VeraVimes

Oh jeez, I just tried to edit my post up there and it disappeared... I'll have to write it out in full here, sorry folks!

I brought my duplicate package and an original marriage certificate.

Interview was scheduled for 10:45, I got there at about 10:30. Checked in at the front desk and was given a number and told to wait. Right on time, my number was called and I was greeted by a friendly woman who took me to her office. I was told to stand and took the oath. She asked for my passport, green card and driver's license. After checking those she started with the questions.

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? The President.
What are the two political parties of the US? Democratic & Republican
What is the political party of the current President? Democratic
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Jefferson
Name 3 original states? New Hampshire, New Jersey, Virginia
Name a state that borders Mexico? California

Then I had to read "How many states do we have?" and write "We have fifty states".

So far so good.

Then we moved on to the N400 form. She checked through my husband's 3 divorce certificates (Note: I had listed them in reverse chronological order which threw her off!) She went to check my travel in my passport, but as it's new, there are no stamps in there. She didn't mind, though.

She checked a few things like full name and address, then went through the Yes/No questions.

Then she started about the proof of marriage I had sent in. As my husband is the breadwinner, he takes care of all the bills and the mortgage is in his name only. This leaves me with little proof - I had a joint bank account statement, and the summary page of three tax returns showing us filing jointly. This clearly wasn't enough. She gave me a long list of documents to send in (see below) and told me I had a month to do it. As I'm going away from three weeks next Wednesday, I have to get on this before then. By the way, I told her I would be leaving the country and asked if they needed documentation of that, she said they didn't.

So now I have to send in a massive package, and they will contact me 2-3 weeks later with their decision.

Here's what they asked for:
- Full copy of tax returns for 2012, 2013, 2014
- Copies of all statements filed with tax returns, including 1099s and W2s for me and spouse
- A current pay stub for myself and spouse, as well as one from 2015
- Copy of spouse's driver's license
- Bona fides:
a. Life insurance declaration evidencing beneficiaries
b. Health insurance coverage evidencing beneficiaries with proof of effective date of coverage
c. Auto insurance as above
d. Mortgage statements evidencing joint ownership or leases for 2010-present
e. Any and all recorded deeds related to property
f. A copy of utility bills from 2013-present (January and July statements for each year only)
g. Title to any and all automobiles and/or loan statements

Sheesh, they don't want much, do they? I don't have all of these (who keeps their utility bills that long??) but I'll try to get as much as possible. I can include my Roth IRA with him as beneficiary, and some of his credit cards I have a card for (she mentioned this as well).

We applied to have my name added to the deed last year which went through, but it takes so long to get a copy that I won't have that. I do have a copy of the quit claim deed that shows him adding me, so I hope that will suffice.

Sorry for the length, but I hope this might be useful for anyone wondering what kind of extra documents they might bring! I'll let you know what happens once I hear back from them. I'll have to tell my neighbor to keep an eye on our mail for any USCIS letters!

Good luck to everyone with an upcoming interview. Let me know if you want any other details.

Oh jeez, I just tried to edit my post up there and it disappeared... I'll have to write it out in full here, sorry folks!

I brought my duplicate package and an original marriage certificate.

Interview was scheduled for 10:45, I got there at about 10:30. Checked in at the front desk and was given a number and told to wait. Right on time, my number was called and I was greeted by a friendly woman who took me to her office. I was told to stand and took the oath. She asked for my passport, green card and driver's license. After checking those she started with the questions.

Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? The President.
What are the two political parties of the US? Democratic & Republican
What is the political party of the current President? Democratic
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Jefferson
Name 3 original states? New Hampshire, New Jersey, Virginia
Name a state that borders Mexico? California

Then I had to read "How many states do we have?" and write "We have fifty states".

So far so good.

Then we moved on to the N400 form. She checked through my husband's 3 divorce certificates (Note: I had listed them in reverse chronological order which threw her off!) She went to check my travel in my passport, but as it's new, there are no stamps in there. She didn't mind, though.

