PGA

OP, I think you're getting swindled. Plenty of US citizens or LPRs in the US for the receptionist and sandwich maker positions. 
Cut your losses now and don't pay whoever this middle man agency is. That is not how either USCIS or visa issuance works. 

it bothers me that it took so long to remove them after being here illegally.

For at least the next several years, immigration will be by the book.  No more "looking the other way" for people who try to circumvent the proper legal way to do things.  It's always hard to digest news stories like this, because they are always (understandably) written as if the subjects are "victims."  Truthfully, they are not victims.  They created their own issues and now are suffering the consequences of poor decisions.  I feel sorry for them, but then again, I felt sorry for my wife having to wait a long time to legally come here using the proper methods.

I would like to hear more of the story before making any decisions.  The articles are clearly biased (the one from the Inquisitir is written very poorly), and they do not tell the entire story.  Maybe USCIS found something related to fraud, maybe there is a criminal record in their home countries, who knows.  They should receive due process though, and I expect that to happen.

My appointment was first thing this morning. Although the letter says you can who up 30 minutes early they won't let you in until 15 minutes before your appointment. You'll check in once you clear security and they'll take your photo and green card and check your name off the list. They'll give you a number and ask you to wait until you're called. My interview started pretty much on time. The woman was super nice. We chatted for a couple of minutes and then she had me swear the oath that I would answer everything truthfully. She then asked me the following questions on the civics test, 
Who did the United States fight in World War II?
How many senators are there?
Who is the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
Who signs bills into law?
Name one war fought by the United States in the 1800s?
What did Martin Luther King Junior do?
We then went through my application and confirmed the information I had there. I'd only left the country once in the last 5 years so we confirmed the date there. We then went through the yes/no questions on the application. Half way through she stopped and asked me what things I would be agreeing to when I took the oath of allegiance. I answered to follow the laws and to serve in the military or non-military capacity if required which satisfied her.  At one point in the interview, she just asked out of the blue why I married my wife. I was a bit caught off guard on that one and blurted out because I love her. She laughed and went on. We then finished the yes/no questions. One additional thing she added was when we talked about the oath she mentioned that being in Florida I might be called to assist after a hurricane if there were one in my area and if I was ok with that which of course I was. That was about it. She told me she was recommending me for approval and that after a final review they would contact me to arrange for the oath ceremony. She said they no longer do same day ceremonies here and that it would be between 2-4 weeks although they might call me if a space opened up earlier that they needed to fill. She then briefly went over getting a U.S. passport and registering to vote and then congratulated me. Total time was probably 15 minutes. 
 

First, "Trump's changes" for legal immigration processes so far just seem to be actually following the laws on the books that seem to have been very loosely or not followed at all by previous administrations, by both Democrats and Republicans. Second, if I had a nickel for every lawyer who has given me bad advice, both personally and online, I would be laying on my yacht in the South Pacific asking the steward for my next margarita. Third, "some weird people online" .... almost everyone online is weird and are looking to say the most outrageous things to get clicks, likes and views, which eventually is monetized content for them. Now, will the government shutdown cause some delays, maybe. However, this process is funded by all the fees we pay, so I don't believe it will come to an absolute standstill.    

OMG, these are some of the worst answers I could even imagine. First, @MMRF, quit believing everything you see on the news. 
 
I want to be an American because I desire to have the freedoms set forth in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution that many other countries just don't offer. I want to have the ability to achieve the American dream and the ability to be successful in that endeavor. I want to participate in my civic responsibilities, as an American, to make a better future for myself, my family, and all Americans.   
 

First, "Trump's changes" for legal immigration processes so far just seem to be actually following the laws on the books that seem to have been very loosely or not followed at all by previous administrations, by both Democrats and Republicans. Second, if I had a nickel for every lawyer who has given me bad advice, both personally and online, I would be laying on my yacht in the South Pacific asking the steward for my next margarita. Third, "some weird people online" .... almost everyone online is weird and are looking to say the most outrageous things to get clicks, likes and views, which eventually is monetized content for them. Now, will the government shutdown cause some delays, maybe. However, this process is funded by all the fees we pay, so I don't believe it will come to an absolute standstill.    

OMG, these are some of the worst answers I could even imagine. First, @MMRF, quit believing everything you see on the news. 
 
I want to be an American because I desire to have the freedoms set forth in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution that many other countries just don't offer. I want to have the ability to achieve the American dream and the ability to be successful in that endeavor. I want to participate in my civic responsibilities, as an American, to make a better future for myself, my family, and all Americans.   
 

