Today I had my interview and am ecstatic to report that we were approved! I am so relieved, I didn't realize just how anxious I was about it all. Following is a description of the interview day as best as I can remember.
Interview was at 8.30am in the Chicago office. Last night we put all our documents together - we got an expandable file and labeled each thing (e.g. Principal - Financial; Principal - Education; Spouse - Financials etc). We also paperclipped a copy of every document on the back of the originals, even ones we had already sent in, including passport, old passports, and copies of all the entry/exist stamps in the passports (and it was worth it it turned out). We got up at 6am and got ready, drove into downtown Chicago and arrived at USCIS at 8.15am, we sat down and were immediatly called (SO surprised!). We mentioned our surprise to the officer who said that our first appointment was actually at 8am - OOPS! [note to all, double check the times on your letters, especially if you have a spouse!]. We appologized profusely and he seemed to appreciate that!
The interview started [interviewer was a white male about 30 years old], we were both sworn in. Then he got my hubbie's info (principal) - asked for: passport, old passport, drivers licence, SSN Card, student card, birth certificate, I-94, I-20. Asked me what my hubbie's parents names were. Asked hubbie all of the questions on the I-485, hubbie is brutally honest, so, despite my schooling to answer yes/no only, when asked about claiming public benefits, hubbie said, well in my home country I got unemployment once... I nearly died, the officer smiled and said, we have unemplyment here too, what I want to know is whether you have claimed a public benefit here, hubbie thankfully (adn truthfully) said no, and we moved on. Then hubbie signed the form. The officer was warming up to us by now and was chatting about travel etc. Looked at proof of enrolment docs for hubbie and the original testamurs of all his degrees (not just high school all bachelors and masters). That was it for him.
The me: same ID docs, asked hubbie my parents names and occupations. Then mentioned my job offer. Then asked for our marriage certificate, and any document that could prove our "togetherness" [glad I read the forum, otherwise would not have had this!] - I brought out a bank statement and wedding pics, he looked at the pic out of interest only I think.
Then he said, that's it - you are approved, thanked us for our frankness and preparedness with the copies, and then proceeded to order the cards and finish the paperwork right in front of us! He also gave us his phone number in case the cards didn't come within 2 weeks, and said he would stamp out passports if we needed it.
He didn't ask for financials - I think the education sufficed. There was no discussion of financial support, which was my biggest concern. Seemed that HIS biggest issue was making sure we were actually together, rather than just together for the greencard. He did mention that he didn't do many DV applicants, so this may explain the difference between my expectation and the reality of the interview.
Hope this account helps, and any q's about the interview or docs we prepared etc, I am happy to answer!
Signed,
Not so stressed student!