jwife

10 YRS GREEN APPROVED TODAY IN I551 STAMPED AND SEALED, HERE IN MY REVIEW FROM GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK.

The interview was schedule at 2 pm today, we got there at 1:30. We were told to wait in waiting area, then we were called to go upstairs at2 pm, we waited about another 45 min. After a while a white lady in her early 50's said call us into her office. First we were told to swore. Then, she proceed by asking a simple question: how did a girl from Honduras got married with a man from ivory coast. Sobe answer because she was ask the question indirectly.

Then she asked how long did we get married after we met each other. Sobe said a year and I said bout ten month to a year.

She then proceed with the yes or no questions at the back of the i485 to me. She asked about being ever arrest for any crime. I said yes that I used to sell DVD and cd on the street. She asked for disposition paper the original since she had the copy already. Then she told m that I will get my 10 year green card in 2 week and can apply for citizenship in three yrs. She then stamped and sealed the I-551 in my passport an said that I can travel any time I want from today. :dance:

CONGRATULATIONS!

SUPER PSYCHED TODAY!

1. It's the Friday before Labor Day weekend.

2. I received this notice

"Post Decision Activity:

On September 1, 2010, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS. Please follow any instructions on the notice."

3. I have TWO potential job opps that might come through. BOTH are somewhat promising (you never know with these things) and that means....IF all goes WELL...I COULD TURN IN MY RESIGNATION EITHER TODAY OR BY TUESDAY NEXT WEEK!

For those that don't remember me....I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE my job.

Happy Friday ALL!

BIG Shout Out to God for making this an incredibly challenging, but unforgettable year so far. Milestones: Got married, got a new place, got a green card, a TOUGH job where I learned a LOT, and now (pretty soon) a NEW job. THANK YOU!

YAY! PASS ON THE POSITIVITY. whoo hoo!

I wish I had good news for you guys, but...

I arrived at about 8:35, went through security and was seated for about 40 minutes before being called by the IO.

Notice I said "I."

I had to take my husband to the hospital last night so he was unable to make it so I could not be approved today.

Our IO was very sweet, and she took the hospital record I brought and put in a reschedule request. She said it could take 2-3 weeks to receive the letter. She genuinely cared which was a nice surprise.

He is doing okay now, and atleast we weren't denied. I'll let you all know when the letter comes!

Young Love...I hope your husband is ok and that you too are ok. Don't worry about the interview. It will happen. And you will get it. Hope he is fine and better now.

Try calling USCIS and asking for an expedited interview date. Just a thought...

Congratulations!!!!

Great love story and also green card interview recap!

Thank God Today.I was approved

Interview centre....Irving TX

My appointment was 12.15pm and we got there 11.55am.Checked in through the normal security stuff and went to the second floor through the elevator.We met the receptionist and we gave her our appointment letter ,she asked us if we have a lawyer which we said no,she then gave us a pager and told us to have a seat.We waited and we got called around 12.55pm through the vibration of the pager.

A lady came round mid fifty and introduced herself as Mrs…………….We greeted her and she lead us into a corridor of so many rooms(offices).We entered her office ,she swore us in.The two chairs were very close to her desk and we didn’t even push it backward. Our hands were even touching the table.Then she started by saying,your Driver license ID,SSN,EAD and my Passport,we presented them to her.She looked at it and started asking the question,

How did you meet?? We told her we met online,she said where? Was it a chat room or eharmony? We told her our dating website where we met.She said she believed in dating site because she met her husband(a Gernan) also in a chat room.She also asked how long it was before we met in person and we told her it was 5days,we wanted to show her our emails during those time but said her head would blow off…..lol

She turned to my wife and asked her about my name,date of birth and place of birth,she turned to me and asked me about my wife’s too. She also said my wife should spell my full name and I should also spell my wife’s first name. Asked me if I am still in school and I told her yes,

She was very polite yet got straight to the point .She also asked us when we met? How long was it before we decided to get married?My wife kid’s name and date of birth,Asked me if I have any kid,she strongly asked me again.I said no.Also asked if I was married before and I said no.She asked my wife if she has ever filed for immigration for anybody and my wife said no.

She asked our place and date of marriage,how come we got married so quick?? What does my wife do?Also asking me about the NO NO NO NO NO NO NO question .I put our tons of photos almost close to 450 for her to take a look,she declined to look it jokily, that it could be faked or staged that she saw us as a happy couple right from the beginning that she watched our body language already.That there is no need.She didn’t even take any to put into our file.

