What is allowed/restricted inside the Application Service Center?

[obajaj]

Hi folks,

It is very early yet for my Interview, but I wanted to get a heads up on what items are allowed/restricted inside the Application Service Center?

1) Is a person allowed to carry a backpack? (I imagine needing to carry a few files of paperwork, with past tax records, employment paystubs, bank statements, etc. etc.... All this paperwork does add up to quite a bit)

If you're not allowed to take in a backpack, if you happen to need any paperwork, is it possible to scoot out of the office to the car, fetch the required file and be back into the office? Has anyone needed to do this or tried it?
(I remember when my wife and me had visitted the CSC service center for our Green Cards, our passport pictures weren't good, so the IO allowed us to step outside, get new passport pictures and come back without losing our place in line)

2) Are the waits inside long enough that your kid gets restless? Can you carry your kid's meal/ a handheld videogame inside?

3) Do people usually just sit around inside the Service Center until their name is called? How long can waits be? (I will be going to the San Antonio, TSC).

Thanks.

 

[aabbcc11]

If your case is simple and not through marriage to USC, leave the tax and bank papers in the car. Those papers are for proof of marriage. Just take the regular paperwork asked.
I think you should be able to carry snacks/food for kids but electronics are banned in many DOs. SJ had a play area and I think you could bring coloring books and crayons. The wait times are unpredictable .
We waited for about 15- 20 min in a nearly empty room in the afternoon but others on the forum had 1-2 hrs wait.

 

[McMahon]

ASC vs. DO

The Application Service Center is the location where you get fingerprinted. The locaion where you get intervewed is usually the District Office.

 

[obajaj]

Hi McMahon,

Sorry I meant to say District Office. Thanks for informing me. I didn't know the difference.