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Hi everyone,

Just wanted to report that our I-485 was approved yesterday at the interview in Garden City, NY. Thank you all for your support and advice!

Here's a summary of what went great, and what could have been better:

The GOOD

-Officer was very friendly, and the interview only lasted 10-15 minutes

-Asked about how we met

-Asked to show our passports, drivers licenses, photos, and documents showing both our names (we provided the joint bank statement from the past 4 months)

-Approved without any problems, and we were told we can expect to receive the green card in the mail between 2 wks and 45 days.

-There are vending machines in the waiting area on the 1st floor, so bring some change.

The NOT SO GOOD

-We waited till 11:30 to be seen, though the interview was scheduled for 10:00AM.

-The directions provided on the USCIS website is NOT clear. If you are traveling from Manhattan, you must take the F train (NOT E!!!) to 179th St, or the 169st stop, and switch to N24. N22 won't get to to the stop right in front of the USCIS building, so you are better off waiting for N24. Take N24 Eastbound ALL THE WAY to the INS stop at 711 Stewart Avenue. You can choose to get off at the Roosevelt Field stop, but you would have to walk 10 minutes to get to the building, so sit tight and wait to get off 2 stops later at the actual building. Then all you need to do is to walk across the street. It's much easier that way.

That's it. Thanks everyone, and I wish you all the best in your VisaJourney!

We attended our AOS interview in Garden City NY yesterday, and were approved without any problems! The interview itself was 10-15 minutes. The officer asked how we met, and asked to show photos and documents with both our names. So we showed our wedding albums as well as our joint bank account statements from the past few months. That was it!! The officer said we were approved and can expect to receive the green card in the mail between 2 weeks to 45 days. Woohoo!

Our interview was scheduled at 10AM, though we waited till about 11:30 to be seen by an officer... It was quite busy and crowded there yesterday. By the way, if your interview is in Garden City and you are traveling from Manhattan, you need to be careful with the directions provided on the USCIS website... You must take the F train (The E won't get you to the right stop), and switch to N24 from either the 169st stop or the 179st stop, and take the N24 all the way to 711 Stewart Avenue. The bus drops you off right across the street from the USCIS building.

Also, there are vending machines in the waiting room, so bring some change.

Absolutely agreed. An RFE is not the end of the world, and as long as you submit whatever is asked for timely, and your case will progress with no problem. Don't sweat it!

I def. think you have enough!

thanks a lot guyz for the reply...i can't wait to receive my GC soooon coz we're going back to Philippines this coming March.

Many congrats are in order!

We will have our interview next Monday. Now I am printing out all these files... Did they check anything that you've already submitted? Or do questions mostly focused on the validity of your marriage?

Thanks, and congrats again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone,

Happy New Year!

I was wondering if anyone can help me with a quick (and dumb) question. I submitted my certified birth certificate with my AOS application when I first filed, and next week I am scheduled to appear for the interview. I read in the Notice of Action letter that I need to bring the birth certificate, well, I don't have an original one, and the certified copy was sent with the application. So if I bring a photocopy, would that be sufficient? ...

HELP PLEASE!!

Thank you guys!

L.

Hi everyone,

Happy New Year!

I was wondering if anyone can help me with a quick (and dumb) question. I submitted my certified birth certificate with my AOS application when I first filed, and next week I am scheduled to appear for the interview. I read in the Notice of Action letter that I need to bring the birth certificate, well, I don't have an original one, and the certified copy was sent with the application. So if I bring a photocopy, would that be sufficient? ...

HELP PLEASE!!

Thank you guys!

L.

Best of luck babyshaq!!

Exciting news! Congratulationsssss!

I got the interview letter for GC.

My interview date will be Jan 27.

Go girl!

Woohoo, just got this message in my inbox:

"Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident."

I think I should have my GC by the end of the year

Awesome!! Congrats!!

I also had an REF, and you can take a look at my timeline for reference... Don't worry, I think you are still within the reasonable time frame.

Please see my timeline for reference...

they took my I-94 too. i wasn't told if i was approved yet either....

and i need to leave the country in 3 weeks. i have an AP... will i be ok??????? help!

You are free to travel with your AP. Don't worry.

PATIENCE, I NEED SOME...

