Promiseiliya

This is the cover letter of our application. Hope this could help as your guide and checklist when you submit yours. Go to the USCIS website to get their forms and read their instruction booklet. Try watching videos in YouTube like Immigration Guru to help you assemble your packet. 

Marry and file now, party later.

Hi everyone,
 
Finally, after ~2 months on and off preparation and countless re-prints, we are going to mail out our application package today. Background story, I'm currently in valid F-1 status working full time with my STEM OPT extension EAD (will expire end of April 2018) and got married to a U.S. citizen (last week). Thank you to everyone who have answered my questions in the past.
 
My application in a nutshell
 
Filed for optional applications (I-765 & I-131) Photos are placed in ziploc bags and clipped to respective forms (Name and A-number (if any) written on the back with pencil). I organized my application package into folders Each form is paper clipped. Forms and evidences are binder clipped to the respective folder, so they won't fall out. My husband's family member agreed to joint sponsor, because my husband's income is insufficient. During the past five years, my husband had period of unemployment (full time student), so I went ahead and wrote "None-Student" on his I-130. In regard to the evidence of bona fide marriage, I definitely front-loaded our application package with plenty of secondary evidences. For example, list of all past shared trips and gifts exchanged.  I paper clip evidence from the same trip( i.e. hotel reservation, flight reservation, car rental reservation, photos) and made cover letter for it. Similarly, items included in my I-485 were not all required items per I-485 instructions, such as the entry stamps and copy of I-20s. Per page 11 #7 of the instruction document, I-94 Arrival - Departure record should be sufficient.  
The whole package weighs 3 lbs 3 oz. and I will mail them with a priority mail envelope.
 
Alternative scenarios:
Instead of joint sponsor, I can use my income (intending immigrant) by showing proof that my income will continue from the same source after getting the green card.  I could have use my saving accounts by submitting bank statements covering the last 12 months.  Get the medical examination (I-693) done closer to the interview date to avoid the risk of a Request for Evidence (RFE) asking for a new I-693, if case is pending for more than one year from priority date. Certified copy of marriage certificate is not required, but I had an extra, so I am sending it with the I-130.  
Please let me know if you see anything missing from my application package. Otherwise, hopefully these photos could help future applicants.
 

Hi Everyone,
So a big day this week, My wife and I finally submitted for my AOS from F-1.
Short Background - Came to USA to study abroad in 2013, met my now wife. I transferred from J1 > F1 (No 2 year requirement).
Have been on F1 and F1 OPT for both my Undergraduate and Masters, my current OPT expires in August, 2018. I also recently renewed my passport, so that is a little confusing too, but we got through it and luckily by I-94 record stayed the same.
 
With the help of everyone on here, I was able to complete the application without a lawyer, but did consult for specific questions, and with the help of VJ and Reddit, we felt comfortable that we covered all corners.
 
I put together a Cheat-Sheet that would help me gather all the information, and among the craziness, it really did help me. The cheat sheet is below

 
After following a follow user on here - @ColoradoBeauty with their Application here.
 
I decided to do something very similar, and hopefully it will help in the long run. I put together folders.

- I-485 (with i-693 medical inside)
- I-130/130A
- I-864
- I-765 & I-131
- Evidence of Bona Fide Marriage
 
In each folder, I put on one side, the forms needed and the supporting documentation beside it.
For the Bona fide, I actually put a checklist with Numbers and added them as "Tabs" so the officer could quickly see the specific evidence on the cover sheet and locate it quickly visa the tabs.
 
Inside I-485
 
 
Inside I-130
 
 
Inside I-765 & I-131
 
Bona Fide Evidence Cover Sheet (Note the tabs hanging out the side)
 
 
Fingers crossed and hopefully this can help those, who are in a similar position.
Thanks,
 
 

Hello
 
Congratulations! This is an awesome picture.
Forms:
I-130
I-130A
I-485
I-864
I-765
I-131
Make sure to read the instructions for each very carefully.
First 4 forms are mandatory.
The last 2 are optional and highly recommended but free and when filed out with the others, and will also help you because they are respectively work permit and travel permit.
 
Good luck and Happy married life!

Apologies in advance for this truly absurd wall of text, but I wanted to write up my whole interview process in excruciating detail for those doing AOS in NYC at Federal Plaza. I’m a Canadian citizen living in Queens, and did AOS from TN-1 work status. You can find a detailed timeline in my signature.
 
