DaveHorton's US Immigration Timeline
Immigration Checklist for David & Juliet:
|
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 : |
Texas Service Center |
| Transferred? |
No |
| Consulate : |
London, United Kingdom |
| Marriage (if applicable): |
|
| I-130 Sent : |
2016-11-01 |
| I-130 NOA1 : |
2016-11-16 |
| I-130 RFE : |
|
| I-130 RFE Sent : |
|
| I-130 Approved : |
2017-01-17 |
| NVC Received : |
|
| Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : |
|
| Pay AOS Bill : |
|
| Receive I-864 Package : |
|
| Send AOS Package : |
|
| Submit DS-261 : |
|
| Receive IV Bill : |
|
| Pay IV Bill : |
|
| Send IV Package : |
|
| Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : |
|
| Case Completed at NVC : |
|
| NVC Left : |
|
| Consulate Received : |
2017-01-17 |
| Packet 3 Received : |
2017-01-19 |
| Packet 3 Sent : |
|
| Packet 4 Received : |
|
| Interview Date : |
2017-03-16 |
| Interview Result : |
Approved
|
Second Interview
(If Required): |
|
| Second Interview Result: |
|
| Visa Received : |
2017-04-03 |
| US Entry : |
2017-06-19 |
| Comments : |
At interview, Needed current police clearance for country of origin despite not having lived there since 2010, and no longer being a citizen.
POE was actually in Canada as the pre-screening for immigration involved everything that would be done in the USA, so we were held several hours in a US Customs room in Toronto airport before being granted the permission and passport stamps to proceed to Phoenix. |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-130 was approved in 62 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 120 days from your I-130 NOA1 date. |
|
Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: London, United Kingdom
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
|
| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
March 19, 2017 |
| Embassy Review : |
We had applied through DCF. The interview was at 11:30 on the 16th March. We arrived 45 minutes early, there was only a short line, and when I told the girl at the awning that there were three of us (petitioner and two beneficiaries), she noted that my name was not on the list but that it was no longer an issue and I would be allowed in. We almost made it in, but she saw at the last moment that we were early and told us to come back at 11:15. So we just sat by a memorial until about 11:10 and then she let us proceed. No line, through security in moments, and into the front entrance. Helpful desk clerk sent us up to the visa waiting area and before we had sat down and gathered our thoughts, our number was on the screen, for window 13.
The guy there was very friendly and helpful, and while I popped to the neighbouring window to pay the fee, my wife was sorting through the papers with him. He took the original and copy of the expected list: Marriage certificate, my naturalisation certificate, my wife and son's UK passports and naturalisation certificates, the affadavit of support and the most recent US tax return. He declined to take the previous two years, but asked me if I wanted to submit any evidence of assets. Although I was not originally planning to do so, I ended up giving him bank statements, IRA statements, and property titles which I had brought along just in case. He very kindly made copies of all these extra docs, and an extra I864 copy as I had provided only one (thinking it was one per family, but he needed one per application). He took the UK police certificate for my wife, but then came the first bit of bad news: he would not accept the Philippine NBI clearance that we offered because it was from 2010. That was when my wife came to the UK from the Philippines and has not been back since. I pointed out that the guidance on the embassy web site said that would be adequate, but he insisted. He gave us all our originals back and said he would pass the package on to the consular officer for the actual interview. Then we went back to the waiting area.
After only about 2 or 3 minutes, the number came up again for window 14 and we met the very pleasant lady consular officer who agreed immediately to my standing at the back while she interviewed my wife and child. The usual questions with minor variations: where did we meet, why was I in the Philippines at that time, why did we come to the UK, when did we marry, why are we going to the USA at this time. Then the discussion about the police clearance: she understood that the clearance we had was from the last time my wife lived there, but we do need to be able to prove that she still has a clean clearance. I made another futile attempt to point out the guidance on the London US Embassy web site (copied below), but she pulled out the dreaded blue form and checked the box for an additional police clearance, and put the case on hold pending receipt. She was very communicative and pleasant about it and seemed genuinely disappointed that she could not give us the answer we wanted. But the fact remains that we now have to scramble to get the foreign clearance before the medical times out. The officer said that we would just submit the required document through the courier, and then the visa would be issued, so all is not lost!
For the few who may be in a similar situation (non-UK origin, naturalised as a UK citizen, applying for IR1), the following copy/pasted note from the London web site may be less than accurate:
"Foreign police certificates are valid indefinitely, unless you have returned to reside in that country or has been arrested since the issuance of the certificate;", and my advice to you would be to get a fresh certificate even if you have never visited your original country since you came to the UK. If we had done so, we would now be celebrating. As it is, celebration is deferred. But full marks to the embassy staff who treated us with great sensitivity and respect throughout. |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
|
POE Review: Toronto
|
| Event |
Description |
| Entry Date : |
2017-06-19 |
| Embassy Review : |
We had no idea that we would be processed in Toronto, as we were just passing through from the UK on the way to Phoenix. But after the initial surprise, we were dismayed to be taken into a room and told to wait. We were waiting two hours, not knowing why, while others in the room were slowly processed by two officers who did not appear to be concerned by the growing number of folks waiting. Eventually we were called to the counter and given our passports after the usual warnings and questions. We were lucky to have arrived at the airport with 4 hours to spare before the flight because after all the queuing and waiting we were close to departure time when we got the gate.
Although we were not mistreated directly, officials were friendly enough, there was no communication about why we were being held, and no information about how long we would be held for.
Then when we got to the gate we were treated to the spectacle of a fat guy in civilian clothes bursting through the gate agents towards the plane, and when he was challenged by the gate attendant, he turned around and shouted "I AM US CUSTOMS -- I CAN GO WHERE I PLEASE!" apparently failing to realise that Canada was not a State of the Union! Then he revealed his hidden US Customs badge from under his straining shirt and lumbered on. Trump would be proud!
All in all, not a happy experience... |
| Harassment Level : |
Moderate |
|
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
