darth bangkok

... and things like non-driver id cards etc. and piece of mind... etc etc

I'm glad for the two posts after mine, I was worrying last night if I went overboard. But I was glad to vent a bit! We too are wondering if we are not better off somewhere else. The greencard / citizenship though still comes in to play a bit when you think about traveling back and forth for visits (for us anyway)

you said your husband has no us income. but if he has UK income, he has to include that on your joint US return too. So you should take that into account and decide which way is better, also taking into account that your husband may be able to get some kind of tax credit in the uk for taxes he pays on his income in the us

I learned patience long ago. Now I am losing it quickly. This whole process is pathetic from start to finish and with all the bragging and lecturing my country does on every subject known to man its PATHETIC.

Does anyone know whats going on in their cases? Can't we have some kind of status from mud to at least the level of human being? We are supposed to be stuck in limbo for years and years? What the F? I guess my wife is now among the 11million "illegal and undocumented" aliens that all the xenophobes are ranting and raving about these days. Well whose fault is that? What have we done wrong? We've been playing their damn games for three years now. And for what? Some piece of plastic.

At our interview we were told it was a formality. Yesterday, we went to INFOpass in NYC. First we were screamed at and treated like animals by security staff. Screaming and yelling at everyone. Reprimanding people as if they were children. If you didn't understand what they said, forget it. Hell, I couldn't even understand what they said half the time. The poor chinese people in front of me. And when you did it right, they just ignored you and looked the other way. ZERO humanity. Then you go thru the guantlet of secruity guards checking you papers every three steps and scolding people. Finally you get in line to see a woman who yells at you before she gives to a number to go upstairs and wait in line for two more hours (even though you are 20 minutes early for your appointment).

And then you get your answer: "Your case is pending" Well gee, THANKS A LOT!!!!!!!!! no more information. The case takes up to three years, I don't know why the officer said three weeks. But I can't tell you why it takes three years or what we are doing. So live like a pig for three more years. But you can go upstairs and talk to an officer if you want.

We go upstairs, get yelled at by another guard. The room has two windows open - and at least three hundred people waiting in the room.

Too bad I didn't know about the protest across the brooklyn bridge last saturday or I might have want. Or probably not.. I don't want to be videotaped by NYC police.

What ####### this is. I spent so much time telling my wife and friends in Thailand how great and fair the US is. And her experience with the US has been just an unknown nightmare. Its easier dealing with third world beaurocracy in thailand.

The woman in my office has been living here for 10 years and still hasn't gotten her greencard. Two kids, married to a USC.

USCIS can go to hell.

Krysia, congratulations! I am glad it went so well!! I think to she was just refering to checking our answers (the terrorist checklist et al) to the results of the background check, and not that the background check hasn't been finished. So we both have no problems left!

Your comments about the lawyer were spot on too.

Cheers

congrats!! how many days did it take after the interview?

Congratulations on your interview. I also had my interview about ten days ago also at Garden City and I was told the same thing.

Hopefully it shows up in the mail in the next few weeks. I am also waiting on the arrival of the card to purchase tickets for a trip to Europe and Africa.

I wish you all the best, at least this is out of your way for the next twenty one months.

Thanks for the wishes everyone. And NigerLA, I'll be looking for a post from you saying you got the card in the mail because I know Nings will come 10 days later!

the TB test is not done in the exam abroad. I would think they would notice it if it were present in the first xray, but maybe not. Ning had a TB done when she went to the doctor here on a regular visit. The Dr. (also Thai) said that she should have it done because she comes from a third world country and its common to be exposed to it. Of course, the skin ####### was positive so she had a chest x-ray, which came out negative. The Dr had her take the medicine anyway which means one pill a day for nine months. I checked with my friend who is a Dr at NYU, and she said this is the normal procedure just to make sure.

I don't know why you were asked for it, or maybe they noticed something in the xray. What exactly does the RFE say?

