Exocet's US Immigration Timeline

Petitioner's Name: Mike Beneficiary's Name: Laura VJ Member: Exocet Country: Canada Last Updated: 2022-10-15 Add Comment to Timeline Register or log in to follow this timeline

Immigration Checklist for Mike & Laura:

USCIS 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 : National Benefits Center Transferred? No Consulate : Montreal, Canada Marriage (if applicable): 2012-08-09 I-130 Sent : 2013-01-22 I-130 NOA1 : 2013-01-31 I-130 RFE : I-130 RFE Sent : I-130 Approved : 2014-01-31 NVC Received : 2014-04-22 Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : 2014-05-24 Pay AOS Bill : 2014-05-24 Receive I-864 Package : Send AOS Package : Submit DS-261 : 2014-05-24 Receive IV Bill : 2014-05-24 Pay IV Bill : 2014-05-24 Send IV Package : Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : Case Completed at NVC : 2014-07-21 NVC Left : Consulate Received : Packet 3 Received : Packet 3 Sent : Packet 4 Received : Interview Date : 2014-09-11 Interview Result : Approved Second Interview (If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : 2014-09-15 US Entry : Comments : I-130 transferred to Orlando field office somewhere in March 2013. Had congressman involved from October 2013. Finally received NOA2 Jan 31 2014. Case was not sent from Orlando to NVC. Got congressman involved after 8 week wait time. Case finally sent to NVC and received on April 22 2014. Now waiting some more. Processing Estimates/Stats : Your I-130 was approved in 365 days from your NOA1 date. Your interview took 588 days from your I-130 NOA1 date.

Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Montreal, Canada Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Event Description Review Date : September 16, 2014 Embassy Review : My husband and I met up at airport (I flew in from Toronto, and he came up from Florida) and took a cab to the hotel. The cab was $40. We stayed at the Comfort Suites Downtown on Crescent St. I booked the room well in advance so we got a king bed suite for $99/night (which was cheap compared to the other hotels in the area). This hotel is located in party central--so if you don't like noise, don't stay there! We were both extremely tired and I was on the verge of becoming sick, so we decided to sleep in a little the day of our interview. I know most VJ members recommend being there first thing in the morning, but we just couldn't do it that day. We had breakfast in the hotel at 7:45, and then were at the consulate by 8:15. We took a cab from the hotel (it was raining) and it was $7.85. The guard talked to us briefly at the doors, and said my husband didn't even need to go up with me. We said he was there for moral support, and the guard just told him to not talk and don't answer any questions. I showed my interview letter, passport, and Loomis confirmation and I was checked off on a list. We went through security, then through the doors and down the stairs, and then right up the elevator. There was no one else waiting. A lady greeted me once the elevator doors opened. She directed me to Window 1. At Window 1, I handed over my medical results, passport, and waited while the gentleman shuffled through my file. He handed back the CD of my xrays. He asked for the originals of my police check and birth certificate, and I told him that he had the originals but I could provide him with copies. He declined the copies. He then fingerprinted me on that weird little machine. He then asked me to take a seat, and they would call me by my number to a window when they were ready for me. I sat towards the back in the waiting area. There were lots of people there, all squished into the front two rows. After a few minutes, it became obvious that they were all the non-immigrant visa seekers. There were a few others in the room who were there for immigrant visas. I waited probably 40-45 minutes before I was called to window 8. The lady was very friendly, and it was very relaxed. We exchanged pleasantries, and then she asked me the following questions: - how did me and my husband meet? - how do we stay in communication with each other? - when do we see each other? - when I've crossed the border to go visit him, have I ever been denied entry? - since I'm a college instructor in Canada, which school do I plan on working at in Florida once I move there? She then asked to see my original marriage certificate. Oh yes, and then she asked if I had already been interviewed for my visa. I said no, and she said "oh, this approved stamp must be from NVC then". Which seemed weird to me, but whatever. And that was about it. There may have been one or two other general questions, but that's all I can remember. She handed me back my originals, and then said that she was approving my Visa. She then slid the infamous "Welcome to the United States" letter under the window, and then explained how she was keeping my passport and it would be returned to me shortly via Loomis. The whole interview was 4 minutes. My husband timed it on the clock there. I came out with a huge smile on my face, and hugged and kissed my husband. I think I said something stupid like "Now we can be a real married couple!" and the people still waiting were smiling and laughing. It was great! We then left and walked back to the hotel in the pouring rain. My interview was on Thursday, and on Monday my package was already at the Loomis location! I couldn't believe it! Rating : Very Good

POE Review: CDN-USA Border Event Description Entry Date : 2014-10-03 Embassy Review : I crossed at the Portal, North Dakota border crossing at about 3 in the afternoon. I had my dad with me and a small 5x8 U-Haul trailer. This seems to be a small crossing--there was only one lane for cars, and one lane for big rigs. The CBP Officer asked our reason for crossing, and I showed her my package and said I was immigrating. She asked to see our Passports, and asked us the usual questions (firearms, drugs, fruits, veggies, etc). She asked my dad how long he was planning on staying in the US, and asked us both if we had ever been convicted of crimes or been fingerprinted. She then directed us to drive over to the left, park in front of the garage marked "B", and then walk through the doors marked "C". I walked up to the desk and handed the CBP officer my package. He had clearly never seen an immigration package before, but that was ok because there were a number of other officers there who helped him. I was bringing in my vehicle too, so the one officer went to find the forms for me to fill out. The form for importing my truck was confusing.. I definitely wished I had looked that up first but as always I was doing everything last minute and in a rush for the move. But the officer helped me and it was a snap after that. For most of the time I was just sitting in the waiting room, waiting for them to process my paperwork. The package seemed to be the exact same package that the Consulate had for my interview. At one point I had to go back and sign a thick card, and also put my right index finger fingerprint on it. After about an hour in total, they called me back to the desk and handed over my passport. They showed me the IR-1 stamp in it, and said that my green card should arrive in the mail in the next month or so. The officers said I would need to do to a Social Security office to apply for my SSN. It was very easy, and the officers were very friendly. The office wasn't that busy, so it was a pleasant experience. Oh yeah.. they didn't even ask to look in the U-Haul trailer or my truck. I didn't even fill out any sort of customs declaration card! Harassment Level : Low

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

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