Tiekey's US Immigration Timeline

Petitioner's Name: C Beneficiary's Name: A VJ Member: Tiekey Country: United Kingdom Last Updated: 2013-01-09 Add Comment to Timeline Register or log in to follow this timeline

Immigration Checklist for C & A:

USCIS DCF I-130 Petition:       Dept of State IR-1/CR-1 Visa:     USCIS I-751 Petition:   USCIS N-400 Petition:

IR-1/CR-1 Visa Event Date Service Center : Texas Service Center Transferred? No Consulate : London, United Kingdom Marriage (if applicable): 2005-02-24 I-130 Sent : 2012-02-07 I-130 NOA1 : I-130 RFE : I-130 RFE Sent : I-130 Approved : 2012-05-16 NVC Received : Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : Pay AOS Bill : Receive I-864 Package : Send AOS Package : Submit DS-261 : Receive IV Bill : Pay IV Bill : Send IV Package : Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : Case Completed at NVC : NVC Left : Consulate Received : 2012-06-06 Packet 3 Received : 2012-06-06 Packet 3 Sent : 2012-06-13 Packet 4 Received : 2012-06-28 Interview Date : 2012-07-18 Interview Result : Approved Second Interview (If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : 2012-07-24 US Entry : 2012-09-02 Comments : Processing Estimates/Stats :

Citizenship Event Date Service Center : Phoenix AZ Lockbox CIS Office : Providence RI Date Filed : 2012-09-03 NOA Date : 2012-09-09 Bio. Appt. : 2012-10-05 Interview Date : 2013-01-07 Approved : Yes Oath Ceremony : 2013-01-07 Comments : applying under 319(b)

Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: London, United Kingdom Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Event Description Review Date : July 18, 2012 Embassy Review : Having read many other reviews, many people seemed to say that the interview was a bit of an anti-climax. I disagree. I'm still on a high! Our experience seems to be easier than others; we only filed the I-130 in February and we're here already, and didn't need to be apart (other than me going to London overnight!) Appointment was Wednesday 9am. I was debating whether to take a 5am train from Manchester, or stay overnight. In the end, decided to travel down Tuesday night, stayed in my parents' house in London, and planned to be at the embassy at 7am.  As it happened, I overslept and got to the embassy at 8:30. Still plenty of time though. I'd left electronic stuff with my parents to save going to Goulds.  There were about 20 people waiting outside, but was in the embassy with my ticket (I915) by 8:35. Embassy was packed and I almost couldn't find a seat.  For some reason, there are no clocks at all, and I didn't have a watch, so all times from this point are best guesses.  For every "I" number called, there were about 20 "N" numbers. A total of at least 21 I numbers, based on the fact that they we're calling I921 when I left.  I numbers didn't seem to be being called in order. Everyone was called twice, once to desk 13 to hand in documents, and later to desk 15 for the interview.  After about an hour of waiting, I was called to desk 13. There was an extremely pleasant British trainee being supervised by an equally pleasant supervisor (who I'm not sure if he was British or American). The trainee told me that normally she was the cashier, and last processed visas 23 years ago.  She went to get my file. First she sent me to pay the $230, and took my fingerprints. She was more thrilled than me when she managed to get a clear biometric print first time.  She then asked for my photographs and scanned it into the computer.  She handed me my CD with my chest X-ray and told me to keep it safe.  She then asked for the DS-230 part II, my police certificate, birth certificate and marriage certificate, and for the affidavit of support. I gave her the I-864EZ and she asked for the tax return and W-2. She hadn't seen one of these before, so the supervisor explained to her what they were. I said I'd also brought proof of assets, even though my wife's income was sufficient without. She said it couldn't hurt, so I gave the bank statements too. Then she asked if my wife is currently in the UK (yes) and how long she's been here (4 years). She asked if my wife's job will continue in the US (it will) and I gave here a letter from her employer to confirm. I said that my wife has a ticket booked for next week, but she didn't need to see it.  She asked if I'd ever been convicted of a crime (no) and if I'd ever been in the military (no), or ever been married prior to current marriage (no). She ticked a few more boxes, gave me a pink form for the courier, wished me good luck, and told me to sit and wait for the interview. This part took about 20 minutes, mostly because this was her first time doing it.  Waited for 2 hours or so. Watched an anti- Iraq demonstration outside, and paced up and down for a bit, whilst jumping every time a number was called. Immigrant interviews were all at counter 15, and they were at I905, do I figured there'd be a wait. Numbers were fairly random for window 15; I905, I907, I910, I914, I913, I916, then me I915. This took, as I mentioned, about 2 hours. I saw I916 leaving after the interview without going to the courier, and both looking depressed, do I guessed they hadn't been successful. This made me nervous, even though I was super prepared, if slightly overdosed on caffeine.  Finally was called to window 15. Smiling bearded American who immediately made me feel at ease. He checked my fingerprints again (to make sure I'm still me), asked me to raise my right hand to to swear or affirm to tell the truth ("I do" - it was like getting married all over again!) he then asked me to sign the DS-230 part II.  The entire interview from this point lasted about 90 seconds.  Why are you moving to the US? (job opportunities) Are the kids excited? (yes) Are you going to NJ? (yes) Do the kids have American passports? (yes) Do you have anywhere to stay in America? (yes) "Congratulations. This is a very straight forward case and I'm happy to approve you. Go to the courier and arrange return of your passport".  And that was that.  I'd brought letters from realtors, moving quotes, address change with the IRS, correspondence for my wife to an American address, voter's registration card, past 3 years' tax returns (only 2011 needed) details about kids' school in NJ, but none of this needed.  Paid the courier for before 8 delivery (so I'll be home before work to receive passport).  Left the embassy at 12:30 and walked to find a pay phone that wasn't broken.  All in all, very positive experience.  Suggestions for improvements. More toilets. A clock. A pay phone. Air conditioning or more fans.  Rating : Very Good

