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Posted

Okay so heres the detailed version, please feel free to skip reading this post, its gonna be a little long, but I figured why not?

The days leading up to the interview were filled with 'what ifs' and 'oh no, what if I forget tos' and 'I wonder what its going to be likes' and while I know that everyone has different circumstances I hope this post will put some on ya'll at ease or at least give ya'll a little comfort in knowing that things do end up ... well.

So, these are the items I brought along with me, pretty much everything I submitted for the original AOS package. I did also bring about 110 pictures with me, all arranged in a scrap book and their copies for the officer.

I was AOS-ing from F1 student visa to Permanent residency through marriage.

Our appointment was for 0745 at the Dallas field office in Irving, Texas. We arrived and cleared security at 0720. We walked up stairs to a waiting area and checked in. The lady at the check in desk took our I 797 notice to appear and gave us a buzzer and told us to wait. The waiting area was large and filled with people already, it had a TV on CNN, bathrooms and water fountains. Many people/ families/ couples came with lawyers and or translators. These lawyers and translators seem to know just about every officer, greeting them and even making small talk with them as the officers came through the doors to 'collect' their applicants.

I mentioned doors, there were 3 doors that lead to long hallways with interview rooms/ officers offices.

We were called in at about 0810 by a gentleman with a rather stern face and a rather strong 'island' accent. He greeted us and showed us the way to his office.

Before we sat down, he instructed us to both raise our right hands and swear to tell the truth to which we affirmed with positives and then we sat down.

He asked where I was from and I answered, he then asked for our I/Ds (Both foreign, state, and federal), Hubby gave him is Military ID and DL while I gave him my passport, ID, Military ID, DL, EAD & I-20. He said "oh Military? Good, good. Did you bring your Tricare & SGLI (health & life insurance paper work)and I said Yes and he said Good, good again.

He then visually looked at all my IDs and nodded.

He then asked me my name, address and birth date, as I answered he checked off a list on his desk, my I 485 I assume. Then he asked Hubby what my major was and where I attended school and if I completed my course of education and Hubby answered and yes said. The officer then congratulated me. He then took my I-94 and I-20 and said "Okay then you won't be needing this anymore".

The officer asked me how many times I entered into the United States in my life and I said "Many times, maybe about 10 to date? He asked my last POE and the date and I answered.

Then he asked Hubby when we were married. And then said "Okay, I'm going to look into my system and see what we can do for you today."

He then asked us if there was evidence that we could provide for him to prove our marriage was bonafide. (This part is funny) As I brought up things from my evidence folder, he said "nope, don't need that we got that already" x 7 times. The only thing that was not in the original packet was my Tricare and SGLI paperwork which he took from us. I then asked if he would like to see photographic evidence and he said "no no, I have plenty"

Then he asked us if we knew what the conditional green card was and we said yes and he said "Good good"

He then asked Hubby if he had any proof of his citizenship in America and we provided him with the original Birth certificate and a copy, he kept the copy.

And then said those magic words "Alright, I am going to approve you today and you should expect the card in the mail in about ... well... it can take up to 8 weeks, if you haven't received it by then, call us back."

* Insert waterworks from me at this point but I did hold it together and I managed to not actually tear.

He showed us the way to the copy room where he made copies of our I/Ds and returned it to us in a couple of mins. He thanked us again, we shook hands, wished him well and walked down a different hallway towards the exit back to the waiting area.

This part is hilarious, There was a button/ switch right by the door handle, I assumed it was the lock release, b/c all the officers entering the doors from the waiting area needed their key cards to be scanned before the door pop-ed unlock, and so I pressed it and then the hallway lights turned off one at a time down the hallway!!!!!! It was a light switch, Hubbys and I bust out with laughter, I immediately switched the lights back on and turned around to apologize, only to find the officer almost in tears laughing too! I walked out giggling and exited the building feeling a ton lighter! I actually found myself skipping to the car hahaha.

So there, my experience for the AOS interview.

ROC Time line

Dec 18 Package sent

Dec 19 Package received at VSC

Dec 23 Checks cleared

Dec 27 NOA1 received- Dated 12/23/2014

April 2- Biometrics completed

August 24- Update from USICS "My card is being produced"

September 3- Green Card in Hand!

