Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 1
Name: Val & Reuben
Filing date: August 19, 1999
Interview date: June 13, 2000
Reuben and I went to his AOS interview today, loaded down with more paperwork and proof of an established life together than I thought we'd need. turned out we didn't need much of it at all.
We arrived early at the INS suboffice for Orange County, on Magnolia St., in Garden Grove. We walked to the entrance, where the guard looked at our letter, and told us we were too early; he suggested we go and get some lunch at a Vietnamese deli just around the corner, and recommended sandwiches. We checked it out (and I too, recommend the $1 sandwiches), and came back. This time he laughed as he saw our supporting documents, kidding us about how many we had (about 30 pounds' worth). We waited from 1:35 on. 1:55, the appointment time, came and went. We finally got called in around 2:20-2:25.
The officer directed us to her cubicle, and had me wait there while she took Reuben to get his right index fingerprint. She came back, and made us stand while she swore us in. She started with a few simple questions along the lines of 'please state your full name?; what is your phone number, address?; etc. She asked for our IDs, so we handed her our passports. She asked for our drivers' licenses as well, so we handed those over, and the photocopy we'd taken of them. She tore out Reuben's I-94.
Then she asked Reuben what happened when he had entered the country before he entered on his K-1 visa. My stomach sank. (some of you may remember, Reuben was denied entry in Jan. '98, which caused our K-1 to take nearly 12 months to be processed.) Reuben answered truthfully that he was denied entry to the US because of a misunderstanding over what he had checked on his entry card, but the consulate had sent his case over to the Bangkok Embassy's Regional INS office for review, and found that he was innocent of misrepresentation, and so didn't need a waiver of inadmissibility, and thus the consulate in Auckland issued him his K- 1 visa, and he had thought the matter over and done with. I told her I had a copy of the fax the consulate had sent me about it with me, and would look for it while we talked. The officer seemed satisfied enough with that, and I felt relieved.
The officer then asked me how we had met, when we met in person, the dates I had entered New Zealand to visit Reuben and meet his family. I had to repeat myself several times so she could finish making her notations in the file before her. She asked Reuben all the questions from the I-485: 'have you ever commited any crimes either inside or outside the US, etc.'. She asked for the sealed envelope from Reuben's second set of medical exams, which we gave her. She opened it, and handed Reuben a green sheet from inside it, saying it was his copy. She also asked when we got married.
She asked me if I still worked at the same employer I had when I filed the I-485; I was. I asked her why she kept asking us questions she had the answers to -- had she lost parts of the file? She said no, she had to confirm the answers. She then said I would have to file an I-134 affidavit of support. I said, wait, I filed that with the I-129F, then got given the other affidavit by *this* office in our AOS packet. She said 'well, the law has changed.' I said I had a copy of the old I-134, and she said that would work. She had me update my salary on it, and sign it, then I handed it back to her. She asked for copies of our taxes, letters from our employers, and pay stubs. I handed her the binder of supporting document copies, and told her we had made that binder for her to put in the file, to keep. She picked up the binder, looked at the file, and said she couldn't fit the binder in the file -- so she would just look through and take what she needed. She started flipping through the binder, pulling out documents, reading everything carefully.
I asked a few times if she wanted to look at any of the originals we'd brought with us, or the wedding album, or the guest book, or the 4-inch stack of cards and mail we'd received -- each time she said that wasn't necessary, or that she thought she had enough.
After going through the binder for a while, she said she'd have to go talk to her supervisor. She came back very quickly, and said that she couldn't adjust Reuben's status today, and that his case required further investigation. We both looked stunned. She said that this was a very unusual case, because Reuben was very likely inadmissible to enter the United States. I asked her how this was possible, as his case had been referred to an embassy office and there found no evidence of misrepresentation, and he had a K-1 visa issued. We spent 8 months waiting for that decision, I explained, and asked if there was a reason to overturn that decision. she waffled. She did say that our case looked 'very good'.
I asked her what the worst case scenario would be, and if Reuben would have to go back to New Zealand. She shook her head, and said no, he would not -- that we'd have to file a waiver of inadmissibility and as his wife, I'd have to prove extreme hardship. That's when I said, 'hang on. We already prepared a waiver of inadmissibility and filed it with the Auckland Consulate, in case the embassy in Bangkok ruled against Reuben.' I told her she should contact Carmela Conroy, the vice consul, who handled Reuben's case herself, and that I had a hard time believing a vice consul would just issue Reuben a visa, when in fact Conroy was the one who put brakes on the whole process and insisted we let her refer the case to the Bangkok Embassy's regional INS office. The officer nodded. I then handed her my stack (which I had just found) of the waiver and supporting documents. She looked surprised, and asked if we paid the filing fee, as she looked through the files. Reuben told her yes, he had, but he never got his money back, as he'd lost his receipt (sigh). I finally managed to find my copies of the fax I received from the Auckland Consulate, and handed them to her. her eyes widened as she read it, and she asked if I had a copy. I told her I had 4 copies, and she could keep hers.
At this point Reuben and I were both so mad we could have spit nails. She told us that if we hadn't heard from them in three months, we could come to the office in the morning, and stand in line to get a number to come see someone about the case.
I asked her what we needed to do about Reuben's EAD cards; if he could still work or not. 'Oh yes,' she said, 'so long as his card hasn't expired.' well, it hadn't. Reuben said he just couldn't believe that the consulate would have issued a K-1 visa in his case without getting a review from a higher authority. She nodded and repeated that they needed to do further investigating, and again said 'but it looks very good,' then asked if we had any other questions. I asked her if she wasn't *sure* she wanted any other documents from me or to see any originals. She declined. We left.
One thing that was odd: whenever we talked about anything the officer had before her in our file, she made notations on it. When we talked about the waiver of inadmissibility ruling, she wrote nothing at all. This makes me wonder if she even has anything about it in her files at all. Everything I showed her about it, especially the fax from the consulate, she reacted to with surprise.
Another odd thing: she said at least twice that our file 'looked good' or 'looked very good'. this seems like unusual optimism from an INS officer.
Still another odd thing: she took Reuben's fingerprint, and took his I- 94, removing all proof he entered the country legitimately. Swell.
What I wonder is this: she obviously had the Jan. '98 file, our I-129F, and the I-485 in front of her. She knew about Reuben's denial of entry... knew he had entered the country and gotten married, before this interview had even happened. so why would she go through the motions of the interview if she didn't plan on giving him the green card eventually? why did we even get an appointment letter for the interview? one theory we have is that the entire set of files relating to the ruling re: inadmissibility is missing from Reuben's file, which would explain her surprise at seeing my copies. Another theory is that the vice-consul never bothered explaining her decision to grant the visa, thus confusing the INS here.
The legitimacy of our relationship never seemed to be in question at any point. the only sticking point is this already-ruled-on issue. *sigh.
Does anyone have any ideas? suggestions? help? I have already mailed my congressman three times over the last two and a half years over this, and have my doubts about how effective a fourth time will be.
At first I was angry, and bitter. Now I am just bewildered and searching for any credible reason the INS can't make a simple phone call or FAX to a consulate before an interview. Something tells me a five-minute conversation with the vice-consul could clear many of this officer's and her supervisor's questions up.
At least Reuben is not on a plane back to New Zealand right now. I guess that's the bright side.
Update: 06/07/02
we received the letter granting conditional permanent residence two days after the interview. guess the adjucator had called the consulate to confirm our story after all. whew.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 2
Name: Peng & Jhun
Filing date: March, 1998
Interview date: Aug 11, 2000
I just got the notice of interview in the mail today. My interview will be on August 11th. I have a control date of March 1998. It took 29 months from the control date til the interview.
In the letter that I received, they asked me to bring all the items mentioned.
the appointment letter, passport, I-94, if any.
medical exams results
current letter of employment
current letter of employment for you and/or your spouse showing rate of pay and hours per week
your spouse
evidence of a common residence and shared life (include photos)
other
Then there was an appointment checklist attached:
Your original appointment letter
Passport and photo Id (state driver's license or state Id card)
Medical exams
Birth Certificate
Employment Authorization Card, if any
Form I-94
Bring an interpreter if do not speak English well
Federal tax returns
Paycheck stubs, last three issued if possible
Any notices and forms given to you by the INS, including Advance parole or other travel documents
For marriage-based cases, the ff. additional items are required:
Petitioner's proof of citizenship
Marriage certificate
Birth cert. of children
Affidavit of support
I just had my interview this morning. My appointment was at 8:20 a.m., but we were called at 9:20 am. The lady officer who interviewed us was nice. It started with raising the right hand, swearing to tell the truth. Then she got my index fingerprint and asked me to sign the card.
First thing she asked for was my medical exams result and affidavit of support. Then asked if we have any children. I said yes and she asked for the birth certificate. Then asked for both of our driver's license. She did not request for my birth certificate, husband's proof of citizenship. She then asked where we met. Then she asked the questions in the form...have you committed any crime, etc. She checked the info in the form. Then she asked if I ever traveled after I filed the application. She looked at my advance parole and also my employment permit. She asked for our bank statement, lease agreement.
I asked if I could use my married name because when we filed, I used my maiden name. But I have been using my married name for my license, SSN and at work. She then asked me to sign the card again and took my index fingerprint.
She stamped my passport with Permanent Resident Status, valid for a year. She said the green card will come in the mail within 3-6 months.
She did not ask for a lot of things. We brought a big bad with 2 photo albums, letters and other documents, but she did not ask for it.
I was not really hoping to get my stamp today because I just had my fingerprints taken last week. Plus the couple who was interviewed ahead of us told us that they will receive a decision in the mail. Good thing we got approved right away. I was expecting that I still have to renew my EAD and AP.