She checked a few things like full name and address, then went through the Yes/No questions.

Then she started about the proof of marriage I had sent in. As my husband is the breadwinner, he takes care of all the bills and the mortgage is in his name only. This leaves me with little proof - I had a joint bank account statement, and the summary page of three tax returns showing us filing jointly. This clearly wasn't enough. She gave me a long list of documents to send in (see below) and told me I had a month to do it. As I'm going away from three weeks next Wednesday, I have to get on this before then. By the way, I told her I would be leaving the country and asked if they needed documentation of that, she said they didn't.

So now I have to send in a massive package, and they will contact me 2-3 weeks later with their decision.

Here's what they asked for:
- Full copy of tax returns for 2012, 2013, 2014
- Copies of all statements filed with tax returns, including 1099s and W2s for me and spouse
- A current pay stub for myself and spouse, as well as one from 2015
- Copy of spouse's driver's license
- Bona fides:
a. Life insurance declaration evidencing beneficiaries
b. Health insurance coverage evidencing beneficiaries with proof of effective date of coverage
c. Auto insurance as above
d. Mortgage statements evidencing joint ownership or leases for 2010-present
e. Any and all recorded deeds related to property
f. A copy of utility bills from 2013-present (January and July statements for each year only)
g. Title to any and all automobiles and/or loan statements

Sheesh, they don't want much, do they? I don't have all of these (who keeps their utility bills that long??) but I'll try to get as much as possible. I can include my Roth IRA with him as beneficiary, and some of his credit cards I have a card for (she mentioned this as well).

We applied to have my name added to the deed last year which went through, but it takes so long to get a copy that I won't have that. I do have a copy of the quit claim deed that shows him adding me, so I hope that will suffice.

Sorry for the length, but I hope this might be useful for anyone wondering what kind of extra documents they might bring! I'll let you know what happens once I hear back from them. I'll have to tell my neighbor to keep an eye on our mail for any USCIS letters!

Good luck to everyone with an upcoming interview. Let me know if you want any other details.

Thank you so much for the detailed post

The Atlanta field office has same day oath but that depends on how your interview turns out and how many open slots are available for the day!
With cancellations and Reschedules, there is always a chance to squeeze your name on list for oath especially if you are scheduled for the early morning interviews between 7-11 AM!
Quick review; -Interview date 11/09 @11:45 AM (interviewed by a common face since I usually do some I.T work at that office a couple of times a year!!)
Went to the 2nd floor checked in and handed a number ticket and was called up 3-4 minutes later, Sworn in, reviewed and signed N-400 app form, signed passport photos.
Qns asked:
1) Ocean on the east coast?
2) When all men must register for selective service?
3) How many senators are there?
4) What is freedom of religion?
5) When was the Constitution written?
6) Name one state that borders Mexico?
Read: What must we pay pay to the government?
Write : We pay taxes.
Approved on the spot, asked to wait while they checked if I can be squeezed in for same day oath that afternoon....nope didn't happen..too many re-schedule appointments taking oath that day! Oath notice will be mailed! Out in less than 15 or so minutes minutes I think.
*********************************************************************************************************************************************************
Oath:
Scheduled today for 8:00 AM, I checked in at about 07:40 AM, went through the usual (airport like) security then headed to the 2nd floor and handed in my signed oath notice and GC got a seat number card and went to the Oath ceremony room across! All seats had the usual white package with voter registration info, passport forms, a copy of the constitution etc... the last person checked in at 8:30 ish and the actual ceremony started at 8:50 AM with video presentations! The national anthem was played as while we all stood then a few speeches by one of the Field office supervisors who later called out countries in alphabetical order and people from those countries had to remain standing! The oath of Allegiance was administered followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and finally ...Naturalization certificates were handed out by order of the seat number, checked to make sure everything was correct and that that was it! I had family record the event and take photos too. We were out of the building at about 9:45 AM.
Thanks and good luck to you!

