The questions I had - I am very grateful.
Now to the story about my interview experience today: My appointment was at 1:30PM but we arrived there at 1:05PM and we were called in like 5minutes later. The officer was very nice and he started off by making small talk about how deep my voice was when I answered him. This was as we walked down the hallway towards his office.
So we got to his office and he showed us to the chairs but asked us to remain standing for the oath. After the oath he started asking me what and how I will be doing to help with the cooking for thanksgiving. After that he reviewed all the biographic information we had filled in the forms and he was making notes on them while I answered. Then we went to the famous yes and no questions. The he reached for a stamp – I tried to make out what it said but I couldn’t. I thought it was something like ‘postponed’ or ‘repositioned’ or something (I really don’t know what that stamp said) but I was like I hope that damn namecheck was cleared. After that we started talking about soccer – he was a soccer fan just like me and we started talking about chances of some of the European teams for Euro 2008 and we discussed the results of today’s games. A minute later he asked my wife how and when we met which she answered. The next question he asked us what whether we were happy together. I answered that. And that basically were all questions he asked.
After that he said to my wife that if she could show him some documents we had together and he will approve my case. I took over because I was the one that arranged all the documents and know where each one was. He told me to relax and that everything was alright. I brought everything we had and he was gathering them together to make copies so I told him that I already had copies for him – he was glad to accept the copies. I had more documents than he really needed - he just told me that he’s got enough. He stapled them together and took my passport. I saw him reach for the stamp and bang! He stamped me passport for the temporary I-551. Started giving me small advice about job search and asked me to take care of my wife. All the time he was remarking about how beautiful my wife is. Finally he handed me my passport, congratulated me and told me to take my time to put my documents back into my briefcase. We had a photo album with about 50 photos or more but he never looked at any of them. Over all he was a very nice and friendly guy. I think they have a way to figure out genuine marriages in most cases and tend not to give those couples a lot of headache. We were done by 1:30PM and he walked us out again. Everything was over in less than 15 minutes. I am so happy.
For the rest of you out there yet to go for your interview, I will say prepare yourselves very well. I was very well organized. I had all my documents in 5 folders that I labeled properly with the contents on the cover. So when he asked for any document, I knew where it was and promptly handed it to him. He was impressed with that. I am not saying that will get your case approved but it will at least save the IO’s time and not frustrate him/her and also help keep you relaxed. I will remember the rest of you in my prayers. So long as your are real in your intentions, everything will work out fine.
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