She asked us if we have any evidence of co-mingling together and I opened my file,she was so amazed by her look on what I was pulling out. I brought them out and she said I should just give her all to make a copy of it,so I gave her all.She took the documents and our IDs,SSN,EAD and my Passport which she immediately took away my I-94 form,she came back in less than 5mins.She handed everything to us,I noticed that she took all the two affidavits from my wife friends and the two from my step-kids as well.She took away our email print out of our ticket and Sam’s club membership form

Right from the beginning of the interview we knew we would be approved because she said it indirectly many times during the questioning,she is so jovial,lively and easy to talk to ,so we felt so much relaxed and comfortable believing we are approved already.So the big question came that I am approving you for Conditional Permanent Resident . She gave us a form to know the rules governing conditional permanent resident that I am not a citizen yet and I shouldn’t fill or tick a box of a citizen.That 90days to the expiration, I should file for another form to remove the condition attached,also she said my GC would arrive in 2weeks that when I get it I should destroy my EAD card. So we had a hand shake and she lead us out of her office.

The interview duration was 20mins and it was just a mere discussion as if we were opening a bank account.

God really did the wonderful interview for us.What God has joined together let no man put asunder, even government or immigration can’t.I(black) came into US as F1 student for the first time in January 2010.I met my wife(white) online first week in March,and got married in May 21st 2010,just about 73days of dating, with just 10 people present ,no reception .My wife is older than me with 12yrs gap.We live together as one.All these shown red flags ,but God is great and we married for love and saw all through without any hitch.

06-03-2010 AOS package sent,

06-04-2010 package received

06-14-2010 3NOAs received

06-24-2010 Biometric Letter received slated for July 19th 2010

06-25-2010 Biometric done via work-in

07-30-2010 Interview letter received slated for August 31st 2010

08-04-2010 EAD card production order

08-16-2010 EAD received

08-31-2010 AOS APPROVED (88days)

This is a great website and may God bless Visajourney because it has saved us and many other people a lot of money.

I have a question for the USC's who went to the interview. On the interview letter is requests us to bring our passport or proof of citizenship. I lost my passport 6 months ago and I haven't filed anything because I was hoping it would turn up by now but it hasn't.

My question is did the IO ask to see the USC's passport during the interview? Do you think it would be alright since mine is lost if I brought my birth certificate?

Are you the US citizen?

For those who already had their interviews....how many month's worth of bank statements, bills, etc did you bring to the interview (and was asked for)??

two months is more than enough.

Hello everyone. Below is the general outline of the interview experience. Location: Los Angeles Field Office. Appointment time: 1:45 p.

Got to building at 12:30p. Waited in line OUTSIDE the Federal building to pass security for over an hour! Got upstairs to the USCIS office at 1:42pm. Phewph.

Then, checked in with the lady and waited for another hour and fifteen minutes. Thankfully, I brought a book that I am truly enjoying reading so time went by in a jiffy (for the curious: "A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry)

FINALLY, after an hour and some, a man came outside and asked every customer and their party if they had been helped. He realized we were the only ones that hadn't. He took my case number, and checked it against the system and called me up to the window. He said "if the lady doesn't call you in fifteen minutes, i will assign this to someone else. Just let me know"

Afetr that, in less than 5-7 mins...I was called in with my husband.

The lady was seemingly unfriendly and that just made my palms sweat and knees shake. I thought- "#######. We've got some warming up to do". She brought us into her office, which was blaring jazz music. She turned it off and asked us to take the oath. Then get seated. Totally unexpected...the jazz music, I mean.

Then there was a long awkward silence as she was looking through the file- which made me even more nervous.

Finally, she asked us for evidence of joint-anything. We produced joint bank account, car insurance and lease. All tricky because some of them had my maiden name, some my new name- but I think she got the picture.

Next, she asked for my ID, passposrt, proof of work permit and my husband's proof of citizenship. As she looked through that (she was noting all the numbers off our ID's) she asked how we met. We gave her an express version of our meeting, first year of our relationship being long distance, then his move to LA and so on. Our story finally made her laugh a couple times (all thanks to my husband!). Finally, she asked for pictures, and scanned through our wedding album quickly, our engagement pictures even faster and I had snuck in some "during the course of our relationship" pictures in there for good measure which she said we "nice".

After she gave me my pictures back she said "this is grantable. You will receive your Green Card in sixty-days". Screeech....woh-woh-woh. Stop. 60-days?!

