Interview Prep

[harvardiv 5]

Hey guys, I would like to hear your opinion based upon your experience.  My wife was here on a fiance visa, and we got married.  We have also applied for the green card.  Now we are trying to prepare for the interview, and I am interested in your opinions what kind of info will we need for the interview?  I understand that photos together, records of texts, bank accounts together, trips together, dental appointments all come together to show proof of living together.  What sort of questions should we expect at the interview, what sort of pitfalls has anyone experienced in terms of the interview.  Is there anything I am missing in terms of what to bring as evidence?  How much should I know about my wife to show the reviewers that we are a legit couple?  Please give me a list of evidence I should bring and anything else helpful.   Thanks!

 

Chris  

Edited March 12, 2018 by harvardiv

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

It is generally advised to bring a copy of the entire AOS package in case they lose anything.
The main thing is joint financial evidence such as joint bank accounts, joint credit cards, beneficiary listed of 401K and  life insurance.
Co habitation evidence of joint utility and phone bills, gym cards, joint lease or mortgage, health insurance from work if one is on the other's
benefit plan, joint car title, joint loan, joint car insurance....
Forget texts, you live together so proof that, they aren't interested in your texts. Trips and photos as you mentioned are good to add.
Don't bring just one statement of joint bank accounts but bring all since you got married and opened them. 
What should you know about your wife ? Everything a normal couple has shared including past relationships, hobbies, likes and dislikes and that's 
knowing things about each other not just you knowing about her. Siblings, places lived, color of curtains in the house, what did you have for 
breakfast, what side of the bed do you sleep on, work schedules. It really depends
on each couples specific circumstances what questions will be asked. If either of you had a past petition history then question will likely come up 
about that. If either had a short gap between divorce and your current marriage then they may ask about that.
They may interview you both separate or together.  Anything goes. If you get an interview letter, items on what to bring are listed.


 

[J/G 85]

On 3/12/2018 at 8:34 AM, harvardiv said:

Hey guys, I would like to hear your opinion based upon your experience.  My wife was here on a fiance visa, and we got married.  We have also applied for the green card.  Now we are trying to prepare for the interview, and I am interested in your opinions what kind of info will we need for the interview?  I understand that photos together, records of texts, bank accounts together, trips together, dental appointments all come together to show proof of living together.  What sort of questions should we expect at the interview, what sort of pitfalls has anyone experienced in terms of the interview.  Is there anything I am missing in terms of what to bring as evidence?  How much should I know about my wife to show the reviewers that we are a legit couple?  Please give me a list of evidence I should bring and anything else helpful.   Thanks!

 

Chris  

Hi Harvardid -- 

From my experience, I'd suggest you bring all the requested documents listed on your interview notice for AOS. One that applies to your particular case, some of them might not be, you'd be the judge. 

 

What I'd suggest is for you to bring a complete set EVERYTHING you and your spouse EVER submitted to the US Govt / US Embassy. So for K-1, I'd bring a complete set of my I-129F Application, K-1 Visa Application, AOS Application (and EAD / AP if you applied for them). Not only that bringing all this will give you some degree of peace of mind but also the interviewer might ask for a copy of photo / document that you submitted previously. It happened to me and I was happy to have the requested document in hand. 

 

One last thing, the final decision (i.e. approval / denial )  MIGHT not be given at the end of the interview. I was under administrative review because they did not have my original approved I-129F but it wasn't my fault they misplaced it and must retrieve it from their system. After 2 weeks my green card arrived via mail. 

 

GOOD LUCK

 

J/G.

[cablewyres 38]

On 3/12/2018 at 9:34 AM, harvardiv said:

Hey guys, I would like to hear your opinion based upon your experience.  My wife was here on a fiance visa, and we got married.  We have also applied for the green card.  Now we are trying to prepare for the interview, and I am interested in your opinions what kind of info will we need for the interview?  I understand that photos together, records of texts, bank accounts together, trips together, dental appointments all come together to show proof of living together.  What sort of questions should we expect at the interview, what sort of pitfalls has anyone experienced in terms of the interview.  Is there anything I am missing in terms of what to bring as evidence?  How much should I know about my wife to show the reviewers that we are a legit couple?  Please give me a list of evidence I should bring and anything else helpful.   Thanks!

 

Chris  

Congratulations! Your case is moving. I've heard that it's been taking a while for other filers. We were blessed that our interview was scheduled a month after we submitted our AOS application (which was a month after our wedding) and interview was done the next month after.

They will be asking you basic questions. Such as your spouse's name, work, birthday, what he/she does for work, and phone number (i messed up on the phone number during the interview because I can barely even remember my own. LOL. I was just honest that I haven't memorized it and the IO smiled and said it's fine).

Based on our interview experience, the IO who conducted our interview was a young gentle man and seemed to be more interested in the docs that we have submitted. I didn't talk much unless asked questions directly and my USC wife was the one who did most of the explaining and even before the IO asked about our story, she just went ahead and chatted with him...LOL

so you just need to be relaxed and answer their questions, and if you don't know the answer, simply say you don't know...

The evidences we submitted weren't even much since we just recently got married and that kinda caused me to stress...We only submitted our marriage certificate, pictures (with friends & family, date outs, travels, and wedding), our joint checking  bank statements, our debit and credit card plastics, joint dental insurance policy and id cards, bills and random mail sent to us...and that's it LOL...he kept asking if we have any children, joint property and lease which we did not have any at that time because I could not be added to our apartment lease without ssn...and we usually Ubered back then...and we still don't have any kids...

We did not get approved on the spot. We were given a 120 day letter saying they need to review the case further. I was so distraught..but by God's grace and goodness, 2 months later, my conditional GC came in the mail.

Make sure to bring all your original documents (important: passports, driver's license(s), birth certificate and marriage certificate).

Wish you all the best! When is your interview?

 

**Suggestions, if you still have time, you both should try to acquire or add the following that might help you on your AOS:

-joint checking account (you can use this pay for bills)

-renter's insurance

-joint dental insurance

-joint vision insurance

-bills (if you can't add both your names in a bill, you can have some of them under your name and others under your wife's name. that's what we did because our electric and internet provider would not add both our names on their bills.)

-letter of affidavits from friends and family

-Holiday or Wedding Congratulatory cards sent to both of you

--Even if you don't have time, acquiring these would still be helpful down the road as you still would have to file for removal of conditions and at the same time, you are taking care of each other

Edited March 24, 2018 by cablewyres

[b6543 25]

Our AOS interview questions and experience is posted here. Please take a look.  Good luck.