Cammabear

I'm approved!!!
 
The whole process only took about 75 minutes. They asked for:
-birth certificate
-passport photos
-divorce decree
-marriage certificate
-police certificates (I had them for Canada, UK and UAE)
 
After the first window and taking biometrics, I was told to wait until I was called for the 'interview' portion.
 
Questions I was asked was:
-Where did you meet and when?
-How often did you see each other?  (since he was in the US and you in Dubai?)
-When did you get married?
-What husband does for a living?
-Is this both of your first marriages?
-Current US address 
 
Because my medical expires on October 16, he strongly advised me to pick up my visa in-person at the consulate, so I'll do that as soon as it's ready.
 
It was streamlined process all in all.
 

My husband had is interview Monday, got his Visa Thursday. Crossed the border with his car yesterday with no issues at all. He had all his boxes labeled and they didn’t even want to look. He was able to bring his car across. We are waiting on letter from Volkswagen stating it is USA certified and he can take it with the form the CBP officer gave him to our airport and import it. He didn’t have to prove car was paid off. They didn’t even ask. All went well and the officers were really great and told him Welcome to the USA Sir. Hard to believe we have finished this process. For now. Citizenship in 3 years. Thank you all for your help answering questions and support along the way. So helpful to be able to talk to people that get it and understand all the forms and lingo. 

I feel like many of us got the worst of everything. Stuck at Nebraska service center for over a year, just before they switch to electronic system. At NVC when they were at their slowest, finally DQd and then seeing people get through NVC in a matter of days. Finally in line for interview and Covid shuts down the embassy. I feel robbed of over 2 years of our lives because I am just like many of you and obsess over when it will finally happen. Being excited to cross out another day is no way to live. 

Hi everyone, Thankyou so much for your help. I am travelling back to Toronto. This forum has been a huge huge help for me. Everybody is super helpful. Overall it was a positive experience. They are very nice and helpful and very understanding. They asked for tax returns, police certificates and orignal marriage and birth certificates. After that i was asked to wait. Then the next officer was also super nice. He asked me questions regarding my marriage. And asked how will i be travelling. Overall it was the best experience!! Thankyou everyone for your help!! 

Hi everyone! My visa was approved this morning
 
I was in and out in a little over an hour! The security lady made me feel bad when I showed up because I was "very early"... In reality it couldn't have been earlier than 10.40am for a 10.45am appointment... I waited on the subway platform for a while since I didn't bring my phone and it was the only way I could know what time it was! But anyway, everyone else was fine. I was told to go to the first floor, booth 5 or 7. Before getting on the elevator, I confirmed to one of the agent that he said the "first" and not the "third" (because I didn't want to get yelled at lol). He was empathetic and said "yeah I know, with the masks I'm always having people repeat themselves". Regardless, there's a sticker with the name of the consulate right by the elevator button for the consulate so you can't get it wrong. The security guy upstairs was nice. I was very very stressed going there, but once I sat down it got better. The building isn't nearly as intimidating and formal as I was expecting it to be - it reminded me of where I went to get my health care (RAMQ) card. The two officers I spoke with were very nice, the second was actually very friendly!
 
Now for the details, I'll try to remember as well as I can! The first officer only asked for my passport, birth certificate, our marriage certificate, police check and passport pictures. I'm a temporary resident here so he did ask about my status, I showed him my work permit. He confirmed my husband's address, phone number, occupation; my date of birth; the date of our marriage; he asked if I ever had any issue crossing the border, if I had ever been arrested. He confirmed how long I'd been here in Canada for. He gave me the pamphlet on domestic violence. It was a little hard to hear him with the mask and the glass but he seemed to be mindful of it and he was also kind of turning his head to have his ears towards me when I was speaking. So I think that if you can't hear them well, they'll be understanding of it (I'm specifying because that was my worry!). Then I sat back and waited to be called for the second part of the process.
 
