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| Memphis TN |  Review on May 16, 2016: |
BWandSP
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
So we were invited for an K1 to AOS interview which made me slightly nervous since I've checked the immigration timelines and it seems that most people aren't scheduled for one. I was wondering if we had given off any red flags (we got married only a year after meeting each other) and I guess we should've sent in more photos and other kinds of proof (which we had brought with us, especially photos!).
Anyway, we were a bit worried since the interview was scheduled for Friday 13th and in addition to that the website of the USCIS explicitly states that the office is closed on Fridays. I was quite relieved when we arrived and saw cars parked in front of it! It was open indeed.
Not even a handful of people were in there. We went through security and then to a counter where I showed my invitation and passport. We were told to go sit in the waiting room and come back to the counter in ten minutes. So we did and we were sent to another waiting room, that one was for interviews. Another couple was sitting there. We had been worried we'd be overdressed looking at the people in the first waiting room (who were there for other issues), but suite and dress was what the other couple was wearing, too, and I think it was a good choice.
We threw the invitation into a slot as we had been told to and sat down to wait. The other couple got called in and we waited and waited and waited. I got a bit nervous since no one else seemed to have an appointment after us so I thought we were considered a "difficult case". :D
The other couple came back out after about 15 and 20 minutes and we kept waiting. about 10 or 15 minutes later we were called in by another woman. She was nice enough but kind of stern, understandably.
She made us stay standing and swear that what we were about to say was the truth, then we sat down and she checked her computer and the files for a couple of minutes, wordless, looking through the file, checking off items on a list on yellow paper. Then she asked for our IDs and started asking questions:
Where have me met
When did we first meet in person, when and where afterwards
How was the course of that meeting
Did we meet each others families, when and where
What's the name and age of his children
Do we have photos (LOTS! She looked through a few of them and kept the ones that showed us with each other's family members and made me write date and occasion on the back of it)
Do we have any other evidence such a joint bank account (we didn't, I wanted to get it right and did it wrong: I got my SSN then instantly tried to change my name to the new last name on the SSN but that was rejected, only then did I apply for AOS. At this stage I can't even get a library card! I am on his medical insurance plan and on his and his kids' cellphone plan though, and that seemed good enough.
She seemed surprised that I had an SSN and told me that they shouldn't have given me one in first place without my EAD, which surprised me since I was able to provide all the necessary documents stated on the SSN website, so I don't know where she's coming from.
She also seemed surprised that I didn't get a temporary EAD stamp in my passport on the POE, which I hadn't heard about before, either, but yeah I'm not going to argue... 
Well, anyway. She then said, you're aware that this green card will only be valid for two years and you'll have to come back to remove the conditions, right? And I thought, YEEESSSSS, we've made it! :D I told her I was aware of that and she put a big fat red stamp on the first page of my file that read "APPROVED" and I squeezed my husband's hand tightly. :D
So, all in all it wasn't too bad considering how worried and overly prepared I was (I had brought about 2 lbs of documents!).
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #19517