Ok- so I obviously needed clarification on the being able to quit my job front. I waited for her to hand me my "Congratulations receipt", put it my binder, closed it, and then said (HAD to make sure she didn't change her mind when I asked her this )- "look, I hate my job and I want to quit like tomorrow. I had submitted an EAD request a little later than my main package, but I can't see any status of it in this interview". She said her hand-written "receipt" will serve as authorization to work starting today and that if I wanted to- I could quit and work anywhere I wanted today. In additon, she said "realistically, you will receive your GC in two weeks". (I got my first email update from the USCIS EVER today stating that card production had been ordered a couple hours later). Satisfied, I relaxed.

Then, we talked about general things. Couldn't tell if she was dismissing us or wanted us to stay, so we kep talking till I nudged my husband for us to leave. While we were trying to figure this out, we asked her if she liked her job and how long she's been doing it. She said 14 years, loves it, and if I wanted to join- that they're looking for young people like me to work there. She said "I see you managing this place. You should work here. Pays well, 3 days a month paid time off, and if you're feeling stressed out...you can leave for the day- no questions. If you have a degree, they will jump on you to work here" Food for thought, nonetheless. Might be nice to work a 9-5 granting people green cards and visas all day long and playing detective

Needless to say, she went from bratty to chatty in the course of our interview, which thankfully, I appreciated.

Next, we hit the happy hour downtown LA, got pretty buzzed, call one-hundred people, and went home

I am now a permanent resident of the United States of America. Hmmmm...what does this mean aside from being permitted to work anywhere. Must research.

The binder, btw, is necessary (if for nothing else, then peace of mind). Here's how I organized everything:

Tab 1: Proof of relationship. Contents- photos, marriage cert, evidence of joint-accounts, rental-lease

Tab 2: Employment, taxes and finances. Contents- Our pay stubs, letters of assured employment, tax filing for us both

Tab 3: Legal Status. Contents: both our passports, ALL my visas and schools and employment history requiring different visas, my birth certificate

Tab 4: Copies and Applications: Contents: All the above 3 tabs had originals, and this tab had copies of everything. In addition, it had copies of all my applications- just to make sure they weren't missing anything.

This binder made our lives pretty easy. She asked to see the rental lease, insurance and joint bank statements- and we were quickly able to whip it out, show her the original, and then give her a copy of whatever she wanted to keep- you just need one copy per sheet of originals.

I highly recommend it. It forces you to slow down and think about everything you should take with you to the interview (plus, it's a nice thing to have when you get home. In-case of fire/earthquake- it'a a nice GRAB and go!)

Of course, my husband thinks it was overkill. But he's the US citizen...he will never truly get it

That's it. Hopefully this post will help those who are reading it. I am finally feeling RElaxed. Tomorrow I will go into work with an Eff You attitude. No more running scared!!

Am busy creating the perfect binder with all reference materials for our GC interview tomorrow. Nervous as heck.

We had our interview at San Francisco around 125PM. We got to the place at 1245pm, looking for parking and left our cell inside the car. But we were surprise that you can bring your cell, but you have to turn off.

The place looks like empty. Officer Lee, a Chinese mid 50's, greeted us was we walk in to his office. He was such a great guy!! We told him how nervous we are, and he told not to since he wouldn't bite us. He asked how we met and when. We even told him our stories, where and when we met, proposed and engaged. Officer Lee asked for some pictures. We showed him our album and he asked for three pictures with three events. We gave him our wedding pic, friends visiting us, and other pics. He asked for rental/lease agreement which we dont since I own a place. So he asked for bank join account, health insurance with my fiancee's name, life/auto insurance, and even our joint phone bill. He got all the originals. We asked if he wants photocopies, and he told us that originals are fine with him and we could download originals later if we want (kinda weird). Finally, office asked if my fiancee is working. He asked also if my fiancee has SSN, and we showed to him.

Finally, he said that AOS interview is approved and handed us the letter.

When we got to my car, I had a blocked message from Officer Lee, that he doesnt have the medical result. So he has to mail the notice of action. He mentioned that it is nothing serious. So we decided to go back the bldg, which is good thing that we have the copy of our appt letter and medical from the Philippines. We went to the receptionist, told that we're back since Officer Lee needs our medical. The receptionist told us that Officer Lee might be having another interview and busy but not until we saw Officer Lee went out to call a couple, and waived our hands to him. Officer Lee let us walk in his room, and there we saw a sealed enveloped about to mail to us. Officer Lee opened the letter, handed to us and explained that most of the time, immigration from the POE SFO, forgot to route and include the medical result to our KI Visa approval package. Office Lee mentioned that it is not our fault, but we have to complete our medical again, which include TB test and syphyllis test. So we have to go USCIS medical/civil surgeon and pay again.

