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  • Interview experience (Los Angeles)

    Hello! I utilized this site a lot while we were prepping, and it has been my greatest resource. This is an extremely long post, so my apologies!

    Quick background: I was born here, and my husband arrived with a B2 visa. He is a currently a DACA recipient. We met in 2014, began dating in 2015, and got married in June 2018. We filed November 2018.

    We utilized a preparer as was recommended by our parents (we're both relatively young). This preparer told us that we had a simple case, and that everything should work out accordingly. Us, being naive, left all forms to this preparer, and did not extensively review prior to filing.

    We received a RFIE in March asking for the I-130A, I-864 for myself, I-864 for our joint sponsor (my cousin), and additional evidence of our marriage. I knew at this point that something was probably filed incorrectly, and began compiling as much evidence as I can. We also let our preparer know, and he began working on the files. We were finally able to gather everything at the end of May (we needed to submit our response by mid-June), and this time, I wanted to be sure that the forms were correct, so I reviewed them extensively. It turns out that our preparer had no idea what he was doing, and that there were SO MANY ERRORS. I ended up filling out entirely new I-864s and the 130-A to be accurate. (example of error: the preparer thought the 130A was supposed to be for the petitioner). We ended up submitting on the last day possible, and to our surprise, an interview was scheduled the next day.

    In order to prep for the interview, we contacted our preparer again and let him know that we needed the original forms (I-485, I-130, etc). When we got them, I had to call out work the next day so that I could go see a lawyer because there were so many careless errors. As in the information for the I-485 contained only my (the petitioner's!!!!) information, and not my husband's, beyond his name. It was laughable because it was so wrong. The immigration lawyer that we met informed us that it was too late, and that the only thing we could do was bring corrected forms, a letter of explanation stating what was wrong, and basically pray that we received a nicer IO.

    The actual interview was today, at 2 PM. We got there at 12 (being late gives me anxiety), and we asked my sister to drop me off so we wouldn't have to worry about parking. Everyone was extremely courteous -- there was no line, and we were told that we could wait in the cafeteria if we liked, and that we probably shouldn't check in until 30 minutes prior. We did exactly this. My husband and I hung out in the cafeteria, reviewed our files, and prayed. At 1:30, we checked in, and at 2 pm on the dot, we were called in.

    Our IO was super friendly, and I truly appreciated how polite and even warm? he was. We talked about how we were thinking of moving to a different city, and he gave us his insights and what not. We swore in, and the process started. I wanted to be really clear and honest, so I informed him about our findings, (APOLOGIZED A TON), and asked if he'd be able to accept amended files. Unfortunately, he wasn't, and this began the process of correcting the errors that were on the files. We started out with the I-130, and the questions he had for me were primarily about how I met my husband, when we first began dating, what we did for our first date, when I felt like he was the one, what our wedding was like, who was there, who proposed, where our legal marriage vs. our actual wedding was at, and generally questions just about the longevity of our relationship. These questions were really easy to answer, and definitely felt more like a conversation than an interview.

    However, when we got to the I-485, there was a little more tension in the air, just because there were so many things he had to correct (31.. 31!!!!!! errors). Again, he was very polite, but I could tell he was getting annoyed (which was definitely not his fault). I'd say the only things that kind of caught us off guard were the Yes/No questions surrounding employment (husband's EAD expired while his DACA renewal was pending for one month) and citations (we couldn't remember the exact date he received a traffic ticket). Other than that, because we had a list of things that we needed to correct, in addition to having corrected forms, it went relatively smoothly.

    Our IO admitted that he was aware that our original files were showing a ton of inconsistencies, and that's why the RFIE had been issued. Luckily, as the forms requested in the RFIE were filled out by me, those were "approved." It was so frustrating because he literally told us that if the forms had just been correct, he would have approved us on the spot because we had so much evidence that we had sent (I will post my table of contents below). Now, because there were so many corrections that needed to be made, we would have to wait at least a week because he would be going on vacation. My husband and I told him we were incredibly appreciative of him giving us feedback, and for taking the time to go through the forms with us. We also mentioned that we completely understood if he had to deny the application based on the errors because that was as much on us as it was on our preparer for not being vigilant.

    Despite this, I didn't feel hopeless (?) per say, or that the interview went badly. It honestly went really well, when taken into consideration how terribly things could have gone. Now it's the waiting game, but I feel that he might approve us just because when he was going over the I-864 with me, he told me that I would be responsible for my husband unless he became a citizen in the next 3 years. Obviously I didn't read too much into it, haha. I'm not too worried over what will happen because my husband's DACA is current, so he does have an EAD, and if we do have to refile, we plan on refiling after our second marriage anniversary.

    tldr; preparer messed up our forms, but our table of contents and evidence was A+++
    Concurrent Filing of I-130, I-485, I-765
    Filed from LA, CA; adjusting from B-2
    Married to USC, DACA recipient


    11/9/18 Priority Date
    11/15/18 Three I-797 NOA Received in the Mail
    11/30/18 Biometrics NOA Received in the Mail
    12/11/18 Biometrics Completed

  • #2
    This was what we submitted when we got our RFIE. We also put our names and our address as the header.

