Houston Texas Filers

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Congrats Houston2016 the nightmare is finally over for you! Time to shoot for naturalization and never deal with this ridiculous process again.

We hope they get to Feb 2017 soon! My spouse and I are ready to move ahead with our lives. One question though. Our 2yr anniversary will be in December. If she gets her GC before then will it be the 2yr card? I find it ridiculous that we will be within a month of expiration when she gets it issued and we will have to pay again for the 751.

You will get the 10 year green card if you have been married for 2 years or longer on the day your case is adjudicated. If you get to the interview just before the 2 year anniversary, I would point that out to the ISO. Most will say "Sure, I can *lose* your application on my desk for a few weeks" IF THEY SEE THAT YOU ARE OVERPREPARED. If you cover their backs, they will cover yours. Sometimes people think that the 2 year anniversary is a freebie and don't prepare. It's backfired many times.

If you get the interview way too early, then I would even reach out to your Senator. They will make sure that your interview is not earlier than your 2 year anniversary. But to make that request, I would even go to the Senator's office in person and show them ALL YOUR EVIDENCE. For them to back you up, they have to know you have a true marriage and that you aren't a criminal or a threat to national security.

[Randomdude]

You will get the 10 year green card if you have been married for 2 years or longer on the day your case is adjudicated. If you get to the interview just before the 2 year anniversary, I would point that out to the ISO. Most will say "Sure, I can *lose* your application on my desk for a few weeks" IF THEY SEE THAT YOU ARE OVERPREPARED. If you cover their backs, they will cover yours. Sometimes people think that the 2 year anniversary is a freebie and don't prepare. It's backfired many times.

If you get the interview way too early, then I would even reach out to your Senator. They will make sure that your interview is not earlier than your 2 year anniversary. But to make that request, I would even go to the Senator's office in person and show them ALL YOUR EVIDENCE. For them to back you up, they have to know you have a true marriage and that you aren't a criminal or a threat to national security.

Thanks for clarifying. I figured that would be the case. We're just going to have the unfortunate luck of being a few months short from 2yrs of marriage so we're going to get the conditional card. I guess we'll just go ahead and prepare the 751 application now. It's really ridiculous and irritates me when i think about the whole process.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Thanks for clarifying. I figured that would be the case. We're just going to have the unfortunate luck of being a few months short from 2yrs of marriage so we're going to get the conditional card. I guess we'll just go ahead and prepare the 751 application now. It's really ridiculous and irritates me when i think about the whole process.

It is irritating. I am right there with you. The Minneapolis Office does the same thing. 50% of the cases are processed within 14.5 months. So that puts most people who did not file right away around the 2 year mark. IF we decide to wait it out, we will make sure that we hit the two year mark - even if it takes reaching out to a Senator.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Thank you!
No he and I don't want to go through Naturalization, we are planning back to his home for our retirement

Yes it's a bummer, but finger crossed you will get your interview soon. Cause we were thinking the same and then another year passed till our interview. I would rather pay another fee to remove condition than wait for a year! Good Luck!

Removal of conditions is painful. It involves heavily documenting everything. No gaps. Everyone's priorities are different. There's no right or wrong way to get there.

Now, I have to ask you. Why wouldn't you consider naturalization? Even if you are retiring abroad, you can retire as a dual citizen. We are thinking of retiring abroad. To me the easiest option is my country of origin. I wouldn't need a visa to retire. I would just move there. I don't have to ask anyone if my retirement income meets their requirements for a retiree visa.

We will be adopting and want to make sure that we pass on US citizenship to our kids. Otherwise, what was this whole ordeal for?

To be clear, I am not questioning your choice. I am sharing our decision.

Congrats on your 10 year card!

[Nitaardzf]

Had our interview today!! Approved on the spot!

PD: Nov 21, 2016
Fingerprints: Jan 05, 2017
Ready to schedule for interview: Sept, 2017
Interview letter recieved on Jul 12, 2018
Interview: Aug 09, 2018 8:20am

Adjusting from a B2 visa.

So here?s how it went..

