|
|
| Los Angeles CA |  Review on March 30, 2010: |
Calypso
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
Nota bene: The immigration officer has apparently familiarized himself with our case. He didn't ask for my husband's birth certificate, passport, or any proof of U.S. citizenship. He didn't even mention anything that related to affidavit of support. The IO didn't care to ask for W-2s, 1040s, pay stubs, letter of employment, etc. although I brought them all. He must have seen those documents and forms from our initial submission. I believe that he was particularly assigned to us and was selected for a reason by the higher ranks way ahead of time. He has been to the Philippines more than once and commented that he knew my hometown Cebu even before I found out such a place existed.
When my AOS journey began, I hoped a lot for my case to be moved to CSC so that I wouldn't have an interview. I just learned one day that applicants residing in California rarely or do not get transferred to CSC. On February 24 this year, I received my interview letter with the date March 29, 2010. I noticed the advantage of having an interview and have been very excited for it. I kept thinking that I have one specific day to get a sure approval or denial instead of waiting and guessing when.
My husband and I arrived outside the Federal Building on 300 North Los Angeles St., Los Angeles at past 12:20 p.m. today. There were many people outside so we asked the guard if we still ought to join the queue in spite of our appointment letter. It was a yes and it took us approximately 30 minutes before we had the security check. We hastily headed for the elevator after passing through the detectors and guards.
There were signs on the fourth floor that led us to Room 4377. We spotted a female officer inside the room and we told her we were there for the interview. She instructed us to drop our appointment letter to Window 1. The man inside Window 1 asked us to choose a seat and wait for my name to be called.
Different groups of people were inside Room 4377 and most of them seemed to have lawyers. One person was called to go to Door # 1. A few others sitting with that individual stood up with her and went to Door # 1. Less than 10 minutes from the moment my husband and I arrived in that room, the man in Window 1 spoke my name and urged me to proceed to Door # 1. A non-Caucasian man opened Door # 1 and directed us to follow him. We reached his office in a few strides and started the oath that ended with "So help me God."
The IO asked even before the three of us sat, "You have been married for a year already, right?"
My brows met and I shook my head then said NO.
The rest of the interview was a soothing breeze. There must have been less than 20 questions. It was more like a casual conversation between people getting to know each other rather than a formal interview.
His questions for my husband:
How did you meet?
Do you have kids? (He answered not yet and the IO commented that was good.)
What do you do?
His questions for me:
Where did you live in the Philippines?
What's your complete address at present?
What was your major in college?
Did you have a strict upbringing?
Are you currently working?
Did you have a big or a small wedding?
The officer sang once in a while. He is a very pleasant and cheerful man. He asked if I had received my EAD and AP. I showed those to him. He kept them and said that I don't need those because all I have to use is my green card. He also wanted to see my birth certificate and marriage certificate. Once he saw the original versions of those, he gave them back to me. He continued, "You don't have papers with your name together like joint bank accounts because the time was very short to secure those, right?"
I said that my husband added my name in his health insurance and we have a joint bank account. I showed him the health insurance certificate, the separate paper from another company for the dental and vision insurance, joint bank account, and four notarized letters (from both of my parents-in-law, one of our neighbors here, and my husband's childhood friend who lives several blocks from our place). I also presented our YMCA membership IDs, twin credit cards, twin ATM cards, two real health insurance cards, and another two actual cards for the vision and dental insurance. He let me keep the cards after seeing them but took the original insurance certificates and bank statements. He then skimmed through my album and after seeing a few pages, he gave it back to me without bothering to look at other portions of it.
The IO stamped the front page of my I-485 "Approved" and began facing the computer while singing. He explained to me that he'd print a few notes and then we could get out of there already. He said that he already notified the right people who would produce my green card and they replied that my green card would show up rapidly. He also elaborated what permanent residency is and said that mine is still conditional so I should return in less than two years to lift conditions and that I could already be a U.S. citizen in three years. He handed me the papers he had printed. One has the line "Congratulations! Your application to adjust status has been approved." The other paper has the title "Notice to Conditional Permanent Resident Alien." According to the IO, the date he wrote there would be the actual expiration date of my green card and I should use Form I-751 to remove conditions within 90 days preceding the second anniversary of the date my conditional permanent resident status was granted.
I thank our Eternal God for His loving kindness and magnanimity; my exceptional baby love husband for being the best every single day; our cat Prince; all other helpful people around me; my fellow January 2010 AOS filers (you guys are amazing); my OT playmates and chopfvck friends; and VJ for being a fun playground.
My husband and I left our phones inside his car. There was a text message saying that my case was already updated online. I logged in to my USCIS account and that round thing moved to "Card production ordered" for my I-485. I got the same e-mail. My baby and I went back to the restaurant (Cravings in West Hollywood) where we got married in order to celebrate the approval of my AOS.
God bless us constantly and may we all have a contemplative Holy Week. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #5854