Interview today was smooth!
Really impressed with the Houston Field Office staff, everyone was kind from the security staff, check-in staff, biometric techs and immigration officers. I think everyone I talked to ended the interaction with a very kind “good luck today” or congratulatory remark.
tips for everyone:
- relax, and go slow (I was shaking like a leaf an my interviewing officer remarked on it - but in a very kind, trying to put me at ease kind of way)
- if you’re in a new tax filing year since you applied, have that tax return or proof you’ve submitted it with you
- relationship photos post immigration are a great idea to provide when you apply, my officer looked through those with me in the room made comments on them and said he was good with those
- when you get to the reading/writing question GO SLOW - even as a native English speaker it’s easy to have nerves mess you up. I read “is” instead of “was” in a sentence the first time because of how nervous I was. The officer was very kind in prompting me to slow down and read carefully.
tips/notes for Houston FO attendees:
- it’s loud in the waiting area, and two sets of numbers were being called out at once. First set is to go to a window for photo and fingerprint check. Second set is to go to a certain door to meet your immigration officer. Sit near the display until your first number is called for biometrics, then move closer to the door for your actual interview number.
- it appears spouses were allowed into the waiting area with you, just not back into the interview. Can’t say for sure, but that’s the impression I got based on observing other couples.
- don’t arrive too early, they turned a few people away who were more than 30 minutes in advance. I arrived 20 minutes early, then waited in the car until 10 minutes before my appointment and was allowed right in.
- remember you’ll go through security when you enter, so limit the amount of metal on your person (ie heavy shoes/belt/big jewelry)