Adjustment of Status - I-485

Hello every one,
Finally my green card is approved. I am so relieved and stress-free now.
I will share my interview experience here. But just to let all know beforehand, I do not remember all the details. The interview was 1hr 20mins long so my post will be a long one as well. Sorry for that.
I had my interview 24th January. Los Angeles downtown federal building. We were scheduled for 8.15 in the morning. We reached around 30mins early. Checked in and was asked to wait in the common lobby. We got call exactly at 8.15. The officer met us at the entrance of the corridor and took us to his office. Thought out the interview even though he did not do any chit chat but he kept the calm manner not intimidating us at all.
Right after we sat he said the oath and made us say I do to it. He asked for our ids and passport. He had this giant folder with all the forms and papers we submitted. He went through all of those asking questions here and there to us separately. Like birthdays, parent’s name, date of marriage etc. He asked us questions like we are married for 5 years but why we haven’t applied before, we replied honestly that we did apply once before but there was some error and it never went through we never got any letter or documents and we just wanted to wait till my husband gets his citizenship and also more settled here. Also went through all of the yes and no questions. The IO didn’t even ask to see our original marriage certificate or birth certificate. When I offered he said he already have those in the file. He also updated some of the information in the forms and had us sign it at the end of going through them all.
After finishing with the form he asked for our joint documents which we didn’t have any. We were actually really worried about it. He was surprised at this but we explained truth fully how I have been only visiting on tourist visa for last 5yrs. and we never needed any joint bank account also I didn’t have any SSN so I could not be added to a lot of papers. The one time we tried to open joint bank act. could not do so as I didn’t have 2 forms of id (only one my passport) and no proof of address on my name. At this point I gave him letters from friends and family and a letter from my husband stating that I live with him. Also utility bill on his name and my new bank account as a proof of same address, my last plane tick to USA bought by my husband. He also asked for joint documents or properties from back home but we said we don’t have anything joined or solo as we are still building our life. This is when he started asking various questions about us, I guess because he was suspicious and wanted to verify. How we met, when we met, who proposed and when. Why we decided to get married, what is the special trait we like about each other, why we stayed friends for so many years before getting married, as we are practicing Muslim how it worked in our country staying friends for all those years? If my husband supported me financially all these years etc. etc.
The whole time he kept typing on his computer and printing out papers now and then,
He asked for our photos I gave him bunch of photos from wedding, before wedding and last 5 years after the wedding. He was really amused to see the very 1st photo of us together when we were in high school.
He left to make copies of our passport and ID. Came back and started asking more questions while going through the photos. He kept a bunch of the photos and asked for my SSN. Then left again with my SSN. Came back and started typing again. Printed out a paper put a seal, signed it and told me I have been approved I should get my green card within 7-8days. He gave me the approval papers and that was it: D
My experience after the whole journey is you can do it all by yourself no need for a lawyer and as long as your marriage is real you have nothing to worry about. For the interview there is nothing to memorize actually just be Calm and honest about everything.

Hey Dallas filers,
Can we share our experiences here too. I’m in Dallas and my PD is Oct. 6. I did my fingerprint on Nov. 6 and that has been it. No news about again. Waiting for my EAD card and hopefully interview date.
Can ya’ll share your experiences here?

Hi everybody, here is my experience, and any opinion is appreciated:
Local office: Kendall, FL
PD 4/7/2017
Combo Card 9/11/2017
Interview was conducted on Thursday 1/25/2018
after the interview the officer said he recommended approved the case, but he also said that the security check hasn't been cleared yet so we have to wait.
I'm sure it will be cleared eventually but because i'm Middle Eastern it might take longer.
any one with similar recent experience?
thanks.

DC & Northern VA Filers,

Called USCIS and they informed me that my interview is schedule for Feb 29. My PD is May 2017.

Hope everyone will get his interview notice soon.

Hi everyone,

Just got my interview date for 03/01 in Boise ID. (Marriaged based adjustment of status, PD 10/26). Idaho filers, please share experience! Thank you!

