AOS Interview Experience from Atlanta today-->

[lovelylili 1]

Today my wife and I had our AOS interview at the Atlanta USCIS Regional Office. We drove over from Alabama Monday evening, and stayed the night at a very nice hotel that was only blocks away from USCIS. Staying there the night before really helped alleviate some of the stress that was building. Our interview was for 10:30 a.m. so we arrived about 45 minutes prior to our scheduled time. Security was very tight, but we made our way through where we were then told to go to the 2nd floor to check in.

We took the elevator to the 2nd floor, checked in with the lady at the window who took our interview letter, stamped it, and told us to go to the 3rd floor and have a seat until we were called.

This building was impressive. The place was very modern, with plasma televisions, comfortable seating, and very clean restroom. I was glad to see that we would not be interviewing at your typical DMV type offices.

We waited for almost and hour past our scheduled time, and finally we were called back to the interviewers room. Once there the gentleman made us feel very comfortable, he then swore us in, and then began asking for the proper identification. We produced everything he asked for, and waited as he worked off a checklist. The checklist appeared to be very simple, and it had 10-15 different items that he was looking for in our file, and once he located what the checklist was asking for, he would simply mark it off the list. Everything seemed to be in order until he began to look for the medical, and the vaccination records. We had submitted these with no problem, but he could not locate them in the file, so we gave him our copies, he made copies and he never missed a beat.

We submitted several items to "prove" the relationship, and then he put them in the file. He then stamped approved on everything and we were out of his office in less than 20 minutes. Very respectful, very professional, I was grateful that our experience was not like so many that I have read on this website.

Now the wait for the resident card begins. Thanks to the website, and the people who have dedicated their time telling us about their experiences. All of this information is so helpful as one begins this process.

I hope my little documented experience helps someone, and if I can be of any help to anyone, please send me a message here and I will try and respond to the best of my ability. Thanks- Pachyderm

[lovelylili 1]

Another thing I wanted to add. We were not required to surrender the EAD (work authorization card) nor were we required to surrender the AP (travel document.) I have read here that many gave these documents to the officer, and were left in a peculiar position without those documents until the resident card arrived. I am relieved to know that we still have those documents in case anything were to happen with resident cards at USCIS or with the US Mail.

How long does it normally take to get the card in the mail? Thanks

[ellla 0]

Congratulations thank you for sharing your interview experience!

[Heliosphan 1]

congrats!

moreso that the whole thing was benign

[chris39 0]

Congrats!!!!!

[Rosie74 0]

Thank you for sharing your experience!

[likes2ride 0]

Congratulations!!! We just got out interview date yesterday and I was perusing the site to get an idea what to expect. Nicely written review.

[likes2ride 0]

Lovelylili, one more thing - what proof of your relationship did you offer them and did they ask questions at the interview? Thanks.

[KC♥MP 0]

Congratulations!!!

[sophie_09 0]

congratulations!!!

[otis 0]

Congrats...likewise today we had our AOS interview in Fresno, CA. on the 3rd Floor.

Got there about half hour early and escorted by security to the 3rd Floor. Our interview was friendly and made us feel comfortable and conducted the interview in Spanish since my wife is learning English.

Before beginning he asked for ID's for both of us and provided him with CA. ID, Passaports, Soc. Cards, EAD Card

While he was going through our file he asked my wife: How we met, Where does she live, The names of her parents, our home phone number, and when we met for the first time in person. He asked what was it about her that I knew that I wanted to marry her and when did I propose to her.

He asked to see a certified copy of the Marriage Certificate, and asked for a copy of our 2007 Taxes since when I filed the AOS application in Feb 2007, I had not done the taxes yet.

Never asked for any other documentation to prove our marriage.

We keep all our documentations and forms that we have received from Immigration

Afterwards he asked us if we had any questions and I asked him if we Approved and he said Yes. and he explained to us a little of what is expected in 1 yr 9 months and to expect the card within next few weeks. Interview took less than 25 minutes.

[joelunchbox 0]

Thanks for the info!! We are going this friday afternoon and this really helped hold the stress down.

[lovelylili 1]

I wish you all the best.

Everyone there is very professional, well dressed, and all business. Polite & efficient as well, something you do not normally expect when you are dealing with Government entities. One other thing that I might add. Before you even walk up to the building, I would suggest that you leave EVERYTHING that is not necessary in your car. It's time consuming, and a bit embarrassing when you approach security and fumble around trying to clear the metal detectors. The security there is just the same as you would find in any airport, so leave the phones, and all that stuff in the car. You will not be needing any of that ofr the hour or so that you are in the building, and even if you did need your phone, you would not be allowed to use it in the building.

No phones, cameras, laptops, just your paperwork, and your bright and shinning faces is all they want.

Good luck to you. Pachyderm

[lovelylili 1]

Thanks for the question.

I believe that all the necessary documents were provided with the submitted documents, because as he worked off this checklist, and we were finishing up, he then turned to me and said, "do you want to submit anything as evidence/proof of the relationship." SO,

I handed him a stack of things which included utility bill, letter from our Priest, one letter from each of our employers, auto insurance cards, and a compilation of photos that my wife and put together and printed out using our home printer. Thats about it. I was prepared for the worst, but if you have done a good job with the assembly of the initial paperwork, and everything is there, and then you have duplicates of all those things that you sent, then I would suggest that all you need is proof of employment, and all of the things that you have compiled as a couple since your original I485 submitted paperwork. There are several months that lapse as you wait for your interview, and the want to see what you have done with those months, or better, have you been building your lives together?

I hope this helps. Pachyderm

[Marcus and Laura 4]

Congrats!