LilyKins

Hi beautiful humans! 
 
I can't believe the time for ROC has come so soon! My 2yr GC expires on the 25th but we had a child in March and so we submitted way later in the 90 day window than we should have.
 
All is well though, text message received and case accepted .. package was mailed 06/02 to the Chicago lockbox with a money order attached, text message received 06/07, case updated to being "actively reviewed" on 06/09, and today (06/14) received the notices for the online account access and biometrics re-use in the mail. I haven't received the extension notice yet, but I'm sure that's coming.
 
We had an extremely rough time with our AOS, thanks to COVID and a number of internal errors at USCIS, so hopefully this round goes smoothly
 
I know we've all submitted our packages already, for the most part, but I always found these lists helpful when I was searching around the forums for help, so here's what we included in our package:
 
- Cover letter
- Form G1145 
- Form I-751 (wet signed in blue ink by both parties)
- Money order for $680 (application fee + biometrics) made out to US Department of Homeland Security
- Copies of applicants ID: Passport and DL
- Copies of applicants GC, front and back
- Copy of deed/title to marital home in both names (including lawyer's personalized letter congratulating us on the purchase of our home)
- Copy of mortgage statement (though this is just in my name)
- Copy of child's BC
- Joint tax return transcripts for the past 3 years
- Joint bank statements (all pages) for the past 5 months
- Beneficiary declarations for my 401k and life insurance accounts showing my husband as the beneficiary
- Copy of move-in letter for previously leased apartment showing joint tenancy (couldn't find a copy of the actual lease, but oh well)
- Copy of renter's insurance for the apartment mentioned above showing both names
- Copy of auto insurance cards showing both names
- Copy of joint health insurance cards showing both names and child's name 
 
I realized later that I maybe should have included more utility statements, but they're mostly in my name anyways -- I tried to focus on documents that show both of our names together. The package itself was way smaller than our AOS package, but I think I have some good quality evidence in there (very much open to critiques though, if anyone thinks we're headed towards an RFE and might help someone reading this in the future).
 
Good luck everyone and may the USCIS odds be in our favour ❤️ 
 
 
 

Hi beautiful humans! 
 
I can't believe the time for ROC has come so soon! My 2yr GC expires on the 25th but we had a child in March and so we submitted way later in the 90 day window than we should have.
 
All is well though, text message received and case accepted .. package was mailed 06/02 to the Chicago lockbox with a money order attached, text message received 06/07, case updated to being "actively reviewed" on 06/09, and today (06/14) received the notices for the online account access and biometrics re-use in the mail. I haven't received the extension notice yet, but I'm sure that's coming.
 
We had an extremely rough time with our AOS, thanks to COVID and a number of internal errors at USCIS, so hopefully this round goes smoothly
 
I know we've all submitted our packages already, for the most part, but I always found these lists helpful when I was searching around the forums for help, so here's what we included in our package:
 
- Cover letter
- Form G1145 
- Form I-751 (wet signed in blue ink by both parties)
- Money order for $680 (application fee + biometrics) made out to US Department of Homeland Security
- Copies of applicants ID: Passport and DL
- Copies of applicants GC, front and back
- Copy of deed/title to marital home in both names (including lawyer's personalized letter congratulating us on the purchase of our home)
- Copy of mortgage statement (though this is just in my name)
- Copy of child's BC
- Joint tax return transcripts for the past 3 years
- Joint bank statements (all pages) for the past 5 months
- Beneficiary declarations for my 401k and life insurance accounts showing my husband as the beneficiary
- Copy of move-in letter for previously leased apartment showing joint tenancy (couldn't find a copy of the actual lease, but oh well)
- Copy of renter's insurance for the apartment mentioned above showing both names
- Copy of auto insurance cards showing both names
- Copy of joint health insurance cards showing both names and child's name 
 
I realized later that I maybe should have included more utility statements, but they're mostly in my name anyways -- I tried to focus on documents that show both of our names together. The package itself was way smaller than our AOS package, but I think I have some good quality evidence in there (very much open to critiques though, if anyone thinks we're headed towards an RFE and might help someone reading this in the future).
 
Good luck everyone and may the USCIS odds be in our favour ❤️ 
 
 
 

Hi beautiful humans! 
 
I can't believe the time for ROC has come so soon! My 2yr GC expires on the 25th but we had a child in March and so we submitted way later in the 90 day window than we should have.
 
