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khtak716's US Immigration Timeline

blank avatar   Petitioner's Name: Kristi
Beneficiary's Name: Hocine
VJ Member: khtak716
Country: Algeria

Last Updated: 2022-10-10
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Immigration Checklist for Kristi & Hocine:

USCIS I-129F Petition:      
Dept of State K1 Visa:    
USCIS I-485 Petition:  
USCIS I-765 Petition:      
USCIS I-131 Petition:      
USCIS I-751 Petition:  
USCIS N-400 Petition:  


K1 Visa
Event Date
Service Center : California Service Center
Transferred? No
Consulate : Algiers, Algeria
I-129F Sent : 2016-06-10
I-129F NOA1 : 2016-06-16
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2016-08-18
NVC Received : 2016-09-05
Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : 2016-09-06
NVC Left : 2016-09-12
Consulate Received : 2016-09-15
Packet 3 Received : 2016-09-19
Packet 3 Sent : 2016-10-01
Packet 4 Received : 2016-10-01
Interview Date : 2016-11-28
Interview Result : Approved
Second Interview
(If Required):
Second Interview Result:
Visa Received : 2017-01-23
US Entry : 2017-02-01
Marriage : 2017-03-04
Comments : The Date Received by NVC, Date Case#, IIN, and BIN assigned, and Date Received by Consulate are all estimates. The NVC confirmed they sent the packet on 9/12/16 and gave me the Case# and IIN via a phone call I'd made to them.

I actually got the NVC letter on 9/20/16, stating they had sent our packet to the US Embassy in Algiers; the letter was dated 9/13/16. I wish I had been calling the NVC daily, as some others have, so I would have known when they received it and would have started getting things ready sooner.

We received packet instructions by the US Embassy in Algiers via email on 9/19/16 (to my email; I forwarded to my fiance). To note, per instructions for Algeria (from the website we were sent a link to in this packet instructions), it says that the filing fee for the DS-160 is paid on the day of the interview in cash (in local currency, equivalent to the US fee of $265). However, when we tried to schedule the interview online, it says you must have a receipt number for the payment; so we couldn't schedule it (we tried the case number and other numbers, but they failed--must be the payment receipt number). We ended up calling the customer service number given on the website (different from the call center number given in the packet info, though I image you can call either number), and a nice lady scheduled the interview and sent a confirmation email to my fiance. That email shows all the interview details and has a bar code they will scan, when you bring this to the interview.

My fiance's interview is scheduled for 11/28/16, a little under a 2 month wait from the date we scheduled it.

I would recommend submitting the DS-160 and scheduling the interview at the embassy as soon as possible; per the instructions, it sounded like he needed to conduct the medical and receive all the files I'm sending him, prior to scheduling; but if we had waited, we would have gotten an even later interview date.

My fiance received the packet of documents I sent him (via UPS from east cost of USA to the Kabylia region in Algeria) in just under a week from the time I sent it. It cost $214 to send the packet, which was just under 3lbs! I'd had 2 nice, zipping folders in there, about $15 to buy here, and these 'retail items' had bumped up the price to $425, so of course, I removed them! I sent the package as fast as it could ship, but they told me that once it gets to Algeria, they have no control over how long it will take. They did not deliver to his home (though that was the delivery address), but to a city a little over an hour from his home (since he lives in what they call a 'remote' region). UPS had a very hard time locating his address, at first. When we finally found it, they added instructions to 'telephonez' his cell number. They called him when they were ready for him to meet the courier to pick up the packet. We also signed up for email notifications of delivery points for the packet. So it all worked out okay, and it arrived in good time. In contrast, when he'd sent something to me from Algeria to the USA, it took over 2 weeks to arrive.

Today (10/11/16), my fiance took a 3-hour trip to Algiers to go get his interview scheduled. The clinics would never answer their phones! We read that this has happened to others, too. He told me he needed his DS-160 confirmation number to get the appointment. His appointment is scheduled for 11/14/2016, 2 weeks before his interview, but over a month from now. We are so glad he didn't wait to schedule it, as you must have that appointment prior to the interview, of course!

