Local US CIS Office Review: Los Angeles CA
Review Topic: cis_topic
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
March 6, 2010 |
| Embassy Review : |
Background: We filed our paperwork (I-130, I-485, I-765, I-693) on Dec. 11, 2009, delivery confirmation was Dec. 14. Went away for Christmas and came home to NOAs dated Dec. 18. Biometrics NOA for Jan. 12. Received our Interview letter on Feb. 5 for March 5, received EAD confirmation Feb. 12. EAD card arrived Feb. 19. Interview completed on March 5, 10:15 am. APPROVED :-) :-) :-)
From Andrea (USC):This review is for 300 N. Los Angeles St, Room 4337. I don't know if there are different offices for interviews, so if you are scheduled for here I hope this helps demystify and allays any worries you might have for your big day!
INTERVIEW PREP: Regarding our interview, we were justifiably anxious, you know, our future only depended on this meeting! We read as many reviews as we could about people's interviews in LA and just prepared as well as we could. My brother and his British wife had their interview here in LA and while their circumstances were different they said their interview was about 20 minutes and we would be fine. But you just never know, right? So we went in truly prepared for anything. We had two full copies of our application, all of our originals, W-2's for 2009 (they only had my 2008 tax return), all of my recent paystubs, any mail addressed to the two of us, three photo albums, travel docs from all of our trips in the US....Ian suggested we bring the dog. I think he was half serious. But I didn't want to not have something - anything - and have to send it in later and cause any delays.
I dressed upscale business casual (sweater dress) Ian wore a suit.
THE BIG DAY: Our appointment was set for Friday March 5, 2010 10:15 am, 300 N. Los Angeles St. room 4337. We heard there were long lines to get in so we left two hours early. It took us about an hour to get in from West LA. I know downtown pretty well, so PARKING TIP - there is a lot on TEMPLE a half block south of Los Angeles St. across from the federal building that is $8 all day. It's right across from the federal building that takes up the whole block and that's where you're going.
We went to the front of the building (it was probably about 9:15) and there was absolutely no line for security. We'd heard there is usually a wait but we cruised through. Went through the metal detectors, we had our phones with us, but they did ask us if we had any cameras. We do in our phones - not a problem. Security was really nice.
Took the elevator to the fourth floor, except it wasn't working. So got off at the 3rd floor, took the stairs to the 4th. There is a security guard station right as you enter the room. When we walked through there was no one there so we just went to the window and handed the lady our NOA Interview letter. She was nice, told us to take a seat and they'd call us. We each went to the restroom (out the door past two exit signs.) Later Ian went to get a coffee, and by then there was a security guard and she wouldn't let him bring it in. Because she wasn't there before I had a bottle of water with me - not sure if she would have made me throw it out. But I drank from it while we were waiting and no one yelled at me. So there you go :-)
The room was large like an airport waiting room, but only about 20% full. Some people had lawyers, some not. We were easily dressed up compared to everyone around us. Lots of people in jeans. There was a couple in front of us who looked like they were about 23, had practically no paperwork, he looked foreign, she was in jeans and covered in tats. Just saying.
People were called in and we saw some of them come out about 20 minutes later, all smiles. A good sign.
I'm pretty sure people were called in order of appointment time, not in order of arrival. Some were called to Door #1, some to Door #2. There's a PA system that pages you; except for us! We faintly heard our name called for Door #1. We grabbed our three bulging bags of evidences (we had the most baggage too) and headed in.
We crammed into the man's little office. He swore us in and was nice nice nice the whole way through. It took me about 10 minutes to make sure he wasn't messing with us. He confirmed Ian's parents' names. Asked us for our birth certificates. Then asked for any government id's - passports, drivers' licenses. TIP: USC - bring your drivers license. I don't know why you wouldn't, but have it with you. Ian hadn't brought his expired Canadian license, but it wasn't a big deal at all.
He left a couple times to make photocopies of our docs (even though I had brought some ;-) Type A here! He then went through the questions on the I-485, (drug trafficking, any terrorist friends) all of which Ian answered with a No. The interviewer told us one time he asked the question about prostitution and apparently the lady had had a past that the husband didn't know about, so he had the husband leave and talked to the lady and her lawyer privately. AWKWARD!
He then asked for a gas bill or electric bill. All of our utilities are actually in my name, so we gave him an original of our lease with both our names on it, our health insurance certificate, and our joint checking acct. statements. He left to make copies of the lease and health ins., barely glanced at the bank statements.
The whole time we were having just light conversation - he did ask how we met, but it was a more casual tone, which may have been a part of the process or he was just curious. Ian is a musician but bartending is in his employment history, chatted about that. I'm an actor and our health insurance is through the Screen Actors Guild, chatted about that. Chatted about how single women tend to look for guys with money. Our interviewer brought up driving cross country through Texas (no idea how that came up)....it was around then that I got the feeling that we were good to go, and he liked chit chatting, and didn't need to hear any of our stories for validation, and actually probably wasn't all that interested.
And with that he gave us our approval letter, took Ian's EAD, told us to look for the Green Card in a week or so. he advised us to go straight to social security so Ian can get his card and to the DMV to get a CA license. He walked us out, shook our hands, and we were one of those couples walking out after about 20 minutes smiling, saying good bye and thank you!!!
We were out the door by 11:15, seated for brunch at 1:15 in Santa Monica with my brother and his wife and I had a mimosa in front of me by 1:30. BEST FEELING EVER.
Some thoughts on our experience:
I don't know if there are other offices for immigration, or maybe certain days or maybe even times of year where there are higher maintenance cases. But I got the distinct feeling that our day was a light one. Everyone in our room seemed calm and confident both coming and going. I never got the feeling we were being videotaped or recorded, but I think it's best to assume that the moment you set foot near the building you are on stage so to speak. Everyone in the building was just really, really nice. We were probably way overdressed and way over-prepared but we took this experience very seriously and since we were on our own, had only ourselves to be accountable.
And we got it! We were approved. Would we have gotten it with half the attention to detail? Maybe. We've been together 4 years, married for 1, I was born in Boston, Ian in Toronto. Ours was mostly an easy straightforward case, we did have some concerns about parts of our application but since we got the biometrics, EAD, and interview letter all in a very timely way, we figured we were good to go. We were completely and thoroughly honest on our application, so we figured anything questionable would be addressed prior to our interview. We weren't SURE though, so we went into the appointment ready for anything, ready for any questions whatsoever.
I know this is long, but I wanted to give any and all details of what we experienced so people are maybe a little less stressed going into their interview. We could NOT have done this without VJ and all the kind people who have given their time to coach people through what is can be a very scary undertaking.
I truly hope this helps people out there who have interviews in LA. Our experience was easy peasey, and I know everyone is in different situations, but take heart. Prepare yourself in a way that you won't have any regrets later, and you can walk in there confident and optimistic.
Onwards and upwards!!!
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| Harassment Level : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0