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| Helena MT |  Review on July 27, 2007: |
gurge
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
I had my interview on 7/26/07 at the Helena, Montana field office at 9:30 am.
After a 90 min drive, we arrived at 9:25 am, signed in, and waited approximately 10-15 min with noone else waiting (gotta love Montana!). We were called in and sworn in before sitting. The IO then asked if we wanted the interview notice letter back, so I kept it.
After flicking through a few pages of the application, we were both asked to verify the birth certificates provided in the application and asked a few questions regarding birth place, birth date, parents' names. She handed the certificates back to us for our records.
The IO asked for our passports and verfied our identity. She asked my wife how we met. She removed the I-94 from my passport and cancelled my H-1B entry visa in my passport and explained why she was doing that (change of status). Next she asked for my social security card and EAD. She kept the EAD and said I could go to the social security office to change the restriction on the card once we're approved.
She asked if we had pictures and I pulled out our quite hefty wedding album. She looked through the whole album asking a few questions here and there (where did you get married? etc.) mainly she seemed to be just enjoying looking through the photos. We made a few comments about where we went for our honeymoon, where this and that place was and who a few people were.
Next, the IO asked if we had any evidence of living together. I produced utility bills, car insurance notices, and joint bank account statements. She commented that we were organised and that the previous people she interviewed had hardly anything.
Flicking through a few more pages, she asked various questions about the application information. She asked if "we both had any children". Asked about our jobs. I volunteered that we were moving to another state next week to which she didn't seem too concerned about. She asked our new address and amended the application on the spot. I had also filled out the AR-11 and I-865 notifying of address change and signed them in front of her and submitted them to her. She also told us to mail a duplicate change of address form to Kentucky to update records.
The IO then asked most of the "no" questions, to which I truthfully answered "no".
The IO said she was approving the application and explained that since we had only been married a year, that it would be a conditional permanent residency and to file for a 10-year card at 1 yr 9 months. She also handed a green form explaining this and we had to sign a form stating we'd received this information. She explained it would take 3-4 weeks (?!) for the card to arrive and that it should arrive at the new address.
We said our thanks and were escorted out the door.
... at least I think that's how it went 
Overall, it was relaxed and non-confrontational and merely a verifying facts process. The relaxed atmosphere is not out of the ordinary for Montana. I'm going to miss this place. 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #1846