|
|
| Los Angeles CA |  Review on February 17, 2012: |
Cali Chick
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share our interview experience last Friday at the Los Angeles office. Our Apt was at 8:45am; we got to the building right at that time and luckily there was no one in line outside so we went right through. In the waiting room there were only a few people, we were both surprised that the building was so dead, I dunno what was up that day. We gave our apt letter to a receptionist at a window and were called in by the IO about 5 minutes later.
The IO was a short, middle-aged Hispanic women, she lead us into her office and swore us in. She asked for our IDs and birth certificates. I handed her my CA driver license and US passport and my hubby gave her his EAD and Passport. The IO only briefly glanced at our IDs, but didn't inspect the passports or birth certificates. She began by asking how we met and what language we spoke to each other, then she directed a few questions at my husband like what was my school schedule and what my concentration in school was. Since my husband was nervous, his English was slow and the IO got frustrated and said she didn't have time to be patient with his responses. She asked my husband to wait in the hall a few minutes...I thought for sure she was going to make us come back with an interpreter.
When the IO and I were alone she was very professional but nice, she said they don't have as much time as they would like to interview people and she didn't think his English was good enough for the interview. Just as I thought it was over... she asked, "how do you two get along if his English is so slow?" I told her he was just really nervous and was normally a very good speaker, I told her that we mainly speak Italian and Spanish anyway. She paused and said "oh he speaks Spanish?" I confirmed that his Spanish is a lot better than his English, then she asked, since she was also a Spanish speaker, if she could continue the interview in Spanish and if that would be quicker; to which I happily said YES! Before she brought my hubby back in, she asked me again what my schedule and concentration in school were and asked about my parents and if they liked my husband, and why I didn't find an American man to marry instead (LOL!). We began to chat about my studies and travels in Europe and how beautiful Venice is, and how my family loves my husband etc... so she started to lighten up a lot, and I felt the pressure go way down!
After about 15 minutes of chatting with just me she brought my hubby back in and began interviewing him in Spanish, which made things a lot easier for him. She asked all the same questions she had asked me to confirm our answers matched, which they did, cuz we're legit. She then asked if I had anything to add to the file, I gave her printouts of our facebook page, updated bank and credit card statements , our original lease, and some pictures. She looked st our wedding pictures and vacation pictures and loved them, she complimented us on our great pictures and our relationship. Then she said, "that's all for now" which made me think she needed more time before approving us, but then she looked up and said "I'm approving you, you'll get your GC in 3 weeks, don't leave the country until you get it." We were so happy, we thanked her and shook her hand, she wished us well, and that was it!
The issue of intent or his overstay never even came up! We were so thrilled, I can't believe the whole process only took about 2 months and 2 weeks.
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #9167