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gretchen_darren's US Immigration Timeline

  Petitioner's Name: Darren
Beneficiary's Name: Gretchen
VJ Member: gretchen_darren
Country: Philippines

Last Updated: 2014-10-22
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Immigration Checklist for Darren & Gretchen:

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 : Manila, Philippines
I-129F Sent : 2011-02-24
I-129F NOA1 : 2011-02-25
I-129F RFE(s) : 2011-06-21 email, 2011-06-24 letter
RFE Reply(s) : 2011-06-30, 07-1-2011, email confirmation
I-129F NOA2 : 2011-07-11
NVC Received : 2011-08-05
Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned :
NVC Left : 2011-08-08
Consulate Received : 2011-08-16
Packet 3 Received : 2011-09-20
Packet 3 Sent : 2011-09-20
Packet 4 Received : 2011-08-09
Interview Date : 2011-09-07
Interview Result : Approved
Second Interview
(If Required):
Second Interview Result:
Visa Received : 2011-09-15
US Entry : 2011-09-18
Marriage : 2011-12-10
Comments : POE was Vegas. Went very smoothly. No problems and easy. We were on the customs form together with her as part of my family. Customs had no problems. I got the luggage while she was processed. Then went in for final processing with her and Customs Officer. We were told our wedding date of Dec 10 is close to the Dec 17 expiration. When asked what I was bringing back, I pointed to Gretchen, and said "her." The customs officer smiled. He said, any foreign, goods, items, more then $10,000 Us currency? I said "No" He passed us, and we were on our way.
Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Your I-129f was approved in 136 days from your NOA1 date.

Your interview took 194 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.


Port of Entry Review
Event Date
Port of Entry : Las Vegas
POE Date : 2011-09-19
Got EAD Stamp : No
Biometrics Taken : Yes
Harassment Level : 0
Comments : easy POE, picked up luggage while Customs Officer talked with her. Not a long wait. Easy to get in , through, and go on.


Adjustment of Status
Event Date
CIS Office : Phoenix AZ
Date Filed : 2012-04-26
NOA Date : 2012-05-08
RFE(s) :
Bio. Appt. : 2012-05-31
AOS Transfer** : 2012-06-12
Interview Date : 2012-07-17
Approval / Denial Date : 2012-07-17
Approved : Yes
Got I551 Stamp : Yes
Greencard Received: 2012-07-17
Comments : WEnt to USCIS office. went straight back from Security instead of the other room. Once going through double doors, area looked very much like US Embassy visa area in the Philippines. Check in at window number 1 (first window through doors), then check in at window number 8. then wait for name to be called. Hint: if you go near your appointment time, you will be near the end of the hour, if you arrive sooner, you will be near your scheduled time. (many are scheduled for 8:40, but that is from 8:40-9:40 hour. then 9:40 is 9:40-10:40 hour.) Waited for her name to be called. Went back for interview. Sworn in, then gave ids, then answered questions. are you still pregnant, pull out notice of birth paperwork, show adjudicator, ask if she is nursing, go through the I-485 questions, then comment about Varicella Vaccine might hold-up. Inform adjudicator vaccine was given at hospital before she left hospital. Asked if i am still working, answer yes, she asks where, and I give answer. then asked to step out for a little bit. adjudicator and Gretchen talk. adjudicator concerned about Gretchen not being happy. Gretchen had c-section and still sore. Happy, but tired and sore. Adjudicator wants to make sure everything is ok. then calls me back in. Gretchen is approved with conditions. Make sure to apply for conditional removal before 90 days are up. Normally apply right in the middle about when 45 days are left. Figure we apply cinco de mayo 2014.


Employment Authorization Document
Event Date
CIS Office : Chicago National Office
Filing Method : Mail
Filing Instance : First
Date Filed : 2012-05-15
NOA Date : 2012-05-18
RFE(s) :
Bio. Appt. : 2012-05-31
Approved Date : 2012-06-28
Date Card Received : 2012-07-07
Comments : had to refile form since it was not signed the first time. sent in with copy of NOA1 from I-485. Biometrics was done on the same day I-485 biometrics was done.
Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Your EAD was approved in 44 days.


Advance Parole
Event Date
CIS Office : Chicago National Office
Filing Method :  
Filing Instance : First
Date Filed : 2012-04-26
NOA Date : 2012-05-08
RFE(s) :
Date Received : 2012-07-07
Comments : not part of EAD card as hoped for. At least, AOS is in 10 days.
Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Your AP was approved in 62 days.