All is well though, text message received and case accepted .. package was mailed 06/02 to the Chicago lockbox with a money order attached, text message received 06/07, case updated to being "actively reviewed" on 06/09, and today (06/14) received the notices for the online account access and biometrics re-use in the mail. I haven't received the extension notice yet, but I'm sure that's coming.
 
We had an extremely rough time with our AOS, thanks to COVID and a number of internal errors at USCIS, so hopefully this round goes smoothly
 
I know we've all submitted our packages already, for the most part, but I always found these lists helpful when I was searching around the forums for help, so here's what we included in our package:
 
- Cover letter
- Form G1145 
- Form I-751 (wet signed in blue ink by both parties)
- Money order for $680 (application fee + biometrics) made out to US Department of Homeland Security
- Copies of applicants ID: Passport and DL
- Copies of applicants GC, front and back
- Copy of deed/title to marital home in both names (including lawyer's personalized letter congratulating us on the purchase of our home)
- Copy of mortgage statement (though this is just in my name)
- Copy of child's BC
- Joint tax return transcripts for the past 3 years
- Joint bank statements (all pages) for the past 5 months
- Beneficiary declarations for my 401k and life insurance accounts showing my husband as the beneficiary
- Copy of move-in letter for previously leased apartment showing joint tenancy (couldn't find a copy of the actual lease, but oh well)
- Copy of renter's insurance for the apartment mentioned above showing both names
- Copy of auto insurance cards showing both names
- Copy of joint health insurance cards showing both names and child's name 
 
I realized later that I maybe should have included more utility statements, but they're mostly in my name anyways -- I tried to focus on documents that show both of our names together. The package itself was way smaller than our AOS package, but I think I have some good quality evidence in there (very much open to critiques though, if anyone thinks we're headed towards an RFE and might help someone reading this in the future).
 
Good luck everyone and may the USCIS odds be in our favour ❤️ 
 
 
 

We got the update today that our green card was approved! After a month and a half after RFE at the interview we are so so so happy!!!!! Thank you to everyone on this forum for all the tips, advice, and support through this journey. 

Interview was at 8:30am this morning in San Jose, CA. Arrived at 8:15am, went through check in process.
After checking in, was called in right away.
 
She asked us how we met. How did we get married. Why did we decide to get married and how my husband asked me to marry him.
Also asked how many times I have entered the US in my lifetime. 
She asked for a copy of my husband's (USC) birth certificate and any proof of marriage.
She looked at our marriage certificate, took a few pictures I presented. Asked who was in each picture... drew circles around each person and wrote on them and kept them. 
Went through the i-485 package and asked me all the yes and no questions for if I am part of a cult, have ever entered the US illegally, been arrested etc.
She asked my husband what my parents names were.
 
I had filed the I-129F twice, she asked why. 
 
And she gave us a form to let us know that our case was being held for review. She says everyone gets held for review. 
 
She walked us out and that was it. 
 
Was probably in there for a max of about 30 minutes - which included the check in process.

Now waiting for approval. Hoping for the best at this point. It's been stressful waiting from February 2020 until now but we are so close to GC.

Hi,
We had the interview and my spouse was approved. It was very quick. The interview was in Manhattan at 2pm. We waited about 30mins and then the interview lasted about 10mins. She asked us very few questions, the same other people have mentioned before.  So now a little break before the ROC.  Thanks for all the help.
 
 

Hi! Sorry, I haven't been on VJ as much as I was prior to our interview -- definitely needed to take a mental break from USCIS. At any rate, I'm sorry I didn't see this prior to your interview (and congratulations on your approval!! 😁)
 
I don't think it's absolutely necessary for everyone to bring a completely new/updated I-864 but we had some significant changes to our finances throughout the year so I wanted to be prepared in the event that the officer wanted one. We also wanted to show that our co-sponsors financial situation hadn't changed with COVID, in the event that they were not satisfied with our own finances.
 
Definitely overkill for the majority of people, but my husband went from being employed to being unemployed as a student, and I went from being unemployed to being the sole earner in our home, so I wanted to make sure our bases were covered ☺️

Hi! Sorry, I haven't been on VJ as much as I was prior to our interview -- definitely needed to take a mental break from USCIS. At any rate, I'm sorry I didn't see this prior to your interview (and congratulations on your approval!! 😁)
 
I don't think it's absolutely necessary for everyone to bring a completely new/updated I-864 but we had some significant changes to our finances throughout the year so I wanted to be prepared in the event that the officer wanted one. We also wanted to show that our co-sponsors financial situation hadn't changed with COVID, in the event that they were not satisfied with our own finances.
 
