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| Dallas TX |  Review on October 22, 2011: |
Alex13
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
We got there about 12.45 and my appointment was at 1. We got called in at probably around 1.10pm, our I.O made no eye contact whatsoever, he was an older white man probably around 70 years old. Real old school, looked like an ex-cop. I thought 'man, this isn't what I was hoping for..' and I was (sort of) right!
He swore us in and began grilling us fairly quickly. Finding any small discrepancy in our application, there's a bit where it LOOKED like it asked us to list any kids from our relationship, so we didn't list any. My wife has kids, my step-kids, but we genuinely thought it was asking for children of this marriage. So he really looked us over on that one.
He asked for any documentation with our names on it together - we gave him our sublease agreement with our names on it as proof of residency, and a college registration form that has me listed as a spouse. We told him that was what we were able to get hold of with no SSN etc, and he very sternly said again 'is there ANYTHING else with your names on' etc.. my wife was desperately trying to hold herself together throughout all this, as was I, my mouth was so dry the whole time. I tried my best to be stoic and calm-headed and I think it worked. Legitimately explained how we met, and he very carefully and slowly looked through our photo album. He also read a couple of letters/affidavits friends had written on our behalf.
Throughout looking through all these things, he gave no indication of any emotion other than suspicion (maybe not suspicion.... careful deliberation?), didn't crack a smile after we told the funny anecdote of how we met etc.
I thought, well, we've offered explanations for everything, I think we seem genuine and honest, he noted my wife's nervousness so I guess it was clear to him that it means a lot to her to have this work out. But I thought 'he's never going to tell me today if I've been approved though', at best he'd maintain stonefaced and tell me my petition was under review etc...
Anyway, he sat there and every so often just looked at us. Then he fiddled around for ages on the computer, stapling things etc, and he casually said 'Congratulations on becoming a Permanent Resident'! I was like 'excuse me?' (wasn't being a smartass, genuinely couldn't hear him coz he was a bit old and mealy mouthed) and he repeated it. Unbelievable! Me and my wife hugged, she cried, we were ecstatic etc, he then smiled and my wife hugged him and I shook his hand (twice, I think) and we told him how ecstatic we were etc. He said the card production would take a few weeks, and gave me a piece of paper with permanent residency info on it etc.
Amazing! What a surreal, weird day. The interview experience was horrible, absolutely stomach-churning. But we got approved! So I'm ecstatic, delighted, but the experience itself was pretty grim.
I guess my advice to people going through a horrible interview experience is this - I guess some I.O's just operate that way to determine truth, don't let it shake you and you still might end up with a great result! I guess the guy did a good job, and I guess we did a good job at remaining calm and steady throughout.
I want to give a 5/5 rating for the result, but a 1/5 for the experience itself!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8563