AOS interview Cleveland - affidavit question

[pmf123]

i would have asked them to give you a copy of the affidavits just for my own records while i was at the interview 8()

[kaylip]

Yes it can be stressful but let?s pray everything goes well for everybody.

I met a guy from Africa who got married to a 53 year old US citizen. He is 33. Their interview lasted 25 minutes but he told me he didn?t get his green card until after almost a year. Not sure if they gave him the 10 year one or conditiobal one. I guess they were suspicious of the age gap that?s why it took too long or maybe delays in background check.
Hang in there.

Age gaps, language and large culture differences are listed as red flags on the USCIS website. Also, I've stated before on this website that people who have been married before are scrutinized more by officers. A relative of mine was separated from her spouse at the interview while another relative who's marriage was her first, got a quick 20 minute interview & on spot approval. At the end of the day they are both citizens now, every case is handled differently according to the information that is stated on applications. What baffles me though is why people think background checks delay green cards, especially if the person has no criminal records. If the background check was cleared prior to the interview what other checks can delay the approval? Makes no sense... maybe some can enlighten me.

[MissTz1982]

Age gaps, language and large culture differences are listed as red flags on the USCIS website. Also, I've stated before on this website that people who have been married before are scrutinized more by officers. A relative of mine was separated from her spouse at the interview while another relative who's marriage was her first, got a quick 20 minute interview & on spot approval. At the end of the day they are both citizens now, every case is handled differently according to the information that is stated on applications. What baffles me though is why people think background checks delay green cards, especially if the person has no criminal records. If the background check was cleared prior to the interview what other checks can delay the approval? Makes no sense... maybe some can enlighten me.

Shoot so my husband and I might get separated? He is a US born and his divorce was finalized in 2002. We got married last year in June. He was in the army so he got married to his US born ex wife while they were both young. They have two kids together. I thought they scrutinized divorces for people that married for green card and were on their second marriage or those US citizens that are petitioning a second time for a spouse.

Anyway I heard USCIS does extended background check to applicants home countries a well. Depends on what country an applicant is from though. Most middle eastern and some part of Asian or African countries experience extensive background checks.

[jdub22]

I actually thought about that...after I left of course, DOH!

i would have asked them to give you a copy of the affidavits just for my own records while i was at the interview 8()

[jdub22]

I was under the same impression as you....that a divorce to a US citizen wouldn't be an issue.

Shoot so my husband and I might get separated? He is a US born and his divorce was finalized in 2002. We got married last year in June. He was in the army so he got married to his US born ex wife while they were both young. They have two kids together. I thought they scrutinized divorces for people that married for green card and were on their second marriage or those US citizens that are petitioning a second time for a spouse.

Anyway I heard USCIS does extended background check to applicants home countries a well. Depends on what country an applicant is from though. Most middle eastern and some part of Asian or African countries experience extensive background checks.

[MissTz1982]

I was under the same impression as you....that a divorce to a US citizen wouldn't be an issue.

Exactly! Were you two separated? And they did know exactly when your divorce was finalized from the petition form you filled before you went for the interview right? I remember my husband had to fill out the date of the divorce on form I-130.

[kaylip]

Shoot so my husband and I might get separated? He is a US born and his divorce was finalized in 2002. We got married last year in June. He was in the army so he got married to his US born ex wife while they were both young. They have two kids together. I thought they scrutinized divorces for people that married for green card and were on their second marriage or those US citizens that are petitioning a second time for a spouse.

Anyway I heard USCIS does extended background check to applicants home countries a well. Depends on what country an applicant is from though. Most middle eastern and some part of Asian or African countries experience extensive background checks.

2002 is a long time ago. That's over 10 years so I doubt it, especially if there are currently no ties to the ex spouse. So if I were you I wouldn't worry.
I'm from the Caribbean so hopefully I don't undergo any extensive background checks.

[MissTz1982]

2002 is a long time ago. That's over 10 years so I doubt it, especially if there are currently no ties to the ex spouse. So if I were you I wouldn't worry.
I'm from the Caribbean so hopefully I don't undergo any extensive background checks.

No you won?t.. I have noticed Middle Eastern and applicants from Nigeria complain about background check delays.

Oh and no ties to the Ex spouse at all. She lives in another state with the minor child. No relationship at all. They don?t even talk.

