probingoduke

10 minutes ago, Dis_Guy said:

Just got this. Does anyone know if there’s a way to track this or how long it typically takes to reach recipient.

 

 

Congrats, mine changed to that on Saturday. Today I kept spamming Emma until I got to an agent and they gave me the tracking number. The agent did say that once it’s mailed the status changes to USPS has picked package and mentions tracking number but honestly just talk via Emma and get the tracking info 

I understand that this is scary but honestly I interpret this as they didn't have much questions for you and just wanted to do an easy interview. Many folks have had that happen.

They can't say you are approved or denied to you on the spot as its generally the call of a superior officer. Keep an eye on your i485 I'm sure you are approved. Because they will explicitly tell you if they need to do a second interview or more proof from you.

3 hours ago, Dis_Guy said:

Congrats. This is really detailed and helpful.

 

Question though, why did you need the tax transcripts? And did they actually look at the docs? if so, which ones?

 

Thanks.

IRS tax transcripts are needed for the sponsor (petitioner). For the beneficiary its a good proof to show that one has legally filed the taxes. They took the transcripts for both of us, tickets to events, photos, hotel reservations

7 hours ago, chxakx said:

Congratulations and thank you for sharing! 

Thank you!

3 minutes ago, lcandcl said:

Also, when did you do your medical examination? and how long it takes to get ready? I did mine yesterday and my interview is on 12/01 I do not know if this is enough time since next week we have a big holiday. 

I did my medical in June. It took about 2 days. Ask the clinic how quickly they can do it. We had a bunch of them nearby charging anywhere from $300-$600 but varied on dates a lot. Best to just get it as fast as you can guaranteed

Just now, lcandcl said:

Congratss!! I am so happy for you! Question: They did not ask about your I944? I sent the documents on 02/21 but the received in the letter is 02/24. I was a little bit worry about that. 

Thank you. Since our PD is 02/21 we were confident that i944 would not be needed. If you have a post mark receipt of 02/21 you wont need a i944 nut you might want to prepare it just in case

Hello to all. Thank you so much for your advice, encouragement, help and compassion. We had our interview in the morning at the Boston, MA office.

I'm going to try and keep this detailed for anyone looking for tips/guide. Please feel free to ask any questions.

TLDR:

Our PD: Feb 21, 2020. Package sent without I693.

Mid march: Received notices.

June RFE: For Birth Certificate. Received in early June. Responded within a week. We were able to get my BC online and sent supplementary evidence like school marksheet.

July I693 Deficiency Notice

Early August: Reached out to Congressman's office in August and coincidentally/thanks to inquiry by CM office we got our i485/i765 bio for Aug 11.

Aug 11: 4hrs after bio I765 updated to show fingerprints were taken. 12 hrs after bio I485 updated to show fingerprints were taken.

Aug 17: I485 updated to 'Ready to schedule interview.

Nov 1: Received 2 mails (no online status update). 1 for bio appt for i131 set for nov 10. 2 for interview notice set for nov 18.

Nov 10: 1 hour after bio I131 updated to show Fingerprints were taken.

Nov 18: 1 hour after interview I485 changed to 'New card being produced'. I130 changed to 'Interview was completed and case sent for initial review.

Tips for Boston office:

• Dress business casual. Prefer not to wear a suit.
• Try taking public transport. 
• If driving in, prepare for $$$ parking.
• Multiple garages near building but bad sign directions.
• Typically takes us 30 mins to reach office but today all routes had accidents so it took us 1 hour 40 mins. Always account for the unknown. Or get a new yorker partner like me.
• You will most likely be separately interviewed. Typically, the petitioner goes in first with all docs and evidences. Boston officers are generally very friendly.
• If you have an attorney, the officer can offer you to go in with your spouse instead of going in with your attorney. Our attorney recommended going in with them instead.
• Entrance foe visitors is on Cambridge street so try looking for signs or park at Boston food market garage.
• When you enter the building, you will be asked to remove belt, shoes and jacket like at an airport TSA. Account time for that.
• When you enter the interview waiting hall you will be asked 'have you been outside mass in the last 14 days?'

