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| Baltimore MD |  Review on October 31, 2018: |
JasonGG
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
My wife and step-daughter sent their AOS applications in July, had their biometrics appointments in August, and their interviews were scheduled in mid-September. I drove to the office twice just to make sure I knew how to get there. It is very easy to get to from the Baltimore Beltway and I-95. There is ample, free parking available.
Our appointment was scheduled for 7:30. We arrived at 7am and there was already a line of 10-15 people ahead of us going through security. After security, a gentleman at a desk told us to wait in line in the main sitting area to check in. Following another short line and wait, we gave our interview letters to a man at a computer who printed out a ticket with a letter and number. We received the ticket at 7:17am. I have no idea what the ticket numbers were for because everyone was called to their interviews by name. There are two doors - one at each side of the room - and immigration officers would come out and call names. Some used the intercom and others didn't. There were several families waiting with attorneys. The attorneys didn't seem to be much help as they seemed as unsure about what was going on as their clients!
The officer called my wife's name at 8am. My wife, step-daughter, and I followed him to an office. He swore us in, reviewed our identification documents, and took my wife's fingerprints. (I don't remember if my 8-year-old step-daughter needed to do this.) The officer proceeded to go through my wife's AOS application line by line. Some items he read word-for-word and others he paraphrased. Sometimes he would ask questions about the answers she provided. He then asked every "Yes/No" question and also paraphrased some of those questions.
We provided joint bank statements, insurance policies (health, auto, and home), beneficiary letters, 2 months of my pay stubs, photos, etc.
Looking at the bank statements, he asked my wife the name of the grocery store we shop at . . . she responded with the name of the store we go to every Saturday, but the officer was inquiring about the store I go to for milk, bread, and other things during the week. I explained why she gave a different answer.
Looking at the insurance policy, he asked how many cars we had. She said 3. He asked why the insurance policy only had 2 cars on it. Again, I spoke up and said that I insure the 2 cars on the policy we provided. My daughter and car #3 is insured on my ex-wife's policy.
He asked us each to identify people in the photos we provided. He also asked my wife:
- Have you met your husband's family? How do you communicate with them?
- Where was your wedding?
- How did you meet?
- Who cooks dinner each night?
- What is your husband's favorite food? He asked me if she cooks it for me.
He asked me:
- Have I met my wife's family? Are they happy that we are together?
- How did I meet my wife?
- Did I expect to begin a relationship with her when we first met?
- Why didn't I apply for a social security number for our step-daughter. (I said that a K-2 is not eligible for an SSN until they receive their EAD. He told me I was wrong and that she was eligible when she arrived in the U.S. This is contrary to everything I have read on Visa Journey, though.)
Next, he reviewed my step-daughter's application. After a LOT of paper shuffling, he asked her:
- What is your name?
- How old are you?
- What is your mother's husband's name?
- What time does your father leave for work? I interrupted and said that I leave an hour before she wakes up.
- Where do you go to school?
- What grade are you in?
- Do you like the United States? Do you want to stay?
My wife translated most of the questions for her, but she responded to all of them in English.
Lots more paper shuffling and jotting notes down on the applications. I think that consumed at least 15 minutes! After about 1 1/4 hours he said that "there is no reason for me not to approve your application," however he needed to conduct a final review before submitting his approval. He then explained that they would receive their green cards about 1 week after approval. They would need to apply to remove conditions 90 days before their 2-year cards' expiration. My wife could apply for citizenship in 3 years (1 year into the 10-year green card's term). My step-daughter would not have to go through the naturalization process to become a citizen as long has her mother became a citizen before she turned 18.
My wife and step-daughter each received a generic letter saying their applications required further review and we should receive a decision by mail within 120 days. I am told that this is standard for all interviews at the Baltimore office. Their applications were approved 6 days after the interview.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #24950