Thanks for sharing your experiences and advice, Strictly_Analog. That was helpful. The more I read about it, the more I am reluctant to get some random friend to"pretend" they are my sponsor. I'll take a couple more days to think about this issue and decide what I should do
Hello Oshin,
I was a F-1 student when I had my interview. I didn't bother filling out the I-134 and didn't have any trouble with my case. I was approved the same day.
The lady that did my interview was VERY meticulous and went through my passports PAGE by PAGE. She asked me extensively about my trips abroad and biographical information (major, school, etc). What was shocking to me was that she barely glanced at the winning letter, the DOS fee receipt or the medical report!
Her main concern was to establish that I had been on-status all the years that I have been living in the U.S. I've been living here 11 years. First as a L-2, then as a F-1 and finally as a U.S. Permanent Resident . I start graduate school in 3 weeks so I got the GC just in time for that!
If I may offer you some advice: Please try to stay calm and collected during the interview. Enunciate your answers clearly and don't be afraid of asking the officer to repeat her or himself if you mishear a question. Good Luck!