virola's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Laura
Beneficiary's Name: Daniel
VJ Member: virola
Country: Costa Rica
Last Updated: 2013-04-27
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Immigration Checklist for Laura & Daniel:
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USCIS I-129F Petition:
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Dept of State K1 Visa:
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USCIS I-485 Petition:
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USCIS I-765 Petition:
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USCIS I-131 Petition:
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USCIS I-751 Petition:
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USCIS N-400 Petition:
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K1 Visa
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
Vermont Service Center |
| Transferred? |
No |
| Consulate : |
Costa Rica |
| I-129F Sent : |
2011-09-06 |
| I-129F NOA1 : |
2011-09-12 |
| I-129F RFE(s) : |
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| RFE Reply(s) : |
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| I-129F NOA2 : |
2011-12-29 |
| NVC Received : |
2012-01-10 |
| Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : |
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| NVC Left : |
2012-01-12 |
| Consulate Received : |
2012-01-18 |
| Packet 3 Received : |
2012-01-23 |
| Packet 3 Sent : |
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| Packet 4 Received : |
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| Interview Date : |
2012-04-09 |
| Interview Result : |
Approved
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2012-04-17 |
| US Entry : |
2012-05-30 |
| Marriage : |
2012-06-16 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-129f was approved in 108 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 210 days from your I-129F NOA1 date. |
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Port of Entry Review
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| Event |
Date |
| Port of Entry : |
Newark |
| POE Date : |
2012-05-30 |
| Got EAD Stamp : |
No |
| Biometrics Taken : |
Yes |
| Harassment Level : |
0 |
| Comments : |
Were taken back to a USCIS police station, where we got to watch people with true visa problems get harassed by a bunch of megalomaniacal jerks. There were at least 3 people in the process of being deported. But we just sat there two hours, until my husband's (then fiancé's) name was called. The police handed us his passport with stamp in it, and told us to move along. He did not say Congratulations, he did not explain the passport stamp and number to us, he did not remind us to get married within 90 days. But, even if service was lame, we got through without being hassled and went on to our final destination happily! |
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Adjustment of Status
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Boston MA |
| Date Filed : |
2012-06-28 |
| NOA Date : |
2012-07-05 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2012-08-03 |
| AOS Transfer** : |
2012-07-23 |
| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
2013-04-25 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
No |
| Greencard Received: |
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| Comments : |
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Employment Authorization
Document
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Chicago National Office |
| Filing Method : |
Mail |
| Filing Instance : |
First |
| Date Filed : |
2012-06-28 |
| NOA Date : |
2012-07-05 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2012-08-03 |
| Approved Date : |
2012-09-05 |
| Date Card Received : |
2012-09-14 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your EAD was approved in 69 days. |
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Advance Parole
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Chicago National Office |
| Filing Method : |
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| Filing Instance : |
First |
| Date Filed : |
2012-06-28 |
| NOA Date : |
2012-07-05 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Date Received : |
2012-09-14 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your AP was approved in 69 days. |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: Costa Rica
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
May 23, 2012 |
| Embassy Review : |
Everything went very smoothly! Thank heavens for Costa Rica being such an "easy" country. We arrived around 11:30 for our 12:00 interview and only one person was in front of us in the visa cateory we are in (I believe for immigration, ahhh K-1 visa, you wonderfully ambiguous immigration status you). Contrary to other reviews of the San Jose consulate, we were not brought directly inside, but waited outside for a bit (even though I, the USC, was with my fiancé). After waiting maybe 15 minutes we were brought inside to wait another half an hour or 45 minutes or so (bring a sweater, brrrrr!). While we were waiting, we got to hear all these beachy "gringos" complaining about losing their passports while drunk, trying to get residency, etc. The scene in the consulate is not unlike a public health clinic in San Jose (crying children and all!). Finally, we were called up to present our paperwork and evidence, which we had brought organized in a binder and immediately had to un-organize to hand to the senorita behind the counter. She asked a few questions, but nothing not expected (how we kept the relationship going, etc.). The one thing that made us nervous at this time was that the woman told us that Daniel had, based on passport stamps, visited the US more than the 3 times we had indicated on the forms. The additional two entries were from when he visited Europe: REMEMBER THAT IN-TRANSIT STAMPS COUNT AS AN ENTRY TO THE US. It turned out not matter in the end, but made us temporarily nervous. We were then asked to pay at another counter and wait until we were called up again. (Waiting in the line was a DMV-esque experience, but I wasn't about to complain.) During this time, the consular officer looked over our paperwork. Finally, we were called back up to another window! We had an approximately 5 minute long interview with a charming and sweet Asian lady (no older than 25, I swear), the opposite of intimidating. She told us she'd looked over our story and that it was very cute! She chatted with us about our relationship and our plans for the US in a mixture of English and Spanish. Finally, she took Daniel's fingerprints and had him take an oath (in Spanish). She told us we had been approved (!!!!) and to come back in a week to pick up his passport with K1 visa (and his old passport with his toursit visa). San Jose seems to be infamous for delays --- like many on this website, we recieved a call letting us know our visa would be available in two weeks, not one. We were in no rush-- no worries! We now have our visa in hand, and our port-of-entry in exactly one week!
One quick note: ahead of us was a family trying to immigrate on one of the spousal visas. The wife did not bring all her old passports, and tried to tell the consulate officer that expired passports are trash so she through them away (eeeeek!!!!). It seemed like this complicated their process quite a bit. Just remember to bring all old passports, por favorrr!
Another quick note: there's a Pops on the other side of the road from the consulate! Celebratory sundae!!! |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
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Timeline Comments: None yet, be the first!
*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
ver 5.0
