sio05

These people just shipped my GC. Well, at least now I have a tracking number and I can plan my trip!! Another 2 days

And now I need a cosponsor.... Just gets better and better

Don't stress it. Just get the cosponsor. Make sure you have their birth certificate or Passport. It will all work out in the end. Deep breath. I'm just like you, but you will look back one day and it will be the past. Good luck!

Hey everyone!

Hope y'all are doing well with your processes and interview preparation.

Just chiming in to say I've been working for about a month now, my wife has completed her training so she's making much more money in a much less stressful work environment, and we are applying for apartments right now until we can get my green card, save and move out west.

It's been a little over 2 months since my AOS went to "Testing and Interview" and with the Atlanta timelines, most people have waited 4 months before getting their interview date. Therefore, 2 more months to go!

Good luck Erica! I hope you get your date before the 4 month wait. That's a long time.

I interviewed last Tuesday at 1pm, and I got a text message and e-mail about 5 minutes after the interview that my case is in document/card production. I also got two emails and texts later that evening that both my 130 and 485's were approved. I got the NOA2's this past Saturday. It seems, however, that most people have been getting an additional text/email that their card has been mailed a few days after their case is approved. Today is a week and I still haven't gotten that text. I'm assuming the memorial day weekend might have slowed down production as people probably were getting on with their trips. Any thoughts for those who are familiar with this stage? I want to drive to Montreal on Thursday, so I am literally checking my mail everyday so I can go book our hotel rooms. Talk about cutting it close! Haha

I interviewed last Tuesday at 1pm, and I got a text message and e-mail about 5 minutes after the interview that my case is in document/card production. I also got two emails and texts later that evening that both my 130 and 485's were approved. I got the NOA2's this past Saturday. It seems, however, that most people have been getting an additional text/email that their card has been mailed a few days after their case is approved. Today is a week and I still haven't gotten that text. I'm assuming the memorial day weekend might have slowed down production as people probably were getting on with their trips.

Dress as if you are going to court or to a job interview. My husband wore dress pants, a button down shirt, and dress shoes. I wore a dress, a cardigan, and 1.5 inch heels. I believe that your appearance is important and can have an impact on how you are viewed as a couple. Our interview was last Monday. There were some couples there in jeans, short skirts, and midriff baring shirts-very inappropriate.

Agreed! The IO can be totally influenced by your appearance and preparation. Even if it's the mere fact that you both decided to dress up, which simply tells the IO you both are communicating. We dressed up and it went smoothly. I agree with you 100% because it is a real interview.

sio05 awesome!!! congratulations!!! usps delivered my card today (6 days post interview) you should get yours between saturday and monday

That would be nice! We need to celebrate! Congrats!

My interview went well! We got there about 25 minutes early, waited in the room till we were called. As is done in Boston, the USC is interviewed first. The IO asked the following:

1. Where did you meet?

2. What was the name of the location?

3. Parents names, both our birth of dates

4. Which family members have you met and where

5. What did you do the day of your wedding? WHo was there?

6. What did you do after everything was over?

7. What is your current address?

8. What did we each get our degrees in?

9. Where were we working at the time we met?

10. Why did we both move across country.

I was called in and asked the same questions pretty much and he was checking them off on a piece of paper as I answered.

He asked for passports, other documents (health insurance, dual account evidence and life insurance) and went through the photo album and asked questions about the location of a few of them. He then asked my the same questions of the I-485 and I answered no to all of them (i chuckled when he asked about the espionage one and he smiled too).

He then said he had no issues with our case and that he would approve it immediately. He told us about the conditional green card and that it would arrive in 5-7 days. He shook our hands and asked us about the weather outside and we told him it was nice.

About 5 minutes after leaving the building I got a text saying my case was in document/card production.

I AM SOOOO HAPPPY. It was a stressful process, but worth it in the end. And I want to than all of the people on here. It's a community I have grown to love. Best of luck to everyone!!

How was your interview in Boston today?

My interview went well! We got there about 25 minutes early, waited in the room till we were called. As is done in Boston, the USC is interviewed first. The IO asked the following:

1. Where did you meet?

2. What was the name of the location?

3. Parents names, both our birth of dates

4. Which family members have you met and where

5. What did you do the day of your wedding? WHo was there?

6. What did you do after everything was over?

7. What is your current address?

8. What did we each get our degrees in?

9. Where were we working at the time we met?

10. Why did we both move across country.

I was called in and asked the same questions pretty much and he was checking them off on a piece of paper as I answered.