Update 11/28/16 - My fiance just had his interview and was approved! We have now posted our review.

Update 12/27/16 - Just wanted to report that we are still waiting for the status on the CEAC site to be changed to ISSUED, a month after the approved interview (though my fiance was told it would take about 10 business days to get his visa). It seems like everything has slowed down, due to the holiday season; I see others are also waiting, some longer than us.

After 16 days of waiting, we went through a process to call a customer service number they'd given us to ask about the status. The person I spoke with made me recheck the CEAC site https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx which was not helpful, then he gave me an odd email address to write to, which I could find nowhere online. So I ended up calling the NVC. The person I spoke with there said she could see that we had a successful interview, but had no additional information. She gave me the embassy's email address for correspondence about our type of visa (which does appear on the embassy website). I wrote to that email address; however, we got an automatic reply that there will be delays in getting a response, as they get so many emails, and not to resubmit our question. Not helpful, either!

Our 'Status Updated Date' did change from the interview date to 22-Dec-2016, so someone must have touched our file. We hope it means that they will work on it this week, but there are no guarantees.

It appears to just be a waiting game, once you are approved. So don't worry too much if it takes longer than they tell you it should take to get the visa issued. If they needed more information, they'd send an email request (RFE). But otherwise, they are just busy. Also, this shows why they say not to book plane tickets until your visa is finally issued and your passport is back in hand! (SEE UPDATE 1/12/17, below; it turns out this was not normal!!)

I also wanted to correct what I mentioned in the embassy review about getting notified that the passport/visa is ready (I can't find a way to edit the review, itself). The status will change from "READY" to "ISSUED" after briefly showing it is in Admin Processing (AP); it may even go back and forth from READY to AP. For K-1 Visas, you can check under IMMIGRANT VISA (IV) with the Case Number (e.g., ALGXXXXXXXXXX), as well ask under NONIMMIGRANT VISA with the DS-160 confirmation code (in our case the IMMIGRANT one usually updated first). It's confusing because in some places they call K-1 a nonimmigrant visa, but they treat it like an immigrant visa, since that is the ultimate goal. When it goes to AP the message will show that it is a non-immigrant visa (even under the IMMIGRANT section).

Also, in the case of the embassy in Algiers, once the status changes to ISSUED, there is still a wait to get an email that the passport is now with VFS Global http://www.ustraveldocs.com/dz/dz-niv-passporttrack.asp#CheckStatus and ready to be picked up. I believe the email will be sent to my fiance, but I will also be checking in case it comes to me as the petitioner, instead.

UPDATE 1/12/17 - On 1/8/17, we FINALLY got updated to from READY to Admistrative Processing. But after 3 days, we still had NO STATUS CHANGE. This meant 44 days after being APPROVED at interview (with a letter showing the approval given to my fiance at the interview), we still had NO visa issued, though were were told it would take up to 10 business days. I had called NVC several times, written the embassy a month earlier (with only an automated reply not to ask the question again and that there would be a delay in getting a response), and there seemed ZERO ways to get a status update.

On 1/11/17, because something was really wrong with our case - not just typical seasonal delays - I finally called my Congressman's office (searched on Google and got the number to the Congressman in my district). Within 1 hour they had spoken to the Consular officer who approved our case and wrote to us confirming we were approved and there was some 'unforeseen administrative issues' but that my fiance would have his visa in hand within the next 10 days. Today, 1/12/17, the visa status changed to ISSUED. We have to still wait to hear from the courier and track the passport on the ustraveldocs site. But this was such a relief!!!! :)