Definitely overkill for the majority of people, but my husband went from being employed to being unemployed as a student, and I went from being unemployed to being the sole earner in our home, so I wanted to make sure our bases were covered ☺️

Just looping back to confirm that no, the officer did not ask for this during our interview.
 
I had brought it just in case - and even offered it - but the officer said it was not necessary and declined to examine or collect it. We were approved at the end of the interview (last week, July 14 2021) and my Green Card is en route to me as we speak.

We were approved!!!! Our interview was at 9:55 AM. We reached the office at 9:40 AM. We went through security checking and waited about 20 minutes until we were called into the room. The officer was really nice and the first thing we did was take an oath. He then asked us for original copies of our passport, marriage certificate, and drivers license. He then went through the form I-485 with my husband and basically ask him questions on each page. He made about eight changes including my husband‘s employment and address and other things. He ended the interview with asking my husband all the yes/no questions on the form I-485. He told us that he would check the medical and security questions before he would approve us. After he checked those things he approved us and told us about the Removal of conditions. He didn’t ask any question about our relationship or ask to look at any of the proof or supporting documents that I brought. It was a really smooth and easy interview and after leaving the office our case status changed to new card is being produced. Hoping in the next 1-2 we’ll have the green card in hand. See everyone in 2 years for ROC! 

The mods should approve a forum named “weird things that happen at USCIS”. I could moderate it! In our case we were going to spend the night at a hotel (FO is about two hours away) and we were literally packing the car when we received the call from -I guess - the IO. We had everything ready! And about a week later we received the letter, which requested the evidence. I’m not home, but I’ll post it later. It was hard to believe. Next day we mailed the evidence, and two weeks later I was approved. And I know of another interview waived at the same FO (but I don’t know if it was a K1 or F1)

Awesome!! So glad to hear it! Congrats!!

The interview went really well! Our officer was super kind and put us at ease from the start.
 
The security guards giggled at our box of evidence -- we ended up bringing a big file box with us -- and asked if I had the kitchen sink with me too. The officer was not going to ask for any additional evidence from us (probably because we front-loaded our application) but said it must've taken a lot of work to compile all the evidence we brought and "didn't want that effort to go to waste". He said he'll accept whatever I'd like to give him, so I handed over the bank statements, an assortment of joint insurances (health, life, auto) and our 2020 joint tax return.
 
He approved us on the spot ❤️ so thankful to finally be finished this step of the process and start moving on with our lives. I'll probably continue to browse the VJ forums to stay abreast of changes to procedures and current events, but thank goodness we have 18 months to catch our breath before ROC  

We finally had our interview this past Friday, brought a massive file box full of evidence, and had a very pleasant interview overall. The officer was not going to ask for additional evidence, but said I clearly put a lot of effort into compiling everything and "didn't want that effort to go to waste", lol. 
 
He accepted bank statements, a bunch of joint insurance statements (life, health, car, etc) and our 2020 joint tax return.
 
We were approved on the spot ❤️ So thankful for this community -- see ya'll in 18 months for ROC!!

The interview went really well! Our officer was super kind and put us at ease from the start.
 
The security guards giggled at our box of evidence -- we ended up bringing a big file box with us -- and asked if I had the kitchen sink with me too. The officer was not going to ask for any additional evidence from us (probably because we front-loaded our application) but said it must've taken a lot of work to compile all the evidence we brought and "didn't want that effort to go to waste". He said he'll accept whatever I'd like to give him, so I handed over the bank statements, an assortment of joint insurances (health, life, auto) and our 2020 joint tax return.
 
He approved us on the spot ❤️ so thankful to finally be finished this step of the process and start moving on with our lives. I'll probably continue to browse the VJ forums to stay abreast of changes to procedures and current events, but thank goodness we have 18 months to catch our breath before ROC  

Bump, how was it

Hey @LilyKins, how was your interview?!

Congrats @LilyKins! That went really well. I am happy for you both.  

The interview went really well! Our officer was super kind and put us at ease from the start.
 
The security guards giggled at our box of evidence -- we ended up bringing a big file box with us -- and asked if I had the kitchen sink with me too. The officer was not going to ask for any additional evidence from us (probably because we front-loaded our application) but said it must've taken a lot of work to compile all the evidence we brought and "didn't want that effort to go to waste". He said he'll accept whatever I'd like to give him, so I handed over the bank statements, an assortment of joint insurances (health, life, auto) and our 2020 joint tax return.
 
