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NickD

Can't believe that I am married to an American woman.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Colombia
Timeline

Poor girl didn't get home until 1:00 AM this morning, hated to wake her up at 3:30AM to get ready to leave, but threw a pillow and a blanket in the car. Traffic wasn't too bad, allowed an hour extra but only used 20 minutes of it.

The USCIS doors were opened at 8:20 AM with quite a line, she was directed to the main lobby downstairs, I was directed to the same waiting room upstairs when she had her interview. Knowing she was tired, filled out her N-445 so all she had to do was to sign in in front of an officer, ha, she said the women ahead of her filled out the entire rear of the form that took her ten minutes, and she didn't know how to spell September, so the officer told her how. We won't ask how she passed her English test.

In the waiting room, 39 chairs were numbered, I had to stand in the rear, oh, and they did let me bring in my camera, but was instructed only to turn it on when told to do so. They didn't take cell phones away as before, but requested each turn them off, we left ours in the car. We just brought in the ten year green card my wife really didn't want to give up with all the trouble we went through to get it and the N-445. I left my big brief case in the car with our all of our immigration stuff in it, it stayed there untouched. But you never know.

At 8:55 AM the 39 applicants march in and the ceremony began at precisely 9:00 AM the scheduled time. A nice young good looking woman conducted the ceremony that is the field office director, gave a welcome and said this was a special ceremony for Wisconsinites. The people I talked to were all from Wisconsin, explains why.

Started off my singing the National Anthem, then Trudy (field director) said we have 39 applicants from 19 different countries, an assistant read off the countries and ask each to stand. When my wife's country was called, two other women stood up, that we found later on lived close to us, wife got their phone number. The all stood for the oath was read 3 or 4 words at a time where the group recited each phrase. The certificates were handed out one at a time with each person going up front and plenty of time was given to take pictures, I got two good shots of my wife, Connie, and Trudy with her certificate being handed to her. Then all said the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, watched a rather old Video of President Bush that lasted about 90 seconds giving a welcoming speech. Then a hip like video showing scenes of America, the ceremony ended precisely at 9:31AM, one minute over no thanks to me taking my time to take pictures.

Wife was given a program of the ceremony, a book, "The Citizen's Almanac", a second book, "The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, A US flag practically identical to the one President Bush was waving at the Olympic opening ceremony, and a brochure describing how to contact the USCIS. LOL, wonder why we weren't given that five years ago. And of course, her certificate of citizenship.

The certificate is precisely 10" wide by 8" high, and 0.0051" thick that corresponds to 24 pound paper, her photo we supplied was just tacked glued to it, but the bottom of her photo and the certificate was embossed with the United States Department of Homeland Security. The signature at the bottom is from a rubber stamp, "JR Scharfen" if you are curious as to what size frame to buy.

Trudy closed by telling the new citizens, that they are now US citizens exactly the same as if they were born here, and to take an interest and part in their government. That is when it hit me that I am now married to an American woman. It was an emotional experience for me, almost, LOL, and emphasize ALMOST, got a tear to my eye for a big tough guy.

Made the comment to my wife while we were walking out, everyone was so nice this time, would like to come back, but it's over.

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Ethiopia
Timeline

Thanks for sharing that experience with us. Congrats to you and your wife.

USCIS Journey

03/15/08 Sent I-130

03/17/08 I-130 received (USPS) (Priority Date)

06/28/08 Received NOA2 hardcopy: NO RFE FROM USCIS:101 days

NVC Journey

07/01/08 NVC case# assigned

08/14/08 CASE COMPLETE: NO RFE FROM NVC:44 days

09/15/08 Interview date assigned

Embassy Journey

10/01/08 Case at embassy

10/08/08 Document verification and got interviewed (Approved)

10/09/08 Pick up visa (original interview date)

10/18/08 P.O.E ~ Seattle

Removing Conditions

07/23/2010 Mail off I-751(USCIS received on 07/26 via usps)

07/26/2010 NOA1 date (notice received 8/2/2010)