UPDATE 1/19/17: After getting good news with the help of the Congressman's Office and getting the visa ISSUED, we are again feel so much stress, because the embassy has not yet, after 7 days, sent my fiance's passport to the courier (VFS Global) for pickup. There is still No Status on the ustraveldocs site, when it should have changed to 'origination scan' at least, indicating it is being sent to the courier. I've emailed the embassy (back into the black hole inbox where you never get a reply), and I have emailed the Congressman's Office lawyer who helped us before. She had said to contact her if it takes longer than 10 days to have it in hand, but we are now waiting to hear back from her as well. At this point, with the embassy closed from Friday to Saturday, they won't be working on it until next week. Monday will mark 56 days without a passport/visa back, after an APPROVED interview (with written approval) and a visa in ISSUED status for 11 days. We are struggling with this process, which seems so random and unfair to some people (maybe most people). I know we should be grateful for the stages we've gotten through, and we are, but for them to sit on this approved visa for seemingly no reason while delaying us from reuniting week after week is having a heavy impact on us!

UPDATE 1/23/17 - We finally got the visa/passport back! It took 10 days. The US Embassy never updated the status on ustraveldocs that it was being sent to the courier. We both had tried to write the embassy for an update to see if they were sending it to the courier, with no reply. My fiance wrote the courier (VFS Global) once with no reply. But he wrote again yesterday, and they finally reported that they had the passport from the embassy. Moments later, the status was changed from 'no status' to 'ready for pickup' on ustraveldocs. My fiance was able to travel to Algiers and get it, today.

Today marks 56 days of waiting to pick up the visa/passport, after written approval at the interview, when they told us it would take 10-15 days. This process has really been something! But, thankfully, this long wait is now over and we can be reunited soon!!!! '

UPDATE 2/2/17 - My fiance arrived in the US on 2/1/17. He had to wait about 30 minutes to meet with the boarder protection agent, who took about 30 seconds to just let him know that he had to be married within 90 days :)
Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Your I-129f was approved in 63 days from your NOA1 date.

Your interview took 165 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.


Port of Entry Review
Event Date
Port of Entry :
POE Date : 2017-02-01
Got EAD Stamp : No
Biometrics Taken :
Harassment Level : 0
Comments : POE was at Raleigh-Durham International (in Morrisville NC); they were slow, but people were polite. They had an issue with their computers, which took about 30 minutes to fix, which was the reason for the delay. They CBP officer took the sealed envelope and simply said, "You have to be married within 90 days." There was no formal interview process at the POE.


Adjustment of Status
Event Date
CIS Office : Raleigh NC
Date Filed : 2017-04-10
NOA Date : 2017-04-14
RFE(s) :
Bio. Appt. : 2017-05-01
AOS Transfer** :
Interview Date :
Approval / Denial Date : 2017-11-08
Approved : Yes
Got I551 Stamp : No
Greencard Received: 2017-11-16
Comments : 4/10/17- Filed 1-485
4/14/17- Got text notification of receipt, but never got a paper NOA
7/27/17- Contacted USCIS (wrote email on myUSCIS and made a phone call) to see if we were supposed to get a NOA (as we did for the EAD and Advance Parole). Was told on phone call that it was okay that we didn't receive it. Our application was in Illinois (or some other place than we expected - should be in Raleigh NC).
7/28/17- myUSCIS site had message:
As of September 28, 2017, your inquiry about a notice that you did not receive, referral number SR##########RAL, is currently not assigned for processing.
8/31/17- myUSCIS site had message:
On August 31, 2017, we sent a response to your inquiry about a notice that you did not receive, referral number SR##########RAL.
11/08/17- myUSCIS site had message:
Case Was Approved: On November 8, 2017, we approved your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status, Receipt Number MSC##########. We will mail your approval notice. Please follow the instructions in the notice.
11/??/17- Got text message that I-485 application was approved
11/16/17- Received Green Card (card shows "Resident Since: 11/07/17" with an expiration of 11/09/19).
NOTES: We never had to have an interview and my husband never had to have a 2nd biometrics appointment. We didn't 'front load' our I-485 with evidence of our marriage (we had 'front-loaded' our fiance visa application and packet that went to the Algerian embassy for my then fiance's interview).