Biggest myths for women about their men: "Oh, he'll change".
Biggest myths for men about their women: "She is not gonna leave me".

I also think an attorney is your best bet and you should probably take your family up on their offer to help you finance that, but your question is what other options you have. The only one I can think of is either a mediator who speaks Putonghua or a mediator and a translator. If nothing else you can plop down your screen shots and phone number lists, maybe an affidavit from one of her boys if he is sympathetic and is willing to sign off that she pursued a relationship and presented herself as single. If it is explained clearly to her she may re-evaluate her position and take one of your offers. However, she could also a) re-evaluate and flee into the illegal community or b) become more motivated to strengthen her position by creating the appearance of abuse. Hard to say with confidence which way she'd go.
I'd follow others advice also to move your cash to places where she has no access but through you.
In general (big red flag this is a generalization that may or may not apply) Chinese women tend to respect a man who is resolute, firm, sticks to his guns. You don't need to be cruel to change the rules of the game, especially financially, and do it calmly and resolutely. My wife questions my medical advice all the time and quotes a Chinese friend as seeming to know more about medicine. I don't get upset. I just say you know me, you know my study all the time and my work, you take the advice you want but your friend's idea doesn't change my advice. Most of the time she responds by saying "I take husband's advice" and most of the time she does. Again, a generalization but Chinese women are often more prone to believe other Chinese than an American, even their husband, until they've gained a sense of security with you.
Let her know how things will be if she stays and what you can and can't accept. Be sure you collect all that hard evidence of her flirtations for your probable divorce, and start looking for a lawyer or mediator who can speak Chinese or a translator so you know everyone understands what is happening. Do you have any Chinese friends who could translate something you write so that you can be sure you are communicating your stance to her clearly?
Good luck to you. Better luck in the future.

everyone: please stop quoting the entire original post in your replies. Thanks

One consider getting a new lawyer if he is not doing what you need him to do. Their are plenty good lawyers. Secondly, call Protective Services and speak to a social worker. The incidents with the kids are recent have them speak to your children, worse case you expose her for who she really is and if charges are filed against her who cares what it looks like to the divorce court. You are there to protect them, so give them a voice what she did was wrong and illegal don't let them think people can treat them like that and it is ok. Give them a voice.
As far as the immigrations peace there is nothing stopping you from reporting it to ICE. Tell those with authority your story to whoever will hear you, someone will eventually listen.
Glad you are reaching out for advice, great start but don't play the victim anymore it is time to fix this don't let her keep you down.
God bless and good luck,

Ok...no offense but the only person you need to blame is yourself! You knew she was evil to you...your mom...and YOUR CHILDREN! Yet when they were ready to deport her you helped her out. I have a philosophy...if someone gets hit by a car I feel sorry for them. If they throw themselves in front of that car they got what they deserved. I was sympathetic until you kept helping and trying to be with that woman. From that point on you're to blame for your misery. Sorry...don't use love as an excuse and make better decisions for your kids!

I want to say it takes quite some time to find a job! I know! I have been here over 2 years before I even found one. One advice I can give you is he needs to pound the pavement. Just sending resumes out just doesn't cut it anymore. Do you know how many online applications a company gets for 1 position? He needs to make himself visible, actually go to stores etc and ask to speak to a manager. Even if there is no "help wanted" sign outside said establishment, get in there and ask. That is how I got my 1st job albeit part time. I walked into a retail store, asked to speak to the manager and asked if by chance they had any openings. She said actually yes, she is hiring. I filled out the appl right then and there and was hired on the spot. Don't give in to your frustrations and hopelessness, rather keep looking and like I said, pound the pavement, knock on doors. Good luck!

Some people come on this site to be helpful and to be helped, some come on this site only to prove that their love is somehow superior to everyone else's.

