cadtousa

On 11/22/2019 at 2:25 PM, cadtousa said:

I have not posted in last 2 years but have been following up this timeline as I have applied in June 2019 as well for removal of condition I-751.

 

I had my Interview yesterday and it got approved. I will post a full Interview post.

 

Filled I-751      June 5th 2019

Biometrics      July 2019

Interview date Nov 21st 2019

So as per my promise to all, I am posting my Interview although this is very personal so I am not going into detail for all our answers as those things varies case by case.

I would say stay calm, confident and happy. Reply to all questions with correct information and have a good coordination with your partner while replying. Provide some photographs for couple of recent trips which shows your relationship with your partner and bonding with your family and friends.

Here is my Interview experience on Nov 21st at Tampa USCIS office.

Our Interview time was 11.45 AM.

Me and my wife reached early around 11.20 AM. We went through security check and was asked to remove metal items and keep it in a bin. It was quick.  After that we did initial check and received a token number and was advised to proceed in right side where there was a waiting area and few counters. Those window counters were going through some Interviews and after 15 minutes once those Interviews are done it was closed for a lunch break. We thought it will be a long wait and no further Interview will be done during lunch time. After that we notice they called couple of tokens to follow them in the corner and there was an alley. So we presumed the family Interviews were happening separately in field officer's office. Almost after waiting for more than 1 and half hour our token was called by an officer around 1.15 pm.

We gave our token and was asked to follow her to the last office in the alley. Once in the room, we greeted the officer and said hello. Officer greeter us and asked to stand straight and take an oath that we will speak all truth during the Interview. Me and my wife agreed and said yes. After that we were asked to sit. Officer asked me for all the IDs. I provided my Green card, driving license and passport. Officer asked my wife for her driving license. Officer verified all IDs.

After that officer asked me for the finger print of my right and left thumb and took my photo on the photo machine. 

1. Officer told our marriage date. We said yes this is correct date.

2. Officer asked why I came so late after marriage? Me and my wife told it took time through the green card process.

3. Officer asked how did you manage to stay alone during that processing time? We replied together with couple of things. How we kept in touch. how my wife visited me during long weekend and we spent quality time.

4. Officer asked us how did you two met each other? Me and my wife told the story. After that I provided our marriage album. Officer was very happy to see those pictures and commented on my wife's dress. Officer took one of our photo with our family for a print. Officer asked how many people came to your marriage function? We provided some details.

5. Officer asked my wife where does she work? My wife gave her a response with her position  and job place information.

6. Officer asked my status in Canada and how I came to Canada. (This was asked as my birth place is different than Canada) I provided all details and my PR card from Canada.

7. Officer asked did you bring your current financial statements? We provided all copies of recent 6 months joint bank statements. I told her she can keep these statements copy for their records. (We have attached 6 months joint statements with our initial application as well)

8. Officer asked me where did we stay when I migrated to U.S. ? We provided all explanation of initial time and where we stayed initially and where we are staying right now from last 1year and 9 months. Also I gave some recent photos from our trips in this year which shows me and my wife visiting places and few picture with our family as well. Officer was really impressed as we visited many places in the U.S. and spent time with family as well.

9. Officer went through our paper application form to verify name, address, date of birth, current address and other information are all correct. 

10. Officer told us to wait. she gets up and took all government IDs and couple photos to the printing station and took copy for her records. 

11. Officer told us she does not have any further questions and my greencard is approved. Also she told that I am eligible to apply for Citizenship before 3 months of 3 year anniversary from that date I migrated in the U.S.. Officer asked if we have any questions. We said no we are good thank you for the approval.

We greeted the officer and was asked to follow her till the waiting hall. It was around 20 minutes. This is it we were so happy to get the approval.

Thank you all for your great post. I am following Visa journey from last 3 years now. And I can say this is the right place with all the information you need to file your visa application.

Thank you!

On 11/22/2019 at 8:53 PM, Crissgut said:

How was your interview, they approved?

yes I got my verbal approval from the officer. Status changed to approved same day after Interview. Next day status changed to New card produced. And yesterday received my card in mail in 8 days.

