Minneapolis Interview Experience

[SandiumH]

Hello everybody, I've been reading this blog and following the threads but, I would like to know if somebody has had an interview in the Minneapolis office. My I-485 is marriage based to a USC and my timeline pretty much goes like this:

August 5 sent paperwork
PD 08.08.17
Biometrics taken 09.05.17
RFE received 09.05.17
Sent additional documentation 09.21.17 (date they received it)
EAD received 11.06.17
Interview set for 08.23.18 at Minneapolis

We moved to Tampa on 04.01.18 and sent the notice but apparently they didn't process it correctly. It shows received in my cases status, but still got interview in MN. Which is ok.

Has anybody had their interview at that field office? how was the experience? I've read that couples are separated, which I don't fret about it, but my husband is a bit forgetful sometimes (I'm more the OCD type.. I almost got everything ready, except for a couple documents I need from him).

We met in Agust 2016, moved in together by October, he proposed in November and we got married in December. I came into the us in July on a tourist visa.

Any input? I'm a bit stressed because i know how important this is for both us...

Than kyou all!

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Hello everybody, I've been reading this blog and following the threads but, I would like to know if somebody has had an interview in the Minneapolis office. My I-485 is marriage based to a USC and my timeline pretty much goes like this:

August 5 sent paperwork
PD 08.08.17
Biometrics taken 09.05.17
RFE received 09.05.17
Sent additional documentation 09.21.17 (date they received it)
EAD received 11.06.17
Interview set for 08.23.18 at Minneapolis

We moved to Tampa on 04.01.18 and sent the notice but apparently they didn't process it correctly. It shows received in my cases status, but still got interview in MN. Which is ok.

Has anybody had their interview at that field office? how was the experience? I've read that couples are separated, which I don't fret about it, but my husband is a bit forgetful sometimes (I'm more the OCD type.. I almost got everything ready, except for a couple documents I need from him).

We met in Agust 2016, moved in together by October, he proposed in November and we got married in December. I came into the us in July on a tourist visa.

Any input? I'm a bit stressed because i know how important this is for both us...

Than kyou all!

It's interesting that your interview was scheduled at the Minneapolis, MN field office; even though you moved to Tampa on
04-01-18. They've been having trouble with the AR-11. I realized you mentioned you have no issue flying to Minneapolis for the interview BUT that would be a gamble. The USCIS policy manual states that the Immigration Services Officer is required to verify that you are interviewing in your jurisdiction. The manual states that the officer is supposed to stop the interview if you are interviewing outside of your jurisdiction. I am paraphrasing but that's the gist of it.

Since you didn't JUST move, it's very possible that the officer will be less inclined to look the other way, and will stop the interview and relocate your case to the Field Office that has jurisdiction over your case; i.e., the Tampa Field Office. At least that's what they're supposed to do. And in this case USCIS expects you to notify them of their mistake and they will reschedule you in the correct jurisdiction. Is there a record of people interviewing outside their jurisdiction? Yes, sometimes when someone has just moved, it's not an issue.

[SandiumH]

It's interesting that your interview was scheduled at the Minneapolis, MN field office; even though you moved to Tampa on
04-01-18. They've been having trouble with the AR-11. I realized you mentioned you have no issue flying to Minneapolis for the interview BUT that would be a gamble. The USCIS policy manual states that the Immigration Services Officer is required to verify that you are interviewing in your jurisdiction. The manual states that the officer is supposed to stop the interview if you are interviewing outside of your jurisdiction. I am paraphrasing but that's the gist of it.

Since you didn't JUST move, it's very possible that the officer will be less inclined to look the other way, and will stop the interview and relocate your case to the Field Office that has jurisdiction over your case; i.e., the Tampa Field Office. At least that's what they're supposed to do. And in this case USCIS expects you to notify them of their mistake and they will reschedule you in the correct jurisdiction. Is there a record of people interviewing outside their jurisdiction? Yes, sometimes when someone has just moved, it's not an issue.