After sending my RFE my I-485 got touched and resumed but not my EAD or my AP (they are still pending) .

Shall i need to worry. ?

Take a look at my timeline for your reference... I got an RFE in the process, but it did not delay my case much. Hang in there!

Woot! Congratulations to Sunlyk and Apple Pie!

:thumbs: Congrats!!

The civil surgeon should be your one-stop shop for all the shots that your wife may need, and the form should be filled out by the CS. The certified civil surgeon should know exactly which are needed... the signed and sealed form will be directly from the surgeon.

Congrats! You won't have to deal with the USCIS until it's time to lift the conditions.

I filed under my maiden name, and my husband is a USC. I don't think it matters, as long as the name is used consistently on all forms for the AOS package...

so nice only bills in my mailbox but not letter

i dont know if i should cry about the bills or that here is no letter lololol

Haha. Hang in there. Since your EAD is approved, the AOS interview letter will be sent shortly!! :thumbs:

Definitely submit the returns for the past 3 years, and the specific documents that were asked for in the RFE letter. You can also draft a cover letter explaining in detail how the joint sponsors together can illustrate the financial support. Don't panic. An RFE is not the end of the world. I received one myself, and it did not delay my case processing. Hang in there.

Along with all this, you need to send in your sponsors job letters that show how much they make in a year. Usually this is hard to get for people that own their own businesses. Did you sponsors show assets instead of income. I remember seeing a previous case that a vj member showed the spouse to be a real estate agent who owned 40 appartments which he showed as assets to be worth in the millions. But USCIS sent that person a RFE. USCIS see assets not as ready cash. USCIS really needs to see a letter on exactly how much they make in a year and not just an estimation of how much assets are worth. So you also need to show tax returns for the most recent year. Hope this helps in some way.

Correct. In case of showing asset, if it's in real estate, you need evidence showing the properties being valued by a certified assessor. Other form of assets, we showed our ownership in mutual funds, bank CDs/savings, in addition to the tax returns... We probably sent in more than what's asked for, but I was paranoid and wanted to get our bases covered.

Mine was approved on Day 70 (after filing), and I had an RFE. For your reference...

Hey! I have a question. It's a frequently asked question. But i'm still worried about what to do...

For Christmas I'll take a plane from Denver to Boston. I read that people put their maiden name on the plane ticket in order to match the passeport name... It makes sense...it's easier! but at the same time, it's lying! I don't want a lie about my name, it's a big thing!Shouldn't I just put my married name and bring my marriage certificate with me and NOAs ?

The name on the ticket must match whatever form of identification you are using, OR you must carry your marriage certificate - but it's a lot easier if you just use your maiden name, not really a big deal - how do you think married women travel overseas on honeymoons?

Agreed. It would make things much easier if you use your maiden name. It's not really lying, because it's not like you use your maiden name going forward. It's just for traveling sake, at this time, and to make sure your ticket and your passport/ID matches... Personally, it's not a big deal to me.

Hello! I have my Ead card already since October 31 but in my I-485 application is still pending, my case was transferred to california. Is there anybody here know how long it will take before I can get any update about my application? I always check my e-mail and it is still pending. Hope and pray i can receive a good news about it. Well, to everybody who were still waiting, good luck to all of us. God bless(",))

You should receive it shortly!

Definitely submit the returns for the past 3 years, and the specific documents that were asked for in the RFE letter. You can also draft a cover letter explaining in detail how the joint sponsors together can illustrate the financial support. Don't panic. An RFE is not the end of the world. I received one myself, and it did not delay my case processing. Hang in there.

First of all, thank you for sharing your interview experience... Second, so if I were to take our marriage certificate issued by the City Hall, I assume that would be sufficient...? Or should I go ahead and order a "marriage abstract" before the interview?

Thank you for your input!

:unsure:

I can't answer the question about VA pay, but I do know that it's certainly NOT TOO LATE to add a co-sponsor at this stage, when responding to the RFE. You can state on your cover letter that in order to further illustrate the financial support, you have obtained a new I-864 from a joint sponsor, and that the support is attached. It will definitely be considered.

Good luck, and know that an RFE is not the end of the world. It's really not as bad as it seems... Take care and hang in there!!