Employment Authorization Document
Event Date
CIS Office : Raleigh NC
Filing Method : Mail
Filing Instance : First
Date Filed : 2017-04-10
NOA Date : 2017-04-14
RFE(s) :
Bio. Appt. :
Approved Date : 2017-07-26
Date Card Received : 2017-08-04
Comments : 7/26/17 - Approval of EAD card (with AP) - got a text and email notification that USCIS has ordered the EAD card and will mail it to us. The email states "You can expect to receive your card/document within 30 days of the approval of your application,"
7/28/17 - EAD card with AP was mailed; received in August (can't remember the exact date).
Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Your EAD was approved in 107 days.


Advance Parole
Event Date
CIS Office : Raleigh NC
Filing Method :  
Filing Instance : First
Date Filed : 2017-04-10
NOA Date : 2017-04-14
RFE(s) :
Date Received : 2017-08-04
Comments : 7/26/17 - Approval w/EAD card - got a text and email notification that USCIS has ordered the EAD card and will mail it to us. The email states "You can expect to receive your card/document within 30 days of the approval of your application,"
7/28/17 - EAD card with AP was mailed; received in August (can't remember the exact date).
Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Your AP was approved in 107 days.


Lifting Conditions
Event Date
CIS Office :
Date Filed : 2019-10-05
NOA Date : 2019-10-08
RFE(s) :
Bio. Appt. : 2020-01-24
Interview Date :
Approval / Denial Date : 2021-10-13
Approved : Yes
Got I551 Stamp : No
Green Card Received :
Comments : 10/05/19: We completed and mailed out I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
10/08/19: NOA dated 10/08/19 has been received.
01/10/20: Received a notice for my husband's biometrics appointment, which is scheduled for 01/24/20.
01/24/20: Husband went to biometrics appointment
09/13/20 (over 10 months since filing I-751): Sent online request to USCIS to find out what service center this petition is being processed by; we've received no updates since receipt of the first noticed. We are not sure if they will answer, since the inquiry was selected under the category of the petition being outside processing times; however, we got an automated a reply that we should expect a response by 10/05/20.
09/17/20: Received an email from USCIS with a standard response "our application is still pending consideration. We anticipate that you will receive a decision or other correspondence within the specified processing time frame."
Oct2020: Sometime this month the USCIS site posted a response to the online account that the case for Naturalization was taking longer than anticipated, and the expected time is 4 more months (So will be processed by February). We had confirmed previously that when there is a pending Removal of Conditions, they process it concurrently with the N-400 Naturalization application.

See update under N-400 section, below; new green card never received as case was adjudicated on the same day as U.S. citizenship was granted.


Citizenship
Event Date
Service Center : Lewisville TX Lockbox
CIS Office : Raleigh NC
Date Filed : 2020-08-28
NOA Date : 2020-08-30
Bio. Appt. :
Interview Date : 2021-10-13
Approved : Yes
Oath Ceremony : 2021-10-13
Comments : 08/28/20: Submitted N-400. We had to mail in the petition because the online system was having glitches and would not save any documents being uploaded. The petition was quite large because we included financial and other evidence to show that are still together as a couple, which was not required but suggested as additional evidence; since this petition will likely be processed first, they must also complete the processing of the I-751 at the same time, so front-loading the petition was meant to support getting both petitions processed. We didn't include all the evidence from the I-751 (such as pictures), but focused on financial statements and documents that show we share expenses/live together, including the shared expenses of raising our child.
08/30/20: We've received two letters; one that we thought was the NOA, but it had no receipt number; a few days later, we got the NOA with receipt number and online account number with access code; both letters were dated 08/30/20.
Oct 2020: Sometime this month the USCIS site posted a response to the online account that the case for Naturalization was taking longer than anticipated, and the expected time is 4 more months (So will be processed by February). We had confirmed previously that when there is a pending Removal of Conditions, they process it concurrently with the N-440 Naturalization application.

