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| New York City NY |  Review on March 19, 2009: |
mimimimimi
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
Garden City, NY review - interview March '09.
Our interview, hubby says, lasted 15 minutes but it seemed like a lifetime.
The IO called my name, and told me and hubby to follow him to his office. He then said: "you first" (to husband) - we didn't understand he wanted hubby to go in and sit on the far chair, and then me in the next one. We thought he wanted to interview us separately! then he said to my husband - no, you both go in, you sit first, then she sits in the next chair! it was not a language issue - as hubby misunderstood it as I did!
He asked if I spoke English, and if I would need a translator. I said my English is good, and I would not need one. Apparently that's a common thing. He then proceeded to ask for our original proofs of identity - USC hubby passport and birth certificate, same for me. He looked at the originals VERY closely.
He then asked my husband: how did you meet your wife? My hubby told him the month/year, and that we met online - and which online site and the details about how it happened, and that we exchanged emails till we met a couple of weeks later and hit it off.
He asked if we had pictures - and he looked at ALL the pictures (I was really surprised about it) in the 3 albums we brought! he murmured something like: that's good, we can see your ongoing relationship. He also saw the wedding album and asked to keep a picture of us together at the civil ceremony. He also said: who cooks all this food that's in the pictures? And my husband said: both of us. We all laughed.
He then asked for proof that we "live together", or something like that. we gave him electric, gas and cable+net bills in both names for 1-3 months. He asked if we had bank statements together. I gave him one statement, that's what we had. he asked when was the account open. We volunteered our joint 2008 tax returns and he was happy we had it.
He asked my hubby what does your wife do for a living? He said I am unemployed now, but I am an architect. He then asked me what was hubby position - I answered that and said who he worked for, and the company. he then asked me what was that company about. I told him. he asked hubby to elaborate. he said that it was basically what I said, and added two more points.
He asked if we had a joint lease and I said no, because I had a lease before by myself. he asked hubby: so you moved in with her? he answered: yes. he then asked me where did my husband live before the marriage? I said he lived with his mom, and before that, at college. he asked me where does his mom live, and I said the address.
He also asked if we had a joint health insurance, and we did so we gave him the copy and showed him the original card.
He also asked me what did hubby graduate in. I said his major, but that he probably wasn't going to work in that area.
He asked my husband how many years did I live in each country listed on my bio I guess... I was glad hubby had a good memory cause he told the guy the story of my life, which honestly, I didn't even know he knew by heart
He then started looking very closely again at my birth certificate and the certified translation I brought. oh, man. I would never imagine what followed happening... the translation agency I PAID to do it, because I was not sure if USCIS would accept a translation done by me, scr*** up! grrr! initially, they sent me only one copy only although I paid for two. I complained, and they sent me another copy by mail. that's the copy I took to the interview - and I did not have a second look at it... silly me!!! can you believe it? - it was a certified translation of a someone else!!! I was so angry, cause we put everything together so neatly, answered all the questions with no hesitation, and because of other people's incompetence, I was not approved today - he said he was going to need me to send him my (right) certified translation. and... he would go through the case, and I should wait UP TO 2 months for the decision! man... I pouted. Of course, I was sad. He then said, to my surprise: "no pouting! I could have denied, but I am not". Wow. Like, he's giving me a chance to send the right original in. I can't believe this is happening.
Because you get kind of nervous, we didn't notice at the time, but he took our original bills, bank statement and tax return - instead of the copies I made for everything!
He also took my I-94, he said I didn't need it anymore or something similar.
In the end, my husband asked him if there was going to be necessary to have another interview. (naive!!! - I think he doesn't even know what that means! hehe) but I was kind of glad he did, because the IO said: no, it looks like it won't be necessary.
So, we went home, and found the certified translation and fedex it for delivery next day at 10AM.
A week later I get this email saying: I-485 Card production ordered. 
It was not a pleasant experience. We felt as if we were being interrogated after committing a crime. I understand they have to be hard on people, but... man, give the benefit of the doubt to people.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #4097