Houston Texas Filers

[niumob]

Did yours update on the DHS site already before as well?

What is DHS?

[Hotaru-Grace]

Dhs

What is DHS?

Department of Homeland Security

[Nitaardzf]

How was your interview!!?

Yesterday we got the mail, scheduled on August 7th.
just our luck, we were planning to go on vacation on 6th.. well need some replanning and rebooking

the list of doc's to bring with you is huge! wow! I need to make almost the same filing package only with originals.

Medical, Sponsor, bunch of birth, marriage, divorce certificates and so on...

[Houston2016]

Interview 08/070/18

So finally we went through our interview.
It was stressful all around!

Our time line:
Houston
PD: Nov 14, 2016
Finger prints: Dec 15, 2016
Ready to schedule for interview: Jan 07, 2017
Interview letter issued on Jul 03, 2018
Interview: Aug 07,2018 9:35am

This is what we took with us:
Originals:
Interview Notice (I-797C dated July 03, 2018), Driving Licens
1. Petitioner:
1.1 US Passport
1.2 Naturalization Certificate
1.3 Births Certificate with translation
2 Beneficiary?s
2.1 Complete Medical Exam (Form I-693)
2.2 Passport and L-1 Visa documents
2.3 Birth Certificates
3 Documents establishing beneficiary?s eligibility for Lawful Permanent resident status:
3.1 Certified copy of Marriage Documents
3.2 Divorce decree/death certificate
3.3 Children?s Birth Certificates

Copies:
1. Interview Notice (I-797C dated July 03, 2018), Driving Licences
2. Complete Affidavit of Support (Form I-864):
2.1 IRS Transcript or Joint Federal Tax Return and W-2 for 2015, 2016, 2017
2.2 Letter from current employer, pay stubs for past 2 month
2.3 Evidence of petitioner United States Citizenship
2.3.1 US Passport
2.3.2 Naturalization Certificate
3. Documents establishing beneficiary?s eligibility for Lawful Permanent Resident Status (see item 9)
4. Beneficiary?s all travel documents used to enter the United States:
4.1 Electronic I-94
4.2 L-1 Visa documents and Passport
5. Beneficiary?s Birth Certificate
6. Petitioner?s Births Certificate with translation and prove of United States Citizenship
7. Children Birth Certificates
8. Marriage-based eligibility for Lawful Permanent resident status supporting documents
8.1 Certified copy of Marriage Documents
8.2 Spouse Birth Certificate and prove of United States Citizenship
8.3 Divorce decree/death certificate
8.4 Birth Certificate for child of this marriage
9. Supporting evidence of beneficiary and petitioner relationship
9.1 Copies of joint bank account, list of transfers between accounts, joint property ownership, joint bank loan
9.2 Copies of Driving License with the same address, family Medical Insurance, joint car insurance
9.3 Copies of work benefits beneficiaries, work listed emergency contacts
9.4 Copies of boarding passes from travel together
9.5 Correspondence, phone calls and texts logs, text massages screen prints
9.6 Copies of mortgages statements, credit card statements, with local stores charges, neighborhood map, letters from utilities companies to the same address, pictures of properties, reno bills
9.7 Photos with us together and properties photos
9.8 Miscellaneous: flower order to work, note from daycare, guest book from wedding, hospital bills.

Lesson learned: one copy of each document is enough, pictures printed on "letter" format papar 2-3 per page was a good idea.
All originals we put in one folder, and copies of initial document in another and all evidence of relationship in another, total 3 folders - was also a good idea.
Medical exam - if yours more then one year get a new one!!!!!

She looked at all originals we brought and took copy of property deed on both names, copy of common child birth certificate and new pictures.

We arrived 50 minutes before our time and wait outside till 30 minutes before interview. Got in, went through security, very similar to airport security.
waiting in line to check in, on registration desk they need just an interview letter. Were told to wait when they call our names.

