Houston Texas Filers

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Agreed.
We have a ton of new evidence from last 2 years. The paper trail of evidence is ample. I am making sure that the interview goes well. The question answers is the place where I am most anxious about.

I would not be worried about the Yes/No questions. They're not going to ask you ALL of them. However, you should be familiar with them. I mean no disrespect but some of the questions are soooo way out there that it's almost funny that they're asking you those questions. "Are you planning on overthrowing the US government?". But they have to ask them, and you have to answer them.

You'll be fine.

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LOL so 11/05 is our interview... Our 2nd wedding anniversary is 11/04! Completely happy about that!

That's awesome! Congrats!

[maxviz]

Approved for 10 years

Interview questions (time 8 minutes)

External booth for checking biometric identity.

Then was called in for interview. (1 hr later than expected)
Show your identities 1) Driver's license 2) Passports
Started with asking "Do you have any new evidence to show?"
We showed the evidence (We had evidence with Organization level 10000, I think we have OCD)

To wife (USC): Beneficiary's name, address, DOB, Mother's name and Father's name, Address, Place of work
To Beneficiary (husband - Indian): Wife's DOB, Anniversary date, place of work
Asked beneficiary standardized criminal history questions from i-485

Interviewer said : "I am satisfied with your application"

Then Asked to show photos. Had a little chat on our cat picture and colorful photos. (all smiles).
Anniversary conversation lead to the graduation, conversation. Wife said something about a gift that she gave to me. Interviewer asked me immediately what was the gift. I nailed the answer (even when we never practiced that answer). Advice DO NOT TALK EXTRA. You might give a lead for further questioning.

Interviewer gave a hint to us that "so you are married for more than 2 years". My wife said, we just passed 3rd year anniversary. Interviewer repeated "More than 2 years - thats more than 2 years"
Interviewer: "I am liking what I am seeing here, I am going to approve the card today."

Circumstances:
We had an attorney with us. Attorney had a copy of all the original documents and all the new evidence with completely organized and labeled file. I had a file on the table with all the original documents and new evidence.
(No question about my OPT-STEM extension filing was asked and I did not bring it up)

We might have gotten lucky with extremely friendly officer lady but here is a tip. Practice answers, be comfortable, be confident, and just answer the truth, keep the answer to exactly what is needed (no rambling and adding more questions), and do the best in the organization of the documents.
______________________________
Rough timeline:

Feb 2014 Met USC
Sep 2015 Married to USC
June 2016: I-130 filed
Dec 2016 I-130 approved
Jan 2017 Biometrics done
Feb 2017 i-485 (unfortunately applied without EAD and AP application with it) [Priority date Feb 2017]
May 2017 applied for OPT
Sept 2017 OPT approved
Sept 2018 Got tired of waiting for interview and applied for EAD (a top up application to original i-485)
Sept 2018 Interview notification for i-485
Sept 2018 Now on the verge of expiring OPT, I was advised to apply for STEM extension applied
Interview Done 9th Oct (On interview 10 years GC approved)

[godfreylaura]

Interview questions (time 8 minutes)

External booth for checking biometric identity.

Then was called in for interview. (1 hr later than expected)
Show your identities 1) Driver's license 2) Passports
Started with asking "Do you have any new evidence to show?"
We showed the evidence (We had evidence with Organization level 10000, I think we have OCD)

To wife (USC): Beneficiary's name, address, DOB, Mother's name and Father's name, Address, Place of work
To Beneficiary (husband - Indian): Wife's DOB, Anniversary date, place of work
Asked beneficiary standardized criminal history questions from i-485

Interviewer said : "I am satisfied with your application"

______________________________

Interview Done 9th Oct (On interview 10 years GC approved)

Congrats!!!! thats awesome!

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GAH! Another $285 for medical! SUCKS! A British friend of ours who is now a PR was freaking my husband out this morning. Told him since he had the TB test already, he would test positive and would need an x-ray. That he would need to do it now because it would come back in 3 weeks for the x-ray.. I called the dr today, and since it has been nearly 2 years since the medical exam the likelihood of that happening is slim, but he needs to get the exam done ASAP just because it is taking about 7-10 days to get the paperwork back to us for the interview.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Congrats!!!! thats awesome!

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GAH! Another $285 for medical! SUCKS! A British friend of ours who is now a PR was freaking my husband out this morning. Told him since he had the TB test already, he would test positive and would need an x-ray. That he would need to do it now because it would come back in 3 weeks for the x-ray.. I called the dr today, and since it has been nearly 2 years since the medical exam the likelihood of that happening is slim, but he needs to get the exam done ASAP just because it is taking about 7-10 days to get the paperwork back to us for the interview.

