I-485 Interview

[Goombah]

Evia's biometrics appointment is in about 2 weeks.  It is my understanding that she will have to return for an Interview at some later date before the I-485 is approved?

Is that true, or is this all done in one pass?

What type of questions are asked?

Kevin

[ConnerVT]

Yes, there will typically be an interview (though some have posted that they received their cards without it happening.  Streamlining the process for cases that don't have red flags?).

I imagine that the Interviewer can ask any questions they wish.  It is their last opportunity to review the file, look at the two (three) of you, and see if things seem legitimate or not.

I came prepared with the accordion file of documents that I had collected throughout the immigration process.  Almost none of it was needed, as the interviewer just needed to watch my wife, son, and me basically alone in the waiting room, trying to keep a 6 y.o. boy from being TOO bored.  Most of the interview time was spent with the interviewer (a senior staff member, BTW) figuring out the new software they had installed.

[catzenmouse]

We were one of those who did not have the interview. Elena had her biometrics (fingerprint) appointment and IIRC about 2 or 3 weeks later she got a notice that her AOS was approved and she would be getting her card in about 2 weeks. We got the card the following Saturday.

Ken

[Goombah]

Well... thats encouraging.  Suppose we will know soon.

Oh, just for the record:  Although, per instructions, both Evia and Nastya's I-485 request were submitted together, and Nastya at 10 doesn't get fingerprints taken, they did send us an appointment request a week after Evia's to have Nastya's photo taken.  Guess the passport photos we sent were not good enough?

I called the USCIS and they suggested we take Nastya with us when we go for Evia's biometrics and PERHAPS the office staff would take care of both.  Have to yank her from school to do this, but we are going to give it a shot.

Kevin

[catzenmouse]

We were at USCIS last week for Sergei and they took his picture and his index fingerprint for the AOS. Probably do the same for Nastya. Of course, nothing they do is ever the same twice nor does it mean that they won't screw it up. I hope you have better luck with them than we did. Elena has had her GC for 8 months or so and we are still going in circles with them for Sergei. We FINALLY got the Advance Parole (at least) for our trip in June.

Ken

[Moonlight]

Ken, how long did it take you to get AP for your wife?

[catzenmouse]

Elena got her AP about 3 months after we sent it in with the I-485 application.

It took them almost a year for us to get Sergei his. All documents were filed at the same time originally then we had to refile them late last year for Sergei. The only good part of this was they did not require us to pay a double fee for him.

At times like this I wish we had a more Russian way of doing things. A few hundred bucks and TaDaa! Documents are done! 

Ken

[Son of Clyde]

I called USCIS and talked to two clerks about whether I should have the medical exams taken again. Both people told me to read the letter and do as it says. The letter is vague and says nothing about the expiration date (05/26) of their medical exams from Kiev. It says to submit a medical exam (if needed) in a sealed envelope.

Both receipt letters are form letters with pre-printed instructions. Why do the clerks not know what the letters are saying?

An interview notice is an interview notice, isn't it?

[Fynn831]

Whether or not the biometrics and the interview happen at the same time depends on where you are. Some USCIS offices have separate 'support centers' (like the one where I live), where the fingerprints are taken, and if that is the case, your fingerprint appointment will be separate from your interview appointment. If not, they may happen at the same time, at the same place.

All they're really looking for in the interview is evidence that the marriage is not for the purposes of circumventing immigration laws - i.e. you didn't get married just to get one of you into the country. If you have a kid sitting there that you're trying to corral, nothing else really needs to be said. Even if you're not in love, getting married for the sake of the kids is still a reason other than trying to defraud the USCIS, and so it's good enough.

As for asking USCIS what to do about letters that you receive - telephoning them, or writing to them, is pointless, from my experience. No matter who you get on the phone, they will not know what they are doing, and will just try to punt the question to someone else - since they won't have to deal with the question in the end. If you really want the right answer, go to a USCIS office to ask the question. You may end up having to wait in line (possibly for several hours) before being seen, but when you get to the desk, you will get the answer, because the person you ask will be the person who will have to fix things if someone screws up - so they'll be interested in getting it right the first time. They may not be very nice or patient about it, but they will be right. At least, that's my experience.