About 15 minutes after our interview time we were called to the door by window 14.
A lady invited us in and we followed her to her office.
She asked our interview letter and government ID's.
Swear us in, we had to stand up.
I had two interviews with immigration before and here on forum i was reading about friendly officers...
We were trying just to have kind of conversation, but she was always put us back on serious questioning, several times told us "if i asked one the other should not answer"

There are the questions:
Your husband/You wife full name, date of birth,name of parents, name of siblings, telephone number, priviouse address
I couldn't answer telephone number (just told something 8XX and then Y and ZZ), and his previous address. Honestly, i don't' remember, i should've told her "i know how to drive there". Then she asked when did we moved together and i answer in 2014...
My husband forgot names of my siblings, and name of my father (he died few years before we met) even he new the names.
And then on the Yes/No question he answered "Not as i know of", the officer asked "what do you mean?"... She was kind enough "ok, i ask you again ...." and he answered finally "No". Later he told me, that he got so nervous and irritated with stupid questions about terrorist activity and prostitution, that he glitched.
There were questions about where/when/how we met.

Lesson: get practice answering all those common questions and Yes/No questions from I-485. For some reason we got very nervous.

In the end she asked if we want to add something, i offer more joint accounts and boarding passes from traveling together, she said you have enough evidences.

She told us that our case need to be reviewed and we will get the answer in the letter with in 120 days. Interview was not more than 30 minutes.

We went out, and i was so upset, that we weren't approved on the spot, hardly was keeping tears in.
Already in the car, i remembered she never asked about updated Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) and got even more upset as i was thinking we going to have RFE for it.

We got home and after I went to work. At work all day i was trying not to cry, as we were waiting for interview for 1 and half year and we blew it up.
Just before going home i open an app to see updates on status if any, and.... New Card is Being Produced!

I think we were approved only because we have a baby and own property together and may be, because she was a professional and could see that we are a true couple!

Now waiting for actual card.

Yesterday i got email from USCIS, one at 03:00pm that interview completed and the case must to be reviewed, and another at 03:30pm that the new card been ordered.

[AbPSlayer]

F2A

June 2016 : Priority date
Oct 2017 - Filed for I485, I765, I131
July 31st, 2018 - I485 changed to Case is Ready to Be Scheduled for An Interview in uscis website.

My EAD is still pending review.

[paase]

Glad it's over for you (for now, at least) and you were approved!! Hard not to be nervous in this situation even if you are prepared.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Time to celebrate...

So finally we went through our interview.
It was stressful all around!....

Just before going home i open an app to see updates on status if any, and.... New Card is Being Produced!

I think we were approved only because we have a baby and own property together and may be, because she was a professional and could see that we are a true couple!

Now waiting for actual card.

Yesterday i got email from USCIS, one at 03:00pm that interview completed and the case must to be reviewed, and another at 03:30pm that the new card been ordered.

[Hotaru-Grace]

WOWWW congratulations, that was an experience

So finally we went through our interview.
It was stressful all around!

Our time line:
Houston
PD: Nov 14, 2016
Finger prints: Dec 15, 2016
Ready to schedule for interview: Jan 07, 2017
Interview letter issued on Jul 03, 2018
Interview: Aug 07,2018 9:35am

This is what we took with us:
Originals:
Interview Notice (I-797C dated July 03, 2018), Driving Licens
1. Petitioner:
1.1 US Passport
1.2 Naturalization Certificate
1.3 Births Certificate with translation
2 Beneficiary?s
2.1 Complete Medical Exam (Form I-693)
2.2 Passport and L-1 Visa documents
2.3 Birth Certificates
3 Documents establishing beneficiary?s eligibility for Lawful Permanent resident status:
3.1 Certified copy of Marriage Documents
3.2 Divorce decree/death certificate
3.3 Children?s Birth Certificates

