misa's US Immigration Timeline

Petitioner's Name: R Beneficiary's Name: I VJ Member: misa Country: Canada Last Updated: 2011-04-11 Add Comment to Timeline Register or log in to follow this timeline

Immigration Checklist for R & I:

USCIS I-130/I-129F Petitions:   Dept of State K3 Visa:     USCIS I-485 Petition:   USCIS I-765 Petition:       USCIS I-131 Petition:       USCIS I-751 Petition:   USCIS N-400 Petition:

K3 Visa Event Date Service Center : Vermont Service Center Consulate : Vancouver, Canada Marriage : 2006-11-04 I-130 Sent : 2006-11-15 I-130 NOA1 : 2006-11-20 I-130 RFE : I-130 RFE Sent : I-129F Sent : 2006-11-28 I-129F NOA1 : 2006-12-04 I-129F RFE(s) : RFE Reply(s) : I-129F NOA2 : 2007-01-09 NVC Received : 2007-01-11 NVC Left : 2007-01-12 Consulate Received : 2007-01-17 Packet 3 Received : 2007-02-09 Packet 3 Sent : 2007-02-13 Packet 4 Received : 2007-02-16 Interview Date : 2007-03-19 Interview Result : Second Interview (If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : 2007-03-19 US Entry : 2007-03-23 I-130 Approval : 2007-01-09 Comments : I-130 Timeline 2006-11-15: Sent to VSC 2006-11-18: Received at VSC 2006-11-20: NOA1 date 2006-11-25: Touched 2007-01-09: NOA2 Approved!!! (retained by USCIS) 2006-01-10: Touched 2006-01-18: Touched I-129F Timeline 2006-11-28: Sent to Chicago 2006-11-29: Received at Chicago 2006-12-04: NOA1 date 2006-12-11: Received at National Benefits Centre (Missouri) 2006-12-12: Touched 2006-12-13: Notice of transfer to VSC 2006-12-14: Touched 2006-12-16: Touched 2006-12-19: Received at VSC 2007-01-03: Touched 2007-01-04: Touched 2007-01-09: NOA2 Approved!!! 2007-01-10: Touched 2007-01-11: Received at NVC and case number assigned 2007-01-12: Sent to Montreal 2007-01-17: Received in Montreal & transfer requested 2007-01-24: Transfer to Vancouver granted 2007-02-06: Case arrives in Vancouver and packet 3 mailed out (about time!) 2007-02-09: Packet 3 - Finally! 2007-02-13: Returned checklist and DS-230 Part I 2007-02-16: Packet 4 - YAY! 2007-03-19: Interview: 10 a.m. Read review <a href="http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=60873&st=0&p=800480&#entry800480" target="_blank">here</a>. 2007-03-19: Visa in hand! YAY!!! 2007-03-23: U.S. entry: Peace Bridge, Buffalo, NY 2007-03-24: Home! Processing Estimates/Stats : Your I-129f was approved in 36 days from your NOA1 date. Your I-130 was approved in 50 days from your NOA1 date. Your interview took 119 days from your I-130 NOA1 date.

Port of Entry Review Event Date Port of Entry : CDN-USA Border POE Date : 2007-03-23 Got EAD Stamp : No Biometrics Taken : No Harassment Level : 0 Comments : Peace Bridge (Buffalo, NY) POE Review located <a href="http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?s=&showtopic=56260&view=findpost&p=802734" target="_blank">here</a>.

Adjustment of Status Event Date CIS Office : Norfolk VA Date Filed : 2007-04-16 NOA Date : 2007-04-23 RFE(s) : NONE Bio. Appt. : 2007-05-10 AOS Transfer** : Interview Date : 2007-08-23 Approval / Denial Date : 2007-08-23 Approved : Yes Got I551 Stamp : No Greencard Received: 2007-09-01 Comments : 2007-04-16: I-485 sent to Chicago 2007-04-17: Received at Chicago 2007-04-23: NOA1 date 2007-04-26: Touched & Biometrics letter date 2007-04-27: NOA1 received in mail 2007-04-30: Biometrics letter received in mail 2007-05-10: Biometrics appointment 2007-05-17: Filed AR-11 online and mailed in I-865 2007-05-21: Touched (both) 2007-06-05: AOS interview letter date 2007-06-13: AOS interview letter received in mail 2007-08-23: AOS interview in Norfolk, VA (4 months from NOA1 date) 2007-08-23: Card production ordered! 2007-08-24: Welcome notice mailed. 2007-08-27: Card production ordered (again)? 2007-08-28: Welcome notice received. 2007-09-01: Green card received! (postmark August 30, 2007)

Employment Authorization Document Event Date CIS Office : Chicago National Office Filing Method : Mail Filing Instance : First Date Filed : 2007-04-16 NOA Date : 2007-04-23 RFE(s) : NONE Bio. Appt. : 2007-05-10 Approved Date : 2007-07-03 Date Card Received : 2007-07-07 Comments : 2007-04-16: I-765 sent to Chicago 2007-04-17: Received at Chicago 2007-04-23: NOA1 date 2007-04-26: Touched & biometrics letter date 2007-04-27: NOA1 received in mail 2007-04-30: Biometrics letter received in mail 2007-05-10: Biometrics appointment 2007-05-21: Touched 2007-05-29: Confirmation letter of change of address for I-765 2007-07-03: Card production ordered! 2007-07-07: Card in hand! 2007-07-16: Applied for SSN with my EAD and they said I wasn't in "SAVE". Manual verification required. WTF? 2007-07-19: Received letter from SSA that I was getting my SSN in 2 weeks! *crosses fingers* Processing Estimates/Stats : Your EAD was approved in 78 days.

