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| Jacksonville FL |  Review on October 23, 2008: |
Jon&Lindsey
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
The interview was at 10am, and we arrived at about 9.30am. In Jacksonville, when you enter everyone just sits in a large waiting area and they call people for biometrics and interviews from there into rooms leading off. We saw a few other couples with less stuff then we had - we had a black plastic folder with all the documents in and a big photo album with cards and photos in (almost full). We saw several AO's walk by and another couple leave happily. At about 9.50 we were called in, and it was a good start as it was the most friendly-looking of the AO's we had seen, so we were happy to have her as our AO. She took us into her cubicle and we swore to tell the truth before we sat down. There was a big video camera at the back of the room, pointing at us, but otherwise it was just like an office. The AO was professional but very nice and friendly, and put us at ease.
First, she asked to see our ID (driving licence for J, EAD for me) and then our birth certificates. We had J's, but had to explain that mine was somehow eaten by the US postal system despite being sent from the UK via registered mail. She seemed disappointed, and when she looked at the copy she had, she said that mine was a 'short version' of a UK birth cert, as it didn't have my parents names. I have never seen any other birth cert for me, so just said that (I have since asked my mother, who thinks that they changed the format to this 'short' one just after I was born ('79), and she never had any other one for me). Anyway, she said she would work without it for now. We thought she meant she would have to see it before we could be approved, but apparently not! Next, she asked for the marriage paperwork and J's divorce paperwork, and then my passport and I-94W. As she typed on her computer, she asked us to make a pile in front of her of everything we have jointly, photos etc. We had our apartment lease, joint bank account statements and cheque book, 3 signed letters from friends about our relationship, mail to me at J's address, and our photo album. I was a little worried about this, as it wasn't very much compared to other people, but she didn't make any comment. She read one of the letters (a handwritten 2-page letter from J's best friend) particularly carefully, and asked who he was and if he and I had met. We explained and she seemed very pleased. She briefly looked at the other letters and the apartment lease, then started on the photo album.
In our album, we first had wedding pictures (courthouse wedding at very short notice with just two guests) and then some of us from two christmasses. She asked where the pictures were taken, and J said at his ex-wife's, as we still go down there for Christmas sometimes. She looked shocked, and asked me how I felt about that. I explained how they had split up amicably 12 years ago, and since J has no family, her family is like his family and they tried to spend some holidays together for the sake of their son. Everyone made a big effort to welcome me into their big Italian family, so no problem, although it does look kinda weird I guess! She seemed happy enough with that, and kept going. J drew her attention to a (step)mother's day card his son gave me, which she seemed really happy with, since she didn't think a teenage boy would write something so nice unless he really did love me! She said 'that says it all' and just leafed quickly through the rest of the album. Looking back, the album seemed like it made the difference - we had valentines, anniversary, birthday, christmas cards in it as well as plane boarding cards and pictures of us with friends and family.
The AO then moved on to ask me the standard 'are you a terrorist/been arrested' etc questions, and then checked through our birthday and address information. She asked if we would be moving house within the next few months, then took my passport, flicked to an empty page, and pressed it firmly open. J and I were holding hands tightly under the table, almost not daring to breathe in case she changed her mind! She took her stamp out of her desk and stamped my temporary green card. She then explained that she had ordered production of the real thing (and turned her monitor so we could see that on the screen, which was cool) and about the removal of conditions. She never actually said 'you are approved' but it was really cool how she did it!
We were never asked anything really about our relationship, like where we met, when we got engaged, etc, which surprised me. There were also NO questions about intent at the border; although I had brought evidence, I was worried about this! She didn't keep anything or copy anything. I'm not sure what time we got out, but we were driving away at 10.10, so it could only have been about 15 mins or less. It was actually pretty painless; I had thought we would get more questions as I entered on the VWP, J got married really soon after the divource came through, and we have a large age difference. I guess the AO's get used to it and can tell immediately when people are telling the truth and when they truely are in love with each other! She was really nice and friendly, but conscientious about writing everything down and getting all her paperwork correct.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #3496