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Chicago IL USCIS Office Reviews
Average Rating: 3.9
/ 5
168 Review(s)
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| Chicago IL |  Review #147 on August 11, 2005: |
pj1959us
Rating: 
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: General Review
Our appointment was at 835am, so at 8am we left the hotel and walked to the Federal Building and arrived there at 810am. We went through security quickly and up to the 2nd floor. There we checked in and were told to sit and wait with the numerous others already waiting.
While we were waiting, one girl was called up to the window and was told they had to reschedule her interview because her file didn’t make it there from Missouri!!! :o One of the bundles didn’t get sent and hers was among them. I guess the boy she was with made quite a stink (couldn’t hear what he said though) because they were told they could speak to a supervisor on the 23rd floor if they wanted, but it wouldn’t do any good. I guess they did because we heard a woman yelling at the receptionist on the speakerphone because she couldn’t do anything for them.
At around 840am our names were called among several others and we went to the 23rd floor as instructed and checked in again, told to take a seat and wait. It was pretty much standing room only by then.
Around 850am our names were called and the adjudicator told us to follow him, but he only had Chris’ file (the K-2). (EEEK!!! :blink: ) We mentioned there should be another file and he told us to wait a moment while he checked. He came back a few minutes later and said to follow him, after he found David’s (the K-1) file. Whew!!!
We went into his office and were sworn in. He asked for my (the USC) driver’s license and David’s EAD and passport.
He browsed through the file and asked for our marriage certificate (took the copy) and a copy of the 2004 tax filing. He said the other tax years were in the file. Nothing else was asked for . (note: David's vaccinations were complete and I had only sent in the worksheet from the Doc's at the Embassy with the AOS application).
He continued through the file and then began asking David the yes-no questions answered before on whatever freakin’ form it is (I have lost track now  ) and dwelled on the Yes answer to had he been arrested. He asked for the details of that, if occurred in the UK and when, and whether we had the police certificate. .
We stated the certificate should be in the file, but David began explaining the details and the adjudicator ultimately found the police certificate from the UK that outlined the history in the back of the file (so it did make it from London and Dublin POE! :dance: ). . The adjudicator confirmed what “cautions” meant and other miscellaneous details, making notes in the file with his red pen.
He asked some of the other questions (persecuted anyone? part of terrorist group? etc from the same form), all answered No.
He then called Chris up, asked for his EAD and passport, verified he lived with his father, and went right to the questions, all answered No. Nothing else was asked for, even though Chris had not had all his vaccinations. I had sent in his worksheet stating that as well, and he had gotten the vaccinations and supplement in a sealed envelope for the interview, but it wasn't asked for. <_<
He then stated he was unable to approve our AOS that day because ‘anyone that has had arrests must be approved by a supervisor’ and since Chris’ petition is a derivative of David’s he couldn’t approve his either. :crying:
He stated he would give the file to the supervisor at the end of the day and we would receive a letter ‘within the next few weeks’ confirming whether or not the AOS was approved and how to obtain the stamp in the passport if approval was granted.
He had left the EADs and passports on his desk so they got those back after the interview.
I hope this is just a formality but I am of course worried. The adjudicator wasn't very personable, but did at least comment on various buildings we saw from his office window that David and Chris wondered about. I guess they don't get hired for their personalities. :hehe: My main concern is waiting now, since Chris must adjust status by January because he will be 21 and if not done by then, he can’t adjust status (if that is true…I would rather not take the chance, if you know what I mean!).
I guess their rules are their rules, but if the Embassy approved the K-1 visa after reviewing the previous arrests and found no problem, then I’m not sure why the adjudicator can’t authorize the AOS approval then and there. It wouldn’t make sense for the Embassy to approve a K-1, allow David to move here and marry, then say he couldn’t adjust his status!!!??? :huh: No wonder I’m worried…since when did any of this make sense???? Any words of encouragement are welcome! Could we need a waiver thingy? :help: It was a bit unexpected, being held up for that.
Oh, well. I guess we shall wait and see. As usual. Still :alien: in waiting for now.
I’ll update when I know more.
At least David and Chris enjoyed seeing Grant and Millennium Parks and Navy Pier the evening before. We went to Sears Tower right after the interview, because it was just a few blocks away from the Federal Building.
If anyone needs to stay in Chicago for their AOS interviews, I can recommend the Crowne Plaza Silversmith on Wabash. It’s a 10-minute walk to the Federal Building on Dearborn and very close to many attractions. It is right by the El (under it in fact, on Jeweler's Row), so if you stay there, ask for a room above the 5th floor and on the opposite side from the El. We were on the 9th floor and we didn’t hear a thing (not even sirens or gunshots :P ). They have nice rooms with lots of fluffy pillows and VERY comfy beds. I would have slept like a log if it hadn’t been for the Bubba Gump’s supper I had at Navy Pier earlier :unsure: . The hotel has valet parking for $28.00 a night and they said we could leave our car there until 6pm the day we check out without additional charge, but we didn't stay that long.
| | | Chicago IL | Review #148 on March 11, 2005: |
Illinois
Rating:
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: General Review
We had the interview in Chicago Thursday afternoon. The weather could have been nicer (or worse given this is Chicago in March). It snowed all the way up there (mostly light), and city streets were slushy. But the interview itself went very nicely. As some of you might know, although we tied the knot only last year, we have known each other for over a decade. So we were a little curious if we would be quizzed on that. Not a single question :D Although our interview was pretty blah, I will post here and cross-post in the Chicago forum since there are a few couples going through Chicago.
