March 2018 filers: let's share our experience!!

[Plz]

To March 2018 Filers with approved conditional/10 yearGCs
I have a quick question:
Did your I-130 also get approved at the same time as the 485?
Please reply with your GC situation conditional or 10-year.
Thank you.
Cheers

Yes my I-130 was approved with I-485. I didn’t know it was approved though until I received the notice of
action letters in the mail. Only 485 changed status to approved on USCIS website.

[Enub4]

To March 2018 Filers with approved conditional/10 yearGCs
I have a quick question:
Did your I-130 also get approved at the same time as the 485?
Please reply with your GC situation conditional or 10-year.
Thank you.
Cheers

From what I read, they won't approve I-485 if they don't approve I-130 most of the time they will approve at the same time but sometimes they approve I-130 first and I-485 takes some time more. If your GC is in production then your I-485 is approved so I-130 must be approved, even if the status doesn't change online.

You must get a conditional GC if they approve it before your 2 year wedding anniversary and 10 year GC if approved after, anything else is a mistake and experts say is better to contact them to fix the error because that will present issues when you go to citizenship. This is all from reading the forum not from experience, my case is EB, so I haven't investigated more about this.

[gaps0214]

Plz Enub4 thank you both for responding to my inquiry.
We are excited to receive our GC from the approved case status on the 485, but somehow concerned about the online case status of the 130 "still for further review".
Enub4 when do we know something needs to be fixed on the 130? We are interested to get things right as early as possible towards the citizenship option.
Thank you again for your time to respond.
Cheers.

[Enub4]

Plz Enub4 thank you both for responding to my inquiry.
We are excited to receive our GC from the approved case status on the 485, but somehow concerned about the online case status of the 130 "still for further review".
Enub4 when do we know something needs to be fixed on the 130? We are interested to get things right as early as possible towards the citizenship option.
Thank you again for your time to respond.
Cheers.

I was talking about the GC. If you get a GC for 10 years and you are not married for more than 2 years, then that is a mistake from USCIS that may cause issues if you apply for citizenship (this information is from one post I read, it could be wrong but it makes sense that you need to fix the mistakes made by USCIS, that is our responsibility and obligation).

[gaps0214]

Enub4 thank you much for the clarification Cheers

[b3b3g1]

I just wanted to let you guys know that we had the interview this morning and approved on the spot. The interview took over an hour long, mostly conversational and casual. Thank you so much everyone for your all help. Good luck to the one's still in the process. Ohh yes we got 10 yr green card.

[BayAreaCaliAOS]

I just wanted to let you guys know that we had the interview this morning and approved on the spot. The interview took over an hour long, mostly conversational and casual. Thank you so much everyone for your all help. Good luck to the one's still in the process. Ohh yes we got 10 yr green card.

Omg cogratss! Where was the interview held at?
i have yet to go to my interview next month. Finally after 17months.

[b3b3g1]

My field office is Houston, TX. my case was an exceptionally long wait without any reason, like no RFE or anything. People who applied at the same time as I got their green card months ago. But I am happy with the wait as I will be getting 10yrs green card Be organized and prepared. The officer loved that I had files with fasteners on top as it's very easy for them. Of course, it doesn't affect any decision but it's just you know making things easier for each other. She went through all the documents I brought and asked very specific questions to my husband about me. And my husband was like himm ummm ) but at the end, the officer told us that we are approved and we should expect the card in 3 weeks (not sure about this as I was just holding my breath when I heard approval ) Good luck to you with your interview!!

[gaps0214]

Hello March 2018 Filers,

Just updating the forum with my details which culminated to the final arrival of the 2 year conditional GC below:

Married to USC, on C9 AOS, same-sex marriage, Seattle, WA
PD: March 22, 2018
RD: April 6, 2018
Biometrics: April 27, 2018
RFE: June 11, 2018
RFE Resolved: June 21, 2018
Requested expedite through ROC: Negative outcome
July 9, 2018: I-485 Status Changed to Case is Ready to be Scheduled for Interview
August 15, 2018: EAD/AP Approval Notice Received by Email
August 22, 2018: SS Card in Hand
August 31, 2018: EAD/AP Combo Card in Hand
September 1, 2018: Used EAD/AP Combo Card to apply for Canadian Visitors Visa
September 3, 2018: Canadian TRV approved
October 24, 2018: Travelled outside of US for medical purpose
November 4, 2018: Crossed into US border from Canada using EAD/AP Combo Card, Parole Approved
February 22, 2019: Sent Renewal Application for EAD/AP : Received 737s but nothing afterwards
August 2, 2019: Initial Interview Scheduled
August 8, 2019: Received NOA for Initial Interview Scheduled
September 9, 2019: Initial Interview for AOS - for further review 30 days - no approval on the spot
September 19, 2019: I-485 was approved, status changed to card being produced September 21, 2019
September 26, 2019: 2 Year Conditional GC received in mail

In total a little bit over 18 months end-to-end from PD to GC.

My Quick Tips:

• Some of you may still be waiting for their interviews, do stay patient, it will come.
• When interview notice comes, start putting together the best evidences required for the AOS interview, better fully prepared and just have the immigration officer cherry-pick from your collection of documents, rather than not have what they asked for in the first place in the AOS interview NOA.
• On interview day, shower shave and dress up, it makes a very good first impression, come on time and engage the immigration officer with smiles and light conversation, answering questions directly and briefly, only explain some more if they ask you to give more details.
• For the ones who had interviews and are still hurdling through an RFE or a case still for further review, take it easy, give them what they ask for in terms of evidence and you will be fine, otherwise its just a matter of time if you have done all your best to provide evidence for them to approve your AOS.