AOS Time line
Nov 5- Medical evaluation with Civil Surgeon. TB skin test & Blood test administered
Nov 7- Medically cleared. I 693 form sign and sealed
Day 0 Nov 9- AOS Package delivered to Chicago. Signed by S. Bush at 10:26 C.T
Day 5 Nov 14- Email/ text notifications received at 21:17 C.T (Official receipt notice Form I 797 to follow in mail)
Day 7 Nov 16- Checks cleared
Day10 Nov 19- I- 797C (for I 130, I 485, I 131 & I 765) Received in hard copy mail
Day 17 Nov 26- I- 797C (for Biometrics appointment) Received in hard copy mail
Day 19 Nov 28- Walk-in Biometrics attempt: Successful. Lubbock, TX ASC. 1000-1013
Day 71 Jan 19- I- 797C Interview appointment letter. Feb 19 at local USCIS field office
Day 77 Jan 29- EAD/AP combo card received. DPS unable to issue renewal or license. S.A.V.E verification required
Day 91 Feb 12- DL renewed. Applied for SSN - pending S.A.V.E verification
Day 98 Feb 19- AOS interview & approval !!!!!!!
Day 108 March 1- Green Card in Hand!

Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Philippines
Timeline
Posted

Sweet! What a smooth interview. Congratulations.

11-26-2012- - sent I-30/I-485/I-765 package to Chicago Lockbox

11-28-2012(Day 1)- received by USCIS

12-03-2012(Day 5)- received NOA1 thru email/text

12-05-2012(Day 7)- got hard copies of I-797C

12-12-2012(Day 14)-received biometrics appointment letter in the mail (01/03/2013 appointment)

12-19-2012(Day 21)-case status available online: I-765 and I-30 are in Initial review and I-485 Acceptance stage

01-03-2013(Day 36)-biometrics done at Milwaukee

01-09-2013(Day 42)-received notification that I-485 is for Testing and Interview

01-18-2013(Day 51)-notified of interview schedule, Feb 21,2013(Day85)

02-06-2013(Day 70)-received text saying EAD is ordered for production on Feb 5th.

Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Australia
Timeline
Posted

Congratulations.

Put this in the reviews section to help everyone out :)

We became a couple : 2011-05-29
I visited him : 2011-10-28 - 2011-11-17
He visited me (and my crazy family) : 2012-02-05 - 2012-02-17
I-129F Sent : 2012-02-05
I-129F NOA1 : 2012-02-14
I entered on VWP to stay 3 months: 2012-04-11 - 2012-07-03
---
Went to get my medical done for interview in Australia (much cheaper in the US and I was already here):2012-05-20
Medical issue diagnosed
K-1 petition cancellation request sent to CSC : 2012-06-01
Married: 2012-06-21
Filed for AOS : 2012-08-08
NOA1 : 2012-08-10
Biometrics : 2012-09-14
EAD approved : 2012-10-16
Applied for SSN : 2012-11-01
Received SSN : 2012-11-13
Received interview notice :2012-12-27
Interview- APPROVED :2013-01-28
Green card received :2013-02-04
Baby girl born :2013-03-09

Filed for ROC :2014-12-05
NOA :2014-12-11
Biometrics : 2015-01-15

ROC Approval : 2015-05-14

Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Peru
Timeline
Posted

Congratulations! I am glad it went smoothly. As much as I want our interview to go smoothly, I hope they ask us for a lot of paperwork, because I've made tons of copies of everything!!!! If they approve us in the first five minutes, I am going to still show them all of the paperwork! Hahahaha.

Met my wife: Spring 2010
Became Bf & Gf: July 16, 2010
Got engaged: July 16, 2011
Wedding: August 11, 2012
Sent AOS Docs: December 12, 2012
Rec'd Receipts: December 22, 2012
Rec'd Bio Appt: December 24, 2012 (1/7/12)
Biometrics Done: December 28, 2012 (went early because I wouldn't be able to go on the 7th)
Rec'd Req for Evidence: January 5, 2013 (initial request for my joint sponsor's proof of citizenship)
Sent Evidence Requested: January 10, 2013 (my join sponsor's certificate of naturalization)
Evidence Received: January 15, 2013 (status updated on USCIS website)
Testing and Interview: January 25, 2013 (status updated on USCIS website - now just waiting for the interview date)
Interview date set: January 30, 2013 (our interview was set for March 6th, 2013)
EAD Approved: February 12, 2013
EAD Card Production: February 15, 2013
EAD Card Mailed: February 19, 2013
EAD Card Rec'd: February 23, 2013
Applied for S.S.No.: February 25, 2013
Interview and Approval: March 6, 2013
Green Card Rec'd: March 14, 2013
Applied for new S.S. card: March 15, 2013
Rec'd S.S. card: March 22, 2013

Sent I-751: January 10, 2015

NOA1: January 15, 2015

Biometrics: February 20, 2015
Green Card Rec'd: June 8, 2015

Posted
:) Thanks guys! :)

ROC Time line

Dec 18 Package sent

Dec 19 Package received at VSC

Dec 23 Checks cleared

Dec 27 NOA1 received- Dated 12/23/2014

April 2- Biometrics completed

August 24- Update from USICS "My card is being produced"

September 3- Green Card in Hand!

