British Expats - AOS success at Norfolk! :)

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- - AOS success at Norfolk! :) (https://britishexpats.com/forum/marriage-based-visas-35/aos-success-norfolk-235165/)

AOS success at Norfolk! :)

Well, it's been a few days, but I finally have a chance to post our AOS experience from last Thursday, June 3rd. I'll try to include as much detail as I can remember:

We got to Norfolk right on time, at 1pm. Once inside, someone directed Mark to put our appointment letter in a letter box which had his name and interview time printed on a sheet. About 2 minutes later, a woman came out and called his name.

After reaching Ms Jones' desk, she had us raise our right hands and swear to tell the truth. She asked for our drivers licenses for identity verification, then had Mark sign and fingerprint a form, once on each side. I'm not sure what the form was for, though. She also mentioned that Mark's security checks were all completed, and seemed pleased about that.

Ms Jones was extremely pleasant and friendly, which was so nice. It made the experience much easier, I think. She started flipping through our file (about one inch thick!) and made a comment about the medical exam. Now, for those of you who aren't aware, we sent Norfolk a letter a few months ago requesting clarification over whether Mark needed an updated medical exam or a vaccination supplement for his AOS interview. We got a letter back saying he did not require either. She basically confirmed what the letter said, that it was just a default included on the appointment letter but not actually needed for K1ers like Mark.

At that point, I asked Ms Jones about it, and told her that I'd heard of many other K1ers who are told to get new medical exams done anyway. She said that that shouldn't happen, because it just meant applicants had to waste time and money getting something they really didn't need. She also said that a memo had been sent out advising officers NOT to ask for another medical exam when it wasn't required. Unfortunately I didn't think at the time to ask her whether that memo was USCIS-wide or just at Norfolk. But at the very least, she seemed to feel pretty bad for those people who shell out $200-$400 for a medical exam that's for the most part not needed.

Then she started asking Mark those questions that are obviously a formality but have to be asked, such as, "Have you ever been a prostitute?" and "Have you ever been a member of the Communist party?" I couldn't help but muffle a giggle, which I know is totally immature but I couldn't help it! It was also funny how she started ticking off "No" before Mark even said his answers! And when she read the last one -- "Do you plan on practicing polygamy?" -- I laughed out loud and said, "You'd better not!" to which she also smiled. :)

Ms Jones asked us how and when we'd met, and Mark began telling her how we'd met online in Feb 2002. She then asked how long it was until we'd met in person, and he explained that due to job constraints we couldn't meet for 7 months, until Sept 2002. She asked how we'd spent that time apart, and I explained that we'd spent every day emailing, phoning and/or chatting online. To my surprise she said something about how that must have helped us really get to know each other well, to which we both agreed. Then we told her that because we felt pretty certain that we would ultimately end up together, we'd researched the K1 option before Mark even came over, which allowed us to file the petition soon after he returned to the UK. I also told her about how Mark got to meet my family while he was here, how we got engaged, and that I travelled to the UK later on to meet his family.

At that point, she asked for our photos. We had 3-5 of us together, with and without relatives, including one from our wedding. She asked if Mark's family had been able to attend, and he said no, but that they came to visit us last fall for a bit. She commented on how pretty some of the scenery was in our photos. :)

After the photos, she asked for documents showing we share a life together. I'd brought one original and one copy of each item, but she only wanted the copies. We gave her:

- Copy of lease (with Mark listed as co-occupant)
- Copy of joint auto insurance policy
- Copy of joint auto loan
- Copy of both medical insurance cards
- Copy of life insurance benefit (with Mark listed as beneficiary)
- Letter from bank verifying joint checking account
- Copy of recent joint checking account statement
- Copy of recent cleared checks from joint account
- Letter from bank verifying joint credit card account
- Copy of recent phone bill (both names listed)

Also, I had updated the I-864 Affidavit of Support to reflect my 2003 income. I got the new form notarized, and included copies of my 2003 tax transcript and W-2s. Ms Jones handed back to me the tax docs I'd originally included for 2000, as they were now being replaced by 2003.

Ms Jones compiled everything together in our file and complimented us on being so organized. I enthusiastically told her that I had more if she needed it -- copies of letters and cards sent to us by friends and family -- but she said we had "more than enough." :) Well, better too much than too little, right?

She then took his passport and stamped the I-551 in it -- YAY! :) She also gave him a confirmation letter that he'd been approved, and that he could travel outside the US with the stamp until he receives his green card, which he should get within 6 months. The letter also explains when we have to apply to have the conditions removed, in Spring 2006.

After a congratulations and a handshake, it was over. We were outside again at 1.35pm -- a whopping 35 minutes! :)

Sorry so long, but hope some of you found this sort of detail helpful (I know I usually do). We're so happy we don't have to think about anything again until... November, when Mark has to renew his EAD. Well, at least 5 months of normalcy, right?!

~ Jenney