Here’s my interview experience. Sorry it’s long but I find all these details helpful.
(I was called ahead about my interview and then the letter arrived a week before)
Thursday 20th, I got to the USCIS at Federal Plaza NYC about 8.30am. I entered building when security guard called for 9.15 appointments. Security was a breeze (phones are allowed). At the room the guard told me to come back 15 mins before the appointment, in about 9 or 10 mins. That I should go back downstairs and through security again. I’d basically do a loop and be right back! He pointed me to the restrooms and I just took my sweet time. Haha.
I saw a lady at the window to have a photo and fingerprints of my index fingers, not the bio just confirming identity I guess. Then sat in waiting room until 10.05. Just one couple I front of me went straight in. And then another couple came and waited.
I was nervous but after waiting I was a little better. The officer was a lovely young guy, he apologised for the wait and said they were very busy. The office was a ghost town. He also mentioned they were working from home and adjusting to getting back to the office.
I went into his office. Took the oath and sat down. There was a plexiglass screen between us. And hand sanitiser.
He asked to see the original copies of birth certificate, passport/visa, marriage certificate, and the documentation to show that I had filed for divorce. He asked to keep the copy of that. I gave him my latest tax documents.
We went through the main ID details of the I-485. Name, DOB, address. He corrected a spelling mistake in my mother’s name. It got a little more serious when I pointed out that I had lost my job.
He was kind about it, saying he was sorry to hear that. He noted down the date.
Then he asked me if I was on unemployment. I said yes and he asked if I included pay stubs for that. I hadn’t! I didn’t even think about it. I was so busy worrying whether I was allowed to be on unemployment that I didn’t think to use it as an income. I got kind of nervous.
I gave him updated bank statements. I tried to ask him about the public charge ruling. He wouldn’t say that it wasn’t relevant. He just said that all information will help my case. So I offered the I-134. He jumped at it. (Note. The instructions on the I-134 don’t say to include tax returns, but the interview letter does).
I was reluctant to give it to him but he was seeming concerned. I pushed a little on it and he said that he would take it all into consideration and that maybe the latest public charge ruling would effect it, also mentioning “a change in administration”, saying there was a lot of change right now....”so we’ll see”. He also said that my friend may need to fill out an I-864. I questioned that and said that I didn’t think it was relevant to DV. He admitted that he is new to the DV process and that they would contact me by letter if anything else was required to help my case. I think the financial discussion was a sign he was new to it and didn’t feel like he could just say it didn’t matter.
Then we went through the rest of the form. All the yes/no questions. Which he told me would be laborsome but we could do it. Ha. He was quite cheerful and we did have quite a few laughs throughout the interview. I signed the I485. He said we wouldn’t do the I-944. I asked if he wanted to see my education, trying to emphasise that I can get a job once I am documented. He said he’d seen it in the file and all would be considered.
He told me that he was aware of the deadline of Sept 30, that I would definitely have an answer by then. I asked if I can work when/if I get the letter or have to wait for the card. He said “with the letter you *should* be fine, but an employer might want to see the card”.
I asked about the background check. He looked confused about my wording, when I said “fingerprints” he said that there were no flags and all looked good. He told me not to be too stressed, that he wouldn’t promise it’s assured but he didn’t see any major concerns. He said that if I had further questions I should consult a lawyer. I actually laughed! I told him that most lawyers I’ve spoke to don’t understand the process.
Then we were done. He walked me out of the office and I waved at the security guard as I went back to the bathroom.
All up about 30 mins for the actual interview. I went home feeling very worried that I hadn’t brought enough financial information and nervous it might not happen. At 3.30pm I got an email notification (but not sms) that my case had been updated “new card is being processed”!!!! (Exactly 24 hrs later I got the case approved notice).
I was blown away. I didn’t expect to hear so quickly. I can’t believe it. With the timing of losing my job just as I went to AOS, the office closures, the confusion over unemployment, the divorce, the trump ruling, it all feels like a miracle that I got here at all. Especially when lawyers kept giving me different answers. I’m so thankful for all the hard work USCIS are doing to make this happen in time. And especially thankful that we can do such a complicated process without a lawyer thanks to
@Sm1smom, the spreadsheet and this forum. Thanks for answering all my very stressed and random questions.
I have one more
is there anyway to know if they used my friend’s i-134? I’d like to know for his sake.
Good luck everyone!
