sptruck

Congratulations! We were AOS'ing in Seattle on the same day, but in the afternoon. We had a very similar experience...

SP

Had our AOS interview in Seattle yesterday, June 6, 2006.

The interviewer had everything we had submitted thus far (I-129F, I-130, i-485, etc., all ACCO-clipped together) and referred to it to verify answers to basic questions about when we were married, where we were born, etc. She only asked for copies of the kids' birth certificates (they are American citizens). We were not asked to show current financial records, tax documents, utility bills, photos, or any of the other materials we had so carefully prepared. The interview lasted 10 minutes; the interviewer told my wife to expect her green card in five days. That was it. Stunning how quickly it was over.

To the extent that it matters, my wife is Canadian; we've been married for almost 11 years; and we are white, English-speaking, and well established in terms of home and finances. The only hitch yesterday: we were five minutes late checking in.

Although we weren't asked to show it, I don't regret the hours spent preparing our evidence. When we were interviewing for my wife's K3 in Montreal, we were asked for evidence that we didn't think was required of a K3 (photos; documents showing the sale of our house in Toronto). We didn't have exactly what the interviewer was looking for and it made for a very uncomfortable few minutes until she decided she would approve us. Didn't want to have that happen again.

Thank you, all of you, who run the boards and post here. Moving back to the United States is not a soft landing, especially when you've been away for so long (it's not the same country I left nearly 15 years ago). At times, your experiences and advice were the only things we had to go on. I hope that as lawmakers consider immigration reform, they find a place on the agenda to ensure that family-based immigration does not keep people who love and are committed to one another apart for any length of time.

Good luck to you all.

SP

Plus, I was wondering, don't you need a co-sponsor since you just have the 2005 tax papers and they ask for 3 years????

You no longer need three years' worth of tax forms. The 2005 form will suffice. On the actual I-864 form it still says that you need three years' worth, but it is noted in the special instructions on the USCIS website that one year is enough. http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-864.htm

I have enough income. And I filed U.S. income taxes while I was living outside the country (as you're required), so no problems there. However, I'm interested in any questions they've asked of self-employed people.

SP

Hmm... I wonder how it is gonna be for me because I am a non-US citizen and I'm self-employed...

Looks like I have a week to adjust to whatever they throw at you, WalCruz! Keep me posted.

Plus, I was wondering, don't you need a co-sponsor since you just have the 2005 tax papers and they ask for 3 years????

You no longer need three years' worth of tax forms. The 2005 form will suffice. On the actual I-864 form it still says that you need three years' worth, but it is noted in the special instructions on the USCIS website that one year is enough. http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/i-864.htm

I have enough income. And I filed U.S. income taxes while I was living outside the country (as you're required), so no problems there. However, I'm interested in any questions they've asked of self-employed people.

SP

I've been self-employed since moving back to the United States in January 2005. My wife (a Canadian citizen) and I are preparing for our AOS interview on June 6. Any advice for proof of meeting I-864 requirements as a self-employed person? I've read the checklist, I have tax returns and 1099s, as well as investment accounts and home equity that should satisfy what they're looking for. Should I be ready to show cash flow statements? Or other records that show a solid financial footing as a self-employed person? Most of the I-864 stuff I see is geared toward employees with a steady paycheck.

We've been married almost 11 years, so proof of relationship shouldn't be an issue. We're interviewing in Seattle.

We had a similar issue -- although not a similar experience, thankfully -- when we went for our K-3 interview in Montreal. I'm the U.S. citizen, my wife is Canadian. We'd been married a long time, living in Toronto for 11 years, had two kids, were estabilished, when I had an opportunity to start a business in Seattle. We sent in our I-129F and I-130 material in March 2004 and had our interview later that year in December.

The interview was going well when we were asked for proof that I was living in the United States. I wasn't; I was living with my family in Toronto. We had sold our house and liquidated all of our assets in advance of our move, but I was still a resident of Canada. The interviewer asked for a sale agreement on the house (didn't bring it) but, probably noticing the horrified looks on our faces, said proof showing intent to move would be sufficient for her. Fortunately, I had a letter from my partner about establishing our company.

