Is it purely random who gets an AOS interview?
 

Hey all,

I'm just curious - I read just before that not everybody who files an I-485 to adjust from a K-1 gets an interview. I was under the assumption that it's like the K-1 visa and basically everyone gets an interview.

Does anybody know, roughly, how many people don't get interviews? And if there is any reasoning behind it, or is it random?

Re: Is it purely random who gets an AOS interview?
 

I believe it is related to how flooded the local office is and then on a risk percentage, but I could be wrong.

Re: Is it purely random who gets an AOS interview?
 

The default is that everyone gets an interview. Sometimes if the case is clearly approvable and the service center is swamped busy, they don't do an interview.

No way of knowing whether you'll have one or not, so be prepared to have one.

Rene

Re: Is it purely random who gets an AOS interview?
 

Yeah - I will, it's no big deal either way to be honest, the Philadelphia Field Office - which is the one we'll (I assume) be doing the interview at, is like a 20 minute drive lol

Re: Is it purely random who gets an AOS interview?
 

^^ Pretty much this. One friend I have on the west coast received an interview-waiver letter during the AOS stage (that was back in 2013) and was approved shortly afterwards.

On my case, I didn't have an interview or get the waiver letter, just a text notification that USCIS had updated my case and logged into the website to see it had been approved.

Both the above cases however were of course under a prior administration and pre-San Bernadino.

As Nora and Tom have both said, I think that risk and background (country of origin, age, gender.etc .etc .etc) definitely play into their decisioning process... Which is possibly the same as with the embassy interview.

Re: Is it purely random who gets an AOS interview?
 

I hasten to add that being approved in this manner often sees the couple be called into the USCIS field office for a removal of condition interview or are held to a higher degree of proof for removal of conditions. Of course, not all things are equal.

Re: Is it purely random who gets an AOS interview?
 

Seems pretty random, I didn't get one, my status just updated to approved one day, but sure there is some reason to it. Just put together an excellent AOS package and you'll have nothing to worry about even if you do have an interview.

Re: Is it purely random who gets an AOS interview?
 

I didn't get interviewed for AOS or the removal of conditions. A couple we are friends with, who went through the same K1 process around the same time as me and my husband, got called for interview for both.

When it come to USCIS there's not much point in looking for rhyme and reason.