07/28/2010 Check cashed

08/20/2010 Biometrics appt.(notice received 8/7/2010)

08/20,21,23 touched

10/22/2010 Approved NO RFE(2 months and 3 weeks from filing date)

Citizenship

10/7/11 N-400 Submitted

10/13/11 NOA date

10/20/11 appt letter sent for biometrics

11/9/11 Biometrics appt

11/11/11 Email of interview scheduling received

11/14/11 Interview scheduled and mail sent

11/21/11 Interview letter received

12/19/11 Interview date

12/19/11 passed interview and oath Finally a citizen(2 months 1 week and 5 days from sending N-400)

1heyejjs23.png

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

Congrats and best wishes!!!

Sounds excactly like my oath ceremony yesterday in Seattle.

"THE SHORT STORY"

KURT & RAYMA (K-1 Visa)

Oct. 9/03... I-129F sent to NSC

June 10/04... K-1 Interview - APPROVED!!!!

July 31/04... Entered U.S.

Aug. 28/04... WEDDING DAY!!!!

Aug. 30/04... I-485, I-765 & I-131 sent to Seattle

Dec. 10/04... AOS Interview - APPROVED!!!!! (Passport stamped)

Sept. 9/06... I-751 sent to NSC

May 15/07... 10-Yr. PR Card arrives in the mail

Sept. 13/07... N-400 sent to NSC

Aug. 21/08... Interview - PASSED!!!!

Sept. 2/08... Oath Ceremony

Sept. 5/08... Sent in Voter Registration Card

Sept. 9/08... SSA office to change status to "U.S. citizen"

Oct. 8/08... Applied in person for U.S. Passport

Oct. 22/08... U.S. Passport received

DONE!!! DONE!!! DONE!!! DONE!!!

KAELY (K-2 Visa)

Apr. 6/05... DS-230, Part I faxed to Vancouver Consulate

May 26/05... K-2 Interview - APPROVED!!!!

Sept. 5/05... Entered U.S.

Sept. 7/05... I-485 & I-131 sent to CLB

Feb. 22/06... AOS Interview - APPROVED!!!!! (Passport NOT stamped)

Dec. 4/07... I-751 sent to NSC

May 23/08... 10-Yr. PR Card arrives in the mail

Mar. 22/11.... N-400 sent to AZ

June 27/11..... Interview - PASSED!!!

July 12/11..... Oath Ceremony

We're NOT lawyers.... just your average folks who had to find their own way!!!!! Anything we post here is simply our own opinions/suggestions/experiences and should not be taken as LAW!!!!

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: England
Timeline

Congratulations on reaching the end of the immigration journey.

What to expect at the POE - WIKI entry

IR-1 Timeline IR-1 details in my timeline

N-400 Timeline

2009-08-21 Applied for US Citizenship

2009-08-28 NOA

2009-09-22 Biometrics appointment

2009-12-01 Interview - Approved

2009-12-02 Oath ceremony - now a US Citizen

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Congratulations on reaching the end of the immigration journey.

Whoa, congratulations to you both anjoy your newly American wife. :dance:

o5cni131ii.png

Lifting Conditions

CIS Office : California Service Center

Date Filed : 2009-05-04

NOA Date : 2009-05-21

Online USCIS website: 06-03-2009 ( so am I a May or June filer now.)

Bio. Appt. : 2009-07-24 (walk-in on 07/14/09 and accepted)

*Touch*: 07-15-2009

Card ordered: 2009-08-26

Letter received approved: dated 08-22-2009 :o

*touch* : 2009-08-31

Green card recvd: 2009-09-01

April 2010: Eligible to file for US citizenship

My handmade Jewelry

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Filed: Other Country: Philippines
Timeline

congratulations!!!! :dance:

I-R5 at USCIS California Service Center

Consulate: Manila Philippines

5/19/09 Filed I-130 at Chicago Lockbox

5/22/09 USCIS rcvd I-130

6/01/09 Checks cashed

6/03/09 NOA1 rcvd for both parents

8/12/09 Email approval for Dad

8/17/09 Rcvd NOA2 for Dad

8/20/09 Rcvd RFE email for Mom

9/08/09 Email approval for Mom

9/12/09 Rcvd NOA2 for Mom

NVC

8/19/09 NVC rcvd dad's case

9/18/09 NVC rcvd mom's case

9/22/09 Emailed DS3032

9/28/09 Paid AOS/ I-864 fee of $70 for both

10/08/09 rcvd emails: DS3032 accepted

10/08/09 sent I-864

10/09/09 IV bill generated for both cases

10/10/09 Paid IV bill $800 for both

10/13/09 I-864 rcvd by NVC

10/15/09 DS230 mailed to NVC

10/16/09 I-864 accepted & entered into the system

10/19/09 DS230 rcvd by NVC

11/02/09 rcvd checklist emails

11/09/09 sent RFE to NVC via UPS

11/12/09 NVC received RFE

11/19/09 AVR: checklist response rcvd 11/18/09

11/28/09 Log-in failed for both

12/01/09 Case complete as of 11/30/09

12/14/09 rcvd emails of interview date

01/04-05/09 medical @ St.Lukes done

01/11/10 Interview @ USEmbassy Manila 6:30am

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Finally, NickD!

Congratulation on your wife and you!

The reason they are so kind is because she is U.S. Citizen now. ^^

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Congratulations! How fabulous that the journey is over!

Always enjoy reading your posts - so hope you will continue to post around here :)

AOS: ND - June 5 2006 | RFE - June 15 2006 | FP Notice - June 30 (Rescheduled to Sept 16) | AP ND - August 14 2006| Walk-in FP - Sept 5 (FP cleared next day!) | Interview - Sept 8 2006 (Approved!) | Welcome Letter - Sept 13 | EAD received - Sept 19 (kinda moot since I'm waiting for GC) | GC received - Sept 23 2006 - Woohoo!!

I-751: 06/10/08 Mailed package to VSC direct (per memo instructions) not TSC. The wait begins... | 06/11/08 Package received at VSC (12.12pm) | 06/19/08 Check cashed | 06/20/08 Received NOA1 in the mail - ND is 06/17/08 | 07/10/08 Received Biometrics Appt Letter - ND is 7/7/08 | 07/22/08 Biometrics (had to do ink & paper also...) | 07/22/08 Touched | 07/23/08 Touched | 02/11/09 Transferred to CSC (got email)... | 02/12/09 Touched | 02/20/09 Touched (but no email) | 03/24/09 Approval letter arrives in the mail! Approval date is 3/18/09 from VSC | 04/03/09 Received card, postmarked 3/31 from CSC

N-400: 06/11/09 Mailed to Lewisville Lockbox | 06/12/09 Package received at Lockbox and signed for at 1.31pm | 06/18/09 Check Cashed | 06/19/09 NOA, PD 06/12/09 | 07/06/09 Biometrics letter received, ND is 07/02/09 | 07/24/09 Biometrics appointment | 08/06/09 IL received, ND 08/03/09 | Interview 09/14/09 at 9.30am (approved!) | Oath 10/21/09 | USC

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Colombia
Timeline
Congratulations! How fabulous that the journey is over!

Always enjoy reading your posts - so hope you will continue to post around here :)

LOL, wife is all excited today receiving congratulations from her co-workers and her boss, several are still green card holders, but most especially from her legal and human resource department, especially since she was the first with that crazy one year extension they didn't understand. That was just a little over a couple of months ago. Never realized the pressure she was under and I do not feel she realized it either. She explained it like being here, but not really being here or at least not wanted here. Probably something we USC's take for granted and never think about. But now she is one of us and very happy to be like everyone else.

Was going to take care of her SS and passport today, but she wanted to bring in the original certificate, that can wait another day. Today, she is very happy and a lot happier than yesterday, when she is experiencing first hand how it feels to be a part of this country.

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