Phones during AOS interview - San Francisco Field Office

[proven999 1]

Are we allowed to carry cellphones? Since we have all our photos on either of our phones, we were wondering if we can carry our cellphones?

 

I didn't see anything on the letter or the field office site that says they do not allow cellphones?

 

Anybody have any experience?

 

Thanks in advance

[Transborderwife 4,666]

No cellphones.  You'll need to print off and bring

[Allie D 39]

Quote

 

Customers must completely turn off all phones during interviews or while being served by USCIS staff at the information counter.

 

- https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume1-PartA-Chapter13.html

 

@Transborderwife Perhaps I'm looking at the wrong thing but this seems to imply that it's OK to bring the cellphone but you have to turn it off. I've heard from others that you have to leave your phone in the car. If you don't have a car (my husband and I are taking the bus), does that mean you have to hand your phone over to the staff before entering the facilities? 

 

[geowrian 22,337]

My coworker did this once when she brought an iPad to show stuff to the IO. The IO's response was "How did you get that in here? You're not allowed to have that. Put that away."

Edited May 24, 2017 by geowrian

[Dashinka 24,494]

I always thought it was best to leave the phones and electronic devices in the car.  I know it seems archaic to print out photos and put them in an album, but whatever works.  I have heard stories regarding people coming to the USCIS office via public transportation being allowed to have their phones after going through security, but they were told to turn them off.

 

Good Luck!

[abhi_meli 150]

On 5/23/2017 at 10:09 PM, proven999 said:

Are we allowed to carry cellphones? Since we have all our photos on either of our phones, we were wondering if we can carry our cellphones?

 

I didn't see anything on the letter or the field office site that says they do not allow cellphones?

 

Anybody have any experience?

 

Thanks in advance

Seriously! you were planning to take your phone out of your pocket and ask the officer to scroll through the pics on your phone? You might as well ask him/her for their watsapp number to forwards your pics. Come on! just print the pics and bring them along with you. It would't cost much. 

[Scandi 4,166]

Not sure how it works on that specific office but in Los Angeles it's not an issue to get in with your phone. We had ours on an infopass at the LAC field office and were never asked to turn them off or anything. That said, I would turn off the sound at least and not use the phone as proof of anything. Leave it in your purse or pocket.

[Scandi 4,166]

Photos are easy, you just upload them on Walmart's website (or Costco, Walgreens etc), order and pick them up an hour later.

[proven999 1]

Hey guys -

 

Thanks for your replies. They were helpful

 

We still took our phones with us into the interview. There are signs to not record anything beyond a certain point, but no signs to not carry a cellphone/laptop or even having to turn it off.

 

 @gajbaldauri that's exactly what my wife did.. took her phone out of her pocket and scrolled through the pics on the phone. The officer saw them and didn't say anything. We didn't ask for their whatsapp number, guess there was no need to be a smart alec

 

Thanks everyone

Edited June 6, 2017 by proven999
edit for tagging user