My Interview Experience

[Ansleis 0]

I had my interview today. The appointment was at 2:15.

We got there around 1:40. We waited until a little past 2:15. We looked around the room, and there were at least 5 other couples who looked like they were there for their interviews just like us. Some of them wore plain clothes, and others wore nice, professional clothes just like us. My husband thought that we were a little overdressed, but I didn't think so. You need to do everything to make a good impression!

We saw couples go in and out within 10-15 minutes, so we thought it was going to be a quick interview. Most couples who came out looked happy, so we assumed that they were approved.

Finally my name was called, so we went in. The lady interviewed us was nice. She swore us in first. She asked for our IDs. She asked me, "What's your whole name? When's your birthday? What's your address?" She asked my husband, "What's your whole name? When's your birthday?" She also asked him, "How old are you?" to which she added, "You look really young." She then asked me how old I was.

As she was asking questions, she would put checkmarks next to information on the I-485. She asked me the questions from I-485: "Have you ever been arrested...?" Not all of the questions, but some.

She then looked at G-325A and asked my husband a question about his old job.

Well, my memory is already blurry now, so I don't remember the exact order of the questions.

She also asked me about my job.

She then asked about how we met. Since we had a long distance relationship, we had submitted copies of letters, emails, and chats when we filed. So, she asked us, "So, you guys kept in touch through emails? Have you guys visited each other?" My husband answered, "once a month," and I gave her copies of our itineraries.

She then asked to see pictures. We had two photo albums and some loose pictures. She asked if she could keep some. She kept a few. She didn't want to take pictures from our photo albums, but there were no loose pictures of us visiting my home, so she asked if she could take one from the album.

Even though she didn't ask, I gave her copies of our bills, lease agreement, etc. As she was interviewing us, she asked for my passport. (this was early on in the interview.) I noticed a little later that she took my I-94 and stabled it to I-485. That's when I knew that I was approved. My husband actually saw her stamping I-485 with "approved" on it early on in the interview. I didn't see because I was sitting a little far from the paperwork.

Lastly, she said, "I'm granting you a permanent residence status, but you need to apply in 2 years to remove condition. I'm going to give you a copy of this paper, but this is the only reminder you're going to get." She then asked us to sign that paper. She also said to me, "I'm stamping your passport now. You'll get your alien registration card in the mail within 6 months." She didn't ask, but I said, "Do you want to keep my EAD?" She said yes, so I gave it to her.

So, overall, it was a very smooth interview. We brought more things to show than necessary. But it's better to be prepared. We were out of the building by 2:55, so the interview actually took about 30 minutes, but it was painless. I hope I'll get the card in the mail soon!

Oh, yeah, she asked to see both of our original birth certificates and marriage certificate. She asked to see my birth certificate in Japanese, and luckily I had two original copies. She wanted to keep a photocopy of it, but I told her that she could keep the original since I had two copies. Even though she asked for the marriage certificate, she didn't even look at it!

Edited June 5, 2009 by Ansleis

[bellavita 0]

Congraturation!!!and I will read carefully on your post,thank you very much for sharing

[Ansleis 0]

Congraturation!!!and I will read carefully on your post,thank you very much for sharing

Thanks! I saw your post of wishing me good luck before I went to the interview. Thank you!

[bellavita 0]

I agree with you that better dress way does help a better impression,so,enjoy the coming up 2 years USCISFREE time!!

Congraturation!!!and I will read carefully on your post,thank you very much for sharing

Thanks! I saw your post of wishing me good luck before I went to the interview. Thank you!

[maritoni 3]

Congratulations!!

[Ohio_hunter 0]

Lastly, she said, "I'm granting you a permanent residence status, but you need to apply in 2 years to remove condition. I'm going to give you a copy of this paper, but this is the only reminder you're going to get." She then asked us to sign that paper. She also said to me, "I'm stamping your passport now. You'll get your alien registration card in the mail within 6 months."

Congrats!!!

Well, including my wife, her friend, and you, this is the third cases I know that took less than 3 months for the CIS to approve.

USCIS must be on fire lately...I couldn't believe how much they have reduce their processing time. Both my wife and our friend filed AOS on F-1 and they've both been in the U.S. for more than 4 years, what are you adjusting from??

Regarding with the paper she gave to you (reminder for removing the condition) , do you mind sharing it with us?

My wife was not approved on the spot, so we weren't inform about the process what-so-ever...

And the last, 6 MONTHS??? I sure hope that we don't have to wait for another 6 months to get a little not-even-green card?!

Congrats to us!!! And good luck to all~

Have patience, we never called or made any InfoPass appt, and in our cases (my wife, and our friends), we had no problems.

[sasaqlain 24]

Thank U for sharing and Congratulations! God Bless U both.

[trillium13 84]

Congrats! Glad everything went smoothly for you.

[PrinceandPrincess 0]

Congratulations!

[Ansleis 0]

Lastly, she said, "I'm granting you a permanent residence status, but you need to apply in 2 years to remove condition. I'm going to give you a copy of this paper, but this is the only reminder you're going to get." She then asked us to sign that paper. She also said to me, "I'm stamping your passport now. You'll get your alien registration card in the mail within 6 months."

Congrats!!!

Well, including my wife, her friend, and you, this is the third cases I know that took less than 3 months for the CIS to approve.

USCIS must be on fire lately...I couldn't believe how much they have reduce their processing time. Both my wife and our friend filed AOS on F-1 and they've both been in the U.S. for more than 4 years, what are you adjusting from??

Regarding with the paper she gave to you (reminder for removing the condition) , do you mind sharing it with us?

My wife was not approved on the spot, so we weren't inform about the process what-so-ever...

And the last, 6 MONTHS??? I sure hope that we don't have to wait for another 6 months to get a little not-even-green card?!

Congrats to us!!! And good luck to all~

Have patience, we never called or made any InfoPass appt, and in our cases (my wife, and our friends), we had no problems.

Adjusting from F-1. I've been in the US for about 10 years. Yeah, the paper she gave us says that I've been granted conditional permanent resident status as of today. I must file Form I-751, petition to remove the conditions on residence between 3/4/11 and 6/4/11. If a petition is not filed within this period, my conditional permanent resident status will automatically terminate and I will be subject to deportation. Then there's my husband's signature, my signature, immigration officer's signature, date, and file number.

Yeah, she said I'll receive my card within 6 months, but I don't think it'll take that long.

Thank you, and good luck to you, too!

Thank you, everyone!

[L179 1]

Thanks for sharing, its always nice to know what one might expect

[christera22 8]

Thanks for sharing ..................May God bless you two !! what was your local office by way and what all evidences did you show. If you can share it with us. Thanks.

Edited June 5, 2009 by christera22

[redglasses 1]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

It would definitely help for me even I don't adjust my status.

Congratulations!!!

[Ansleis 0]

Thanks for sharing ..................May God bless you two !! what was your local office by way and what all evidences did you show. If you can share it with us. Thanks.

It's San Diego, but I had my interview in Chula Vista. The evidences were pictures, travel itineraries, chats, emails, and letters. The officer asked to see pictures and itineraries, but chats, emails, and letters were already in the packet that we sent with the forms. Even though she didn't ask, I gave her copies of our lease agreement, some utility bills, and our joint bank statements. Yeah, she didn't ask much. I think she just wanted to know how we kept in touch since we had a long distance relationship.

[Nagishkaw 510]

CONGRATULATIONS!