Before the Interview
 
My interview was scheduled for 9:15am on 5/21/2019 at Federal Plaza in Manhattan. We arrived around 8:30am, but did a lap around the block and went in at 8:45, as the notice says not to arrive more than 30 minutes early. People weren’t kidding when they said it was airport style security -- complete with bins and taking shoes off! -- but the lines moved quickly. Once through security, a large sign in front of the main elevator bank clearly noted which offices were on which floors. My notice said to go to the Queens Office on the 9th floor. Once we were in the room, we walked up to the window to get further instructions, and were told that we had to go down to the Queens Office on the 4th floor *groan*. For those curious, there are public washrooms immediately outside the waiting area on the 4th floor.
 
I gave my interview notice to another person behind a window, who called my name and gave me a deli-style ticket number about five minutes later. Every time she called a name, people would jump up with all their stuff in hand, but this is only you getting into the interview queue. The waiting room can get a bit noisy (there’s a TV and phones are allowed) so make sure to listen carefully. The actual officer conducting the interview comes out from the back office with your interview notice and will call your name (and possibly ticket number) when it’s your turn.
 
It was already 9:15 by this point, but the room was packed so we figured we’d be in for a wait. We ended up waiting over two hours, and watched numerous couples/families that came in after us get called into their interviews first. About 30 minutes in, I asked about the delay (having noticed numbers after mine being called) and the woman said that the order of the numbers doesn’t really matter. After another hour passed, my husband went up to ask and the woman said she’d “speak to somebody.” Almost another hour passed before we checked again, and they reassured us that we were coming up. Finally, around 11:30am, we got called into the back offices by Officer Hernandez (OH). I guess the squeaky wheel does get the grease! Still don’t know if our notice got shuffled to the bottom of a pile or what, but it didn’t hurt to ask to ensure we didn’t get forgotten.
 
Interview
 
Once we got to his office and before we even sat down, OH had us raise our right hands and take the oath, then asked us to provide government-issued IDs. I provided my EAD/AP combo card and Canadian passport, while my husband provided his driver’s license (OH ended up wanting a photocopy of the DL and my combo card -- at the end of the interview, I gave him a photocopy of my card that I had brought, but we didn’t have one for the DL, so he needed to make one himself). Next, he took a new photo and my left and right index fingerprints on a digital pad. He also apologized for the long wait!
 
OH explained that he would go through my forms and confirm some information, then ask us some questions about our lives. He would specifically direct questions to either one of us, and asked that we not try to jump in and answer each others’ questions. He went straight into the first section of the I-485, confirming my name, maiden name, DOB, address, previous address, job, my husband’s job, where my parents live, last entry, etc. and checked things off as he went. He asked about when I went to school in the US (which was actually just a 1-credit college course I took as part of a J1 internship program with no home residency requirement) and I explained this to him.
 
Once that was done, OH sat back a bit and starting directing personal questions to us. He didn’t mind if one of us added information to the story after the person he asked was finished talking. I think they want to avoid one spouse jumping in to answer a question clearly addressed to the other. This is generally what I remember us being asked:
 
-How did we meet?
-Where did we first meet in person? What did we do on that first date?
-How long was it between us first connecting online and meeting in person?
-When did that meeting happen?
-How did he feel upon first meeting me?
-When did we see each other again?
-When did we move in together? Why?
-What were my feelings about his place when I moved in?
-What sorts of changes did we make to the apartment after I moved in?
-What is life like together at home?
-Who proposed to whom?
-When/where/how did he propose?
-Why did he feel this was the time to propose? What made him sure he wanted to get married?
-Why did I say yes?
-When/where was the wedding?
-How many people attended the wedding? Were they family, friends or both?
-Who was the best man? Maid of honor?
-Did we go on a honeymoon? Where? What did we do?
 
He clearly wanted to get us talking about our relationship. He didn’t probe much for extra details, though we did add them when relevant (and tried our best not to babble!). A couple times, he would reiterate things we said or confirm timelines. I don’t know if he was trying to trip us up because a few times he would say, “So, you knew each other approximately X years before the wedding” when it was actually less time. In these instances, we confirmed the correct timelines, even if it was approximate. This was all fairly conversational...we joked around a few times, and OH did smile and laugh a bit.
 
