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Charlotte NC USCIS Office Reviews
Average Rating: 4.4
/ 5
57 Review(s)
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| Charlotte NC |  Review #28769 on November 10, 2020: |
ceboch
Rating: 
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
Lined up by the front door 15 minutes prior to appointment time, were brought into the lobby two couples/groups at a time for ID and appointment letter review by security guard. Continued on to security line, then to check in desk where we were given additional documents (signature page, interpreter form, lawyer form) and then escorted to the interview location.
Interviews were held over video chat on iPads at individual booths arranged within a larger space. Interviewing officer asked us to hold up the documents we brought in front of the camera, but then we placed them in an envelope provided, presumably for closer review since it was difficult to read the documents over video chat. When reviewing documentation of my wife's beneficiary status on my retirement and investment accounts, we were surprised that he asked if the documentation included the value of those accounts, which it did not. He also asked about the cost of our monthly rent on our jointly leased house. His other questions mainly served to clarify the timeline of our relationship. The interview was interrupted by a technical issue on the officer's iPad, so it lasted about 45 minutes in total. We did not receive any indication from the officer regarding approval or denial, he only said that we would receive a notification about the decision or a request for additional evidence if necessary.
| | | Charlotte NC | Review #28742 on November 2, 2020: |
kikkoman
Rating: 
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: General Review
We weren't really asked a lot of questions. We have been together for over 8 years and have 3 kids together, so the evidence must have spoken for itself. The IO asked my wife (petitioner) some basic questions like name, DOB, place of birth. , when we got married...that's it.
The IO then asked for my divorce decree from my last marriage, that I had already provided a copy of in the application -- I told her I only had the original but I'd be happy to part ways with it if she couldn't locate the copy in the petition  . Anyway, she was able to find it.. She asked about my current employer/ H1b status a bit -- asked about my worksite. She finally asked how many children we have together, at which point she realized we had 3 children together and not from any other marriage. At that point we could tell she was convinced of the bonafide relationship and then she asked the formality "have you ever done x" questions.
She specifically stated she never tells anyone they are approved on the spot but that she does not need anything else from us and everything looked good. She said she will make a decision after running a "final security check". I asked whether that was standard procedure and she said everyone goes through that.
We thanked her and left the FS. We grabbed some lunch on the way home and the status changed to Card is being produced on our drive home.
Just general notes:
- The interview was over video chat. At first we couldn't see the IO but she activated her camera mid-way through the interview.
- We arrived with very little additional evidence since we sent a lot of evidence with the petition. We bought a house in January and let the IO know if she wanted to see the deed - She basically said she didn't need anything else - again, probably because of 3 kids together. - We saw other couples with lawyers and large binders -- every case is different though.
- We arrived a bit nervous but settled down quickly after we were seated in a common room where they have tables with plexi-glass and iPads. Don't be us, bring a pen. We had to ask for one.. even though the interview notice said to bring our own pens.
- Masks were mandated to be worn at all times, even during the interview over the iPad. The only time they asked us to take the mask off was at the security check-in at the front.
- The USCIS staff was courteous, professional and friendly. Not every FS might be like this, but we had a good experience overall.
| | | Charlotte NC | Review #28557 on September 12, 2020: |
SunflowerHoneybee
Rating:
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
Our original interview was scheduled for March 19,2020 and 2 days prior they called us to inform that the offices were closing and postponing face to face contact until further notice. We were rescheduled about 4 and a half months later with the new date; August 26, 2020 (the day before my husbands birthday! :O).
We were pretty well prepared at this point to be honest but still nervous because that's just who we are as people. I brought additional paystubs and our joint tax return as well as more photos of recent things we'd done together (though there weren't that many new places to go with the quarantine and all).
We were asked to wait outside at tape marking the 6 foot distances along the building while people filed in to the security check in. We went to the right for the interview. It wasn't clearly labeled or signed or anything so I had to ask which direction was which. The waiting room had 3 or 4 of the rows of chairs pushed against the windows and taped off. They'd also taped off pretty much every other chair on the available seats with the exception of a few that were obviously together so couples could sit next to one another.
We waited maybe 20-25 minutes with about 3 or four other couples before they called out my husband's name and we approached the window. The lady that helped us pulled out his file (the thing is MASSIVE!) and started going through it and signing pages or checking things off while she asked us the basic questions; when did you meet, when and where did you marry, who was there? I brought in our lease, bank statements, and a couple of other things for joint asset proof and gave them to her and she added them to the file.
