First of all, thanks for all the help and advice given out on this forum. It was helpful and saved me a lot of money (I probably would've gotten a lawyer). Anyway since I could hardly find any information about people going through AoS in San Diego I'm starting this thread for future reference.
Little Background:
Dutch Citizen (24), came to US on F1 visa, met my wife USC (21)in Hawaii in 04. Graduated 05, moved with wife to San Diego (where she's from). Got married Dec. 06. Filed papers mid Jan 07.
See full timeline at the bottom.
After filing I received Notice of Receipt by the end of Jan, along with a biometrics appointment for Feb. 20th. Went to the San Marcos application support center for my biometrics. No complaints, everything went fast and people were friendly.
By first week of March I got notice to appear for interview on March 27. My wife and I went this morning to the Chula Vista office. We were dressed nicely but not too official e.g. nice jeans and button shirt. I brought:
- My passport and wife's passport
- I-20 (never asked for during interview)
- EAD (never asked for during interview)
- Last W2's for both my wife and I
- Driver's licenses
- Birth certificates for both of US (only mine was asked for)
- Marriage certificate
- Rental agreement
- Joint car insurance
- Pictures of wedding, our families together over xmas, wife visiting my parents in Pakistan (my dad worked there).
San diego must be like clockwork because bunch of people who had their biometrics taken same day as me were there for their interviews too. People getting interviewed got to sit in a seperate lobby away from the busy area. We got called in within like 5minutes of checking in.
The interviewer lady was very friendly and asked for our driver's licenses to cross check all the info on the forms. Then she had us stand and take an oath. Noticing that we both still had Hawaii licenses she asked about how we met there and why we moved to San Diego. Then some brief questions about where our parents lived. Then the lady proceeded to ask me about personal information e.g. my full name, dob, current address, my cell # and my wife's cell #. She asked if our apartment was 1bdrm or 2bdrm. That was it for personal questions, she then asked me a list of questions about criminal activities etc etc. Then asked me about my current employment. Then asked my wife about her employment. And asked for our paystubs or W2s.
The only little kink appeared when she realized that my wife's paychecks wouldn't really add up to the 125% income level. So she asked if I had my W2 or recent paystub with me so that we could include my income. At this time my wife mentioned that she also makes cash tips as she is a bartender. The lady asked my wife how much tips she gets a week and then said something like "oh well that enough, no need to worry about his income".
Then we were asked about joint accounts or bill, which we don't really have. So we showed her our lease and our joint car insurance. She was fine with that. Then she asked for wedding photos. We gave her all the pics we had with us, she asked us to explain the larger family pictures, and my wife explained about her trip to pakistan. Then she asked to see our passports. She ripped out my I94 and said she would approve my application and stamped my passport.
She made us sign a paper about the removal of conditions 90days before 2yr anniversary. And walked out to make some photocopies of pics, W2, and other docs. Came back, explained to removal of conditions, asked if we had any questions and said congrats and wished us luck in our marriage.
Easy as pie...I personally cannot complain about anything in my AoS experience. San Diego rocks!!!
Good luck to everyone still going through this process!!!
Little Background:
Dutch Citizen (24), came to US on F1 visa, met my wife USC (21)in Hawaii in 04. Graduated 05, moved with wife to San Diego (where she's from). Got married Dec. 06. Filed papers mid Jan 07.
See full timeline at the bottom.
After filing I received Notice of Receipt by the end of Jan, along with a biometrics appointment for Feb. 20th. Went to the San Marcos application support center for my biometrics. No complaints, everything went fast and people were friendly.
By first week of March I got notice to appear for interview on March 27. My wife and I went this morning to the Chula Vista office. We were dressed nicely but not too official e.g. nice jeans and button shirt. I brought:
- My passport and wife's passport
- I-20 (never asked for during interview)
- EAD (never asked for during interview)
- Last W2's for both my wife and I
- Driver's licenses
- Birth certificates for both of US (only mine was asked for)
- Marriage certificate
- Rental agreement
- Joint car insurance
- Pictures of wedding, our families together over xmas, wife visiting my parents in Pakistan (my dad worked there).
San diego must be like clockwork because bunch of people who had their biometrics taken same day as me were there for their interviews too. People getting interviewed got to sit in a seperate lobby away from the busy area. We got called in within like 5minutes of checking in.
The interviewer lady was very friendly and asked for our driver's licenses to cross check all the info on the forms. Then she had us stand and take an oath. Noticing that we both still had Hawaii licenses she asked about how we met there and why we moved to San Diego. Then some brief questions about where our parents lived. Then the lady proceeded to ask me about personal information e.g. my full name, dob, current address, my cell # and my wife's cell #. She asked if our apartment was 1bdrm or 2bdrm. That was it for personal questions, she then asked me a list of questions about criminal activities etc etc. Then asked me about my current employment. Then asked my wife about her employment. And asked for our paystubs or W2s.
The only little kink appeared when she realized that my wife's paychecks wouldn't really add up to the 125% income level. So she asked if I had my W2 or recent paystub with me so that we could include my income. At this time my wife mentioned that she also makes cash tips as she is a bartender. The lady asked my wife how much tips she gets a week and then said something like "oh well that enough, no need to worry about his income".
Then we were asked about joint accounts or bill, which we don't really have. So we showed her our lease and our joint car insurance. She was fine with that. Then she asked for wedding photos. We gave her all the pics we had with us, she asked us to explain the larger family pictures, and my wife explained about her trip to pakistan. Then she asked to see our passports. She ripped out my I94 and said she would approve my application and stamped my passport.
She made us sign a paper about the removal of conditions 90days before 2yr anniversary. And walked out to make some photocopies of pics, W2, and other docs. Came back, explained to removal of conditions, asked if we had any questions and said congrats and wished us luck in our marriage.
Easy as pie...I personally cannot complain about anything in my AoS experience. San Diego rocks!!!
Good luck to everyone still going through this process!!!
