Originally Posted by Bob

Well that was interesting...headed off around 8am up to Augusta and then did Sam's club shopping, most gutted that they didn't have any hard liquor, but oh well...then headed up to Portland, and was well impressed because there was practically no traffic and we made awesome time, alot quicker than expected, so we went to Target and puttered around for a bit as Target is only 5 mins down the road from the district office. So about 12:30 we got to the office, waited in the car park and had sandwiches for lunch, 10 mins later, we're in the building, which is rather small....same security guy from last time who is about a million years old and really friendly, after we'd signed in, we handed him the appointment letter for the AOS and he took care of everything, we just sat around. Only a couple other people there, some Somalians changing address and someone else getting fingerprints for EAD.

Just after 1 the DAO came out, a few mins late, but not bad, and we went into a tiny office behind the metal detector. She swore us in, and then sat down....very amusing woman, very serious suit, yet she was wearing Birkenstocks and fluffy socks
Well the whole thing took about a half hour....she asked us where and how we met, how often we saw each other since, what I got my degree in and where. Then she asked for the tax records and only kept this years tax filings and transcripts and gave the other years back to us, she also gave us the folks co-support, so there off the hook as we didn't need them after all. She then said that the records still had the wrong apartment number, out by a factor of 10, even though it was right on there system, it wasn't on the main one, so she'd sort that, again. She then looked through the wedding albums, couldn't be bothered with current photo's since. Also took the most recent cable and electric bill and gave the rest back. Went over the forms to make sure everything was correct, and then I signed it as such. She then photocopied the missus passport.

This is where it got interesting, as she said we'd got everything she needed and the outcome looked promising, but because the person that signs off on the security check only comes in on a Tuesday, that that would happen tomorrow, and also that person would bring in the K1 folder and she would compare information. Once that was done, they would adjust my case and I would be informed within 5-10 days in writing if I've been approved, if I am, I'd get the greencard in a further 5-10 days, and if I weren't, then I'd get a letter explaining what to do then.

That was it, she said good bye, we left...just as we were starting the car she comes running up to us and said she'd forgotten about the medical...which I was wondering about just then, anyway, so we gave her the envelope, she opened it, said it looked good, looked at the medical stuff from London, said she didn't need it, and was about to go, so I said what about the photo's, and handed those to her, she kind of said she might as well have those as well, me, thinking damn right, those two passport photo's were $11 and I didn't spend that to look like a muppet to just keep the pics

So that was that. We then went off to the mall and puttered around for a few hours and then went to have dinner at Egg-spectations, just past the mall, which, if anyone is in Portland, really recommend it, the food was great, the prices were really good, and also the martini's were lovely...oh, and they have some really awesome dishes with eggs, but it weren't all egg's

Then on the way home we made a stop at Freeport to look around LL Beans, and I finally exchanged something that I got last year that broke straight away, but never got back there with, and that was exchanged without a problem, and then a nice quick drive back home. Loads of cops in there end of month quota, but that was it...we're well knackered, and gonna polish off the rest of the vodka

Originally Posted by jcapulet

Congratulations Bob!! I bet you'll be getting your green card in no time. Thanks for sharing your story...our own interview is coming up in barely over 2 weeks...ugh the thought of it makes me nervous

Originally Posted by Bob

Hehe...I was surprisingly calm until about 20 mins towards Portland, but was fine again after I got to the mall area...really started bricking it again as we sat down to wait, but I needn't have I guess.

Originally Posted by Bob

But here's the funny thing, while I was there, person said my citizenship application is going well, but being held up because I needed new fingerprints, I laughed, she then said "what's funny?"..Well I muttered something about well if I can by-pass the greencard and get citizenship, that's a bonus, but I was here because I had my AOS 8 months ago and still no greencard...she went a bit pale and rushed off behind closed doors...

Originally Posted by Bob

Well here's an update, you'll have a giggle I'm sure................
Oh, and the really funny thing, I just got that letter this morning about going down for finger prints...it was sent out the day I went down for my info pass...lovely *l*

Originally Posted by Elvira

What a comedy of errors! I'm glad you can still see the funny side.

Originally Posted by Bob

well you have to laugh or you'd go crazy

And yeah, hope they hurry it up, patience isn't one of my virtues, and it's certainly be stretched a fair bit already *l*

Originally Posted by CaliforniaBride

You should have gone to Costco.