Until the next stage of the journey 21 months from now, we thank everyone in the forum for being part of our journey to this point, it always helps to know you are not the only one going through the process and the anxieties, we are very very grateful.

Cheers.

[BayAreaCaliAOS]

Hello March 2018 Filers,

Just updating the forum with my details which culminated to the final arrival of the 2 year conditional GC below:

Married to USC, on C9 AOS, same-sex marriage, Seattle, WA
PD: March 22, 2018
RD: April 6, 2018
Biometrics: April 27, 2018
RFE: June 11, 2018
RFE Resolved: June 21, 2018
Requested expedite through ROC: Negative outcome
July 9, 2018: I-485 Status Changed to Case is Ready to be Scheduled for Interview
August 15, 2018: EAD/AP Approval Notice Received by Email
August 22, 2018: SS Card in Hand
August 31, 2018: EAD/AP Combo Card in Hand
September 1, 2018: Used EAD/AP Combo Card to apply for Canadian Visitors Visa
September 3, 2018: Canadian TRV approved
October 24, 2018: Travelled outside of US for medical purpose
November 4, 2018: Crossed into US border from Canada using EAD/AP Combo Card, Parole Approved
February 22, 2019: Sent Renewal Application for EAD/AP : Received 737s but nothing afterwards
August 2, 2019: Initial Interview Scheduled
August 8, 2019: Received NOA for Initial Interview Scheduled
September 9, 2019: Initial Interview for AOS - for further review 30 days - no approval on the spot
September 19, 2019: I-485 was approved, status changed to card being produced September 21, 2019
September 26, 2019: 2 Year Conditional GC received in mail

In total a little bit over 18 months end-to-end from PD to GC.

My Quick Tips:

• Some of you may still be waiting for their interviews, do stay patient, it will come.
• When interview notice comes, start putting together the best evidences required for the AOS interview, better fully prepared and just have the immigration officer cherry-pick from your collection of documents, rather than not have what they asked for in the first place in the AOS interview NOA.
• On interview day, shower shave and dress up, it makes a very good first impression, come on time and engage the immigration officer with smiles and light conversation, answering questions directly and briefly, only explain some more if they ask you to give more details.
• For the ones who had interviews and are still hurdling through an RFE or a case still for further review, take it easy, give them what they ask for in terms of evidence and you will be fine, otherwise its just a matter of time if you have done all your best to provide evidence for them to approve your AOS.

Until the next stage of the journey 21 months from now, we thank everyone in the forum for being part of our journey to this point, it always helps to know you are not the only one going through the process and the anxieties, we are very very grateful.

Cheers.

I’m genuinely happy for you!
Thanks for sharing your experience here!

[BayAreaCaliAOS]

I just has my interview today, and I am so happy and lucky to get a very pleasant and a professional officer.
Everything went so smooth. Also I overloaded with evidences, so I wonder if that gave him a good impression.

Cheers!

[BayAreaCaliAOS]

Update: I got my approval notice same night. So happy! Finally! It’s been a long journey for me.

[keldreams]

Update: I got my approval notice same night. So happy! Finally! It’s been a long journey for me.

CONGRATULATIONS!! Truly! That’s so awesome to hear... and happy for you that your journey is finally over... do you mind sharing what your experience was like as far as the questions asked and process the day of?

[BayAreaCaliAOS]

CONGRATULATIONS!! Truly! That’s so awesome to hear... and happy for you that your journey is finally over... do you mind sharing what your experience was like as far as the questions asked and process the day of?

Thank you very much!
Well we started off by doing the oath.
Then he asked me questions from the files, such as full name, dob, parents name, addresses, past and current job, then about 10-15 yes no questions.
Then he asked my husband almost the same thing from the files. Took my medical.
He then basically started the interview with how we met, when we started officially dating, where we went on our first date, when I started sleeping over at my husbands, and how long we’ve been living together.
I frontloaded him with evidences. He saw me carrying a big binder, 2 photo albums with more than 500 photos, and another envelop with statements. I think the moment he saw us, he was impressed of how prepared we were.
He basically just took our credit card and joint bank statements, and our apartment lease. He also looked one album. He didnt actually bother checking the binder. I also jokingly asked him if he wanted more stuff, and he laughed and said no.
He then said I was pretty much approved and that he’ll approve me by the end of the day. Gave me the white paper, and told me about removing conditions, etc.

I think we got really lucky with the officer. He was super nice, sweet and his smile helped me ease my anxiousness.
So thankful for this community because it helped me a lot gathering evidences.

[keldreams]

Thank you very much!
Well we started off by doing the oath.
Then he asked me questions from the files, such as full name, dob, parents name, addresses, past and current job, then about 10-15 yes no questions.
Then he asked my husband almost the same thing from the files. Took my medical.
He then basically started the interview with how we met, when we started officially dating, where we went on our first date, when I started sleeping over at my husbands, and how long we’ve been living together.
I frontloaded him with evidences. He saw me carrying a big binder, 2 photo albums with more than 500 photos, and another envelop with statements. I think the moment he saw us, he was impressed of how prepared we were.
He basically just took our credit card and joint bank statements, and our apartment lease. He also looked one album. He didnt actually bother checking the binder. I also jokingly asked him if he wanted more stuff, and he laughed and said no.
He then said I was pretty much approved and that he’ll approve me by the end of the day. Gave me the white paper, and told me about removing conditions, etc.

I think we got really lucky with the officer. He was super nice, sweet and his smile helped me ease my anxiousness.
So thankful for this community because it helped me a lot gathering evidences.

Wow! Sounds like it went as smooth as it can go! Hope I can get that same nice officer lol.. what was their name?! Did you notice your status change on on the USCIS website?