alejandreska's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Leonard
Beneficiary's Name: Alejandra
VJ Member: alejandreska
Country: Venezuela
Last Updated: 2017-10-24
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Immigration Checklist for Leonard & Alejandra:
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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? |
California Service Center on 2014-03-07 |
| Consulate : |
Caracas, Venezuela |
| Marriage (if applicable): |
2013-03-25 |
| I-130 Sent : |
2013-10-15 |
| I-130 NOA1 : |
2013-10-19 |
| I-130 RFE : |
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| I-130 RFE Sent : |
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| I-130 Approved : |
2014-03-21 |
| NVC Received : |
2014-03-31 |
| Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : |
2014-05-07 |
| Pay AOS Bill : |
2014-05-07 |
| Receive I-864 Package : |
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| Send AOS Package : |
2014-05-12 |
| Submit DS-261 : |
2014-05-03 |
| Receive IV Bill : |
2014-05-12 |
| Pay IV Bill : |
2014-05-12 |
| Send IV Package : |
2014-05-13 |
| Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : |
2014-06-25 |
| Case Completed at NVC : |
2014-06-18 |
| NVC Left : |
2014-06-18 |
| Consulate Received : |
2014-06-20 |
| Packet 3 Received : |
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| Packet 3 Sent : |
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| Packet 4 Received : |
2014-06-25 |
| Interview Date : |
2014-08-21 |
| Interview Result : |
Approved
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2014-08-29 |
| US Entry : |
2014-08-31 |
| Comments : |
Case number assigned on April 29th, 2014.
DS-260 filled on May 14th, 2014.
Green Card received 10/03/2014 (33 days after POE). |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-130 was approved in 153 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 306 days from your I-130 NOA1 date. |
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Port of Entry Review
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| Event |
Date |
| Port of Entry : |
Atlanta |
| POE Date : |
2014-08-31 |
| Got EAD Stamp : |
Yes,Passport Stamp |
| Biometrics Taken : |
No |
| Harassment Level : |
0 |
| Comments : |
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Lifting Conditions
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Vermont Service Center |
| Date Filed : |
2016-08-17 |
| NOA Date : |
2016-08-19 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2016-09-23 |
| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
2017-07-24 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
No |
| Green Card Received : |
2017-08-04 |
| Comments : |
Green Card arrived super fast! Just 9 days after receiving approval notice :D |
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Citizenship
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
Lewisville TX Lockbox |
| CIS Office : |
Boston MA |
| Date Filed : |
2017-07-03 |
| NOA Date : |
2017-07-11 |
| Bio. Appt. : |
2017-08-03 |
| Interview Date : |
2017-10-23 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Oath Ceremony : |
2017-11-02 |
| Comments : |
My interview experience, Boston office:
My interview time was 12:30 PM, I arrived at 12:20 PM. No line at security, so it was pretty quick [they asked me to take my boots off]. The lobby seemed deserted, so I expected the waiting room to be relatively empty as well . To my surprise, the place was packed! However I noticed that most people were waiting for InfoPass appointments. I waited for about 20 min and someone called my name. I ran to the other side of the room and tripped over someone else that was waiting :oops: but he was nice about it and laughed (he probably was nervous too).
So I went into the officer's office, he was very nice, young man in his 30s. He scanned my fingerprints, took a picture and asked me to swear to say only the truth. Then he asked for my passport, green card and driver's license. Then we went straight to the questions. They were:
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
What are the 2 major political parties?
What is the political party of the President?
Who is the Commander in Chief of the Military?
Name a state that borders Mexico.
Name 3 of the original States.
I answered all the questions correctly and then we went for the English test. Then he grabbed my file (huge about 2 ft thick) and we joked about it. He said that my file was a little thicker than needed but that was OK. Then to my surprise, he said there was only one extra document he needed to see. Since I applied earlier due to being married to a US Citizen, I included copies of all our previous joint leases for the past 3 years. Since I filed in July, the current lease at the time expired this October. So he asked if I had a copy of my current lease renewal. I started to panic since I did not think of that (brought a bunch of other documents, but that slipped my mind). So I told him I did not have that with me... And after a few seconds I said that I could look it up in my email on my phone if that would be OK. He said yes please, and thankfully I was able to find it quickly and showed it to him. He said that was enough proof and he was satisfied with the application *Phew!*. He went over my N-400 form page by page to make sure that all my info was accurate.
He also mentioned that he noticed that my I751 was recently approved, and his wife is still waiting for hers to get approved, so I joked that he is also on the other side now and he understands us applicants lol.
At the end he asked me all the N400 yes/no questions (asking if I'm a terrorist, human trafficker etc...)
