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| Dallas TX |  Review on June 7, 2010: |
Justin&Katya
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
Today we had our adjustment of status interviews for my wife and step-daughter. Our appointment was at 8:30 and we arrived at 8:10. We quickly cleared security and headed upstairs to get our restaurant buzzer and wait. We had friends that were in and out in under an hour so we had similar hopes for ourselves. The waiting lounge had roughly 50 people already waiting, including some big families and some obvious lawyers. Now the waiting began. 8:30 came and went. So did 9:00 and 9:30. Finally at 10:00 our turn came.
When we got in the office, the agent asked for the three of our passports and the girls' work permits. She also asked for our marriage certificate and our baby's birth certificate, which was born after they arrived. No birth certificates for wife/daughter, no divorce papers for me or my wife either. The agent then went to go make copies of the two documents asked for and seemed like she was gone forever. In reality it was probably about 5-7 minutes. She came back in and asked my wife and step-daughter(11 years old) some basic questions; What's your name?; What's your address?; Have you been arrested or committed a crime in USA? Have you received government aid in the USA?; etc. And that was it! Approved! No questions about proof of residence or relationship(besides the marriage certificate). Maybe our baby was proof enough!:-)
We had another issue as the girls plan to return to Russia to visit family this summer leaving in about 3 weeks. The agent collected their advance parole documents and said they would get their green cards in 2-3 weeks. That would cut it very close and although the trip could be delayed, we didn't really want to do that if it could be avoided. The agent, who was really friendly, sent us downstairs to get the I-551 stamp in their passports. That was great, but we were already exhausted and hungry, and that meant going downstairs standing in line to check-in and take a number. The number said 'walk-in' on it, so we knew we would not be high-priority. We had about another hour wait, then about a 3 minute process of getting the passport stamps.
We were in the door at 8:10, waiting, about a 15-20 minute interview with no 'trick' or 'proof' questions, downstairs for an hour or so and out the door at 11:30. The interview itself was a breeze, but I don't recommend coming on an empty stomach, because they don't allow food or drink and it can be 3+ hour sit.
I rated the experience a 3 due to the wait, otherwise would've been a 5.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #6173