Adjustment of Status - I-485

 AOS Category - C09
Married to USC

- Came into the country on B1/b2 visa - May 2017
- Got married - July 2017
( no witnesses , courthouse wedding just me and my husband)
- Hired a lawyer to do the flings - September 2017
My husband’s income was enough so we didn’t use any sponsor.
- Lawyer sent case to NBC - September 28, 2017
Lawyer sent our birth certificates and marriage certificate as well.
- We received notice - October 4, 2017
- We received Fingerprint notice - October 10, 2017
- Fingerprint appointment- October 26, 2017
- EAD approval notice - January 9, 2018
- EAD in hand - January 14, 2018
- applied for social security card - a week later
Note: I was tracking our cases with the USCIS case app as well as the uscis account, the case app was very consistent in updating the progress, the uscis account wasn’t updating.
- In April 2018- my case tracker app went from “ We are scheduling your interview” to “At this time, USCIS cannot provide information on your case”
I freaked out and called USCIS , the lady I spoke with said “ my case is still within normal processing time- she also said Baltimore office was 12-48 months” so I should wait.
This whole time I kept praying. And also looking for a job .
- Got a job - May 2018
Interview Notice - July 25, 2018 ( greatest shock ever , especially since the lady told me to wait 12-48months ) I had checked the case tracker app and it finally changed to interview was scheduled.
- Interview appointment- August 29, 2018
- 5 hours later , case tracker for I485 changed to “ Interview was completed and my case must be reviewed “ . also the i130 changed to “ Name was updated” .
- August 31 - got fired from my job for no reason. I was freaking out bcos the IO had asked me at the interview if I was working , I said yes and gave him my company name, he actually wrote it down. “ I cried like my world was ending . I thought they were going to call the company to verify my employment. I was so scared bcos I just got fired.
In all of this, I kept praying .
- Received I485 & i130 approval letters - September 10, 2018
I was in shock when I saw the mail coming from uscis . I thought it was denial letter cos of the whole loss of employment LOL . I thought uscis called my company and they found out. Lol lots of crazy thoughts were running through my mind that day.
To my greatest surprise, they were approval Letters not denial ! Lol
At this point , my consistent case tracker app was still saying “ interview was completed and my case must be reviewed “ I immediately deleted the case tracker app ! Lol the hypertension!!!!
- Today , September 13, 2018 at exactly 11.03am.. Received Green card in hand !
OMG !!!!!!! So thankful !!

INTERVIEW EXPERIENCE:
The lawyer had told us what to send to her office, we sent:
- Rental agreement for 2017 & 2018 ( I was listed as an occupant in 2017, and as a leaseholder in 2018)
- 2017 taxes filled together ( we filled together even though I didn’t have a job , I had my social security)
- Car insurance 2017 & 2018
- health insurance 2018
- pay stubs showing “married” as Status - 2017&2018 (3 copies each year ) for my husband and just 2018 for myself since I started working this year .
- letter of employments both husband & wife ( thankfully I got this before I got fired)
- Electric bill - 2017 & 2018 ( 3 copies each)
- Bank Statments ( 2017 & 2018 ) my husband added me to his account . 4 copies each year.
- Credit card statements to show I was added onto his credit card account.

- courthouse wedding pictures
- engagement photo shoot pictures
- proposal pictures
- pictures of my husband at his graduation with me & his family

Originals:
- Social security cards ( I had changed my last name to his on my social security, so my SSN was reading his last name)
- my EAD
- my STATE ID
- both Driver Licenses
- Marriage Certificate
- both Birth Certificate

Our lawyer prepares the packets.
Interview was for 10:15am at the Baltimore field office
We arrived at 9:40am
We had to wait for the lawyer before we submitted our appointment notice
Lawyer came in : 10:14am lol
Submitted our notice as soon as she came in.

She prepped us Good: told us to keep answers short. Told us how to answer questions, literally told us what to say . ( She’s the bomb)

We were called in 10:35am
The IO was a nice Black young man . Very friendly . Our lawyer tried to crack some jokes when my husband said “good afternoon” instead of “good morning “ lol the IO laughed, we all laughed . Nerves were calm. Apparently he knew our lawyer! It’s not her first time there . She’s really a force to be reckoned with.

He requested my fingerprints and took a picture of me . Then he asked us to stand , we did the oath thing to speak the truth bla bla.

Then he asked me : who’s this young man sitting beside you : I said my husband’s name , he asked my husband the same question.
Asked me where we met
Asked me how long we dated
Asked me if iv met his parents and where they were
Asked my hubs the same question
Asked me who proposed
Asked me if I saw the proposal coming .. even though I did, I claimed No! Lol
I shared the proposal experience and we showed him pictures later . He really enjoyed the proposal story.
Asked me how many people were at our wedding - I said just Me and my husband. And a photographer ‘ ( I freaked out here)
Asked me if we have ever traveled out of the country - I said No . But we hang out a lot and we attend concerts .
Asked me where my husband was born
Asked my hubs where we lived
Asked me how many times iv been married - I said just once . My lawyer immediately said well that’s a trick question. She’s been married just once to this man sitted right here - pointing to my husband. The IO laughed and called her name. He goes - she always does that to her clients ! Always on the look .
We all laughed.
Asked me what my hubs does at his job
Asked my hubs the same thing
Then we went to the yes/no questions
After that, he asked if we had any other documents: my lawyers Handed him our packet she had put together , with selected copies of the pictures we sent her.
She also told him we had an album of pictures if he would like to see . He nodded , and I showed him the album ( things we have done since we got married, nothing before cos it was a long distance relationship)
He looked at the album and asked me who is this - pointing at my sister Inlaw - I answered. He then handed back the album
He asked if we had any questions - I said I will like to change my last name to my husbands. He smiled - and took out pen and paper to write the details of the last name .
He confirmed that my green card would bear this name - I said yes . I told him my social security card had my hubs name on it. He requested for my social security card and EAD to make a copy . He confirmed he had copies of our birth certificates.
Then he said he has everything he needs anymore questions : my lawyer said when do we get a positive response? Lol he said Soon.
We thanked him and left his office
No paper was given . No 90 - 120 days notice
He just said you will hear from us soon .

That was it !
Today I received- Welcome to United States Letter “ with my Greencard enclosed.

If you need a lawyer in the Maryland area.. I absolutely recommend mine ! Message me if you need her contact .

Feel Free to ask me Questions!!!

Thank You !