    ---------------

    To Whom It May Concern:

    We are filing the enclosed forms (I-864 for Joint Sponsor, I-864 for Petitioner, and I-130A for Spouse Beneficiary) on behalf of XY the spouse beneficiary of XX, the petitioner.

    We have enclosed copies of the Request for Evidence (I-130) & (I-485), the requested forms, supporting evidence, and additional evidence of our relationship.

    We have also included a detailed Table of Contents in the following pages for your convenience.

    Thank you for your time and effort in looking over our case.

    Sincerely,

    XY & XX

    -----------------------
    Table of Contents


    Exhibit 1 – Copies of Requests Received from USCIS
    1. Request for Evidence (Form I-130)
    2. Request for Evidence (Form I-485)

    Exhibit 2 – Forms Requested
    1. I-864 for Joint Sponsor
    2. I-864 for Petitioner
    3. I-130A for Spouse Beneficiary

    Exhibit 3 – Supporting Evidence

    The following five (5) yellow envelopes are enclosed and labeled as follows:
    1. 2018 Tax Return and W2 for Joint Sponsor
    2. 2018 Joint Tax Return and W2 for Petitioner and Spouse Beneficiary
    3. Joint Savings Account – Last 12 months bank statements
    4. Petitioner Credit Card (1 of 2) – Last 12 months bank statements
    5. Petitioner Credit Card (2 of 2) – Last 12 months bank statements

    The following two (2) blue folders are enclosed and labeled as follows:
    1. Evidence of Bona Fide Marriage between XY and XX (1 of 2)
    2. Evidence of Bona Fide Marriage between XY and XX (2 of 2)


    -----------------
    Table of Contents (Blue Folder 1 of 2)

    Exhibit 4 -- Proof of Marriage between Petitioner nd Spouse Beneficiary
    1. Copy of Marriage Certificate; showing marriage on DATE in Los Angeles, CA

    Exhibit 5 – Evidence of Cohabitation
    1. Copy of lease agreement
      • Lists Petitioner & Spouse Beneficiary as joint tenants at ADDRESS
    2. Receiving Mail
      • Confirmation of Spouse Beneficiary address change request successful submission from USCIS-CaseStatus@dhs.gov
        • Date: 8/10/2018
    3. Email from USPS Informed Delivery Daily Digest displaying mail for both Petitioner and Spouse Beneficiary
      • Date: 5/21/2019
    4. Gas Residential Service Account (SoCalGas)
      • Copy of Gas Bill
        • Opening Bill addressed to Petitioner mailed on 7/18/2018
        • Most recent bill addressed to Petitioner mailed on 5/20/2019
      • Account Information
        • Screen shot indicating Petitioner as Account Holder and Spouse Beneficiary as spouse
        • Copy of Contact Information with email addresses
          • Petitioner - EMAIL ADDRESS
          • Spouse Beneficiary - EMAIL ADDRESS
          • Proof of evidence of having full access to the account and billing information
    *** Of note for e) Gas Residential Service Account: We were told that both names could not be displayed on the bill. Only the primary account holder’s name can be displayed.
    1. Joint Electric Residential Service Account (LADWP)
      • Copy of Electric Bill
        • 09/2018
        • 05/2019
      • Copy of “My LADWP Wallet”
        • Joint Credit Card
    2. Internet Service (Spectrum)
      • Account Users Page
        • Description of Account Partner as outlined by Spectrum
        • Displays both names on account as joint holders
          • Spouse Beneficiary– Primary
          • Petitioner – Account Partner
      • Copy of Internet Bill
        • Opening Bill addressed to Spouse Beneficiary dated 7/20/2018
        • Bill due 05/21/2019
    3. Evidence of Joint Driver Insurance Coverage (Geico)
      • Copy of Email send to Spouse Beneficiary at email indicating Active Drivers on Spouse Beneficiary’s Policy dated 05/08/2018-11/08/2018
        • Email dated 5/9/2018
      • Copy of ID Cards
        • Policy Dated 12/29/2018 to 04/24/19
          • Petitioner
          • Spouse Beneficiary
        • Policy Dated 04/24/2019 to 10/24/2019 – Current
          • Petitioner
          • Spouse Beneficiary
      • Copy of Stored Account Information
        • Spouse Beneficiary as Account Holder
        • Checking Account Information of Petitioner
          • Evidence of joint responsibility
        • Joint Credit Card as Automatic Payment Account
    4. Evidence of Joint Pet Insurance (HealthyPaws)
      • Spouse Beneficiary as primary account holder (Pet Parent)
      • Pet Policy information with Petitioner listed as pet parent
      • Bill paid with Joint Credit Card
        • 06/15/2019-07/14/2019