Copies:
1. Interview Notice (I-797C dated July 03, 2018), Driving Licences
2. Complete Affidavit of Support (Form I-864):
2.1 IRS Transcript or Joint Federal Tax Return and W-2 for 2015, 2016, 2017
2.2 Letter from current employer, pay stubs for past 2 month
2.3 Evidence of petitioner United States Citizenship
2.3.1 US Passport
2.3.2 Naturalization Certificate
3. Documents establishing beneficiary?s eligibility for Lawful Permanent Resident Status (see item 9)
4. Beneficiary?s all travel documents used to enter the United States:
4.1 Electronic I-94
4.2 L-1 Visa documents and Passport
5. Beneficiary?s Birth Certificate
6. Petitioner?s Births Certificate with translation and prove of United States Citizenship
7. Children Birth Certificates
8. Marriage-based eligibility for Lawful Permanent resident status supporting documents
8.1 Certified copy of Marriage Documents
8.2 Spouse Birth Certificate and prove of United States Citizenship
8.3 Divorce decree/death certificate
8.4 Birth Certificate for child of this marriage
9. Supporting evidence of beneficiary and petitioner relationship
9.1 Copies of joint bank account, list of transfers between accounts, joint property ownership, joint bank loan
9.2 Copies of Driving License with the same address, family Medical Insurance, joint car insurance
9.3 Copies of work benefits beneficiaries, work listed emergency contacts
9.4 Copies of boarding passes from travel together
9.5 Correspondence, phone calls and texts logs, text massages screen prints
9.6 Copies of mortgages statements, credit card statements, with local stores charges, neighborhood map, letters from utilities companies to the same address, pictures of properties, reno bills
9.7 Photos with us together and properties photos
9.8 Miscellaneous: flower order to work, note from daycare, guest book from wedding, hospital bills.

Lesson learned: one copy of each document is enough, pictures printed on "letter" format papar 2-3 per page was a good idea.
All originals we put in one folder, and copies of initial document in another and all evidence of relationship in another, total 3 folders - was also a good idea.
Medical exam - if yours more then one year get a new one!!!!!

She looked at all originals we brought and took copy of property deed on both names, copy of common child birth certificate and new pictures.

We arrived 50 minutes before our time and wait outside till 30 minutes before interview. Got in, went through security, very similar to airport security.
waiting in line to check in, on registration desk they need just an interview letter. Were told to wait when they call our names.

About 15 minutes after our interview time we were called to the door by window 14.
A lady invited us in and we followed her to her office.
She asked our interview letter and government ID's.
Swear us in, we had to stand up.
I had two interviews with immigration before and here on forum i was reading about friendly officers...
We were trying just to have kind of conversation, but she was always put us back on serious questioning, several times told us "if i asked one the other should not answer"

There are the questions:
Your husband/You wife full name, date of birth,name of parents, name of siblings, telephone number, priviouse address
I couldn't answer telephone number (just told something 8XX and then Y and ZZ), and his previous address. Honestly, i don't' remember, i should've told her "i know how to drive there". Then she asked when did we moved together and i answer in 2014...
My husband forgot names of my siblings, and name of my father (he died few years before we met) even he new the names.
And then on the Yes/No question he answered "Not as i know of", the officer asked "what do you mean?"... She was kind enough "ok, i ask you again ...." and he answered finally "No". Later he told me, that he got so nervous and irritated with stupid questions about terrorist activity and prostitution, that he glitched.
There were questions about where/when/how we met.

Lesson: get practice answering all those common questions and Yes/No questions from I-485. For some reason we got very nervous.

In the end she asked if we want to add something, i offer more joint accounts and boarding passes from traveling together, she said you have enough evidences.

She told us that our case need to be reviewed and we will get the answer in the letter with in 120 days. Interview was not more than 30 minutes.

We went out, and i was so upset, that we weren't approved on the spot, hardly was keeping tears in.
Already in the car, i remembered she never asked about updated Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) and got even more upset as i was thinking we going to have RFE for it.

We got home and after I went to work. At work all day i was trying not to cry, as we were waiting for interview for 1 and half year and we blew it up.
Just before going home i open an app to see updates on status if any, and.... New Card is Being Produced!

I think we were approved only because we have a baby and own property together and may be, because she was a professional and could see that we are a true couple!

Now waiting for actual card.

Yesterday i got email from USCIS, one at 03:00pm that interview completed and the case must to be reviewed, and another at 03:30pm that the new card been ordered.