I am glad that everything's over now. Next time I need to deal with them again is when I apply for citizenship, which is 3 years for now.
Goodluck to all of you waiting for the interview.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 3
Name: Prakash
Filing date: Aug 1998
Interview date: 03/06/2001
Here is our timeline:
Marriage: May 1998
485 filing: Aug 1998
Fingerprinting: July 2000
AOS Interview: Mar 6 2001
We had the appointment for 8:30am at LA downtown INS office, and we were there by 8am, and put our appointment letter in the box on the window. There were about 3 other couple waiting (there were other people, but I don't think they were there for marriage-based interviews).
We were called in at 9:20am. The officer swore us in to tell the truth, and then, a younger lady came in and asked if she could sit in. I thought she was a supervisor or something, but it turned out, she is a trainee. She had been doing Naturalization interviews, but she is going to be handling AOS cases soon. It looks like LA INS is trying to put more people for AOS interviews. Good news for all those who are still waiting for their interviews! He asked for our identification. We gave our Drivers Licences, passports, and he then asked me for my Social Security Card (thank god I had it in my wallet!). He took my fingerprints and asked for other basic documents like Advance Parole, EAD Card, I-94, Medical Exam Results. Everytime he got documents from us, he was explaining things to the lady about what to look for.
He then asked for the proof of our marriage. We gave joint bank account statements, lease agreement, car title, health insurance papers (just copies). The only thing he ever asked us about our marriage was, "where did you guys meet?". He didn't even look at any of our photos, no other questions about the "proof"! The only other questions he asked was about Univ' of Kentucky (from where I got my degree. I came here on F1, then H1, then AOS, if you are wondering) Oh, finally, he proceeded to ask about the questions on the form (crime/communist etc.). To the arrest/crime question, I said, yes, I had a misdemeanor DUI in 96 (the only reason I went through an immigration attorney throughout the AOS process), and that I had the record expunged (though I have read in the newsgroups, the expungements don' t make any difference in immigration matters) after the completion of probation. He asked for the certified court copies.
Oh, one more interesting thing. About affidavit of support. My wife goes to school, so doesn't make enough money to meet the min. to file Affidavit of Support by herself, so we had filed one from my mother-in-law as the co-sponsor. But, he said that's not needed! Instead, my wife's affidavit of support can include my income too! (We have been filing joint tax returns since 98). I.e. I can be the co-sponsor for myself! The attorney wasn't sure if that's true, but ofcourse, he didn't argue.
The officer said, he is going to make copies of our IDs, and go through the papers and asked us to wait outside. So, the interview was about 15 min long. After about 15 min, he came out and asked us to correct the affidavit of support form to include my information as a co-sponsor. We did that, and gave the papers back. He went in, made us wait for 15 more minutes, and finally he came back with our passports with the I551 stamp on my passport!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 4
Name: Pat L
Filing date: 08-02-99
Interview date: 05-01-01
Sixteen months after we applied we had our interview for the Adjustment of Status. The interview was held at the Los Angeles INS office. My wife Arsenia passed her interview and was given a "conditional" stamp in her passport. We were told that because we have been married less that two years we had to get the conditional status and will have to apply for the green card in two years.
We arrived early for the 1:50 appointment, but did not get called in until 3:50. The interview finished at 4:25. The interviewer was pleasant, swore us in and Arsenia was fingerprinted. He made it clear that I did not bring enough "cohabitation" documentation. I brought our life insurance and bank statements, but nothing else. I should have brought the rental agreement at the apartment, electric/and or gas bills, car insurance and credit cards, etc. I just totally forgot. I was focusing on Affidavit of Support stuff.
He took the copies of the tax returns, letters from the employers from both of us, copy of the marriage certificate and looked at Arsenia's passport. He asked for her doctor's report which we had and asked to see a picture from the wedding. We gave him a photo album and asked him to pick one. He did.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 5
Name: Melvin & Christine
Filing date: October 1999
Interview date: 06-12-01
Our interview went very smoothly and quickly.
We arrived at the INS office an hour before our interview but our names were not called until 45 minutes after our scheduled interview time. The INS officer asked for our California IDs, Mel's passport, and the supporting documents, and asked us to wait outside again. After 15 minutes, we were called into her office and sworn in. She thumbed through Mel's thick pile and said "I'm going to approve you." Can you guys believe it? No questions asked! Apparently, the folder with supporting documents which we had given her a few minutes before was sufficient. She didn't ask for any photos or letters, which we would have been happy to furnish since we brought a ton of wedding and honeymoon pictures! Our interview lasted approximately 10 minutes.
Here is what we included in our folder:
Proof of support: notorized affidavit of support, our current employment letters and copies of paystubs, copies of tax forms (3 years)
Proof of common residence: copy of our lease
Proof of shared life: copies of our car title, car insurance, health insurance, savings & checking statements
In the end, Mel got a big red stamp in his passport stating he is a permanent resident. However, because we have been married less than 2 years, it is conditional. So, our journey through these INS proceedings is not yet complete as we have to apply to remove the conditional status in two years.
Hope this helps, good luck to everyone going through the process, and thank you to everyone who helped us!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 6
Name: Sarah & Mike
Filing date: 3/30/2000
Interview date: 7/2/2001
My husband and I filed adjustment of status a month after our wedding in March 2000. I got EAD three months after and renewed it way ahead of time in March 2001. Then on Friday 6/15 I received a letter to get fingerprinted the following monday morning (!!!) and if I didn't appear, my case might be rejected. I made it and two days later I received interview letter.
Interview was yesterday, July 2nd 2001. I had prepared everything and even more and we were both nervous. After waiting about an hour, we were called in. The interviewer was VERY nice lady, apologized the wait and said she was stuck on the phone. She swore us in, asked ID:s, my EAD and copies of taxes and shared life. She didn't even bother to look at the originals!! She then asked if I've even been arrested etc... and what is my phone number. Less than 20 minutes of this paperwork she stamped my passport, asked if I am aware that my status will be conditional and how to remove the status in two years. After everything was done she asked to look at our pictures and liked our wedding pictures alot. She also said how cute it is that my husband looks just like his dad!! And that's it. We went home and had a toast for overcoming INS. Now we're free for two years, and I can't wait to travel somewhere!
In general our experience was very smooth and nice, no pain or no problems. We are happily married and the next thing I will start planning on is a baby. Good luck everyone; as long as you love each other, it'll all be okay!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 7
Name: Murphy & Christina
Filing date: AOS receipt 3-21-00
Interview date: 7-3-01
So, we had our interview today, which was not what we expected at all. Our experience was similiar to the other LA stories, but with one big difference. For whatever reason, my husband was never scheduled for his fingerprinting. We had sent the check with his AOS packet, and we had expected to do the fingerprinting the same day as the green card interview. Unfortunately, he didn't get his "conditional" stamp today. The officer told us that the application was approved, but that until the fingerprinting was done that she couldn't do anything. She said she would "flag" our file, and wait for the fingerprints to be approved through her system, and that INS would mail us a letter in 1 to 2 weeks asking us to come back for the stamp. We were VERY disappointed.
As for everything else it was easy, we were in and out in about 15 minutes. Because my husband was admitted on a K-1, most everything was already in the folder. We had copies and originals of EVERYTHING but she only took a few documents proving our "cohabitation", his medical exam, and the Affidavit of Support. She never asked us ANY questions, never looked at our pictures, and we were not taken into seperate rooms. Very easy.
I want to mention a couple more things, though, when dealing with the LA office that may be helpful. When it comes time to renew your EAD, DO NOT mail it in to the LA office. We mailed ours in 3 months in advance, and never heard from them. We went to the office on the day his EAD expired (by the way, we got there at 4:40am) and paid in person and filled out another application. They gave us an appointment MORE THAN A MONTH LATER. We told the officer that we needed to renew the same day, so she asked us to get a letter from my husbands employer stating the "urgency" of renewing his EAD. We got the required form, took it back and THANKFULLY the officer was sweet, and gave us an appointment the same day. I know others were not as lucky. My advice would be to take the application in 2 months in advance IN PERSON and then they'll give you an appointment. BUT if you are in a hurry, be VERY polite, bring a letter with you stating the "emergency" and you might get it the s! ame day.
As another good piece of advice, if you do not speak English well, I've noticed that the officers can be VERY rude and unhelpful. Try to take a friend or family member that can communicate for you, the officers will appreciate it and be much more cooperative. My husband is Chinese, and anytime he tried to do things by himself, he was always unsuccessful and treated poorly. When I went with him, though, we always got what we wanted with a smile and kind words!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 8
Name: Lara & Daniel
Filing date: January 2000
Interview date: 07/01
Before our interview experience, we had yet to go to the INS office and have a pleasant experience. The people working there didn't really seem to enjoy being there at all. But when we went to the interview for our Adjustment of Status, the people working in this section were actually smiling and friendly. Our interview person was very polite and nice to work with. We were glad that we worked with him for this interview.
The interview itself was actually not too bad. As soon as we got word that we had a time for an interview, we began to get organized. We got together all of the necessary documents, especially the documents listed on the paper that was sent to us with the interview time. We copied all of the documents so that the INS would have a copy, as per their instructions, and organized everything for them.