Really, Officer Lee was really such a great guy. Our interview went well, calm and pleasant except for the screwed medical result done in POE SFO. But well, we have to do this anytime soon.

Thanks for everyone, and for the next year we have to move to lift green card condition forum. Good luck to everyone. Cheers!!

THis is such great news! Congratulations!

Interview Report

Scheduled on August 16, 2010 @11am at Los Angeles Office

We parked our car 9:45am at a parking lot in front of the Immigration Building.

We had a Yogurt in the market area and head to the building at 10:15am; we waited about 25 minutes in the line for security.

We got to our room and there were about 50 couples/families.

We left our cellphones in the car but there were many people with their cellphones in the waiting area of AOS....

We were talking and looking at our pictures (brought 6 albums lol) while we waited.

Guess how long our waiting was??????? 3hours!!!!!! ---> we were getting so hungry

Guess how long our interview was??????? 10 minutes!!!!

The officer, David, mid-30ish, very friendly cool guy greeted us at the door to go in the interview room.

We were sworn first and sat down in a small office with many papers all over his desk..

He asked us questions about how/when/where we met, asked my husband when he decided to pop the question, our first date and looked at a couple of albums we brought.

Then asked our address, other evidence of cohabitation like apartment lease and utility bills. We actually moved while in the process so our home address was changed, but he didn't seem to care about it that much.

He also asked who is sponsoring and my husband's occupation.

After all the question, he asked me to show him my passport and he canceled all the old visas I previously hold (F1 and H1b)....

Then, he congratulated me and my husband for the approval of green card

He told us that I should receive green card in 4-6weeks in a mail; but when we told that we have a planned trip to Mexico City in mid September, he pretty much told us that we should get the card in mail sometimes next week

Although we were so hungry, we were the happiest couple in the whole world at the moment!!!!

Good luck with all the upcoming interviews and congrats on EAD&AP approvals!!!

YAY!!!! Congratulations you guys. It gives me some insight on what to expect in the LA office for my interview next Tuesday. The butterflies are starting to form

That's awesome news!

Still waiting for crisbess and Junko&Martin to let us know how their interviews went...

me too! I can't wait to hear how it all went for Crisbess and Junko&Martin!

So...I also follow the April 10' filers, and most everyone is getting their GC and describing their interview experiences. You guys should def have a look when you have some time. Mostly- the theme seems to be requests for pictures, accounts, and other proof of co-habitation. My huband and I had a court wedding with a small little party thrown by my cousin...hope that will suffice. (thinking of a destination reception in Thailand next year). We also don't believe in joint accounts...yet(maybe when we have children) so...I might have a little explaning to do- but hopefully we will be fine. We have travelled together, have pictures of our engagement party in India, and several others to prove that we are a bonafide couple.

So anyway- go check out April 10' filers stories.

- Jessica

heyy guys! i jus got back from our interview

it went well we brought a bag full of documents but he just looked at pictures, and proof of residncy. all went really well and pretty smoothly he just kept looking through our file asked my husband (the beneficiary) a series of questions like have u ever been..... all the ones in the 485 question then asked how we met etc. anyways the whole thing was about 10 mins and in the end he gave us our conditional 2 year approval gave us an approval letter and said we will recieve the green card in mail in 10 to 15 days.

hope evryone elses goes as smooth thanks all for all your support and help good luck to evryone!

WOO HOO!!! Congratulations!

You can quit your job now if you want to. I would just make sure you have something lined up first and can get a letter from the new employers HR dept or management. You may be asked about employment at your interview. The AOS financial stuff is just a representation of what job you are doing at the time of filing. Situations change constantly and I'm sure you wouldn't be the first person to change jobs during the adjudication of AOS. I had to change jobs right before my wife's K-1 interview...no problems... but, that was my experience, others may have a different story to tell.

I would wait until after your S/O gets their GC in hand. After that you don't have to worry aboutwork until your S/O goes for the 10 year GC or Naturalization. Really after they have their GC you don't have to work at all. Just make sure your S/O doesn't ask for govt assistance or whomever the sponsor or co-sponsor can be sued.

I'm sorta in the same situation. I hate my job, but I cannot until my wife gets back into school.

That's a good point! Thank you so much for this response. I do luckily have something in the works...

I still have not received my biometrics letter...I am getting so frustrated. I put in a request for an expedited AP and I was wondering if they can issue one without my biometrics. Does anyone know??

