k1couple

Wow, cool. Thanks everyone!

After submitting additional evidence for our I-751 RFE a couple of weeks ago, our case status now has a note stating that card production has been ordered. This is good news, right? What is the next step after this? An interview?

We had our AOS interview today in San Jose, CA and it went very well. Our experience went like this:

- We arrived about 20 minutes early to our 2PM appt.

- While we waited, two couples were scolded for coming late. One person was told to reschedule because he was so late and didn't seem to have his act together.

- At about 2:20PM, we started getting restless. Finally, our names were called at about 2:30.

- We were led to the officer's office and sworn in. The officer proceeded to confirm my wife's info by asking her questions based on the I-485 we submitted.

- The officer then asked me questions about my parents, where I lived in the States, and how I met my wife.

- The officer then asked my wife if I had met any of her friends and what they thought of me. She also was asked about her job in the Philippines and whether or not she was employed now.

- We were asked what each other's pet peeves were. That was fun

- The officer then asked for some documents from me and I handed her copies of our joint bank account statement, insurance statement, affidavits from family, and cel phone bill.

- I also handed the officer our sealed I-693, but the officer seemed to be surprised because we didn't need it.

- After briefly discussing the docs, the officer then proceeded to instruct us on the conditions and issuance of the conditional green card.

- We were just about done until the officer saw our wedding album. She complimented us on the nice pics.

That's it. The total time we were in the interview was about 20 minutes. Now all we're waiting for is the green card to arrive.

Thanks to everyone here on VisaJourney. Good luck!

In case someone else needs a recommendation, I suggest Dr. Lin in Sunnyvale, (408) 481-9800. He's very friendly and straightforward about the process. We felt very good after seeing him.

Dr. Smith Ketchum

Drumm Medical Clinic

49 Drumm St

San Francisco, CA 94111

(415) 982-8380

1 block from Embarcadero Bart, used them for my husband's aos. in and out in an hour and results back for tests in 48 hours (he needed a blood test since he was a year past medical) i have used them for about 8 years for athletic licensing in and out quickly. not that nice but get the job done.

good luck!

Thanks! I'll give him a call.

Dr. Hossein Abed-Amoli

6170 Thornton Avenue

Suite H

Newark, CA

Tel. No. 510-636-1622

My wife needs to have her vaccinations completed for our upcoming AOS interview. Can someone recommend a civil surgeon in the San Francisco Bay Area? There are actually quite a few listed on the USCIS website, but we want to go to a surgeon that won't make us redo the whole medical since she already had it done in the Philippines back in May. Thanks.

Thanks for the referral, but I called and the person said Dr. Hossein is no longer there. Anyone else have a recommendation?

Call

Dr Arnold does it by mail and fax for $30

Dr. L. E. Arnold

4534 Westgate Boulevard, Suite 106

Austin, TX 78745

Tel: (512) 444-3131

Fax: (512) 447-4699

Thanks. I might use him for the transcription, but my wife still needs to complete some vaccinations.

My wife needs to have her vaccinations completed for our upcoming AOS interview. Can someone recommend a civil surgeon in the San Francisco Bay Area? There are actually quite a few listed on the USCIS website, but we want to go to a surgeon that won't make us redo the whole medical since she already had it done in the Philippines back in May. Thanks.

We sent in our AOS papers, received a NOA, and completed biometrics. Now that we're just waiting for the interview, I'm wondering about my wife's K-1 visa and I-94, which are set to expire next month. Is my wife now legally able to stay here in the US even after those docs expire? I just want to make sure we're doing everything correctly and not forgetting something. Thanks for the feedback.

Yes she is legal here now provided you have proof of AOS.

Relax, she's ok. Just get all of your documents together. Get that I-693 Medical done, it's expensive and there could be a setback do to that the US tests for tuberculosis as a skin test. My wife tested positive for TB but shown negative on the X-ray. do that test 2 weeks prior to the interview or do it soon as you can. They charged me $250, cash only, an another $170 for the Xray, but my insurance covers that but the the actual physical exam. Get your pictures gathered, bank joint accounts, anything that have both of your names together.

Thanks for the info. My wife had her medical done in the Philippines and they took X-rays, gave her shots and did the skin test. Does she need to take another medical? If so, would we receive some sort of notification saying so?

We sent in our AOS papers, received a NOA, and completed biometrics. Now that we're just waiting for the interview, I'm wondering about my wife's K-1 visa and I-94, which are set to expire next month. Is my wife now legally able to stay here in the US even after those docs expire? I just want to make sure we're doing everything correctly and not forgetting something. Thanks for the feedback.

I accompanied my fiancee to her interview at the US Embassy in Manila. When my fiancee went into the interview room, I was told to wait outside. My fiancee told the CO that I was there, but the CO didn't call me in. Things went well regardless -- visa was approved and my fiancee is on her way here in a couple of weeks.

What documents should my fiancee bring with her to the US? So far she has copies of her birth certificate and, of course, her passport. Should she bring an NBI and CENOMAR also? Thanks.

I guess what I'm wondering is, are they very thorough when verifying payment for her the trip to the US? Will they actually ask her to show receipts at the POE?

