napes

Hey everyone, Just a quick scribble in the hope that it might help eveeryone else out there whos still waiting!

On This Friday just past (Aug 19th) my wife and i had our AOS interview at the West Palm Beach Office. She is a USC and im a UKC, We Had been dating for about 6 months, with each of us going back and forth for short week long trips once a month. I came here in May 2004 on the VWP as per usual with the intent of staying a week - Whilst we were here we spoke with a local attny about how we went about filing K1 etc when i got back home, It was at that point that i was told that i would be able to Adjust whilst i was here on the VWP.

We got married in August 2004, and two days later filed I-130 / I-485 / I864 / I-131 / I-765 and a Biometrics form.


6 days after filing i recieved I-797's for the above with a Notice date of Mid August 2004.

I recieved AP and an EAD at the end of October 2004 and have been waiting ever since.

At the start of June 2005 we got an I-797 notifying us of the interview as per above. (2.5 months notice)

We arrived on time with a boxload of supporting evidence (we were the only ones that seemed to have brought anything substancial, as other couples simply had A4 sized envelopes with them) We were called in about and hour and a half after our scheduled time and brought into a very plain room that was seperated into office "cubicles" Each cubicle had its own desk and computer etc. We were sworn in and then the immigration officer immediatly asked for both of our original birth certificates.

We were asked the following -

1. How did you meet? (via the internet)
2. How long was it since you first spoke and the time that you first came over to meet
3. Who proposed to who and when / where

The officer then asked to look through our wedding album and wanted to see pics of us together with our respective families at the wedding, We showed the officer these along with a 100 other ones... The officer kept 3 pics from the album of us and our families together.

We were then asked what we both did for work, this was followed by them asking for pay stubs from both of us and our letters from our employers.


I was then asked all of the "are you a terrorist" / "Have you ever been deported from the US" / "Ever been arrested in any country before?" to which of course the answer was no to all of them.

She then spent about 2 mins staring into her computer monitor without saying a word, flicked through some of her paperwork and then suddenly blurted out "This case is approved" in the most monotone voice ive ever heard!

She then went onto explain my CPR status (weve been married for less than 2 years) and had me sign a form that basically stated that i was aware that I alone was responsible for filing for removal of conditions on the Card and that no reminder notice would be sent out by USCIS. I also had to sign that if i failed to file to remove then i would run the risk of deportation.

She then took my passport, stamped it with a stamp that reads "Processed for I-551, Temporary evidence of lawful admission for permant residence - Expires XX/Aug/2006 - Employment Authorised"

Also handwritted underneath was the interview date, my Alien number and "CR6" Further to that she wrote my Name, DOB and the fact that i was UKC

We then told to epxect the card in the regular post in about 2-4 weeks

and that was it!!!

We werent even asked about where we live together, she didnt ask for proof of our joint title to the house / car / utility bills etc (which we all had with us)

We both felt like we had brough too much evidence, but we both agreed that it was better to have too much than too little.

The whole thing, although very civil was kind of artifical and i guess i felt kindof like a defendant in a courtroom (although ive never been in that situation!). The immigration officer was polite and professional, yet totally cold and lacking in personality. No mention at all was made of my VWP entry.

My wife and i are so happy this is over as my having a Green card opens huge doors to us that were closed with just an EAD. We have lots to do now that my life is back on "play" instead of the "Pause" whilst waiting for an interview


To anyone else waiting for an interview at west palm, Dont waste your time looking at thier processing dates on the USCIS site... According to those we wouldnt have had our interview for about another 2 years. Our attorney tells us that the West Palm office was so backlogged that they have brough in BCIS staff from texas and California to help clear the backlog...

Hang in there

and good luck

M.

ian-mstm

Congratulations!


This is an interesting comment. Why do you say this?

Ian

AussieSteve

I can name one, from personal experience. My employer, who hired me on an H1-B, decided about a year after I was hired that it was no longer going to allow foreign nationals to have access to it's intranet, email system and technology-related company proprietary information.

Fortunately, my company considers GC holders to be 'US persons' and as such they are allowed access to the above mentioned resources. So, after two years as a leper in my company (as a pending AOSer with an EAD), I now have the same access rights as a USC, so I guess you could call that a door opened...

BTW, I believe my company's reason for implementing this policy was to avoid government fines relating to technology export laws. Another large defence contractor in my area was hit with a huge fine for letting one of it's employees, a foreign national, have access to some documentation related to some export-controlled technology.

Cheers,
Steve.

ian-mstm

Ah... this is not something I've come across before! Very interesting.

Ian

napes

I know the last gent answered this question preety well, but heres my own personal issue -

I Was a Cop in London before i came over here, My wife is a US Detective. I Really want to get back into my old job.

Here in FL you have to be a citizen to be a sworn officer, However Many states including California, Hawaii, Illinios, Ohio, Both of the Virginias etc will take you no probs at all if your a Permanant resident - but not with just an EAD.

Ontop of that, Whilst awaiting our interview and with just an EAD in hand ive been working on one of those casino ships. The company i work for has just launched a new boat that sails under a US Flag - this makes the regulation of the ship fall under the remit of the US Coast Guard. Coast guard regs state that all people working on the ship need a coast guard "Z" Licence, they further state that you must be a USC or a LPR to get this "Z" licence - No Licence no job.

Ive been in line for a big promotion, which triples my income... But until now couldnt get it as i didnt have a green card...

Now ive got it!

So erm, thats it!

M