AOS Time line
Nov 5- Medical evaluation with Civil Surgeon. TB skin test & Blood test administered
Nov 7- Medically cleared. I 693 form sign and sealed
Day 0 Nov 9- AOS Package delivered to Chicago. Signed by S. Bush at 10:26 C.T
Day 5 Nov 14- Email/ text notifications received at 21:17 C.T (Official receipt notice Form I 797 to follow in mail)
Day 7 Nov 16- Checks cleared
Day10 Nov 19- I- 797C (for I 130, I 485, I 131 & I 765) Received in hard copy mail
Day 17 Nov 26- I- 797C (for Biometrics appointment) Received in hard copy mail
Day 19 Nov 28- Walk-in Biometrics attempt: Successful. Lubbock, TX ASC. 1000-1013
Day 71 Jan 19- I- 797C Interview appointment letter. Feb 19 at local USCIS field office
Day 77 Jan 29- EAD/AP combo card received. DPS unable to issue renewal or license. S.A.V.E verification required
Day 91 Feb 12- DL renewed. Applied for SSN - pending S.A.V.E verification
Day 98 Feb 19- AOS interview & approval !!!!!!!
Day 108 March 1- Green Card in Hand!

Filed: Country: Romania
Timeline
Posted

Congratulations.

Put this in the reviews section to help everyone out :)

Which one is the review section? I would love to read more interview stories

Adjusting from B1/B2

Exactly 3 months from the day we got married till the day I had both SSN and GREENCARD in hand !

Day 1 01/22/2013 AOS package sent

Day 8 01/28/2013 NOA 1 received

Day 15 02/04/2013Biometrics appt letter for 2/25/2013

Day 16 02/05/2013 Succesful walk in biometrics 20 days early

Day 25 02/14/2013 USCIS status changed to Testing and Interview ready for interview scheduling

Day 31 02/20/2013 Email notification that my interview is scheduled for March 21st

Day 57 03/19/2013 EAD/AP card ordered

Day 59 03/21/2013 Interview at 10.30 am Seattle Approved

Day 67 03/29/ 2013 Greencard Arrived . Applied for SSN

Day 68 03/30/2013 EAD arrived

Day 74 04/03/2013 SSN card arrived

Eligible for ROC December 21st 2014

Posted

Widow/er AoS Guide | Have AoS questions? Read (some) answers here

 

AoS

Day 0 (4/23/12) Petitions mailed (I-360, I-485, I-765)
2 (4/25/12) Petitions delivered to Chicago Lockbox
11 (5/3/12) Received 3 paper NOAs
13 (5/5/12) Received biometrics appointment for 5/23
15 (5/7/12) Did an unpleasant walk-in biometrics in Fort Worth, TX
45 (6/7/12) Received email & text notification of an interview on 7/10
67 (6/29/12) EAD production ordered
77 (7/9/12) Received EAD
78 (7/10/12) Interview
100 (8/1/12) I-485 transferred to Vermont Service Centre
143 (9/13/12) Contacted DHS Ombudsman
268 (1/16/13) I-360, I-485 consolidated and transferred to Dallas
299 (2/16/13) Received second interview letter for 3/8
319 (3/8/13) Approved at interview
345 (4/3/13) I-360, I-485 formally approved; green card production ordered
353 (4/11/13) Received green card

 

Naturalisation

Day 0 (1/3/18) N-400 filed online

Day 6 (1/9/18) Walk-in biometrics in Fort Worth, TX

Day 341 (12/10/18) Interview was scheduled for 1/14/19

Day 376 (1/14/19) Interview

Day 385 (1/23/19) Denied

Day 400 (2/7/19) Denial revoked; N-400 approved; oath ceremony set for 2/14/19

Day 407 (2/14/19) Oath ceremony in Dallas, TX

Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Australia
Timeline
Posted

Which one is the review section? I would love to read more interview stories

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/

We became a couple : 2011-05-29
I visited him : 2011-10-28 - 2011-11-17
He visited me (and my crazy family) : 2012-02-05 - 2012-02-17
I-129F Sent : 2012-02-05
I-129F NOA1 : 2012-02-14
I entered on VWP to stay 3 months: 2012-04-11 - 2012-07-03
---
Went to get my medical done for interview in Australia (much cheaper in the US and I was already here):2012-05-20
Medical issue diagnosed
K-1 petition cancellation request sent to CSC : 2012-06-01
Married: 2012-06-21
Filed for AOS : 2012-08-08
NOA1 : 2012-08-10
Biometrics : 2012-09-14
EAD approved : 2012-10-16
Applied for SSN : 2012-11-01
Received SSN : 2012-11-13
Received interview notice :2012-12-27
Interview- APPROVED :2013-01-28
Green card received :2013-02-04
Baby girl born :2013-03-09

Filed for ROC :2014-12-05
NOA :2014-12-11
Biometrics : 2015-01-15

ROC Approval : 2015-05-14

 
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