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Mystique

Buying Tickets before interview?

By Mystique in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

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Mystique Explorer

Mystique   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: India
 Timeline
Posted

Guys,

My wife's interview is on 19th November which is wednesday @ Mumbai Consulate.

What's the safe bet to buy tickets for ... i.e. how much buffer zone should I give after interview..1 week or more?

Can people share their experience of interview @ Mumbai how long before you get your visa..same day 3,4 business days. They charge your courier fees..so do they mail you the passport back.. if yes, how long do they take?

I'm unsure on which date to buy tickets for...but at same time I want her here early enough so that I get her SSN in mail so can apply in 2008 Tax returns haha.

Thanks for your help...VJ helped me a lot in this process...

Vermont Service Center I-130 Track: 101 Days

  • I-130 Sent : 2008-04-19
  • I-130 NOA1: 2008-04-29
  • I-130 Approved: 2008-07-29 :)

NVC CR-1 Visa Track: 54 days

  • 2008-08-01: Case received at NVC
  • 2008-08-02: DS3032 Emailed
  • 2008-08-05: Obtained IIN (after 2 tries)
  • 2008-08-07: AOS Fee Bill Paid Online
  • 2008-08-08: I-864 package mailed usps express
  • 2008-08-12: DS-3032 (Choice of Agent) received and entered into system
  • 2008-08-13: IV Fee Bill generated / IV Fee Bill paid online
  • 2008-08-14: IV Fee Bill Shows Paid
  • 2008-09-03: DS-230 (w/o PCC) package mailed usps express
  • 2008-09-05: DS-230 package entered into system and under review
  • 2008-09-15: DS230 RFE generated for PCC
  • 2008-09-18: NVC Received missing PCC.
  • 2008-09-24: CASE COMPLETE
  • 2008-10-03: Interview Date Assigned for Nov 19th
  • 2008-10-07: NVC Left - Welcome to Mumbai.

Mumbai Consulate Track

  • 2008-10-10: Embassy Received
  • 2008-11-05: Medical Appt.
  • 2008-11-19: Interview

  • 2008-11-27: A very Happy Thanksgiving.. POE Washington DC :)
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yoke Enthusiast

yoke   2

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: India
 Timeline
Posted
Guys,

My wife's interview is on 19th November which is wednesday @ Mumbai Consulate.

What's the safe bet to buy tickets for ... i.e. how much buffer zone should I give after interview..1 week or more?

Can people share their experience of interview @ Mumbai how long before you get your visa..same day 3,4 business days. They charge your courier fees..so do they mail you the passport back.. if yes, how long do they take?

I'm unsure on which date to buy tickets for...but at same time I want her here early enough so that I get her SSN in mail so can apply in 2008 Tax returns haha.

Thanks for your help...VJ helped me a lot in this process...

@ mumbai u get the passport same day ...my wife was able to pick her's up around 4 pm @ VFS

Married 2/14/2008

Back to U.S from India: 3/30/2008

I 130 Sent (normal mail) 3/31/2008

NOA1 4/08/2008

Touched 4/11/2008

Touched 6/10/2008

Touched 6/18/2008

Touched 7/08/2008

Approved 7/08/2008

Touched 7/09/2008

NOA2 IN HAND 7/14/2008

NVC Received : 7/17/2008

Emailed DS-3032: 7/18/2008

IIN # : 7/18/2008

Email DS3032: 7/18/2008 (no auto email again)

Email DS3032: 7/19/2008 ( auto email this time)

Paid online AOS fee: 7/21/2008

AOS fee and DS-3032 generated: 7/22/2008

NVC accepted the AOS fee bill: 7/25/2008 (printed out bar code for I864)

Mailed I864 7/25/2008

Hard copy received DS-3032, AOS fee bill: 7/26/2008

Mailed DS-3032 7/28/2008...cant waste time waiting for the email

NVC received I864 7/28/2008 (per usps)

NVC received DS-3032 7/29/2008 (per usps)

