Simone_Lee's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name:
Beneficiary's Name: Simone
VJ Member: Simone_Lee
Country: South Africa
Last Updated: 2023-10-18
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Immigration Checklist for & Simone:
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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 : |
Texas Service Center |
| Transferred? |
No |
| Consulate : |
South Africa |
| I-129F Sent : |
2016-10-08 |
| I-129F NOA1 : |
2016-10-18 |
| I-129F RFE(s) : |
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| RFE Reply(s) : |
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| I-129F NOA2 : |
2016-11-07 |
| NVC Received : |
2016-12-05 |
| Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : |
2016-12-06 |
| NVC Left : |
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| Consulate Received : |
2016-12-13 |
| Packet 3 Received : |
2016-12-13 |
| Packet 3 Sent : |
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| Packet 4 Received : |
2017-01-03 |
| Interview Date : |
2017-02-28 |
| Interview Result : |
Approved
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2017-03-08 |
| US Entry : |
2017-03-12 |
| Marriage : |
2017-03-17 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-129f was approved in 20 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 133 days from your I-129F NOA1 date. |
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Port of Entry Review
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| Event |
Date |
| Port of Entry : |
Atlanta |
| POE Date : |
2017-03-12 |
| Got EAD Stamp : |
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| Biometrics Taken : |
Yes |
| Harassment Level : |
0 |
| Comments : |
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Adjustment of Status
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Houston TX |
| Date Filed : |
2017-04-11 |
| NOA Date : |
2017-04-25 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2017-05-19 |
| AOS Transfer** : |
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| Interview Date : |
2018-03-22 |
| Approval / Denial Date : |
2018-03-22 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
No |
| Greencard Received: |
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| Comments : |
337 days from sending out the first package to receiving the NOA that the green card was approved.
USCIS Appointment in Houston was quick and easy, but the IO told us we'd hear in 4-6 weeks which was disappointing. But less than a week later we received the approval notice in the mail. 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 : |
2017-04-11 |
| NOA Date : |
2017-04-25 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2017-05-19 |
| Approved Date : |
2017-07-27 |
| Date Card Received : |
2017-08-03 |
| Comments : |
Sent the full package (AOS, EAD and AP) on April 11th, USCIS received it April 17th, NOA April 25th. Case Status Changes July 27th. 107 days. |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your EAD was approved in 107 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 : |
2017-04-11 |
| NOA Date : |
2017-04-25 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Date Received : |
2017-08-03 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your AP was approved in 107 days. |
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Lifting Conditions
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Texas Service Center |
| Date Filed : |
2020-03-31 |
| NOA Date : |
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| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
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| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
2020-08-25 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
No |
| Green Card Received : |
2020-09-11 |
| Comments : |
No biometrics, no interview, no RFE - unbelievable! I guess COVID had varying effects on USCIS processing. |
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Citizenship
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
Online |
| CIS Office : |
Houston TX |
| Date Filed : |
2023-08-30 |
| NOA Date : |
2023-08-30 |
| Bio. Appt. : |
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| Interview Date : |
2023-10-18 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Oath Ceremony : |
2023-10-28 |
| Comments : |
My appointment was scheduled for 12.05 and I arrived at 11.30. Security checks your appointment letter before letting you in. They asked if I had any weapons, and after that security was a breeze (put your phone, watch, wallet, keys, and purse in the box separately).
The guy at the front desk takes your appointment notification and writes a number on it and he gives you a separate slip of paper: the slip of paper is the number they'll call for biometrics, and the number on the appointment letter is the one they'll call for your interview.
Biometrics was just a photo and two index fingerprints. Then take a seat and wait to be called.
I sat and practiced the civics questions (Quizlet is great), and was called at almost exactly 12.05.
Turn your phone off before going in. Don't talk while the officer is introducing themselves. They'll have you swear in (right hand, whole truth, blah blah) "I do so swear."
They have the WHOLE stack of alllllllll applications you've submitted (I just kept thinking about how much money I spent on that stack of paper over the years). The officer flipped though it a bit.
We did the civics test: he asked 10 questions, you need to get 6 right. He stops asking once you reach 6. Then you read a sentence on the tablet, then you write a sentence on the tablet.
He asked questions that were on the application form: part of a foundation/club, society; ever been in the military: ever any citations; have you left the country since you submitted this application... etc.
He asked about my divorce and I said as little as possible, "irreconcilable differences" didn't seem like it satisfied him so I gave him a little more context (just one sentence).
He asked me if I agreed with the Oath of Allegiance (line by line, practically: will you take up arms if the govt asks, etc etc)
Do you understand and accept the pledge of allegiance, will you take it, etc.