On 11/22/2019 at 5:00 PM, Ctman2019 said:

Congrats.5 months only wow that was fast 🤔

Thank you. yes around 5 and half months. Got much delayed in CR1 visa and here in IR1 got some advantage due to MSC file number.

On 11/22/2019 at 2:35 PM, Ring of the lord said:

Congratulations, where’s your local office ?

Thank you. Local office Tampa. My file number starts with MSC and it was processed at National Benefit Center after Biometrics.

I have not posted in last 2 years but have been following up this timeline as I have applied in June 2019 as well for removal of condition I-751.

I had my Interview yesterday and it got approved. I will post a full Interview post.

Filled I-751      June 5th 2019

Biometrics      July 2019

Interview date Nov 21st 2019

hello all,

so my case was approved at montreal consulate on Aug 04th. yesterday my passport was delivered to post office for pick-up.

I have picked up my passport and paid $220 fee by creating an account on below website:

https://myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov/

Now it shows it is processing my fee.

Everything is done now just POE left which will be on Sept 02nd.

19 hours ago, Mellisa said:

Guys i need help ..they requested a joint sponsor and i should email it to them as anyone heard of emailing the i864 joint sponsor form to a consulate?

Hi Mellisa,

email them whatever required. also send them I-864A as you have a joint sponsor on your file.

hope it goes through. is your case through email processing?

2 hours ago, Kadupul said:

Finally! Checked late last night and AOS disappeared and it says "At NVC" 

Just called NVC and confirmed cc! 😄😭

 

Second SD:  06/05

CC: 08/08

congrats

7 hours ago, JBMG said:

awesome!!!! So happy for you!!!  

Thank you 😀

2 minutes ago, Ulrica&Jesse said:

I have one question - We've sent an originally signed I-864 to NVC. What we have left are only the copies of it. I'm really worried that embassy will need me to have an originally signed I-864. Do you guys think I might have a problem there? I'm bringing the copies of I-864 to the interview hoping that embassy will already have the originals that I initially included to my NVC package. I'm really worried about this one. 

hi today i had my interview and they did not ask me for AOS as they had it in my file with them.

But I took a signed copy with me by filling a new AOS and getting signed from my sponsor.

Here is my review for Montreal consulate:

46 minutes ago, omar1 said:

Congratulatiooooooooooooooooooooooooooooons Cadtousa

thank you

37 minutes ago, Ulrica&Jesse said:

Congratulations!!

Thank you

4 hours ago, JBMG said:

Wow. So beautiful to see so many of you wishing us good luck today. Thank you so much because it worked. :-) they only asked 

 

"Are you the petitioner" Yes

"Are you living together in France" yes. His response, ok wow. 

"Where will you live in.the US.

Answered

"What is your financial situation"

Explained. 

He then said to use assets the requirement is much more when you don't have a job. 

So I asked, maybe it's 5 times more, he said, I don't know but there is a calculation, I will do it later. If all is well, the passport will arrive in 10 days. 

Then we said, we have a joint sponsor if needed, julien clarified that yeah, we have her paperwork. 

So then he took it, said. "That's great, no need to calculate now. All is good. Having problems with the computers so you should receive your passport with the visa in 10 business days. Enjoy moving back to the US. :-) 

 

So yay, we're finished!!! Thank you everyone for all of your support. Heading home tonight, will be back online tomorrow to give a better review. Thanks again everyone for your well wishes. Really made me smile. 

 

Have a nice day. 

 

Ps, call the NVC to get your interview dates. Hehehe

 

JBMG (Julien / Michael) I'm the mg. :-)

 

5

great to hear this news in the morning. Big Congrats to you @JBMG 

now happy dance time 

enjoy your last days in France...

26 minutes ago, Roor.M said:

Hey cadtousa, I've a question for you. I just got cc last Friday. Haven't gotten the p3 I think? That states I'm waiting for an interview. Do you think calling would be useful to find out if I've an interview scheduled or is it too early?