Wow! I am so sorry to hear this. I don't have the answer to your question, but feel your frustration. It would be great once all this is over, wouldn't it.

All I can say is what is being said to me- Good Luck. Hang in there. Keep your eye on the big picture.

Oh gosh, I actually have NO idea about the answer to your question. I am so sorry what you are going through though, and can relate. There is one "person" (and I use that term lightly) who has been the cause of ALL of my dismay at this place of employment, and that "person" is out of the office last week and this week ... pure bliss! I hope that things get better for you quickly and if it requires getting a new job, do it!

John sent this to me today and I have to share it with you ... "Picture yourself near a stream. Birds are chirping softly in the crisp, cool mountain air. Nothing can bother you here. No one knows this secret place. You are in total seclusion from that place called "the world." The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity. The water is crystal clear. You can easily make out the face of the person whose head you are holding under the water."

Congrats to all the EAD and AP approvals/card productions/received and the new NOA's, etc! Great news! They are certainly moving right along with the June filers now! I will update the list today as time permits and am really excited to see all the changes!

Everyone have a great day!

Thanks! That truly put a smile on my face! I going to call USCIS to get the answer. Will keep you posted.

Ok...it's 134 am in LA and I possibly had one the worst days of my life today. I won't bore anyone with the details, but it's got to do with my job. I absolutely HAVE to get out of there and while I know that my interview is just 15 days away- I am getting facial paralysis even thinking about going to work tomorrow to have to face these people again.

Please someone tell me- after we go on the interview- and we get approved- how soon after can I quit? Or rather, when am I able to get another job? Do I have to wait another 30 days for the card production? Am currently on H1-B.

Make a sad, depressed, desperate to quit woman happy by answering this question.

hey all hope evryones cases are progressing or atleast will be soon! our interview is on aug 11 any advice on what we should be collecting to take to it right now? does anyone have a nice simple list of documents that are good to take with us. Also, will we have to fill out a new affidavit of support to take to the interview or the copy of the one we sent with the AOS should be sufficient? Not much has changed for us in that since my husband still has no EAD.

Another concern i have is that we have no bills together since we live with my parents right now....once my husband gets proper work authorization he can work and we can get our own place. Besides a notarized letter from my parents stating we live at their house, what other documents can we give to show proof? Even his cell phone is prepaid so theres no bill and Tmobile didnt let me add his name to my bill because he has no credit history. I feel we may not have much documents to show will that be a problem?

any advice, suggestions etc will be helpful! thanks in advance

Hi! I would recommend posting this question to April or earlier filers (also found on visajourney.com) because a lot of them have already been through this process. And if could- repost back to the June filers?! A lot of us are in line to do these interviews this month.

Still no biometrics letter :( Been waiting for over 30 days. When I called they told me they sent a request to my local office and that I should wait 45 days before I do anything else!

SO FRUSTRATING!!!

Hang in there. It's so strange how these people process things at different times! Think positive thoughts.

Beth! Thank you for the updates~ I realize it takes time and thank you for putting all our timelines in one place.

I am less than a month away from my interview. Can't wait.

I am so happy today! I received the NOA for interview in LA for August 24! The online case update does not have any updates nor have i ever received a SINGLE email/text updating me on any of my cases. It doesn't matter though- cuz' the good ol' mailbox seems to be working just fine!

Welcome!

Yes! Welcome!

My application is with Lee's Summit and I have not heard or seen anything since 7/13. Does anybody know how quickly Lee's Summit acts with regards to this particular type of case?

Again- congrats to you all with the interview dates!!!

Congrats to everyone on all their updates and especially for the interview letters!!!! Here's wishing we all get them soon!

I have also subscribed to watch April filers and some of them are getting their Green Cards already. Some...not all! I can't hardly wait

Hope you had a great Forth of July

Regarding the EAD, it usually takes 2-3 months after the submitting of application.

However, if you get Green Card approved, you wouldn't need EAD becuase Green Card will allow you to work anywhere you like.

I know a few people who didnt' apply EAD because the Green Card process is way faster than before

There is a possibility that you get a letter for an interview before EAD approval anyways.

But because it won't cost any, it may be a good idea to apply EAD in case something happens with Green Card application and takes longer... (I really hope it's not going to!)

Hope this answers your question...

Thank you! This is all really helpful information. I am so tired of my job that I wish getting the EAD would be an overnight gig. Anyway, am going to send in the EAD app today. If it doesn't hurt to send it, and it's free- then why not.