Oh... my stomach just turned.... now I'm freaking out.... i'll do some research on that.... I did call USCIS and asked about it and told them that I moved and they did say that yes, they had record of it and that my process was normal and that i would be getting the interview notice soon... and then I got it... I wasn't aware that they had to be notified,I mean, yes it makes sense but I figured they had a reason why they scheduled it in MN... I don't know..

Well.. I guess right now, since it's only a week away might as well go ahead with it.... and trust God that it's going to be ok.

Thank you so much for your input!

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Oh... my stomach just turned.... now I'm freaking out.... i'll do some research on that.... I did call USCIS and asked about it and told them that I moved and they did say that yes, they had record of it and that my process was normal and that i would be getting the interview notice soon... and then I got it... I wasn't aware that they had to be notified,I mean, yes it makes sense but I figured they had a reason why they scheduled it in MN... I don't know..

Well.. I guess right now, since it's only a week away might as well go ahead with it.... and trust God that it's going to be ok.

Thank you so much for your input!

You're welcome!

It's all how you word it. Maybe you submitted the change of address a little early and didn't expect for it to be confirmed this soon. But really, you just finished the process of moving. So internalize that before you get to the interview. At one point, the ISO is going to verify the address with you. Verify it. They might say, are you still at bla bla bla in MN? Say yes, we are but it would be great if we could update it to where we will be permanently now.
"Hmm but you did change it with us. " Yes but at first it was more of a temporary move. We didn't realize that you do not have to report a TEMPORARY change of address. Sorry! *Smile* We are taking the last of our stuff to Tampa, FL when we return.

Truth is that, if you came back even for ONE ITEM that you had left behind, then you were not done with your move. On the other hand, you don't have to report TEMPORARY addresses. You didn't know that and reported. It just so happens that you're making that temporary move now a PERMANENT move. Internalize all that before the interview and be able to articulate it. Say it in front a mirror 100 times if you have to. (It takes repeating something 7 times for your brain to register new facts/knowledge).

Done.

All the best,

USCFFS

[SandiumH]

You're welcome!

It's all how you word it. Maybe you submitted the change of address a little early and didn't expect for it to be confirmed this soon. But really, you just finished the process of moving. So internalize that before you get to the interview. At one point, the ISO is going to verify the address with you. Verify it. They might say, are you still at bla bla bla in MN? Say yes, we are but it would be great if we could update it to where we will be permanently now.
"Hmm but you did change it with us. " Yes but at first it was more of a temporary move. We didn't realize that you do not have to report a TEMPORARY change of address. Sorry! *Smile* We are taking the last of our stuff to Tampa, FL when we return.

Truth is that, if you came back even for ONE ITEM that you had left behind, then you were not done with your move. On the other hand, you don't have to report TEMPORARY addresses. You didn't know that and reported. It just so happens that you're making that temporary move now a PERMANENT move. Internalize all that before the interview and be able to articulate it. Say it in front a mirror 100 times if you have to. (It takes repeating something 7 times for your brain to register new facts/knowledge).

Done.

All the best,

USCFFS

Thanks!!! Wow!! that stresses me so much more.. my job offices headquarters are in MN, so I do still have a connection... I asked somebody that does all this in my home country and they told me that if i have evidence that the update was done in a timely manner that i shouldn't worry. I do have the electronic confirmation on both forms and the physical on the I-130 and when I called (i know I've already said this) I specifically addressed the change of address and the agent (I don't remember her name or #) said that it was processed to Tampa and that no additional information was needed..
Besides, we have the lease agreement from 03.31.2018 and utilities here in Tampa as well as the bank account's updated address.... So I feel that if they see that and see I'm not being a 100% honest it might cause a bigger issue..
Do you have by any chance a link to the USCIS procedure manual? or something? I've been all over the place looking for something online but I haven't found anything specific.
What could be the worst case scenario? they transfer my case to Tampa and we have to wait for another interview? How long could it take? another 6 months?
We're definitely going to the interview next week, we have everything including plane tickets and all.
Could we request an address change for correspondence to my mother in law's house? she lives in MN

Thank you so much for your patience and input, I'm going kinda crazy here... and I feel that right now the best thing to do is risk it and go and hope for the best...
By the way, I don't want to call USCIS since the interview is next week and don't want to create any confusion or something.

