I read and re-read your comment and really don't know what to say. First of all, I didn't really understand why you guys didn't just send both of the AOS packages together? Second, if you are the winner and your spouse is you dependent, than I am not sure if the spouse can apply latter as you guys have to apply both together and you are runnig out of time, regarding stepdaughter in the home country, have no idea how it works with that. From what I understood, your spouse did not apply with you as the H4 visa wasn't renewed yet. This was the case of my husband, his J1 expired 9/11/11, we applied in July 2011 for a B2 visa, but did not wait for that, we sent the AOS package on October 1st as we were current in October, even though his B2 got denied in December 2011, we were already pending under AOS and had the interview together in January. As I see you are already scheduled for and interview next week, your spouse can not join you for the interview as there wasn't sent an Aos package and no paperwork were processed. I hope your lawyer knows what he's doing. Good luck