 

Thanks 😁

Hi @Roor.M,

I would say wait for a week after you have confirmed your CC. After the 1st week start calling and if it doesn't work then email your consulate where you would be interviewed.

Try to connect to a supervisor and ask them if they still have September dates for your consulate or not after 1 week time.

1 minute ago, AlviNY said:

Should we call to ask for a interview date? is that gonna help? or should i just wait.

call call and call nothing else works. we have to ring the bell in order for them to open the door. it may work without ringing but better to ring as you never know if there are any issues. It would take a lot of time to get email or letter.

On 7/28/2017 at 3:32 AM, JBMG said:

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR INTERVIEWS NEXT WEEK!! 

YAY!!!! WE finally made it.. WE're almost there.. Sending you all good vibes. Good luck on your interviews next week.   When you're done with your interview. Please share with us your experience. 

 

@BlessingDawn @TheFroggy @JBMG (yes,I'm tagging myself- hahaha) @needhelpinfo @ynes @cadtousa

 

To find/submit interview reviews from your embassy, click on the following link. 

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/

 

VJ display name	USCIS Priority Date (PD)	Visa Class	Received Interview Notification	Interview	Interview - Country	Interview - City
BlessingDawn	8/9/2016	CR1	6/13/2017	7/31/2017	India	Mumbai
TheFroggy	7/28/2016	CR1	6/30/2017	8/2/2017	France	Paris
JBMG	8/31/2016	IR1	6/28/2017	8/2/2017	France	Paris
needhelpinfo	4/15/2015	F2A	6/28/2017	8/4/2017	India	Mumbai
ynes	9/1/2016	IR1	6/29/2017	8/1/2017	Venezuela	Caracas
cadtousa	6/13/2016	CR1	7/11/2017	8/4/2017	canada	montreal MTL

 

To see all interview dates, you can sort the NVC Case Status Spread Sheet - 2017 by interview country/city.  Here are the sort instructions.

 

ps.. If you haven't printed out your DS-260 confirmation yet. Created the following to help you locate it. You have to bring this to your interview.

 

DS-260 Confirmation Example / Printing Instructions. (Must bring to your interview)

good luck @JBMG and all of us including me who have an interview this week.

1 hour ago, Dinah said:

Hi everyone it is with a joyful heart , and a great relief that I'm letting you know that i am officially DONE with immigration. I just had my magic word ISSUED ON MY STATUS.  JBMG your visa has been approved in the mighty name of Jesus.

congrats @Dinah

3 hours ago, Ninahuanca said:

CC July 21 waiting for interview date, did not get any email or letter yet that case was completed

keep calling. and get a hold of a supervisor and tell them it's almost a week now. 

On 7/20/2017 at 7:38 PM, vintash said:

Hello everyone ! I want to say thank you to everyone that wrote their reviews and gave all the information they could, it was very useful! 

We had our interview on Thursday July 13th in Montreal. I live in Toronto and my husband lives in NY. We met in Toronto and drove over to Montreal the night before. Prior to leaving I checked the weather (because Canada is different everyday ) and it called for rain on Thursday. I wanted to be prepared in case we had to wait outside the embassy. I packed a umbrella and made sure my documents were in a plastic closed folder. 

Our appointment was scheduled for 9 am. I want to arrive and be by the embassy by8-15 am. We stayed at the chrome hotel about 9 min walk away. Our hotel had parking and checkout was 12pm so we left the car there. We left the hotel around 730 am to get to the area around 745 am. However, due to the rain we took a cab which misunderstood and took us to embassy suites the hotel (smh). That put us another 10 mins away so we called an uber to go to the us embassy and we got there around 8:05 am. I saw people going in so I want to see if they were going to let me in but the lady said to come back at 8:30. We then went to the famous Starbucks across the street and ordered something to eat. At 8:25 we walked back to the doors and they were ready for us. She asked for my welcome letter and passport. You're then directed to the doors for security screening. I went in with no jewelry other than my wedding ring and nothing In my pockets. It was simple for me. My husband had his phone, lighter, cigarettes, wallet etc and they kept everything except the wallet. They gave us a ticket to collect it after we're done. You take the stairs down to the elevator and the elevator up to the 19th floor. The photo booth they have for the passport pictures is a old school birth that you put change and it spits out a strip of photos. I wouldn't rely on that for your photos. 