After that conversation wrapped up, OH asked what I had brought to the interview. First, I gave him my sealed medical exam, which hadn’t been submitted with my original petition. At no point did he explicitly ask for it, so if you’re bringing it to the interview, don’t forget to hand it over! I had also completed a new affidavit of support with evidence since we had filed a joint tax return since AOS. He did not take the actual completed forms, but kept all the evidence (copies of husband’s W2s + 1099s, 2 months worth of pay stubs, tax transcript, letter from employer, etc.) He asked for originals of the W2s, which was pretty much the only thing I DIDN’T bring, but he said it wasn’t a big deal. I saw so many questions on here as to whether you need to bring an updated affidavit to the interview -- I imagine if it had been a more significant change like a job move, it would have been necessary, but clearly, as long as you can prove the income you have and it’s not changing anytime soon or dipping below the required threshold, you should be fine.
 
Below is the new bona fide marriage evidence we provided. I had all of this listed in order on a “table of contents” on top of the package, and plopped the whole thing down on the desk when OH asked for it. I also had a separate section of my folder with all the originals of everything listed. OH flipped through all of it and asked questions as necessary, then added it to my file.
 
-Copies of our last wills and testaments (OH asked to see originals)
-Copies of Power of Attorney forms (OH asked to see originals)
-Copies of Health Care Proxy forms (OH asked to see originals)
-Updated statements from husband’s bank account (from AOS filing until most recent available) highlighting monthly transactions from me to husband’s checking for rent/expenses and both names on joint savings account
-Copy of 2018 IRS tax transcript for joint return and photocopy of the return check with both our names
-Copy of page from husband’s retirement account correspondence listing me as his trusted contact
-Copy of my proof of coverage statements from husband’s health and dental insurance
-Copy of letter from benefits department at husband’s job, confirming my insurance coverage
-Copy of our medical and dental insurance cards listing both our names (OH asked us to show our physical cards, which we had in our wallets)
-Copy of my insurance claim summary showing husband as plan enrollee and me as patient
-10 new photos (from AOS filing until today) of us with friends/family, with captions (OH asked me to identify each individual in a group photo of our families together, commented on a few photos and confirmed where they were taken/what the event was)
-Copy of Airbnb reservation/trip itinerary made by me for a recent trip with his family
-Copy of Airbnb reservation/trip itinerary made by my mom listing us as guests for Memorial Day trip
 
I also took out originals of birth certificates, marriage certificate, etc. from the original petition in case he needed them, but he said he didn’t. These were listed on the interview notice, so definitely still bring them just in case! Better to be over-prepared, in my opinion.
 
Below is what we originally submitted as bona fide marriage evidence for the I-130 back in December. I had just about all the originals of these in my folder, but he didn’t refer to any of it except the driver’s license.
 
-Copy of reciprocal will/health care proxy/power of attorney application through husband’s job (showing husband naming me as intended beneficiary/executor and vice versa)
-Copy of paperwork to add husband to my 401(k) account
-Copy of letter confirming my married name change on 401(k) account
-Statements from joint savings account (six months worth, highlighting both names on account)
-Screenshots of payments made from me to my husband via our banking app over the last 2 years
-Copy of change of address forms from USCIS/DMV/IRS from when I moved in with my husband
-Copies of our NYS driver’s licenses with the same address
-21 photos of us together and with friends/family (covered early relationship, wedding, right up until we filed)
 
Given that I’ve been living and working in the States for a few years, we certainly had the advantage of lots of evidence/financial commingling on our side that many couples who are newly arrived won’t have. But it was clear to me that it’s the quality of evidence, not quantity that counts. As long as the evidence really shows that your lives are intertwined (or working towards that), and your stories match the evidence, you should be fine.
 
After going through the new evidence, OH went through the I-485 inadmissibility questions one by one, checking them off as he went. He told us then that he had no further questions for us, and that our case would be put into review, and printed a letter/receipt for me stating this. OH explained that they have an obligation to provide a verdict within 120 days, and that we could inquire with USCIS after 90 days. He asked if we had any upcoming travel, and I mentioned that we were planning to travel to Canada over Memorial Day weekend (three days later). He asked if my EAD/AP was a combo card, and then confirmed that I was able to travel and return on AP while awaiting a decision. He had us follow him to the copy machine where he photocopied my husband’s driver’s license and asked us if we had plans for the rest of the day (mostly because we’d been waiting there so long!). Luckily, my husband took the whole day off and my boss let me take a half day. Once he finished making the copy, OH walked us out of the office area and out into the hallway.
 
