Adjustment of Status - I-485

Hi Guys,

I want to share my experience with the group because you guys helped my partner and I alot.

I have always visited the US with B1/B2 visas but in 2016 I arrived with my F1 visa. My husband and I met in August 2016 and got married in December 2017. We filed for AOS in August 2018 using a lawyer. We had a RFE to submit the new form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) because we used an older form. We also used a lawyer to file because I was skeptical that same-sex marriages might be difficult under POTUS 45. EAD came in the mail in January 2019.

Day of Interview
We got to the USCIS office at exactly 30 minutes before the interview. My partner and I were just normal - talking to each other, making jokes and just being generally polite to everyone. We were tensed by did not show it. As we waited to be interviewed we continued to talk to each other and just making conversations to reduce any anxiety. And then we got called ....

As we approached the lady, she was STERN! Straight face no smiles - but i did not care. I greeted her politely and my partner did same. (She had to respond too). When we got into her office she asked that we stand to take the oath after which she requsted our original birth and marriage certificates as well as passports. As she looked through my passport and birthcertificate she said my names are different. Told her that I switched my names (middle name for first name, vice versa) since 2005. She said "your green card will have the name on your birth certificate, not passport). This kind of threw me off because I hated that decision. But, I played it cool.

Then she started asking my husband questions about me - full names, my parents names, whether he has met them before, when did I enter the country, what visa? do we live together? what school do I attend, when did we get married, who attended, why my parents did not attend, whether I have family members in the US, etc. After him, she asked me questions about him and his family, whether I met them (they are deceased), etc. Then we had a fun conversation about same sex marriage and culture (death sentence in my country) and how my family felt about it. I was real - they love me but hate it. I also told her I cannot go back home with my partner and publicly declare him as my husband because I would be killed. We talked bout the challenges but how we are living our lives and taking care of them notwithstanding and how they will come to love us at some point. She talked about her own experience too and how her cousin is dealing with the same issue right now.

My husband had other small talk with her about the plant on her table and how she kept it alive etc. We talked about some other cultural things and then she asked those long questions on the I-485. She also took me into anoher office for thumb print and photo Id (for background check I think). At the end she asked if we had any questions for her. My partner asked if we were approved and she said YES.

Then we said thank you, she was now smiling and cool with us. walked with us to the elevator (she was leaving for lunch) and that was it.

Card is now being produced and I am expecting my GC soon. I am so excited!

Documents provided

Exhibit 1 Proof of Petitioners US Citizenship and Identity
Original and Copy of Birth Certificate
Original and Copy of US Citizen Passport
Original and Copy of Driver License

Exhibit 2 Proof of Petitioners Income
Copy of 2015 - 2018 tax return

Exhibit 3 Proof of Beneficiary Identity
Original and Copy of Birth Certificate
Original and Copy of Passport
Original and Copy of I-94
Original and Copy of US F1 visa

Exhibit 4 Proof of Bona Fide Marriage
Original and Copy of Marriage Certificate
Gifts proof Petitioners and Beneficiary gave each other
Copy of Certificate of Defense Driving showing place of residence.
Photos with friends (she only took 2)
Three original notarized affidavits attesting to the bona-fide nature of our marriage
Letter from Beneficiary’s employer showing Petitioner as Next-of-Kin and spouse (vice-versa)
Beneficiary employer’s brochure showing Petitioner as spouse.
Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare services

Exhibit 5 Proof of Cohabitation
Copy of Joint Bank Account
Copy of Home-owners/Renters Insurance
Copy of Life Care Health Directive
Copy of Life insurance beneficiary
Copy of Gas bill (Petitioner name)
Copy of Peach-Pass Account Bill (Beneficiary name)
Copy of Auto-Insurance
Original and Copy of Apartment Lease
Many mails in both partners names showing address