interview experience in Detroit

[sweetpiano 0]

Just wanted to share my interview experience yesterday, Sep 15, at the Detroit USCIS office. Hope this helps other applicants.

A few logistics aspects first. We were scheduled for 10 am, and when we got there (around 9:30), the parking lot was full. Across the gate to their facility is another parking lot which charges $7 to park (nice of the US government to provide parking for applicants ). Anyway, we were not going to pay that, so we went back to the intersection, there is a Walgreens on the corner, we parked in their parking lot and walked back to the USCIS office.

The interview section is first on the right, immediately after going through the gate, and once inside, we gave the interview appointment letter to the officer. She inspected it very carefully to make sure our appointment time was close. My understanding is that they will turn you away and tell you to come back later if you show up too early, so don't worry about that, 15-20 minutes before should be plenty. Once in the waiting area, we saw some people being told to come back because they were too early. Another thing (for those who travel from a different town ), the Walgreens on the corner has public restrooms you can use before going to the interview; we were not sure if there are bathrooms at the office.

We treated this interview as a time to "put your best food forward", so we dressed presentably. However, we were very surprised by how sloppily most of the waiting people there were dressed, T-shirts, jeans etc.

We were called about 20 minutes after our appointment time. The lady officer was very nice, led us to her cubicle and swore us in. Regarding the interview itself, here is my conclusion: if they can tell from your file and documents which you submitted at the time of application that your marriage is bona fide, then they will only ask questions to verify the information on the applications. This happened to us (we have been married for 2 years now): the whole thing took only 15 minutes, she only verified information on our applications (name, DOB, place of birth, names of parents etc.), asked me those Yes/No questions in Part 3 of the I-485, then asked if we have any more documents to show we are married - we gave her copies of our new lease, recent bank statements, renters insurance policy, health insurance cards and joint tax return. She briefly looked at these and did not even want to look at the tons of pictures we brought. It felt like she was doing that just to go through the necessary procedures, and not because she needed to be convinced we were truly married.

But if they have doubts about your relationship, or you have been married recently, they will definitely ask about your relationship (how you met, describe your spouse etc.)

The question about me adjusting from a visitor visa and my intentions at entry did not even come up.

At the end, she said everything looks good and that she was approving our case. She said she knows we are a week away from our 2nd marriage anniversary, which means I was being approved conditionally (2 yr card). Bummer I politely asked if she would be open to delay approving our case until after our 2nd anniversary so I can get the 10 year card, but she explained that they usually delay approval only if they have to perform more checks, which was not our case. We were "approvable then and there" so she had no choice but to do that and issue a conditional residence card. She explained that it is very probable that we would not even be called in for an interview at the time of lifting of conditions. Oh well, I'm glad to be done!

Good luck everyone and PM me if you have questions.

[sweetpiano 0]

I meant to say "best foot forward" not food ha ha ha ha. I guess I was hungry

[vanee 13]

Congratulations. And thanks for the detailed review. It's very helpful, including the logistics details.

[jennmd 1]

I meant to say "best foot forward" not food ha ha ha ha. I guess I was hungry

Congratulations and thanks for the details.. good luck

[Heliosphan 1]

Congratulations! that was a really comprehensive review! Thank so much.

[chris39 0]

Congrats!!!!

[KC♥MP 0]

Congratulations!!!

[greencardinaz 0]

This is great information, thanks for sharing! One question. The interview letter we received instructs us to bring the petitioners birth certificate (and proof of US citizenship etc). This is something new and not requested with the original AOS paperwork.

Did your letter also ask you to bring the petitioners BC, and if so, did they ask to see it?

THANKS!

[sweetpiano 0]

This is great information, thanks for sharing! One question. The interview letter we received instructs us to bring the petitioners birth certificate (and proof of US citizenship etc). This is something new and not requested with the original AOS paperwork.

Did your letter also ask you to bring the petitioners BC, and if so, did they ask to see it?

Yes, my appointment letter asked to bring the petitioner's birth certificate and proof of US citizenship (i.e. passport plus BC). However the officer did not ask to see it, she only asked for our ID at the beginning of the interview. I presented my passport (from which she took away the I-94, by the way) and my husband presented his driver's license.

Regarding proof of petitioner's US citizenship being asked with the original paperwork, it was definitely asked and we included copies of BC and passport in the evidence for the I-130. However, if you didn't file I-130 and I-485 concurrently, then you probably didn't include that, as it was not required for the I-485. My recommendation is to bring whatever you have, but at least one of the two (BC or passport), or if the USC is naturalized, the certificate of naturalization.