(I am NOT mentioning names at anyone, so if you read into this as I'm speaking about you, then maybe you should look at yourself and wonder why you think that.) I figure a lot of people here would benefit from taking a step back, looking at their entire lifetime, and then really seeing if waiting 5, 6, 7 months is REALLY worth all this anger and stress.
It can't be healthy for you.
Here's to good health for everyone here!

Stupid generalisations. Proving idiocy on vj on a daily basis.

Congratulations!
Between a week to 10 days after your fiance's arrival he should apply for his Social Security Number at your local SSA facility. He is eligible to receive a SSN card based on the K-1. He has to apply no later than 2 weeks before the date in the I-94 stapled in his passport or wait until after he gets either his work permit or his green card, so the sooner he applies for it the better. It will a 'restricted' card which means he can't work until he gets permission to work but he will find having the SSN useful for opening up accounts and getting a driver's license and such.
Next, you will want to get married before the I-94 expires. That is the condition on the K-1 visa - getting married within 90 days. When you get back the official marriage certificate, you then apply for his green card - which is his permission to remain in the US to live and work. He does this by filing the I-485 petition (a request to adjust his status from the non-immigrant fiancee to a permanent resident through marriage to a US citizen), along with the necessary documents. You also need to provide him with an I-864 Affidavit of Support - this is more binding than the I-134 you filed for the K-1. At the same time he can apply for permission to work and permission to travel while he waits for his green card.
You don't need to submit the I-485 and all of the other paperwork before the I-94 expires (that is, within the 90 days), but it is a good idea to do so or as soon afterwards as you can. Once the I-94 expires your 'husband' starts to accumulate 'out of status' days until you do file the I-485. Once he files the I-485 he is once again 'legally present' in the US until he receives the decision on the I-485 application .
There is lots of good information about what to do next in the AOS forum, which is where your post now is. Read over the guides and read over all of the different forms and their instructions. It will seem really intimidating and somewhat overwhelming at first, but just break everything down into smaller units or make a list of what you need to do; and you will find that it is actually very manageable
Good luck

Thank you to everyone who answererd the question posed here.
For those that had a strong need to babble about their opionions about my relationship without ever having met Arina or me, know nothing of our backgrounds, have never seen us together ... well ... thanks to you too

This is INCORRECT. You need to enter the USA within 6 months of the K1 visa issuance. You need to marry within 90 days of entry into the USA. Please don't post stuff if you're not absolutely sure...other "anonymous" folks read this site too.

You are really on a roll with the sarcastic comments lately. Why do you bother wasting your own time when you could just as easily close the window and let someone else answer? People post here because they're confused. It's great that you understand the process so well but not everybody gets this stuff as easily as you do. If you don't want to use your knowledge of the process (which I know you know a lot about) to be helpful, why even bother?

I'm very pleased you've broached this subject, Tero. We are very privileged to have this website and forum, as it is a wealth of information and emotional support at a time when things in life are uncertain and difficult. Many posts to the forum are extremely personal and fragile, perhaps things we would usually not tell a stranger, but things only people going through the same process can understand.
In this age of detachment we often forget there are people on the other end of the internet, real people to whom their problems are devastating. If you can't help a person with their issue, and don't feel able to give them a supporting word, zip your lip and move on to a different subject. As you say, we are all adults, we are responsible for our choices and endeavors, let's all treat each other with the respect we deserve.

I'm very pleased you've broached this subject, Tero. We are very privileged to have this website and forum, as it is a wealth of information and emotional support at a time when things in life are uncertain and difficult. Many posts to the forum are extremely personal and fragile, perhaps things we would usually not tell a stranger, but things only people going through the same process can understand.
In this age of detachment we often forget there are people on the other end of the internet, real people to whom their problems are devastating. If you can't help a person with their issue, and don't feel able to give them a supporting word, zip your lip and move on to a different subject. As you say, we are all adults, we are responsible for our choices and endeavors, let's all treat each other with the respect we deserve.

