Rhonda.L

Are you a US citizen? Cost of living in the Bay Area is HIGH so if you don’t already have a career (think IT, Google etc) then that most likely isn’t a realistic option. 

My understanding is that an "international driver's license" is just a translation of your driver's license. It's not a legal document.
 
In most countries, the requirements for a driver's license are more difficult than they are in the US, so if you don't currently drive, it may be easier to learn (and pass the tests) in the US.
 
However, in most of California, road test appointments are somewhat backed up (it'll likely be a couple of months from when you make a road test appointment to your actual road test), so if your country has license reciprocity with CA, it might be better to get a license there so you can just trade it in for CA one once you've got sufficient documentation of CA residency and legal presence in the US.

I dont know of California but in Maryland they dont take international drivers license.. if you have to bring a driver license from your country bring the local drivers license ( I mean the one you use within your country because this happened to me so I'm currently starting afresh because I brought international drivers license instead of my country's drivers license.)

Documents are not hard. Its the usual birth/death/marriage certificates + i-864 + W2 + 1040/IRS Tax Transcript + Pay Stub + others. 
 
I am not sure if you can/how to change interview location, but why don't you contact NVC and find out. 

Definitely do the NVC stage yourself if your case is standard and not complicated.  Just make sure you follow the NVC website guidelines very carefully as far as scanning and uploading documents and files, correct orientation of the documents, high-quality scans in color, include everything they ask for, follow the directions, make sure all edges of civil documents are clearly visible, etc.  Attorneys often just slow down the process and make mistakes that can be very frustrating.  Save the money and do it yourself.  Good luck!

OP make sure to take note of the above.
One too many have been victims in that department.
I, being a good example.