[greencardinaz 0]

This is great information, thanks for sharing! One question. The interview letter we received instructs us to bring the petitioners birth certificate (and proof of US citizenship etc). This is something new and not requested with the original AOS paperwork.

Did your letter also ask you to bring the petitioners BC, and if so, did they ask to see it?

Yes, my appointment letter asked to bring the petitioner's birth certificate and proof of US citizenship (i.e. passport plus BC). However the officer did not ask to see it, she only asked for our ID at the beginning of the interview. I presented my passport (from which she took away the I-94, by the way) and my husband presented his driver's license.

Regarding proof of petitioner's US citizenship being asked with the original paperwork, it was definitely asked and we included copies of BC and passport in the evidence for the I-130. However, if you didn't file I-130 and I-485 concurrently, then you probably didn't include that, as it was not required for the I-485. My recommendation is to bring whatever you have, but at least one of the two (BC or passport), or if the USC is naturalized, the certificate of naturalization.

Thank you for the feedback. We did file the 130 and 485 concurrently. I just had to doublecheck our document checklist to see if I wasn't going . Looks like from the 130 req's he needed Proof of the U.S. citizenship status of your petitioning spouse, such as a birth certificate, passport, certificate of naturalization,

He's a naturalized US citizen, so we'd included his certificate, and passport copies, but not the BC. Fortunately we have time to dig up his BC and get it translated. Thanks again for the prompt reply!

[Norman and Dijani 0]

What is the I-130 and what is it used for?

[sweetpiano 0]

He's a naturalized US citizen, so we'd included his certificate, and passport copies, but not the BC. Fortunately we have time to dig up his BC and get it translated.

I wouldn't worry about bringing his BC and translation. They want proof of US citizenship, and since he's naturalized, his BC (from a foreign country) obviously wouldn't prove he's a US citizen. Just bring his passport and naturalization certificate.

However, if you want to be on the safe side and still bring the BC but not spend money on finding a translator, you know that you can translate it yourself? just include the proper wording at the bottom; see here, item 13.

[sweetpiano 0]

What is the I-130 and what is it used for?

An I-130 is a petition filed by a US citizen to bring their spouse to the US. It can be:

1) filed on its own if the married couple wants to go

- the CR-1/IR-1 route (the couple lives separately in their respective countries during the process; after the I-130 is approved, the foreign spouse applies for an immigrant visa at the embassy in their home country and becomes a permanent resident upon entry in the US) or

- the K3 route (while the I-130 is pending, the foreign spouse applies for a K3 in their home country, comes to the US and then adjusts status to permanent resident),

or

2) filed concurrently with I-485 if the foreign spouse is already in the US. In this case the I-130 establishes the eligibility of the foreign spouse to adjust status.

See more details here.

More knowledgeable VJ members, please correct me if I'm wrong in the above.

[greencardinaz 0]

He's a naturalized US citizen, so we'd included his certificate, and passport copies, but not the BC. Fortunately we have time to dig up his BC and get it translated.

I wouldn't worry about bringing his BC and translation. They want proof of US citizenship, and since he's naturalized, his BC (from a foreign country) obviously wouldn't prove he's a US citizen. Just bring his passport and naturalization certificate.

However, if you want to be on the safe side and still bring the BC but not spend money on finding a translator, you know that you can translate it yourself? just include the proper wording at the bottom; see here, item 13.

Oh goodness. Please I hope you are having a good laugh like I am!!! You are absolutely right of course that his BC (from a foreign country) obviously wouldn't prove he's a US citizen In our desire to do everything by the book, and to the letter of the law, that didn't even occur to me! Thanks for so politely pointing out the obvious and for allowing me to continue to harass with questions!

[sweetpiano 0]

Oh goodness. Please I hope you are having a good laugh like I am!!! You are absolutely right of course that his BC (from a foreign country) obviously wouldn't prove he's a US citizen In our desire to do everything by the book, and to the letter of the law, that didn't even occur to me! Thanks for so politely pointing out the obvious and for allowing me to continue to harass with questions!

Oh don't worry about it I didn't think they would want his foreign BC, but I admit the thought crossed my mind, what with all their crazy requirements

Good luck with everything!

Edited September 18, 2008 by sweetpiano