I thought I had all the bases covered but I wasn't aware that I (apparently) couldn't file for a K-3 from outside the United States. The interviewer hauled out the regulation and showed us.

Our interviewer in Montreal was very professional, knew her stuff, and used the authority she had to make a good decision. Sorry you didn't have the same experience...

Our local office is Seattle, too -- nice to see things moving along (our AOS filing date is mid-February)! Of course, keep us posted about your interview experience...

Cha-ching, indeed.

I don't have a problem with the fees. I'd pay more if it meant expediting or simplifying the process for married people, who should be united without delays, IMO.

For us, the price of moving to the States includes lost income -- I'm self-employed, so tripping around to various appointments with my wife soaked up lots of hours. When we left Canada, we had to divest most of our assets (house, stocks -- everything but the tax-protected retirement accounts). Of course the Canadian dollar was at 78 cents when we coverted everything; it's at 87 cents now. I pay close to $1,000 a month in health costs. The unpredictable length of the K3 process meant living at four different addresses in eight months. Lord knows where half my magazine subscriptions are going.

And if someone here can place a value on the emotional distress of this whole process, I'd like to know what it is. (I figure it's shaved 6 months off my lifespan.)

The best money I've spent may be on my Canadian citizenship. I lived there a long time, travelled extensively, will go back every summer, and may want to move back some day. Having citizenship at least means we won't go through this process again. (It's *almost* as onerous there as it is here.)

We were touched on Sunday (2/19), too -- both the EAD and AOS. For what it's worth, they've had our file for a little less than two weeks. We're still in for a bit of a ride.

What are the criteria for an approval of AOS without an interview? How does USCIS determine whether they need to interview us or not? Are these cases expedited in some way because there is no interview?

Our AOS package is in their hands, by the way, so whatever will be will be...

Way to go! So encouraging to read another success story! Thanks for all the details...

Yes, the posting here are very helpful, but I can't stress enough the need to thoroughly read the "official" USCIS procedures and the requirements of your local office. The Seattle office, for example, has specific instructions about filing I-693 and Affidavit of Support docs that may differ from what other offices require.

My impression of the immigration process so far is that it is an exercise in following instructions. If you're meticulous about doing exactly as you're told, you should be fine. That means reading the USCIS pages about completing and filing forms; carefully reading the instructions on the forms themselves (black pen, not blue; "none" when "N/A" won't do); using the most current forms available; and checking with your local office for any special AOS filing instructions. In terms of forms and requirements, everything you need is available online.

VJ is invaluable for interview experiences, timelines, quick advice, and the pick-me-ups you need when you think the process is never going to end. It does, eventually, for everyone, and most endings are happy ones.

Some things you can't control. The nurse or doctor who fills out the wrong form. The loss of a job or co-sponsor. All you can do is be dilligent with the people you're depending on to do the right thing.

As for the attorney, save your dough unless you sense that you have a complicated situation. You'll bring far more passion and urgency to your case than any lawyer will, and you can use the money on a weekend away or a party once the green card arrives.

Good luck.

Hey! Glad to hear you had a great experience in Montreal. We went through there to get my wife's K-3 and came out "mission accomplished."

Compared to ours, your interview illustrates how much the inspecting officer can influence the experience. We were asked to provide photographs and other proof of relationship -- and we were K'3'ers, not generally required to produce such things. The woman doing the interview was thorough and professional, but it was a bit more of a dicey experience than we expected. (We've been married a long time, with two kids, and a very established life together, but we didn't think to bring photos). Another issue is that we were both living in Toronto at the time (I'm a dual U.S.-Canada citizen), and we were told that I should not be applying for the K-3 while living abroad.

As someone still going through the process (AOS now, here in the States), I live and die by timelines and interview experiences because in the end, you have to be prepared for anything.

Congratulations!

Thanks everyone

The support here is great

Glad to hear things are moving! We *just* filed for AOS last week after having been in the States for a year -- my wife, a K-3'er, has a two-year I-94 -- and Seattle is our local office. Keep us posted about your progress...