The second officer started off by thanking me for my patience and saying I was at the end of a long road - which kind of told me right away that I was going to be approved!! He had a speaker of some sort so it was very easy to hear him. Then he asked me to tell him about my husband, how we met. He asked what was the longest I'd ever stayed in the US (I said about 2.5 months during the lockdown), how often we see each other, if it was a first marriage for both of us, what does my husband do, what do I do. He said everything looked really good, lots of green lights. Then he said he'd hang on to my passport. He gave me a paper to show at customs because my packet will be electronic, I won't have an actual envelope to give them when I cross at POE. He told me a couple of logistic things about getting my passport back that I can't remember at all (oops) because I was suddenly realizing that we were finally DONE and I was getting emotional lol. But I live in Montreal so the passport just has to cross the city. Then my eyes filled with tears, I couldn't speak for a couple of seconds so I just looked at him with the most grateful look. He was like "yay, happy tears, that's good right?" lol. He congratulated me, told me to "take care". A very nice gentleman!
 
So globally, I would say it was very stressful leading up to it but the actual interview was painless. The officers are nice, the questions are very standard ones. I was definitely over prepared paperwork wise, knowing now what they actually asked me for. But I would 10000% recommend doing in this way: it's best going in knowing that, whatever they ask you for, you can just pull it out of your binder and give it to them. It was definitely a thought I held on to when I got nervous about interviewing! 
Also note that I had uploaded the following documents on CEAC a week before the interview, even though I didn't get an email: 2019 tax transcripts and W2, my more recent police check, and an updated I-864. This last one had changed quite a bit since the NVC stage but they didn't ask for any supporting documents (namely updated bank statements or a letter from my employer, since we're using my income and assets to qualify). I think we really went to town at the NVC stage with the supporting documents, so it made the rest of the process go smoothly.
 
That's it, I hope it helps! Pheeeew, what a crazy ride. Seeing my husband's smile on my phone screen when I told him was just amazing 😍: 😭  I'll relax for real once I get my tracking number. I hope to be able to fly down this weekend, I cannot wait to be reunited with my spouse... and our 2 cats of course!!! I'm going home!!!!

Hey everyone. Seeing all the detailed messages about approvals and final reunions with spouses makes my heart so, so happy.  That alongside seeing our spreadsheet turn “green” has really brought back a feeling of hopefulness that I too will soon get my chance.  Please, please continue to share. It is so nice to be able to share in your joy. 

I JUST GOT MY PASSPORT!!! WHOO HOO!!!! INTERVIEW WAS THURSDAY MORNING AND IT ARRIVED TODAY, MONDAY AFTERNOON!!! I'm in Mississauga, ON What is that, like 3 business days including the day of interview?? #SOGRATEFUL!!! I'm flying out next week on Monday Morning  CAN NOT WAIT TO BE REUNITED WITH HUBBY FOREVER!!!!
 
And thank you SO MUCH for all the encouragement, the info shared and just for being the amazing people that you all are!! I pray that everyone still waiting will have a happy visa journey!! Stay strong and endure till the end ❤️ BIG HUGS ❤️ 

My husband had his interview this morning. He was approved. The one thing that they asked about was his new passport. They said it wasn’t uploaded but I had uploaded it into CEAC so not sure where I was supposed to upload. He had a color copy though that they took and was a non issue. Said the CO was great and asked him if it was him that put the binder together because it was so well organized. He said nope, my wife. Lol
He was done in 1 hour 15 min. The longest part was waiting to go up to the window for actual interview that only lasted a few minutes. Told him his Visa will arrive within 5-7 days and will be able to track online.

Wife had her interview this morning. She said everything went great. Everyone was really nice. I went ahead and uploaded updated I-864, 2019 tax transcripts, new police certificate, W-2, and paystubs since some people were getting emails to upload these things. We never got an email about it and the first lady that called her up was really impressed that we already had everything taken care of and uploaded. She only asked for her birth certificate, our marriage certificate, my divorce decree, and one passport photo. Interviewer only asked when we met and where I was currently living (I'm a Canadian PR and we were living together in Canada until May of last year when I returned to the US to reestablish domicile, get a job, house. etc.) My wife's medical expires Oct 25 with the one month extension. They said they had to update the expiration on the medical then everything would be approved and processed. She was in and out in 45 minutes. I don't usually post much on here because most of my questions were already answered in reading our previous message group. But I wanted to thank everyone here for all the help. People speaking on their experiences with different steps of the process help everyone else to be prepared and avoid further delays. So thank you thank you thank you! My baby's coming home!