    -----------------



    Table of Contents (Blue Folder 2/2)

    Exhibit 6 – Evidence of commingling of financial resources
    1. 2018 Tax Return filed Married – Jointly
    2. Evidence of Employer Payroll Deposit into Joint Savings Account
      • Petitioner’s employer
      • Pay period: 03/21/2019-04/03/2019
    3. Savings Account
      • Opening Statement
        • 01/11/2018-01/22/2018
        • We opened up a joint savings account together prior to getting married. The address is under the Petitioner’s previous home address.
      • Most recent statement at the time of Request for Initial Evidence Submission
        • 04/20/2019-05/21/2019
    **** Of note c) Bank of America Savings Account: We printed out all pages of the statement in order to show that both of our names are on the account. The account is also under the Petitioner’s permanent address at the time of the opening.
    1. Credit Card 1/3
      • Statement highlighting two separate transactions from Amazon for one order and grocery store purchases at Trader Joe’s
        • 11/21/2018-12/20/2018
        • Amazon Purchases:
          • a 3-year couple diary and a Brita pitcher. We use the couple diary every day and utilize the Brita pitcher for water.
    2. Credit Card 2/3
      • Statement highlighting grocery store purchases at Albertsons, Trader Joe’s, and City Market
        • 01/10/2019-02/09/2019
    3. Credit Card 3/3
      • Statement highlighting our Internet bill payment and our grocery store purchases at Ralphs, Vons, Costco, and Trader Joe’s
        • 09/15/2018-10/14/2018

    Exhibit 7 – Evidence of Joint Memberships
    1. Joint Amazon Prime Account
      • Lists Petitioner and Spouse Beneficiary
    2. JetBlue Pool
      • Allows full access and use of points earned
      • Pool includes Spouse Beneficiary and Petitioner
    3. Costco
      • Account Details
        • Membership Holder: Petitioner
        • Person within Household: Spouse Beneficiary
    Exhibit 8Joint Medical Decisions
    1. Advanced Health Care Directive
      • “Five Wishes” Packet for Spouse Beneficiary
      • “Five Wishes” Packet for Petitioner
    2. Life Insurance (AIG)
      • Policy Information for Petitioner
        • Indicates that Spouse Beneficiary is the listed Beneficiary
        • Policy began: 09/15/2018
    **** Of Note b) Life Insurance (AIG): We tried getting a policy for the Spouse Beneficiary with Petitioner as the listed Beneficiary, but were told that he was not eligible to.

    Exhibit 9 –Trips Taken Together
    1. San DiegoDay Trip (11/2015)
      • Details of the event that we went to see together
      • Screen shot of Social Media Posts
        • Instagram handle of Spouse Beneficiary
        • Instagram handle of Petitioner
        • Twitter account of Petitioner
    2. Seattle (06/2017)
      • Email from Alaska Airlines confirming trip
      • Spouse Beneficiary AirBnb Confirmation
      • Petitioner: Checking Account Statement
        • Highlighted items: UW Waterfront (When we went kayaking) and when we went to eat at restaurant
      • Photos
    3. San Francisco (01/2018)
      • Email from American Airlines confirming trip (LAX à SFO)
      • Email from United Airlines confirming trip (SFO à LAX)
      • AirBnb Receipt
      • Spouse Beneficiary Checking Account Statement
        • Highlighted item: BART public transportation pass in San Francisco
      • Petitioner Credit Card Statement
        • Highlighted item: Payment for our AirBnb
      • Photos
    1. New York (01/2019)
      • Email from JetBlue confirming trip
      • Hilton Hotel Invoice addressed to Petitioner
        • Paid with Joint Credit Card
      • Dining Reservation
        • Date: 01/20/2019
      • Joint Credit Card Account Statement
        • Highlighted items: Various restaurants we went to during our trip
      • Photo


    -----------------

    Table of Contents (Blue Folder 2/2)

