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Hey everyone!
This forum helped me a lot so wanted to return the favor by sharing my interview experience and the evidence package I took with me. In case anyone wondering my initial submission, I can share that as well but there are plenty of examples out there.
First of all in case you haven't checked it yet, check out this post, it is super detailed:
I had two folders, one with my original vital documents and necessary extras (my wife also brought hers). The other was the folder with following stuff:
(Petitioner (P): My wife, Beneficiary(B): Myself)
Exhibit 1 (Vital Documents):
• Copy of petitioner’s birth certificate, passport bio page, and driver’s license
• Copy of beneficiary’s birth certificate, passport bio page, and F-1 visa with most recent entry stamp page
• Copy of beneficiary’s expired EAD
• Copy of the beneficiary’s previous passport and F-1 visa
• Copy of marriage certificate
Exhibit 2 (Proof of Sustained Non-Immigrant F-1 status):
• Printout of I-94 record and travel history
• Copy of beneficiary’s Form I-20
Exhibit 3 (Additional Proof of Bona Fide Marriage not included in the Original Submission):
• Joint car insurance from YYYY for both cars owned by beneficiary and petitioner
• Joint health insurance where beneficiary is listed as a dependent on the petitioner’s insurance
• Petitioner’s life insurance where MYSELF is designated as the primary beneficiary (contingent beneficiary being petitioner’s brother ……..)
• Bank statements from XXBank for joint checking and savings accounts
• Updated apartment lease contract (2018) with petitioner’s new last name
• Joint utility bills from Conservice and Xfinity
• Confirmation of the booking from the YYYY YYYY X for the wedding in YYYY 2019, and Save the Date (in my language and in English)
• (Updated) Photos documenting good faith marriage and relationship of petitioner and beneficiary.
• ******** screenshots which shows the conversations between P and one of B’s best friends AAAA before the proposal. The speech B delivered to P’s dad to get his blessing before proposing can also be seen here.
Exhibit 4 (Proof of Petitioner’s Income):
• Employment verification letter for the petitioner
• Printouts of the petitioner’s most recent two month’s pay stubs
• Copies of IRS receipts from 2017,2016 and 2015
• Copies of W2s from 2017 and 2016
Exhibit 5 (Proof of Bona Fide Marriage (Submitted with the original package)):
• Rental apartment lease documents showing joint household (2017 and 2016)
• Rental insurance for the same apartment (2018, 2017, and 2016)
• Affidavits from petitioner’s parents and beneficiary’s Ph.D. advisor (and honorary wedding officiant)
• Receipt for the engagement ring from xxxx store
• ******** screenshot showing the date the couple added each other as friends and conversations between petitioner and beneficiary on different occasions throughout relationship
• ******** screenshot of engagement announcement post with celebratory comments from families and friends
• Documentation (Airbnb receipts, plane tickets) showing some of the international and domestic trips (add copies, receipts, tickets) taken by beneficiary and petitioner
• Bank transactions between the personal accounts of the petitioner and the beneficiary for a period of 15 months
It is nice to have additional evidence with you, it shows you are still working to build a life together. Also DEFINITELY practice before you go to your interview, depending on your case IO might get serious and ask random questions so be prepared, you can just google possible questions.
Well after a long wait our IO invited us inside, we swore to tell the truth and turned off our phones. Honestly, IO mostly talked to my wife, how we met, where we met, when did we get married. He asked why did we get married in a different city at a courthouse which we practiced before (less stress, another friend also did it etc.). He asked me about what I do, when did we get married (he asked this question a lot like 4 times
). He asked me about my family, my city etc. So nothing really unusual. The only stressful part is I never knew if I said enough or I talk too much, couldn't really read his face. However after about 30 minutes he said he doesn't want to hold us any longer and I got approved!
I can say that front load your evidence, send everything that can help. Try not to send 150 pictures but joint activities, pictures with families, joint financial responsibilities help a long way (I believe so since I'm not an officer). I organized my folders really well which I believe helped somewhat, try not to rush that.
So that's pretty much it, if you have any other questions please let me know, I would be glad to answer!