Well, after 177 days, I finally have my green card in hand.  Even better - it has the correct IR status!  Our 2 year anniversary was 03/31 and we crossed by land on 04/01.  I thought for sure I'd have to file an adjustment, but I don't  

My passport arrived today!! I hope the rest of everyone’s process is smooth and easy 🥰

🙃 Shipping labels just printed and my tracking number was just issued!! Passport is REALLY on the way!! 🙃 #grateful

I officially have my visa on hand 😍😍 thank you thank you all for being so supportive 

Hey guys, just wanted to give you a full review of how my interview went today. My interview was at 10:15am and I arrived on time. They scanned all my things and sent me upstairs. I talked with a smiley guy behind a glass wall. He was wearing a mask of course but his eyes were smiling lol. Everyone was very friendly actually! He asked for my original docs one at a time. Didn’t ask for the financial stuff at all, not even the i864. Just passport, 2 photos, birth certificate and marriage certificate. They didn’t ask for any photos or any of those details at all. After they took my original docs I waited for about an hour. Felt super long. Finally they called my name over the intercom and I was SO EXCITED 😆 I LITERALLY JUMPED UP! Lol 😂 when I went around the corner to the lady behind a glass she said Hi! I said “Hi, I am SO happy to see you!” Lol 😂 she laughed and said “What happened were you one of the ones who got cancelled oroginally?” I said “YES! I was supposed to be April 6th 😁” she smiled and then said, “Well it looks like you have everything you need here, so we should be good. Let me just double check.” And she went over my docs again. She asked a few questions, how my husband and I met, when, and what does he do for work. I think that’s about it! She then reminded me that my medical was technically expired but because of Covid everyone is getting an extra month. I said thank you 😊 She made sure I understood I had to cross the border before the new expiry date and she reminded me to leave extra time at the airport for customs.  I told her - don’t worry I know we’re not supposed to, but I already bought my ticket! I’m ready to go as soon as the passport arrives!! She said, Okay! And told me it should be in the mail no later than Friday, probably tomorrow! She said check the status tonight!! I can’t wait till we get home from Montreal. Driving home with my brother as I type this lol. First thing I’m going to do is log on to CEAC and check it out when I arrive. 
 
I also just want to encourage anyone who is still waiting. Don’t loose hope!! Once everything comes together with the papers you’ll be alright 🤗 keep the faith!! Sending love to you all ❤️ 

Congratulations @Hadarah! I'm so happy to hear everything lined up for you despite the last-minute hurdles they sent your way with updated docs. Sending equal congrats to @Tbeck 🎉🍾 wishing you both all the best in your new (and highly anticipated) lives in the US!
 
And sending big virtual hugs to everyone feeling low from today's discovery about spousal interviews being pushed back a little longer than expected. This process can seem bleak and hopeless at times but we will all get there, and I have to say it's made a little easier (for me at least) by having an online community of folks who get it and are going through the exact same thing.

Hey guys! I got approved!! It was so good!!! I’ll update you as soon as I can but everything went as expected 😁😁😁

YOU GUYS!!! I GOT A MIRACLE!!! I AM SO GRATEFUL!!! THE NEW POLICE CERTIFICATE CAME TODAY!!! I HAVE ALL MY DOCUMENTS NOW I AM SO GRATEFUL!!! DRIVING TO MONTREAL WITH MY BROTHER THIS AFTERNOON - INTERVIEW TOMORROW!!! BLESSINGS ON EVERYONE WHO IS WAITING AND GOING TO INTERVIEW SOON!!! LOVE TO YOU ALL!!! ❤️❤️❤️ 

Best wishes to Monday's interviewees: @SAsal, @Irregularblob, @Couchpotato560, @SeriaRisa11 & children, @Zelna, & @Jacqueline H!
Let us know how it goes.

I understand how you're feeling. Well, not the single parenting as I don't have children, but I was DQ'd early June and after reading the forums here, I'm beginning to think that it will indeed be next year before I get my interview in Montreal. My process began January of 2019, never did I think that it would be 2021 before I would be living with my husband. It's hard to get your head around and is very disheartening. Hopefully we start to hear news soon. 

...you've been invited to a private message group. Also, please see the spreadsheet in my signature.

~~moved to NVC from bringing family of USC~~
 
IMHO Don't play with it.  If you have the email saying you're qualified leave it alone.