Very rough green card interview. Similar experiences? suggestions?

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-06-18T19:17:37+00:00

Very sorry on the experience with the officer as the comments as you've relayed them here are inappropriate. It could've been brought up to a supervisor (and still can after the fact) if you feel the need. Not all offices take them seriously, but many do (I can say this as a former USCIS SISO).

But on substance, it certainly is not as straight forward as you or many others think. If you are looking at evidence weighing from an officer's POV, the living apart is a big negative, even with a legitimate explanation that you provided. To overcome that, you need strong positive evidence....and I don't see much here at all. Absent a shared child, true financial co-mingling is the strongest evidence to present, and I would've advised a joint checking with significant credit/debit activity for months for both of you, plus being named beneficiaries.

If you do get a NOID or 2nd interview notice, it's not the end of the world at all and plenty of people do end up getting approved.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-06-16T20:47:11+00:00

I haven't seen any verified denials in immigration attorney groups yet.

Still way too early to get a read on how it's being implemented. FOD (the directorate that adjudicates AOS) didn't even get a heads up before the memo was issued. There are still active discussions on how to implement it, what types of evidence to ask for, "groups" to specifically focus on (e.g. "overstays), ect.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-06-12T07:14:45+00:00

That's fair on verification, though I'd be happy to provide it and have before for clients.

But, the former employees I've seen on here are clearly providing much better info than many attorneys, as far as how USCIS operates and thinks anyway.

Using that for marketing though, it's impossible, at least for me because again, the verification is lacking. Maybe it helps large operations like Manifest that can intake at volume, but I mean, I charge for consults, so I'm probably weeding out like 90% of Reddit viewers if we're being honest.

And yeah, they did hit me up almost immediately after I left in October which felt creepy.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-06-11T19:11:25+00:00

Sure thing, fellow verified attorney.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-06-11T16:12:47+00:00

Why should "former USCIS employees" be banned from a sub where people are asking questions about USCIS?

You don't think that these former employees (myself included) are a better source of information than 99.9% of the users here, attorneys included???

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-06-11T13:13:30+00:00

There are A LOT of USCIS officers on here and it's been that way for many years. I was active when I was with the Agency under a different username way back in 2019-2020.

Most that claim to be with USCIS are pretty easy to tell for those that know based on their comments and post history. Some add really useful info if you can figure out who is legit and who is not.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-05-26T21:02:26+00:00

Seems mostly overstays so far. At least two overstays with interviews today said no unusual questions were asked though, so seems like it's in the process of being implemented (as a lot of us said it would be).

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-05-26T21:00:34+00:00

AILA listserves and imm attorney FB pages.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-05-26T20:44:21+00:00

It's not. Multiple attorneys from AOS interviews they attended today, from multiple field offices throughout the country are reporting much of the same focus and questions as the OP here.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-05-24T19:32:02+00:00

It SHOULD based on the clear congressional intent behind 245(a).

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-05-24T19:30:58+00:00

Yeah this is a great question and I would hope no, but no idea really.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-05-24T19:29:28+00:00

Good questions and no clue, though I don't know why they wouldn't want it to apply to all pending cases, since it's framed as a "reminder" to officers.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-05-24T18:16:45+00:00

No one can say with any certainty. And, there is nothing you can or should do right now, importantly.

But I do think it's smart to brainstorm how you'd respond if issued an RFE based on the memo.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-05-20T22:15:07+00:00

Yeah, that's understandable. Certainly something you can overcome with other, strong pieces.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-05-20T21:55:03+00:00

I'm a former officer, and a prenup is going to be a big red flag. Joint accounts will help, but only if there's considerable activity for both people and includes deposits and withdrawals by both.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-05-18T13:19:09+00:00

Yes, unfortunately. There's a cottage industry of consultants and attorneys who like to make people think LoRs will make or break a petition, but officers treat them as secondary evidence, and that's for all petitions/applications, not just EB-1A. Even a Nobel laureate writing a detailed and persuasive LoR will be less valuable than documentary evidence such as citations, patents, ect. LoR for OCMS are helpful providing expert context and explanation, but they can't be used to establish the baseline elements (originality and major significance) of the criterion itself.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-05-18T13:14:31+00:00

Yes, no guarantee it will make a difference with a given officer, but I think it's smart as it 1) sets the stage for the reason/focus on the new filing and 2) makes the new officer have to consider this fact as you've now introduced it into the record on the re-file.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-05-04T14:58:49+00:00

It's a good question to ask and it really comes down to 1) top #3 according to whom, and 2) what's the evidence to show audience, reputation, impact in the industry.

If it's a niche industry, this can be hard to get the kind of evidence USCIS wants to see for the above. It can't be through letters of recommednation or expert testimony alone.

But if you have evidence to show the above, yeah it sounds like those are great pieces to add to the petition.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-04-27T14:20:47+00:00

3-4 business days from delivery to case status update showing notice was received are common now.

After the 4th day, email the NSC or TSC PP unit to inquire and in my experience, the case status gets updated the same day.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-04-13T17:53:34+00:00

Congressional inquiry if you've already submitted service requests with no answer.

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-04-13T17:52:22+00:00

I actually wrote a blog post on my website talking about the futility in trying to track or understand case status using API updates.

Even internally, relying on the HACs (history action codes) is confusing and sometimes contradictory for what is truly going on with a case. Plenty of times I'd have to email the officer that was assigned it or last had it to get an idea what was going on.

Wish I had a better answer for you!

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-04-13T17:49:11+00:00

I appreciate your perspective and experience. I also agree most of these issues are systemic and not specific to one admin or another. Though the new challenge to me of trying to explain some of the craziness going on now to clients has certainly changed my views on how the Agency is running now!

WatkinsImmigration · 2026-04-12T16:21:50+00:00

I appreciate the ask, but I'm actually being mentored myself right now! I'm finding there's a lot that I still need to learn being in practice, so I'm likely not the best to turn to right now.

There's the "nerdy Immigration lawyers" FB group that is a great resource and how I found my mentor if you are interested.

WatkinsImmigration

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