All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by the whole interview experience. Officer Hernandez was very friendly, but was still professional and explained every step of the process as we went through it. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting so many casual questions about our relationship, but it’s clear that this is where real couples can shine...when they can recollect moments they've shared, can easily talk about life together/at home, etc.
 
After the Interview
 
After reading so many stories of instant/on-the-spot approvals, I was a bit dejected at not getting confirmation right away, so it was nice to see that other filers on here were put into review as well to know I wasn’t alone! Don’t know if the long weekend had anything to do with the slower approvals or if a week delay is pretty standard. Today, on 5/29/19, I got the “New card in production” update on my case tracker for the I-485, 8 days after our interview and 177 days from the date my AOS package was accepted. Card should be in the mail soon and I’ll update my timeline once it’s in hand!!
 
My TN work status only came up when he asked if I was still with the same employer at the beginning of the interview, which I am. At the end of the interview, OH didn’t take my paper TN I-94 out of my passport, despite it being essentially invalidated by my EAD. I did travel back to Canada over the Memorial Day weekend, but didn’t think to surrender my I-94 to the Canadian official when I crossed (as it tells you to on the back of the paper), which I worried was a big no-no. But it all turned out okay: when I crossed back into the US on AP, I got sent into secondary, waited about 20 minutes, then had a CBP officer return my passport with a new, single-entry I-94 stamped for Advance Parole (he also stamped my actual passport). I was fingerprinted, had my photo taken, and we were on our way.
 
Hope this is helpful to someone out there! VJ has been an amazing source for me throughout this process...not just for information/questions, but for solidarity with others also in the trenches and reassurance that we're all in it together.
 
Now off to start assembling my massive ROC evidence list for my next go-around with USCIS in 2 years minus 90 days

(703) 520-2575

Hi there, my husband adjusted status from a tourist visa and we followed this guide https://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2/ He has a 10 year green card now. He came on a tourist visa with no intention of actually staying here but changed his mind.

Page 1: Cover sheet
Page 2: Covering letter
Page 3: Print out of USCIS E Mail
Page 4-11: Evidence 

I adjusted from f1 - opt in 2015 then to green card in 2016 in nyc. The whole process of filing to temp GC took 9 months but this was 3 years ago...not sure exactly what was filed it was too long ago. I will share with you the remaining process... 

I married on opt and lawyer said it wasn't an issue. My husband purposed to me ( when i was on opt already) out of the blue was excited and my mom suggest we should just get marry in court first then tie the wedding later in the summer since wedding takes forever to plan. Since I am Canadian one of us had to marry in another country either way.   Married in Jan 2016, filed in Feb 2016. Got the bio metric appointment done and my EAD card within 3 months I would say.. * i did stop working after I got married legally while waiting for my EAD* Then I got my interview notice in the summer and my interview in September. I was approved on the spot green card mail 3 days later. We provided ( some was submitted some was brought to the interview ( huge binder)) 
1) marriage document
2) joint title on house ( not a normal case for college student but rent lease would do)
3) joint utility/ insurance ( health/life/etc) 
4) joint bank account / credit card
5) photos together ( parents / furbabies included) 
6) wedding planner receipt ./ engagement ring receipt/ wedding dress/ cake etc 
7) joint tax return 
8 ) screen shots of social media posts together celebrating / plane ticket vising each other etc 
 
My husband is 5 years older so he sponsored me since he had a full time decent job. At the interview the officer said we were basically approved already she just had to do the process. She mainly chatted with us and wanted to know our story like a friend. She asked us how we met ( in video game), where we are heading next after this, life plan mainly. She told me I got approved again at the end and good luck to me. Got my card 3 days after I left the office. She did ask me to recall his legal name which was very long ( 4 name maiden name) my in law b-day , their names etc in the very beginning. 
 
As long as your marriage is real there is nothing to fear, you can marry on opt I did it. I just got my notice today for my "permanent" green card and my i751 was approved, no interview either. Submitting my naturalization application end of the month. Good luck let me know if you need any insight. 