[jdub22]

Yes we were separated but not for long though. Just a month or so. He also moved out for most of the summer in 2017. I explained all that to the interviewer. I wanted him gone early 2017 but he wouldn't leave and refused to sign the divorce papers. And yep, all those details are on the I-130. My divorce was final 2/8 and I got married 2-18. LOL. A whopping 10 days LOL. My now husband is in over stay status though so that's why had to rush everything. He doesn't want ICE to come knocking at our door LOL

Exactly! Were you two separated? And they did know exactly when your divorce was finalized from the petition form you filled before you went for the interview right? I remember my husband had to fill out the date of the divorce on form I-130.

[MissTz1982]

Yes we were separated but not for long though. Just a month or so. He also moved out for most of the summer in 2017. I explained all that to the interviewer. I wanted him gone early 2017 but he wouldn't leave and refused to sign the divorce papers. And yep, all those details are on the I-130. My divorce was final 2/8 and I got married 2-18. LOL. A whopping 10 days LOL. My now husband is in over stay status though so that's why had to rush everything. He doesn't want ICE to come knocking at our door LOL

Cool beans. I don?t mean to scare you but just a heads up, prepare yourself for a stock interview because of the timing of the marriage. A stock interview is when they call you back and separate you. I don?t think it will happen but just Incase it does. I know of a couple who the husband couldn?t remember collectly the day they got married because he was so nervous and they had to call them back for a second interview which they were separated. They are still waiting for the green card six months in now.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

2002 is a long time ago. That's over 10 years so I doubt it, especially if there are currently no ties to the ex spouse. So if I were you I wouldn't worry.
I'm from the Caribbean so hopefully I don't undergo any extensive background checks.

Field offices only retain records for so long. Once you become a citizen, they may destroy applications prior to your N-400. If you are applying in a different jurisdiction, it takes a lot for that I-485 or I-751 or Investigation report from the fraud unit to reach the the field office where the new US citizen is petitioning for a spouse - ten years later. Record keeping and staying up to date with technology advances are two things USCIS is not good at. They JUST figured out the kinks of the change of address system.

Furthermore, most cases that were ever sent to the fraud unit for investigation, were never closed or even investigated. Eventually, those people got approved for green cards and then became citizens. So now, they have to rely on your word. If they clutter the table with piles of paper to make it look like they're yours from your previous files. Don't let that intimidate you. It would take a monumental effort to pull that. You would have to be someone. Or you would have to make blatant misrepresentations on your applications - like say, the new spouse claims he/she was living with the new US citizen petitioner at a time when the petitioner claimed to be living with his/her former spouse on his/her N-400 application. That's how people get into trouble.

This link "Privacy Impact Assessment for the Immigration Benefits Background Check Systems" gives a nice overview of the background checks. It's not just one check and they use 5 systems to do them. Pretty much it comes down to the fact that if you are from country X, the system won't need to get you through all 5 systems. But if you are from country Y, then yes, your name will be run through all.

https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_pia_uscis_ibbcs.pdf

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Yes it can be stressful but let?s pray everything goes well for everybody.

I met a guy from Africa who got married to a 53 year old US citizen. He is 33. Their interview lasted 25 minutes but he told me he didn?t get his green card until after almost a year. Not sure if they gave him the 10 year one or conditiobal one. I guess they were suspicious of the age gap that?s why it took too long or maybe delays in background check.
Hang in there.

This is old, but it provides a nice overview of Stokes interviews. https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/13/n...n/13fraud.html

[jdub22]

Ugh, I really hope that doesn't happen but if it does we will be ready for it. I heard about the Stokes interview before and kinda figured we might have to do one at some point. Sure hope we don't though.

Cool beans. I don?t mean to scare you but just a heads up, prepare yourself for a stock interview because of the timing of the marriage. A stock interview is when they call you back and separate you. I don?t think it will happen but just Incase it does. I know of a couple who the husband couldn?t remember collectly the day they got married because he was so nervous and they had to call them back for a second interview which they were separated. They are still waiting for the green card six months in now.

[MissTz1982]

Ugh, I really hope that doesn't happen but if it does we will be ready for it. I heard about the Stokes interview before and kinda figured we might have to do one at some point. Sure hope we don't though.

I?m Hoping it doesn?t happen. Keep your head up and keep us updated. Hopefully you will hear from them soon 😉😀

[jdub22]

Will do, promise! Thanks so much :-)

I?m Hoping it doesn?t happen. Keep your head up and keep us updated. Hopefully you will hear from them soon ����