Lifting Conditions Event Date CIS Office : Vermont Service Center Date Filed : 2009-06-22 NOA Date : 2009-06-25 RFE(s) : Bio. Appt. : 2009-08-18 Interview Date : Approval / Denial Date : 2009-10-16 Approved : Yes Got I551 Stamp : No Green Card Received : 2009-10-28 Comments : 2009-06-22: I-751 sent to VSC 2009-06-25: Received at VSC 2009-06-25: NOA1 date 2009-06-29: Touched 2009-07-01: NOA1 received 2009-07-28: Called USCIS for biometrics notice 2009-08-08: Biometrics notice received 2009-08-18: Biometrics appointment 2009-08-19: Touched 2009-10-16: Approval Date 2009-10-22: Card Production Ordered 2009-10-28: Card Received

Citizenship Event Date Service Center : Dallas/Lewisville TX Lockbox CIS Office : Philadelphia PA Date Filed : 2010-11-01 NOA Date : 2010-11-08 Bio. Appt. : 2010-12-06 Interview Date : 2011-01-31 Approved : Yes Oath Ceremony : 2011-02-04 Comments : 2010-11-01: N-400 mailed to Lewisville, TX lockbox 2010-11-03: N-400 received 2010-11-05: Cheque cashed 2010-11-08: NOA date 2010-11-10: Biometrics notice date 2010-11-12: NOA received 2010-11-13: Biometrics notice received 2010-12-06: Biometrics appointment 2010-12-22: Case transferred to local office (Philadelphia) 2011-01-31: Interview (Approved) and given oath letter 2011-02-04: Oath Ceremony 2011-03-23: Applied for passport & card with expedite 2011-04-01: Received passport & certificate back in mail 2011-04-02: Received passport card DONE WITH USCIS!

Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Vancouver, Canada Review Topic: K3 Visa Event Description Review Date : March 26, 2007 Embassy Review : Interview was scheduled for March 19th at 10 a.m. Got to the consulate at 9:30 a.m. and the entrance is sort of hidden along the side of a building. I was expecting a big U.S. flag but there wasn't any. There was a line up there with visa appointment times so we stood in the 10 a.m. line since there was no security guard outside yet. When she came out she asked if anyone was there for K visas and she fast tracked us. First security checkpoint they looked at the interview date letter, looked through the accordian folder and then was told to go upstairs. One flight of stairs and there was another security guard who looked at the letter (initialed by the first checkpoint), let us in the elevator and used her security to get us to the 20th floor. At the 20th floor there was another checkpoint and they went through everything again and then we were led to the "K" section that is to the left of the waiting room. The K section consisted of 4 blue chairs right by a row of windows. We were the first K applicants to get there. Soon 2 others joined us. The window finally opened at 10 and since I was the first to get there, she dealt with me first. She asked me for my paperwork and asked me a few questions at the same time (e.g., have you or your husband every been married, etc.). When she got to the medical, she opened it and frowned because the doctor forgot to check off some things! She told me she'd need to get them to fax something to her and hopefully it wouldn't delay my processing. She went off to call them and I could hear her leaving them a very terse and long message. Then she told me to go to the cashier and pay my $100 USD and come back. By the time I got back she had already received the fax from them thankfully and she called up the next person. When the 3rd person was done she told us to go to get our fingerprints done (just 1 index finger on each hand), then we came back and waited. Then I was instructed to go to the last window for my interview. The CO was extremely nice and pleasant and the questions were phrased more like a conversation even though I know they were asking to find out if we were telling the truth: - how did you meet - when did you meet - what attracted you to each other - some general questions about the message board we met on - what do you do for a living (to my husband) - what do you do in Canada for a living And then it was over just like that. He said it was a straightforward case and to come back at 2 p.m. to pick up the visa. I asked if I needed any papers and he said no, just come back at 2 p.m. (it was 11 a.m. at that time) We were relieved but I wasn't going to relax until I got that visa in hand! So we killed a few hours, came back at 2, was given my passport with my visa, an instruction sheet and the sealed white envelope. And that was it! Yay! Rating : Very Good

POE Review: CDN-USA Border Event Description Entry Date : 2007-03-23 Embassy Review : Peace Bridge (Buffalo, NY) POE Review located here. Harassment Level : Low