[SandiumH]

You're welcome!

It's all how you word it. Maybe you submitted the change of address a little early and didn't expect for it to be confirmed this soon. But really, you just finished the process of moving. So internalize that before you get to the interview. At one point, the ISO is going to verify the address with you. Verify it. They might say, are you still at bla bla bla in MN? Say yes, we are but it would be great if we could update it to where we will be permanently now.
"Hmm but you did change it with us. " Yes but at first it was more of a temporary move. We didn't realize that you do not have to report a TEMPORARY change of address. Sorry! *Smile* We are taking the last of our stuff to Tampa, FL when we return.

Truth is that, if you came back even for ONE ITEM that you had left behind, then you were not done with your move. On the other hand, you don't have to report TEMPORARY addresses. You didn't know that and reported. It just so happens that you're making that temporary move now a PERMANENT move. Internalize all that before the interview and be able to articulate it. Say it in front a mirror 100 times if you have to. (It takes repeating something 7 times for your brain to register new facts/knowledge).

Done.

All the best,

USCFFS

Thanks!!! Wow!! that stresses me so much more.. my offices headquarters are in MN, so I do still have a connection... I asked somebody that does all this in my home country and they told me that if i have evidence that the update was done in a timely manner that i shouldn't worry. i do have the electronic confirmation on both forms and the physical on the I-130 and when I called (i know I've already said this) I specifically addressed the change of address and the agent (I don't remember her name or #) said that it was processed to Tampa and that no additional information was needed..
Besides, we have the lease agreement from 03.31.2018 and utilities here in Tampa as well as the bank account's updated address.... So I feel that if they see that and see I'm not being a 100% honest it might cause a bigger issue..
Do you have by any change a link to the USCIS procedure manual? or something? I've been all over the place looking for something online but I haven't found anything specific.
What could be the worst case scenario? they transfer my case to Tampa and we have to wait for another interview? How long could it take? another 6 months?
We're definitely going to the interview next week, we have everything including plane tickets and all.
Could we request an address change for correspondence to my mother in law's house? she lives in MN

Thank you so much for your patience and input, I'm going kinda crazy here... and I feel that right now the best thing to do is risk it and go and hope for the best...

[SandiumH]

Thanks!!! Wow!! that stresses me so much more.. my job offices headquarters are in MN, so I do still have a connection... I asked somebody that does all this in my home country and they told me that if i have evidence that the update was done in a timely manner that i shouldn't worry. I do have the electronic confirmation on both forms and the physical on the I-130 and when I called (i know I've already said this) I specifically addressed the change of address and the agent (I don't remember her name or #) said that it was processed to Tampa and that no additional information was needed..
Besides, we have the lease agreement from 03.31.2018 and utilities here in Tampa as well as the bank account's updated address.... So I feel that if they see that and see I'm not being a 100% honest it might cause a bigger issue..
Do you have by any chance a link to the USCIS procedure manual? or something? I've been all over the place looking for something online but I haven't found anything specific.
What could be the worst case scenario? they transfer my case to Tampa and we have to wait for another interview? How long could it take? another 6 months?
We're definitely going to the interview next week, we have everything including plane tickets and all.
Could we request an address change for correspondence to my mother in law's house? she lives in MN

Thank you so much for your patience and input, I'm going kinda crazy here... and I feel that right now the best thing to do is risk it and go and hope for the best...
By the way, I don't want to call USCIS since the interview is next week and don't want to create any confusion or something.

I just found the name and Agent # of the person whom I spoke with on the second week of July and asked about the change of address and he said that it was processed and my I-485 was in process of being scheduled for interview in "Tampa".
So I guess I'll bring a copy of that (I wrote it down in a notebook when I called to inquire about EAD renewal).

