Lisa Balan- () • 08/08/2006 17:21:27 PM
I self-prepared the petition for a green card for my husband. It took 11 months from the time we remitted the family-based petition for a green card for my husband (from India, already here on a legit work visa when we met - I am a U.S. Citizen) til actually receiving approval (a stamp in his passport). Actual card arrived a couple of months later. We had been married less than 2 years at the time of our interview/approval so we are now applying to have the temporary condition removed. Got notification that the immigration center in TX received our application but to expect up to a year in processing time.
In the interim we got an official letter indicating that his green card approval has been extended and that he can travel, continue to work, etc. We are told that the TX center can automatically approve the removal of the temporary condition without a physical interview if they feel the information provided with the application verifies the existence of a relationship. We gave them lots and lots of corroborating info. Life insurance policies, credit card statements, car regsitrations, joint debts, apt. leases, bank accounts, mortgage applications, letters from family and friends, photos. Hopefully we won't have to go through an interview (have to travel to Miami if we do) but not worried if we do.
The first interview, done 11 months after our initial family based petition REALLY had me nervous, but for no good reason. We sat in a waiting room filled with people. Had about 30 minute wait there. We had the same type of suppport info with us then and barely needed any of it.
The interviewing officer made no attempt to be friendly and was quite 'short' with her questions and answers. She wasn't mean or anything but didn't smile either. She did ask my husband questions, like how we met, and some questions right off of the petition application. Got hung up on his mother's last name - in India like in other countries, last names are confusing. The application had one of her names backwards and when the officer asked, my husband answered incorrectly - she drilled him on it. Finally was satisfied that he was talking about the same person. She asked me for some of my papers which I knew I had with me but in my nervous state couldn't find. Nearly cried but eventually I found them and the officer reviewed and handed back to me. She glanced at all the support docs that had accompanied petition a few times, asked my husband if he was working (he was) and where. Asked if we had kids (no).
A few more questions - all told may be a half an hour in the interview. She then left the room for a few minutes, came back and informed us that he had been approved on temporary condition (as we had only been married for 1 year.) She stamped his passport and gave us instructions on how to remove the temporary condition. My husband asked if he could travel (yes) and then we were dismissed. Everyone in the waiting room seemed stressed and some people did come back from the interview areas not looking as pleased as us but our experience was not nearly as horrible as I had imagined. Just be prepared and know what is on your application inside and out! We'll let you know how long the process takes to get through the removal of temporary condition.
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