Package preparation:

• The interview notice comes with a list of items to be brought. Just focus on that.
• We hired an attorney so he gave us a run through of the same and did a 'prep interview'.
• We made one folder to keep documents in the series mentioned as per the interview letter: Interview letter & Passports, I693, I864, BC and so on.
• Try getting tax transcripts from IRS website right away
• Try getting a letter from your bank/cc company sharing that you own joint cards and accounts.
• We made another folder for the 'thick materials' like 12 months of bank statements, 12 months of CC statements, 12 months of phone bills and since we don't have a lease as proof of living together we had collected mail over the year.
• We also made 3 photo albums. 1 depicting our story on how we met and all. 1 of our small wedding ceremony. 1 of our rescue animals (my wife runs a rescue so we have saved about 150 animals. Try making a similar album for hobbies/things that you and your partner do together (it will help, can even just be an album of your messages etc.)
• We had also printed out all our air/bus/hotel/Airbnb reservations and tickets.
• Receipts for gifts we got each other.
• We also asked our friends to write letters stating how long they knew us, when they met us last and all.
• Backpacks/luggage are not allowed. Try preparing to have a transparent bag or hand carry docs with you.

Questions asked (overall interview time 45 mins). Very conversational:

My wife went first and after taking an oath was asked the following:

• Drivers license and Passport to verify her name, address (how long she has lived there) and parents name.
• Any former names
• If this was her 2nd marriage and what her ex husbands name is
• Why first marriage ended and when did he move out
• How we met
• Did her ex ever meet me
• Proof of bonafide marriage: Photo album
• How many pets and their names/breeds
• How we first met, what we did on our first date, when I met the pets, how i liked them
• Took tickets to events we attended and Airbnb reservations.
• Took CC Letter, tax transcripts
• My work status, what kind of job i did, work from home or on site, what my company did, what my work status was
• What visa I had and previously had
• Whether she had any dietary restrictions (she saw that I got her vegan cake)
• What was our fav restaurant
• What we liked to cook at home
• When I went vegan
• How her business was going with covid

Then I was called in and after oath was asked (conversationally):

• Drivers license and Passport to verify my name, address, and parents name.
• Any former names
• If this was my or wife's 2nd marriage and what her ex husbands name is
• When did ex husband move out
• When did i move in
• How we met
• Did her ex ever meet me
• How many pets and their names/breeds
• How we first met, what we did on our first date, when I met the pets, how i liked them
• What things we did together
• My work status, what kind of job i did, work from home or on site, what my company did, what my work status was
• What visa I had and previously had
• Whether I had any dietary restrictions
• What we liked to cook at home
• How her business was going with covid

Then we went through our I485 questions (whether I'm terrorist, communist etc)

Took photo with webcam.

Took index fingerprints on both hands.

Confirmed 1 change that I was unemployed since we filed and I signed on that

Then she said I should be getting a letter soon and it may be my GC for 2 years. Briefly told me about ROC. She was shocked that I had 2 appts for bio.

We thanked her and that's all.

we have our interview tomorrow. ANy tips on how many months of credit card, account, and phone bill statements should we take? If we take all we have then our folder is extremely big. Would the past 2 months suffice?

4 minutes ago, lcandcl said:

11/13? Did you already had it? How was it? 

My bad 11/18

36 minutes ago, lcandcl said:

Hi All, I got a notification my interview was scheduled on 11/09 It is been 8 days and no letter yet. I called USCIS and they said that they cant not see the date and they don't see anything that my letter has been sent. I requested a call back from tier 2. How long it took for you guys?

My online status never changed but we got interview notice straight towards end of October/beginning of November. According to letter it was sent on 17th October. Interview is on 13 November.

