davaocitygirl

Green card arrived in the mail today. Still waiting for movement on my daughter's I-130 from Manila.

We had our interview today in Norfolk, VA. It was uneventful. Took about ten minutes. Here is the recap as best as I can recall.

Had mid-morning appointment. Was called in about fifteen after our appointed time. USCIS agent was polite and pleasant enough. We had out lawyer with us. After being sworn in, she asked what evidence we wanted to present to our file. We gave her electric bills, insurance, bank statements, affadavits from family and friends. She actually took our copies and put them in her file for posterity After this, she page thru our photos from various trips and family outings over the past five years of our relationship. Then, she took our IDs and removed the I-94 that I arrived on from my tourist visa.

She asked me if I ever had an immigrant visa or petition before ("no") and she asked if I ever had any type of visa before ("yes, two tourist visas.")

She ten alternated between myself and my husband asking the specifics from our application like "What is your address?," and "What is your husband's birthdate?," "Where was your spouse born?", "What is your father-in-laws name?" It was all stuff like that. She was making little red checks on the application as she went along.

She then asked all the "no" questions from the application.

After that, she inquired how we met, when we got engaged, where we were married, what type of marriage.

As we had previously had a I-129 (fiance visa) that we withdrew, she asked my husband one question about this ("Did you file a fiance visa previously?") My husband answered "yes." That was the end of that. She folded up her papers and said we could expect our green card in 7-10 business days. We received both texts and email stating "card production" has commenced before we arrived home.

Four months of stress and worry and the whole thing was over in fifteen minutes.

Thanks to everyone here. My husband and I wish you all the best in this visa journey. There is alot of good info here and alot of very encouraging, generous, smart people. God Bless.

did you do anything when you did not receive your interview letter...i've been waiting and this is day 80 and nothing...am panicking cos I have to travel out of the country for work...and it is going to be drama if I don't get it soon.

We just waited. Arrived 78 days after filing. We have our interview tomorrow. We will keep everyone posted. Thanks.

One week and counting til our interview....

I am sorry. I still am not sure of your answer. Are the necessary vaccinations for immigration only included in the original fee at St. Lukes? Thanks.

Has anyone actually used their Filipino passport and green card for a transit visa in Japan?

Perhaps someone can shed some light on my situation. If all goes without a problem, I will have a green card soon. Other topic sites on VJ confirmed that I am able to travel to both Mexico and Canada once I have a green card and with my Philippines passport.

Does anyone know if I can use my US green card to obtain a transit visa for long layovers going to and from Philippines in Nagoya and Narita in Japan?

Thanks.

Got the interview letter today! Big relief. Has anyone ever heard of anyone getting refused for marriage to USC IN THE United States? Just wondering....

Congrats to everyone, so far!

I believe your adjustment of status and his (USC?) I-130 for his step-children are not tied together in the USCIS mind. We are doing the same thing right now. According to our lawyer, our daughter could actually be approved to come here on her step-father's (USC) I-130 petition BEFORE the interview for the I-485 for myself. As bizarre as it seems, my daughter could come here and I could fail my interview and be sent home WITHOUT my daughter! Doubt that could happen, but our lawyer said this example as a way to show that the two processes are not connected in the minds of the USCIS.

From the best I can tell, it depends on which country you are dealing with and which city you are requesting your interview for AOS with that determines the speed at which your requests are dealt with. According to the USCIS website, an I-130 from Manila should be completed in less than five months.

Good news from everybody, so far. Congrats.

I received the emails updating my petitions today from the USCIS! Hope the interview letter is to arrive soon!

Days keep ticking by and no word on our daughter's case from Manila. I guess it just seems slower than I was hoping.

We are still waiting for the EAD, AP and the interview date! Frustrating.

Congrats. I still have no letter for interview. Kinda bummed. I appreciate the interview stories. Thanks.

Hello Everybody! Add me to the party! I am married to USC and he is petitioning my daughter. We filed in March, 2010 and are still eagerly awaiting the NOA2!

Please help me. I was thinking that my daughter will have to do physical exam at St. Lukes and have interview before coming here. Is this not the case?

Thanks. Good luck every one.

I have read with interest. I came here on a tourist visa and got married. We had a fiance visa pending at the time of my entry into the United States as well. In fact, I had been to the USA once prior with the same I-129 (Nov 2009) pending.

According to our legal advisors, the fiance visa (which we canceled the interview) should not have impact when it comes time for our interview here for AOS. The topic, no doubt, will come up. In the end, it "never happened" as it was withdrawn and I entered the USA legally and lawfully. It is not illegal to marry on a tourist visa. Happens all the time.

The one fact remains which allows me optimism and that is I am married to a US citizen. Whatever occurs during the interview process and the AOS process will occur in the US of A and with all the protections afforded by law in the US of A including a protective appeals process.

I believe you made a good decision on behalf of your wife. Leaving her where she would be in danger is not acceptable. If legal issues come up, it is better for you to be here with all the protection of the US justice system. And, you will be able to go thru this together.

I hope, one day, your wife's family will accept the marriage. Good luck.

I am starting to stress. Urgh. We still are waiting for interview letter. It's been 29 days since Biometrics. No further touches on the USCIS site. We called the info line yesterday and they quoted something like 13 months for me based on the current case load in Washington DC. That can't be right??!!!?? Our lawyers and the folks here indicate a much different timeline.

Should I stress? I know it does not help, but I was expecting alot sooner than this.

Congrats to the rest of you!

Twenty-two days since biometrics done. Still not a second NOA. Boo hoo.

Hello! My husband is petitioning my 8 yo daughter from Manila to join us. Our fees are paid and application has been received. We are waiting for the notification from the Embassy to get the medical exam and interview. Any idea how long the process will take from start to finish in Manila? Thanks and good luck to everyone on VJ!

03-31-2010 I-130 Application received (Day 1)

04-07-2010 NOA1 (Day 7)

04-14-2010 Application "touched" (Day 14)

ninnie!

Many thanks! I can't wait to hear about everyone's interviews. Best of luck.

Can anyone tell me how to figure out if the USCIS "touched" my application? Where is this? I looked around VJ and could not figure it out.

Thanks and good luck to everyone!

Thanks!

same here. still anxiously waiting...hoping to receive my interview appointment letter next week.

But i guess you will receive yours first because applied two weeks before me. I still hope my walk in biometrics will make mine faster than it should be.

Let's see..I will inform you guys whenever.

I think most of the feb applicants are on their interview stage...

We're next! yay!

Good luck to all of us!

Ooops. Hey, how do we add our timeline? And, what is "touched?"

Thanks. Good luck to all.

Hello! I just signed up today. I'm new on this site. Arrived on tourist visa January 6th 2010. Married March 07, 2010. We are using an attorney to help us. Went early for the Biometrics today. So far, so good. Waiting on an interview date.

Wish everybody the best luck here.

By the way, I have a 8 year old in the Philippines being petitioned by my husband on a I-130.