On the day of the interview, we arrived about 20 minutes early, knowing we would probably have to wait after our time anyway, but not wanting to be late. We were called for our interview about 40 minutes after our time. As I said before, the officer interviewing us was very nice to work with. He went down the list he had in front of him, asking questions and asking for documents. He asked my husband, who is the foreign citizen, who his parents were, where they were born, what his birthdate was, where he was born, all the questions from the application regarding crimes commited, etc. He then asked for our paperwork for the Affidavit of Support, tax information, my employment information, etc. Then he asked for our proof of marriage information, pictures, medical benefit information, everything we had brought for this portion of the interview. He made notes in our file and took the copies of everything that we had brought for them. That was about it. The whole intervi! ew lasted about 30 minutes. He was clearly very glad that we had come prepared with the copies, saving him a lot of copying time. He stamped my husband's passport with the temporary clearance. The green card comes in the mail in 6 - 8 months.
For anyone who has yet to experience this interview, our advice is to go prepared, but not over prepared. Bring what they ask for with copies for them, and pictures of your life together. Arrive a little early, you never know if they will be running on time. Relax and listen for what the interviewer needs and then give it to them. It is not to big a deal, so long as you are prepared. Good Luck!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 9
Name: Christelle & Doug
Filing date: June 1999
Interview date: August 2001
Our appointment was at 10.00, we were called at 11.15am. The officer was friendly and made small conversation about the French language.
He swore us in, took my fingerprints, medical results and affidavit of support. He asked about our jobs, our tax returns for the past 3 years, letters of employment, birth and marriage certificates.
He asked how we met, when and where. Wanted to see our wedding pictures, and asked if Doug had been to France, he asked him how long it takes to go from the airport in Paris to the Eiffel Tower (?) this felt like a test question, but I still can't see the point.
He moved onto proves of joint residence, asked for our lease agreements (we had 2), car insurance (did not have), medical (did not have), life insurance (we had), joint utility bills (we had 2), credit card accounts (we did not have), we said we had a joint bank account, then he asked for video store membership or anything of that type, I said we did not have a video store membership, but did have a gym membership, and he said that was perfect, he did not ask for anything more. He never really looked at any of the documents that we gave him, he just hole-punched the stack of papers at once and put everything in our file.
He asked when I had come in the US last, asked for our passports, and saw that I had a 3 year L1 visa which expired 9 months ago. He asked why the company that got me the visa did not sponsor me for the greencard. He asked if I had ever been arrested, had a DUI, had ever been turned down or deported from the US, entered illegally etc. Had I ever applied for a greencard before, had we been married before, had children?
He asked me if I had an EAD and AP, I gave them to him, he was chocked to see how many times I have been in and out of the country on my APs, he said that from now on I would not need the AP anymore, he stamped my passport with the temporary greencard valid for one year and said I would receive my permanent greencard in the mail in 9 to 10 months. I could apply for citizenship in 3 years from today.
He wished us a nice day and sent us on our way.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 10
Name: John
Filing date:
Interview date: Oct, 2001
My wife (UK Citizen) and I had our interview yesterday, 10/25/01. Our appointment was for 1:25pm. We got there at 1:00 and were promtly called in at 1:25pm.... WOA! This was at Los Angeles, the lady who did our interview was very nice. The whole interview took about 10 minutes (too short??!!) We were approved, pending my wife getting her fingerprints done again. We should get a letter telling us to come back to get her Passport stamped within 2 weeks. We have been waiting 4 years plus for this. I'm so happy its over.
I wanted to post here, because of all the helpful info I have read here. I was really freaking about the interview, while our marriage is legit, we didnt have a lot of supporting paperwork. No kids yet, I just came out of bankruptcy, no health insurance, so I was sort of worried that the Interviewing officer might be thinking we werent legit. But after reading all of the posts here and at on the web. I fealt better.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 11
Name: Lillah and Petter
Filing date: 03/2001
Interview date: 2/20/02
We had our AOS interview today and it went great! Our interview was scheduled for 9:10 and we were called at about 10:30, the interview lasted only 15 min. Before we sat down he swore us in. The first thing he asked for was our CDLs, EAD and Passports, then fingerprinted Petter for the greencard. We had copies and originals of all our supporting documentation (bank statements, car insurance, title to our car, investment accounts, 3 years tax returns)but he only looked at the copies and when I asked if he wanted to see our wedding pictures he commented that is was obvious we were married, but since I brought them he better look at them. The only question he asked was directed at my husband, asking what my husband's parents names were and if he had any family in the US. I asked if he wanted Petter's old AP paperwork and he didn't. A couple of times he joked about us getting married for the greencard, but I said it was such a big hassle it wouldn't be worth it. He stamped Petter's greencard with the I-551 and gave us a paper with instructions for filing the I-751. I was so much easier than I had imagined.
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Field Office: (Laguna Niguel)Los Angeles, California - 12
Name: Bezer
Filing date: March 6, 2001
Interview date: April 11, 2002
My lawyer filed my job based I-485 on March 6, 2001. I received notice of action from INS Laguna Niguel (CA) on March 30, 2001 stating that my case is being processed. I got fingerprinted on July 30, 2001 at a local INS center. My lawyer told me that job based GC applications are approved without interview. It didnt happen for me. I was notified on October 22, 2001 that processing of my I-485 is complete but I have to take an interview at Los Angeles INS center and that I will be notified of the interview date by INS Los Angeles. I received letter from INS Los Angeles on Feb 13, 2002 for AOS interview on April 11, 2002. Me and my lawyer prepared for the interview. I got interviewed in the presence of my lawyer. We had all the documents with us (Degree, pay stubs, tax returns, letter from employer and tons of legal stuff and public documents from my employer). Everything went fine but the interviewer asked me to further wait for decision for indefinite time as he has to do further investigation in this case. I had no option other than to wait.
One week later I got approval notice from INS Los Angeles and I was delighted. I went to get my I-551 stamp and got it on May 11, 2002. I was notified that I will receive my actual card in about one year. Two weeks later I got my card. That was quick.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 13
Name: Jack
Filing date: 7/01
Interview date: May 29, 2002
We had our appointment today at the INS building downtown. Let me say that it is very crappy of the INS not to furnish a map or ANY info re getting there or parking or anything, especially since downtown L.A. is SUCH a horrible place to drive and park!
Anyway, by some miracle, we arrived on time - after fighting traffic and getting railroaded onto one-way no-left-turn streets, etc. - and signed in.
People in the waiting area were grumbling that they'd been waiting over 2 hours, and finally an officer came out and said he was really sorry but they were understaffed today and it might be awhile longer.
But then about 45 minutes after our appointment,our officer called us in. He looked over our paperwork - we had tons of it ready, with copies and originals all neatly organized, with photos, too. Then he swore us in, and took my wife's thumbprints, and began to ask her the standard questions: Have you ever been arrested? Ever been deported? Ever been on public assistance? Ever been married before? etc... Then he asked me where I worked and what I did. He didn't ask ANY personal questions to test if we were really married; I guess the copies of various bills and insurance and such were sufficient for that.
SO then he began stamping my wife's passport with the work authorization, told us the green card would come in "between 2 weeks and 10 months"!!??? and not to worry unless it doesn't arrive by 10 months from now. Told us to report any change of address and to remember to fill out the form we need to send in, in 2 years, and let us go.
Easy. The worst part was the traffic and freeways getting there and back.
Moral of the story: Have all your paperwork and photos all together with originals and copies of each, well organized, and maybe it will go as smoothly as ours did! We were in and out of there in a little over an hour!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 14
Name: C. & J.
Filing date: 8/2001
Interview date: 8/2002
It took us 45 minutes to get past security into the main foyer of the building. Arrive extra early in Los Angeles! And, for the sake of everybody in line behind you, HAVE YOUR I.D. READY WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE DOOR!!!!
We waited an hour in our designated room before being escorted together through the tranquil bowels of the building into a claustered office for the AOS interview. We were asked no personal questions except for "How did you meet." The officer was much more interested in my documents, of which I had many. However, even though the instructions I received from the L.A. office advised NOT to bring a new Affadavit of Support, our officer wanted one. His demands were appeased when I provided up-to-date bank statements, the original and copy of my deed, and a letter from my stock broker. Advice: even if you don't need a new I-864, make a new one, or at a minimum, come armed with current financial information, not just recent tax returns.
As my wife and step-daughter entered as K1 and K2 visaholders, no new medical exam was required (according to the same instructions I received). Luckily, the interviewer didn't press this issue. (However, after entry in the U.S., my step-daughter's medical exam, which was part of the mysterious brown envelope handed over upon admission, wound up in the National Visa Center in Vermont, who mailed it to her original address in Peru, along with other personal documents, and dated entry document stamped Los Angeles. They sent it with a letter explaining that applications for visas should be made at the embassy in the petitioner's home country. Go figure. Naturally the "information officer" at the 800 number had no clue how to handle this snafu. I had my mother-in-law send it to me, and gave the exam and documents back to the interviewer to be returned to the file. It fortunately didn't cause any problems.)
The interviewer wanted copies of everything I had, yet I only made copies of the 30 or so pages I thought he'd want to keep. Advice: even if you have a stack of papers a foot high (like I did) copy every one of them, including some photographs and your credit cards. You can't try to guess what these guys will want. He wasn't pleased to be running back and forth to the Xerox machine. Finally, the interviewer, a talky but solemn Indian chap, didn't want to approve our petitions on the spot. He admitted there were no deficiencies, but that he doesn't approve anybody on the same day, a policy that would require us to return to the L.A. offices (a 90-mile round trip) and wait in the infamous, enormous Room 1001 line, which is peopled by unwashed perverts, rapists and scam artists who line up as early as 12:00 a.m. Adding to their numbers, I insisted, would place an undue burden upon us. The officer relented and agreed to stamp our passports that day, after obliging us to wait several hours. Advice: don't take no for an answer, but be polite. If your case is strong, why should you be made to wait? After all, the word "Service" is part of the INS's name.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 15
Name: Simon
Filing date: 11/2000
Interview date: August 8, 2002 21 months
Our appointment was at 7:55 am. Me and my wife arrives at the office 15 min earlier ready to wait there for a long time. We were called right on time though. The officer was very nice and friendly(what a surprise!!!). We have been stressing out about all the questions they could possibly ask us about our joint life and we did spend a lot of time going over everything we do or have done. The interview lasted only 15 min.
