April 1973 - I was born in Illinois, USA
January 1977 - He was born in London, England
2000 - 2002 - We are online acquaintances via an internet forum
February 2002 - we meet "IRL" at a meetup for forum members in London, UK
March 2002 - Our first date, exactly one day after I was offered a job in London!
June 2002 - I moved from Chicago to London (on a work permit)! He meets me on a rainy day outside Waterloo station! It's love!
September 2007 - I received visa for permanent residence in the UK
December 2011 - Married on New Year's Eve in Saint Paul, Minnesota
January 2012 - We moved to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates so I could take on a 3.5-year teaching contract
October 2013 - I mailed my i-130 paperwork to my Dad in Chicago so he can mail it for us (postal service in the UAE isn't the most reliable) and transferred our filing fee money to him
Late November 2013 - Dad mails i-130 application + paperwork
Early December 2013 - I130 app RETURNED!! Reason? Incorrect fee. Dad accidentally paid $30 extra for some reason.
Early December 2013 - Dad mails our application again
December 19 2013 - NOA1!!!!!
January - June 2014 - NOTHING. NADA. Zip. Zilch. No word at all from USCIS.
June 26, 2014 - Notice that an RFE has been mailed to us in Abu Dhabi, four days after we had left AD for a 2-month visit to the US and UK. AAAAGGGH!!!
June 27, 2014 - Phone USCIS, they can't tell me what's in the RFE letter. AAAAGH!!
June 27, 2014 - Locate friend who is still in Abu Dhabi for the summer who promises to watch our post for the letter and scan it for us.
July 17, 2014 - Letter arrives in Abu Dhabi! Friend scans it, emails to us. The RFE is for missing passport photos! I am 100% certain we included passport photos. I remember the day had them taken for the i-130, but hey, fine,we'll take them again. At least there's movement, right?
July 20(ish) - Take new passport photos, send them to USCIS
July 31 - Notice of response to RFE. Says we will have decision in 60 days! Woohoo!
October 7, 2014 - Service request with USCIS filed
October 8, 2014 - Send my first request for congressional inquiry to IL Senator ####### Durbin's office
October 9,2014 - USCIS Response - "Case still pending security checks." AAGH! What!?!?
October 11, 2014 - NOA2!!!! 298 Days later! And just a few days after Senator Durbin's inquiry. Funny that.
November 10, 2014 - Case received at NVC!! FINALLY OUT OF NEBRASKA!!! *Happy Dance*
December 7, 2014 - Case number created
December 17, 2014 - AOS Fee Paid
December 19 2014 - IV fee paid
December 29, 2014 AOS and IV packages mailed to NVC.
December 31, 2014 - NVC received (Scan Date. Also our third anniversary.)
March 9, 2015 - CHECKLIST. WAAAAH!!!! :(
March 17, 2015 - New Scan Date
April 2015: Discover that NVC has put our case on "hold" due to a mixup! Took a few days but got the hold released.
April 23, 2015 - CASE COMPLETE!!!!!!! :-)
June 3 - Interview at US Embassy London - APPROVED!!!!!!!