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Thanks!!! Wow!! that stresses me so much more.. my offices headquarters are in MN, so I do still have a connection... I asked somebody that does all this in my home country and they told me that if i have evidence that the update was done in a timely manner that i shouldn't worry. i do have the electronic confirmation on both forms and the physical on the I-130 and when I called (i know I've already said this) I specifically addressed the change of address and the agent (I don't remember her name or #) said that it was processed to Tampa and that no additional information was needed..
Besides, we have the lease agreement from 03.31.2018 and utilities here in Tampa as well as the bank account's updated address.... So I feel that if they see that and see I'm not being a 100% honest it might cause a bigger issue..
Do you have by any change a link to the USCIS procedure manual? or something? I've been all over the place looking for something online but I haven't found anything specific.
What could be the worst case scenario? they transfer my case to Tampa and we have to wait for another interview? How long could it take? another 6 months?
We're definitely going to the interview next week, we have everything including plane tickets and all.
Could we request an address change for correspondence to my mother in law's house? she lives in MN

Thank you so much for your patience and input, I'm going kinda crazy here... and I feel that right now the best thing to do is risk it and go and hope for the best...

Here is the link to the USCIS policy manual. Do what you feel is best. https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/H...l-Volume1.html

The worst that can happen is that the officer ends the interview and submits a request for your file to be sent to the Tampa, FL field office. I've seen people just ride the wave and ask the officer to update the address at the end. If it adds more work to the officer, I would think most officers would just approve you - bye, see you later. But that's speculation on my part.

Again, your call.

All the best,

USCFFS

[PryncissQueen]

I recently read an experience saying that they were scheduled for their interview in their previous jurisdiction location, but received another mail stating it has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. Then received something else about the change in location... Maybe the same will happen to you. Did your interview letter come straight to your new mailing address or was it forwarded from your previous address?

[SandiumH]

I recently read an experience saying that they were scheduled for their interview in their previous jurisdiction location, but received another mail stating it has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances. Then received something else about the change in location... Maybe the same will happen to you. Did your interview letter come straight to your new mailing address or was it forwarded from your previous address?

Thank you! The interview letter was sent to my previous address and forwarded by the USPS. I've signed up to informed delivery since we moved to know when and what mail are we getting. I've checked bot USCIS websites daily and our interview is a week from now and no updates in either one.
We're still travelling to MN and see what happens there. We decided that we're going to follow any instruction provided by USCIS and if once we're up there they decide to transfer the case to Tampa, we'll come back..
The thing is that we never received the change of address receipt for the I-485, just the I-130, and when I called USCIS on 07.09 and asked about the COA the operator confirmed that it had been done and that the interview was scheduled (I asked in Tampa and he said yes), a week later or so we received the interview notice (forwarded) and we went from there.


We're hoping for the best, and will do whatever they tell us to do. I hope they don't cancel it the day before we travel

Thank you

[SandiumH]

Thank you! The interview letter was sent to my previous address and forwarded by the USPS. I've signed up to informed delivery since we moved to know when and what mail are we getting. I've checked bot USCIS websites daily and our interview is a week from now and no updates in either one.
We're still travelling to MN and see what happens there. We decided that we're going to follow any instruction provided by USCIS and if once we're up there they decide to transfer the case to Tampa, we'll come back..
The thing is that we never received the change of address receipt for the I-485, just the I-130, and when I called USCIS on 07.09 and asked about the COA the operator confirmed that it had been done and that the interview was scheduled (I asked in Tampa and he said yes), a week later or so we received the interview notice (forwarded) and we went from there.


