Hi CCS3840
Congratulation for your GC
I’m in Boston Also
Please could you give me some details about your interview\?
Thanks
houselight75
Thanks houselight75 and i2009!
Let me give a little of information about our case. Both my spouse and I are here on H1B visas and we both have PhDs in engineering. Even tough we had a low number we were worried about time, especially about getting caught up in the background check (had a horrible experience when we applied for the H1Bs: we had to wait for lengthy security checks due to our engineering degrees). So we decided to get a lawyer to get things done as fast as possible on our end. The lawyer did mention that the two checks are different and that we shouldn't expect to have a problem.
I still checked this forum to have an idea of processing times and of other cases but I did not have to worry about the details of filling out the forms and preparing the application packages.
The main difference I saw between our case and the rest of the posts here is that we did not send back the DSP-122 to KCC. I am happy that it didn't cause any delays to us.
Now, answering the question about the interview. We received only one appointment letter with both of our names on it, so it was clear that it was going to be one interview together. The letter asked us to bring:
1) Photo IDs, passports, original birth certificates, marriage certificates,
2) EAD cards
3) Documents showing we live together: taxes filed together, lease, bank statement, etc.
We got to the JFK building about 20 minutes early and gave the letter to somebody in the USCIS office, were told to wait. We waited about 5-10 minutes and then the IO came out to get us. She was very nice and started the interview by asking us to swear to tell the truth. After that she told us that she had reviewed the case and that everything seems in order. She then asked us for the passports and checked them.
After that she asked to see the marriage certificate and some of the documents showing we live together. We gave her the joint 2008 tax declaration (she liked that we had the IRS transcript) and the lease. I was then going to proceed to give her previous leases, bank statements, and other things (we had brought EVERYTHING!) but she said that there was no need for it.
She then went over the I-485 application with me (primary applicant), confirming the names, dates of birth, etc and asking the entire yes/no questions. She then said I was approved and took my I-94 from my passport, asked for my EAD card and my AP. After that she repeated the same procedure with my spouse.
She then told us that as of now we were no longer on H1B and to notify our employers of our change of status. She told us to wait outside while she gave our case to another officer to review it, after that we would get a letter stating that we were approved, she also told us to expect the green card in about 2 weeks.
We waited outside and about 20-30 minutes later we were given an approval letter. Although the Boston office is busy everything was very smooth. I hope the rest of the people waiting get their interviews soon.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
))