My wife's USCIS I-485 interview happens in 1 month

[BrentR]

Just after the first of the year, my wife has her I-485 interview.  What should I expect in this interview?  What will happen?  About how long will the interview last?  What do they usually ask to see--forms, paperwork, other documents?  Will there be any other fees charged?

When I took my wife to get her social security card recently, the USCIS has my wife entered into the computer system as being in the US as a student--an F-1 visa instead of a K-1 visa.  Can I check and make any corrections to profile/file while I'm at the interview?

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[jb]

Brent,

Congratulations on having reached the next stage.

WRT the interview content, the BCIS agent will try to determine that  your marriage is a real one.  They will want to see things which  indicate that you are in fact a family, i.e., have you taken out health  insurance for your wife, is she the beneficary of your life insurance  policy, did you put her name on the joint checking/savings acount, is  she listed as a co-owner on the car title, how about joint credit  cards, have you co-mingled family finances?  In other words, can  you prove satisfactorily that yours is real marriage and not a GC sham  marriage.

I wouldn't worry about the visa classification mix up with the SSA, the  BCIS will have the correct information in their files. 

And,,, the interview will last as long as it lasts, it won't be as bad  as you imagine if you are prepared for it..  Good luck~!

[START2]

Brent,

How long did it take from the receipt of the I-485 application to interview date?

[POConnor]

It told us about 8-9 months after filing the paper work to get interview. They only gave us a few weeks notice, but included a list of things that they would like to see in the way of documents to show that you are truely "joint" together. Our interview lasted about 15 to 30 minutes and the guy said we were approved before we left and received the card in about 2-3 weeks for her and her daughter.

[START2]

I believe I wrote last week that it had been quite a long time from the time we received our receipts for the I-131(travel doc), I-485, and I-765. In the past 2 days we have received all 3 in the mail. The travel doc is approved. That's good but it may be that that was a waste of money. We'll see.  Val's notice asked that she come to Nashville on the 24th for biometrics but it seems they included the 485 and 765 for the same meeting. Does this sound correct to any of you?  Our son has his 485 meeting the day before.23rd. Is it possible to call and have his day changed to the 24th or is it set in stone?  Nashville is a 2 hour drive, 4hrs round trip, plus another day off from work. At this point I'm happy to see something beginning to move. 

Goombah, all these docs were mailed from Lees Summit, MO.  That must be where they process the docs. Is that close to you?

[Goombah]

Alas, Lees Summit is closer to Kansas City than it is St. Louis - call it a 4 hour drive.

Kevin

[START2]

Just got off the phone with USCIS. Loooong wait. It appears an appointment can be rescheduled but there's no guarantee that another would  coincide with the day and time of date desired. I'll keep what I have thank you very much.

Once fingerprints are taken, what happens next? Is there more waiting time for something else? Also, what happens after the AOS interview?

[Son of Clyde]

I believe you will have 1 year and 9 months of freedom but you must file to remove conditions 90 days before her temporary green card expires. The next step, I think, is permanent resident. Then she could file as a US citizen in a few years. I think we are looking at 4 - 5 years to complete the process.

[Bruce]

Wow - congratulations.  Look at Visa journey for details - but you are on the down slope now, or should I say back 9.................

[POConnor]

You will need to file I-751 to remove conditions from her and any children 90 days before the expiration date on her conditional (2 yr) green card. If you are a US citizen, she can file (N-600) for Citizenship 90 days before her 3 year date from 1st green card. she will need to pass tests in english, us history and citizenship, I think, then get sworn in. I know a person got her citizenship 8 months after filling.

[Son of Clyde]

This is the United States where everyone is welcome with open arms and immigration makes the process very simple and virtually stress free.

 Right. :huh:

[Yakboy]

Yeah if you are an out of work Mexican fruit picker!

[Zhena]

Alas, Lees Summit is closer to Kansas City than it is St. Louis - call it a 4 hour drive.

Kevin

Sorry-offtop!;)

Just wanted to say-very positive pic of your family,Kevin,and very beautiful wife.

[Vaughn]

Our son has his 485 meeting the day before.23rd.

Start2,

 Will Val accompany you and your son on the 23rd, regardless of her scheduled appointment the following day? If so, bring everything you need for both of them - they may see clear to process both of them together. This is exactly what happened to my wife and stepdaughter - who had close (but out of sync) appointments. The biometrics portion of the process seemed, to us at least, to be the most well-run and organized part, pre-interview.

 As a side note, I took a day off nearly two years ago to visit our local office and determine why Elvira's EAD was taking so long. They had no record of her ever applying for that - I pulled out our copy and the M.O. receipt - at which point they issued the EAD on-the-spot, 2 hour wait. The following day comes an appointment by mail for the EAD - from, of all places, Lee's Summit, MO. Quite a drive from here.... 

 

[START2]

Va- Gun,

I had a good friend out west whose name was Vaughn and all of us call him Va-Gun. I'm sure you get alot of that as well. Anyway, thanks for the reply. That's exactly what I had in mind. I think, after-all, how many people can possibly be visiting that office in Nashville. I'm sure it can't be like Clyde's local place.  Besides, most of the immigrants in Nashville aren't legal anyway. You know who I mean, as one politically correct liberal calls them, "Latino Travellers" . That's one for the books.

Clyde, glad to hear the ball keeps rolling for you too. I bet Irina is happy about that!! I assume you put your son's name on your mailbox. :?

Bruce, my family has been here since august so I guess the time frame is par for the course. I remember when I mailed all that stuff I told myself to just forget about it and eventually it'd get back to us. Val would like to work but with a 2 month trip to Ukr coming this summer, it might be best if she waits until she returns.

 

[Vaughn]

I think, after-all, how many people can possibly be visiting that office in Nashville.

Oh there's eighteen hundred 'n fifty two guitar-pickers in Nashville, and they can pick more notes than the number of ants on a Tennessee anthill. Yeah, there's eighteen hundred 'n fifty two guitar cases in Nashville, and anyone that unpacks his guitar can play twice as better than I will.   (from Nashville Cats by John Sebastian) 

all of us call him Va-Gun

I get that, too. In fact, it's the only way my wife, our daughter, and all the family back home in Russia ever call me. My sisters and one nephew in particular up North still tease me about it. Up there it's VAW-gun wouldja like a cuppa KAW-fee?

Son of Clyde, glad to hear of the success with biometrics today!!