Ketsuban's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Charlie
Beneficiary's Name: Cat
VJ Member: Ketsuban
Country: United Kingdom
Last Updated: 2024-03-12
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Immigration Checklist for Charlie & Cat:
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USCIS I-130 Petition:
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Dept of State IR-1/CR-1 Visa:
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USCIS I-751 Petition:
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USCIS N-400 Petition:
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IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
National Benefits Center |
| Transferred? |
Nebraska Service Center on 2014-03-11 |
| Consulate : |
London, United Kingdom |
| Marriage (if applicable): |
2013-07-31 |
| I-130 Sent : |
2013-10-03 |
| I-130 NOA1 : |
2013-10-09 |
| I-130 RFE : |
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| I-130 RFE Sent : |
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| I-130 Approved : |
2014-04-07 |
| NVC Received : |
2014-04-25 |
| Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : |
2014-05-30 |
| Pay AOS Bill : |
2014-06-02 |
| Receive I-864 Package : |
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| Send AOS Package : |
2014-06-09 |
| Submit DS-261 : |
2014-05-30 |
| Receive IV Bill : |
2014-08-06 |
| Pay IV Bill : |
2014-08-07 |
| Send IV Package : |
2014-08-07 |
| Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : |
2014-10-17 |
| Case Completed at NVC : |
2014-10-06 |
| NVC Left : |
2014-10-15 |
| Consulate Received : |
2014-10-17 |
| Packet 3 Received : |
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| Packet 3 Sent : |
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| Packet 4 Received : |
2014-10-17 |
| Interview Date : |
2014-11-18 |
| Interview Result : |
Approved
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2014-11-22 |
| US Entry : |
2014-11-24 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-130 was approved in 180 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 405 days from your I-130 NOA1 date. |
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Port of Entry Review
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| Event |
Date |
| Port of Entry : |
Newark |
| POE Date : |
2014-11-24 |
| Got EAD Stamp : |
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| Biometrics Taken : |
Yes |
| Harassment Level : |
0 |
| Comments : |
I arrived at Newark at about 1:20pm-ish. Got off the plane and was by no means the first there, but the hall was empty (as usual! That's why I always go to Newark :P). I decided to use the visitors' line and was directed to line up behind booth 32 (this is in Terminal C).
I went up when beckoned and when asked why I was there, stated I was entering with a spouse visa before handing him my passport, customs form (I declared nothing, for anyone worried about that, stated my country of residence as the US and put the dollar amount in the residents' section) and giant envelope which I somehow managed to transport without tearing.
He didn't ask anything else, but told me to scan my right fingers (not the thumb) and take a picture before he called for someone to escort me over his radio. I will say this first guy was pretty much a robot. He didn't even make eye contact with me :P
Another guy walked over, took my papers from the first guy, then instructed me to follow him. He seemed kind of awkward but he was friendly. As we were walking to the lift to secondary I said "I've never been to secondary before :D". He replied "Oh, don't worry, it's just to process the umm... *gestures towards envelope*". I told him I knew that already lol and we just made extra small talk in the lift. Especially about the freak warm weather in NY, what the heck guys??
I sat in secondary for about 10 minutes before being called up to do finger prints with real ink and sign the front and back of some form. I didn't take note of what the form was so I've probably sealed my fate in some horrific fashion. I had to double check what address they had for my husband because my data sheet omitted his apartment number. The guy I was with assured me they'd get it to the right place. He was nice. Professional, but nice.
After all was done, my passport was handed back to me and he told me to go see a guard sitting by a plastic wall gate to let me out, which he did. It led straight out to luggage, so if you guys ever want to watch people being tormented by secondary guards, it's right by luggage :D
Got my luggage, handed the slip to the customs officer and was let out. I'd booked a long connection time in anticipation of waiting in secondary for hours, but I ended up sitting around for four hours doing nothing.
And that is how I moved in with my husband. The end. |
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Lifting Conditions
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
California Service Center |
| Date Filed : |
2016-09-26 |
| NOA Date : |
2016-09-28 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2016-11-14 |
| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
2018-03-15 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
Yes |
| Green Card Received : |
2018-08-15 |
| Comments : |
Took waaaaayyy too long but everything seemed to become more streamlined towards the end.
Actually, forget that. A whole bunch of people got cards with the incorrect "resident since" date, and my expiration date is also incorrect. I-90 filed with an estimated timeframe of 12 months -_- way to go, USCIS.