The BCG vaccine may cause a false positive result. However, the tuberculin skin test will not. If your husband has had the BCG vaccine, then the physician should go straight for the blood test. That's what the current guidelines state.

[randompeasant]

I would not be worried about the Yes/No questions. They're not going to ask you ALL of them. However, you should be familiar with them. I mean no disrespect but some of the questions are soooo way out there that it's almost funny that they're asking you those questions. "Are you planning on overthrowing the US government?". But they have to ask them, and you have to answer them.

You'll be fine.

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That's awesome! Congrats!

The thing I wonder about the yes/no questions is, if when you applied they had one set of questions (ie, excluding traffic violations) will they ask that version of the questions from the form you used at the time, or the current one that doesn't exclude traffic violations.

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

The thing I wonder about the yes/no questions is, if when you applied they had one set of questions (ie, excluding traffic violations) will they ask that version of the questions from the form you used at the time, or the current one that doesn't exclude traffic violations.

I would say the officer will just read off your signed I-485 and other forms.

[godfreylaura]

The BCG vaccine may cause a false positive result. However, the tuberculin skin test will not. If your husband has had the BCG vaccine, then the physician should go straight for the blood test. That's what the current guidelines state.

which one is the BCG vaccine?

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

which one is the BCG vaccine?

https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/prevention/bcg.htm

[godfreylaura]

So funny story... My husband went for his renewed medical today. He gets in there... weight, blood pressure, blood taken all within about 10 minutes... They ask him to pee in the cup right... well he couldnt... we were there for an over an hour and 6 or 7 bottles of water later he was finally able to squeeze some out! I also didnt realize the USCIS had changed the TB testing out right... No more skin tests... its all done by blood now... Either way.. They said he should have his paperwork on Monday!

$285 was the cost!

[Randomdude]

Interview questions (time 8 minutes)

External booth for checking biometric identity.

Then was called in for interview. (1 hr later than expected)
Show your identities 1) Driver's license 2) Passports
Started with asking "Do you have any new evidence to show?"
We showed the evidence (We had evidence with Organization level 10000, I think we have OCD)

To wife (USC): Beneficiary's name, address, DOB, Mother's name and Father's name, Address, Place of work
To Beneficiary (husband - Indian): Wife's DOB, Anniversary date, place of work
Asked beneficiary standardized criminal history questions from i-485

Interviewer said : "I am satisfied with your application"

Then Asked to show photos. Had a little chat on our cat picture and colorful photos. (all smiles).
Anniversary conversation lead to the graduation, conversation. Wife said something about a gift that she gave to me. Interviewer asked me immediately what was the gift. I nailed the answer (even when we never practiced that answer). Advice DO NOT TALK EXTRA. You might give a lead for further questioning.

Interviewer gave a hint to us that "so you are married for more than 2 years". My wife said, we just passed 3rd year anniversary. Interviewer repeated "More than 2 years - thats more than 2 years"
Interviewer: "I am liking what I am seeing here, I am going to approve the card today."

Circumstances:
We had an attorney with us. Attorney had a copy of all the original documents and all the new evidence with completely organized and labeled file. I had a file on the table with all the original documents and new evidence.
(No question about my OPT-STEM extension filing was asked and I did not bring it up)

We might have gotten lucky with extremely friendly officer lady but here is a tip. Practice answers, be comfortable, be confident, and just answer the truth, keep the answer to exactly what is needed (no rambling and adding more questions), and do the best in the organization of the documents.

Thanks for the insight! Our's is next week, my spouse couldn't be happier!

[UScitizenFilingforspouse]

Feb 2014 Met USC
Sep 2015 Married to USC
June 2016: I-130 filed
Dec 2016 I-130 approved
Jan 2017 Biometrics done
Feb 2017 i-485 (unfortunately applied without EAD and AP application with it) [Priority date Feb 2017]
May 2017 applied for OPT
Sept 2017 OPT approved
Sept 2018 Got tired of waiting for interview and applied for EAD (a top up application to original i-485)
Sept 2018 Interview notification for i-485
Sept 2018 Now on the verge of expiring OPT, I was advised to apply for STEM extension applied
Interview Done 9th Oct (On interview 10 years GC approved)

Congratulations! See how nicely that worked out for you? You walked in there with an approved I-130 under your belt. That was a huge plus. All the best!