    Exhibit 10 – Additional Evidence of Bona Fide Relationship between 2015-2019
    1. Social Media Posts
      • Various postings on Social Media from Petitioner and Spouse Beneficiary
    **** Of Note a) Social Media Posts: Petitioner usually uses social media sites much more often than Spouse Beneficiary, which is why many of these postings are from the Petitioner’s accounts
    • Social Media Accounts
      • Instagram (we had a page with our usernames and profiles)
        • Petitioner
        • Spouse Beneficiary
      • Twitter
        • Petitioner
        • Spouse Beneficiary
    • Dates listed below according to page
    1. Picture of our Instagram pages, and Petitioner’s Twitter account
    2. 11/05/2015-11/06/2015
    3. 01/08/2016, 01/25/2016, 03/05/2016
    4. 03/12/2016, 05/02/2016, 09/16/2016
    5. 09/16/2016, 09/17/2016
    6. 12/06/2016, 12/26/2016
    7. 01/06/2017, 01/25/2017, 03/28/2017
    8. 06/08/2017, 06/09/2017
    9. 08/26/2017, 09/16/2017, 10/26/2017
    10. 01/04/2018
    11. 02/13/2018, 04/15/2018, 07/06/2018
    12. 08/16/2018, 09/16/2018
    13. 10/06/2018, 11/24/2018
    14. 12/8/2018, 12/24/2018
    15. 01/21/2019, 01/25/2019
    16. 02/18/2019, 03/31/2019, 04/01/2019
    17. 04/15/2019, 04/17/2019
    18. 04/22/2019, 04/26/2019
    1. Disneyland Annual Pass **this was our oldest piece of "financial" commitment to each other. We're both young, so I felt that this was pretty acceptable!
      • Contract showing Petitioner bought Annual Pass Membership for Spouse Beneficiary -- dated 2015
      • Contract showing Spouse Beneficiary bought Annual Pass Membership for Petitioner -- dated 2015
    2. Email Exchange
      • Petitioner to Spouse Beneficiary
        • Asking for Spouse Beneficiary – email to print attached document
        • Dated 11/15/2016
      • Spouse Beneficiary to Petitioner
        • Sending document to Petitioner–email
        • Dated 11/13/2017
    3. Paint Nite
      • Email from Paint Nite to Petitioner for both Petitioner and Spouse Beneficiary
    **** Of Note d) Paint Nite: Both registrations were sent to Petitioner’s email address (email) because it was a surprise for Spouse Beneficiary’s birthday
    1. Evidence of Gift
      • from Petitioner to Spouse Beneficiary
        • iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, iPad cover, extended warranty
          • Date gift was bought: 09/07/2017
        • Email from Apple confirming Spouse Beneficiary registered gift
          • Date received: 09/07/2017
      • from Spouse Beneficiary to Petitioner
        • Invoice from Amazon indicating Spouse Beneficiary Macbook Air for Petitioner as gift
          • Ordered 11/15/2017
        • Screenshot of Petitioner’s iCloud settings indicating usage of Macbook Air
        • Email from Petitioner to professors indicating laptop was stolen prior to receiving gift from Spouse Beneficiary
          • Dated: 10/30/2017
    2. Pre-Marital Class
    • Email exchange between Coordinator a Church (address) on 04/19/2018 confirming registration
      • Lists Petitioner as Female Fiance
      • Lists Spouse Beneficiaryas Male Fiance
    1. Evidence of Gift
      • TravelZoo Credit Voucher for restaurant
        • from sister of Petitioner to Spouse Beneficiary
        • Gift bought 12/23/2018
        • Gift received 12/25/2018
    1. Evidence of Gift
      • Email from Southwest Airlines confirming plane tickets to Denver, Colorado for Parents of Petitioner from Petitioner and Spouse Beneficiary
      • Paid with Joint Credit Card
    2. Additional Photos (captions included)
      1. here we had photos from our dates together. I added dates and captions to every page.



    Concurrent Filing of I-130, I-485, I-765
    Filed from LA, CA; adjusting from B-2
    Married to USC, DACA recipient


    11/9/18 Priority Date
    11/15/18 Three I-797 NOA Received in the Mail
    11/30/18 Biometrics NOA Received in the Mail
    12/11/18 Biometrics Completed

    Comment


    • #3
      Because our interview date was basically right after we sent in our response to the RFIE, we didn't have a ton of new evidence to bring to the interview. We brought our Polaroid photo album, some updated pictures, renter's insurance for our new apartment that we'll be moving into in September, our most recent bills, and certified translated copies of our texts to each other.
      Concurrent Filing of I-130, I-485, I-765
      Filed from LA, CA; adjusting from B-2
      Married to USC, DACA recipient


      11/9/18 Priority Date
      11/15/18 Three I-797 NOA Received in the Mail
      11/30/18 Biometrics NOA Received in the Mail
      12/11/18 Biometrics Completed

      Comment


      • #4
        After a little less than 2 weeks, our case status changed today to "New Card is Being Produced!" The case status for the I-130 has yet to change, but we're so so ecstatic and really believe that it's God's grace.
        Concurrent Filing of I-130, I-485, I-765
        Filed from LA, CA; adjusting from B-2
        Married to USC, DACA recipient


        11/9/18 Priority Date
        11/15/18 Three I-797 NOA Received in the Mail
        11/30/18 Biometrics NOA Received in the Mail
        12/11/18 Biometrics Completed

        Comment


        • #5
          Congratulations!

          Comment

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