DS-3032 Entered into the system 7/29/08

Paid IV bill fee 7/31/2008

Online payment status PAID 8/1/2008

AVR changed to IV fee bill generated: 8/1/2008

Received Hard copy IV fee bill 8/9/2008

Mailed DS-230 8/12/2008

NVC received DS-230 8/13/2008

DS-230 entered into system: 8/14/2008

Case Completed: 8/25/2008

Peace Out NVC: 09/16/2008

Hello...... Mumbai: 9/19/2008

VFS visit: 9/22/2008

Medical: 9/26/2008

Interview Date 10/01/2008 VISA GRANTED

POE (O'hare) 10/10/2008 :( there goes my freedom......new life begins :)

Applied for SSN: 10/14/2008

Received SSN: 10/23/2008

Got Ohio Permit: 10/31/08, Took the test, Failed. Retest 11/1/08 Failed, Retest 11/4/08 Passed, Got her license, no road test required in Ohio, she had international license!

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Garu Explorer

Garu   0

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Peru
 Timeline
Posted

Check with the IRS regarding filing requirements. I think the issue is not if you obtain the SSN number before the end of the year (as long as you have it by April 15th), but rather if you were married before the end of the year.

11/03/07: Civil Wedding

05/03/08: Religious Wedding

I-130 Timeline

11/27/07: I-130 sent to VSC

01/28/08: NOA1

02/24/08: Touched

08/13/08: I-130 transferred from VSC to CSC

08/14/08: Touched

08/21/08: I-130 now pending at CSC

09/17/08: Touched in the morning

09/17/08: NOA2 - Approval email sent at 10:15 PM. 295 days. 9 months, 21 days

09/18/08: Touched

09/19/08: Touched

NVC Timeline

09/24/08: Case number generated

10/02/08: AOS and IV invoice mailed by NVC. DS-3032 not needed

10/07/08: AOS invoiced received and paid online

10/08/08: IV invoice paid online

10/09/08: AOS and IV shows paid in online system. Printed bar coded pages

10/10/08: Mailed I864 package

10/14/08: I-864 package received at NVC

10/16/08: Mailed DS-230 package

10/17/08: DS-230 package received at NVC

10/24/08: Case complete. 31 days from NVC receipt to completion

10/29/08: NVC assigned interview date of 12/22/08

The last mile

12/22/08: Interview at the Lima, Peru embassy completed

12/23/08: Passport and documents picked up at DHL facility in Lima

12/27/08: Point of Entry - Miami International Airport. 398 days. 1 year, 1 month from submission of I130 to U.S. arrival

01/21/09: My wife received Residence Card in the mail

02/13/09: My wife received Social Security Card in the mail (had to go to SS office and apply in person)

I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence

12/08/10: Received at VSC

12/24/10: Biometrics notice date

01/14/11: Biometrics appointment date

05/10/11: Approval letter received

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Reallyfrustrated Contributor

Reallyfrustrated   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Serbia
 Timeline
Posted

I think most everyone would agree that you should wait until after your interview to make your flight reservations. I am sure your wife's interview will go just fine, BUT, you never know. I have heard of situations where a couple has purchased airline tickets for flights after the interview and something went wrong so the flights had to be cancelled or re-scheduled. That can be VERY expensive. Just be careful. During my wife's interview we asked the consular if she could buy her airline tickets and he said yes. There were two issues we needed to correct in our paperwork, so she was not given her visa on the day of the interview. Again, just be careful.

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Phillip2 Rising Star

Phillip2   3

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

I would say give yourself extra time because you can change your return flight. However I would wait to buy your spouses ticket until you know you have the visa in hand. :thumbs:

I married my love on 12/24/07

I filed for the I 130 on 1/23/08

Receipt number recevied 2/13/08

Paperwork sent to Guangzhou on 1/23/09

Interview 5/21/09 PASSED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Visa 5/23/09

POE 6/2/09

Home 6/3/09

FILED I-751

SENT PAPERWORK 3/8/11

NOA-1 3/10/11

BIOMETERICS 4/29/11

WAITING APPROVAL

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brnidokiegurl Grand Master

brnidokiegurl   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Morocco
 Timeline
Posted

no matter where it is usually advised to NOT get any kind of ticket until visa in hand, you hope for best but you never know...