Hello

It is over now. You did well. Congratulations!! It is very important that individuals and couples practice asking each other questions to practice before the interview. However, there is nothing that can ease anxiety and nervousness. You got approved and that is all that matters now.

All the best.

[Houston2016]

Time to celebrate

...
Thanks for sharing your experience.
Time to celebrate...

My older one (12y.o) was at home when we came back from Immigration office, and he saw how i was upset and that i was crying.
While i was at work, he bake brownies and even clean after his cooking and a living room, later they together with my hubby went to store and got me all my favorites!
I have the best family ever - that's what important the most!

Thank you all for congratulations!

[Hotaru-Grace]

That's adorably awesome

My older one (12y.o) was at home when we came back from Immigration office, and he saw how i was upset and that i was crying.
While i was at work, he bake brownies and even clean after his cooking and a living room, later they together with my hubby went to store and got me all my favorites!
I have the best family ever - that's what important the most!

Thank you all for congratulations!

Family is everything. You need them. Now you're celebration is sweeter now that you have been approved.

All the best.

[Nitaardzf]

Congratulations!!!

My older one (12y.o) was at home when we came back from Immigration office, and he saw how i was upset and that i was crying.
While i was at work, he bake brownies and even clean after his cooking and a living room, later they together with my hubby went to store and got me all my favorites!
I have the best family ever - that's what important the most!

Thank you all for congratulations!

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

I think we were approved only because we have a baby and own property together and may be, because she was a professional and could see that we are a true couple!

Now waiting for actual card.

Yesterday i got email from USCIS, one at 03:00pm that interview completed and the case must to be reviewed, and another at 03:30pm that the new card been ordered.

Congratulations on your 10 year green card! WOOT WOOT! And thank you for candidly sharing your experience. I think maybe your nerves got to you, because I do not see a single reason why you would not have been approved. You were approved because your marriage is a true marriage, and you went overboard with evidence showing that. You had passed the 2 year marriage test, have kids together, property together. What else would they want to see? Daily screenshots of surveillance footage?

That green card was yours from the second you walked in. It's important to note, though, that we should not go in there with the expectation that it will be a fun time or meeting up with a friend or that it will be a friendly conversation in any way. We should expect professionalism and fair treatment. I think the ISO was doing his/her job and did it well. You were approved right away.

Congrats! All the best,

USCFFS

[Randomdude]

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.

[Houston2016]

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.

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!

[Houston2016]

Congratulations on your 10 year green card! WOOT WOOT!...
That green card was yours from the second you walked in. It's important to note, though, that we should not go in there with the expectation that it will be a fun time or meeting up with a friend or that it will be a friendly conversation in any way. We should expect professionalism and fair treatment. I think the ISO was doing his/her job and did it well. You were approved right away.
Congrats! All the best,
USCFFS

Thank you!
Yes, we had lots of "evidences", but she didn't look at them, I think our kiddo overruled them all

But for everybody who still going to have their interview, take it seriously as much as possible, get prepared, ask each other questions, even those obvious ones Yes/No from I-485.
Cannot stress more about updated Medical.

From reading forum i see they don't need 500 pictures, but they do want to see pictures of you doing stuff together, My IO really liked picture where my hubby watching TV with kids, changing wheels in our garage and kids "helping" him and so on. We had a baby after we file for AOS, so the pictures we filed where we were biking together in matching jerseys, skiing together, lots of FB screen shots from different events with friends, or our friends commented on it... All evidence should show your life together!

A week before interview I got a few notifications about "action was taking on your case", I guess IO was looking through the case and running background.

As UScitizenFilingforspouse says - you cannot be over prepared!!! Yes a 10 lb of papers I prepared, now we have to shred, but i would not take out one page for a light chance of having RFE or another interview.

And one thing more, i know it's very difficult for a true couple to not finish each other's sentences, but you have to be strong especially wifes, to wait their turn to answer! LOL

[Randomdude]

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

I think you should give this one some serious thought... check your pm.