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Hey all! Posted a bit about this in various places, but wanted to share my interview experience here too.
PD 12/21/2016 in Houston
Married 12/05/2016
Biometrics 2/08/2017
EAD combo approved 4/01/2017
EAD renewal approved 4/24/2018
Original Interview scheduled for 9/25/2018 (but reschedule request submitted)
Rescheduled Interview 1/04/2019
I-130 approved 1/04/2019
It went really well. Our appointment was at 9:15 and we were out by 9:30 or so. Biggest issue we had was that there was a fork in my backpack they found with the metal detector that my spouse had to take back to the car (I use the same one for work so it was for lunches and I forgot it was there).
Interview was really casual. The lady who interviewed us knew our lawyer, so she came out and chatted with him for a minute and then said "well, I'm actually here to interview these two!"
She asked if I had any documentation to add to our file, and I handed her a huge wad of materials with a table of contents and coloured tabs. She said that level of organization meant I was pretty much her soul mate and my spouse said "uh, he's already married"
It was basically a big casual conversation, chatting about how we met, when we moved in together, asking about our dogs when she saw some pictures of them as she flipped through the bundle (she was doing this throughout the interview). Verified where we each worked, that we were still at the same address. Didn't even touch on the yes/no questions or do the standard "what's your spouse's birthday, parents names, etc"
She did ask what we did on our last anniversary, and we stared blankly at each other for a moment because we couldn't remember. We hadn't done much of anything, but finally I recalled that my spouse had made my fav dinner and we had a quiet night in.
She was really happy that our application was so old that we had the older simpler I-485 etc forms that made it easier for her to review all our information.
She said if it wasn't for the medical we would have been fully approved right there. I had been planning to do the medical over the holidays when I would be off work (It had been done originally in Dec 2016 so was definitely expired), and then we got notified of our rescheduled date the Friday before Christmas and no one could guarantee they'd have it before the interview. I'm not worried though, had my round 2 appointment for the medical this week, so they'll have it soon enough.
She did assure me that since we've been married over 2 years now I'd be getting the 10 year green card. And gave me the timeline to citizenship etc.
On the way home I got about a half dozen text messages about my status updating which was just the RFE. But I did notice that the I-130 has been approved.
To address some possible questions:
No, we didn't front load any evidence (no judgement please!).
The only documents she had us produce was our driver's licenses and my passport. Didn't ask to see originals on birth certificates/marriage certificate.
The RFE we were given at the interview for the updated medical is giving us until April 1 to get the updated medical in (For those wondering how long they might give you).
Oh, and not once did I say yes, ma'am or no, ma'am. :P but I did say thank you when she gave me a candy while she fought with her computer. I know a lot of folks make a big deal out of it, but it didn't fit the informal tone of the conversation.
PD 12/21/2016 in Houston
Married 12/05/2016
Biometrics 2/08/2017
EAD combo approved 4/01/2017
EAD renewal approved 4/24/2018
Original Interview scheduled for 9/25/2018 (but reschedule request submitted)
Rescheduled Interview 1/04/2019
I-130 approved 1/04/2019
It went really well. Our appointment was at 9:15 and we were out by 9:30 or so. Biggest issue we had was that there was a fork in my backpack they found with the metal detector that my spouse had to take back to the car (I use the same one for work so it was for lunches and I forgot it was there).
Interview was really casual. The lady who interviewed us knew our lawyer, so she came out and chatted with him for a minute and then said "well, I'm actually here to interview these two!"
She asked if I had any documentation to add to our file, and I handed her a huge wad of materials with a table of contents and coloured tabs. She said that level of organization meant I was pretty much her soul mate and my spouse said "uh, he's already married"
It was basically a big casual conversation, chatting about how we met, when we moved in together, asking about our dogs when she saw some pictures of them as she flipped through the bundle (she was doing this throughout the interview). Verified where we each worked, that we were still at the same address. Didn't even touch on the yes/no questions or do the standard "what's your spouse's birthday, parents names, etc"
She did ask what we did on our last anniversary, and we stared blankly at each other for a moment because we couldn't remember. We hadn't done much of anything, but finally I recalled that my spouse had made my fav dinner and we had a quiet night in.
She was really happy that our application was so old that we had the older simpler I-485 etc forms that made it easier for her to review all our information.
She said if it wasn't for the medical we would have been fully approved right there. I had been planning to do the medical over the holidays when I would be off work (It had been done originally in Dec 2016 so was definitely expired), and then we got notified of our rescheduled date the Friday before Christmas and no one could guarantee they'd have it before the interview. I'm not worried though, had my round 2 appointment for the medical this week, so they'll have it soon enough.
She did assure me that since we've been married over 2 years now I'd be getting the 10 year green card. And gave me the timeline to citizenship etc.
On the way home I got about a half dozen text messages about my status updating which was just the RFE. But I did notice that the I-130 has been approved.
To address some possible questions:
No, we didn't front load any evidence (no judgement please!).
The only documents she had us produce was our driver's licenses and my passport. Didn't ask to see originals on birth certificates/marriage certificate.
The RFE we were given at the interview for the updated medical is giving us until April 1 to get the updated medical in (For those wondering how long they might give you).
Oh, and not once did I say yes, ma'am or no, ma'am. :P but I did say thank you when she gave me a candy while she fought with her computer. I know a lot of folks make a big deal out of it, but it didn't fit the informal tone of the conversation.
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