We get upstairs and it's and open space with seat for about 50 I think. To the left is a cashier area( I guess to pay certain fees, but I didn't have to go there ) 

We waited to be called about 40 mins after 9 am. I was called to window 1. The lady was very nice. She asked one by one all my original documents. As I was standing there I noticed she has my full package from the nvc there with her. She then asked me the address I'll be staying at in the US and passport photos then told me to have a seat I'll be called again. 

I waited about 10 mins and I was called up to window 8. Greeted by a really nice woman. She commented how prepared I was and said it won't be hard. She asked me when did we meet, when did we get engaged, where our wedding was and what he does for a living. It all lasted a total of 5 mins and she said the glorious words 'you're approved'. She said to expect my passport with 5 days at my registered courier service. She said she didn't need the print out of it that I had but I recommend you bring it all just to be safe. She said the last form of contact from them will be an email regarding the passport and when it will be ready

The whole interview process was the easiest part of all this. Like everyone here keeps saying, be overly prepared and you'll be fine. I also think you wouldn't be there unless you are going to be approved (at least for Canadians) it all just seemed like a formality. We got notified that the passport was at the post office Friday and would be ready for pick up Monday. That puts it 2 days after the interview approval. 

I hope I didn't miss anything and feel free to ask me anything you like to know !

Good luck and don't be worried! 

Thank you @vintash for such a detailed review. It will help me a lot. I have interview after 2 weeks at Montreal. Good luck for POE and have a great life in states 😀🎉

2 hours ago, Ninahuanca said:

Thank you @cadtousa for the advice on keep calling to NVC and try to talk with a supervisor... after so many tries finally yesterday a representative help me at that moment all supervisors were busy so I request for a call back and today an hour ago supervisor call and left a message  my case was complete and i will be notify for the interview  I also check the website and I only see the application information 

happy to say case complete on July 21 last scan date July 13  

 

to everyone with checklist keep calling and try to talk with supervisor if not ask for a call back

Wow great news congrats for your CC.... 😀🎉💐😀

2 hours ago, UsSwedlover said:

Below is my wife's review, its on my time line but I thought I'd post it here too.

 

 

I’m gonna try & write this as detailed as possible, but for you who don’t like to read a lot, at least read this one tip:

 

• Have your documents in order, with the checklist as reference. First thing on the checklist is the document you have on the top of your little pile, basically.
  
  I also kept documents & proof separated, & I divided the proof into different categories (pictures in one folder, correspondence etc in another).
  This saved me a lot of time & stress.

 

OK so! I’m lucky & live walking distance from the embassy, wanted to be out in good time & therefore arrived kind of early: 07:35.
My interview was scheduled to be at 08:30, just like all the other immigrant visa applicants I talked to. So it’s first come, first served.

 

There’s two lines outside of the embassy. One of them (the longer one) leads into some sort of “glass tunnel” thingie. That one is for NON-immigrant visas. There’s another line more parallel with the entrance. It had a black sign that said “Please wait here” & of course one that stated that the line was for immigrant visas. The latter sign is facing the embassy, so I didn’t see it at first.

I was also the first one there, & a guard peeking out of the entrance made sure that the immigrant visa was what I was there for.

 

I had to wait until 08:10, I think, until they called me. For me it was worth the wait to be first in line.

They asked me to show my passport through the window, to open my folder case & show what was in there, & to turn off my cellphone. I also had to turn around & show my shoe soles before I was allowed to enter.

 

In the first room it’s pretty small. They have the typical airport x-ray machine, & scanned all my stuff in it.

2nd tip: Don’t bring a lot of stuff. They will store your electronics for you, but they don’t have a lot of room. It will also save you some time.