Finally, he asked if I wanted to change my name. I said technically yes, but I'm really just ditching my second last name (hispanics have 2 last names, first one is the father's, second one the mother's). He said that since that is so common it is not considered a name change. He said he will make sure that my certificate only has one last name. I asked "what happens if on the day of the Oath I have both last names on the certificate" (thought of that girl Goingthrough mentioned) and he assured me that would not happen because he would type in his computer the correct information. Then he printed a page with my name, DOB and height and asked me to sign if correct. He said my certificate would have exactly that same info and they ask us to sign it in case we complain later there's proof that the applicant proofread it :P.
Then he said he would recommend me for approval and congratulated me. He asked me not to leave the Lobby and wait an extra 30 min to get my process finished and wait for my Oath letter (no need to wait for it on the mail!) and an even bigger surprise was that they scheduled my Oath Ceremony for the following week!
Very nice experience overall! |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: Caracas, Venezuela
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
August 22, 2014 |
| Embassy Review : |
I tried to give as much details as possible, so the review is a bit long. If you only want to see the interview experience read the last part where it says "ACTUAL INTERVIEW". If you are going to the embassy with the U.S. citizen (petitioner), he/she can park inside the embassy and both of you can skip the first security check together  He/she has to be the one driving, though.
We arrived to the embassy around 6:30 AM (The appointment was at 8:00 am, but since all immigrant visas have the same appointment time we decided to get there earlier). We had to do the security line outside of the embassy. Right before the first security check, a lady informed us about prohibited items (electronics, knifes, CDs, etc). There are small lockers at the entrance where you can leave your phone and small objects. Remember that you cannot take dark folders (only transparent ones).
After the first security check, the guards tell everybody to take a seat and wait for further instructions. However, don't do that, since that is for tourist and student visas. Mention that you are there for an immigrant visa (Visa de Residencia) and you can enter the next section of the embassy without making any other lines.
You go up a small ramp to the left and enter through a door. There is a second security check.
Then you go to a waiting room. A lady told us to go to Window 13-16 at the end of the hall and take a number (This was around 7:30 AM). There you take a seat and wait for your number to be called. We took the 4th number (those other 3 people must have gotten there really early!)
When my number was called (around 9:30 AM), they only wanted the principal applicant at the window. There a lady requested my medical results, asked me for how long was I married, and verified the address of the DS260. Then she requested 2 passport type photos, took my passport and also took my fingerprints. She didn't want any additional documents. She returned me my original birth and marriage certificates (she didn't ask me for copies), and also returned other additional documents I sent to NVC: 2012 and 2011 Tax info (they only needed the most recent year, apparently), bank statements (we used assets), employment letter, cover letters, etc. So from what I sent in the AOS package, they only kept form i-864 + most recent tax info...
After that the LOOONG wait started. We had to wait for the actual interview with the Consular Officer (CO). He was pretty quick with the other interviews, however people that arrived a bit later than us were interviewed first. All of them were approved. I believe that most of them were Diversity Visa cases (not relationship based) and maybe that's why they were called first. The process was slow because there was only one consular officer in charge of IV cases. [The embassy at Caracas is currently (since 2013) understaffed because of issues with the Government...]
Around 12:00 PM we were told that it was now lunch time and we should return to the embassy at 2:00 PM, and that our interview would be at that time.
We left the embassy for lunch and returned at 2. The consular officer arrived late (3:00 PM) and then he interviewed us. He apologized and appreciated our patience.
ACTUAL INTERVIEW!
The actual interview was really simple. First the CO asked me to make an oath (tell the truth and only the truth)... Then he asked if I spoke English and the rest of the conversation switched to English. He only asked us one question: How and when did you meet? And then we said that my visa was approved! He didn't ask for any additional documents.. No pictures, no letters or forms...
Then He told us to go to DHL to set up the passport shipment, and explained that we had to pay the USCIS ELIS green card fee.... Then I asked if it was possible to pick up the passport at the embassy because my flight was the following week and he said no problem and gave us a sheet of paper that instructed us to pick up the passport a few days later!
The people at the embassy were really nice and polite, the interview experience was great, however I'm giving them 4 stars because of the LONG wait! From 6:30 AM to 3:30 PM....! |
| Rating : |
Good |
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POE Review: Atlanta
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| Event |
Description |
| Entry Date : |
2014-08-31 |
| Embassy Review : |
POE in Atlanta was easy and relatively quick. It took about 30 mins. I went in the "visitors with a visa" line and the officer then directed me to a special counter. I tried going through the citizens line with my husband, but a lady from the staff didn't allow me to enter when I asked... Maybe it would have worked if I just went in without asking xD
The officer was very nice and even made jokes throughout the process. He stamped my passport and welcomed me to America |
| Harassment Level : |
Low |
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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