Our interview was at 1:50 p.m. We got to town about 1:00 p.m. and had to drive around to find parking. If you are with Chicago, and plan on driving, count on some of the parking garages being full, and allow time to go looking on the many one-way roads around the Federal Building. Actual security check at entrance was pretty fast. Gave the letter to the receptionist on 2nd floor at 1:43. Large waiting room, with some people already there. We were asked if a lawyer would join us. No, thank you, we do not have the funds to spare :lol:
We dug out our reading material thinking we will be there for a while. They called our name around 2:00, and we were told to go up to the 23rd floor. Once there, gave the letter to the receptionist. There was another lady behind the glass window, looking at a list of names. This was a small room, with several people already waiting. So we dig out our reading once more to settle down. In two minutes or so, the second lady who was behind the window comes out and calls my name. Fast service indeed!! She got my first name perfectly (I think she may have seen it with Indian applicants, although I am not Indian.) Turns out she was our adjudicating officer. Nicely professional officer. We all walked into her office. She swore us in before we all sat down.
Here’s what she wanted to know:
1. Both our birthdates, our address & my country of birth confirmed verbally. Also that hubby was USC by birth. No documents asked for.
2. Our professions
3. Our picture IDs (gave her our DLs) and my passports.
4. When was the last entry, and in what visa status? Have I left the country since then? Had a bit of overstay prior to filing – so I have not traveled. She did not have any questions about the overstay.
5. Was this the first marriage for both? Yes, ma’am :luv: Do we have kids? No, ma’am, not yet :blush: Wanted to know what kind of wedding we had. A (hubby) answered it was a civil ceremony at the courthouse. She wanted to know if anyone else attended. So he listed everyone there. At this point, I was thinking, she has to look at SOMETHING, if only cos we lugged it all up! So I pitched in and said we brought pictures if she is interested :devil: She was, and went through the whole album.
6. Then she went over a few of questions from I-485 – have I been a member of any terrorist organizations, any communist party, been deported or arrested, used fraudulent documents to get a visa, voted in the US(!). All answered with a No. She had both of us sign on the back of that page. She was making notes in the folder the whole time.
7. Wanted to know if we filed taxes for 2004. We had, and gave her a copy, which was the ONLY thing she actually kept. (We now have a ton of photocopies to shred and some extra pictures to share with friends & family!)
8. A’s dad was a joint sponsor since there was one year of inadequate income at time of filing. She asked who the joint sponsor was – I think she just wanted to know if it was his father, a brother or other relative. But with the 2004 filing, she said she does not want affidavit from joint sponsor. Come to think of it now, she did not even take the new affidavit from A.
9. Asked if we have any proof of joint legal documents. So out came the usual – bank statements, leases, life & auto insurance. She only browsed. Did not want copies. We did not take copies of most of these, since we can always get a copy if we needed one. But the officer said “you would probably want to keep these, so let me give them back to you”. Wasn’t she nice? :yes:
Here’s what was NOT asked for, but which we had ready:
Originals of birth & marriage certificates, with translations as needed
Employers’ letters and pay stubs.
Vaccination supplement (it was incomplete at original filing.)
New affidavit from spouse and joint sponsor.
Nothing about knowing each other’s family members etc. etc.
Then she printed out a letter and asked us to read and sign in two places. That was the famous “how to remove conditions” letter. Take a deep breath here, although from the way the interview was going, we already had a good feeling. She asked for my EAD, and removed the I-94 from passport. Told me I would not need either of them anymore. Did not do anything to the old student visa. Then she stamped the passport valid for one year, gave us another letter which said the application has been approved, explained about checking back with the DO if the card does not arrive before the stamp expires. Wished us a good day and saw us out into the waiting area. We were out of the federal bldg by 2:25 or so, grabbed a cup of cappuccino and a snack at the coffee shop across the street, and headed over to A’s parents’ place. They were very much with us during this whole (or)deal, and were very glad to hear we are paperwork-free for the next 18 months at least, and that I can now travel if we want to. We had dinner with them and headed back home.
And another pleasant surprise when we arrived home – 2 identical messages from USCIS (at 5 pm) in the e-mail saying I-485 was approved, and that a new card had been ordered :dance: :dance: I am impressed by this efficiency! Took a look at the online status, and it reflects the same. We hope this means the actual card will arrive much earlier than the 6 months the officer mentioned. All in all, our experience at the Chicago DO today was very positive. From the receipt date of applications, to approval today took 2 days short of 8 months.
Last, but not least, we really do want to thank all you nice VJ members who answered our questions, or simply provided information by posting your own experiences. VJ enabled us to go through this process without having to hire a lawyer. Special thanks to Reinhard for the sound advice you gave us, and Haoyue and Russiangirl for sharing your experiences as non-K1/K3 applicants.
That’s all folks – I hope you were not too bored
| | | Chicago IL | Review #149 on March 10, 2004: |
prindel
Rating:
Click here if you found this review helpful | Review Topic: General Review
Today has been the best day ever, I had my appointment with INS in Chicago for my AOS, I had my attorney present and everything went very smoothly, not once did I feel intimidated, I was asked about my children, my previous marriages, if I had a criminal record back home, when I came into the country,had I ever left the US, where I attended church, my husband was asked how many times he had been married before, we then had to show our ID and that was it all over in 15 minutes ..passort stamped me fingerprinted and permanent resident for 10years, or the choice to become an american citizen in 3 years from today, which of course I a going to do..
prindel..
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