This forum helped me a lot so wanted to return the favor by sharing my interview experience and the evidence package I took with me. In case anyone wondering my initial submission, I can share that as well but there are plenty of examples out there.
First of all in case you haven't checked it yet, check out this post, it is super detailed:
I had two folders, one with my original vital documents and necessary extras (my wife also brought hers). The other was the folder with following stuff:
(Petitioner (P): My wife, Beneficiary(B): Myself)
Exhibit 1 (Vital Documents):
• Copy of petitioner’s birth certificate, passport bio page, and driver’s license
• Copy of beneficiary’s birth certificate, passport bio page, and F-1 visa with most recent entry stamp page
• Copy of beneficiary’s expired EAD
• Copy of the beneficiary’s previous passport and F-1 visa
• Copy of marriage certificate
Exhibit 2 (Proof of Sustained Non-Immigrant F-1 status):
• Printout of I-94 record and travel history
• Copy of beneficiary’s Form I-20
Exhibit 3 (Additional Proof of Bona Fide Marriage not included in the Original Submission):
• Joint car insurance from YYYY for both cars owned by beneficiary and petitioner
• Joint health insurance where beneficiary is listed as a dependent on the petitioner’s insurance
• Petitioner’s life insurance where MYSELF is designated as the primary beneficiary (contingent beneficiary being petitioner’s brother ……..)
• Bank statements from XXBank for joint checking and savings accounts
• Updated apartment lease contract (2018) with petitioner’s new last name
• Joint utility bills from Conservice and Xfinity
• Confirmation of the booking from the YYYY YYYY X for the wedding in YYYY 2019, and Save the Date (in my language and in English)
• (Updated) Photos documenting good faith marriage and relationship of petitioner and beneficiary.
• ******** screenshots which shows the conversations between P and one of B’s best friends AAAA before the proposal. The speech B delivered to P’s dad to get his blessing before proposing can also be seen here.
Exhibit 4 (Proof of Petitioner’s Income):
• Employment verification letter for the petitioner
• Printouts of the petitioner’s most recent two month’s pay stubs
• Copies of IRS receipts from 2017,2016 and 2015
• Copies of W2s from 2017 and 2016
Exhibit 5 (Proof of Bona Fide Marriage (Submitted with the original package)):
• Rental apartment lease documents showing joint household (2017 and 2016)
• Rental insurance for the same apartment (2018, 2017, and 2016)
• Affidavits from petitioner’s parents and beneficiary’s Ph.D. advisor (and honorary wedding officiant)
• Receipt for the engagement ring from xxxx store
• ******** screenshot showing the date the couple added each other as friends and conversations between petitioner and beneficiary on different occasions throughout relationship
• ******** screenshot of engagement announcement post with celebratory comments from families and friends
• Documentation (Airbnb receipts, plane tickets) showing some of the international and domestic trips (add copies, receipts, tickets) taken by beneficiary and petitioner
• Bank transactions between the personal accounts of the petitioner and the beneficiary for a period of 15 months
It is nice to have additional evidence with you, it shows you are still working to build a life together. Also DEFINITELY practice before you go to your interview, depending on your case IO might get serious and ask random questions so be prepared, you can just google possible questions.
Well after a long wait our IO invited us inside, we swore to tell the truth and turned off our phones. Honestly, IO mostly talked to my wife, how we met, where we met, when did we get married. He asked why did we get married in a different city at a courthouse which we practiced before (less stress, another friend also did it etc.). He asked me about what I do, when did we get married (he asked this question a lot like 4 times
). He asked me about my family, my city etc. So nothing really unusual. The only stressful part is I never knew if I said enough or I talk too much, couldn't really read his face. However after about 30 minutes he said he doesn't want to hold us any longer and I got approved! I can say that front load your evidence, send everything that can help. Try not to send 150 pictures but joint activities, pictures with families, joint financial responsibilities help a long way (I believe so since I'm not an officer). I organized my folders really well which I believe helped somewhat, try not to rush that.
So that's pretty much it, if you have any other questions please let me know, I would be glad to answer!
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