We got there at around 7:50 and went in right away, went through security, then to get in line to check in. We checked in and were asked to sit on the right side and wait for my name to be called. It was 9:30, my name hadn?t been called out and we kept seeing people who had just gotten there be called in, so we got back in line just to make sure we hadn?t missed my name being called out for some reason, the lady nicely explained to us they had over 500 interviews today so the wait time was over an hr, she checked her computer and said that nobody in the back had picked up my file yet, we went back to sit down and as soon as we?re sitting down they finally call my name.
We walked to the door next to window 14 to meet with our IO who greeted us and asked us to follow him to his office, half way there he starts asking what year we got married, if we had any kids, by this time I?m already thinking, oh god, we?re not even in his office yet and he?s already questioning us, he?s going to ask aaaaalot.
Anyways we go in, he already has my file in front of him opened up, then he asks my husband if he was the petitioner and asked me if I?m the beneficiary, then he asks for our IDs and if I have any joint documents that I want to add to my file, when I opened my binder he saw my medical and asked me if it was a new one and took it right away, then he asks me to put everything that I want to give him on the side, he excused himself and went out of the office for about 5min. When he comes back and swears us in, and starts going through my file, checking, writing and stamping. He asks my husband for his full name, date of birth and asks him since he was born in Mexico if he had naturalized. He then asks me for my full name and date of birth.
He asks us both how we met, what year, and where did we see each other for the first time, he asked us both if it was our first marriage, how many children we had, and if both were from our marriage. Then he asked if after we met we just never stopped seeing each other and then got married and had children, I said ?well we had the kids first then we got married? he said ?well that works too? lol. He asked if I had copies of my children?s birth certificates, I gave them to him, then he said ?Ya?ll have two kids? Two little boys?? He looked up at my husband and smiled, I said ?yes, I want a girl but he (my husband) doesn?t? he laughed and said y?all have to go for the girl.
He asked how I came in the US, I offered to show him my B2 visa and he declined, he also asked what year I came and decided to stay, I answered then I guess he was trying to make sure I never left the country after that year, because after I answered him that I hadn?t he continued asking if I hadn?t gone on vacation or anything at all, I said no. Also asked me for both my parents first names.
He moves on and asks for those joint documents, I handed him 2017 tax papers, joint bank accounts, life insurance, cable, gas, phone, energy accounts. I kept giving him originals and he said he didn?t want to look at them, he just wanted the copies. Told him I had leases etc and said he didn?t need anything else, and immediately says ?ok now pictures? he looks at maybe 5-8 pictures and asks us if we?re cowboys fans, lol my husbands says yes! And he says ?me too, I don?t gotta see anything else anymore then I?m approving you guys, y?all shouldve said something and y?all wouldnt even had to have gone through the interview!? Lol he closes my photo album, and says congratulations, you should be getting your card in about 2 weeks but it may take longer depending on the mail in your area, tells me I?m getting a 10 year green card and that I can apply to become a citizen in 3 years. He also asked me if I had a EAD renewal pending I said yes, and he said I?m never even gonna see it.
I saw him stamping everything with his APPROVED STAMP, but was a little confused because he printed us a paper to give to us that said they couldn?t make a decision today..
He walks us out, thanks us for being patient then tells us he hopes to see us back with a little girl when I go become a citizen lol.

Somewhere in between all of this he asked all the yes/no questions on the I-485. I was so nervous I don?t even remember when exactly it happened lol.


As soon as we leave the building I get a text that my case has updated to ?card is being produced.? FINALLY!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who answered all my questions, good luck to you all!

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

As soon as we leave the building I get a text that my case has updated to ?card is being produced.? FINALLY!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who answered all my questions, good luck to you all!

Congratulations!!!! 10 year green card! That's awesome

[Randomdude]

As soon as we leave the building I get a text that my case has updated to ?card is being produced.? FINALLY!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who answered all my questions, good luck to you all!

Congrats to you! Naturalization is next! Definitely go out and celebrate!

[Wolftooth]

Thought I?d pop in with an update. We had our interview this morning and were approved on the spot!

The interview went quick and was basically the same questions asked on the 485. We brought more evidence than needed - in the end the only additional paperwork that was requested/given was my pay stubs (petitioner), rental agreement, and utility bills.

Very happy that we no longer have to worry about this!

[Houston2016]

...Now, I have to ask you. Why wouldn't you consider naturalization? Even if you are retiring abroad, you can retire as a dual citizen. We are thinking of retiring abroad. To me the easiest option is my country of origin. I wouldn't need a visa to retire. I would just move there. I don't have to ask anyone if my retirement income meets their requirements for a retiree visa.
We will be adopting and want to make sure that we pass on US citizenship to our kids. Otherwise, what was this whole ordeal for?...

I am US citizen and one parents is enough to pass the citizenship even if the child was born abroad or adapted from abroad. I know that for sure, because my son was born abroad and i wasn't a citizen, i even didn't have a green card for that time, and in an embassy (we were applying for US passport for my son) were a couple adopting a child he was US citizen and she had just a green card.
Being US citizen means you have to pay taxes doesn't matter where you live, US doesn't recognize dual citizenship. It would be easy for me to move with my hubby back to his country if he will hold on to his nationality.
Like you said, each have a different story. Green Card holder has same right as Citizen when it comes to Social security or 401K or banking...

Wish you luck with your plan to adopt, you will make world better by doing it! We were thinking about that too, but God gave us a baby against what doctors were saying.

[Houston2016]

...As soon as we leave the building I get a text that my case has updated to ?card is being produced.? FINALLY!!!

Congratulations!!! Best for you and your family! Go for a little princess, but don't be surprised if it will be a boy again !

- - - Updated - - -

...Very happy that we no longer have to worry about this!

Congratulation!
Yes, no more worries!
p.s. i'm still shaking after interview !

[brilliantlia]

Remove condition green card

Who do I check my status, I file my removal condition greencard but haven't receive a letter, how do I check the status

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Thought I?d pop in with an update. We had our interview this morning and were approved on the spot!

The interview went quick and was basically the same questions asked on the 485. We brought more evidence than needed - in the end the only additional paperwork that was requested/given was my pay stubs (petitioner), rental agreement, and utility bills.

Very happy that we no longer have to worry about this!

Congrats! That is certainly a long wait, though. Did you get approved for the 10 year green card?

[Wolftooth]

Congrats! That is certainly a long wait, though. Did you get approved for the 10 year green card?

We?ve been married for over two years so we got the 10 year card.

[niumob]

Receive interview letter

Today I receive my interview letter for September 10th interview after a long time
my PD was dec 2016
My medical is expired, Do I need to do again and what documents I need and what is the cost?

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Today I receive my interview letter for September 10th interview after a long time
my PD was dec 2016
My medical is expired, Do I need to do again and what documents I need and what is the cost?

When is your 2 year marriage anniversary? If you've already been married for 2 years, then I would redo the medical and bring it in. If your 2nd year anniversary is withi 90 days of Sept 10th, 2018, then I would just go to the interview with the expired medical and have them issue you a RFE. You have 90 days to respond to RFEs. I would bring the medical to the field office on your 2nd year anniversary.