Interview Experience at San Jose
Interview Experience
I had my I485 interview at INS San Jose local office eaerlier today and wanted to share with you my experience.
My wife and I arrived 15 minutes before the scheduled interview (8:00 AM). We cleared security and dropped off the interview letter in the box in room 200. In about a few minutes, an officer asked us to join him in his office.
1. He made us take an oath to ensure that we would speak the truth
2. Reviewed my documents and colleced my index print and signature on their form.
3. Made my wife repeat the exact same steps.
4. Opened the I-485 application form and asked us all the questions listed on the last page (have you ever been arrested, have you ever been deported, have you ever worked or intend to work for a terrorist organization etc ...)
5. Asked for my birth certificate. Verified it with the copy we had submitted with the initial application.
6. Asked for my employment verification letter. Asked me questions about my work responsibilities etc.
7. Asked me for 3 yrs of tax returns (with W2 forms).
8. Asked for my wife the standard set of questions from the I-485 application form.
9. Asked for her birth certificate
10. Asked for our marriage certificate
11. Asked for her employment verification letter
12. Asked for documentation to prove that we still live together and are married. I gave him a couple of recent utility bills, rental agreement, joint bank account statement etc.
13. He then asked my wife and me for our EAD cards, AP documents and I-94 stubs. He took them and kept it with him.
He then looked at my case history. As I had initially filed the case way back in 1997, he said that he would need to verify the case with his supervisor before granting me the approval. To this my representing attorney interjected and asked him if it was possible for him to verify the case with his supervisor while we wait outside. He agreed to this & asked us to wait outside.
After about 30 minutes, he called us back in and told us that his supervisor was comfortable approving the case. He congratulated us and welcomed us to the US.
He then stamped our passport with the I-551 stamp. As we were about to leave, he saw a wedding photo album with us and asked us if we could show him our wedding photographs. We spent about 10 minutes entertaining him with the photographs and thanked him and left.
Case History
First filed March 1997
Labor approved August 1997
I-140 approved December 1997
I-485 filed October 2002
FP-1 November 2002
EAD/AP Renewal filed September 2003
FP-2 February 2004
Received RFE (EVL, 3 yrs tax, pay stubs etc) - March 2004
Case transferred to local office - 28th April 2004
Interview/Approval/I-551 9th June 2004
i485woes said:
To my surprise, I got my interview confirmation letter today. The scheduled date for the interview is June 9th. Will keep the forum updated on the progress.
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WAC-03-011-5****