Great news, Congratulations!

Congratulations

This was realy helpfull!!

We have our interveiw there tomorow.

Krystyna

Thank you and good luck tomorrow!

One other thing I noticed was all the lawyers. And now I am even more glad I didn't use one. There were two separate sets behind us in the upstairs waiting room, and they were asking the clients the most basic questions -as if it were the first time they met!!! Another lawyer kept coming in the room and announcing these two names - he never even saw his clients!!!

Wow that it some story. I am glad it is over for you. It is amazing how one piece of (photo) paper can make such a difference. But if the second guy could figure out you were legit in one minute, how come the first lady couldn't figure it out after a grilling?

Hi there. Ning and I just got back from our interview in Garden City. I think we were successful, but there is a sort of lack of closure feeling about it.

One note before I start it, I thought it was a little odd with the security we went through on the way in and inside (the guards were radioing to each other as to my progress as I walked down the hall to the bathroom), no one ever checked either my or Nings ID. The guy downstairs said "have seat" and the interviewer never asked.

We arrived at 6:45 for our 7:30 appt. By 7:05 we made it inside to the downstairs waiting room. At almost 7:45 we were called and brought upstairs to the next waiting room. We were already wondering how they ordered things because people who came after us we called before. But upstairs, there was more waiting. At least three new groups came up before we were finally called in a few minutes before 9.

The interviewer was a nice though serious woman. We were sworn in and then she began looking through the file. Everything from the 485 application was in there. The first thing she said was that the medical was missing. I told her it was in the sealed envelop we gave in at the airport and she said that she understood and she sees it quite often that for some reason it doesn't make it from the airport. Luckily the last time Ning went to the doctor, we had him fill in the form for us. Even better was that she accepted it! She then told us we should get Hepetitus vaccinations even though they are not required and gave us a little talk about that.

She asked Ning about how we met and then asked her how her family felt about her coming here. Ning didn't understand the question totally, but eventually got around to it and answered to the interviewers satisfaction. I mentioned that I lived in Thailand for 4.5 years and we talked about that. And she asked me how our two cultures were different, but honestly I didn't give a good answer (its a complicated question!). We talked a little about Buddhism and then she told me about her son in Okinawa.

She didn't ask for much in the way of documents. She had the affidavit of support we submitted with the 485 and didn't ask for the new one, with all my proof of employment etc. She had 2002-2004 tax returns and didn't ask for 2005 (the first one we filed joint for). She looked through the 50 or so photos we had and asked us to pick out two for the file. I asked if she wanted any of the docs we brought and she said some sort of proof of marriage. I gave her the first ones off the top of the pile , insurance papers from work for us with Ning as my beneficiary, and she said that was enough, she didn't want the file to get too big.

That was it I think because she was writing and circling and checking things in the file the whole time. She said she was going to ask ning the litany of questions and gave a long speech to tell the truth and there won't be a problem but don't and the answers don't check out, that its perjury and she will be made to leave. She said she hadn't checked the computer yet, but could find out. She then asked ning the checklist of 'are you a terorist?' etc. Then she said the case was approved and its been taking 3-4 weeks for the card to come. She wrote in Nings passport "CFI interview complete case pending (her name)"

Then this is where it got a little confusing. We were supposed to book our trip to Tanzania today (one year anniversary!) , we've been waiting for the interview. So I asked her if ning can now travel and she said that we should wait for the greencard before we book anything. I said we wanted to travel in May and she said it should be no problem, but we should wait for the card (she assumed we were going to Thailand). She started talking about checking the file to a security check. At one point she said she could do it in 10 minutes, but they send it to NYC where there are people from CA who have come to help with the backlog of cases. They'd rather have her spend more time interviewing. So I am wondering if this is the FBI check that is keeping so many people waiting, or if she just meant that she was going to check the file to the aleady complete check.

