AOS Interview in Chicago...

[Circus-of-Power 0]

Nearly 3 years after this journey through life,love,stress,despair and joy began we finally had out AOS interview.....

It was a 2am start for the journey up to Chicago, traffic was light and so we were very early...a bonus in some ways as the car park we used did a special rate for those entering before 6am...The car park was clean well lit and had security some of the others in the area were rather seedy to say the least...The car park is on W Van Buren/S Federal St.

A coffee is Starbucks, a walk around the area and then we were all set for the doors to be open at the USCIS building at 7.15am. Security was as you would expect and the interviews are held on the second floor. Our appointment was set for 8am but you know how these things are so Cathy and myself settled down for a long wait .... The lobby was busy with those there for the interview and attorneys looking for their clients ...one attorney had 5 clients lined up to be interviewed...no wonder he wore a designer suit and gold Gucci glasses ....Cathy wondered if they delay your interview to secretly watch your interaction as a couple whilst you wait...it is true that some couples hardly spoke, some even sat apart but as to whether its a deliberate ploy (making you wait) who knows...we talked and joked the time away trying to calm the nerves that both of us were feeling

Twenty minutes after the alloted interview time a mild mannered middle aged guy called my name, and we were shown to a small office ...I'd guess the guy was Indian by birth and he still had a broad accent, something which Cathy to her great embarrassment later admitted she had difficulty understanding ( I thought she was just nervous) ..I wish I had got to know his name as he was great at making you feel at ease, he was patient as we fumbled with papers and had a wry sense of humour. We presented our ID,s and I handed over my passport and EAD,s ....he asked how long we had been married and if we had any children.....Then we swore the oath and he examined the paperwork...he often asked questions but then answered them himself ...Parents names ...DOB.....place of birth etc....he asked the standard was I a Commie...trouble maker...degenerate style questions (all answered with a precise NO! ) Cathy then joked about the interview being a day before my visa expired and whether a place was booked on a flight out of Chicago ....our kindly interviewer not looking up from the papers he was reading said in a quiet voice "there will be no problem I can already tell you that"

Then onto the finance questions ...he verified our incomes, checked the W2's ...asked why we even had a co-sponsor ..."you earn enough... no sponsor required" He complimented my Human Resources manager for the fine detailed letter I had included in the support package and said financially we were good. All this was followed by being asked for the evidence of relationship ...we offered numerous bits of paper rental agreements, utility bills, car loan etc ... but he hardly looked at them .....Then we hit a sticky patch or what Cathy and I saw as a sticky patch ...Our kindly official asked about my entry record into the USA, which was numerous, and why we married only for me to return to the UK and then only apply for a visa some 15 months later ....We explained almost in stereo that Cathy was supposed to have come to the UK in the original plan...but her first husbands refusal to let their daughter leave the USA dealt a blow to that .. I produced a letter from my UK employer confirming my visits to the USA and that I was given special leave ...and with that our interviewer smiled and said "Ok everything is fine ...you are approved as of now ...your card will take 3 weeks ...and you need to take care of your special lady (Amen to that) ...he explained that if I did need to leave the USA for emergency reasons what I needed to do ...but I wasn't listening by then ...I was just looking into Cathy's eyes and smiling at her ...A shake of hands ....and that was that ... He escorted us to the main lobby and wished us luck ..

Not a bad day at the office as they say .... like the interview in London many moons ago it all seemed simple in the end and betrayed the months of stress and preparation ...but then thats the key ...preparation

It feels great to be done with that I have to admit ....

Finally a huge thank you to Visa Journey ...its a huge resource of help/info and support .... The K3 visa does work .....and never ever give up hope ....I love my wife to death and it has all been worth it ....Time for a beer ....

Paul&Cathy Cunningham

Edited September 7, 2007 by Circus-of-Power

[pj1959us 0]

A hearty congratulations from a fellow Illini!

PJ

[Michaela_Hassan 1]

Congrats!!

[Circus-of-Power 0]

A hearty congratulations from a fellow Illini!

PJ

Thank you ...and I note your also a fellow Englishman

[Circus-of-Power 0]

Congrats!!

Thank you ...it feels rather good ..that I do admit ...i

[Sand 5]

Congratulations !

[Jasman0717 8]

Nice post, thanks for sharing and congratulations

[rebeccajo 14]

Hey Paul - nice to see you and congratulations.

Why in the heck did it take so long to get your interview?

[~*Maria*~ 1]

Congratulations!!

[Mags 112]

What a nice story, thanks for sharing...oh, and congratulations!

[ELW 5]

Congrats!! :dance: WOW what a long time, what a relief that you finally have the approval! YEA!

[Muuuuah 0]

Congratulations

[LaL 418]

Hey Paul - nice to see you and congratulations.

Why in the heck did it take so long to get your interview?

I would think it has to do with them having a K3 visa, AOS was only submitted April 07.

Congratulations! 10 year greencard on the way (hopefully!!)

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

Congratulations!

I'm off to that same Chicago office in a couple months for our AOS interview.

[rebeccajo 14]

Hey Paul - nice to see you and congratulations.

Why in the heck did it take so long to get your interview?

I would think it has to do with them having a K3 visa, AOS was only submitted April 07.

Congratulations! 10 year greencard on the way (hopefully!!)

Oh duh. That's what I get for reading so early in the morning......