Harley Baldwin

Hi Everybody,
Just a quick synopsis of our AOS experiences this morning at Santa Ana, CA.

It was actually very routine--we checked-in around 7:45AM and were
called into the interview at around 8:05. The lady examiner took my
wife's fingerprint, and had her sign some documents. We then went into
her office (she even left her door wide open!), swore us both in, and
she just asked my wife a few questions about where and how we met, a few
details of our wedding, what she has been doing for the past 10 months,
etc...she also asked for some proof of joint accounts/ life together,
which we provided. She never asked for Birth or Marriage Certificates,
only for Passports and Drivers Licenses.

She then asked me for my I-864, which I produced. She noticed that I am
presently unemployed, but I made more than enough last year to satisfy
the guidelines. However, I also listed my assets and attached them just
in case, which are fairly substantial. I told her I was interviewing
regularly and expected to have work soon--she didn't seem to worry about
that at all, and then asked my wife some very basic background info--if
she was a terrorist, communist, had worked illegally, etc....simple
stuff.All in all, the interview lasted about 10-15 minutes.

Then, she explained that we would be receiving a letter to come back for
the stamp, as they have a new policy where BOTH spouses have to be
checked by the FBI for criminal backgrounds, etc...and therefore NOBODY
gets their passports stamped the same day, according to her. That was
news to me, but I was in no position to debate the point!

One MAJOR mistake I made: While I submitted all the last three years'
tax returns, I did NOT enclose the W-2s, which were apparently required.
Fortunately, there is an IRS Office about two blocks up the street, so
we walked over there and had to wait about 2 hours for the transcripts!
The INS lady had given us a slip to return to the Office with that
information, and after obtaining the W-2s we returned there and dropped
off the W-2's as requested.

We also enclosed some wedding photos (which she almost forgot to look
at--nearly excusing us from the interview, but upon seeing the big
wedding album, asked if she could see them!) and upon seeing them,
suggested we pick a few to submit to "strengthen the case", and because
we "were a cute couple"....

So, hopefully, in 10 days we'll get a letter to come back for the
Passport stamp, which is good for two years. The Green Card comes a few
weeks later by mail.

Thanks again for all the great advice I've received here. Best of luck
to all...
HB

ben2

can you post your timeline please? I have also applied to the same INS office. Just curious.
ben