1 hour ago, MeowQwak172 said:

Hello everyone,

 

I've been a silent follower of this thread and just registered to share my timeline and experience

 

Initial FO: Detroit, MI

02/02/20 - AOS package sent (I-130/I-485/I-765/I-131/I-864/I-693)

02/06/20 - Package received

02/12/20 - Credit Card charged

02/22/20 - Received Biometric Appointment notice in Mail

03/07/20 - Biometric Appointment

03/07/20 - Fingerprint applied

03/30/20 - We are ready to schedule your interview

07/25/20 - Filed AR-11 change of address 

07/28/20 - "We cancelled the scheduled interview for your I-485" (I believed it's triggered by change of address)

07/28/20 - Your request to change your address was assigned to an officer for response

07/28/20 - Your request to change address was completed 

--------FO changed to Denver, CO--------

08/12/20 - I called USCIS to confirm the address change (no change of address letter ever received). I also asked tier 1 where my case is located (Answered: NBC), that's why I believed my case was never scheduled for interview

08/26/20 - We are ready to schedule your interview

10/05/20 - We scheduled an interview for you I-485 (I received the notification from myuscis, egov didn't update until 10/14)

10/09/20 - Received interview notice in mail

11/09/20 - Interview (Interview was around 45min. General questions about background and relationship but in A LOT OF detail. The officer didn't mention anything about decision but mentioned about removal of condition)

11/09/20 - 2hr after interview: we ordered your new card (I-130 changed to interview completed by still need review)

11/10/20 - Your case is approved (both I-130 and I-485)

 

I was really nervous and searched a lot on VJ when I received the "we cancelled your interview" after my address change, so I hope this would provide a bit information to people like me

I'm nervously waiting for my GC to come in mail now. Looking forward to this free-of-uscis time before filing I751.

Hope everyone get interview and GC sooooon!! 

Thank you for a detailed response! What a trip! I hope you get some happy rest now.

can you elaborate what details they went into? Most recent interviews have been short and basic so kind of curious about it.

24 minutes ago, Moxman said:

Sure, 

 

They only asked my wife a few gotcha questions.. But it was mostly like what's my name, birthday, where we live, what we did for veterans day... The guy approved us on the spot.

Thank you for responding. Why Veterans Day question? I have never heard of it.

were you guys separated?

8 minutes ago, Moxman said:

We had our interview Wednesday and now we are officially approved.. Thanks to everyone for the support... What a amazing ride it has been.

1 hour ago, ko737 said:

Great news guys, our case what approved!!! We had a PD of Feb 24 and did not submit an I944. The interviewer was going to submit an RFE for it but we convinced him to look into it further. If you want to know more about our interview let me know. 

Congratulations to you both! Here’s wishing you peace and happiness with your significant others.

can you please share your experience and the questions you were asked?

23 minutes ago, ko737 said:

Ours changed from ready to be scheduled to scheduled in 2 weeks. Then our interview was only 2 and half weeks later. Our interview was yesterday. 

Ours changed to 'RTS' on August 17. Early this week we got our interview set for Nov 18. According to the letter the notice was dispatched on October 17.

Anyone has tips on how best to prove financial capability if spouse is self employed (owner of small business)? I see that folks who have had interviews generally bring pay stubs which isn't applicable to our case. What can we bring/show to prove?

1 minute ago, NKDL said:

Aaaand just like that I was approved at the interview...such a nice lady who did it...didnt need to give any of the documents requested on the notice...all i gave her was a letter from my husbands new employer and his new Paystubs...other than that it was chit chat asking the questions we already answered on the aos form...im am soo soo happy. Best of luck to all of you. 

Congratulations! Amazing news and thanks for sharing. Happy for you and your other half.

54 minutes ago, NKDL said:

Got my aos interview at 9am tomorrow. I am soooooooo excited/nervous. I have a folder containing all the requested documents from the appointment notice but I am also bringing my folder that has everything going back to when we started the whole k1 process(yes I hoard) My husband (usc) is cool as a cucumber where as im here looking over everything with a fine toothcomb going over every possibility and just praying I dont go into labour in the interview(over 8 months pregnant) ..lol wish us luck everyone...im so looking forward to having a year or 2 break from the paperwork after this. 

Best of luck! From what I have read morning slots are the best and interview are going into who you are and how you met. I’m sure you will do great and get that 2 year break from the craziness.

5 minutes ago, fabianafcm said:

Same happened with me! I got home yesterday and I had a notice for bio in the mail. I have already received my EAD card so I am confused about what this is. Should I just ignore it? Also, there is new mail coming today from USCIS so hopefully is my interview notice! 

Congratulations, I hope its an interview letter. I would suggest reaching out to USCIS or your congressman (If they helped you in the past) with the second bio letter and request that they cancel it as you already have your EAD. That way they can reschedule it for someone else. 