The officer requested copies of all the required documents on the checklist and looked at some of the originals too. My application was approved. I do have to mail my sponsor's tax returns and W2's for the last 3 years and a current letter of employment or the 3 most recent paystubs. The check list said to only bring the latest tax return so that was a surprise. Overall, everything went really well and I could hardly believe I just had been to the INS office(comapred to the awful past experiences I've had there). Good luck to all of you.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 16
Name: John & Sun
Filing date: 12/4/2001
Interview date: 9/5/2002
---- Cutting Trees ---- We spent one day copying everything. The next day, after reading the AOS stories again, we made more copies. After reading all the other experiences, I didn't think we had too much. But we did try to be prepared. Everything we took, we had copies, except for the photos. Only about 3/4 inch of papers, two inch stack of photos.
---- The Appointed Time ---- Our appointment was for 10:50AM.
---- We're Here ---- We left early to try and beat traffic and park at least within flying distance. We arrived at about 8:00AM. Parking wasn't too bad. We parked about 10 minutes walk away, near JapanTown. Standing in line at 8:00AM was not an option. Why? since we had so much time, we just bummed around until 9:00AM when there was no line.
---- Killing Time ---- We went upstairs only to be told by the security guard we couldn't wait in the room. We had to come back one hour before our interview time. So we waited downstairs in the main lobby. 9:50AM we are allowed to wait in the room. BTW, the guard reads and keeps your AOS appointment letter when you are allowed into the room.
---- Walk This Way... ---- 11:30AM her name is called.
We walk back with the Interviewer to her room.
-- Documentation --
Both take oath - ok.
Her fingerprints - ok.
Both IDs - ok.
Her passport w/I-94 - ok.
My US naturalization certificate - ok.
Marriage certificate - ok.
New afidavit of support - none.
-- Common life --
Shared checking account - ok.
Apartment lease - ok.
Car insurance - none.
Health insurance - ok.
Our last years tax return - ok.
-- Photos --
We didn't know what to take. Mostly we tried "couple" pictures. But me being me, I had to take along some of what I thought were my better pictures, even if they were just shots of me or her. We did take a lot of wedding pictures, including a lot involving her family, my family and friends. Then honeymoon photos, photos from around the house, trips, holidays and birthdays.
The interviewer started going through each one. Stopping to laugh at some of the better ones. That definitely lightened the mood. After about 2/3 thirds, she just gave up. During the whole process, she had been picking out five photos of us together. She then asked if we had copies, oops. She went and made some.
-- Interrogation --
Similiar questions to - "are you prostitute?", "been arrested?", are you generally a bad person kind of thing, "ever been married before?".
-- Drum Roll Please --
That's it! Big ol I-551 stamp in her passport, some instructions for after the conditional period is up and we were out of there. Total time 20 minutes.
She never once asked to see originals, we showed original IDs and passport, but that was it. She forgot to ask for EAD and Advance Parole, so I offered.
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Good luck!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 17
Name: Deborah and Stephen
Filing date: 02-24-02
Interview date: 09-12-02
Timeline:
02-09-01: K-1 petition mailed to INS.
03-26-01: Petition approved; received notice by INS automated telephone line.
04-05-01: Stephen receives K-1 packet from Sydney consulate in Australia.
06-06-01: Stephen and I request a 4-month extension of time from Sydney.
10-12-01: Stephen requests K-1 interview with Sydney.
11-19-01: Stephen has K-1 interview in Sydney. Approved same day.
02-04-02: Stephen enters the U.S.
02-16-02: We are married!
02-24-02: Filed for AOS at Los Angeles through the Los Angeles Bar Association Clinic.
03-15-02: Stephen receives Advance Parole documents and is notified of AOS interview on 09-12-02.
03-21-02: Returned to Los Angeles to pick up EAD.
03-28-02: Fingerprinting in Goleta field office.
09-12-02: AOS interview in Los Angeles.
Having been to the Los Angeles CSC twice before -- once to apply for AOS through the LABAC and once for my husband to pick up his EAD -- we were settled into our routine of driving to the Moorpark MetroLink and taking the train into Union Station to the INS. It saves the hassle of parking in downtown LA and the INS is within comfortable walking distance of the station. Since we were summoned for our interview only 7 months after marriage, we weren't loaded down with documentation, although we had a respectable amount. We brought photographs of us together both at the wedding and in our day-to-day lives (about 12), a wedding invitation, copies of joint bank statements, of a contract for a joint vehicle purchase, of insurance policies and credit cards, tax records for the past 3 years, letters of employment, 3 notarized statements from friends indicating their knowledge of us as a bonafide married couple and the notarized affidavit of support. Since I had owned my home for 11 years before Stephen's arrival in the U.S., we had no copies of a lease or joint purchase of property and didn't attempt to provide anything of the kind. We brought all the rest of the accumulated paperwork we had gathered up to the point of this interview (certified copy of marriage and birth certificates and the like).
We arrived about 30 minutes before our scheduled 11:00 a.m. interview time. We entered Room 8010 on the 8th floor and found ourselves in an enormous holding room with about 200 people present and waiting for interviews of one kind or another. We handed over the original letter summoning us to the interview to the security person on duty, groaned inwardly and took a seat, knowing we were in for a bit of a wait. We watched as couples entered and left the interview area, which is walled off from the main waiting room. Name after name was called over a loudspeaker and couples weighed down with their documentation trudged into the interview area. Some left happy, some left with looks of disbelief and shock on their faces. Most of the interviews seemed to take between 15 and 20 minutes. We speculated on what was happening behind the closed door.
Finally, after 2 hours of waiting and fretting we would miss our return train, Stephen's name was called over the loudspeaker system. We walked to the door and were greeted in a hurried and straightforward fashion by the interviewer. She bustled us down a hallway into a rather cramped and untidy office. I expected a cubicle, I don't know why. Before we were seated she asked us to raise our right hands and be sworn. We replied in the affirmative and were seated. She first asked us how we had met. Stephen replied that we intially met on the internet, to which she responded, "What, were you desperate?" We kind of laughed, taken a bit off guard at the bald comment, and said that no, it wasn't desperation, just happenstance that brought us together. She rapidly asked us about dates we had met and travelled to be together and we knew those pretty well. I was pushing the folder of our evidence toward her, encouraging her to have a look at what we'd brought. She pretty much ignored it. She asked us each to produce our driver's license and for Stephen's passport. She seemed inordinately interested in locating some green piece of paper that was supposed to be attached to Stephen's passport when he entered the country to first visit me. We explained we weren't familiar with what she wanted and that if we had had it, we no longer did. She seemed satisfied at last with the passport stamp indicating his entry into the U.S. We never knew what she was referring to.
She thumbed briefly through our photos and asked us where some were taken. She looked over the notarized statements we had from friends and those were the only things she kept. She never looked at or kept any of our other evidence -- including the notarized affidavit of support and supporting tax records. (!!) She stamped Stephen's passport, took his EAD and punched a hole through his head, and took his advance parole papers. She slid a yellow form over to us which she had us sign. It explained how we needed to apply to remove the conditions of his status 21 months hence. We kept it. That was it. We were done. We glanced at our watches and realized about 7 minutes had passed.
Our whole impression of the interview was that it was hastily done and for whatever reason, we did not raise any red flags. Not that we should have. The interviewer seemed nice enough although a tad flippant, but we didn't mind that. We were grateful we were done.
Stephen received his actual green (pink?) card 11 days later, on September 23, 2002.
Good luck to all those who follow for AOS in Los Angeles!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 18
Name: Angelika
Filing date: 4/2002
Interview date: 10/29/02
I had my interview yesterday at the Los Angeles office. I was very nervous even though I was well prepared. I had a ton of paperwork copied and just as many photoalbums to bring along to the interview. When I was waiting in the waiting room, I felt a little ridiculous because nobody (not even the lawyers) had that much with them. Originally I came here on an H1B and got married to a US citizen later. I waited for filing the papers for more than 2 years since my H1B was still valid. So I had enough time to collect all kinds of proof of common residence and our relationship.
My interview was scheduled at 9 am and I had to wait until almost 11:30 to be called. Many people came in later than me, got called for their interview and left, while I was still waiting. The interview itself took only 5 minutes. The interviewer was very nice and fingerprinted me, asked for the tax returns and letters of employment. Then he asked for evidence of common residence. I gave him copies of several bank statements. Before I could take more out of my folder he said: "You have a child together, right? Just give me a copy of the birth certificate." Then he asked for my passport, EAD and I-94 and sent me and my tons of paperwork downstairs to the 3rd floor to get some new pictures taken, since the ones I had sent in were wrong. I came back to the waiting room afterwards where he was already waiting for me with my passport. He gave it to me and said very casually that I was approved. Wow, that was so easy. I had prepared for many days and now all this paperwork was unnecessary. I got organized really well though
. My husband was surprised too, that it was so easy and not more was asked of us. Good luck to everybody who is still waiting on their interview. I can only recommend to go there well prepared and organized. That alone will cut down on one's nervousness a lot.