Update: Received corrected card after my senator told them to print it and mail it out. |
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Citizenship
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
Online |
| CIS Office : |
Cleveland OH |
| Date Filed : |
2023-05-13 |
| NOA Date : |
2023-05-13 |
| Bio. Appt. : |
2023-06-07 |
| Interview Date : |
2023-07-20 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Oath Ceremony : |
2023-09-12 |
| Comments : |
It went really well, and I almost cried with relief immediately after because I'm an over-thinker and a worrier.
I got divorced in April and decided to apply for citizenship in May rather than change the name on my green card, purely from a financial standpoint. I didn't know if they'd think it a bit dubious that I'd naturalise right after a divorce, though I've been here 8.5 years so I guess if I was that way inclined I would have been playing the long con!
I was almost late for it because my ride was a little late showing up. I ended up sprinting into the building and got there just on time. Not that it mattered, because I waited about 35 minutes to be seen. It turns out when people do the I-751 and N400 together (I didn't), the interviewing officer has no idea until the papers land on their desk and it takes them longer to review and then interview. So it messes up the scheduling. I don't know if every field office is like that. She also said they have been having to assist busier offices like in Los Angeles because they're so backed up.
Checking in was simple, I sat down at an SSA style window, gave the officer my letter, he took a photo and I had to scan my two index fingerprints in.
During the interview itself, I had to swear to tell the truth with my right hand raised, then she asked questions about my name, DOB, marriage, divorce, prior travel (all was seemingly just to clarify the dates), did the reading and writing, civics questions (got 6 out of 6 right so she stopped there), chatted a bit then she handed me a sheet of paper showing me I was recommended for approval.
Overall very pleasant experience and I'm glad I don't have to be afraid of the unknown anymore. Everyone was very polite and happy to welcome us. I was worried about that aspect because the officer who did my biometrics at my prior appointment was rude and being physically rough with people when guiding their arms to the fingerprint reader...
I'm waiting to see when they post the oath letter on the USCIS online portal ?. The status changed yesterday to say I'm in line to be scheduled for it. |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: London, United Kingdom
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
November 18, 2014 |
| Embassy Review : |
Ok, so my appointment was 9:30 but I got there super duper early at like 6:50 since I'd heard immigrant visa appointments would be dealt with whenever they turned up. Luckily, it was to be the case, though I had to ask about it when they started dividing the lines up. That started happening at about 7:30. When I was passed over to a man holding an invitation list, my name didn't appear to be on there and he was confused, but I was still allowed in anyway 
Security was painless, just went under a metal detector while my bag was scanned through an x-ray machine. After leaving the security booth, I followed the signs round the corner to the front door of the embassy.
When I got in, there was a reception desk. The older woman sitting there took my letter, put a sticker on it saying I901 (first ticket of the day :D) and then I turned left up the stairs to the waiting area.
It was about 7:45ish when I got in, so it was quite empty and the coffee shop lady was setting up. None of the windows were open at that time, but I could hear people behind the windows saying hi to each other and setting up their work areas etc.
At a little past 8, the numbers started being called out, and I'm pretty sure I was the first, if not one of the first. Most of the numbers called out were L numbers, there was maybe 8 total I numbers? I had to go to Window 13 which was around the corner. I met a friendly American guy who took my passport, courier confirmation, 2x passport photos (he had me print my name on the back) and my interview letter (he gave his back but pealed off most of the I901 sticker and stuck one part on my passport). I mentioned to him I forgot to put my middle name on my DS-260 but he said it was fine and they'd figure it out :P He was very friendly - he even jokingly remarked about my birthday being on Christmas Day!
He asked when I planned to fly out and I said Sunday if possible. He looked at me like I'd decided to run around naked, but calmed down when I assured him I hadn't actually booked a flight and knew it might take a bit longer. He wrote "ASAP" on something.
At one point in all this, he said "I'm going to get your file". When he came back, it was like a Harry Potter novel thickness of papers o.o I was like "omg I'm going to have to carry all that through immigration?!" and he lol'd.
When all was done, he handed me back my x-ray CD then told me to go back out and wait for my number to be called again.
After about half an hour, my number was called again and I went to Window 16 for my interview with an American lady. She was quite softly spoken, as was I, so we couldn't hear each other :P but she asked:
- How/when I met my husband
- When we met in person
- Who the sponsor was on my AOS
- If I'd ever been denied entry to the US
- What he and I did for a living
After all that, she said the magic words "I am recommending this application for approval" :D then after a few seconds, she clicked stuff on her computer and said "ok, I've approved you :D". She handed me back my originals and then I was free to go. It's pretty easy to exit, you follow the signs and then let yourself out through the other side of the security booth. I checked CEAC right away and it had changed to Administrative Processing :D
All in all, I was there for about an hour and I felt I was treated fairly and it seemed like a well-oiled machine for the most part. I hope I get my visa package back quickly! |
| 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
