I used the drop box at the San Jose location when I submitted my papers. I didn't hear anything from them for about 2 weeks. If you wrote checks, keep checking to see if they have gone through your bank. I didn't receive anything until they cashed the money orders I submitted, then all I received from them was a letter telling me when to come in for my EAD.
I had my AOS interview Wednesday morning. It was scheduled for 11 am. Didn't get called in for interview until 12:00, took about 15 minutes. The officer swore both of us in. The officer that interviewed me asked us very basic questions, my name, my parents name, childrens names, current address. Looked at my passport, birth certificate, husbands birth certificate, the letter from my employer. Glanced through the rest of the papers I had brought with me, asked for copies of some of them and said he needed a couple days to get everything in order and asked if I could come back Monday morning and bring my passport and my EAD card. The officer asked what time would be convienent for me, said it would only take 10 to 15 minutes and if I was scheduled to work that day just to have my husband bring in those two documents. He stated they needed my EAD back that I couldn't have my passport stamped and keep the EAD card.
He put a note on the same letter I received for my interview and said to bring it with us Monday morning, otherwise we may have problems getting through the front door. Actually the hardest part of the interview was getting through security. I had forgotten about my manicure set, had a chocolate bar in my purse and we both had picture cell phones, they asked my husband to run all our "contraband" items back to our vehicle before allowing him in the building.
All in all it was a very positive experience and everyone at the San Jose office was very upbeat and professional.