but perhaps!

If she was asking for alot of details regarding a certain trip or vacation maybe that triggered something. If you and your husband are genuine you should do just fine. Research possible questions. PM Lala64. She had a stokes interview she may be able to shed some light. I'm not sure how spending money on a lawyer is going to help.

Good Luck!

We talked about our vacation to Puerto Rico.. not some weird details of our trip.. she was asking about attractions we saw because she had been also.. in fact she hardly asked us anything but shared her own stories..

The lawyer was more for my piece of mind... It would be terrifying to have come so far with this process to be denied.. what even happens then? Deportation?

Hi. I have some questions. After your interview did the officer mentioned about your Green Card being sent to your address? Did the officer gave you a piece of paper that says 'Notice of Interview Result'? Did you receive any kind of email or text from USCIS or has your case updated on USCIS website days after the interview?

Your interview maybe went very well but after every interview they would still hold them for further review. During that period maybe the supervisor reviewing your case found something. It is also possible that you or your spouse said something unintentionally that trigger suspicion. Anyway, I'm very sure this is very frustrating for you and your spouse but since your marriage is real, there is nothing to worry about. Just need to sit down and try to remember everything about the relationship.

Very best of luck!

She asked for my new address as we had recently moved. We provided that for the GC to be sent.. the Stokes interview letter came to our old apartment and luckily I was able to get it from my old doorman.

I received nothing from the officer and absolutely no updates to my case.

Overstays are forgiven once you apply for AOS through marriage. So you should be good for AP. Perhaps the second interview is because you adjusted from a tourist visa and overstayed that visa? To be extra sure that this isn't a case of someone thinking that a tourist visa is a green light to move, work, do what they want (this is a very, very, very common view-- people know it's not the "right" way but know that there are next to zero repercussions for doing this), and then marry a USC to get the papers in order once they realize they're out of status (which is also very, very, very common).

I am 100% NOT saying that you are doing this, just that maybe they 2nd interview a certain percentage of people with this specific set of circumstances and your number got drawn out of a hat.

Just to clear it up.. I wasn't on a tourist visa or ANY visa at all.

I am Canadian therefore entered the country for tourism purposes but I didn't have any visas.

Me and my husband lived in Canada for University and that's where we met.

Thanks for your POV though!

They are all wrong as per matter of Arabally.

https://cliniclegal.org/April2012/Newsletter/Parole

http://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/14_1120_memo_arrabally.pdf

that is very interesting! Thanks for sharing

[Pennycat 880]

Haha, I see where you're coming from but it certainly felt that way yesterday. After all the stress, time and money of this whole process, this is not what I was expecting.. but yes you are right

thank you

November 2014 was the wedding. The interview was almost a year later in 2015. I think we got the dates down just fine but perhaps!

We talked about our vacation to Puerto Rico.. not some weird details of our trip.. she was asking about attractions we saw because she had been also.. in fact she hardly asked us anything but shared her own stories..

The lawyer was more for my piece of mind... It would be terrifying to have come so far with this process to be denied.. what even happens then? Deportation?

She asked for my new address as we had recently moved. We provided that for the GC to be sent.. the Stokes interview letter came to our old apartment and luckily I was able to get it from my old doorman.

I received nothing from the officer and absolutely no updates to my case.

Just to clear it up.. I wasn't on a tourist visa or ANY visa at all.

I am Canadian therefore entered the country for tourism purposes but I didn't have any visas.

Me and my husband lived in Canada for University and that's where we met.

Thanks for your POV though!

that is very interesting! Thanks for sharing

Same concept. You had a certain amount of time and overstayed it. Not judging at all (it is extremely common) ... just throwing it out there as something you don't need to worry about. The people they (may) be looking for are people like a certain Irish guy I know... came over on VWP, overstayed and eventually paid a recently naturalized citizen a certain sum of money to marry him as a way out of the problem (all years before I met him) . Your relationship is real, his isn't but on paper your timelines may be similar, you could have just drawn an unlucky straw while he got away ROC no problems. This would be good news for you because you're not doing this. You're real and can easily prove it. I was trying to help....

[naniani711 0]

Same concept. You had a certain amount of time and overstayed it. Not judging at all (it is extremely common) ... just throwing it out there as something you don't need to worry about. The people they (may) be looking for are people like a certain Irish guy I know... came over on VWP, overstayed and eventually paid a recently naturalized citizen a certain sum of money to marry him as a way out of the problem (all years before I met him) . Your relationship is real, his isn't but on paper your timelines may be similar, you could have just drawn an unlucky straw while he got away ROC no problems. This would be good news for you because you're not doing this. You're real and can easily prove it. I was trying to help....

Oh no I totally understand where you're coming from!!

I was just clarifying in case that somehow makes a difference

[naniani711 0]

Hi all! Just wanted to say thanks again for all the advice and help. We had our interview this morning.

I am happy to say it went very well and my green card is in production.

I wanted to share the experience for someone else going through this mess.

It was MUCH more relaxed than I expected. It was actually very similar to our first interview, only we were split up of course.

The officer was pretty funny and actually pretty nice. He read us our rights, started the video, swore us in etc.

He asked us - "you know why you're here right?"

we both said honestly not really.. we were very surprised to receive the notice and we almost did not get it as it was sent to our old address. He apologized and said he wasn't aware of anything on our case so couldn't tell us what went wrong.

He made me (beneficiary) go first.

He asked questions I would NEVER have thought to prep.. We practiced and practiced every detail for days and it was all basically useless.

He asked some of the following questions.. nothing about how we met/engagement/wedding/family etc.

1. How many apartments are on your floor (I guessed)

2. How much did you pay the movers (Again, I guessed closely)

3. What kinds of benefits (vacation, PTO, sick days, health, pension does your work and your spouse's offer)

4. How many pets reside on your floor (No clue... guessed about 3 dogs as my dog and they bark back and forth sometimes haha)

5. Last people you visited (I answered for thanksgiving and my h said our friend's christmas party.. both were correct but we were answering diff questions as I meant traveled and he didn't)

6. How we found our apartment, whether we used a broker and how much we paid the broker

7. Our address- he asked me this twice

8. My highest education and my H's

9. What was your last delivery meal ( we again answered differently.. H said last take out and I said delivery)

10. Did you move together to the last apartment

11. Full name for both of us and date of birth

This is all I can currently remember. My lawyer was writing everything down so perhaps I can get the notes later but this is the majority.. the rest must have been very easy cause they didn't stand out.

I walked out very scared.. these were all details I didn't really know and I am quite good with that stuff usually.

Then he called him in and asked him very few questions. Pretty quickly he came to get me from the waiting room and said to us there was no point of continuing his interview because our answers were basically perfect and he had no more ammo..

This was surprising because we later talked about our answers and had a ton of discrepancies..Even our lawyer said he was very nice to us because when H answered wrong he gave him a follow up question to help guide his answer and make it clear what he was asking. The officer was very pleasant and we could instantly tell he did not want to be doing this any more than we did.

He then again apologized for the whole mess and said he would decide right then and there so we would't have to wait any more.

He approved us about 5 minutes later. My GC is in production.

I am SO happy and relieved.. I can't even explain it!!!

Good luck all!!!!!!

[Darnell 8,478]

so, a not a stokes interview, per se, but separated as if a stokes interview was to be conducted. WOW !

[caliliving 606]

wow that is crazy you had 2 interviews!! it is obvious the second guy saw you two walk in and knew u were a bonifie couple right away! congrats:)