MY0704's US Immigration Timeline

Petitioner's Name: YM Beneficiary's Name: MV VJ Member: MY0704 Country: Dominican Republic Last Updated: 2013-06-10 Add Comment to Timeline Register or log in to follow this timeline

Immigration Checklist for YM & MV:

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 : National Benefits Center Transferred? No Consulate : Dominican Republic Marriage (if applicable): 2012-07-04 I-130 Sent : 2012-07-23 I-130 NOA1 : 2012-10-12 I-130 RFE : I-130 RFE Sent : I-130 Approved : 2013-02-01 NVC Received : 2013-02-12 Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : 2013-02-22 Pay AOS Bill : 2013-02-22 Receive I-864 Package : 2013-02-25 Send AOS Package : 2013-03-01 Submit DS-261 : 2013-02-26 Receive IV Bill : 2013-03-07 Pay IV Bill : 2013-03-07 Send IV Package : Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : 2013-03-08 Case Completed at NVC : 2013-04-01 NVC Left : Consulate Received : Packet 3 Received : Packet 3 Sent : Packet 4 Received : 2013-05-01 Interview Date : 2013-06-04 Interview Result : Approved Second Interview (If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : 2013-06-10 US Entry : 2013-06-11 Comments : Processing Estimates/Stats : Your I-130 was approved in 112 days from your NOA1 date. Your interview took 235 days from your I-130 NOA1 date.

Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Dominican Republic Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Event Description Review Date : June 4, 2013 Embassy Review : Hello Everybody. Just wanted to let everyone know that we were approved today. I must say that the experience was a lot easier than we expected. I'll try and make this review as informative as possible. We arrived the day before to the capital and stayed at a relative's house. Before leaving to the capital we met with an immigration specialist in my home town and he reviewed our paperwork and drilled us as if it were at an actual interview. I must say that was very helpful. A few details we hadn't bothered to remember he made sure we had in the back of our minds. Our interview was for 7:45am. We arrived at 6:30am and by that time there were at least 100 people in front of us. If you are too early for your appointment they will not give you a number ticket that gets you inside. We saw people that were turned away and told to come back and make the line all over again. The buscones were across the street offering services such as holding your cell phone, actual phone calls or even internet service. They are not in your way but can be loud. Many people are outside that work for the consulate that are there to direct you to the correct lines. The first paper you show on the line is the interview appt letter. There they staple the number and you continue on to security. We were given lucky number 100. Men on the left and women to the right. It is advised to go without purses but any other bags are thoroughly checked as well. By 7:30am we were inside. It was pretty packed inside but we were able to find seats right away. At 8am we were called to window number 18. First they asked for his passport, bank receipt and updated police letter. Then they asked his name and how many times we had each been married. After that he gave us a slip of paper and told him to go to window 15 for finger prints. We were then asked to sit. At around nine I began seeing them call a few people that were ahead of us. I began to feel so nervous and faint and hot all at the same time. My hubby was there to relax my nerves. Finally at around 9:10am they called us to window 27. We packed all our things (I had placed all our stuff in an accordion style briefcase that was easy to label each pocket) and our photo albums and made our way to the window. A quick prayer and we were off. The first thing that I noticed on the top of the folder was the green slip. I immediately began to relax. The consul was a young white male very pleasant. He asked us what language we would prefer the interview and I told him that if it was ok with him for us to do it in Spanish so my husband could better understand. He said ok and swore us in. Then he asked for my passport. He looked it over and then he asked me: When did you guys meet? When did you become romantically involved? When did you guys get married? How many times after you got married have you been back to visit him? Do you guys have any kids together? Do you have any kids? Then he asked my husband: Have you ever travelled to the US? Have you ever been in trouble with the law? Have you ever applied for a visa? Do you have any family in the US? Then he asked me if I had any family in the DR. He asked if we had any pics. I took out the wedding album but he said that he wanted to see other pics of us together. My hubby took an album with over 200 pics and began flipping through the pages. He did not stop him once. I then took out this cute photo book I had made that had many of my trips with the locations clearly labeled with the locations and dates. He said he had seen enough. At this point he said congratulations your visa has been approved go pay domex. I just looked at my husband in shock and then reality sunk in and we smiled and laughed and kissed each other. I placed my hand on the glass and mouthed the words thank you to the nice young man that answered my prayers. We then went to the domex line which was pretty long by this point and paid the 500 pesos (can also be paid in US dollars $12.50). By 9:30am we were out the consulate. Over all it was not a horrible experience. As many people say they kinda already have a decision on your case before you get to the window. Then it's just a matter of proving them right or wrong. That was the wonderful news. The bad news came when we stopped at Bonao on our way home and I checked the status of our case and saw that it was in administrative processing as many of my fellow VJers have experienced. The same man we spoke to before leaving for our interview advised us that this is normal and that it will appear that way even if all they're doing is getting the visa package together. I don't know how accurate he is about that but we are going to continue checking the status and take things from there. We were not told of anything that was missing or any errors in our paperwork so at least we know something. Now its just a matter of more waiting. This may take a few days or weeks. One thing that I can advise people is to remain calm and prepare yourself well so that you won't feel nervous and mess up your answers. If you don't understand something ask them to repeat it. This will avoid incorrect answers. Don't get overly confident that just because your relationship is legit you are going to pass all questions. Any legit couples don't remember everything so practice, practice, practice. Small details about special occasions are things that should be in the back of your mind. Good luck to all that will soon be in the same boat and I really hope this has been helpful. There is still the possibility that I may not leave with my husband this weekend but the important thing is he was approved. If we can be together thru this journey we can go thru anything :-) 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

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