Your Mileage May Vary (or YMMV)

[gearheadgeek 1]

While doing research here on AOS, it was obvious that experiences differed, but I was not prepared for our experience. Well, I guess I was over prepared.

I spent days printing photos, gathering origionals, double checking against the list on the appointment NOA, etc. Since Nadya's English is not that good yet, we took along friend as an interpreter. We arrived 10 minutes late with my stomach churning. The drive to Indy took longer than anticipated with stops for coffee, etc. I handed in the invitation letter and was told to take a seat - we would be called in a short while. "short while" turned out to be maybe 2 minutes. We were ushered in, and the agent seemed gruff and abrupt, which did not help my stomach. He started with the pledge to tell the truth and identiy checks. The interpreter and I used driver's licenses and Nadya used her passport. The agent asked Nadya a couple questions from the I-485 (was she tossed out of the country or a communist, etc) and if she had children, then what their names and ages were. He asked her for her (our) address. He asked me my name and address. He asked if we had taken a honeymoon, and I replied that we couldn't take a serious honeymoon until Nadya got her green card, but we had taken a trip to Niagra Falls. Which was true, but it wasn't intended to be a honeymoon. He spent a lot of time looking at the file. Then he chatted about my work as a software engineer, how most of the people he sees are from northern Indiana and how they should really have an office up there, and such. He pecked away on the keyboard and said Nadya was approved and would get her card in 2 to 4 weeks. He apologized for having to take the card from her passport that she received when we landed (I-74???) and said that she would soon have a green card so it would not matter. He did not stamp her passport with I-551 as the guides here suggest. He never asked for photos, any proof of relationship, any origional documents, or anything from the 1" thick packet I had assembled. I was stunned, relieved, joyous. Maybe it helped that we had brought an interpreter who was obviously a friend. Maybe it helped that Nadya and I are only 4 years apart (60 and 64) instead of me being old and her young. I really have no idea why it went so well, but my point here was how different our experience was than what I expected after reading this site. Again, YMMV.

[nane1104 146]

Glad, everything went so well for you guys!

[~Nini~ 2]

Congratulations!

[1HappyGuy 45]

Actually, your experience sounds very typical. Ours lasted about 20 minutes but that was because the officer made some copies for the file (photos). Like you I was shocked at how easy it was. In my case, I was sure something was wrong because it was so easy and quick.

Now you just need to wait the two years to remove the conditional status. Review the form I-751 for things that you need to begin doing now.

Congratulations to both of you.

[gearheadgeek 1]

Thank you all very much!!! We are very happy campers!

[Jasman0717 8]

Nice post, thanks for sharing and congratulations

[Cécy 44]

You know I think that the majority of interviews are very easy and simple, there are just cases when things get pretty crazy and we remember those better. I have friend who went through the interview and said it's quite overrated.

Congratulations on the approval and it's always a good thing to be prepared anyway.

[JGK 0]

Congratulations

[misa 2]

Congrats!

[Nancy2015 2]

Congrats!!! :dance:

[gearheadgeek 1]

Actually, your experience sounds very typical. Ours lasted about 20 minutes but that was because the officer made some copies for the file (photos). Like you I was shocked at how easy it was. In my case, I was sure something was wrong because it was so easy and quick.

Now you just need to wait the two years to remove the conditional status. Review the form I-751 for things that you need to begin doing now.

Congratulations to both of you.

I don't think ours lasted more than 10 minutes. I was stunned. On reflection, I really think perception is the key. His job is to make sure it is not a sham marriage to circumvent immigration laws. If it looks suspicious (me 64 with a super hot 25 year old babe), you need tons of proof to convince him. If not (we are about the same age - both old), he does not need all that proof to make his decision.

Thanks for the tip re: I-751

[gearheadgeek 1]

You know I think that the majority of interviews are very easy and simple, there are just cases when things get pretty crazy and we remember those better. I have friend who went through the interview and said it's quite overrated.

Congratulations on the approval and it's always a good thing to be prepared anyway.

LOL!!!! You know Murphy's laws - If you are prepared, you won't need it, but if not, you certainly will. Yes, I would highly recommend being prepared even though my experience was easy. All it takes is for the immigration agent to have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed, to have had a fight with his wife on the way out the door, to have gotten a traffic ticket on the way to work, etc. They are human and their mood is subject to external influence just like the rest of us.

My last traffic ticket was because I did not slow down when I passed a trooper writing someone else up. I was on the cruise and a few miles over, but he ran me down and wrote me up for 19MPH over, 1 short of losing my license. He was in a bad mood and I ticked him off, so he nailed me to the cross. Fair? No, but what are you going to do?

[gearheadgeek 1]

Just wanted to add a final footnote to the saga ....

Nadya recieved her green card in the mail 13 days after the interview!!!!!

Yes, we danced around the kitchen!

[misa 2]

Congrats on getting the card!

[pnrmbr975 1]

Congrats!

My wife and I are still waiting for her GC, thanks for the follow-up! We have no idea when to expect it, the AO said within two weeks after the interview, the welcome notice 60 days and the email 30 days.

Glad that you can celebrate now, I would too if I have the chance. I don't like my wife to worry anymore It worries me worse