Tweet
Finally received my GC today after a three long year journey. This post is going to be long but here is our experience. Hope it will be helpful for those who are still waiting.
PD: 6/3/2016 (marriage base)
Interview: 6/12/2019 (approved same day)
Field Office: Oakland Park
Some background: I entered the US on F-1 visa. Met my husband and we dated for 5 years before getting married in 2016. Had been married for 3 years and living together for 6 years by the time we went to interview.
EVIDENCE OF BONA FIDE MARRIAGE
We started living together 3 years before we got married, but we didn't have an extensive amount of documents/proofs like some couples. We didn't know the extend and types of evidence required (should have done our research!!). For example, it never occurred to us to add my name on the utility bills (I moved in with him). I wish I had found this forum earlier and not a month before our interview. It would have lessen the stress I had to go through trying to come up with evidence.
We brought one binder which contained our documents, including a table of content for evidence of bona fide marriage, and one photo album with captions for each photo. Below is a simplified version of my TOC.
xxxxxx
A. Evidence of Combined Finances
1. Joint tax returns of the 3 years we were married (2016, 2017, 2018)
2. Statements of 3 joint bank accounts (checkings & saving)
• last 3 statements
• first statement, highlight that it's dated 2013, 3 years prior to our marriage
3. Joint car title issued 2015, a year prior to our marriage
4. Joint car insurance policy (2014-2019)
B. Evidence of Cohabitation
Assortment of letters and documents addressed to both or each of us with the same address since we started living together in 2013 til now, listed in chronological order to establish a timeline (letters from various government agencies, my official school transcripts, car registrations, pet vaccination documents, holiday cards from friends & family, etc.)
C. Other Relevant Edvidence of Relationship
1. Two letters of support from friends with copy of their DLs & US passports attached
2. Old email transcripts
(I didn't think we have any because we never really communicated using email, but I searched my inbox for fun and found a few very old ones I didn't remember happened. They turned out to be good evidence since they showcased the longevity of our relationship)
3. Screenshots of select text messages since 2016 (that's far as I could go back on my phone): Daily mundane convos such as groceries list, our dog, my job interviews, plan to go out with friends, etc.
4. Call logs (we always call each other while driving to and from work everyday so I highlighted those calls as well as total minutes talking to each other each month to show consistency)
5. Trips taken together
• two flight itineraries showing both names under same reservation number in 2014 (before we got married) and 2017 (after we got married.)
• car rental agreements and hotel bookings correlated to four different road trips
(Suggest in TOC that IO should refer to photo album for correlated photo evidence of all these trips)
6. Photo album
50 photos (of us and with friends & family) in chronological order of our story since we met until now with caption on the side
Highlight:
• photos with our niece at different ages since birth til now (she's 6 now)
• photos of us at landmarks correlated to trips listed in item 5
(We got married at the courthouse so no wedding photos)
***I also brought both my bachelor and master degrees to show that I did continue my education and finished what I initially came into the US for despite getting married and applying to adjust my status. It shows good faith that I did not use student visa as a mean to an end and abandon it the moment I got married to obtain GC.
xxxxx
INTERVIEW
Checking in
We had an early morning interview. Went through TSA style security check. Showed our appointment letter and IDs at front desk. The front desk people didn't know what they were doing because at first they asked why my husband name wasn't on the letter. I explained that it's marriage based interview and he is my husband and the petitioner for my case. They then said the interview should be for him. I had to point out the part in the letter that said "spouse must come with you to interview" before they finally told us to go sit down and wait to be called. Good thing we showed up early or we could have missed the appointment time because USCIS didn't properly train their staff.
The interview
IO sworn us in, asked for identifications.
I was fingerprinted & had picture taken.
The IO then proceeded to verify info on our form I-485 and we went through a number of the Yes/No questions on the form.
At this point the IO mentioned that our PD is June 2016 . Wasn't a question. He was just looking at the case file and read that out loud. I took the opportunity to tell him that yes we have been married for 3 years. I quickly gave him a timeline of when we met, moving in, proposal and when we got married right then without him having to ask and said we brought documents to support that if he wanted to take a look. He said yes.
I had 2 copies of the TOC. I handed the IO one and kept one so I can keep track of what documents were looked at for myself. Told him it was list of documents/evidence we brought with us and we could go through them all together or he could tell us what he wanted to see. He was impressed and liked the fact that we noted in the TOC if certain documents are from before or after we got married, why it was significant/relevant (if need be), and had all the important info highlighted on the documents.
I made sure to point out the strong evidence I wanted him to take notice on the TOC.
When IO looked at the photo album, I emphasized on the different pictures of us with our niece from the day she was born 6 years ago til the most recent one last chirstmas (showcasing the length of our relationship beyond our 3 years marriage).
After that he asked "Do you have kids?"
Me: "No, sir. Not yet."
IO: "You gotta be prepared. They are exepensive"
My husband (laugh): "yeah that's why we only want one" (I nodded confirming that)
IO: "you two are smart"
We laughed. Then the IO said that everything seemed to be in order and sent us home without any receipt/paper, telling us we should hear from them in 2-3 weeks. We shook his hand and thanked him for his time. Our interview lasted about 30 minutes. The only relationship related question he asked us was the "do you have kids" question. We spent most time on the I-485 questions and looking at our evidence.
2 hours after the interview, I got the notification from USCIS "We ordered your new card".
SOME ADVICE
1. I think because I prompted him to look at our evidence and volunteered information instead of waiting to be asked, the IO didn't have to come up with tricky questions to test us, which sometimes could result in insufficient/bad answers due to nervousness. I suggest you actively participate in the interview and help steer the conversation if you can, put the focus on what would look good for your case and avoid area you may lack.
2. Briefly explain why xyz is relevant evidence to your case in the TOC. The IO won't connect the dots unless you point it out (e.g: I pointed out the date on our car title to emphasize that we bought a car together even before we got married).
3. Highlight significant info such as dates, address, etc. with highlighter to help the IO navigate your evidence easier and faster. The IO has to go through lots of cases with lots of paperwork. Your making his/her job easier will be greatly appreciated and help build rapport.
4. There is no one-size-fits-all type of evidence. If you don't have some things, find others to make up for it. We didn't have a single utility bill with both names or wedding photo and it wasn't a problem at all (but make sure to have reason for why it is so if you're asked). There is more than one way to prove your marriage is bona fide. A marriage is so much more beyond bank statements and joint lease agreement. If it's all about the documents, USCIS wouldn't need you to come in person for interview at all. It's also in how you present the evidence AND yourselves as a married couple.
TIMELINE
6/3/2016: PD
9/27/2016: RFE
10/9/2016: RFE received
10/20/2016: I-130 approved
3/10/2017 ㅡ 3/09/2018: F-1 OPT
2/20/2018: I-485 & I-765 received
3/20/2018: Biometrics
4/02/2018: Fingerprint review completed
4/18/2018: Case ready to be scheduled for interview
7/10/2018: EAD card production
7/11/2018: I-765 approved
7/15/2018: EAD mailed
7/18/2018: EAD received
4/29/2019: Interview was scheduled
5/07/2019: Interview notice recieved
6/12/2019: Interview completed
6/12/2019: Card Production
6/13/2019: I-485 approved
6/14/2019: GC mailed
6/17/2019: I-485 approval notice received
6/18/2019: 10 years GC received
Total: 1111 days (3 years and 16 days)
We had to wait forever but also thanks to that I got 10 year GC instead of the conditional 2 years one. Things will definitely work out in the end. Good luck everyone!
Comment