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| New York City NY |  Review on December 6, 2016: |
palolis
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
Our interview was scheduled for 3:30pm. Our lawyer told us to be patient because that was the last time of the day for interviews. We arrived to the building (26 Federal Plaza in New York) at 2:30pm and went through security (airport style). We needed to go to room 800 (8th floor) and check in. There was no one else in that room. We showed our NOA with our appointment and they gave us a paper highlighting the room we needed to go to next (and gave us back the NOA). We went to room 437 on the 4th floor and checked in again with the only person available at the windows. She kept the paper they gave us in room 800, stapled a paper with our turn and asked us to take a seat. It was 2:45 by then.
There were only 3 other couples and a mother and son in the waiting area. We noticed they didn't necessarily call people in the order they arrived, apparently they assign your case to a specific officer (the officer who reviewed your file - I know this because our officer mentioned he had done our background check before the interview) so if your assigned officer takes longer with his/her interviews, you will see people who arrived after you come in before you. I think this is also what happens when they schedule the interviews: they assign your case to an officer when your file arrives to the local office and if that officer takes longer to review it, they will schedule your interview after people who filed after you. So, for people who filed before me in NYC and haven't received notification of your interview, it looks like your officer is slower/less efficient than mine.
At 3:30pm we were the only ones at the waiting area. The officer who guards the entrance started rearranging the seats for the next day, so we officially knew we were the last ones to be interviewed yesterday. We waited 10 more minutes and our officer came to get us at the door.
He was the best officer we could get. We are in a same-sex marriage so we were afraid of the officer not being open and inclusive; but it was completely the opposite. He was magnificent. He sworn us in and, then, the first thing he said was that it was about time that our marriage was recognized by the law and that my American wife could petition me for residency, he said he had a gay brother whose long-time partner died the day DOMA was repealed and he didn't get to marry the love of his life. He said we shouldn't lose hope and we should be proud of this country. We knew we were in the right hands.
The officer asked just one question to my wife: how did you meet? My wife explained how we met and how we started dating, the day she told me she had feelings for me, where we were and how I responded, so the officer said "my interviews are very simple, I have been working here for 22 years and I know when it's the real thing, and your story has nothing generic in it, I'm going to approve your case. That means that I conclude your marriage is legitimate". That was it. He asked to see my entry to the US (on my passport), documents that showed we co-habitate (we had bank statement, lease, home renter's insurance, medical insurance, etc.) and asked for 4-5 photos of us and with other people. It took 5 minutes.
Then he said he was going to do all the paperwork at that time, he said we could tweet or whatever we liked (he was funny and easygoing), the interview was over. So he proceeded to stamp, sign and write some stuff on our very tick file while he was talking about the election outcome, he said I shouldn't fear anything the new president might do, he can't take our rights (meaning he won't be able to do anything about us being residents). Since my wife and I have been married for more than three years, he said he was granting me permanent residency without conditions and he encouraged me to apply for citizenship in three years!
He really was a delight! When he finished with the paperwork he said we could expect the Green Card to arrive in 6-10 days. We mentioned we are traveling abroad on the 16th, so he said to keep my combo card just in case but that he thinks the card will arrive before our trip. And finally he said "in the name of the United States of America, congratulations! As of today, you are a permanent resident of this country", he brought tears to my eyes.
He accompanied us to the exit and wished us all the best. My wife and I hugged and left the building ecstatic! We went to battery park to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, had very early dinner and a glass of champagne to celebrate right after. While we were having dinner, I got a text message saying that my case status had changed, I immediately checked online and it now says "New Card is Being Produced".
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #20997