malipat88

Finally after almost a year I got news form the always elusive CRIS. On his email today he wrote that they ordered the production of my card…Guess I’ll keep the champagne chilling until I get to touch the card with my own hands

Congratulationd..... By looking at your timeline I saw that you had your interview almost a month before you received your CRIS email. My question: were you approved on the day of your interview or they just told you that you will hear from them in a month or they told you that you had a pending Name Check???

I was not approved at the interview. "she concluded the interview saying "they" will have 120 days to make a decision on your case. I thought, Great, I will be stuck in the name check limbo forever, but then she gave me the instructions on how and when to have the conditions removed. Then she mentioned that I could apply for citizenship in three years. She said I would be getting the GC on the mail and as soon as she mentioned that a mental note popped up: “fingerprints” and immediately looked for a paper and said yes you would get your card on the mail. I guess that means my background check cleared. At the end she took my I-94 from my passport but did not stamp it."

I had my interview on Feb 4 and the IO concluded "we will get back to you in 30 days" she took my I-94 also but she did not tell me if I was approved or not. She didn't say anything about pending name check, so I guess my name check has been cleared. But I am patiently waiting for an answer from them...

Finally after almost a year I got news form the always elusive CRIS. On his email today he wrote that they ordered the production of my card…Guess I’ll keep the champagne chilling until I get to touch the card with my own hands

Congratulationd..... By looking at your timeline I saw that you had your interview almost a month before you received your CRIS email. My question: were you approved on the day of your interview or they just told you that you will hear from them in a month or they told you that you had a pending Name Check???

Got my card today in the post, well pleased on the time it took.

Cngratulations

Background:

Entered in 2003 as F-1. Knew each other before first F-1 Entry.

Our interview appointment was for 8:30 this morning. We arrived around 7:45, very nervous about what we were about to do. Our attorney asked us not to sit down (probably so she could identify us), so we stood in the corner of the waiting area after putting our interview notice into the Adjudications box. We looked over our pictures just to re-familiarize ourselves with what we had, but also to calm our nerves. My wife (the non-USC) was very nervous at this point. Finally, our attorney came over and introduced herself (Yes, she introduced herself. Our attorney that we filed with pawned our interview off on someone else). So we sat down and she filled out a new G-28 to be able to go into the interview with us. We chit-chatted for awhile until they called our name…

When the officer opened the door and called our names, we went inside and were lead into her office. She asked us not to sit down until after she swore us in. After being sworn in, we sat down, my wife and I presented our passports. She flipped through my wife’s passport and removed her I-94, but did not void her visa. Probably because it was expired. The female officer then asked if I had a drivers license( was the passport not good enough?? ), which I did. I showed it to her, and then the interview began. She opened up our file and asked my wife the following: State your full name (This was probably to see if she would say her name using my last name since we used it on all of our paperwork), address, Date of birth, Mother’s Name, Father’s Name, and place of birth. She was making checkmarks on the application (probably just verifying everything was correct). She then asked if my wife had a drivers license (she doesn’t). After this, she turned to me and asked me my full name, date of birth, address (obviously matching my wife’s address), and the date and place of our marriage. After she had all of this information, she then asked my wife the standard “no” questions.

After this point, we went on into the “guts” of the interview. She asked both of us how we met, and we both responded at the same time. I let my wife speak. After this, she began asking my wife about her previous trips into the US. She tried to trick my wife with the dates, but my wife knew better and simply corrected her with the proper dates. She asked my wife if we knew each other before she moved to the US, which we responded yes. She didn’t ask if we had intended to marry before she arrived. I guess she didn’t think so. She then asked for bank statements, which I produced copies and originals. After that, she asked if we still live at home with my parents (which we do for the time being), then said, “Well, the bills are probably in your parents name.” I showed her our cellular telephone bill, as well as our VoIP telephone bill (But she didn’t keep them and said that they were only print outs – its all we could get.) She kept copies of our cellular phone bill which showed us having a family plan. After that, she asked if we had any insurance together. I showed her a letter I received from our Health provider showing her added to my HMO after our wedding, as well as our Dental insurance cards and letters. She kept copies that I had brought.

The officer then asked us if we brought any pictures. I think this is what really made our case. We first showed her our wedding photo album (which was modest compared to most), and she flipped through the pages emotionless. After, we showed her a second album we brought with pictures from 2004 until present showing us various places with family members. There was no question that we had known each other for years (since we look obviously younger in some pictures). She then asked if my wife’s parents attended the wedding (since the wedding was in the USA). My wife said no, but that her brother had came to the USA to be there. She then asked me if I had ever been to my wife’s country and met her parents. To this, I responded that I had been there many times.

At this point, our attorney interjected and said that we also had letters from our employers stating salary information, etc. I took the letters out of our briefcase and presented them to the officer. She then turned to my wife (who entered as an F-1), and asked if she both went to school and worked part-time. My wife responded that she went to school full-time, and worked part-time (this could have been a trick question, I don’t know).

After this, she said that she was approving our case, and explained the two year conditional residence stuff. She said that as long as we kept our address current with USCIS, they would send us a reminder (strange! I didn’t think they did that).

-=-

Be very careful what you say at these interviews and only answer the question asked. When we were responding to how we met, after my wife said "on the internet," I interjected and said "on an AOL French Canadian Chatroom." I didn't think anything of it, but then after the interview, my wife mentioned that she saw the IO write this down into our file...