TIMELINE

04/04/2007 K1 Interview from H...w/the devil herself

06/12/2007 Rec'd Notification Case Now Back In Calif. only to expire

-------------

11/20/2007 Married in Morocco

02/23/2008 Mailed CR1 application today

03/08/2008 NOA1 Notice Recd (notice date 3/4/08)

08/26/2008 File transfered fr Vermont to Calif

10/14/2008 APPROVALLLLLLLLLLLL

10/20/2008 Recd hard copy NOA2

10/20/2008 NVC Recd case

11/21/2008 CASE COMPLETE

01/15/2009 INTERVIEW

01/16/2009 VISA IN HAND

01/31/2009 ARRIVED OKC

BE WHO YOU ARE AND SAY WHAT YOU FEEL, BECAUSE THOSE WHO MIND DONT MATTER AND THOSE WHO MATTER DONT MIND

YOU CANT CHANGE THE PAST BUT YOU CAN RUIN THE PRESENT BY WORRYING OVER THE FUTURE

TRIP.... OVER LOVE, AND YOU CAN GET UP

FALL.... IN LOVE, AND YOU FALL FOREVER

I DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, JUST NOT THE ABILITY

LIKE THE MEASLES, LOVE IS MOST DANGEROUS WHEN IT COMES LATER IN LIFE

LIFE IS NOT THE WAY ITS SUPPOSED TO BE, ITS THE WAY IT IS

I MAY NOT BE WHERE I WANT TO BE BUT IM SURE NOT WHERE I WAS

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canadian_wife Grand Master

canadian_wife   1,818

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Agreed, I'd say get the approval before you book your flight! Good luck

USCIS
August 12, 2008 - petition sent
August 16, 2008 - NOA-1
February 10, 2009 - NOA-2
178 DAYS FROM NOA-1

NVC
February 13, 2009 - NVC case number assigned
March 12, 2009 - Case Complete
25 DAY TRIP THROUGH NVC

Medical
May 4, 2009

Interview
May, 26, 2009

POE - June 20, 2009 Toronto - Atlanta, GA

Removal of Conditions
Filed - April 14, 2011
Biometrics - June 2, 2011 (early)
Approval - November 9, 2011
209 DAY TRIP TO REMOVE CONDITIONS

Citizenship

April 29, 2013 - NOA1 for petition received

September 10, 2013 Interview - decision could not be made.

April 15, 2014 APPROVED. Wait for oath ceremony

Waited...

September 29, 2015 - sent letter to senator.

October 16, 2015 - US Citizen

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cmnb Proficient

cmnb   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: India
 Timeline
Posted
Agreed, I'd say get the approval before you book your flight! Good luck

i'd call the travel agent and have them book the flight for you...most agents usually give you a little buffer on when you can make the payment and finalize the purchase. so start calling now and start getting the rates and try to have them hold the ticket for u.

USCIS (Vermont Service Center) Journey

Mailed I-130 Packet on 05/27/08

Approved: 12/23/08

NVC Journey

NVC Case Number assigned 01/02/09

Case Completed 01/21/09

End of Visa Journey

New Delhi Embassy Interview 03/17/09

VISA APPROVED!!!!!

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Gumbolette Proficient

Gumbolette   58

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted
My advice is buy a ticket when you received the visa. In some cases, the visa is being delivered way too late from the flight you intend to travel on your purchased ticket. So you have to deal with rescheduling your trip.

F2A

Petitioner (My Mom)

Beneficiary (My Sister 18 y.o)

06-07-19- Sent I-130

06-11-19- NOA1

02-19-20- "Initial Review, Transferred to another Visa Center"

03-11-20- APPROVED!!!

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