Once they put my stuff in the little storage box I was given a number tag so I could pick it all up after the interview.

The people in this first room all seemed like good ones & treated me very nicely. They told me to inform the guard in the waiting room that I was there for immigration, & that I was supposed to go to window 7.

 

After that I walked up to the other building. It’s only one possible way, really, & it’s very very close.

I told the guard my purpose, but he seemed a little bit confused & wanted me to take a number & wait with the rest of the people (that was there for non-immigration visas). Luckily, I only had to wait for 5-10 minutes or so, because it was indeed the wrong window.

The gentleman sitting there told me to simply walk up to window 7 & wait in front of it, which I did.

 

Quickly a very pleasant & friendly Swedish woman approached & asked me if I had read the IMBRA pamphlet, for my passport & then documents. I gave her the folder with all the required documents listed on the checklist, & she grabbed some of them & gave me back the rest.
As far as I remember she was interested in my original Swedish birth certificate & my police records (she kept these two), & the original marriage certificate (this one they gave me back after the interview). My husband had given me his updated tax documents (since he received these after we had sent away all our documents to NVC), & she was interested in that too (I mean, why not).

After this she asked me if I had brought some proof to show that our relationship was real. I gave her some pictures which I had marked with place, year & occasional comments on the back.
She then asked me if I had some proof of correspondence, print screens from Skype or similar. I.e. proof of communication. I handed her some print screens from messenger, a Skype print screen & a little silly note with a one loving message from each of us.

I did have more proof with me, but she seemed satisfied & asked me to sit down & wait until I was being called to window 5.

 

I waited for about 30-35 minutes, I think. Then I got to talk to an American woman. She was equally nice, & even complimented one of my proof pictures.

I’m gonna try & remember the questions she asked me. It does seem like they ask slightly different questions depending on who they have in front of them. So basically, you will not get asked something you don’t already know the answer to.

 

OK here we go:

 

• Who’s the filing petitioner in US?

• What’s your relationship with him?

• Right now, does he live in Sweden or in the US?

• Where are you moving?

• How do you know each other?

• When was the first time you met?

• When did you start dating?

• Where/when did you get engaged/married?

• How many times did you visit him, or vice versa?

• Where does he work?

• Does he live alone, or with roommates, family..?

• When was the last time you saw each other?

• Have any of you been married before?

• Have you ever been living abroad before?

 

Everything was said with a smile, more or less. My interviewer was a very very kind person with good vibes. Talking to her, I didn’t feel nervous at all; neither did I feel nervous around any of the other people working at the embassy.

 

After the questions she gave me back some documents, my pictures & a paper that basically says that they can’t approve my visa until they get the results from my medical exam, which I already knew. The paper states that you been denied, but she told me something like “don’t worry about this at all, this is a paper we have to give to you, & it only shows that we’re waiting for your medical results.”
She told me that they had all the documents (except the medical), & that I would receive a package within 10 days (or two weeks, if the medical takes a little bit extra time to deliver because it’s summer). In the package, she said, my passport will be, & it will have my visa in it.

& that was that.

 

I just walked back to the first little entrance room, picked up my phone & felt HAPPY.

 

I really enjoyed my experience with the American embassy & its employees, & I can totally see why people keep rating it high.

So peeps, don’t be worried. Make sure your documents are in order, & that you have some good proof. The people you will be talking to will be nice, heck, even super nice! It’s not some hardcore trial, just a couple of question you already know the answer to! Piece of cake (& this comes from someone that’s usually super duper nervous).

 

You’ve got this!

Let me know if you have any questions not addressed in the review and I'll ask her. 

