MrsArnts's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Emma Beneficiary's Name: Robert VJ Member: MrsArnts Country: Netherlands
Last Updated: 2017-07-27
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Immigration Checklist for Emma & Robert:
USCIS DCF 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 : |
Texas Service Center |
Transferred? |
No |
Consulate : |
London, United Kingdom |
Marriage (if applicable): |
2016-01-16 |
I-130 Sent : |
2017-03-30 |
I-130 NOA1 : |
2017-04-05 |
I-130 RFE : |
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I-130 RFE Sent : |
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I-130 Approved : |
2017-05-19 |
NVC Received : |
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Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : |
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Pay AOS Bill : |
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Receive I-864 Package : |
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Send AOS Package : |
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Submit DS-261 : |
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Receive IV Bill : |
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Pay IV Bill : |
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Send IV Package : |
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Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : |
2017-06-13 |
Case Completed at NVC : |
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NVC Left : |
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Consulate Received : |
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Packet 3 Received : |
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Packet 3 Sent : |
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Packet 4 Received : |
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Interview Date : |
2017-07-25 |
Interview Result : |
Approved
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Second Interview (If Required): |
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Second Interview Result: |
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Visa Received : |
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US Entry : |
2017-09-04 |
Comments : |
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Processing Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-130 was approved in 44 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 111 days from your I-130 NOA1 date. |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: London, United Kingdom Review Topic: Direct Consular Filing
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Event |
Description |
Review Date : |
July 28, 2017 |
Embassy Review : |
IR5 and CR1
I petitioned for both my mother and husband. 2 separate petitions so they had 2 separate appointment times, luckily only 30 minutes apart. They both had copies of everything so they didn't have to rely on the other persons stuff.
We arrived about 2 hours early to the embassy knowing we would go for food beforehand. We just wanted to be in the area and see everything that was happening. There were so many people waiting at the blue visa tent to get in, think I saw 3 different lines! We went off for food and came back 30 mins before my husbands appointments time. And everyone was gone! I highly recommend trying for an afternoon appointment, our times were 12 and 12:30. We went straight to the tent and there was a really nice lady there who said to come back 15 minutes before our appointment, and she was nice enough to allow my mother to come in early so we could all go in together.
I think the hardest part of the whole thing was the next part, getting me (the American) into the embassy!
We emailed the embassy ahead of time to put me on the list, I was on the list at the tent and the one at reception but not the security hut list. So we had to stand to one side while they sorted out that mess and eventually I was allowed in.
We went round to the right, up the stairs and to the reception desk. They both showed their various confirmation letters (interview, courier, ds260 and original letter) and passports. We were giving lots of stickers stuck on the interview letter and one on their passports. Our numbers were I-911 and I-912. We were told to go upstairs to the left and wait there. We weren't told where to sit but there is a sign saying 'these seats are reserved, if you have not been told to sit here sit up front' (or something like that, I can't remember exactly). The seats at the back were full, there weren't too many people sat up front. We found some seats and proceeded to wait. Had a good look round and read the screens at the front of the room. About 5-10 minutes after we sat down my husbands number was called to window 5. There was a very nice lady there who asked for various things.
Passport
Birth certificate and translation (my husband is Dutch)
Marriage certificate
Police certificate
Affidavit and supporting docs
2 photos
She did ask if we had copies of certain things so make sure you have them even though I've read a lot of people were only asked for original documents. My husband was asked to print his full name on the back of one of the photos. They took his finger prints at this window too.
When she looked through the affidavit documents she gave us back all the bank statements and only kept my 1040. I thought this was strange as I'm using assets to support them as I've only ever worked in the UK (I was a child when we moved here). But she ticked the OK box next to it so we never said anything as she must know what she's doing, more on this later!
My mum was called to window 4 while we were at window 5. She was asked for:
Passport
Birth certificate
Divorce paper (they didn't care about the marriage part)
Police certificate
Affidavit and docs
1 photo
She never had to write her name on the photo so not sure why my husband had to. They also took fingerprints. The gentleman at the window kept all the bank statements with the affidavit, which really started to confuse me.
We were sent around the corner to window 12 to pay the fees only to find out that the card machine was broken that day. So it was back round to the first window to get my husbands passport so we could leave and run down the road to the nearest ATM to get cash out. The security guys let us back in no problem, had to go through the security stuff again though. We got back in and went straight to the window to pay both fees. And went back to the original window to hand over the receipt. We had to ask for our X-rays as she forgot to give them to us. We then sat back down to wait for the interview. One of the ladies saw we were really warm after running down the road so she turned the giant fan on at the front of the room and directed it towards us. It was really nice!
We only waited about 30 mins before my husbands number was called again. Suppose the run down the road wasted some time for us. We were called to window 13. There was no issue with me being with him for the interview, she made us both do the oath. Now when everyone says it's basically just an informal chat, they are not kidding! She asked us
How did you meet
How long have you been together
What's the plans for the future
Where will you be living to begin with
The way it was conducted, it did not feel like an interview. We were both kind of waiting for the interview to begin not knowing it was already being done! She tried to give him a form to fill in to sign up for the draft if needed, but it's for 18-26 year olds. My husbands 33 so we pointed that out and she apologised and said suppose it pays off to be older sometimes.
She did a few things on the computer and turned to us saying "all looks good I'm going to go ahead and approve you" and she wrote a big 'A' on his folder and circled it. She told us we should get his visa back in 2 weeks. All done in less than 5 mins. One down, one to go!
We went back to the waiting area to wait for my mums interview. She got called up about 5-10 minutes later, to the same window. I went with her and didn't have to take the oath again as it had already been done for me so just my mum taking it this time.They had to re-take her fingerprints as she hadn't pushed hard enough on the machine last time. She was asked only one question (if she'll be living with us to begin with) and it was over. Approved!
Now this is where that affidavit confusion comes back in. She says to us there is just one thing, I don't earn enough so I'll have to get a joint sponsor. She pulls out the blue form that I know from this site is the 221(g). I say to her about the assets and that the first CO gave it back to me for my husband but my mums were kept. She quickly flicks through my mums paperwork to look at it all. Writes some notes and changes the affidavits ticks to the 'meets requirements' box. She throws away the blue forms and says that everything is great, no problems at all. Apparently it happens a lot where they think you've given too much information and give back stuff that is actually needed! So if you're using assets and they try giving back that information to you, make sure you say something as it could mean a delay for you otherwise.
But all in all it was a great visit, everyone was very nice and it really was so easy. And we got the 2 approvals! We went straight to the pub to have a celebratory drink!
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Rating : |
Very Good |
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Timeline Comments: None yet, be the first!
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Individual results may vary as every case is not always 'average'. Past performance does not necessarily
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