POE Review: JFK Event Description Entry Date : 2012-10-07 Embassy Review : Just returned to the US after an absence of just under one month. Arrived into JFK, and presented my passport and Green Card to the Official. He took my fingerprints and photo, and without saying another word, let me off to Secondary. After waiting in Secondary, I was called to the desk, and immediatly subject to a barrage of questions: "How many times have you been arrested?" (never) - he looked at me with disbelief "What about court - how many times have you been tried in front of a judge, cited etc" (never). Then he asked what parts of the US I'd been in (I told him, NY, NJ, MA, FL, PA, CT). He asked if I'd ever been to Vegas, Arizona, or Arkansas. I answered "no". He asked me where I'd been in the UK when I was out of the country. Then a bunch of questions about my wife and kids and employment. Finally he stamped me in, and let me through. This was my first entry into the US since getting my Green Card. Harassment Level : High

Local US CIS Office Review: Providence RI Review Topic: cis_topic Event Description Review Date : March 6, 2013 Embassy Review : I can laugh now, but at the time it was stressful. Due to my wife's employment, we were temporarily (2 years) posted back to the UK, so we decided to apply for naturalization under 319(b). We sent off everything before we left in September 2012, and I did a walk-in early biometrics in October 2012 when travelling to NY (2000 miles from where it was supposed to be). Anyway, we got an interview letter for Providence RI for January 3, 2013. I was intending to do it in DC, but this is how it worked out. I flew in on January 2nd, with a return ticket on the 9th, via Dublin, as I'd hoped to do pre-clearance there, to avoid the hassle in JFK. For whatever reason, pre-clearance was closed, so I had to panic for 7 hours as to what stress I'd have in JFK (I always get a hard time, for some reason). The plan was to arrive at 7pm, rent a car in JFK, and drive to Rhode Island, get a hotel, and be interviewed at 8am the next morning. The best laid plans.... As I arrived in JFK, and before the fasten seatbelt signs were switch off, I turned on my cellphone, and looked at the emails that had arrived. To my horror, I saw the following: "Please contact me at your earliest convenience to reschedule at xxx-xxx-xxxx. The phone number listed on your application as a work number and I was not able to raise the operator." I replied: "I've just flown in for the interview. what shall I do? I'm in JFK". I then got off the plane, got through security, called the number (there was no answer - it was 7:30pm, and left a rambling message about being stuck in JFK and not knowing what to do. The next day I got an email "Your file has not been received by our office. The file was mailed via ground shipment instead of overnight as we requested. The file was shipped on xx/xx and is currently in transit.". So I stayed in NY and panicked. This was Friday. My return flight was Tuesday. To cut a long story short, the file arrived Monday morning, and I drove up to RI. As I arrived, I was greeted by all the staff, who said: "Jack, (the officer, not his real name) - this is your guy". They all came to meet me, and apologised for the hassle. The interview itself was straightforward, starting with the test, which was easy. He then went through the application, told me to wait why they printed the certificate, and then all the staff came to talk to me. Half an hour later, I was called in the the Director, who did the oath with me, handed me the certificate, and wished me sucess. I had tears in my eyes. The next morning, I turned up at the CT passport office without an appointment, and by 12pm I had my passport. Headed straight for JFK, had a Global Entry interview (approved) and caught my flight back to the UK. All's well that ends well! Harassment Level : 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.

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