OUR ATTORNEY EXPERIENCE

Our attorney decided to move his practice in the middle of our case to another state and join up with a new law firm. This wasn't a really big deal as most of our preparation had already been done and we were already prepared for our interview from reading this site and other guides. Well, I call his office a week before our interview and they inform me that he had left the firm! Well, he had set us up to be represented by a different attorney who works for a Catholic charity. At first, I Was a bit concerned because it was difficult getting in contact with her, and we really did not know any of her qualifications, but in the end, she was the sweetest lady who was as sharp as a tack. She was able to answer EVERY question we asked.

If I had to do it all over again, I never would have gone the attorney route (and paid $2200). Our original attorney made MANY mistakes on our paperwork. Its surprising we didn't get denied right after USCIS received our paperwork initially. I recall one of our early consultations with this guy... He seemed concerned that my wife (who at the time was in status with an expired F-1 Visa) may be deport able because of her expired visa.... I should have gotten rid of him at that point. In the end, everything turned out well though.

Whew. I'm glad thats over!

Congratulations .....I just got my interview 3 days ago and I am waiting on my approval...... pray for me

Our IO said everything looked good, but no matter how many times we asked her "are we approved?" she couldn't come out with a "yes" but other answers. She allowed my husband to keep the EAD, and took out the I-94 out of his passport. I kept checking the online status and nothing was happening so I was getting worried. After 2 weeks we got the email approval notice. As you can see from my timeline below it was about 3 weeks from interview until the time we got the GC. So don't worry, it should be coming soon.

Did they tell you whether or not you've cleared the FBI namecheck?

No she did not say anything about the FBI namecheck. Did she tell you that they were getting back to you in two weeks?

Don't sweat it. We got the approval a week later. I would give them at least a month before asking questions.

Thank you. I was really confused cuz I thought they were supposed to approve you right away. So you got an approval e-mail a week later? How long did it take you to receive your GC?

I had my AOS interview two days ago and the interview went very well but the IO said that everything looked good and that they will get back to us in about a month she took my EAD, Passport and I-94. She then returned my passport and EAD but kept the I-94. I know that many people get approval right away but I didn't get approved or denied. Is this common? My online status also hasn't changed.

Thanks in Advance.

Wait 2 weeks after getting EAD before attempting to visit SSA for the number. It takes about 2 weeks for USCIS to update database used by SSA to confirm status.

Ok I will thank you very much

Hi everyone, I just received my EAD in the mail today. I am thinking about applying for my SSN today also since the Social Security Administration is not far from me. But I think I've seen somewhere in this forum that you have to wait for some time before applying for SSN because USCIS has to put your information on SSA data. I want to know how long should I wait before applying for my SSN?

BTW on my EAD it says valid from 12/27/2007 to 12/26/2008 and it was made on 01/03/2008

thanks in advance

Does anyone try to check his/her case on USCIS? I tried and it's not working...

I just received my IL today and Im really worried that we don't have that much evidence. We're living with my sister and her husband. Since I don't have my EAD I can't get a SSN or a job, my wife is the one who's working right now.

The only thing we have as evidence is joint savings and checking accounts and gym membership

we also have pictures from the wedding. Is that enough to prove our bonefide relationship?

THANKS in advance

You might want to have a look at the thread " October filers" in the AOS section - saratara is doing a brilliant job on keeping records upt to date ..personally i sent my aos in on 18th October - received RFE - but on checking my case with uscis i have been approved today - please feel free to check my timeline

Good luck

Congratulations...

How long did it take you to respond to the RFE?

If you're an October filer and you have your EAD approved please let us know. Also if you had an RFE tell us how long it took you to reply it.

THANX

Does anyone receive an RFE while his/her EAD is pending? If so, does it really take USCIS 3 months to process your EAD after they receive your response?

They're asking for copies of the W2s probably because you only sent copies of the 1040 forms, these are not valid without the W2s. If you have the transcripts then those should be good enough to show your sponsor and co-sponsor's income.

Diana

Yes Diana that's exactly what I did; I only sent 1040s for the sponsor and co sponsor but not W2s I will just send them the transcripts

thank you

I got an RFE for sponsor and co-sponsor's W-2's. Can I just send them the transcripts or I should send the copies of the actual W-2s

thanx and advance

can someone please help me? I just got an RFE for W-2's for the sponsor and the joint sponsor and I want to know what is the quickest way to to obtain W-2. when I submitted my applications, I submitted them with just 1040's but they said i need W-2's

thanx

I'm married to a US citizen who is currently unemployed. I want to use my brother-in-law's income to sponsor me should I use I864A(Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member) or just I864? We are currently living with my sister n her husband. I was thinking about I864A but he is not related to my spouse. Doesn't the household member have to be a parent, sibling, son or daughter or spouse of the sponsor?

I'm married to a US citizen who is unemployed right now. I wanna know if my brother-in-law could sponsor me on affidavit of support. And if he does, would I still need to send the copy of my spouse's most recent tax return?

Thank you in advance

Yes and Yes!

so if my bro-in-law sponsor me should I use I864A(Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member) or just I864? We are currently living with my sister n her husband.

I'm married to a US citizen who is unemployed right now. I wanna know if my brother-in-law could sponsor me on affidavit of support. And if he does, would I still need to send the copy of my spouse's most recent tax return?

Thank you in advance