We're hoping for the best, and will do whatever they tell us to do. I hope they don't cancel it the day before we travel

Thank you

Hello everyone!!!!
I wanted to update you on how everything went. We flew up to Minneapolis and on Thursday we went to our interview appointment. We got there around 9:45 am (interview scheduled for 10:30 am), we waited for a while and then the IO called our number. She was a nice lady, not too friendly, not too serious. A little chit-chat (mostly with my husband who is more extroverted than me).
She asked for additional paperwork we wanted to add to the file, we gave her our current lease, our joint account statements for the last year, a copy of both our offer letters from work (mine was more of a letter advising that I was hired by my company on Jan 2018), a copy of our 401K and life insurance with each other as beneficiaries and we showed her our health insurance cards. I was so nervous that it didn't matter how organized our file was, I blanked out.
She then asked my husband the biographic questions, then me. She asked him if he had met my parents (my dad passed away when I was a year old and he told her that). He asked him if he had been married before (he had, about 15 years ago), she did come back to that question a couple more times, always getting the same answer. She then proceeded to ask me if I had been married before (I haven't), any children in my home country or from a previous relationship -NO- and then she asked me if since my visa was to expire about a month before we got married, if I married him because of that (to which I answered no, because that wasn't the case). My husband said that he proposed because he loves me and we were already living together. She asked me if I loved him, to which I answered that I'm crazy about him (which I am, hes my dream guy ), and she smiled. She did look at the photo album, asked who my nieces were. Oh, she asked me if I have met his mom, which I have and we get along very well -she's awesome-. She said that we look so happy together, always smiling and having fun and that we are so connected.

She didn't mention anything about the ROC, she just said that she has to review my file and that we would be hearing from them in 1 or 2 weeks.

When she asked me for his birth date, i blacked out for a couple seconds (the date format is different in my home country, and after i got it right, i told her that and she gave my husband this look like "oh, she almost forgot your birthday").

So, I don't know what to think about this, she didn't make a big deal about us moving to Tampa, actually she even updated the address...

Our guess is that we will have a positive update very soon, but it's still scary and frustrating... I've read that they don't usually approve on the spot, but the fact that she gave us a "pre-printed" page stating that our case had to be reviewed and no mention of the ROC bummed me out. My husband being the positive guy all the time, was like "it's gonna be ok, whatever happens, we'll come through".

So, now all we have to do is wait.. keep waiting...

[BeToledo]

I'm going to say congrats!
Even though you didn't get the 'recommended for approval' letter, it sounded like a good experience so things will work out!
The hard part is over, worst case you'll get a RFE for some documents you can easily gather

We bought a house in between sending in our application and our interview,
same field office so no issues there, but at the interview the IO changed our address for us (even though we hadn't moved officially yet and informed her of that).
We received the approvals and card at our new address a few days before our move-in.
Since you were allowed to do your interview, my guess would be your card will be sent to your new address Florida.

[SandiumH]

I'm going to say congrats!
Even though you didn't get the 'recommended for approval' letter, it sounded like a good experience so things will work out!
The hard part is over, worst case you'll get a RFE for some documents you can easily gather

We bought a house in between sending in our application and our interview,
same field office so no issues there, but at the interview the IO changed our address for us (even though we hadn't moved officially yet and informed her of that).
We received the approvals and card at our new address a few days before our move-in.
Since you were allowed to do your interview, my guess would be your card will be sent to your new address Florida.

Thank you!!! that makes me feel so much more at ease! Congrats on your GC and your new home!!! It's an extenuating process but it's worth it!!! Yours was a very expedited process.. we filed last August, we did get an RFE (I totally forgot to attach his pay stubs to the I-864... silly me, so i guess that's what delayed it), but everything just went smoothly from there, got my EAD 3 months after filling (Thank God, I have been working since Jan)...

I can't think of anything else they might ask for, I even re-did my medical, it expired like 2 days before the interview, but we didn't want to take any unnecessary chances, and she did ask for it right about when were leaving.

Thank you and as soon as i get another update, for sure i will let you all know

[SandiumH]

Good morning everybody!!! First I want to thank you all for your words of wisdom and encouragement. After a year of waiting (which thank God it's not that much), the wait is almost over. Yesterday we got the "The new card is being produced" Email!!!! We're soooo pumped!!!
Now we just wait a bit longer to get it and it's all set.. until 1.9 years from now when I'm sure we'll have to do the ROC, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there!

Hang in there, and trust God, He will bring you to the finish line..

Thank you all for your comfort!!! have an awesome day!