I'm planning to do the same with mine.

Good morning everyone, we just got a USCIS mail today. As you might have read, I got a mail on Saturday for my AP biometrics appointment in Boston set for November 10. I have already given my biometrics in August(for i485 and i765) so this is a repeat notice.

Today's notice is for our interview. It's set for November 18 in Boston. We did not get any online update as has been the theme for a lot of us here.

Any tips are for the interview is as always appreciated! Thank you everyone and keep the spirits up. Feb filers are finally being remembered.

23 minutes ago, B3M said:

Yes I also posted on reddit, was seeking opinions! 

Not fun at all 😕

Was your EAD approved as well? 

 

Fingers crossed for your approval in case you weren't yet, remember I never got any update online, just in mail 

Thank you for the wishes. No approval for me yet. This is the first communication I got since biometrics and online status update a couple of days later (fingerprints applied to i485/765 then ready to schedule interview on 485).

3 hours ago, B3M said:

Hi! All this USCIS situation is so weird.. So I received the third letter today!

As I've told you guys yesterday I received an I-797 NOA approving my EAD and my Advance Parole.

Today I checked my mail and guess what? I have a biometrics appointment scheduled for November, case type: i-131, i-765.

I already did biometrics once in August for i-485, i-765. I totally regret asking for a combo card now lol.

I just saw your post on another site you posted at. Ironically I also got a USCIS letter. It’s for biometrics for my AP. 

I have already given my bio 2 months ago. This is fun isn’t it.

USCIS has a huge issue not updating online status. I'm 100% sure that the notification was for your file getting fingerprints applied. Have faith!

1 hour ago, LilyKins said:

No update there, sadly. They definitely do. I usually use the egov website rather than that my.USCIS stuff (it always asks me to sign in at least twice before logging me in),  but just the fact that all of these different websites can show different things is frustrating.

15 minutes ago, Maria&Wirbir said:

I had my interview yesterday and I only took with me what they asked me in the notice letter. 

When u receive ur letter collect everything they asked for and try to level up lol I use:

STAGE 1: Interview letter and both passports (hubby and I)

STAGE 2: Medical Exam

STAGE 3: Affidavit support (I-864)and evidence for affidavit such as:

W2 2017-2019 original can copies; IRS transcript; Employment letter specifying pay rate and weekly hours.

SATAGE 4: Proof of legal presence such as:

I-797 from K1 visa original and copie; Copie of passport biometrics page; Copie of visa; Copie of entry stamp; I-94; Copie of marriage certificate; Uscis receipts.

STAGE 5: Birth certificate and translation

STAGE 6: Proof of bona fide marriage such as:

Original marriage certificate; shared bank account statements; Copie of a credit card statement where I’m his beneficiary; Apartment lease (I’m not in the contract; but our landlord write us a letter specifying that he knows I live here and he approved it and he didn’t write my name down to contract because he was waiting to re-new); Pictures before we got married; Engagement and wedding ring receipts; Proof of his visits to my country; Proof of economic support; Screenshots of social media posts; Pictures of the wedding and our new life as a couple”

STAGE 7: Exact copie of all forms I submitted (I-485; I-131; I-765)

 

STAGE 8: Form I-944 ( I was exempt; but I didn’t take any risk) that why i say level up.

 

 NOTE: I only have a folder with me and extra to that a Checklist letter on my hand, if she asked me for anything I will know where it is. Hope this help 

Thank you for a detailed response, I will save this and prep accordingly. Your prep for i944 is amazing since my PD is feb 21 too.

Hi everyone I'm not able to figure this out via search/google here so thought of asking folks here. What interview prep checklist/guide are you using? 

A simple search on VJ yields several older results (from 2017/16) but I was hoping to get a more recent guide/checklist here that people are using. 

In the past I did see a bunch of posts of people posting what they prepared but I just am not able to search through this particular topic and its replies for them.

1 hour ago, Maria&Wirbir said:

Those were the questions.
How and where u met?
Did u know his parents and his father side brothers? 
Where u guys live?
How often did you see each other?

Then she confirmed some i-485 info and asked me the yes or no questions

May I ask why do you think you were asked the question about the father side brothers? 

i have never heard of this question before.