Need some help about the interview on I-485

[croaticum]

This page has been of a lot of help in my AOS application! Thank you all for sharing your experiences!!

I have filed all the paperwork on marriage based green card application myself without using a lawyer. Me and my husband thought we can do it ourselves and save money. We have our initial interview scheduled for 12/12/08.

I have read some messages in this forum about terrible interviews and interrogations and now I'm wondering if it would be a good idea to hire a lawyer to go with us? Does it make a lot of difference for everything to go smooth?

We met in November 2007 and got married in mid April 2008 - there will be a bigger wedding happening back home in my country. He is also more then 10 years older then me but is his and mine first marriage. I was granted H1b too at the same time we filed for AOS, but I cancelled that petition figuring I longer don't need it. So, for all these reasons, would officers be suspicous of us and therefore is it better to hire a lawyer now?

Last thing, we don't have bills on our name, but at my husbands name since I moved into his place where he's been living for more than 10 years and we didn't change anything when it comes to bills. We do have the lease that we requested from the owners, car insurance and 1 bank account together so far, plenty of pictures and some cards from my family back home. Is that enough?

Preatorian - your advise would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much in advance!!!
I will be back once the interview is done to tell you the details.

[vodokotlic]

I don't think that a lawyer can help you with the interview, because the lawyer is a stranger doing his job and he doesn't know much about you. He cannot say nor prove that you guys really love each other. The lawyer can help you to fil the forms for you. Be patient when filling immigration forms, read and fil carefully what USCIS whants from you.

There's no difference, you can get along without a lawyer. I didn't hire a lawyer and I'm fine

BTW: The interview isn't the hell, there are no monsters waiting for you :P

[croaticum]

Thanks!! I really appreciate it.

[croaticum]

So we got approved!
We got there and waited for an hour and a half. It was almost 4 pm when we got in. When we got out after like 20-30 min there was nobody waiting there anymore.
We had a 50 year old guy I would say. Very sweet. He asked how we are and offered us dried fruit he had. Asked us our names, the address. Then he asked me what I like about my husband. Then asked him the same question. My husband said I'm a good accountant and I help him with some taxes with his corp. At the end of the interview asked me what I do- I said accounting (he liked that the stories matched). Asked me what his hobbies are, favorite dish, what are we going to do for holidays, , if I'm a good cook, did we have a big reception and why not. My husband said because my parents couldn't come from far away and his Dad is old and retired and doesn't live in the same city so we kept the wedding small. Told him we have a wedding album. Then he went through pics. Gave him extra pictures from the wedding that he put in our file.
Then he asked if we have any documentation where both of our names are on. I gave him the lease, aaa cards, car insurance and an electric bill. He put that in our file too. Asked us for how long we new each other. We said for more than a year. Than later on in the interview, asked again: so you said you new each other for more than 5 years? We were quite for a few sec, than said again, no, we told you we new each other for more than a year. That was supposed to be a trick question. Then asked him if I have any brothers or sisters. He said I have a younger brother. Then later on in the interview asked him again: so, you said you met her sister? He said , no, she doesn't have a sister. That was another trick question. Then asked me if I was ever a member of any comunist parties or if I'm a terrorist. I said no. Asked if I smoke *********. I said no. Than he started joking, saying yeah, but you do remember that one time when you were 16? Also asked me where I was during the war in my country.
Than I asked him where he is from. He said guess. If you are right you get approved (joking). I actually did get it right, but after I was already approved.
After we were approved he explained what the next step is. After 21 months you have to file another form to remove conditional residence and congratulated me on my green card. Said to send a birth certificate of our child along with the form - that is I guess the ultimate proof for them that the marriage is real.
So, my overall opinion is that the guy was very sweet but made sure we really know each other well.
Good luck to everybody!
Go there as relaxed as possible and act like the green card is already in your hands!
Thanks everyone for your posts and thanks to this page my case went very smooth.
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** *

[historygirl]

So we got approved!
We got there and waited for an hour and a half. It was almost 4 pm when we got in. When we got out after like 20-30 min there was nobody waiting there anymore.
We had a 50 year old guy I would say. Very sweet. He asked how we are and offered us dried fruit he had. Asked us our names, the address. Then he asked me what I like about my husband. Then asked him the same question. My husband said I'm a good accountant and I help him with some taxes with his corp. At the end of the interview asked me what I do- I said accounting (he liked that the stories matched). Asked me what his hobbies are, favorite dish, what are we going to do for holidays, , if I'm a good cook, did we have a big reception and why not. My husband said because my parents couldn't come from far away and his Dad is old and retired and doesn't live in the same city so we kept the wedding small. Told him we have a wedding album. Then he went through pics. Gave him extra pictures from the wedding that he put in our file.
Then he asked if we have any documentation where both of our names are on. I gave him the lease, aaa cards, car insurance and an electric bill. He put that in our file too. Asked us for how long we new each other. We said for more than a year. Than later on in the interview, asked again: so you said you new each other for more than 5 years? We were quite for a few sec, than said again, no, we told you we new each other for more than a year. That was supposed to be a trick question. Then asked him if I have any brothers or sisters. He said I have a younger brother. Then later on in the interview asked him again: so, you said you met her sister? He said , no, she doesn't have a sister. That was another trick question. Then asked me if I was ever a member of any comunist parties or if I'm a terrorist. I said no. Asked if I smoke *********. I said no. Than he started joking, saying yeah, but you do remember that one time when you were 16? Also asked me where I was during the war in my country.
Than I asked him where he is from. He said guess. If you are right you get approved (joking). I actually did get it right, but after I was already approved.
After we were approved he explained what the next step is. After 21 months you have to file another form to remove conditional residence and congratulated me on my green card. Said to send a birth certificate of our child along with the form - that is I guess the ultimate proof for them that the marriage is real.
So, my overall opinion is that the guy was very sweet but made sure we really know each other well.
Good luck to everybody!
Go there as relaxed as possible and act like the green card is already in your hands!
Thanks everyone for your posts and thanks to this page my case went very smooth.
**** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** *

Congratulations!!!!!

[kdominguess]

Congratulations

Congratulations,

Where was your interview??? I'll have mine in February, in Miami FL....

Wish me luck!!!!