USCFFS

[milktub]

Just submitted our I-130 + I485 + I765 package today... Hopefully everything goes as smooth as possible.

[Dacral]

Our Experience

Hello again.

We had our interview this past Monday (oct 22) and this is how it went:

We arrived there almost one hour in advance. Since we read they would only alllow us in 30 min before the appointment we waited in the car. We saw many people walking in that direction nonstop and after a while we decided to check if they would let us in 45 minutes before. They did.

You have to go through metal detectors so be easy on the jewelry ladies and try to wear flats if possible, as any other type of shoes would go to the band.

Have in hand a copy of the interview letter to present to the recepcionist. They will require it again at the window for the biometrics and the officer will keep it.

The place was already packed though I went to get the photo and fingertips relatively fast, and we went to sit back around the middle while we waited for the actual interview. Guys, sit as CLOSE AS YOU CAN TO WINDOW 14, there are two different speakers: the one that calls your number loud and clear and the one the officers use to call by the name of the applicant. The thing is, they might sound at the same time drowning both messages (or the officer might voice your name as far from whatever you can understand, almost happened to me) so it is better to be close to the officer's speaker. If all else fail, they will come out of that door and call for you a last time. But you know, you want to give the best first impression so pay attention, nobody wants annoyed officers to start your interview.

On that note, prepare the documents so he can get the pages he needs quickly, remove all the staples and the clips. Originally, I prepared the documents (I was able to gather everything on that list) in the order they were listed on the interview notice. The officer will have all your info in a folder too small to contain the quantity of pages they put in there, I saw him use post its as tabs to navigate that mountain of papers so it would be smart to do the same. One folder, no staples or clips and yes tabs. Also, be smart about what you give in your evidence, not always more means better, have in mind that the officer will have to go through it selecting what else will be added to your file, the lessPages/moreSubstance he gets, the happier he and that poor folder will be. In our case, he kept the signed pages of both the title and tax returns.

Before that I should say, you should get copies of ALL your IDs, and just to be safe put them at the very front of your documents. The officer asked for my passport, driver's license, birth cert and from my husband just the first two. He also asked for both our social security cards, which were one of those "just in case" things I was carrying in my separate folder.

The questioning wasn't as deep and probing, he just asked about our house and when did we move in, when and where we met and all the terrorism/etc questions on the i485.

Make sure that your address matches in all your IDs, they will want to see joint bank statements, house titles with both your names and please read the form with all the geographic info you submitted at the beginning, with that he corroborated that my husband and I met when we were working for the same company.

A last piece of advice, if you are going to give photos as evidence, scan them, print them with a label of at least the date and where it was taken. What we did was take screenshots from ********. Try to use photos where the place they were taken is seen, we showed a few pics of our travels and it was a good ice breaker for this interview.

Frankly, most of our interview was a shuffling of papers, the only time he actually paid attention to the folder was on the 485 questions, there you have to be loud and clear with your answer. He needs to hear it.

I was approved for a conditional card. I received the message thay it was on production as well, so now I'll wait. How long does it take to arrive?

Good luck to you all.

[Houston713]

i485 approved but online status hasn't changed

Marriage based interview.
Ok so I had my Interview On 10/23/2018. it was scheduled at 1:55 pm and i was literally the last one to be called back.
I went to the interview alone, my husband couldn't make it cause he is deployed at the moment. The IO took me to her office, asked me why wasn't my husband with me, I explained that he is stationed abroad at the moment and handed her his orders. She looked through my file and she said everything looked good, and she said since i had an approved parole in place she was going to approve me for my green card. She only asked me for updated medical and thats all. I was prepared with a huge binder with all of the proof required and a lot of pictures, but she didn't ask me for not a single thing. She just apologized for keeping me waiting for such a long time and printed out a paper stating that i was approve for IR6 and told me to wait about 3 weeks to get my card in the mail.

Well i have been checking my case status on line and it says
Your interview for your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Receipt Number MSC YYYY YYYY X, was completed, and your case must be reviewed. We will mail you a notice if we make a decision or take further action. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

Why must my case be reviewed if it was approved on the spot, She even gave me a paper stating that i was approved. I am freaking out here, lol
anyone else in the same situation??

[godfreylaura]

Kind of freaking out

Just read on the form, I need a copy of my daughters' birth certificates... They live with their dad... And I dont have them and our interview is next monday..... WHAT THE HECK? are they really going to ask for that?