Local US CIS Office Review: Norfolk VA Review Topic: cis_topic Event Description Review Date : August 24, 2007 Embassy Review : My interview (adjusting from a K3) was scheduled for today at 9 a.m. at the Norfolk, VA district office. I had all my documents prepared that were asked for in the interview letter and more ([url=http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=80703&hl=]see list here[/url]). I really didn't know what to expect as far as the personality and style of the officer since it varies so much but I read as many reviews as I could from Norfolk as well as other offices. It sounds like [url=http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=66231&st=0&p=873748]this couple[/url] had the same officer. We arrived at the office at 8:45 a.m. and had to go through security. No cellphones or cameras allowed of course. After getting through security they told me to take my interview letter and place it in the AOS box that is to the left of the Infopass windows. I put mine on top and could see that there were about 10 others in there as well and then had a seat. After about 5 minutes, I was called by Ms. Patterson (not sure if her title is "Agent" or "Officer") who led my husband and I through a door to the left of the Infopass windows and down the hall to her office. She was friendly, but still professional and told us she would be interviewing us and also said we could warm up in her office since I had commented on how COLD it was in the waiting room (she agreed it's always cold in there and I was shivering). When we got to her office she asked us to remain standing to swear under oath to tell the truth. Then we sat down and she opened up my large file which from what I could tell contained my I-130, I-129F, consulate documents, I-485 and I-765. She asked me to confirm my address (I had moved and filed AR-11 but her file showed my old address) and wrote down the new one. She then asked to see my passport and my husband's ID (he had his DL and his passport), confirmed his DOB (not mine) and checked it off on her list and gave his ID back to him and started to look through my passport. She commented on how many staples were in the I-94 and I laughed and told her that I did that because I didn't want to lose it. She removed it, looked at it again and said, "I usually take these out but since yours is good until 2009, I'll leave it in there". I didn't know how to take this because I know that when they remove the I-94, it's a good sign usually but she had a point that my I-94 was still good... I also mentioned I had an EAD and if she'd like to see that but she declined saying that she didn't need it. She mentioned that she had my medical and flipped through my file(s) looking for a copy of my marriage certificate saying that she knew it was in there somewhere (FWIW, there's a copy in each of my applications so there was at least 4 in there). I told her I had the original but she said she didn't need to see it and found the copy. She then confirmed our date of marriage and then asked us about how we met, who approached who, where did it go from there, did we plan to get married ahead of time or was it spur of the moment, etc. I tend to talk a lot so at one point she asked my husband to continue the story. She also asked questions about whether we had met each others families. After each approximate date we gave she jotted down a short timeline on her sheet of paper. After those questions she asked me paraphrased versions of some (not all) of the "yes/no" questions on the I-485... looked me straight in the eye and didn't look away as she was asking me them. Kind of intimidating... I seriously felt like I was being interrogated, but I answered them. She loosened up after those questions were done and asked for evidence of a bonafide marriage. She said she didn't need the originals to go through, just copies and she would ask if she needed to see the originals. I handed her a pack of photos first and she only asked about the first one, "Who are they?" and I answered who they were (mutual acquaintances) and then she seemed pretty uninterested flipping through them and didn't ask who anyone else was (I did narrate through them) or when/where they were taken. Next was paperwork showing joint finances, bills, etc. After each item she circled where our names appeared. She also briefly skimmed through the letters I brought from mutual friends and family marking who they were to us. She did not ask to see originals. I asked if she needed anything else and she said she would take whatever I had. I mentioned I had flight itineraries from all our visits after marriage to see each other but then somehow the conversation changed to her mentioning that because we have been married for less than 2 years we would need to file for removal of conditions if approved and how to go about that and that I might get called for an interview at that time again and would require evidence of ongoing bonafide marriage during that time (she mentioned not to bring EVERY bill... just one of each type probably because I had multiple bills and bank statements with me). She then said that she would review my files again later in the day and I would hear within two weeks whether my case was approved, denied or if she was going to request more evidence and what that evidence would be. She asked if I had any questions and I asked her if there was anything else she needed from me. She said no, but if there was, she would let me know within 2 weeks. I was tempted to ask her about if my namecheck was clear but I made the assumption that it was since she said I would hear from her within 2 weeks. She did not ask to see anything else... nothing related to the I-864, none of my personal documents such as my birth certificate. Never requested originals of anything (probably because there's already 4 copies of my documents in my files!). We then thanked her for her time, I shook her hand and she walked us out. I was disappointed that she couldn't give us a decision right away so of course all sorts of things were going through my head about what went wrong (really, nothing from my standpoint) and what went right (that she was going to take the I-94). The entire interview lasted no more than 15 minutes. We got home hours later and I went to check my online status... [indent]Application Type: I485, APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS Current Status: Card production ordered. On August 23, 2007, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register. [/indent] And then I did the happy dance. Thank you VJ for everything. Don't think I could have done any of this without this site. And special thanks for all the support to my Canadian, honourary Canadian and refugee Canadian friends here too. Harassment Level : Good

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