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| Sacramento CA |  Review on July 18, 2012: |
renecherubs
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
we arrived just in time. the building is near the cathedral in sacramento. we parked on a public parking about a block in front of the building. upon entering, you need to show valid ID's. mine was the ead (no state id/driver's license yet)my husband uses his driver's license. went through x-ray and for the second floor. i saw an african-woman with an id just got off from the elevator. i asked her if she works there. and she said, yes. i asked her if where can we find the room 2-220. she said...i'll show you. and i said, isn't it a bother? and she said smiling, it's not a bother at all. some could get lost in the building. she's really nice. she went back with us inside the elevator and showed us the way in the second floor.
i would have went directly to the waiting room but my husband wanted to go to the rest room first. so, i went to the women's and he went to the men's. when i came out, my husband was waiting for me and told me, my name had been called already. and he answered across the hallway that i was still in the rest room. we get inside and waited for my name to be called. a woman came out and called my name after like 3 minutes. she told me, i should have placed my appointment letter under the window. ohhh well, i was aware of that. but thinking as my name was already called, there's no need to put the letter there. my bad. but she said, it's okay.
she led us into another hallway inside into her office. she pointed where i should stand and where my husband should stand. she took our oath and we all seated. first question...do you have your original MC. i got it. slide it to her. and then, she asked: what documents do you bring that can prove that we live on the same roof. i said: i have our apartment lease with both of our names on it.health insurance, joint accounts. and then, she glanced across into the file of papers i have on my binder and said: ohhh you have life insurance too? i said yes. from his work and from our bank. and slide it to her. she said...wow...you have good benefits from work huh. sometimes, the benefits are about as important as the work.
so, she started with the basic questions, like when is the birthday of your husband. where do you live. i state our complete address. are you working? what was your previous work in the phils?
then, for my husband: when is her birthday? there was some confusion on who petitioned who (my husband was married before). and the immigration officer was thinking my husband was petitioned by his ex wife. it was the other way around. so, she asked my husband who petitioned him. he was petitioned as a son by his step-mother. and then asked when he was petitioned. when did he petitioned his ex wife. when did he become a US citizen. and then, asked how many children he has. where do they live. and did his ex-wife remarried. she remarried before my husband remarried. and she asked my husband if we get along well. and my husband answered, we get along pretty good. we always thought to ourselves how lucky we are. we're lovers,we're partners, we're husband and wife and on top of that, we're like bestfriends. so, the question was not hard for us to answer.
and then, i was asked how many rooms in the house. where does the kids sleep when they're with us. and commented: it is hard for the children especially now both of their parents have remarried. and we all agreed how difficult the situation is and we're trying to make the kids comfortable when they're at home with us.she asked me if i get along with the kids.
she asked for my husband's A#. my husband had no idea. i pulled out my k1 NOA2 and slide it to her.i said, my husband's A# is on top of his name. and then, she asked my husband, when was the divorce got finalized. my husband has no idea. i told her: the correct date. and she commented, how come i know more about facts of my husband than my husband do. and i said, i ask every question there is. and i'm naturally an inquisitive person. it seems i know more about who my husband is than my husband knows about himself.
then,she typed something in the computer. then, printed it. she let me sign something and gave me back my ead. she said that i could return the ead once my GC arrived by mail or after the ead expired. and that all the ID's/cards the USCIS gave should be returned to them, like EAD/GC when it expired. and then, she said: i now approved your application for permanent residency and your GC will arrive after a month. then, gave me a letter with her signature stating of the approval. she then commented: you come very prepared for this interview.
then, she said, that's about it and she stands up. we stand up too, and my husband told me....welcome to america.i said, thank you, and squeezed his hand. and the immigration officer told me that, it is stated in the letter too. about the welcome me to america thingy.
she led us out on the same hallway then to a door outside, to the waiting area. i thank her and told her to have a nice day. my husband, shake her hand and thank her.
i had a whole album full of photos. she didn't look into those even when my husband said...we have pictures. i had utility bills, she didn't asked for those. we have a copy of our joint account of our credit cards. she was not interested of those too. i have affidavit of affirmations from friends, she didn't bother with those. we have facebook chats/status proving our marriage. we have cards we sent each other during especial occasions. receipts of gifts we gave each other. pictures of those gifts. mails we received with our names on it on the envelope. and a lot more. all of these were never mentioned or asked during the interview. she was satisfied with the apartment lease, joint accounts, health insurance, life insurance.
we were filled with relief. my husband can't stop himself, reading and reading all over again the letter she gave me. we kissed just outside near the elevator. there's a bench there. and my husband kept on telling me "welcome to america". even now, he still says" welcome to america". we're sooooooooooooo happy. a rest from this visajourney until after 2 years.
time for us to enjoy each other without the hassles of immigration. thank you so much for all those one way or another had helped us during this journey. we are all smiles now. time, to move one. get a driver's license, get hired, and start making a family.and it could be in any order. God bless you always.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #10023