Adjustment of Status - I-485

Hi everyone,

I've been a long-time silent reader of this forum and I have to say, I've lived vicariously through your experience all this time. I hope my experience helps you all as well, especially since I've got a little of everything going on in my difficult case. My case is adjustment of status through marriage to USC, with EWI (245-I grandfathered status) and multiple misdemeanors (which is why we hired an attorney for this process).

Married to USC: 12/16/2016
Filed concurrently: I-130, I-485, I-765 and supplemental applications for the 245-I case
2/9/2017: PD
3/1/2017: RFIE - Name on Form I-864 had her professional title on it and it didn't match her ID or Passport, so just needed remove that and re-submit.
3/16/2017: RFIE received
3/23/17: Biometrics done
5/31/2017: Called USCIS since it was already 75 days and no EAD had been received (75 days from RFIE receipt day, since that caused the case to stop). Rep was very friendly. Said my case was still processing. Then I told him the USCIS website said I could call to inquire after 75 days if EAD hadn't been received. He confirmed what I told was correct and said my case would be assigned to someone to look into processing of EAD card.
6/6/2017: EAD in production
11/15/2017: Interview Letter for 12/19/2017. NOTE: I never received interview letter at home. My attorney got a copy and notified me (attorney gets copies of everything sent to me).
12/19/2017: Interview at San Francisco field office, 8:05am.

Before I get into my interview, let me just say that the USCIS online, text and email notification system is not always reliable, same as with the processing timeline they post every month based on your service center. I received text and email receipt notifications for the initial applications, RFIE and EAD production. Nothing after that. In fact, the I-485 status online is stuck on "We Received The Info We Requested on March 16, 2017." I have read about others having the same issues, while others continue to get updates every time an action is taken on their case, so just a heads up. As I mentioned above, if it hadn't been for our attorney, we would of completely missed our interview date, since til this day, no letter was received at our home.

INTERVIEW: Our interview was on 12/19/2017 at 8:05 am in the San Francisco field office. We wore business casual attire (I wore suit with dress shirt, but no tie and my wife business jacket with nice jeans). We arrived about 40min early to get through traffic, find parking and get through security. We checked in with our attorney about 7:45am and it wasn't really full (about 3 other families) and we got called in about 7:50am. The IO was young and very stern/serious. We took more wedding pictures with us, updated everyday pictures together and with family, 2016 MFJ tax returns, joint insurance and dental docs, engagement ring insurance doc and a bunch of other stuff that IO never took (better to be over prepared). We also took a copy of the original application packet submitted, which included various joint documents and pictures. As soon as we walked into his office, the IO told us where and what seats to be in exactly, then put us under oath to tell the truth. He then asked for both our passports and IDs, as well as my EAD. Most of the questions were directed at me and pretty general, like confirm names, DOB, age, when we got married, how we met, how many siblings we have, where we live and our occupation. Then we went through all the YES/NO questions from the I-485 form and took a bunch of notes. Since I entered the US without inspection, he also asked me about the 245-I application, when and how I entered and asked about my parents and provided my transcripts from HS to show I was present in the US to meet the 245-I requirements. I found the speed of the interview to be very fast pace, since as soon as I had finished answering a question, he was already asking me the other one. I felt like I needed to answer his questions very rapidly as well, so that added to the seriousness of the interview. Since I very regrettably and shamefully have 3 DUI misdemeanor convictions on my record that were all isolated cases (thankfully no one got hurt and I've cleaned up since then), I obviously got an attorney and had previously submitted certified court documents of each case (no felonies or convictions of CIMT). So when the question from the I485 form came up about being arrested, I obviously answered yes and the IO grilled me on that immediately, asking me to explain what happened. This is obviously the biggest hurdle in my case, but I was honest and explained every occurrence and how rehabilitated I am and all the organizations I'm part of and the charitable work I've been doing for years. Overall, I think the interview went well and it lasted about 35 minutes. The IO was very stern and serious, but he was just doing his job and I of course had plenty of explaining to do. Towards the end of the interview, when we were wrapping up and he had gone through all my file, I noticed his tone changed to less formal, but still without a smile. At the end, he gave us a document saying our case was being held for review and as we walked out, he said to expect a decision to be made in about 60 days, although the letter says it can take up to 120 days for a decision. My attorney asked me to get an updated medical exam with the most updated version of form I-693 and take it with me to the interview, although my medical didn't expired til January 2018. He said that his other clients with medical exams like mine (got my exam Jan 2017) were getting RFE's after their interviews because the new form required additional tests, so even though they hadn't expired, they went home after interview with RFE fore new medical. And sure enough, the IO asked me if I had updated medical exam and confirmed exactly what my attorney had told us, so we were ready.

As of today, we are still waiting on a decision, praying and praying for a good outcome. This has been an agonizing, stressful and at times, debilitating waiting process from the beginning. I'm a very patient person, but this waiting process for almost a year has affected my work, made me sad and depressed at times, just wondering when and what the next action in our case would be. The online case status and the phone app haven't been working in our case, yet I sit there sometimes looking and refreshing everyday, even though I know it doesn't work. I'm sure a lot of you guys feel the same. But my wife and I are people of faith and hope and that's all we can do for now.

Again, every case, IO and interview is different, but I hope this at least helps others and good luck to you all. Pray for me as well!