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For some of you that might have followed our story... we have been waiting over a year for an interview... great news ...yesterday we got the LETTER for an interview... it list things to bring... but I was wondering from those of you that have had the interview if you could give me some kind of idea what it will be like... I guess it probaly depends on the interviewer, the mood of the interviewer... etc. but I will be happy when the process is over. One of the things I know to bring are pictures together... we have some but frankly I was usually the one taking pictures of her in various places we visited so she could send some back to her parents.. we have some video together but I dont think you can bring video... oh well, any info that any vets of the process can provide will be appreciated... I would also like to know about visiting the Ukraine once she gets her first green card... hopefuly it will be easier and how about her parents visting us?  or do we have to wait for citizenship... thanks,

Keith

... in response to question about aos interview, posted by keithandkatya on Apr 12, 2003

I posted a complete writeup of our AOS interview here a number of months ago.  If you go back into the archives, you will likely find it.

We brought tons of pictures of the two of us together, as well as a printout of a digital photo of us with the house we were buying.  The interview was pretty simple.  He wanted to know how we met, if we had children yet, how long we had been together, etc.  We provided copies of everything, but I didn't realize I needed to bring my birth certificate as well.  Luckily, I had something with my birthday printed on it (military id?).

We spent the bulk of our time waiting.  The interview was maybe 15 or 20 minutes at most.  After running out and making some photocopies and dropping them off.  We went off and had lunch.  An hour or two later, Marina's green card was ready.  

All in all, mad photocopying aside, it was a lot easier than what I expected.

... in response to question about aos interview, posted by keithandkatya on Apr 12, 2003

Hi Folks,

On this subject I don't think that "gee, there is never any problem" is correct. It depends very much on your parents' prior travel history, other children/family in Ukraine, and financial/job details.  What are the specifics for your in-laws?

Steve M.

... in response to question about aos interview, posted by keithandkatya on Apr 12, 2003

Mine was just a couple minutes. It was obvious to the interviewer that we were married, but that was years ago. It might be tougher post 9/11. It's nothing like the interview in the movie "Green Card," where he is denied a green card because he messes up on the name of her face cream.

Anyway to answer your travel question, Yes, she can come and go anywhere as far as the US is concerned. Many countries (Canada and Mexico for instance) treat her the same as they would a US citizen, but that may not be universal, I don't know. For instance some countries may allow you to travel there without a visa but she may require one. As far as entry to and exit from Ukraine, I have no idea, but to the US, she's a permanent resident once she has the card, and can come and go at will.

- Jeff S.

... in response to question about aos interview, posted by keithandkatya on Apr 12, 2003

Keith,

You mentioned that you have been waiting over a year for an AOS interview, we had a similar experience.  Marina reminded me that the INS required her and Yegor to re-do their medical exams that had been originally done in Kiev, since more than a year had passed.  I am not sure that the INS would tell you this outright, so I thought I should say something.  We learned about it because INS had lost most of our paperwork, so we had to work with them to "rebuild" our files.  This is when they mentioned the one year limitation on medical exam results.  Please check into this with your local INS office, so there will be no surprises.  I recall that in our area, there was a very limited number of INS "approved" doctors, we could not use our personal doctor, It took almost 2 months to get a suitable appointment.

Dan D.

... in response to question about aos interview, posted by keithandkatya on Apr 12, 2003

Keith..
Be sure to have copies of your last 3 IRS return statements.
Your 2002 forms copies should count.
Karl

... in response to question about aos interview, posted by keithandkatya on Apr 12, 2003

Glad to hear that you got your notice. Don't sweat it, it's not that big a deal. All you need are the documents listed in the letter and they probably won't even look at those.

One look at you two and the INS guy will know that your mariage is legit and that's all they care about at this interview.

Good luck but I think that you will find it a bit anticlimatic after the K-1 hassles. Check out how big your file has grown compared to the paperwork that you have submitted. Ours had increased by about three fold.

... in response to question about aos interview, posted by keithandkatya on Apr 12, 2003

we brought all the documents to the interview which are asked in the letter - joint bank statement, mortgage statements, insurance, utility bills, house title, etc. I actually preparted two sets of documents and guy was pretty happy that we had a copy available so he did not have to go and run the copies. All he asked was a copy of mortgage statement.

Interview lasted ten minutes and he did not even want to look at the pictures - said he can see a legitimate couple and does not really need the proof. Go figure.

We did need another picture for the card, but it was available right there, in INS building, to have your picture taken. So that's what we did.

Good luck and do't worry about it. Just be ready to wait forever. Reminded me DMV office - you wait and wait and wait.

Russian Wife

PS Most likely she is not going to get a green card right away - they stamp your passport and then mail the card as soon as it's done (mine took 5 months). But I did travel with the stamp to Russia and had no problem with it. Her parents can visit you at any time. We usually make invitation from both of us and the very first time we invited my Mom to come visit us I did not even have green card yet.

... in response to question about aos interview, posted by keithandkatya on Apr 12, 2003

Thanks guys, I appreciate your time and advice!!

Keith

... in response to question about aos interview, posted by keithandkatya on Apr 12, 2003

Keith,

We interviewed in August, 2002, in Albany, NY.  We brought along pictures, joint bank statements, auto insurance papers listing both of us, various utility bills some in her name and some in mine, but all showing a common address, a life insurance policy showing my wife and stepson as beneficiary.

The interview lasted 15 minutes and was cordial.  He reviewed the paperwork and made some copies.  He was especially interested in the auto insurance policy.  He knew we had photos, but he didn't request to see them.  He joked with our son about his spiderman shirt!

Another Russian/American couple who our friends of ours brought along affidavits from friends and neighbors attesting to their married relationship.  Perhaps they were concerned about the appearance of their 24 year age difference, I don't know.  Marina and I are relatively close in age anyway, but I didn't feel a need to obtain affidavits.  I suppose I drew a line on how far I was going to go explaining my personal life to the government.

I agree with some earlier advice, just relax and your relationship will be obvious to the interviewer.  Best of luck,

Dan D.

... in response to question about aos interview, posted by keithandkatya on Apr 12, 2003

Some people have it easy, others have a hard time.  Check a web site/google search on AOS interview experience.  It may have specific experiences for your INS(whatever it's called now) office.
One or two pictures was all that was required for our interview.  The joint bank account helped.  Joint utility bills, etc weren't available.  Just relax and let the fact that you are a married couple come through.  The interviewer asked where we met, etc.  Standard questions.  Just answer them without a big discussion.  They only will take about 20 minutes with you anyway.

... in response to question about aos interview, posted by keithandkatya on Apr 12, 2003

Like you said,, a lot depends on the mood of the interviewer at the time, but in our case,, we had a good experience overall (except for having to go to downtown Newark). We showed up really early,, but were seen very close to the original appointment time. First advice, bring a couple extra Adit and/or passport photos for the interviewer to attach to the forms when you're done. He took her's from the forms we submitted a year ago,, then those got rejected later because the background wasn't white enough. Our interview was short and pleasant, my wife spoke better English than the INS guy, who was Chinese! We had all the photos and documentation required,, he hardly looked at them,, and the quick answers to anything asked by him (maiden name/Mother's name). As far as having the folks visit, again in our case,, no problem. My Mother in law was approved for a visa in just a few days for a  visit here last year. As it turns out she couldn't travel, so she never used it, but we will try again in a few weeks for a visit this year from her for a month this summer.

... in response to question about aos interview, posted by keithandkatya on Apr 12, 2003

Play the video and  'pause and frame the pics of the two of you and take a picture of the frame.It works real good with my digital camera.I have printed them and they arent perfect but they get the job done.cs