I came in nervous due to my work history being brief (though I'd worked here previously for 2 years, there was just a gap of a year and a half when I moved away and back) and I was worried I wouldn't be accepted as a sponsor. I figured the timeline didn't have enough /time/ to show stability if they didn't see that I'd worked there before. The covid gap of 5 months actually helped in that case as I still have said job and have had raises since filing to boot. I began to hand her the additional paystubs and she stated she didn't need them as my sponsorship had been approved. :P
She asked him all the important questions about whether or not he's a terrorist, would he engage in polygamy (and made a joke after the faces we made lol), etc. Then she asked us if we liked Charlotte and talked a little about the city we live in. She asked if we were going straight home after this or going out to explore Charlotte and made a couple of suggestions for what we should go do before returning. She said we were approved and we'd get the card in the mail in a few weeks!
We received the card 2 and a half weeks later in the mail!
| | | Charlotte NC | Review #27964 on February 9, 2020: |
Kimo1618
Rating:
· 1 person found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
It was fairly simple and quick. Because my wife's English was very limited, I hired an interpreter who has done this at many interviews. Questions were mostly the same as on the application: Name, address, are you a sex trafficer etc.!!! Her 16 year old daughter was also there. The interviewer asked her very little. I had lots of updated financial information, photos, etc. but the interviewer didn't ask for any of it.
| | | Charlotte NC | Review #27708 on December 21, 2019: |
Thomas W
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Rating:
· 2 people found this review helpful
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
The Charlotte field office is right off of 1-77 near the airport. It isn't hard to find, but located in a fairly large corporate office park without much else except a gas station in sight. USCIS is its own building. We walked in and immediately had to pass security just like at airport by showing the passport/ID and Notice of Action, then the metal detector. No problems.
You check into the seating area, and the clerk gives you a number, then you take a seat along with everyone else and wait. They announce numbers over the intercom frequently. We waited maybe 20 minutes, no problems. Then you take the elevator upstairs, where the IO will greet the batch of people getting off the elevator by calling your number. You go with him/her to their personal office. It's very normal office environment, walking down a hall with typical offices every 20 feet.
Office is small, and he has a desk and a coupe of chairs. Sit at the chair, and he will ask you to swear in to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, etc etc. MAKE SURE YOUR INTERNATIONAL SPOUSE KNOWS THE RIGHT RESPONSE: "I DO" lol. Luckily we had practiced this, but she still just said "yup" the first time.
Then very normal questions as he reviews the case, flipping through pages. What is your name, DOB, parents. Mostly they asked her the questions, and I sat there quietly. Then to tell the story about how we met. Then he asks many of the terrorist, communist, criminal, prostitute, etc etc questions.
We got tripped up on the polygamy question, because he changed the wording of the questions from the document e.g. "will you have more than one husband?" instead of "do you intend to practice polygamy?" ACtually my wife later told me that she didn't quite understand his questions, and she felt badly afterward. So second advice: TEACH YOUR INTERNATIONAL SPOUSE HOW TO ASK "can you please slow down/repeat the question?" rather than bluffing.
That's basically it. At the end, he asked to see our photos and other information that we wanted to add to the file. He didn't seem to care much about that.
Here's my commentary:
These officers have to get through a lot of applications every day. Maybe he had reviewed it for a few minutes before calling us, because as he was reading it, I felt that it was the first time he was seeing it. I also felt that he already had his mind made up, for the most part, and was just cross-checking and verifying. I guess because my wife is South Korean, he didn't have much hesitation. Most importantly, our relationship is real. That's what matters. He didn't ask too many hard questions.
Unfortunately, he couldn't approve us yet, because for some reason they didn't have her medical documents, which she had given at Chicago airport back in June when she arrived. The IO basically said it's a mistake. he will try to find the documents, but maybe there will be RFE to get a Civil Surgeon i-693 medical report. Please wait 1-2 months...
So, we were devastated after we left. We thought we can be approved, but now its more waiting, and not knowing what will happen.
After a few days we recovered our feeling, and yesterday she got the AP/EAD card, so we can move our lives forward at least. Hopefully, the IO can find the medical, but I'm not hopeful. So, until next year... hang in there!
(I gave 4 stars just because of our results, but otherwise, I had no problem with Charlotte USCIS. The officer was friendly, it was quick, and not intimidating). Thanks!
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