Details
Here are the details again. I have made a few corrections from my last post about my interview. I had forgotten to mention that we had applied under 245(i).
Case details:
PD: February 1996
Labor approved: June 1999
I-140 approved: July 2000
I-485 applied under 245(i): July 2000.
I-485 receipt dates: September 2000 (lawyer sent the wrong amount, so it took two months to receive the receipts)
I-485 transferred to LA office for interview: March 2001.
Interview held: January 16, 2002.
The reason for 245(i) was INS gave me H-1 for seven years and even that expired 20 days before I got my EAD.
The interview was pretty straightforward:
1) We were asked to take oath and the officer took our fingerprints.
2) Then the officer asked for the driver\'s license, medical exam reports and passports. My driver\'s license had the old address, so he asked me to show the DMV change of address card.
3)Then he started interviewing my husband who is the primary applicant. He verified all the biographical information, father\'s name, mother\'s maiden name, city where he was born. He asked for the original birth certificate and compared them to the one he had.
4) Then he asked when was the last time he entered US.
5) He asked to see the original degree certificate.
6) Then he asked whether he was still with the same company and asked for the latest pay stubs. My husband also showed his company photo ID card.
7) Then he asked the standard question, whether any arrests, drug use or a member of any organization in India.
8) Then he said he is going to approve his petition and stamped his passport.
9) Then he asked me the same questions as my husband: mother\'s name, father\'s name and city I was born in, last time I entered US. He asked to see the original birth and marriage certificates. He compared them with the copy he had.
9) Then he asked for the original marriage cert. Then he asked me what other proof I have for the validity for our marriage. This is where he lingered on the most. I showed him some of our wedding pictures, bank account, tax return etc. Then he asked whether I have more pictures. Luckily I had taked my entire wedding album. I handed it over to him. He leafed through almost half of it. Then he asked whether we jointly own any property and we said yes. He asked for a copy of the title deed of our home. Then he said he is going to approve it and stamped my passport. He congratulated us and told us we had prepared very well.
Totally it took about 40 minutes. He remarked that it was a simple case.
Good Luck to Everyone.
malli
. But I am hopeful that one day I will receive my interview notice and will have to appear for interview. From your experience it looks like its always better to be prepared. Would you please compile a list of all documents which you took with you for the I-485 Interview? I am sure many people will benefit from your list. Thanks once more - nik