Name: Val & Reuben
Filing date: August 19, 1999
Interview date: June 13, 2000
Reuben and I went to his AOS interview today, loaded down with more paperwork and proof of an established life together than I thought we'd need. turned out we didn't need much of it at all.
We arrived early at the INS suboffice for Orange County, on Magnolia St., in Garden Grove. We walked to the entrance, where the guard looked at our letter, and told us we were too early; he suggested we go and get some lunch at a Vietnamese deli just around the corner, and recommended sandwiches. We checked it out (and I too, recommend the $1 sandwiches), and came back. This time he laughed as he saw our supporting documents, kidding us about how many we had (about 30 pounds' worth). We waited from 1:35 on. 1:55, the appointment time, came and went. We finally got called in around 2:20-2:25.
The officer directed us to her cubicle, and had me wait there while she took Reuben to get his right index fingerprint. She came back, and made us stand while she swore us in. She started with a few simple questions along the lines of 'please state your full name?; what is your phone number, address?; etc. She asked for our IDs, so we handed her our passports. She asked for our drivers' licenses as well, so we handed those over, and the photocopy we'd taken of them. She tore out Reuben's I-94.
Then she asked Reuben what happened when he had entered the country before he entered on his K-1 visa. My stomach sank. (some of you may remember, Reuben was denied entry in Jan. '98, which caused our K-1 to take nearly 12 months to be processed.) Reuben answered truthfully that he was denied entry to the US because of a misunderstanding over what he had checked on his entry card, but the consulate had sent his case over to the Bangkok Embassy's Regional INS office for review, and found that he was innocent of misrepresentation, and so didn't need a waiver of inadmissibility, and thus the consulate in Auckland issued him his K- 1 visa, and he had thought the matter over and done with. I told her I had a copy of the fax the consulate had sent me about it with me, and would look for it while we talked. The officer seemed satisfied enough with that, and I felt relieved.
The officer then asked me how we had met, when we met in person, the dates I had entered New Zealand to visit Reuben and meet his family. I had to repeat myself several times so she could finish making her notations in the file before her. She asked Reuben all the questions from the I-485: 'have you ever commited any crimes either inside or outside the US, etc.'. She asked for the sealed envelope from Reuben's second set of medical exams, which we gave her. She opened it, and handed Reuben a green sheet from inside it, saying it was his copy. She also asked when we got married.
She asked me if I still worked at the same employer I had when I filed the I-485; I was. I asked her why she kept asking us questions she had the answers to -- had she lost parts of the file? She said no, she had to confirm the answers. She then said I would have to file an I-134 affidavit of support. I said, wait, I filed that with the I-129F, then got given the other affidavit by *this* office in our AOS packet. She said 'well, the law has changed.' I said I had a copy of the old I-134, and she said that would work. She had me update my salary on it, and sign it, then I handed it back to her. She asked for copies of our taxes, letters from our employers, and pay stubs. I handed her the binder of supporting document copies, and told her we had made that binder for her to put in the file, to keep. She picked up the binder, looked at the file, and said she couldn't fit the binder in the file -- so she would just look through and take what she needed. She started flipping through the binder, pulling out documents, reading everything carefully.
I asked a few times if she wanted to look at any of the originals we'd brought with us, or the wedding album, or the guest book, or the 4-inch stack of cards and mail we'd received -- each time she said that wasn't necessary, or that she thought she had enough.
After going through the binder for a while, she said she'd have to go talk to her supervisor. She came back very quickly, and said that she couldn't adjust Reuben's status today, and that his case required further investigation. We both looked stunned. She said that this was a very unusual case, because Reuben was very likely inadmissible to enter the United States. I asked her how this was possible, as his case had been referred to an embassy office and there found no evidence of misrepresentation, and he had a K-1 visa issued. We spent 8 months waiting for that decision, I explained, and asked if there was a reason to overturn that decision. she waffled. She did say that our case looked 'very good'.
I asked her what the worst case scenario would be, and if Reuben would have to go back to New Zealand. She shook her head, and said no, he would not -- that we'd have to file a waiver of inadmissibility and as his wife, I'd have to prove extreme hardship. That's when I said, 'hang on. We already prepared a waiver of inadmissibility and filed it with the Auckland Consulate, in case the embassy in Bangkok ruled against Reuben.' I told her she should contact Carmela Conroy, the vice consul, who handled Reuben's case herself, and that I had a hard time believing a vice consul would just issue Reuben a visa, when in fact Conroy was the one who put brakes on the whole process and insisted we let her refer the case to the Bangkok Embassy's regional INS office. The officer nodded. I then handed her my stack (which I had just found) of the waiver and supporting documents. She looked surprised, and asked if we paid the filing fee, as she looked through the files. Reuben told her yes, he had, but he never got his money back, as he'd lost his receipt (sigh). I finally managed to find my copies of the fax I received from the Auckland Consulate, and handed them to her. her eyes widened as she read it, and she asked if I had a copy. I told her I had 4 copies, and she could keep hers.
At this point Reuben and I were both so mad we could have spit nails. She told us that if we hadn't heard from them in three months, we could come to the office in the morning, and stand in line to get a number to come see someone about the case.
I asked her what we needed to do about Reuben's EAD cards; if he could still work or not. 'Oh yes,' she said, 'so long as his card hasn't expired.' well, it hadn't. Reuben said he just couldn't believe that the consulate would have issued a K-1 visa in his case without getting a review from a higher authority. She nodded and repeated that they needed to do further investigating, and again said 'but it looks very good,' then asked if we had any other questions. I asked her if she wasn't *sure* she wanted any other documents from me or to see any originals. She declined. We left.
One thing that was odd: whenever we talked about anything the officer had before her in our file, she made notations on it. When we talked about the waiver of inadmissibility ruling, she wrote nothing at all. This makes me wonder if she even has anything about it in her files at all. Everything I showed her about it, especially the fax from the consulate, she reacted to with surprise.
Another odd thing: she said at least twice that our file 'looked good' or 'looked very good'. this seems like unusual optimism from an INS officer.
Still another odd thing: she took Reuben's fingerprint, and took his I- 94, removing all proof he entered the country legitimately. Swell.
What I wonder is this: she obviously had the Jan. '98 file, our I-129F, and the I-485 in front of her. She knew about Reuben's denial of entry... knew he had entered the country and gotten married, before this interview had even happened. so why would she go through the motions of the interview if she didn't plan on giving him the green card eventually? why did we even get an appointment letter for the interview? one theory we have is that the entire set of files relating to the ruling re: inadmissibility is missing from Reuben's file, which would explain her surprise at seeing my copies. Another theory is that the vice-consul never bothered explaining her decision to grant the visa, thus confusing the INS here.
The legitimacy of our relationship never seemed to be in question at any point. the only sticking point is this already-ruled-on issue. *sigh.
Does anyone have any ideas? suggestions? help? I have already mailed my congressman three times over the last two and a half years over this, and have my doubts about how effective a fourth time will be.
At first I was angry, and bitter. Now I am just bewildered and searching for any credible reason the INS can't make a simple phone call or FAX to a consulate before an interview. Something tells me a five-minute conversation with the vice-consul could clear many of this officer's and her supervisor's questions up.
At least Reuben is not on a plane back to New Zealand right now. I guess that's the bright side.
Update: 06/07/02
we received the letter granting conditional permanent residence two days after the interview. guess the adjucator had called the consulate to confirm our story after all. whew.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 2
Name: Peng & Jhun
Filing date: March, 1998
Interview date: Aug 11, 2000
I just got the notice of interview in the mail today. My interview will be on August 11th. I have a control date of March 1998. It took 29 months from the control date til the interview.
In the letter that I received, they asked me to bring all the items mentioned.
the appointment letter, passport, I-94, if any.
medical exams results
current letter of employment
current letter of employment for you and/or your spouse showing rate of pay and hours per week
your spouse
evidence of a common residence and shared life (include photos)
other
Then there was an appointment checklist attached:
Your original appointment letter
Passport and photo Id (state driver's license or state Id card)
Medical exams
Birth Certificate
Employment Authorization Card, if any
Form I-94
Bring an interpreter if do not speak English well
Federal tax returns
Paycheck stubs, last three issued if possible
Any notices and forms given to you by the INS, including Advance parole or other travel documents
For marriage-based cases, the ff. additional items are required:
Petitioner's proof of citizenship
Marriage certificate
Birth cert. of children
Affidavit of support
I just had my interview this morning. My appointment was at 8:20 a.m., but we were called at 9:20 am. The lady officer who interviewed us was nice. It started with raising the right hand, swearing to tell the truth. Then she got my index fingerprint and asked me to sign the card.
First thing she asked for was my medical exams result and affidavit of support. Then asked if we have any children. I said yes and she asked for the birth certificate. Then asked for both of our driver's license. She did not request for my birth certificate, husband's proof of citizenship. She then asked where we met. Then she asked the questions in the form...have you committed any crime, etc. She checked the info in the form. Then she asked if I ever traveled after I filed the application. She looked at my advance parole and also my employment permit. She asked for our bank statement, lease agreement.
I asked if I could use my married name because when we filed, I used my maiden name. But I have been using my married name for my license, SSN and at work. She then asked me to sign the card again and took my index fingerprint.
She stamped my passport with Permanent Resident Status, valid for a year. She said the green card will come in the mail within 3-6 months.
She did not ask for a lot of things. We brought a big bad with 2 photo albums, letters and other documents, but she did not ask for it.
I was not really hoping to get my stamp today because I just had my fingerprints taken last week. Plus the couple who was interviewed ahead of us told us that they will receive a decision in the mail. Good thing we got approved right away. I was expecting that I still have to renew my EAD and AP.