Anyway I really wanted to book that trip because its already almost too late to get it done (booked up. etc.) and delaying the trip means almost doubling the already outlandish prices (June is the first month of high season after rainy season ends).

Oh well, The most important part is that we got approved (I think!) and the card should come soon!

Thanks again for everyone's help along the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, we just came back from our interview. The first thing the interviewer said was that the medical wasn't in the file. She said she sees this a lot, that for some reason it doesn't make it from the airport into the file. I told her we had a form filled out, but it was done by our regular doctor. She said it would be fine even though it wasn't in a sealed envelope. And that was the end of that.

Now I wouldn't recommend that, but we did it as a back-up even though its not required to do it again for K-1s and it turned out we needed it. Ning was already under the care of this doctor and he had no problem in filling it in for us.

Yeah I was surprised too that he asked for photos first thing.

The immigration officer wrote "Approved pending section 245" in my passport. He said it was proof that I had the interview and the green card would come in 2 months. I'm sure hoping that it doesn't take that long. He asked if I was going to travel soon and we said that maybe in December..so maybe he would have stamped the passport if I was planning on a taking a trip...I don't know. I wasn't too worried I don't have any travel plans till later in the year.

Thanks for that info. It makes me feel better that the officer would be accomodating to us if we bring it up at the end of the (hopefully) successful interview. This pre-interview time is very nerve-wracking!! I go from totally stressed out to calm and back every day! Its hard to imagine that the end of the road might be near!

Congrats!! We are going next week and I hope ours is as successful as yours was.

One questions though, what do you mean he wrote something in your passport that you were approved? do you mean 551 stamp? I hope so because we are planning to travel after Ning's interview and we don't want to have something tangible that shows she has a travel document (she doesn't have AP) before we make reservations. Or else we'll have to change our plans and go somewhere else.

Thanks

We got the same message when we sent the vaccine supplement in. Soon after the appointment for biometrics came. So your back on track.

congrats...

,y interview is tomorrow already...i hope mine is good too

Well? How did it go!!??

EDIT:

Sorry, I just saw, it went very well! Congratulations!

We are (hopefully) nearing the end of this part of the whole thing. Our interview is next week.

I don't know which is worse, this or doing it for me if I went there. There are many hoops to jump through, rules are constantly changing and you have to do it every year!

Our interview is in Garden City on 22 March. I'll post back then to let you know how it went.

Still no one thats ALREADY been!?!?!? I'm getting nervous!!

We mailed it at the beginning of May '05. the interview is 3/22/06. Its in Garden City for some reason though.

so its a scam!

I just printed out the 693 appendix, which i had never seen before. Its the same as the DS form that I resubmitted with the RFE, so I feel better now.

But my question is, why is everyone paying so much to redo medical exams? Civil Surgeons don't accept medical insurance? This sounds more like an official scam than a necessary procedure if this is the case. Especially since we are all doing this because we are married, one spouse is a US ctizen. I think is quite foreseeable that the USC has a job with medical insurance that covers his/her wife. Why can we take it to the doctor that is already taking care of us and knows about our medical history?

I don't know the answer to this question either. My wife came to the US on a K1, she had the medical done in bangkok 12/04 or 1/05. After we submitted the AOS, we got an RFE asking for some medical something or other. The only thing I had was the supplement DS 3025, so I sent in the copy of that. Then we got our biometrics appointment, so I guess it sufficed.

But the interview is 3/22/06, so more than one year after the original medical. My letter said the same thing, to bring the I-693 if not already submitted. The website says that it needs to be within one year, but it also says that K1s do not need to do it again.

My wife has been seeing the doctor and has her next appointment on 2/28, so we'll ask him to fill it out. I don't think he's on the civil surgeons list, but it should suffice in case its asked for. But I am not expecting to be asked for it.

You should definitely investigate further. We file AOS in May and our interview is March 22, not quite as fast as the previous poster, but not 30 months either!!! only ANTSY after that long??