Chicago I-485

[GCapplicant2020]

My wife and I had our first interview on February 2021. Very smooth interview, lasted only about 30 minutes. At the end of the interview officer said to me I will approve your conditional green card and it should arrive in mail in about 2 weeks. We didn’t get any paper at the end of the interview. Officer was very friendly, asked just basic questions. When we came home my status changed to “Interview was completed and my case must be reviewed”. Status never changed since then.

May 10th we recieved letter from officer, she called us for second interview. My status was still same. Letter didn’t look official, like the first one, it was written by officer. Just a invitation for second interview, nothing detailed in it. We came there, we got same officer. We got separated and invited me first. Very friendly chat we had, but this time asked couple of those “how many bedroooms in house” questions. Really, nothing intimidating like some people get it at second interview. Only one officer was questioning. After me my wife came in. She stayed around 20 minutes like me. Again we didn’t get any paper at the end and officer said you will hear from us in the mail. It has been two months already and no answer. In 3 months we will complete 2 years marriage.

Has anyone had experience like this? It really confusing.

Thank you for any answers.

Best regards to all?

[Poramin]

Your second interview was a Stoke interview. For some reason, they felt the need to make sure that your marriage based AOS was not fraud.

We were called into a second interview back in the end of May. Fortunately it was not a Stoke interview (I was the petitioner) and only my wife and our attorney was called in. But while I waited, I saw every other couple get called one at a time where first the beneficiary was called in, then the petitioner was called it.

After each interview, we got a dated letter where the IO checked the box that further review was necessary. Also the second interview request was on the same form as the first interview.

It almost seems like USCIS is conducting more Stoke interviews.

[Anonymous R12]

We didn't have a stoke interview as of yet, but we did file in Chicago and had our interview in March. They requested for an additional piece of information which really wasnt needed as we had a prior document that was still within expiry. We got the additional document to cover all of our basis but then the lab had messed up and eventually it caused more harm then good, because the officer said since we paid for it and didn't have it might as well have it in our file. Of course we would have rather wasted $200 and had our case approved but what can we do. So right after our interview the status for I-485 changed to request for additional information and I-130 case approved. We haven't heard anything yet.

I know Chicago has a lot of immigrants so I'm thinking they are over whelmed. I know a couple who had their interview in Feb 2021 just got approved this month.