pavoverde

Hi droy1981 (and others),
Sorry I neglected to update this forum on what actually happened. Well, I'm happy to report that we had NO problems with our rescheduled interview. We went to Costa Rica as planned, came back, had our interview, and were approved! In fact, the interviewer never even mentioned that we had rescheduled!
The only minor scare during the interview was that the interviewer did not seem to be fully versed in how a K-3 Visa works, and she had to confirm that our leaving the country didn't constitute "abandoning" our case (this would have been true for a K-1, but not for a K-3). After a few minutes in the waiting room - which felt like hours! - she came back out and said we were correct in what we'd told her. I want to emphasize that this hiccup had NOTHING to do with us postponing our interview date, just thought I'd pass the info along as an FYI...
That all being said, I cannot guarantee that a different interviewer would have the same result. But, based on our experience, if you have to postpone for a VERY good reason, I would call or visit the USCIS office first, explain your situation, and write down the name of whomever tells you it is okay to request a rescheduling. Again, I make no claim to knowing how this USCIS system works, and just offer our experience as another point to consider...
Good luck!
Rob

Oh boy...
So, VERY early this AM I realized I could go right down to the Boston USCIS office and talk about this via an InfoPass appt., which I did - before getting your posts, of course... :-(
I explained my situation to the woman at the desk, and she gave me a standard looking "Request for Rescheduling" form, which I filled out and attached a letter we'd written (signed by my wife, the applicant), a copy of the NOA, and evidence showing that we had non-refundable airline tickets. She said that was perfect and took the form. I felt great... until I got home and saw your two replies...
I called the USCIS Help(less) line, and after a 25 minute navigation of their menu, finally got a live person. He insists that what I did was correct, and that it should be rescheduled. But, he said, even if it was denied for some reason, I would be given the opportunity to explain why we missed the Aug. 11 interview date, and that being out of country was a valid reason. He said I would NOT have to repay the $900+ fee that goes with the I-485, but it would delay our AOS process...
To be honest, I don't mind delaying at this point as my wife still has 18 months left on her K3, and rec'd her Employment Authorization Card.
Please let me know if I'm missing something... Urghhh...

Hi! I'm hoping someone out there can help...
My wife is here on a K-3 Visa and we've submitted the AOS and EAD simultaneously back in April, have done the Biometrics, and she rec'd the EA Card a few weeks ago...
The GOOD NEWS is that today we rec'd notification that her interview for her AOS (I-485) application is scheduled for August 11 (on our 2nd anniversary - coincidence???). The BAD NEWS is that we will be in Costa Rica from July 15 to Aug 23...
The bottom of the NOA says she should call the USCIS if "an emergency" prevents her from appearing at the interview.
My question: Is being out of the country is a "good excuse" for requesting an interview postponement? We are very worried about this because if we have to fly back for the interview, it will be very expensive, but we don't want to jeopardize her AOS application (they warn us that if we fail to appear at the interview her application will be denied...). I'm hoping to get some guidance before I call because I want to make my request in a manner that won't mess up her application. I'm probably being overly worrisome, but we've come too far at this point...
Thank you for any light you can shed on this!

Best to let her show that she can pay her own way.

I'd also suggest both
1) Not mentioning that she will be "helping with the newborn". This is considered work, which she is not authorized to perform. Yes, I know many people have done it, but people have both been denied a visa and denied entry on a visa for doing this. If the newborn requires care from somebody other than you (i.e. while you are away or working), then the stance is somebody who is authorized to work (i.e. a babysitter or nanny) should be performing that work (and it is work! That ## is not easy!).
2) Actually not engaging in said work as outlined in #1. It's not allowed anyway. Let he enjoy the stay and she can still spend time with the newborn. Just don't let her be a caretaker for the child.
 
Btw, congrats on the new addition!
 
Beyond that, nothing in an invitation letter or claims to support her will help. You can't help her get a tourist visa...she needs to qualify on her own.

Your financial support will only hurt her chances to be completely honest because she needs to prove to them that she can support herself during the trip. 

Nope. Nothing in your life or your wife’s life will do anything for her tourist visa. There is no sponsoring of a tourist visa. She needs to prove on her own that she has strong ties to her home country. Jobs, assets, bank statements, family, etc. It all needs to be her own stuff and nothing you do will ever affect her chances. I would also add that having a daughter in the States is enough to raise suspicion that she might be at risk for immigration intent. If she doesn’t have enough strong ties to her home country, it might be very hard to get a tourist visa.