He approved us on the spot ❤️ so thankful to finally be finished this step of the process and start moving on with our lives. I'll probably continue to browse the VJ forums to stay abreast of changes to procedures and current events, but thank goodness we have 18 months to catch our breath before ROC  

Hi!! My timeline is in my signature and the VJ timeline is also updated. I'm applying for AOS so we don't get DQ'ed the same way people applying for CR1/IR1 do. We received notice in mid-May for the late June interview.
 
My timeline is also not a good one to follow because there were a few severe delays.

We finally got our interview scheduled for July 26! Yay. Is there a link for a list of documents we need to bring ? Also I saw on the notice there was an overview of what to bring but do we bring originals or copy’s ? 

Oh boy, I didn't even think to make an extra copy in the event we get separated!! That's a good point.
 
Good to know we won't be the only crazies dragging suitcases of files around 😆

First of all: you're good to go 😊 that's a lot of good evidence. If you want to bring the cards do it but I doubt that this is what will make or break your case 😉
 
You could prepare a new affidavit for you two but don't show it unless they ask. Your information will be updated at the interview anyway without a new form.
 
I didn't brought copys of all my applications and I don't recall anyone who really was asked for it even though it's asked for in the notice.
 
For your OPT stuff... no idea if that is an important part here. 

This is really helpful! We have our interview coming up next month and I‘ve been compiling all our evidence and forms into binders as well!
I think our lists are pretty much identical so I think (hope) you (we) are good to go! Good luck! Please let us know how it went and if there was anything else you needed!

Good Morning Everyone
 
After 18 long months, our AOS interview is this Friday. I've compiled a binder full of the following evidence:
 
Identity Documents
 
USC spouse birth certificate USC spouse passport USC spouse driver's license Beneficiary birth certificate (all versions; original hand written, original shortened, and a new version that's computer printed) Beneficiary passport Beneficiary driver's license  
Updated Forms
 
Updated I-864/I-864A from joint sponsors with all supporting information to reflect their current income (during/post-COVID) with all supporting evidence: 2020 tax return Proof of citizenship 6mo income statements from both joint sponsors USC Spouse is currently unemployed (was a student until May), but I have been employed full time for over a year now (was unemployed at the time of applying); should I bring an updated I-864/I-864A for us as well?  
Immigration Documents
 
Interview notice Sealed I-693 envelope (not sent with original application) All original I-20's (I'm adjusting from F1) EADs related to OPT Copy if I-94 (though I haven't travelled since applying) EAD/AP from AOS My OPT journey was long and a little twisted, so I'm wondering if I should bring documents related to my various OPT applications as well?  
Evidence of Cohabitation
 
Leases from our current apartment and our previous apartment with both our names Renter's insurance for current apartment with both of our names Utility bills with both of our names  
Evidence of Financial "Comingling"/Bonafide Marriage
 
6 months of joint bank statements, showing rent & utility payments and other day-to-day transactions Joint car insurance Joint health insurance Letter from immigrant's 401k indicating that the USC spouse is the sole beneficiary Letter from immigrant's life insurance that the USC spouse is the sole beneficiary Tax return transcripts for the last 3 years -- 2020 (joint), 2019 (both filed single), 2018 (both filed single)  
 
With all of this (2 copies of each, one for me and one for the IO to keep if necessary), I have a 1" binder that is absolutely stuffed. I was going to print some more photos (different to the ones we originally submitted) and some other supporting evidence -- wedding cards we received, wedding invitations we've received as a couple, etc -- but I'm thinking that it might be too much. 
 
I've also heard that it is wise to bring a complete copy of your application with you, but I'm wondering if this is actually done in practice. We front loaded our original application with quite a bit of evidence of our relationship up to that point, so together all of the forms (I-130, I-130A, I-864 (spouse), I-864/I-864A (joint sponsor), I-765, I-131) with their supporting evidence works out to about 500 pages. Add to that the OPT application files (three I-765s, one rejected package, one approved package, one replacement EAD package) and all of the supporting evidence for those applications...).
 
Will I look like a crazy person if I bring an entire file box with me to the interview? Should I make another complete copy of my copy of the complete application package, or is it safe to bring my copy with me as the IO should have copies of everything I have submitted?
 
 
Neurotic, I know, but I appreciate the wisdom and expertise here