He asked for passports, other documents (health insurance, dual account evidence and life insurance) and went through the photo album and asked questions about the location of a few of them. He then asked my the same questions of the I-485 and I answered no to all of them (i chuckled when he asked about the espionage one and he smiled too).

He then said he had no issues with our case and that he would approve it immediately. He told us about the conditional green card and that it would arrive in 5-7 days. He shook our hands and asked us about the weather outside and we told him it was nice.

About 5 minutes after leaving the building I got a text saying my case was in document/card production.

I AM SOOOO HAPPPY. It was a stressful process, but worth it in the end. And I want to than all of the people on here. It's a community I have grown to love. Best of luck to everyone!!

Received my Green Card in the mail yesterday!! I am looking forward to the next (almost) 2 years of immigration freedom! Thanks for all the help and support VJ, see you guys again at ROC - good luck!

Woot woot!! Congratulations!!!

USPS picked up my gc from USCIS... expecting my green card on saturday. yehey!!! hope everyone get the green card soon.

Congratulations!!

Had my AOS interview this morning and was accepted after a simple 10-15 min converstaion! He updated my status wto Card Production within an hour of leaving the building and I was told my card will arrive within 2 weeks!

Congratulations! Woot Woot!

Today we had the interview and, I am happy to say, we are approved!!. I cannot put in words the joy I feel and the gratitude I have for those of you that posted your experience on visa journey. I did not post on VJ until now because I am very superstitious, so I didn't want to "jinx" myself. But now that I have been approved I can share my, our, experience.

My husband and I decided to go with a lawyer to file our petition. I found a cheap lawyer located in downtown Brooklyn. Filing was painless and I didn't have to worry about having it wrong because I used a lawyer so that helped me to sleep at night. later on my husband was doing some online research on this entire visa process and he stumbled across visajourney, sent me the link, and I took to visa journey like a fish takes to water. We were in a dark place with no answers and only questions, the stress of not knowing got to the both of us until we started browsing visajourney. From then on our moods were more relaxed because we had answers and every now and then I would tell him about any new postings I found that were similar to our situation. I found out about looking up my status through VJ and when my status changed to interview, we were both excited because we knew it would soon be over. Then came the interview letter (around the beginning of April) and shortly after that came the interview date (May 12)

Our interview was scheduled for 845 am. When we arrived, the room was 75% full. We were surprised because we thought we had an early interview. We actually arrived at 815 and ended waiting 90 minutes to be called. My husband was about to go to sleep then my name was called. The interviewer had us sworn in. The first question was for my husband which is "how did we meet?" My husband and I met at a bar that the interviewer knew about because she knew exactly where it is. We got a laugh out of that and it helped to ease the tension. The follow up question for my husband was "how did you know you could propose to her?" As we have only been together for 6 months when my husband purposed to me. After he answered that question, the interviewer asked us for our passports/ID's. At that point the interviewer took my I-94 which I knew from reading on VJ that when approved, I would not receive my I-94 back. So I had a feeling that early in the interview that we were approved. Then the questions for me were the usual questions everyone is asked as far as criminal history or have you ever harmed anyone or been a part of any terrorist activities...which of course the answer was no and that's all I said..except that I said "oh hell no" when asked if I ever caused anyone harm. After those questions my husband chimed in and told the interviewer that I am a pacifist so that's why I gave the emphatic "oh hell no" reply which we all laughed. When the interviewer asked my husband the earlier questions I also chimed in here and there with details of our first date..like for example I said that he would always come to my apartment because mine was a larger apartment than his and he was embarrassed at how small was his apartment. The interviewer also commented and said.."of course, you're a bachelor so your apartment isn't as big" I really think that helped in letting the interviewer know that my husband and I are a real couple.

So after that the interviewer asked for my travel documents, asked my husband what is my full name? asked me what is his full name?, where do I work?, asked me where does he work?..then asked for our utility bills, joint bank account, and photos. The photos is was the cherry on top because there were a few family events that came up before our interview date and my husband and I made sure we took plenty of pictures...one of the pictures we included was of me holding my husbands 3 month old nephew which got an "awwwww" out of the interviewer. We knew at that point that we bought it home. The interviewer then told is that our marriage looks good and that she will approve the visa but a temporary visa because we have not been married for 2 years and also told us about the next step in order to receive the 10 year visa which I had already known from reading VJ.

In all the process took 3 months, at times it felt like 3 years but right after we found out about VJ is when the process seemed to move faster and I guess it's because we had answers so we knew what to expect. Again..my husband and I thank you all for your support and keep posting!!! And I hope my post has shed some light on someone's visa journey.

A hearty congratulations to you and your husband!! May the rest of the journey be as smooth.

