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| Los Angeles CA |  Review on February 18, 2013: |
KleoLove
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
Had our interview for our adjustment of status I-485 application on 2/13/13.
We applied in Oct 2012 and received our interview notice in Jan 2013, so approx. 3 months later.
Our interview was at 2:30 pm in Downtown Los Angeles. We drove to a Transit station and took an express bus. We were there in 30 minutes and had a 5 minute walk to the building. (We did not want to deal with traffic/parking; Google maps planned everything for us)
We got to the interview found the entrance and lined up to go through security. Getting in took maybe 15-20 mins.
It was now 1:40 pm so we went up, found the room. Walked in to a big room, with comfy chairs, maybe 1/4 full. We went up to the only open window, where we dropped off our interview notice. The guy working looked at our notice, asked if we had a lawyer (no we were DIY all the way) and said that it would be a while. He said we could go down to the 3rd floor and get some food and bring it back to eat in the waiting room .
Hubby and I went down grabbed some snacks (cash only btw's)and came back. A looongg wait followed (hubby took a nap). Finally when there were only 3 groups of people left, around 3:45 pm the guy at the window called us up and checked on the status of our case through our Alien #. He said our case was being reviewed by an officer and we would get called next.
Security guard was very nice and felt sorry that we were almost the last ones. In the meantime we saw a couple go in and then the girl (wife?) came back out. I'm guessing they were interviewing them separately. Finally a tall 6'0, possibly Filipino officer came out and called us in.
We went in to his office, got sworn in and he asked us for:
1) ID's and passport, gave him all that plus EAD and Social Security Card. Hubby had the brown card from DMV since he just updated his address.
After that he was going through our application confirming names (I took my husband's last name as my legal middle name so he inquired about that) I showed him the official marriage license and he seemed satisfied with that.
Then he asked if I had committed any crimes, last point of entry etc. Then he conversationally asked how we met, so hubby and I explained how it was through a mutual friend at a BBQ. He made conversation about when we had moved in, what cities I had lived in, if I was working etc.
Then he asked if we had any additional paperwork so we gave him 1) W2 for 2013 2) Rental Agreement 3)Car Insurance 4)Auto Buying Contract (Early Valentine's day Present for me) 5) Bills. All the paperwork had both of our names except his W2 for last year. He seemed surprised that hubby got me the "new" car and was keeping the old (he loves that darn Celica! lol)
Hubby also told him we had some pictures (I was nervous so I forgot all about the album I put together just for this) He looked through the album, asked questions about the people in them. Then he asked if he could keep some and we said yes, that we would just print more.
Then he excused himself that he was going to make copies, I offered the ones I had but he said he liked to get all the cards in certain order. (there goes wasted effort on copying, oh well) When he left I asked my husband if I forgot anything, so I dug through my folder and found my newly issued driving permit.
When he came back in we showed it to him (while my husband laughed at my picture ) and he said that he didn't need it. He said he had enough proof and that he was approving us!!!
He explained the Conditional Residency, and how to apply 90 days before expiration and to expect the GC in the mail. He shook our hands and led us out. Interview was probably 20 mins once we got in. I think we had a straightforward case and he was probably trying to go home since we were the last ones.
The room was empty when we left and we luckily caught the bus right away and were back at the transit station before 5:30.
Good Luck to all and thank you Visa Journey!!
p.s Hubby wore dark jeans, a black collar shirt and his comfy tennis shoes (he refused wear anything else) I wore a gray knee length dress, flats and a cardigan.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #11494