You can fill out DS 160, pay the Visa fee and book the appointment as soon as you get case number and your case shows "ready" meaning the embassy received your case.  after you've booked your interview, email the embassy to request your package 3.   your package 3 will give you details on where to do your medical and police report.   You medical can be done 3 weeks before your interview.   Email the embassy at lagosIV@state.gov 
 

here is the check list for you that may help and make sure to add you H1B related Notices with I-485.
 
Form I-130 Completed and signed form by Petitioner (U.S. Citizen).
Form I-130A Completed and signed by spouse beneficiary.
A personal check or Money Order amount of $535 made out to U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
https://www.uscis.gov/forms/our-fees
Two-passport style photo of U.S. Citizen with full name on the back and name on plastic bag.
Two-passport style photo of beneficiary with full name on the back and name on plastic bag.
Copy of U.S. Citizen`s Birth Certificate or Passport Biographical Page, or Naturalization Certificate.
Copy of U.S. Citizen`s Driver License or Passport Biographical Page.
Copy of Marriage Certificate.
Copy of Divorce Decree (If you are divorced previously).
Copy of beneficiary`s passport biographical page.
Copy of beneficiary`s most recent I-94.
https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/recent-search
Evidence Showing Bona Fide Marriage:
 ☐ Joint IRS Tax Return Transcripts (if you have it).
 ☐ Birth Certificate of your children (if you have any).
 ☐ Joint Lease or Mortgage showing joint tenancy (if you have it).
 ☐ Joint Bank Statements. (Checking, Saving, Credit Cards etc.).
 ☐ Joint Utility Bills (Or Utility Bills showing the same address for each spouse)
 ☐ Joint Cell Phone Bills.
 ☐ Joint Car title.
 ☐ Joint Car Insurance.
 ☐ Life insurance showing each other as beneficiary.
 ☐ Retirement accounts showing each other as beneficiary.
 ☐ Health, dental Insurance showing you are on one another plan.
 ☐ Photographs (Weddings, Trips, Family gatherings, Friends)
 ☐ Affidavits from your family, friends having personal knowledge of your bona fides marriage.

 Form I-485 Completed and Signed by Beneficiary (Alien Applicant).
A personal check or Money Order amount of $1225 made out to U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (Including biometric fee).
Copy of foreign birth certificate for beneficiary accompanied by full-certified translation.
Copy of beneficiary`s passport Biographical page.
Copy of beneficiary`s passport nonimmigrant visa page (if you have)
Two-passport style photo of beneficiary with full name on the back and name on plastic bag.
Copy of beneficiary most recent I-94.
https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/recent-search
Copy of Marriage Certificate.
Copy of Divorce Decree (If you are divorced previously).
 Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (sealed by civil surgeon)
“You do not need to send with your initial application but you need have it with you during the interview”
Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA:
 ☐ Petitioner copies of IRS federal income tax return transcripts for the last one year (Optional last 3 years).
 ☐ Copies of Petitioner`s W2`s or 1040`s forms.
 ☐ Copies of Petitioner`s pay stubs.
 ☐ A letter of employment verification for the petitioner.
 
Form I-765 Completed and Signed by Beneficiary.
Two-passport style photo of beneficiary with full name on the back and name on plastic bag.
Copy of beneficiary`s passport Biographical page.
Copy of beneficiary most recent I-94.
https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/recent-search
*No Filing Fee is required for I-765 since it is being submitted along with I-485.

Form I-131 Completed and Signed by Beneficiary.
Copy of beneficiary`s passport Biographical page.
Copy of beneficiary most recent I-94.
Two-passport style photo of beneficiary with full name on the back and name on plastic bag.

For U.S. Postal Service (USPS):
 
USCIS
PO Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120
 
For FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:
 
USCIS
Attn: FBAS
131 South Dearborn - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517
 

Since you asked, this is the way I assembled my packets (sorry this is going to be long) :
 
I had 4 packets, one for I-130, one for I-485, one for I-765 and one for I-131
 
For I-130 I included:
 
For I-485:
 
For I-765:
 
For I-131:
 
A few tips:
 
They will also send you a notice telling you you need to do a medical exam (if you haven't already done it), IDK if you know how that works, only certain doctors can do it so I suggest researching that a little bit if you haven't yet. I received this notice, it's not an RFE or anything like that, it simply told me to bring the form I-693 (the form that the doctor will fill out and sign) to the interview. Some people choose to send it with the initial packet though, it's up to you!

