powerplyer's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Chirag
Beneficiary's Name: Trupti
VJ Member: powerplyer
Country: India
Last Updated: 2018-12-14
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Immigration Checklist for Chirag & Trupti:
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USCIS 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 : |
Mumbai, India |
| Marriage (if applicable): |
2017-11-14 |
| I-130 Sent : |
2017-12-22 |
| I-130 NOA1 : |
2017-12-29 |
| I-130 RFE : |
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| I-130 RFE Sent : |
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| I-130 Approved : |
2018-06-26 |
| NVC Received : |
2018-07-11 |
| Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : |
2018-08-20 |
| Pay AOS Bill : |
2018-08-20 |
| Receive I-864 Package : |
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| Send AOS Package : |
2018-08-28 |
| Submit DS-261 : |
2018-08-20 |
| Receive IV Bill : |
2018-08-28 |
| Pay IV Bill : |
2018-08-28 |
| Send IV Package : |
2018-08-28 |
| Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : |
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| Case Completed at NVC : |
2018-09-11 |
| NVC Left : |
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| Consulate Received : |
2018-10-26 |
| Packet 3 Received : |
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| Packet 3 Sent : |
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| Packet 4 Received : |
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| Interview Date : |
2018-11-06 |
| Interview Result : |
Approved
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2018-11-12 |
| US Entry : |
2018-11-19 |
| Comments : |
DS-260 Open --> 08/30/2018
IV&AOS Package Received @ NVC--> 08/31/2018
DS-260 Submitted --> 09/01/2018
* Sent an Updated I-864 with correction in the "Mail To Address" under the applicant address. --> Mailed on 08/10/2018 and arrived on 08/12/2018
* Looks like it did not matter because my case was "case complete" on 08/11/2018.
Now waiting for an interview date... Hopefully soon! |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-130 was approved in 179 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 312 days from your I-130 NOA1 date. |
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Port of Entry Review
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| Event |
Date |
| Port of Entry : |
San Francisco |
| POE Date : |
2018-11-19 |
| Got EAD Stamp : |
Yes,Passport Stamp |
| Biometrics Taken : |
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| Harassment Level : |
0 |
| Comments : |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: Mumbai, India
Review Topic: General Review
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
November 27, 2018 |
| Embassy Review : |
Our appointment was at 7:30am in Mumbai US Consulate on Nov 6th, 2018. I the petitioner arrived on the 2nd of Nov to Mumbai.
HOTEL:
We stayed at the FabHotel, excellent service. Rooms were a bit small but comfortable. The VAC is walking distance. However the US consulate was about 1.5km. There are good places to eat on the left and right as you exit the hotel. Ravi Cafe was really good food, but no AC.
VAC (bio-metrics):
We had set an appointment for Sunday Nov 4th at 1:30pm, we got there around 1:00pm and were done by 1:20pm. Well organized. They do not allow electronics into the VAC, but there is a locker service next door. The petitioner is not allowed inside. Also bring two passport pictures. It is not written anywhere but bring them as they will attach them to the DS-260 form, which will be stamped and returned back to you.
EMBASSY:
Our appointment was at 7:30, we took Ola from hotel to Embassy. Just hail the service with your mobile, note the OTP and leave the mobile in hotel. We left the hotel @ 6:45 to reach embassy @ 7:00am. Depending where Ola drops you off, ask the security guard where the immigrant line is located. It was a short line. Depending on your interview time they will ask you to stand across the street or get in the immigrant line.
As the line moves there is a person in a purple shirt whom will ask for your interview letter and passport only. Keep them out. Then you walk thru a short route to the security check. Remember NO electronics and CD's. You will go thru security and scanners. Basic process. If the petitioner is with you, make sure they carry their passport.
Then you enter into the open garden area, again following the path to the main embassy building. As you enter more purple shirt employees will guide you towards the medium size immigrant waiting room. The purple shirts will walk around and help you sort thru your paperwork and provide you a token. They will ask for your language preference. Then you wait until your token (white sticker they attach to your interview appointment letter, starts with G, P or A). You will need your passport, interview letter, stamped DS-260, pcc, and medical envelope.
