Approved! Miami FO, 10+ years overstay
I came to USA from Russia in 2015 and overstayed after J1 Work and Travel program. Met my now husband in 2021, got married in 2025.
We had an attorney, filed I-130, i-485 and employment authorization.
Miami FO
Timeline:
All 2026
Feb. 25 - filed
Mar. 7 - scheduled for biometrics
Mar. 25 - biometrics appointment
Apr. 13 - scheduled for interview
May 18- interview
June 8 - i-130 approved
July 3 - I-485 approved
We went to the interview without the attorney, had the interview before the memo came out so no questions from the memo.
The officer asked where we met, asked if I broke rules on my visa status (yes overstay and unauthorized work), asked what visa I came in with and what year, what port of entry. Asked whether my J1 was subject to 2 years rule (no as it says not subject to two year rule on my paperwork). He looked at both the evidence already filed and the evidence we brought - went through the new photos and we named some names, updated tax info. My sister wrote a relationship support letter so he asked where my siblings lived and whether my spouse met them (yes over video chat). Went through all the security questions, and that was really it. From everything we brought, he only kept the tax transcripts for 2025 and took a couple of notes on a notepad. He told me to promise not to get on welfare and said he needed supervisors review. I asked him, how we did and he said we “did alright”. He didn’t really ask why I overstayed or anything. He just said that marriage to USC basically saved my bacon on that. It was a short, conversational interview and it didn’t feel like I got grilled crazy. Overall I was expecting it take way way longer than it did. I’m very happy but also I think still a little shocked.
Bona fide evidence we had:
2 joint bank accounts
Bank statements
Joint tax returns
Joint digital subscriptions
4 relationship support letters from friends and family + copies of their ids
Joint lease agreements from past 3 years
Utility bills
Joint phone bill
20-30 photos with heavy emphasis on photos with friends and family, not just selfies.
God bless you all and best of luck to everyone still waiting. Thank you.