 

congrats @UsSwedlover  just wait for your passport now...

thank you for your detailed story. it will help other to understand Interview day in real sense

11 hours ago, chamma said:

Here you go, My Review:

 

 

I reached by around 6.50 am at the Mumbai Consulate. It was raining crazy with no shelter to stand to escape the downpour. At 7 am they asked us to form a queue. I was second in line. They then let us in. We were asked to show our interview letter, DS 260 confirmation page (which was stamped during Biometrics) & our passports. After checking we were let in for Security Checks. Medical CD was not allowed. I had to give it back (it was already specified under the pre-interview checklist for Mumbai). After which we were let inside to get into another line. And then finally we were let inside. July & Rains are synonyms in Mumbai. We were asked to make 2 lines after we were let in. One for South Indians & the rest stay in the other. We were asked to confirm the language for interview. We were asked to arrange all our documents in an order – Birth Certificate & it’s copy, Marriage Certificate & it’s copy, PCCs & their copies, Medical reports, Passports. I arranged them all. I was then directed to move to a counter. I was asked to give my documents which I had arranged.  She had a look. She asked me few questions.

 

Who is calling you?
Answered.
What’s his name?
Answered
Where does he live?
Answered
Do you have your 2016 return?
I said No, We have an extension. She said – Don’t worry, I already have it. I was so relieved at this statement.  
How long have you been married?
Answered
Have you lived in any other country other than India?
Answered
Were you there for study or work?
Answered
Where did you work there?
Answered
How long?
Answered
Have you been to the US?
Answered
Before or after the wedding?
Answered
When did you apply for the visa? Before or after?
Answered
Is you visa still valid?
Answered
She asked me to produce the passport.
Is it the first marriage for you both?
Answered

 

She returned me my original Birth & marriage certificate. She only retained copies. She also returned me few documents which were part of my NVC package & few from my USCIS package. I asked her - if she did not need them, She said 'No'.

 

She then gave me the pamphlet and asked me to go through it and mentioned that the CO might ask me questions. She asked me to keep checking the digital display for my token number. She also mentioned that I would have to pay a fee of 220$ after I get my passport but before my POE. She retained my passports. She asked me to keep checking the digital display for my token number. I sat there waiting for the number to flash. I read through the pamphlet in the meanwhile. After waiting for about 12 minutes, my number flashed. I proceeded to the counter. I was the first to be interviewed. Across the other end was the American CO seated. She greeted me with a pleasant smile and asked me the following.

 

Who is calling you?
Answered.
What’s his name?
Answered
Where does he live?
Answered
What does he do for a living?
Answered
Was it an arranged marriage or love marriage?
Answered
Who arranged it?
Answered
How long did you know each other before the wedding?
Answered
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Answered
Since when are you married?
Answered
How many people attended your wedding?
Answered.

 

She kept typing for 2 minutes & I was patiently waiting. Once she was done, she said – You are approved. She gave me the letter confirming the same and the document containing instructions to pay 220$. She wished me for the trip & I could not stop smiling. I sat there for a while recollecting what had happened and it seemed surreal. 

 

I would like to stress on something – TAX EXTENSIONS ARE Perfectly OKAY. If you in case do not have the latest or if it would take time to file, you can certainly file an extension & they are absolutely fine with it. 

I did not have a 2016 return. We had filed for an extension.
•    We were approved at the NVC without the checklist.
•    & I did not have any intimation from the embassy to carry one.

I had read few experiences (provided by @JBMG) on people with extensions, but I still had questions in my mind. But another member @Raag also had an extension & his interview at same consulate was an easy breeze. That gave me a little hope. I also had carried our Acceptance notification for extension.  

I had also carried a lot of supporting documents and our huge wedding album. They asked me none. I had carried everything under the sky. There were few people who were intending immigrants, but nobody had carried so much like I had . I feel its better safe to carry than be Sorry.

 

The staff was courteous and helpful. Except that there was no waiting space to escape the rain, everything was fine.

Thank you @chamma for such a great detailed review. Good luck for your POE.... I know Mumbai rains are tough and they have no shelter to escape it at BKC. They should improve it.

But anyways main part is happy ending at the end. 

Hello all, 

I have completed my medical yesterday.

Now 3 things left collecting medical reports, arranging docs and main part Interview

5 hours ago, TeeA10 said:

Good morning it is Fam! Visa approved! Thank God!

congrats @TeeA10 ... good luck with POE.