The environment is calm and not a bunch of pushing and shoving. They seem to be well organized and the purple shirt people were very helpful. There are 15 or 16 windows. There are restroom and water fountain available inside.
You then wait for your token to be called. The first time you go up the window, they will verify your documents, ask basic questions, similar to what others have reported, ask again for your language preference. Takes about 15min. Very straight forward. After that is done, you sit and wait for final interview. The first up at window seems to happen in order of token number.
There is no rhyme or reason when it comes to the interview order, however I did notice that English and Punjabi were done quicker the Gujarati's and South Indians took longer. Then the long wait begins. We waited a long time, almost 2 hours from doc check to final interview. Where they make you take a quick Oath and then take your finger prints.
Our case was a bit complicated. I filed for my step son and wife. We were still waiting on when the 8am batch entered. The questions are very similar to what has been posted previously but the important part is how they conduct and present those questions. The first one was easy, who is calling you? Then they dug into the questions. They first dug into my previous marriage and asked a lot of questions about the ex wife. They asked my wife, why I got divorced, how we got engaged before my divorce was final, asked about my alimony. They did not seem happy about getting engaged, before divorce was final. I got engaged in August and my MSA was signed in June. But final divorce decree was still pending. Even though I make 5x poverty line, they asked my wife if she knew about my alimony payments. How I would be able to afford 5 people in California etc. Then they asked about my Wife's passed away husband, how he passed away etc... Then the critical part came and I saw this with different interviewers, they ask how we met (ours was online). Then they dug into the details, as they try to build a timeline in there minds. How often do you talk? Asked questions about my friends and relatives. One guy they asked what kind of food did you have at the wedding? The bottom line is don't try to just answer the questions, but build a applicant and petitioner timeline. I did this for my wife and it helped a lot. Also the petitioner being there was very helpful. Though the interviewer just asked me a couple of questions about my ex, where does she live, how often do my kids visit her etc...
Have a solid timeline and have samples to backup claims like chat logs, pictures etc.... They did ask to provide the bona-fide package, I had put together.
After about 25 min, my wife and step son heard the magic words that your visa has been approved.
Our case was difficult because there were a lot of things happening with my divorce and ex as I was building my relationship with my current wife.
It really is the luck of the draw, some people were complete in 10 to 15 min some took longer up to 35 to 40min.
I feel it best to put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer. They are not out to get you, but they have a job to do, and that is to assure you have a truly bonofide relationship.
Also don't assume there will be bunch of yes/no questions. They will ask details. Again, how do you prove something without the details. Have details and be over prepared.
As for your financial, assure you have some buffer in the poverty line. I saw at least a few people get turned away because they needed additional sponsors. They also do a good background check. The consulate actually called one of my spouses neighbors.
If you or you spouse are divorced, have proper paperwork and closure. Assure proper closer of any previous relationships.
Overall it was smooth but very nerve wrecking. I guess the 10month journey is worth it to be with the one you want to be with.
Best of luck to all in your journey. Hope this information helps someone. This is my way of saying thank you, to all that helped me as we started our visa journey.
POST-VISA:
We chose to have our visa's delivered via BlueDart to Gujarat. It took about 6 days after the interview because there was Diwali holiday. Notice that it will say Administrative Processing once your visa has been approved and then a couple of days later it will say issued. Make sure you sign-up for the mobile text. They texted us the tracking number once the package was shipped. It was a AWB number.
We departed India on the 19th to arrive San Francisco on the 19th afternoon. After we landed we all together went to the new immigrant line it was short. At the booth, they took our package and registered us. Then they walked us into a small room (Do NOT Use your mobile devices). After a 45min wait, my wife was called up and 2 min later they walked us out to SFO. She was not asked any questions.
Overall smooth, just a bit tedious.
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| Rating : |
Good |
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Timeline Comments: 1Hi,
Did you get your interview?
*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.
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