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Nov 18 Interview - Los Angeles
Hey fellow November interviewees and everyone!.
Hope we can stick together on this one and keep each other updated. My wife (USC) and I just had our interview the other day at the Los Angeles office. We got to the interview on time. Our names were called by a young IO. He was nice and made me feel less nervous (my wife is a tough woman; she wasn't nervous at all Lol). The IO swore us in and then asked for our travel documents, birth certs, wife's divorce cert from previous marriage, and our supporting documents. He started asking me some questions from the application form (usual yes/no questions). He also asked questions like my wife's name, her birthday, our address, ever had kids before, or previously married, and etc. Likewise, asked my wife the same questions and asked name of her ex husband (divorced 2 years ago). He asked when I arrived in the US, I told mistakenly said May 21, 2014. He verified if i meant the 18th (as on my I-94) and I said yes and apologize because I got the dates mixed up. He said no worries as it happens to people :)
He did ask me if I ever lived in North Hollywood and I told him no (That was weird because I have only lived in one address in California -- my current address).
He started reviewing our original documents with his own paperwork (cross-examining). Once in awhile, we had random conversation with the IO and he would likewise smile and chat with us as he did intially told us not to be nervous around him. We got to the part wherein he asked for our evidences (supporting docs), we showed him 2 joint bank statements, our dental insurance policy showing both our names, and each of our debit and credit card plastics. We told him we just recently got married, and I haven't receive my EAD card yet but just the approval letter in the mail so I wasn't able to apply for my social as of yet and so my wife couldn't put me on the lease as of now. We did show him our bills some with her name and some under mine that were on the same address to show we live together (like how Timewarner would not let us add two names in one account). We also showed him other random mails that we have both been receiving at the same address. As we were having conversations with him, he didn't have to ask but it was more of like us sharing to him our story. We got to the point, we were telling him about how we got married.
---My wife and I knew each other since college in the Philippines. Since my wife is a USC (born in Saipan), she moved to New York after graduation about 6 years ago. I came to the US 2 years ago under B2 and lived with my aunts and uncles in Washington and helped them at their bakery business. (IO thinks it's fine based on no negative reaction). My wife and I reconnected last year April after having a group convo with friends on fb. We started communicating often, officially dated earlier this year when she visited me in Seattle. My wife moved to LA end of May this year after she was offered a higher paying job. I proposed to her June and we got married August in Washington as my close family were there (as both wife's parents have passed away and her siblings are not in America). Plus, they offered to help us on our intimate wedding (My aunt offered to make our wedding cake for us Lol). I moved in with my wife after the wedding.
He did ask about my parents and I told him that the last thing I know is that they're in Oklahoma (no status). I haven't been talking to my parents (quite a long story). My wife explained to the IO how my parents were towards me. He seemed to understand. He asked us some questions from time to time in the middle of our conversations. He did ask me what my wife's phone number was, and i told him that I honestly haven't memorized it as I can hardly even remember mine.
He smiled and said that it's okay. He asked if we have any properties together or vehicles, we told him no because my wife is still learning to drive, and doesn't have a driver's license yet (never had to drive in New York). We also couldn't purchase one under me since I don't have my ssn yet. He politely asked for our IDs. We gave him my wife's New York state id, her recent Cali driver's permit, and my Washington driver's license. He asked us how we go around and we told him not to laugh at us but we Uber Lol. He laughed and said that's the case for some people because he has a cousin who does the same. He then asked to see our photos. We showed him our shutterfly
wedding album and I told him my wife toiled to make it. He asked us who were some of the people in the pictures. We told him they were my aunts, uncles and cousins. We also showed him another album with photos of our date outs and pictures with friends and family.
Anyway, he asked us to pick out 8-10 photos of us before he stepped outside to make copies of our documents. Here's the thing, my wife only picked one photo of us in college with some friends and the rest were photos of only us. I should have told her to include photos with our other friends and family :'( We gave them to the IO when he came back. He asked us if we had any questions for him. We said no. He then told us to wait for the decision in the mail and give it up to 120 days but we can call if we don't hear of anything 30 days after interview. My wife asked him if this is the process (not getting approval on the spot), and he explained that as of now they just need to review further. My wife kindly told the IO she already booked a ticket for Africa early this year and how we hope I could come with her. He adviced us (in a helpful manner) to perhaps look into getting an advance parol if ever (he didn't seem to know much about it as neither did I apply for it).
Anyway, he asked us if we had more questions once again. We said none anymore. He walked us out the office and shook our hands.
We were really disappointed. We thought that everything went well. No discrepancies in our stories and conversations. He just looked more on what paper works and documents we had and he somehow gave an impression we lacked more evidence (I hope I'm wrong). I forgot to give him the congratulatory cards sent to us from friends and family on our wedding and some cards we wrote to each other which I had all in one of my folders. Now, I'm also worried because if they pass our case to someone else, my wife did not include photos of us with our other friends and families. Could it also be that I forgot to explain to him that I wasn't able to change my driver's license to Californian because I don't have ssn (you don't necessarily need ssn to get a Washington driver's license).
He could also be a new IO and needs approval.
To be honest, I really don't know what to expect and I'm worried. I am just now hoping and praying that God would grant us favor and help us in this situation.
Hope we get an update/decision soon, and a good one!
That's my interview story and situation right now...
Hope everyone gets their approval soon as well!
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