I received a letter from USCIS (form G-56) asking me to show up with my wife for another interview. The info provided in the notice was:

ASK FOR: The officer from our first interview
REASON FOR APPOINTMENT: Additional review of form i-130
BRING THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS: This letter.

Has anyone had this experience ??

Hi All,

Here is my timeline:

PD: 30th Oct
Service Center: Nebraska

Bio done on : 6th Dec

so far no updates.

Is any one from San Francisco October filler whose service center is Nebraska got their EAD or any updates?

Thanks!

Marriage Bassed.
NYC Federal Plaza Filled Office
NY county - 7th floor.

PD - Jan 31 2017
Finger Prints – Mar 16 2017
EAD/AP – Apr/May 2017
InfoPass for traveling question – Aug 2017 @EWR Office
Interview notice – Dec 19 2017
Interview Date – Jan 23 2017

Filled with lawyer
Did NOT use his services in interview

Interview was set to 10Am, we got there half an hour earlier and checked in. We were sent to the red waiting room, which is smaller and outside the main hall. Before assuming false things – I can tell you that this separation is only for comfort purposes, so you’ll wait closer to your designate officer office.

We had a long waiting time, couples that came way after us were already called in and even finished their interview while we were still waiting. We waited an hour and half above our appointment time and 2 hours total until an officer came and called us. Apparently it was because our designated office didn’t come to work that day and someone else took over the case.

We brought with us 2 huge binders. The 1st one contained all the legal docs, from marriage license, our IDs, all immigration forms, joint bank account and wife (usc) finances.
The other binder was the fun one, with lots of photos from weeding, engadgement party, birthdays, honeymoon, random trips and family events, and some otherprofs of joint life as mail etc’.

Our officer was charming. He was amazing, could not been nicer, friendly and sweeter. He made it feel so easy even when I was starched like a string.
We weren’t swarm in, the conversation just flew all over the place while it didn’t feel “official” at all. While going through both of the binders, the officer asked us random question about how we met, our wedding, our trips and some other random details. The conversation was so friendly, that most of it was around our baseball teams (wife and officer Mets, I’m a Yankee) and how is it even possible to live together, online dating these dates, and some other personal life issues which he shared with us.

Before wrapping up, our officer asked us to sign a form that we willingly didn’t use our lawyer during our interview, even though we filled through one. He was surprised to see 2 un-necessary forms (508, 566) that our lawyers choose to charge us and file, so we also joked about how wasteful it is to use them. Then the officer asked to keep 3-4 pics for our file and some other financial docs of my wife, and he made copies of them. At the end, he hand us the usual “Held for Review” paper, but said he would be very surprise if we won’t get the card in the next 4 weeks.

The bottom line – If your marriage is real – It’s a piece of cake and you have nothing to worry about.
It might be long and it might take time, but that is what is it and you’ll be just fine. Don’t waste your money on pricy lawyers – they won’t do anything that you can’t do yourself.
 
Lechaim. God bless you.

Hello Everyone, My PD is 9/13/17 and I didn't get any update on my EAD. I already made 2 SR and nothing changed. Yesterday I called the USCIS and I talked to level 2 officer. He Said that the MSC(NBC) is working right now on the September EAD filers. He said they will be working on yours soon.
I asked him about whether my file I-485 is in MSC(NBC) or in my local office, he told me it's still in MSC(NBC) not in the local office. Isn't it weird after about 4 and half months my file still in the MSC(NBC) ??!!

USCIS denied my friend his case yesterday after 8 months of his interview. Reasons, they said his wife was not able to proof that the Marriage is a bona fide and to vaide an immigration law. That my friend sent them a letter from the court that issued his ex-wife the divorce letter that a research is on going to locate the case file and know the determination of the case. That he did not give any other free nisi or absolute. Though they said he can appeal for reopen. Now, my friend want to know appeal and refilling which one is favourable. Advice please.