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| Miami FL |  Review on October 21, 2009: |
gensdad515
Rating:  | Review Topic: Adjustment of Status
Hello all, We had out apointment today for our AOS interview. Took copies of all the papers requested and more. Also took copies from the previous interview and all the other paperwork that we have submitted. (Just in case) My motto is I'd rather have and not need , than need and not have. The only worry that I had was that we do not have joint anything. My wife is not on the apt lease, since she does not have any credit history they wanted to charge me an additional $ 500 for deposit to the apt. I said yeah ok, never turned in her application to add her on the lease. Have not been able to add my wife on the checking account since she does not yet have a State identification. Tried to take the drive license test, but at the time she only had her SSI card with her married name, although we did take a certified copy of our marriage cert, they did not accept it. Her married name has to appear on the Picture ID. Funny how the Gov works. Every other office in the US gov accepts the marriage cert as proof of name change except the DMV.
Yay Bureaucracy !! Anyways I'm off on a tangent.
We had 2 appt times , one for my stepdaughter and one for my wife. They called both at once, I guess they noted that we were together. As a side note we dressed as we were going for formal appt, My wife with slacks and a blouse and I wore a shirt and tie. I know it's probably not necesary but I think you are treated better if you are well dressed.
We waited no more than 15 min before we were called. The 3 of us went to a small office with the worker. She was nice and polite, talked to us causally not too serious. The first question to us was how we met. She asked me how many times I had gone to Ecuador to see my wife. The other question was our address, she first asked me and then later in the interview asked my wife as to check that we both knew and did not hesitate on the answer. She asked us for our correspondence (letters / Emails ) that we had sent to each other. We gave her some recent emails and some older ones ( proof that we have know each other for abt 8 years). She asked me if I had ever petitioned anyone before and she asked a similiar question to my wife, if anyone had petitioned her before. When she asked for proof that we lived together I mentioned to her all above and gave her copies of my life and medical insurance which has my wife and her daughter mentioned on it along with our address. She accepted these without issues. She asked me if I had other children , I told her yes. She then asked me how my stepdaughter and my daughter got along. I told her like regular sisters, they play for about 3 hours and then fight for 1/2 hour, then they go back to playing .She smiled and then asked my stepdaughter why did she fight with my daughter. My stepdaughter explained the reasons why (concept of sharing). : ) She did not ask us for additional pictures we actually gave them to her. These were pictures of the 4 of us (daughter , stepdaughter, wife and myself) and some of her with both our daughters and vice a versa. She kept one of the pictures of the 4 of us for the file. She asked my what I worked at and if we had traveled anywhere since they got here. I told her that no we are currently living on 1 salary and that finances are tight. She then asked to see my wedding band. I gave to her and she looked it over for a while. I am guessing she was looking for signs of wear (scratches on the ring). She looked some more over the paperwork in the file and then took off the expired visas from the passports and stamped them for the temporary residencys till the other ones are received in the mail. She told us that my wife and stepdaughter would be given temporary residencies for 2 years and that we need to file for the 10 year 90 days prior to the expiration of the 2 temporarys.
At most the interview lasted no more than 30 mins, both my wife and I were surprised that we were not asked more questions or for more paperwork. By the way the office was in South Florida for those who know the area it's a little outside of Miami Lakes.
OK so now we get a reprieve for a while, next step is for my wife to get a driver license and start looking for a job.
Just wanted to give a little detail on the interview for those that have not passed this part yet. Good luck to all that are in the process!!!
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #5109