At first when i saw the amount of sections of your list i was like, oh boy! im way under prepared!...when i started reading it, i felt more at ease...we have everything in a hard drive, and havent printed it yet (doing so this wknd), once you start putting all the documents together, they add up super quick!

Totally agreed! Surprisingly enough, I kind of enjoy putting it all together. You're coming up soon! Sending good energy your way.

You definitely have to bring your i94, the visa would be stamped on your passport, so yes to that one too, even if you have more than one passport (due to exp date) i would bring it too. It wont hurt bringing the NOAs as well. Im bringing a copy of everything sent to and received from USCIS (affidavits, translations even the forms), and photo album. Itll be a big fi, amd the IO might not even look at it, but better safe than sorry

Agreed 100%. I took some advice from a member - Erica and Lily - and I compiled 3 binders. 1 - An accordion folder with all original documents (passports, NOA's, etc) and a second binder with photocopies of all of those and additionally, a photo album. I have over 200 pages of original documents - and i copied them all.

Section 1 - Copies of all my originally submitted application (I-130, I-485, etc…)

Section 2 - USCIS Correspondence (NOA's, Biometrics, interview letter, etc...)

Section 3 - Identification (both our passports, I-94, birth certificates, drivers' license, marriage certificate, I-20's (since I was once on F1), H1B - all correspondence from USCIS), old EAD card and SS cards.

Section 4 - Co-Mingling Evidence (2013 MFJ tax return, Insurance documents, Leases from current and all past apartments, join accounts, credit cards, bills to us at our apartments…etc)

Section 5 - Affidavits and Letters received (all letters of congrats on the wedding, Affidavits from 4 people, Letters people wrote to us saying thanks for staying at our apartment, plane tickets from places we've traveled together).

Section 6 - Finances (Both our tax transcripts dating back 3 yrs, 3 months of paystubs from our jobs, current letter of employment and business card)

Section 7 - Miscellaneous (random stuff - letters people sent inviting us to weddings, FB page showing we are in a relationship, text message communications from friends and family and still adding random stuff to this).

All this might not be necessary, but I am taking NO chances!

Finally! My EAD was delivered today!

So it was aproved April 30th, then May 5th i got the 1st email about it being send at 12, and the next one with the tracking number around 5pm.

Awesome! Congrats! Now go get that job

Days 77 - I-485 update on may 5,2014 we ordered production of your new card, please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you .

wow I m so happy now . all processing for me very fast .. marry then apply AOS then interview now Green Card approved !!!

Hope everyone get smooth road like us..

Good luck all.

Congratulations!!

Days 77 - I-485 update on may 5,2014 we ordered production of your new card, please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you .

wow I m so happy now . all processing for me very fast .. marry then apply AOS then interview now Green Card approved !!!

Hope everyone get smooth road like us..

Good luck all.

Congratulations!!

It's almost a week since I changed to testing and interview. I'm crossing my fingers, toes, eyes, etc that I'll get the magic email with my interview date in the next 24 hours! So far everything has gone very smoothly.

Fingers crossed for you too!!

I can't believe how fast you got an interview date!!! Gosh, I've been waiting for ever!

I know! I think your RFE slowed you down a bit. Also, the Boston office seems to schedule interviews fairly quickly (about a week turnover between 'testing and interview' and an actual date. Keep us informed! you'll get it soon

Hey everyone,

I AM EMPLOYED!! I start orientation on Tuesday.

Just wanted to wish everyone luck in their progress since I probably won't be posting as much in this thread. If anyone needs that list I have or any organizational tips for their interview package feel free to still message me because I love that stuff.

Just going to work and try and stop stressing about my interview date for next little while.

Congrats!! Things are going really well for you

True but in some places it is easier than in others. I will be moving to Delaware and that place sucks lol

Delaware isn't so bad. I lived in Philly and Delaware is right there. Wilmington is a cute little city and depending on where in Delaware you are living, you can drive to either Philly, Baltimore or D.C in very little time.

Update: our case is scheduled an interview for June 4

Text/email received at 7:15am on the 30th!

Congratulations!! That was the best news during this whole process for me so far!

AP finally approved. Although I will not be using it since my interview date is literally 2 weeks away. Oh well.

Oh definitely. There are a lot of restaurants and bars here. I'm gonna miss Boston when I move away for my new job

I truly believe one can find happiness anywhere! Keep us updated!

Yeah it does seem fast even though I saw a lot of people there when I went for my biometrics. I live in the back bay area, really close to downtown

I live in Jamaica Plain... like 5 stops from back bay. Drinks in back bay when we get 'green' !!