I am glad that everything's over now. Next time I need to deal with them again is when I apply for citizenship, which is 3 years for now.
Goodluck to all of you waiting for the interview.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 3
Name: Prakash
Filing date: Aug 1998
Interview date: 03/06/2001
Here is our timeline:
Marriage: May 1998
485 filing: Aug 1998
Fingerprinting: July 2000
AOS Interview: Mar 6 2001
We had the appointment for 8:30am at LA downtown INS office, and we were there by 8am, and put our appointment letter in the box on the window. There were about 3 other couple waiting (there were other people, but I don't think they were there for marriage-based interviews).
We were called in at 9:20am. The officer swore us in to tell the truth, and then, a younger lady came in and asked if she could sit in. I thought she was a supervisor or something, but it turned out, she is a trainee. She had been doing Naturalization interviews, but she is going to be handling AOS cases soon. It looks like LA INS is trying to put more people for AOS interviews. Good news for all those who are still waiting for their interviews! He asked for our identification. We gave our Drivers Licences, passports, and he then asked me for my Social Security Card (thank god I had it in my wallet!). He took my fingerprints and asked for other basic documents like Advance Parole, EAD Card, I-94, Medical Exam Results. Everytime he got documents from us, he was explaining things to the lady about what to look for.
He then asked for the proof of our marriage. We gave joint bank account statements, lease agreement, car title, health insurance papers (just copies). The only thing he ever asked us about our marriage was, "where did you guys meet?". He didn't even look at any of our photos, no other questions about the "proof"! The only other questions he asked was about Univ' of Kentucky (from where I got my degree. I came here on F1, then H1, then AOS, if you are wondering) Oh, finally, he proceeded to ask about the questions on the form (crime/communist etc.). To the arrest/crime question, I said, yes, I had a misdemeanor DUI in 96 (the only reason I went through an immigration attorney throughout the AOS process), and that I had the record expunged (though I have read in the newsgroups, the expungements don' t make any difference in immigration matters) after the completion of probation. He asked for the certified court copies.
Oh, one more interesting thing. About affidavit of support. My wife goes to school, so doesn't make enough money to meet the min. to file Affidavit of Support by herself, so we had filed one from my mother-in-law as the co-sponsor. But, he said that's not needed! Instead, my wife's affidavit of support can include my income too! (We have been filing joint tax returns since 98). I.e. I can be the co-sponsor for myself! The attorney wasn't sure if that's true, but ofcourse, he didn't argue.
The officer said, he is going to make copies of our IDs, and go through the papers and asked us to wait outside. So, the interview was about 15 min long. After about 15 min, he came out and asked us to correct the affidavit of support form to include my information as a co-sponsor. We did that, and gave the papers back. He went in, made us wait for 15 more minutes, and finally he came back with our passports with the I551 stamp on my passport!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 4
Name: Pat L
Filing date: 08-02-99
Interview date: 05-01-01
Sixteen months after we applied we had our interview for the Adjustment of Status. The interview was held at the Los Angeles INS office. My wife Arsenia passed her interview and was given a "conditional" stamp in her passport. We were told that because we have been married less that two years we had to get the conditional status and will have to apply for the green card in two years.
We arrived early for the 1:50 appointment, but did not get called in until 3:50. The interview finished at 4:25. The interviewer was pleasant, swore us in and Arsenia was fingerprinted. He made it clear that I did not bring enough "cohabitation" documentation. I brought our life insurance and bank statements, but nothing else. I should have brought the rental agreement at the apartment, electric/and or gas bills, car insurance and credit cards, etc. I just totally forgot. I was focusing on Affidavit of Support stuff.
He took the copies of the tax returns, letters from the employers from both of us, copy of the marriage certificate and looked at Arsenia's passport. He asked for her doctor's report which we had and asked to see a picture from the wedding. We gave him a photo album and asked him to pick one. He did.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 5
Name: Melvin & Christine
Filing date: October 1999
Interview date: 06-12-01
Our interview went very smoothly and quickly.
We arrived at the INS office an hour before our interview but our names were not called until 45 minutes after our scheduled interview time. The INS officer asked for our California IDs, Mel's passport, and the supporting documents, and asked us to wait outside again. After 15 minutes, we were called into her office and sworn in. She thumbed through Mel's thick pile and said "I'm going to approve you." Can you guys believe it? No questions asked! Apparently, the folder with supporting documents which we had given her a few minutes before was sufficient. She didn't ask for any photos or letters, which we would have been happy to furnish since we brought a ton of wedding and honeymoon pictures! Our interview lasted approximately 10 minutes.
Here is what we included in our folder:
Proof of support: notorized affidavit of support, our current employment letters and copies of paystubs, copies of tax forms (3 years)
Proof of common residence: copy of our lease
Proof of shared life: copies of our car title, car insurance, health insurance, savings & checking statements
In the end, Mel got a big red stamp in his passport stating he is a permanent resident. However, because we have been married less than 2 years, it is conditional. So, our journey through these INS proceedings is not yet complete as we have to apply to remove the conditional status in two years.
Hope this helps, good luck to everyone going through the process, and thank you to everyone who helped us!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 6
Name: Sarah & Mike
Filing date: 3/30/2000
Interview date: 7/2/2001
My husband and I filed adjustment of status a month after our wedding in March 2000. I got EAD three months after and renewed it way ahead of time in March 2001. Then on Friday 6/15 I received a letter to get fingerprinted the following monday morning (!!!) and if I didn't appear, my case might be rejected. I made it and two days later I received interview letter.
Interview was yesterday, July 2nd 2001. I had prepared everything and even more and we were both nervous. After waiting about an hour, we were called in. The interviewer was VERY nice lady, apologized the wait and said she was stuck on the phone. She swore us in, asked ID:s, my EAD and copies of taxes and shared life. She didn't even bother to look at the originals!! She then asked if I've even been arrested etc... and what is my phone number. Less than 20 minutes of this paperwork she stamped my passport, asked if I am aware that my status will be conditional and how to remove the status in two years. After everything was done she asked to look at our pictures and liked our wedding pictures alot. She also said how cute it is that my husband looks just like his dad!! And that's it. We went home and had a toast for overcoming INS. Now we're free for two years, and I can't wait to travel somewhere!
In general our experience was very smooth and nice, no pain or no problems. We are happily married and the next thing I will start planning on is a baby. Good luck everyone; as long as you love each other, it'll all be okay!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 7
Name: Murphy & Christina
Filing date: AOS receipt 3-21-00
Interview date: 7-3-01
So, we had our interview today, which was not what we expected at all. Our experience was similiar to the other LA stories, but with one big difference. For whatever reason, my husband was never scheduled for his fingerprinting. We had sent the check with his AOS packet, and we had expected to do the fingerprinting the same day as the green card interview. Unfortunately, he didn't get his "conditional" stamp today. The officer told us that the application was approved, but that until the fingerprinting was done that she couldn't do anything. She said she would "flag" our file, and wait for the fingerprints to be approved through her system, and that INS would mail us a letter in 1 to 2 weeks asking us to come back for the stamp. We were VERY disappointed.
As for everything else it was easy, we were in and out in about 15 minutes. Because my husband was admitted on a K-1, most everything was already in the folder. We had copies and originals of EVERYTHING but she only took a few documents proving our "cohabitation", his medical exam, and the Affidavit of Support. She never asked us ANY questions, never looked at our pictures, and we were not taken into seperate rooms. Very easy.
I want to mention a couple more things, though, when dealing with the LA office that may be helpful. When it comes time to renew your EAD, DO NOT mail it in to the LA office. We mailed ours in 3 months in advance, and never heard from them. We went to the office on the day his EAD expired (by the way, we got there at 4:40am) and paid in person and filled out another application. They gave us an appointment MORE THAN A MONTH LATER. We told the officer that we needed to renew the same day, so she asked us to get a letter from my husbands employer stating the "urgency" of renewing his EAD. We got the required form, took it back and THANKFULLY the officer was sweet, and gave us an appointment the same day. I know others were not as lucky. My advice would be to take the application in 2 months in advance IN PERSON and then they'll give you an appointment. BUT if you are in a hurry, be VERY polite, bring a letter with you stating the "emergency" and you might get it the s! ame day.
As another good piece of advice, if you do not speak English well, I've noticed that the officers can be VERY rude and unhelpful. Try to take a friend or family member that can communicate for you, the officers will appreciate it and be much more cooperative. My husband is Chinese, and anytime he tried to do things by himself, he was always unsuccessful and treated poorly. When I went with him, though, we always got what we wanted with a smile and kind words!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 8
Name: Lara & Daniel
Filing date: January 2000
Interview date: 07/01
Before our interview experience, we had yet to go to the INS office and have a pleasant experience. The people working there didn't really seem to enjoy being there at all. But when we went to the interview for our Adjustment of Status, the people working in this section were actually smiling and friendly. Our interview person was very polite and nice to work with. We were glad that we worked with him for this interview.
The interview itself was actually not too bad. As soon as we got word that we had a time for an interview, we began to get organized. We got together all of the necessary documents, especially the documents listed on the paper that was sent to us with the interview time. We copied all of the documents so that the INS would have a copy, as per their instructions, and organized everything for them.