No, POE won't care or bother on who paid for your trip and your receipts. What they want to see is the visa packet that your fiancee has, her passport and I-94.

Happy trip to her

Great. Thanks everyone for the replies.

I guess what I'm wondering is, are they very thorough when verifying payment for her the trip to the US? Will they actually ask her to show receipts at the POE?

On my fiancee's DS-156, she wrote that she will pay for her trip to the US. But I just realized that I have enough frequent flier miles to get a plane ticket for her for free. Do you think it would be a problem if I got the plane ticket for her?

Thanks.

My fiancee passed her interview this week and we're both very happy. I want to thank everyone here who helped with all the questions I've posted over the past few weeks. For those that are interested, our interview day went like this:

- We entered the embassy at about 6am for our appointment at 7am. We waited about a half hour for her to turn in her D-156, D-157 forms and get a number.

- We waited about an hour for her number to be called for her initial screening. The filipina that questioned her was pretty strict and looked her directly in her eyes. She seemed like the most strict of all the other screeners I observed.

- The screener took all her forms (CENOMAR, NBI, etc.) but only took my 2008 tax return and an album of our photos. She didn't even take my I-134 or employer and bank letters.

- The initial screening took only about 5-6 mins. We waited another 20 minutes to be called to an interview room.

- We had to wait before she could enter because the person being interviewed previous to us was being grilled very hard. I couldn't make out the reason why. Needless to say, we were scared.

- After my fiancee was finally called in, she spent a total of 6-7 minutes inside. She came out, looked at me and smiled.

- She was directed to another window to collect our photos and then she paid Air21 for delivery. Today, she got a text saying that the visa will be delivered tomorrow.

That's about it. As nerve wracking as this whole process was, it was well worth it. My advice: be thorough and be confident. Good luck to you all.

Great, thanks everyone. I feel much better with what we have to do. Good luck to you all.

How about postal id? she have it?

Good Luck

She doesn't have one, but we'll look into it. Hopefully it doesn't take long to get. Thanks.

SSS ID, Police Clearance, NBI Clearance are considered valid IDs too. Make sure the last 2 are not expired.

She doesn't have an SSS ID, but does have an NBI Clearance. Does the NBI Clearance have a picture? My fiancee is offline right now, so I can't ask her. Thanks.

My fiancee's primary ID is her passport, which she will give to St. Luke's during her medical. Can she use her ID from work for admittance into the US embassy for her interview? If not, what other options does she have?

Great! Thanks!

Do the passport photos for the medical and interview need to have a blue background or white? Just checking. Thanks.

I just wanna share you on how I arranged my documents.

I forgot on what do you call those black big clips that I used lol! I didn't had a hard time presenting and submitting my docus to the pre-screener and CO because it is very easy for it to get kasi nakaclip lng cya. The pre-screener window is narrow kaya malamang eh hindi magkasya ang folder mo at isa pa is magiging hassle lang kapag nakafastener pa yung papers mo sa folder kasi papaalis sau ng pre-screener isa isa ang lahat ng papers na ask nya sayo unllike kung nakaclip lang eh masmabilis.

Just my suggestion Good Luck on your medical

Thanks for posting your pics. The binder clips are a good idea since you can easily take out pages if needed. I have a bunch of those in my desk right now.

o yeah it is called binder clips lol! thanks for reminding me what it is called

Good organization. I am using just manila envelopes instead of binder clips. God to see you have losts of docs for your evidence. Because I am on my 2nd go around, my wife failed the last interview. But I plan on being present during interview and lets see them deny the relationship with 5 years worth of phone bills, emails, and letters. Good luck.

Did you not have enough evidence the first time around? I've been thinking about reducing the amount of emails, texts and IM transcripts just to make things more compact, but maybe it's good to keep things the way they are. I have about 100 pages per folder.

I just wanna share you on how I arranged my documents.

I forgot on what do you call those black big clips that I used lol! I didn't had a hard time presenting and submitting my docus to the pre-screener and CO because it is very easy for it to get kasi nakaclip lng cya. The pre-screener window is narrow kaya malamang eh hindi magkasya ang folder mo at isa pa is magiging hassle lang kapag nakafastener pa yung papers mo sa folder kasi papaalis sau ng pre-screener isa isa ang lahat ng papers na ask nya sayo unllike kung nakaclip lang eh masmabilis.

Just my suggestion Good Luck on your medical

Thanks for posting your pics. The binder clips are a good idea since you can easily take out pages if needed. I have a bunch of those in my desk right now.

I've been organizing our docs and I have a couple of questions:

1. I have a bunch of report cover folders that I'm using to hold chat transcripts, printed text messages, and emails. These folders are flexible and use 3 metal fasteners to hold the pages. Will these be fine? The product can be seen here: http://www.staples.com/office/supplies/p13...siness_Supplies

2. I have one folder for emails, one for chat transcripts, and one for text messages. Each folder has about 100 pages in it. Is this too much? Should I try to condense everything into one folder?

Thanks for your input.

Great! Thanks for the quick responses.

Can I submit photocopies of my W2s and paystubs instead of submitting the originals with my I-134? Thanks.