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I just got my FP done for the second time 2 weeks ago and today I got a letter from the local CIS office asking me to come in for the interview. So far so good because I have been waiting for a long time for that interview, but I do have a couple of questions and was hoping someone here can help me out.
Quick background - My AOS was applied in the employment-based category and about 10 months after the I-485 receipt date the company dissolved for financial issues and I was laid off. Since then I found subsequent employment and am currently working in the same field in an identical role with an almost identical company. But, a) my current salary is about 15% higher and b) I was unemployed for 12 months before I found this job. The last time I consulted a lawyer (a 20-yr old kid referred by AILA) she told me that I have to get paid the same salary and that because I was unemployed for a while I was automatically out of status and that may be an issue during the interview.
So here's what I am struggling with:
1) The AOS notice asks me to bring a letter of employment stating salary and I am wondering if I should approach my current employer and offer to take a pay cut so that salary doesn't become an issue. Should I? I just find it hard to believe that CIS would expect people to get paid the exact same salary for 3 years but hey, what do I know.
2) At the time of the layoff my previous employer's lawyers had explained that AOS pending is a valid status and loss of employment, particularly since the company was dissolved, would not affect my case. But then the little kid with the fresh law degree told me that I was out of status and freaked me out big time. Is it still true now that I am gainfully employed?
3) In the interview notice it asks me to bring, among other documents, 3 years of Federal tax returns (which I have) "and proof of USC or LPR status" (which I have no idea whether I have or not because I don't know what they are.) How can I prove I have USC or LPR status and what are they?
4) The most fundamental question I suppose -- Do I need to bring a lawyer with me to the interview? My current employer does not provide immigration assistance so I have to get a lawyer myself if that's the case and for a number of reasons I am reluctant to go back to the one I had spoken to previously. Would I be seriously jeopardizing my chances were I to show up for the interview alone?
I feel a bit out of my element here. Can anyone help? Please?
Quick background - My AOS was applied in the employment-based category and about 10 months after the I-485 receipt date the company dissolved for financial issues and I was laid off. Since then I found subsequent employment and am currently working in the same field in an identical role with an almost identical company. But, a) my current salary is about 15% higher and b) I was unemployed for 12 months before I found this job. The last time I consulted a lawyer (a 20-yr old kid referred by AILA) she told me that I have to get paid the same salary and that because I was unemployed for a while I was automatically out of status and that may be an issue during the interview.
So here's what I am struggling with:
1) The AOS notice asks me to bring a letter of employment stating salary and I am wondering if I should approach my current employer and offer to take a pay cut so that salary doesn't become an issue. Should I? I just find it hard to believe that CIS would expect people to get paid the exact same salary for 3 years but hey, what do I know.
2) At the time of the layoff my previous employer's lawyers had explained that AOS pending is a valid status and loss of employment, particularly since the company was dissolved, would not affect my case. But then the little kid with the fresh law degree told me that I was out of status and freaked me out big time. Is it still true now that I am gainfully employed?
3) In the interview notice it asks me to bring, among other documents, 3 years of Federal tax returns (which I have) "and proof of USC or LPR status" (which I have no idea whether I have or not because I don't know what they are.) How can I prove I have USC or LPR status and what are they?
4) The most fundamental question I suppose -- Do I need to bring a lawyer with me to the interview? My current employer does not provide immigration assistance so I have to get a lawyer myself if that's the case and for a number of reasons I am reluctant to go back to the one I had spoken to previously. Would I be seriously jeopardizing my chances were I to show up for the interview alone?
I feel a bit out of my element here. Can anyone help? Please?
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