queentobe's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: MM
Beneficiary's Name: TH
VJ Member: queentobe
Country: South Africa
Last Updated: 2016-03-21
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Immigration Checklist for MM & TH:
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USCIS I-129F Petition:
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Dept of State K1 Visa:
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USCIS I-485 Petition:
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USCIS I-765 Petition:
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USCIS I-131 Petition:
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USCIS I-751 Petition:
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USCIS N-400 Petition:
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K1 Visa
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
California Service Center |
| Transferred? |
No |
| Consulate : |
South Africa |
| I-129F Sent : |
2015-04-06 |
| I-129F NOA1 : |
2015-04-09 |
| I-129F RFE(s) : |
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| RFE Reply(s) : |
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| I-129F NOA2 : |
2015-05-11 |
| NVC Received : |
2015-05-29 |
| Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : |
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| NVC Left : |
2015-06-02 |
| Consulate Received : |
2015-06-05 |
| Packet 3 Received : |
2015-06-09 |
| Packet 3 Sent : |
2015-06-12 |
| Packet 4 Received : |
2015-06-15 |
| Interview Date : |
2015-07-21 |
| Interview Result : |
Approved
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2015-07-27 |
| US Entry : |
2015-07-31 |
| Marriage : |
2015-09-10 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-129f was approved in 32 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 103 days from your I-129F NOA1 date. |
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Adjustment of Status
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
New York City NY |
| Date Filed : |
2015-09-30 |
| NOA Date : |
2015-10-06 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2015-10-30 |
| AOS Transfer** : |
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| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
2016-03-15 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
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| Greencard Received: |
2016-03-21 |
| Comments : |
No interview waiver letter, no interview. Case went straight to approval - yay! |
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Employment Authorization
Document
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Chicago National Office |
| Filing Method : |
Mail |
| Filing Instance : |
First |
| Date Filed : |
2015-09-30 |
| NOA Date : |
2015-10-06 |
| RFE(s) : |
2015-12-15 |
| Bio. Appt. : |
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| Approved Date : |
2016-01-12 |
| Date Card Received : |
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| Comments : |
Received RFE regarding name change, had to send additional copies of birth certificate and marriage certificate. |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your EAD was approved in 104 days. |
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Advance Parole
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Chicago National Office |
| Filing Method : |
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| Filing Instance : |
First |
| Date Filed : |
2015-09-30 |
| NOA Date : |
2015-10-06 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Date Received : |
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| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your AP was approved in 104 days. |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: South Africa
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
July 21, 2015 |
| Embassy Review : |
There aren't a lot of South African's on here, so I thought I would do my due diligence and post a review for the Johannesburg Consulate:
I arrived at the embassy at around 12:20 in the afternoon for a 13:00 appointment. There was hardly anybody there when I arrived and I ended up being fourth in line.
Outside the embassy, security verified our names with their appointment sheets at around 12:45. At 13:00 they let us in one by one and it was the usual US Embassy protocol from there - remove all electronics from your pockets, bags etc and submit them for collection when you leave and just to clarify, electronics obviously includes your cell phone. Anyways, after that I went inside and collected a number at the front podium.
After about 10mins of waiting, I was called to the first window. At this point, a South African woman asked for my name and collected my packet, which appeared to be my I-129F petition and then some. She then asked me for the following:
- Passport (I had two to submit so they could cancel a prior visa that was about to expire)
- Unabridged/Long Form Birth Certificate (I gave her the original and she actually asked if I had a copy to submit instead, which I didn't because my certificate was finalized an hour before I had to go to the embassy. She offered to make a copy and assured me it would be returned to me before I left. Even though the appointment letter states that even certified copies will not be accepted, definitely bring a copy of all necessary documents. Also, another tip to any South Africans who went through the Unabridged Birth Certificate nightmare - fill out another form and pay the additional R75 for a second copy. You never know when you'll need it again or God forbid something happens to the first one)
- Form I-134 & all supporting documents (I included most recent tax return, letter from employer and a letter from the bank with my fiancés account details. All original documents.)
- Police Clearance
- Proof of Ongoing Relationship (I put all of my relationship evidence into a soft binder so that I could submit everything for them to see. I included everything from regular photos to social media posts to flower delivery receipts)
She said my documents appeared to be in perfect order and she then requested to take my finger prints. After that, she gave me a receipt to take to the cashier and a document to read about domestic violence and our rights as immigrants.
I then proceeded to the cashier to pay for my visa. The visa fee for a K-1 is $265. I paid this fee using a South African credit card, which I think is the easiest thing to do unless you happen to have enough dollars in cash to make the payment. You can most certainly pay cash in South African rand as well, just make sure you have more than enough with the exchange rate. Note that you cannot split the payment between cash and card, also someone ahead of me had an issue with a US credit card. Not sure why.
Anyways, after paying the real waiting began. I believe it was close to an hour before I was called up for my interview. I was relieved when I finally heard my number called. When I got to the window I was greeted by a US official. He verified my fingerprints and then asked me the following questions:
- Where did you guys meet?
- What were you doing in New York at that time?
- What does your fiancé do?
- Where does he work?
- What do you do? Are you currently working?
- Why aren't you getting married here in South Africa?
This was all fairly quick. He then said everything looks fine and I should expect to receive an email when my passport is ready. He then gave me a pink slip, which basically detailed what he told me and states that the process will take 3-5 days before my visa is ready for collection. And that was that!
I left there at about 15:00, so the whole process took about 2hrs from when we entered. Overall, a pleasant experience.
TIPS:
- For people who are not familiar with the area, there is NO PARKING at the embassy. Park across the street at Sandton City or have someone drop you off right in front of the embassy.
- I am not sure if today was a particularly quiet day, but there was really no need need for me to get there as early as 12:20. If I had arrived 20mins later, I still would have been fourth in line. Anyways, I cannot say that this is always the case as I've read about people lining up as early as 11:30 for 13:00 appointments.
- Bring a snack/water or change for the vending machine if you're one of those people who get peckish. Be warned that the vending machine options are pretty lack luster 
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| Rating : |
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