On the day of the interview, we arrived about 20 minutes early, knowing we would probably have to wait after our time anyway, but not wanting to be late. We were called for our interview about 40 minutes after our time. As I said before, the officer interviewing us was very nice to work with. He went down the list he had in front of him, asking questions and asking for documents. He asked my husband, who is the foreign citizen, who his parents were, where they were born, what his birthdate was, where he was born, all the questions from the application regarding crimes commited, etc. He then asked for our paperwork for the Affidavit of Support, tax information, my employment information, etc. Then he asked for our proof of marriage information, pictures, medical benefit information, everything we had brought for this portion of the interview. He made notes in our file and took the copies of everything that we had brought for them. That was about it. The whole intervi! ew lasted about 30 minutes. He was clearly very glad that we had come prepared with the copies, saving him a lot of copying time. He stamped my husband's passport with the temporary clearance. The green card comes in the mail in 6 - 8 months.
For anyone who has yet to experience this interview, our advice is to go prepared, but not over prepared. Bring what they ask for with copies for them, and pictures of your life together. Arrive a little early, you never know if they will be running on time. Relax and listen for what the interviewer needs and then give it to them. It is not to big a deal, so long as you are prepared. Good Luck!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 9
Name: Christelle & Doug
Filing date: June 1999
Interview date: August 2001
Our appointment was at 10.00, we were called at 11.15am. The officer was friendly and made small conversation about the French language.
He swore us in, took my fingerprints, medical results and affidavit of support. He asked about our jobs, our tax returns for the past 3 years, letters of employment, birth and marriage certificates.
He asked how we met, when and where. Wanted to see our wedding pictures, and asked if Doug had been to France, he asked him how long it takes to go from the airport in Paris to the Eiffel Tower (?) this felt like a test question, but I still can't see the point.
He moved onto proves of joint residence, asked for our lease agreements (we had 2), car insurance (did not have), medical (did not have), life insurance (we had), joint utility bills (we had 2), credit card accounts (we did not have), we said we had a joint bank account, then he asked for video store membership or anything of that type, I said we did not have a video store membership, but did have a gym membership, and he said that was perfect, he did not ask for anything more. He never really looked at any of the documents that we gave him, he just hole-punched the stack of papers at once and put everything in our file.
He asked when I had come in the US last, asked for our passports, and saw that I had a 3 year L1 visa which expired 9 months ago. He asked why the company that got me the visa did not sponsor me for the greencard. He asked if I had ever been arrested, had a DUI, had ever been turned down or deported from the US, entered illegally etc. Had I ever applied for a greencard before, had we been married before, had children?
He asked me if I had an EAD and AP, I gave them to him, he was chocked to see how many times I have been in and out of the country on my APs, he said that from now on I would not need the AP anymore, he stamped my passport with the temporary greencard valid for one year and said I would receive my permanent greencard in the mail in 9 to 10 months. I could apply for citizenship in 3 years from today.
He wished us a nice day and sent us on our way.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 10
Name: John
Filing date:
Interview date: Oct, 2001
My wife (UK Citizen) and I had our interview yesterday, 10/25/01. Our appointment was for 1:25pm. We got there at 1:00 and were promtly called in at 1:25pm.... WOA! This was at Los Angeles, the lady who did our interview was very nice. The whole interview took about 10 minutes (too short??!!) We were approved, pending my wife getting her fingerprints done again. We should get a letter telling us to come back to get her Passport stamped within 2 weeks. We have been waiting 4 years plus for this. I'm so happy its over.
I wanted to post here, because of all the helpful info I have read here. I was really freaking about the interview, while our marriage is legit, we didnt have a lot of supporting paperwork. No kids yet, I just came out of bankruptcy, no health insurance, so I was sort of worried that the Interviewing officer might be thinking we werent legit. But after reading all of the posts here and at on the web. I fealt better.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 11
Name: Lillah and Petter
Filing date: 03/2001
Interview date: 2/20/02
We had our AOS interview today and it went great! Our interview was scheduled for 9:10 and we were called at about 10:30, the interview lasted only 15 min. Before we sat down he swore us in. The first thing he asked for was our CDLs, EAD and Passports, then fingerprinted Petter for the greencard. We had copies and originals of all our supporting documentation (bank statements, car insurance, title to our car, investment accounts, 3 years tax returns)but he only looked at the copies and when I asked if he wanted to see our wedding pictures he commented that is was obvious we were married, but since I brought them he better look at them. The only question he asked was directed at my husband, asking what my husband's parents names were and if he had any family in the US. I asked if he wanted Petter's old AP paperwork and he didn't. A couple of times he joked about us getting married for the greencard, but I said it was such a big hassle it wouldn't be worth it. He stamped Petter's greencard with the I-551 and gave us a paper with instructions for filing the I-751. I was so much easier than I had imagined.
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Field Office: (Laguna Niguel)Los Angeles, California - 12
Name: Bezer
Filing date: March 6, 2001
Interview date: April 11, 2002
My lawyer filed my job based I-485 on March 6, 2001. I received notice of action from INS Laguna Niguel (CA) on March 30, 2001 stating that my case is being processed. I got fingerprinted on July 30, 2001 at a local INS center. My lawyer told me that job based GC applications are approved without interview. It didnt happen for me. I was notified on October 22, 2001 that processing of my I-485 is complete but I have to take an interview at Los Angeles INS center and that I will be notified of the interview date by INS Los Angeles. I received letter from INS Los Angeles on Feb 13, 2002 for AOS interview on April 11, 2002. Me and my lawyer prepared for the interview. I got interviewed in the presence of my lawyer. We had all the documents with us (Degree, pay stubs, tax returns, letter from employer and tons of legal stuff and public documents from my employer). Everything went fine but the interviewer asked me to further wait for decision for indefinite time as he has to do further investigation in this case. I had no option other than to wait.
One week later I got approval notice from INS Los Angeles and I was delighted. I went to get my I-551 stamp and got it on May 11, 2002. I was notified that I will receive my actual card in about one year. Two weeks later I got my card. That was quick.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 13
Name: Jack
Filing date: 7/01
Interview date: May 29, 2002
We had our appointment today at the INS building downtown. Let me say that it is very crappy of the INS not to furnish a map or ANY info re getting there or parking or anything, especially since downtown L.A. is SUCH a horrible place to drive and park!
Anyway, by some miracle, we arrived on time - after fighting traffic and getting railroaded onto one-way no-left-turn streets, etc. - and signed in.
People in the waiting area were grumbling that they'd been waiting over 2 hours, and finally an officer came out and said he was really sorry but they were understaffed today and it might be awhile longer.
But then about 45 minutes after our appointment,our officer called us in. He looked over our paperwork - we had tons of it ready, with copies and originals all neatly organized, with photos, too. Then he swore us in, and took my wife's thumbprints, and began to ask her the standard questions: Have you ever been arrested? Ever been deported? Ever been on public assistance? Ever been married before? etc... Then he asked me where I worked and what I did. He didn't ask ANY personal questions to test if we were really married; I guess the copies of various bills and insurance and such were sufficient for that.
SO then he began stamping my wife's passport with the work authorization, told us the green card would come in "between 2 weeks and 10 months"!!??? and not to worry unless it doesn't arrive by 10 months from now. Told us to report any change of address and to remember to fill out the form we need to send in, in 2 years, and let us go.
Easy. The worst part was the traffic and freeways getting there and back.
Moral of the story: Have all your paperwork and photos all together with originals and copies of each, well organized, and maybe it will go as smoothly as ours did! We were in and out of there in a little over an hour!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 14
Name: C. & J.
Filing date: 8/2001
Interview date: 8/2002
It took us 45 minutes to get past security into the main foyer of the building. Arrive extra early in Los Angeles! And, for the sake of everybody in line behind you, HAVE YOUR I.D. READY WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE DOOR!!!!
We waited an hour in our designated room before being escorted together through the tranquil bowels of the building into a claustered office for the AOS interview. We were asked no personal questions except for "How did you meet." The officer was much more interested in my documents, of which I had many. However, even though the instructions I received from the L.A. office advised NOT to bring a new Affadavit of Support, our officer wanted one. His demands were appeased when I provided up-to-date bank statements, the original and copy of my deed, and a letter from my stock broker. Advice: even if you don't need a new I-864, make a new one, or at a minimum, come armed with current financial information, not just recent tax returns.
As my wife and step-daughter entered as K1 and K2 visaholders, no new medical exam was required (according to the same instructions I received). Luckily, the interviewer didn't press this issue. (However, after entry in the U.S., my step-daughter's medical exam, which was part of the mysterious brown envelope handed over upon admission, wound up in the National Visa Center in Vermont, who mailed it to her original address in Peru, along with other personal documents, and dated entry document stamped Los Angeles. They sent it with a letter explaining that applications for visas should be made at the embassy in the petitioner's home country. Go figure. Naturally the "information officer" at the 800 number had no clue how to handle this snafu. I had my mother-in-law send it to me, and gave the exam and documents back to the interviewer to be returned to the file. It fortunately didn't cause any problems.)
The interviewer wanted copies of everything I had, yet I only made copies of the 30 or so pages I thought he'd want to keep. Advice: even if you have a stack of papers a foot high (like I did) copy every one of them, including some photographs and your credit cards. You can't try to guess what these guys will want. He wasn't pleased to be running back and forth to the Xerox machine. Finally, the interviewer, a talky but solemn Indian chap, didn't want to approve our petitions on the spot. He admitted there were no deficiencies, but that he doesn't approve anybody on the same day, a policy that would require us to return to the L.A. offices (a 90-mile round trip) and wait in the infamous, enormous Room 1001 line, which is peopled by unwashed perverts, rapists and scam artists who line up as early as 12:00 a.m. Adding to their numbers, I insisted, would place an undue burden upon us. The officer relented and agreed to stamp our passports that day, after obliging us to wait several hours. Advice: don't take no for an answer, but be polite. If your case is strong, why should you be made to wait? After all, the word "Service" is part of the INS's name.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 15
Name: Simon
Filing date: 11/2000
Interview date: August 8, 2002 21 months
Our appointment was at 7:55 am. Me and my wife arrives at the office 15 min earlier ready to wait there for a long time. We were called right on time though. The officer was very nice and friendly(what a surprise!!!). We have been stressing out about all the questions they could possibly ask us about our joint life and we did spend a lot of time going over everything we do or have done. The interview lasted only 15 min.