Update around Sep 2021: We received an appointment for the USCIS test/oath for Naturalization (N-400, receipt date Aug 28,2020) for 7:45am on Oct 13, 2021 at the field office in Durham, NC.

However, we never got a status update except for a case receipt notification for our I-171 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence (receipt date Oct 8, 2019). We sent an inquiry about a year after submitting it, trying to find out what field office or processing center was, but our inquiry was never answered. Covid hit, and everyone's cases were being delayed.

We had read that they the USCIS will adjudicate the I-171 prior to the N-400 on the same day; however, some internet sites we found mentioned that we must follow a process to ensure that the I-171 is transferred to the same field office where the test/oath for the N-400 would be.

During this time, we realized my husband's green card had expired (in May 2021) and we'd failed to get an extension. We called USCIS and were waiting for a phone call back for a field office appointment to get a stamp in the passport to extend the expired green card by another year. We though this was needed because my husband's driver's license was also now expired (July 2021)... we'd really dropped the ball on keeping an eye on expiration dates; they called back and said no appointments are available and to call back USCIS in a week to request. When asked about whether a stamp would be needed/given at the Oct 13, 2021 Naturalization appointment, they didn't seem to know. We never received an appointment/follow-up call.

As a note, we had never been interviewed concerning our petitions (only my husband's initial visa interview at the US Consulate in Algeria required him to interview).

I contacted an immigration lawyer to see if we needed legal representation to ensure both cases would processed (I-751 and N-400) on same day and for advice on whether having an expired green card would be a blocker. We weren't sure if we need to bring additional evidence of our marriage to the Naturalization on Oct 13, 2021 and whether I (as the wife) would be allowed to join my husband or not, with the I-751 pending. Also, our original N-400 letter had stated that eligibility was based on our marriage of 3 years that was continuing and our pending I-751, but we didn't specifically request that both cases be adjudicated concurrently (as I later saw online was recommended); we only asked that they approve the N-400 Naturalization petition.

The lawyer's office told us that we shouldn't need legal council, as the USCIS is required to adjudicate the I-751 prior to the N-400 on the same day, and that the green card being expired should not matter, either. Later, I found that when the I-751 is pending and the green card expires, the receipt letter for the I-751 serves as the extension (see: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-extends-evidence-of-status-for-conditional-permanent-residents-to-24-months-with-pending-form).

I believe that my husband did go to the DMV to get an updated driver's license before the N-400 appointment, but the DMV told him they couldn't give him an updated license with his USCIS case still pending, while on an expired green card.

I did prepare another packet of pictures and evidence of our continued marriage and also went with my husband to the Oath appointment. At first they were not going to let me in, but we had paperwork for the I-751 and noted it was still pending and must be adjudicated before he can take the Oath, so I may need to be interviewed. They decided to let me in and said "We'll see."

When we were called into the room, the USCIS officer met us remotely via a computer, as they had Covid protocols in place. He said the fact that we are still married and have a child together was all the evidence needed and that it was good of me to show up, as some spouses don't. We didn't have to show any documents that we'd brought, and the officer was very nice and polite to us. He had me leave the room for my husband to take the test questions and the oath. I had to wait outside, but it wasn't very long. My husband came back and said that he'd passed and is technically a citizen, but couldn't take the oath as that they hadn't forwarded the I-751 to the Durham office, which would take a few more days. They would call him back to come take the oath when it arrives.

We went to have a breakfast and actually got a call during our meal to come back, as they had gotten the petition emailed to them and were able to adjudicate the I-751 case. My husband went back in and took the oath and became a citizen on Oct 13, 2021.

Also, my husband was able to schedule a DMV driver's license update after he became a citizen, to get that issue sorted out, which apparently happens to many whose driver's licenses expire near the same time as their green cards expire, when an I-751 is still pending.

Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Algiers, Algeria
Review Topic: K1 Visa
Event Description
Review Date : December 4, 2016
Embassy Review : My fiance had his interview in Algiers on 11/28/16. He arrived early, and waited outside the embassy. They opened the doors at 7:30am. They do security checks when you first come in, and you can hand over your phone, at that time (you cannot take it in with you). The interview was supposed to begin at 8:30am, but he had to wait until around noon to be seen.

When he first went in at 7:30am, he had to wait about 10 minutes, then they told him to go to counter #1 to pay (this counter is the payment window/station; he paid 29200 DA). He showed his passport and the DS-160 confirmation and gave them his two 2x2 in. (5x5 cm.) pictures. Then he had to wait almost an hour for the next step.

After an hour someone called him to counter #2 to hand over all his paperwork (the new packet and medical records), and they took his fingerprints. (Counters #2-#4 are for paperwork/fingerprints.) Then he had to wait around 3 hours, until he was called to counter #7 (#5-#7 are for interviews).

The lady who interviewed him at counter #7 was very nice. My fiance was very nervous, but she put him at ease. She asked whether he could speak in English or would need translation. He said he could speak in English. Here are some of the questions she asked:

--Asked about what my job is
--Asked about how many brothers/sister I have
--Asked about who my parents are
--Asked if he ever met any of my family
--Asked if it was a problem for him that I am older than he is
--Asked about where we first met (we met on an online penpal site)
--Asked how he found me/why he chose to contact me on that site; asked what he first said to me (these were details we'd provided in our evidence)
--Showed him a Skype screenshot with a conversation we'd had and asked him to explain what the conversations was about.=
--Showed him Skype logs and asked if they were from me or from him
--Asked when we will marry
--Asked what his parents think of me
--Asked if he knew I was married before (and divorced, of course)

My fiance was approved for the K-1 Visa! We've been a couple for 16 months. We met online and started communicating every day, usually by Skype and FB messenger. I got a Skype subscription, as well, and he had phone data to call me. We had our first vacation in Tunisia after 9 months long distance. We got engaged then (knew we wanted to before the trip). I met his parents via Skype. We were able to submit our K-1 visa petition a little over a month later (it took some time to compile, because we 'front loaded' it with lots of info; I also included my plane flight info for the upcoming trip to Algeria to meet his family/friends--that trip took place 3 months after our first vacation together).

To note, I am 16 years older than my fiance, and we have had a mainly long-distance relationship with just to two vacations (around 8 days each), so we provided LOTS of evidence on our relationship in the initial petition and with the packet my fiance provided at the embassy. The packet he provided the embassy for the interview was about 7 cm thick! I made a Table of Contents for this that listed everything in it. Also, he took all his nervousness and just channeled that energy into being expressive about his feelings, in the interview. The lady interviewing him could obviously see his sincerity, and it was a friendly atmosphere.

At the end of the interview, she told my fiance to go meet with her colleague, who could explain the process of getting his passport back with the visa info. So he knew he was approved! He was so thankful and told her so. We are now waiting on and update on the CEAC site (https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx) to see when the visa is issued. They told him it could take up to 10 business days (around 15 days total). You have to have your DS-160 code to check the status. Once it says 'ISSUED' he can go to Algiers to get the passport with visa and packet he must bring to give to the custom's officer when he lands in the United States.
Rating : Very Good


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*Notice about estimates: The estimates are based off averages of other members recent experiences
(documented in their timelines) for the same benefit/petition/application at the same filing location.
Individual results may vary as every case is not always 'average'. Past performance does not necessarily
predict future results. The 'as early as date' may change over time based on current reported processing
times from members. There have historically been cases where a benefit/petition/application processing
briefly slows down or stops and this can not be predicted. Use these dates as reference only and do not
rely on them for planning. As always you should check the USCIS processing times to see if your application
is past due.

** Not all cases are transfered

vjTimeline ver 5.0




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