IonelaC.'s US Immigration Timeline

Petitioner's Name: Bryan Beneficiary's Name: Ionela VJ Member: IonelaC. Country: Romania Last Updated: 2016-01-20 Add Comment to Timeline Register or log in to follow this timeline

Immigration Checklist for Bryan & Ionela:

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 : Nebraska Service Center Transferred? No Consulate : Bucharest, Romania Marriage (if applicable): 2014-08-04 I-130 Sent : 2015-01-30 I-130 NOA1 : 2015-02-27 I-130 RFE : I-130 RFE Sent : I-130 Approved : 2015-07-23 NVC Received : 2015-08-07 Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : Pay AOS Bill : 2015-08-20 Receive I-864 Package : Send AOS Package : 2015-09-04 Submit DS-261 : 2015-08-20 Receive IV Bill : 2015-08-29 Pay IV Bill : 2015-08-29 Send IV Package : 2015-09-04 Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : 2015-12-03 Case Completed at NVC : 2015-11-16 NVC Left : Consulate Received : 2015-12-08 Packet 3 Received : Packet 3 Sent : Packet 4 Received : Interview Date : 2015-12-28 Interview Result : Approved Second Interview (If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : 2015-12-30 US Entry : 2016-01-12 Comments : 1st scan date: September 9th 2015 Checklist: October 2nd 2015 2nd scan date: October 14th 2015 Case Completed: November 16th 2015 Interview scheduled: December 1st 2015 Date of interview: January 19th 2016 @ 1PM Interview rescheduled: December 28th @ 1 PM (after sending an email to the embassy kindly requesting them to reschedule me for an earlier date). Got lucky, I guess :) Processing Estimates/Stats : Your I-130 was approved in 146 days from your NOA1 date. Your interview took 304 days from your I-130 NOA1 date.

Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Bucharest, Romania Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Event Description Review Date : December 29, 2015 Embassy Review : So I arrived there really early, 3 hrs prior to the interview. I asked one of the guards outside the embassy if I have to give them my interview appointment letter, so they will know I'm there and he said it's not necessary, because I should be on the list. But that I need to wait till 1 pm. I came back at the embassy at 12:30 and there were already few people outside waiting. Fortunately the weather was lovely At 12:55 someone came with a list and started calling the people. I got called the 5th. Inside, we had to go through security check same as when going to the airport. We were not allowed to carry any backpacks with us so I had to take out my 2 huge folders, huge wedding album + another photo album where I had pictures with us from our trips. Then we were sent to another building where we were asked to wait till we hear our names called. Unfortunately, I was literally the last one to be called for the interview. I think there were 12 people in front of me. When my name finally got called, I went to the window and a nice young lady introduced herself and then asked me to rise my right hand and to swear that everything that I presented and what I will say it's the truth. First question was: did you pay anyone to introduce you to your husband? I was shocked and said: no, no, no. Then I told her that we met in Abu Dhabi, while in training, sent there by our company (we used to work for the same company). From there on it was mostly a conversation. I started telling her about us and out relationship and she was asking a question from time to time. Other questions asked: did you started dating ever since? (when we met in Abu Dhabi) - Did he meet your parents? - Did you meet his parents? I told her yes, that they came to the wedding in Romania and that also some of his friends came too, all the way from Alaska and Canada. - What is he doing now? - Are you working? Since none of us is working currently, she asked me: and what are you guys planning to do in US? So I told her that Bryan is looking for a job and he might potentially obtain an officer position in the US Army and that as soon as I get my SSN I will start looking for a job. She asked: so you guys wanna settle in the US, cause I can see from your documents you have been moving around the world a lot due to your job. So I told her that yes, for the moment that's the plan, but hey.. you never know what the life has planned for you And then she smiled and said that's true. Then she said: well, you guys showed us more proof than we needed and everything looks good. In that moment she took my passport and handed it to me. I was shocked!!! I thought she's going to deny my visa or something. She smiled and said: don't worry, it's your old passport with your tourist visa which I cancelled, cause I have just approved your visa. Congratulations and welcomed to United States! I was soooo happy!!! And that was my interview! Easier than I would have expected, honestly. When they asked me for proof of relationship, I had a full folder with hundreds of pages worth of conversations on Facebook, emails, flights and hotels from our trips, phone bills and such. They only took the emails from me, the flights and hotels bookings and the small photo album (the big wedding album didn't fit through the window lol). They didn't ask me for any financial docs, no I-864, no W2s, no pay stubs, nothing! Now, 1 day after my interview, when checking the ceac website I can see my visa status changed to ISSUED!!! Yaaaay!!! Nightmare is over!! Will be flying to the States on January 12th. POE is going to be San Diego Rating : Very Good

POE Review: San Diego Event Description Entry Date : 2016-01-12 Embassy Review : Flew in with the only direct flight from Heathrow and landed in San Diego 30 mins before expected time. Once off from the plane walked towards the always so long queue. I had my passport and envolope in hand so I will be prepared without delaying the process any further (I was also pretty tired and wanted to get it over with lol). While waiting in line a lady that helps around there with passports, visas and such came up to me and asked me what type of visa do I have. I told her I'm on an IV, CR-1 type. Then she took me out from the long line and put in another line where it happened that me to be the only one waiting. The officer came to his desk and called me forward. I showed him the envelope and the passport and he was: "ohhh, ok.. now this is another procedure". He took my finger prints and walked me to the waiting area. He went into the office with my documents and said that his colleague will review the papers and let me know what he decides. Honestly, I had to wait quite a while, cause there were other people there waiting with different visa type. If I'm not wrong I waited for 40 mins until the other officer came out and called my name. He invited me into the office because he needed more information. I was a bit scared cause I mean at that point, they literally had all the information and wasn't sure what else could I provide. Fortunately, he only needed the City and Zip code at my new address lol. Then he had me signing a paper (not sure what it was, I assume it was for the Green Card) and then he took my finger prints again, with black ink. The person was actually really nice and friendly and it only took me about 7-10 mins of being in his office. At the end he stamped my passport and told me it is a temporary Green Card good for 1 year. He also said that I should be receiving my GC between 3 to 6 months and if I don't then I should contact USCIS. Then he told me he only needs to make a copy of my passport and after I'm good to go And that was it! I landed at 4:30 pm and was out of the airport at 5:40, giving my hubby a big big hug <3 Overall, the experience was really good, people were friendly and helpful Harassment Level : Low

Timeline Comments: None yet, be the first!



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