OMG, these are some of the worst answers I could even imagine. First, @MMRF, quit believing everything you see on the news. 
 
I want to be an American because I desire to have the freedoms set forth in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution that many other countries just don't offer. I want to have the ability to achieve the American dream and the ability to be successful in that endeavor. I want to participate in my civic responsibilities, as an American, to make a better future for myself, my family, and all Americans.   
 

First, "Trump's changes" for legal immigration processes so far just seem to be actually following the laws on the books that seem to have been very loosely or not followed at all by previous administrations, by both Democrats and Republicans. Second, if I had a nickel for every lawyer who has given me bad advice, both personally and online, I would be laying on my yacht in the South Pacific asking the steward for my next margarita. Third, "some weird people online" .... almost everyone online is weird and are looking to say the most outrageous things to get clicks, likes and views, which eventually is monetized content for them. Now, will the government shutdown cause some delays, maybe. However, this process is funded by all the fees we pay, so I don't believe it will come to an absolute standstill.    

First, "Trump's changes" for legal immigration processes so far just seem to be actually following the laws on the books that seem to have been very loosely or not followed at all by previous administrations, by both Democrats and Republicans. Second, if I had a nickel for every lawyer who has given me bad advice, both personally and online, I would be laying on my yacht in the South Pacific asking the steward for my next margarita. Third, "some weird people online" .... almost everyone online is weird and are looking to say the most outrageous things to get clicks, likes and views, which eventually is monetized content for them. Now, will the government shutdown cause some delays, maybe. However, this process is funded by all the fees we pay, so I don't believe it will come to an absolute standstill.    

First, "Trump's changes" for legal immigration processes so far just seem to be actually following the laws on the books that seem to have been very loosely or not followed at all by previous administrations, by both Democrats and Republicans. Second, if I had a nickel for every lawyer who has given me bad advice, both personally and online, I would be laying on my yacht in the South Pacific asking the steward for my next margarita. Third, "some weird people online" .... almost everyone online is weird and are looking to say the most outrageous things to get clicks, likes and views, which eventually is monetized content for them. Now, will the government shutdown cause some delays, maybe. However, this process is funded by all the fees we pay, so I don't believe it will come to an absolute standstill.    

I finally had my interview scheduled this morning for 11/18/25 in Fort Myers. 

If you have a joint sponsor willing, then I recommend doing it in advance. If you have a reluctant but willing joint sponsor and try without one, then go to the interview, get the 221g (if they give you one) and submit the joint sponsor's information; realize though that this can add an additional 2-3 months or more. 

If you have a joint sponsor willing, then I recommend doing it in advance. If you have a reluctant but willing joint sponsor and try without one, then go to the interview, get the 221g (if they give you one) and submit the joint sponsor's information; realize though that this can add an additional 2-3 months or more. 

Thank you for your response. This aligns with what everyone is saying.. except my lawyer lol.
 
we will get a joint sponsor documents submitted before the interview. With or without our lawyer’s approval.

Maryland.  San Francisco.  Honolulu.  Pennsylvania.  DIdn't know how to use a gun.

Sounds pretty hard core democrat to me.  

Yes, but the $330 is only if you actually are awarded correct? An application fee could be some big money. If you're saying $170 to apply and then $330 additional if you actually win, count me in! I like that idea. 

Yeah, but if you think about how many applications they receive every year it's some pretty decent bank - 11.8 million applications for 2021. Yes, I know $11.8 million in government terms is not much but maybe it's this type of thinking that needs to be fixed. 

Excellent point. Now, we just need to implement an additional $5000 "adjustment of status fee" so maybe people will stop changing their intent at baggage claim. 😝

Excellent point. Now, we just need to implement an additional $5000 "adjustment of status fee" so maybe people will stop changing their intent at baggage claim. 😝

Excellent point. Now, we just need to implement an additional $5000 "adjustment of status fee" so maybe people will stop changing their intent at baggage claim. 😝

Looked up address, it's the Cloud One hotel in NY. In addition to the inaccuracies, my concern would also be if this same agency uses that address for every single client, I would think the COs would start to get a bit suspicious. 

Yeah, but if you think about how many applications they receive every year it's some pretty decent bank - 11.8 million applications for 2021. Yes, I know $11.8 million in government terms is not much but maybe it's this type of thinking that needs to be fixed.