The officer requested copies of all the required documents on the checklist and looked at some of the originals too. My application was approved. I do have to mail my sponsor's tax returns and W2's for the last 3 years and a current letter of employment or the 3 most recent paystubs. The check list said to only bring the latest tax return so that was a surprise. Overall, everything went really well and I could hardly believe I just had been to the INS office(comapred to the awful past experiences I've had there). Good luck to all of you.
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 16
Name: John & Sun
Filing date: 12/4/2001
Interview date: 9/5/2002
---- Cutting Trees ---- We spent one day copying everything. The next day, after reading the AOS stories again, we made more copies. After reading all the other experiences, I didn't think we had too much. But we did try to be prepared. Everything we took, we had copies, except for the photos. Only about 3/4 inch of papers, two inch stack of photos.
---- The Appointed Time ---- Our appointment was for 10:50AM.
---- We're Here ---- We left early to try and beat traffic and park at least within flying distance. We arrived at about 8:00AM. Parking wasn't too bad. We parked about 10 minutes walk away, near JapanTown. Standing in line at 8:00AM was not an option. Why? since we had so much time, we just bummed around until 9:00AM when there was no line.
---- Killing Time ---- We went upstairs only to be told by the security guard we couldn't wait in the room. We had to come back one hour before our interview time. So we waited downstairs in the main lobby. 9:50AM we are allowed to wait in the room. BTW, the guard reads and keeps your AOS appointment letter when you are allowed into the room.
---- Walk This Way... ---- 11:30AM her name is called.
We walk back with the Interviewer to her room.
-- Documentation --
Both take oath - ok.
Her fingerprints - ok.
Both IDs - ok.
Her passport w/I-94 - ok.
My US naturalization certificate - ok.
Marriage certificate - ok.
New afidavit of support - none.
-- Common life --
Shared checking account - ok.
Apartment lease - ok.
Car insurance - none.
Health insurance - ok.
Our last years tax return - ok.
-- Photos --
We didn't know what to take. Mostly we tried "couple" pictures. But me being me, I had to take along some of what I thought were my better pictures, even if they were just shots of me or her. We did take a lot of wedding pictures, including a lot involving her family, my family and friends. Then honeymoon photos, photos from around the house, trips, holidays and birthdays.
The interviewer started going through each one. Stopping to laugh at some of the better ones. That definitely lightened the mood. After about 2/3 thirds, she just gave up. During the whole process, she had been picking out five photos of us together. She then asked if we had copies, oops. She went and made some.
-- Interrogation --
Similiar questions to - "are you prostitute?", "been arrested?", are you generally a bad person kind of thing, "ever been married before?".
-- Drum Roll Please --
That's it! Big ol I-551 stamp in her passport, some instructions for after the conditional period is up and we were out of there. Total time 20 minutes.
She never once asked to see originals, we showed original IDs and passport, but that was it. She forgot to ask for EAD and Advance Parole, so I offered.
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Good luck!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 17
Name: Deborah and Stephen
Filing date: 02-24-02
Interview date: 09-12-02
Timeline:
02-09-01: K-1 petition mailed to INS.
03-26-01: Petition approved; received notice by INS automated telephone line.
04-05-01: Stephen receives K-1 packet from Sydney consulate in Australia.
06-06-01: Stephen and I request a 4-month extension of time from Sydney.
10-12-01: Stephen requests K-1 interview with Sydney.
11-19-01: Stephen has K-1 interview in Sydney. Approved same day.
02-04-02: Stephen enters the U.S.
02-16-02: We are married!
02-24-02: Filed for AOS at Los Angeles through the Los Angeles Bar Association Clinic.
03-15-02: Stephen receives Advance Parole documents and is notified of AOS interview on 09-12-02.
03-21-02: Returned to Los Angeles to pick up EAD.
03-28-02: Fingerprinting in Goleta field office.
09-12-02: AOS interview in Los Angeles.
Having been to the Los Angeles CSC twice before -- once to apply for AOS through the LABAC and once for my husband to pick up his EAD -- we were settled into our routine of driving to the Moorpark MetroLink and taking the train into Union Station to the INS. It saves the hassle of parking in downtown LA and the INS is within comfortable walking distance of the station. Since we were summoned for our interview only 7 months after marriage, we weren't loaded down with documentation, although we had a respectable amount. We brought photographs of us together both at the wedding and in our day-to-day lives (about 12), a wedding invitation, copies of joint bank statements, of a contract for a joint vehicle purchase, of insurance policies and credit cards, tax records for the past 3 years, letters of employment, 3 notarized statements from friends indicating their knowledge of us as a bonafide married couple and the notarized affidavit of support. Since I had owned my home for 11 years before Stephen's arrival in the U.S., we had no copies of a lease or joint purchase of property and didn't attempt to provide anything of the kind. We brought all the rest of the accumulated paperwork we had gathered up to the point of this interview (certified copy of marriage and birth certificates and the like).
We arrived about 30 minutes before our scheduled 11:00 a.m. interview time. We entered Room 8010 on the 8th floor and found ourselves in an enormous holding room with about 200 people present and waiting for interviews of one kind or another. We handed over the original letter summoning us to the interview to the security person on duty, groaned inwardly and took a seat, knowing we were in for a bit of a wait. We watched as couples entered and left the interview area, which is walled off from the main waiting room. Name after name was called over a loudspeaker and couples weighed down with their documentation trudged into the interview area. Some left happy, some left with looks of disbelief and shock on their faces. Most of the interviews seemed to take between 15 and 20 minutes. We speculated on what was happening behind the closed door.
Finally, after 2 hours of waiting and fretting we would miss our return train, Stephen's name was called over the loudspeaker system. We walked to the door and were greeted in a hurried and straightforward fashion by the interviewer. She bustled us down a hallway into a rather cramped and untidy office. I expected a cubicle, I don't know why. Before we were seated she asked us to raise our right hands and be sworn. We replied in the affirmative and were seated. She first asked us how we had met. Stephen replied that we intially met on the internet, to which she responded, "What, were you desperate?" We kind of laughed, taken a bit off guard at the bald comment, and said that no, it wasn't desperation, just happenstance that brought us together. She rapidly asked us about dates we had met and travelled to be together and we knew those pretty well. I was pushing the folder of our evidence toward her, encouraging her to have a look at what we'd brought. She pretty much ignored it. She asked us each to produce our driver's license and for Stephen's passport. She seemed inordinately interested in locating some green piece of paper that was supposed to be attached to Stephen's passport when he entered the country to first visit me. We explained we weren't familiar with what she wanted and that if we had had it, we no longer did. She seemed satisfied at last with the passport stamp indicating his entry into the U.S. We never knew what she was referring to.
She thumbed briefly through our photos and asked us where some were taken. She looked over the notarized statements we had from friends and those were the only things she kept. She never looked at or kept any of our other evidence -- including the notarized affidavit of support and supporting tax records. (!!) She stamped Stephen's passport, took his EAD and punched a hole through his head, and took his advance parole papers. She slid a yellow form over to us which she had us sign. It explained how we needed to apply to remove the conditions of his status 21 months hence. We kept it. That was it. We were done. We glanced at our watches and realized about 7 minutes had passed.
Our whole impression of the interview was that it was hastily done and for whatever reason, we did not raise any red flags. Not that we should have. The interviewer seemed nice enough although a tad flippant, but we didn't mind that. We were grateful we were done.
Stephen received his actual green (pink?) card 11 days later, on September 23, 2002.
Good luck to all those who follow for AOS in Los Angeles!
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Field Office: Los Angeles, California - 18
Name: Angelika
Filing date: 4/2002
Interview date: 10/29/02
I had my interview yesterday at the Los Angeles office. I was very nervous even though I was well prepared. I had a ton of paperwork copied and just as many photoalbums to bring along to the interview. When I was waiting in the waiting room, I felt a little ridiculous because nobody (not even the lawyers) had that much with them. Originally I came here on an H1B and got married to a US citizen later. I waited for filing the papers for more than 2 years since my H1B was still valid. So I had enough time to collect all kinds of proof of common residence and our relationship.
My interview was scheduled at 9 am and I had to wait until almost 11:30 to be called. Many people came in later than me, got called for their interview and left, while I was still waiting. The interview itself took only 5 minutes. The interviewer was very nice and fingerprinted me, asked for the tax returns and letters of employment. Then he asked for evidence of common residence. I gave him copies of several bank statements. Before I could take more out of my folder he said: "You have a child together, right? Just give me a copy of the birth certificate." Then he asked for my passport, EAD and I-94 and sent me and my tons of paperwork downstairs to the 3rd floor to get some new pictures taken, since the ones I had sent in were wrong. I came back to the waiting room afterwards where he was already waiting for me with my passport. He gave it to me and said very casually that I was approved. Wow, that was so easy. I had prepared for many days and now all this paperwork was unnecessary. I got organized really well though
. My husband was surprised too, that it was so easy and not more was asked of us. Good luck to everybody who is still waiting on their interview. I can only recommend to go there well prepared and organized. That alone will cut down on one's nervousness a lot.