Here is my complete AOS experience. I am very grateful to this forum - particularly to Simon, Susie, Mom, Vladek, Rafikbo, Sloner... Besides the practical help and advises from you - it was also fun. I have my green card now - but still can't part from you guys. Best wishes to everybody in this forum!
I am DV 2014 selectee main applicant . My case number is EU34XXX.
I am E2 visa derivative. We decided to go for AOS.
Current in July.
Sent AOS package to Chicago
5/14
Acceptance email
5/22
Check Cashed
5/22
Notice of Action (NOA) I-797 letters in the mail
5/27
Bio Letter
5/29
Bio date
6/20
Bio walk in
6/10
Request - Level 2 officer
07/07
Called to USCIS phone # 1-800-375-5283 . Got Agent on the line. Asked for level 2 officer. On hold for 3 hours. Explained DV urgency. He said he will send a request to my FO.
Expedite request - USCIS agent
07/08
Called to USCIS phone # 1-800-375-5283. Got Agent on the line. Explained DV urgency. Asked for expedite request. Emergency category “sunset Timing Issue”. She said: You will get a response from your FO within 5 business days.
Interview letter.
Response on Request of 07/07.
Response on expedite request of 07/08.
07/15
Received response letter from my FO on my request of 07/07, response letter on my expedite request of 07/08 and 4 Interview Letters – me , my husband and 2 kids.
Response letter is stating that they received my requests and Interview is scheduled.
Interview letter is giving date 7/28 and time. Interview times are separate for each family member.
Preparation to the interview.
- Reading interview experience on this forum.
- Made a binder of original documents sent with I-485 packages. We are 4 applicants – so we have four I-485 packages. At the interview we may be asked for originals. For a better navigation thru the pile of documents - I made a binder of original documents sent with I-485. I placed each document into a clear sheet protector and then into the binder. I also stuck labels to separate Birth certificates, Financials, Education etc.
Called to KCC about my file sent to FO.
07/25
From this forum I know that it is crucially important for the KCC file to arrive to the Field Office prior the interview.
I called to KCC asking if my file has been sent to my FO. I was told that it was sent to my Field Office on 06/25. I also asked if the file is e-fail or paper. She said paper.
Interview
07/28
Arrived 30 minutes before Interview time. Went thru security – same as in airport. No sharp items, no liquids. Phones, tablets, laptops area allowed. Checked in with the front office and were told to proceed to the right and wait there to be called.
Walked into a spacious hall with 50-60 peoples in the chairs like in the movie theater, ~10 windows and the Door. Each window has a chair in front and a clerk behind. Not sure what kind of business they conduct. Could be Infopass.
Our attention is on the Door. Time to time it would get open. Immigration Officer would appear and invite G-number(the number assigned by front office) into his office. After 40 minutes of waiting the Door opened again. Immigration officer called our four numbers. We rushed to the Door. She told the kids to stay in the waiting area (thankfully I had my mom in the company to watch them). Following IO we walked into a hallway with the offices on both sides. Her office was somewhere in the back.
IO told us to raise hands. She asked our names, date of birth, ID. In front of her she had our I-485 folders we sent to Chicago. The folders were rearranged. Some pages were marked. Pages were stapled at the top. She said that she didn’t have time to review. She looked at “current USCIS status” box of my I-485 stating that I am E2 derivative. IO: Are you applying for Immigration from E2? Me: No, I am DV lottery winner. IO: O-o-o, this is so rare to win.
Then she asked us standard I-485 questions: been arrested, been reported etc. The questions were addressed to both of us at the same time. Accordingly we replied ‘No’ together at the same time. She was asking and making remarks on mine and my husband I-485. Then she also put her remarks on the kids I-485. Then she said that our application has been granted. She gave us 4 letters with date 07/28/14 on the top– one per each application. The letter stated that application is “thoroughly reviewed”, we are eligible “for status as a lawful permanent resident”. “This letter indicates your classification and the date as of which you became a lawful permanent resident of United States. At this time the Service is processing your permanent resident card, Form I-551.”.
The whole interview took about 20 minutes – 5-8 minutes of interview itself. The rest of the time IO was struggling to get access to their system, complaining that it is Monday and the system is slow. Printer also was not very cooperative – paper got jammed. Before letting us go she said that everything is ok and she doesn’t want to take our time. She said that we will receive letters within 10 days. I think she meant welcome letters. She said that 3 days after we receive the letters- the green cards will arrive in the mail. She said to watch our mail box so the cards will not get lost.
Right after the interview I checked my case status. It was still Acceptance. One Hour later it turned to Card Document Production saying that we ordered your card. Two hours later it turned to Decision stating that “On July 28, 2014, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status.”.
Welcome Letters .
07/31
Received Welcome letters. Case status is still Decision.
Checked case status next day. It changed to was CPO “ we mailed you cards”.
Green cards
08/02
Green cards came in Priority Mail. Case status changed to “your new card was delivered “.