How they select AOS application for approval without interview?

[dilip 187]

Moving from KI to AOS, Would like to know

[Amhara 460]

I am going to follow this thread, because I'm interested in this too.

I have read from other's threads that they sent in the minimum information and got an NIPW. I read from another member's post that there are no criteria, but I am very interested in what others will post on here.

[Lynkali 163]

It is somewhat random and dependent on how busy your local service center is. We were K1 and had a very complete AOS package and no RFEs, but because the San Diego office was not especially busy, we got selected for an interview (after a fairly short wait -- interview was only 3 months after filing for AOS). Our interview was almost just a formality, there were no issues at all and we were approved basically just by showing up and talking to the case officer for a little while. Honestly I'm glad we had the interview, as that meant the wait was much shorter and green card was issued very quickly.

At least for K1, other people's files don't get sent to local offices because those offices are overcrowded. Then your file simply sits at the national center for extra months while you wait, and eventually you'll get approval after several more months. Not getting an interview usually means you will have to wait substantially longer for your actual green card.

Getting called for an AOS interview from K-1 doesn't necessarily mean that your package was dubious, it really seems to depend upon how busy the local centers are. Obviously they would also call interviews for less well-documented couples if they felt there were questions to be asked, but MANY people get interviews like ours, for no obvious reasons.

[AB loves AG 54]

We had a very complete AOS package and got no RFE. Our service center was very busy, we waited about 1 year for an interview, then another 4 months after that for the green card approval. It was a long process for us, I think it has to do with my husband being from a high fraud country, Ghana.

[JR loves JR 196]

I think it's all about your local office and the number of cases they are handling. We sent in all the required papers but it only had one piece of evidence of a relationship (one joint bank statement). We didn't get an RFE and we got a waiver. When we got approved without an interview, our local office website said that they were processing early January applications and our application was filed in late February. It only took us seven months from filing to approval.

[KayDeeCee 4,892]

No one knows exactly. It appears to be fairly random, but perhaps based on backlog situations of the USICS offices. It has nothing to do with whether or not you include more than is required by the I-485 instructions. People that add in extras have also received interviews. People that only include what is required get interview waivers all the time.

Having an interview is not a bad thing. As a matter of fact, if you get an interview, you usually get your green card faster than someone that has their interview waived.

Edited December 7, 2015 by KayDeeCee