Additionally, please don't use capital letters. They are hard to read, and in internet parlance it is used for shouting. 

This is asked about time and time again. The instructions state to mail the I-129F petition to the Dallas Lockbox facility, but people are still often confused about where to mail it, where it goes, and where it gets processed.
The Dallas Lockbox is an intake facility. It is not a USCIS service center. They do not process and adjudicate the petitions there.
The address for regular mail is a Dallas address and the address for courier mail is a Lewisville address. They are still both being sent to the Dallas Lockbox. The difference in addresses is just because the Dallas PO Box address cannot accept courier mail.
This is exactly what happens when your petition is received at the Dallas Lockbox > http://www.uscis.gov/about-us/directorates-and-program-offices/lockbox-intake/lockbox-intake-processing-questions-and-answers
The Lockbox Service provider performs the following activities when processing incoming applications:
Receive, open, sort and stage mail. Prepare and scan documents. Enter document data in system from scanned images. Accept or reject applications and related fees based on business rules. Balance applications and fees. Deposit payments to the U.S. Treasury Send receipt notices for accepted applications to the applicant and designated representative. Return rejected applications to the applicant or designated representative. Transmit application data to USCIS and payment data to U.S. Department of Treasury. Send application files to the appropriate USCIS service center or field office for further processing. Once your petition is received and dealt with by the Lockbox facility, it will be sent to one of the USCIS service centers to be adjudicated. This is not a transfer of your case. Transfers only happen between one service center and another. If your petition was to be transferred, then you would receive a transfer notice stating such. Don't enter a transfer into your VJ timeline unless you actually receive a transfer notice, which is something entirely separate/different from your NOA1 receipt notice of filing.
Your receipt notice (NOA1) will contain your receipt number and the service center location that your petition was sent to. Currently there are only two service centers processing the I-129F petitions. They are California (CSC) and Texas (TSC). If your receipt number begins with WAC, then your petition is at the CSC. If your receipt number begins with SRC then your petition is at the TSC.
Typically the petitions are sent to one of the two service centers based on where the USC petitioner resides. I have seen some report that is not always 100% the case, but for the most part this is correct.
California Service Center: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Texas Service Center: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

After you get married, you file for Adjustment of status/Green card form I-485. Along with I-485, you can file I-131 Advanced Parole (travel document)/I-765 (work authorization) for free. When I-765 is  approved, you can work. 

While you are waiting, here are some reading material links for you to wrap your head around:
 
https://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow/
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/nonimmigrant-visa-for-a-fiance-k-1.html#6
 
Good luck on your immigration journey.
 

Just a little info on my situation and emotional rollercoaster going threw the process as a K1. My now husband aand I went threw different emotions and started acting a little off with each other during the Visa process. It wasn't due to doubt or questioning is this really what we want? It was excited and reality of omg this is really happening then realising I'm leaving all my friends and family behind with slight fear. A few fights came out from it due to how each stage impacted us individually but after being open and honest with each other we knew it was the stress of the application. Before you jump the gun and withdrawal the application have you talked to him as to why he being different? It is a rollercoaster of emotion and it's vital to communicate with each other so there no cross wires. If you have that gut feeling after talking to your partner then yes I would withdrawal the application. 
 
Once I arrived in the US that was another rollercoaster of emotions and with communication and support we got threw it. Sometimes I would withdrawal from being home sick sometimes I was tired of being stuck at home but we got threw it we talked it out and was open with 1 another. We're now 9years married with 2 kids.. communication goes a long way. Just cause it doesn't work out for some people don't assume you'll be the same trust your gut and communicate with your partner to clear up any doubts

You have to practice patient, yo got your case approved within 3 months, count yourself lucky considering it took most people 7-8 months.  So am sure you can be patient for few weeks for your case number.  I can't stress it enough, be patient.

Oh, you are most welcome. 
 
Another good information source is the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Forum, https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/89-africa-sub-saharan/ . Check it out, that forum is full of folks that are currently in the midst of encountering the embassy/consulate part of the process, or have questions about country/regional specific immigration issues.
 
P.S. For many tough embassies/consulates, the more visits/contact between the petitioner and the beneficiary, the better to show that your relationship is the real thing. The embassies/consulates main goal is to identify and deny cases that are false, deceptive and/or fraudulent. 
 
Good luck.