I'm very pleased you've broached this subject, Tero. We are very privileged to have this website and forum, as it is a wealth of information and emotional support at a time when things in life are uncertain and difficult. Many posts to the forum are extremely personal and fragile, perhaps things we would usually not tell a stranger, but things only people going through the same process can understand.
In this age of detachment we often forget there are people on the other end of the internet, real people to whom their problems are devastating. If you can't help a person with their issue, and don't feel able to give them a supporting word, zip your lip and move on to a different subject. As you say, we are all adults, we are responsible for our choices and endeavors, let's all treat each other with the respect we deserve.

I have seen many people come on this site feeling helpless after a heartbreaking disappointment either from a denied petition, complications, or just trying to prepare for what’s ahead. In their quest for directions, I have observed people kick them while they were down. I have observed mockery. I have observed sarcasm with disrespectful intentions. I have observed bullies and I have observed disrespectful tones either in response to the OP or a participant’s comment.
Just before you make a comment, bear in mind this site is rich in diversity, and you can’t use your own cultural exposure to judge others’.
It is ok to introduce some humor but let it be to cheer up the OP/participant(s) and not to mock. If you have nothing respectfully constructively to say, please, don’t waste your time commenting. We are all adults already married or about to, so, please, show some class.
It is ok to disagree as there are always different perspectives to an issue. If you want to hide behind your computer and be rude …take that sh*t somewhere else where you can “freelance” as much as you want.
Adjust that Attitude! A bunch of words is more than enough for the wise!

Based on the recent posts and timelines info, YES there seems to be some kind of hold. Some have waited beyond the five months.I find the hold unfair, because this is not a lottery, it's rather expensive for just a visa. If they have too much to handle, then they should get help by hiring more people to do the work. Overwhelming case loads from us means overwhelming amount of $$$$$$$ for the department, it means growth, opportunity, it means jobs, Gov't jobs for those who are actually unemployed. I dont understand, what the problem is, I'm begining to feel that maybe we are a nuissance to them, but we're not, we are $$$$$$ to boost the economy and more. There are those entering the U.S as we speak illegally without the wait and cost the gov't lots of $$$$$$ guess what? they get treated better than us for free. It's unprofessional I expect better service, 5- 8 months is not acceptable, not by me anyway!!

I also have never been to a fortune teller, nor do I ever plan to go.... my fiance and I are semi-religious, we go to church once in a while and say grace and count our blessing and all the rest. We are not fanatics or anything, but we enjoy our faith.
I think your attitude is really good, because I doubt it would take more than 3 months from NOA2 to interview. If it helps, you are probably more prepared than most when they get Packet 3, and won't have any delays sending it back. And, 3 months on peoples' timelines includes the time it takes to get to NVC, then embassy, and get P3 to the beneficiary... it's not like it's 3 months from sending back Packet 3.
In case you didn't know, here's a semi-short cut (I figured it out too late). Wait until you get the letter from NVC with the new London case number.. then wait a day or two, and call DOS. They will tell you if Packet 3 has been sent yet. If it has, you can send the information back to the embassy, because (at least for Montreal), there is NOTHING in Packet 3 you actually need to send back. You actually have to download all the forms online. I didn't realize that, and we wasted 11 days. It was sent on the 1st, and I only got it on Tuesday and sent it back yesterday. I know it's not a HUGE time saver, but 12 days is still 12 days.
Don't let other people bring you down. A positive attitude carries you far in life and will definitely continue to help with immigration!!
For what it's worth, I think an April wedding is still 100% feasible.

Not trying to be negative.. but don't forget these CSC folks will get holiday time off too... Veteran's Day... Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's. That's about 2 weeks worth of additional backlog. Hopefully, they don't leave work early for holiday parties. This really sucks.
Here's the big question... will they ever get caught up or will people keep getting the runaround while they continue to cash $455 checks per pop? I'm no genius, but it would seem like they would staff up to catch up. I'm sure there are many qualified people sitting on unemployment looking for some job security right about now.