Then he said "Ok, and are you available on October 28th for an Oath Ceremony"...
"Uuuhhh... I'll make myself available!"
He said usually they might be able to print out a notification for the oath ceremony but they had some issues so he said it would be on MyUSCIS and emailed to me in the next couple of days. Then he walked me out.
No big congratulations or welcome, just "ok, thank you, have a good day...?" and he went "yup, thank you, you too!" ... and then I just left. Felt so weird.
From entering the building to leaving the building: 60 mins max.
From the beginning of the interview to the end of the interview: 10-15 max.
Granted, it wasn't very busy when I arrived, but they have a lot of officers helping so it all seemed to move fast and smoothly.
Finally done. Ish. Oath ceremony, passport, Social Security next.
'Murica!
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: South Africa
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
February 28, 2017 |
| Embassy Review : |
I had my K1 visa interview at the JHB consulate and had a pretty good experience. The wait was quite long even thought there weren't many people, but I figure this is because the officers were being very thorough and really analyzing the relevant documentation. I was asked for:
birth certificates, PCCs (originals only), I-134 and petitioners tax return, proof of relationship.
Here's the one thing: They only accepted cash! I had to run across the road to Sandton City and draw about R4000 to pay for the application!
I returned, paid the cashier, and sat in line to wait a little longer. I was eventually called up to speak to a lovely woman who asked meow I met my fiancé, how often we'd visited one another, what I plan to do in the US, if any of my side of the family will be with us at the ceremony in the U.S. That was it, she said "everything is OK, you should have your passport back in 7-10 days." I almost fell over, I was so shocked!
That was it!
All in all, but went very smoothly, just remember to bring cash with - just in case! Running to the mall isn't so bad but I could have done without the extra adrenaline! |
| Rating : |
Good |
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Local US CIS Office Review: Houston TX
Review Topic: cis_topic
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
October 18, 2023 |
| Embassy Review : |
My appointment was scheduled for 12.05pm and I arrived at 11.30am. Security checks your appointment letter before letting you in. They asked if I had any weapons. Your stuff is scanned and you walk through a metal detector. Be sure to put your phone, watch, wallet, keys, and purse in a box separately. Some people had to remove shoes and belts. Then you go to the front desk.
The person at the front desk takes your appointment notification and writes a number on it and gives you a separate slip of paper: the slip of paper is the number they'll call for biometrics, and the number on the appointment letter is the one they'll call for your interview.
Biometrics was just a photo and two index fingerprints. Then take a seat and wait to be called.
I sat and practiced the civics questions (Quizlet is great), and was called at almost exactly 12.05.
Turn your phone off before going in. Don't talk while the officer is introducing themselves. They'll have you swear in (right hand, whole truth, blah blah) "I do so swear."
They have the WHOLE stack of alllllllll applications and evidence you've ever submitted (I just kept thinking about how much money I spent on that stack of paper over the years). The officer flipped through it a bit. We did the civics test: he asked 10 questions, you need to get 6 right. He stops asking once you reach 6. Then you read a sentence on the tablet (Who was George Washington?), then you write a sentence on the tablet (the officer reads it aloud and you write it down on the tablet using a stylus: "Washington was the first president"). He asked some questions that were on the application form: have you ever been part of a foundation/club, or society; ever been in the military: ever any citations (I had a speeding ticket, he asked when, where, and how it was resolved); have you left the country since you submitted this application... etc.
He asked about my divorce and I said as little as possible. I initially said "irreconcilable differences" but he didn't seem like it satisfied, so I gave him a little more context (just one sentence).
He asked me if I agreed with the Oath of Allegiance (line by line, practically: will you take up arms if the govt asks, etc etc)
Do you understand and accept the pledge of allegiance, will you take it, etc.
You sign the tablet to verify that you understand and accept the oath.
Then he said "Ok, and are you available on October 28th for an Oath Ceremony"...
"Uuuhhh... I'll make myself available!"
He said usually they might be able to print out a notification for the oath ceremony but they had some issues so he said it would be on MyUSCIS and emailed to me in the next couple of days. Then he walked me out.
No big congratulations or welcome, just "ok, thank you, have a good day...?" and he went "yup, thank you, you too!" ... and then I just left. Felt so weird.
From entering the building to leaving the building: 60 mins max.
From the beginning of the interview to the end of the interview: 10-15 max.
Granted, it wasn't very busy when I arrived, but they have a lot of officers helping so it all seemed to move fast and smoothly.
Finally done. Ish. Oath ceremony, passport, Social Security next.
'Murica!
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| Harassment Level : |
Very 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
