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| Mount Laurel NJ |  Review on November 3, 2015: |
Amuthan
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
We had our interview scheduled at 2:15 PM. Arrived at 1:45 PM and were actually chilling out at a nearby Starbucks. And about 2:00 PM we enter the CIS Office. Security asks for Interview letter and IDs, we oblige. Before we knew it, we were allowed inside. A receptionist/desk clerk cordially invited us and asked us our interview letter and we gave it to him. He told that an officer will come out and call my name and then we will get into the interview room. So, we wait for a brief 10-15 mins while joking and answering some US Civics/History trivia which was being relayed on a large screen TV. People were called in at no particular order. And then da-da-dum! da-da-dum! My name was called by a middle aged officer who looked very serious. No greeting, no pleasantries, it was an awkward/intense walking through the secured corridor and into his office. He pointed out for us be seated (again, no vocal command). We got seated, not comfortably though. He began asking us "Do you promise to tell the truth and the whole truth.." We weren't asked to raise our hands although, I did and my wife didn't even understand what was going on. Luckily, she followed suit as well. We both said "I do". The first question was "Is this marriage a real marriage or a fake marriage to obtain a green card?" (I actually giggled, although he was serious) "We both said it is a real marriage". He goes through the file in front of him with our application, takes a date stamp and goes through the form stamping, and checking yes. Still, no questions very quiet although we could hear the chatty officer next door who was asking all sorts of questions to this couple who decided to come with a lawyer. No questions still... Very awkward, he looks at me, looks at my wife, no questions or anything and continues to look through the file. Then he asked me about 10 of the I-485 questions particularly pertaining to national security to which I replied "No". After which he gets back to doing what he was doing and asked if we had any documents to show if we were living together, we added joint bank statements, utility bill in my name and phone bill on hers. He abruptly asked "Who is in the military?" and I was shocked, to which the wife replied "It was a promotional card from our bank so we signed up for that offer, that's it". I was still quiet.. He then gets back to the file, looks something in his computer and still continues writing and stamping on the file. After a little while, he announced that he thinks our marriage is real and that he is going to approve my Green Card. He said I should get it in about a month's time and a welcome notice will be mailed in the next two weeks. We came out, and took a deep breath! It really felt like I had achieved something at that moment! Also, I wore a suit and tie and the missus a nice dress skirt and blouse. A lot of people showed up in Jeans and T-shirts, and one particular guy came in basketball shorts, a t-shirt, panel flat hat and sneakers. So dress the way you both feel comfortable and most importantly be open and honest. Being a little nervous is natural, but again the officers are there to weed out the bad ones, believe me they will know the second they meet you if your marriage is real or not. After all, they are experts at what they do.
I hope that helps.. 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #18270