Lifting Conditions
Event Date
CIS Office : California Service Center
Date Filed : 2014-07-12
NOA Date : 2014-07-15
RFE(s) :
Bio. Appt. : 2014-08-11
Interview Date : 2014-12-12
Approval / Denial Date :
Approved :
Got I551 Stamp :
Green Card Received :
Comments : Got a letter of having to interview in Phoenix. Right now waiting for appointment date to be set. Guessing December, but no idea. Will update as more information becomes available. Standard letter of bring documentation, evidence, references from Friends, photos, cancelled checks, mortgage, bank statement, etc.


Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Manila, Philippines
Review Topic: K1 Visa
Event Description
Review Date : September 7, 2011
Embassy Review : Started at 4 am this morning. Left at 4:50 am. Walked to embassy, arrived at 5:15 am. Walked past embassy gate 1 to embassy gate 2. Went to waiting area which is at south end of embassy area. This is where the crossover bridge is at at he south part of the embassy. Wait towards the road, not towards the back part by manila bay. It will place you farther back in line. Wait up by the bridge area.

You will be lined up in rows according to time. Expect to wait after lines set up. Make sure you are in the right line for your time and purpose.

then you go through "tent check". this is where her parents were denied access. We did paper check and passport check to enter. Here they want to see passport, appointment letter, receipt and forms ds-156, ds-156k, and ds157.
After this you go throug ha scanner into the "ticketing" area. You are in line for windows 1/2/3. Any window will do. they will look at your forms, and issue you a number. For K-1 visa expect a Regular (type IV) number. Our number was 6044. After this you go past the outside waiting area, walk to the left up the stairs through the doors. (go through the right side), make sure to press down on the latch to open the door (and it is heavy to open) Go through another screening. Purses and docs will be searched. (open and place on desk, then go through scanner.

Once through, drop off appointment letter "apck" given at the ticket window at window 39. (This is an unmanned window), do not worry, someone will pick up the forms every so often.

At this point wait for number on board. My girl did not understand the process. This is not something Filipinos are accustomed to as in America. this process makes them more nervous on the number waiting system.

First window called to was pre-screen. I kept my mouth shut, answered questions when asked. Provided forms as necessary to help gretchen. Questions I can remember:
1) who is the petitioner?
2) what is your fiancee's full name?
2a) what is your birthdate?
3) Can I have the following forms?
ds-156
ds-156k
ds-157
NBI
Cenomar
I-134
Last year's tax return
w-2
4) when did you first meet
4) how did you meet?
5) when did you first meet in person?
6) what is your fiancee's full name?
7) Is this you fiancee's second trip?
8) do you have any kids?
9) have you ever been married?
10) Has your fiance ever been married?
11) Do he have kids?
12) Have you been fingerprinted?
13) when did you arrive in Philippines?
14) how long in Philippines?
15) are those photos? (4 photo books)
16) can I see? (flip through one album a few pages)

All done with that section.

Went back and sat down. After a while Gretchen was clled to be fingerprinted.
Fingerprinting is inkless and at window 40 today. Everyone for fingerprinting is window 40 as of right now. Name, birthdate, ok let's scan your hands.

Now to sit and wait again.... and wait and wait. Long wiat this time. People are finishing up. Good sign we are near the end as well.

We get called to the "door" 69. Sit down and get sworn in. We had a lady. She joked about the file. Largest file she has ever seen. My comment was I asked about sending chat logs in. I called twice about it. they said to send it all in. She commented it took two people to bring the paperwork to the desk. She swore us in. And we answered the questions. This was not a quick and simple interview. It was long. She looked for the Divorce decree and looked at it. Commented on when my divorce was. the proceeded to ask
when we met,
first time we met in person.
When I came over this time.
has she ever been married
does she have kids
have I ever been married
has she ever travelled outside of the Philippines
has she ever lived outside of the philippines
do you know you have to marry in 90 days
when is the wedding planned
when are you planning on going to USA

ok everything looks good, you ar epproved. Congrats on coming to the USA. Please wiat for window 73 to call you.

Ma'am could we pick up visa? "What are the circumstances?" Work, her village flooded, taking college courses. We are in manila through Saturday, then in her vilalge through the 18th.

We won't have the visa printed by Friday as of this time. But I will put in an expedite for the visa to be printed and delivered to you. Thank you Ma'am, appreciate it.

window 73, everything is good, we will be issuing a visa. Please go to window 69 for delivery instructions.

Window 69 dor delivery, have to pick at local 2go branch near her home. Will not deliver to village. Will track through 2g0 website. All done and good to go. time to head out into the rain.... walked back past the screening entrance, back throught the outdoor tourism waiting area (covered), back past ticket window, then out the exit door to the area next to the "tent check". walked out the exit on the left to the exit on roxas. bought a couple of umbrellas, and went to crossover to meet her parents and catch a taxi back to the hotel. Lots of water, must have been raining right after we started the process.

took us from 4:50 am to 9:50 am. (hotel door to hotel door) Done very quickly.

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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