Mark11's US Immigration Timeline

Petitioner's Name: Mark Beneficiary's Name: Sandra VJ Member: Mark11 Country: Brazil Last Updated: 2021-03-08 Add Comment to Timeline Register or log in to follow this timeline

Immigration Checklist for Mark & Sandra:

USCIS I-129F Petition:       Dept of State K1 Visa:     USCIS I-485 Petition:   USCIS I-765 Petition:       USCIS I-131 Petition:       USCIS I-751 Petition:   USCIS N-400 Petition:

K1 Visa Event Date Service Center : California Service Center Transferred? No Consulate : Rio de Janeiro, Brazil I-129F Sent : 2019-06-14 I-129F NOA1 : 2019-06-20 I-129F RFE(s) : RFE Reply(s) : I-129F NOA2 : 2019-09-19 NVC Received : 2019-10-15 Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : 2019-10-21 NVC Left : 2019-11-12 Consulate Received : Packet 3 Received : Packet 3 Sent : Packet 4 Received : Interview Date : 2020-01-07 Interview Result : Approved Second Interview (If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : 2020-01-21 US Entry : 2020-05-26 Marriage : Comments : NOTE: We never received ANY correspondence (mail, email, etc.) from the consulate after NVC notified us that the packet had been sent to the consulate. Nada. See my post mentioned below for advice on this. Regular mail is fine for delivery of the K1 visa packet. I was initially concerned about such an important packet being delivered by regular mail, but they use the post office's tracking system and issue a tracking number. Very organized. Arrived in a large white thick plastic envelope. Contained the passport and the sealed port of entry packet. See my post in Latin America section entitled "Firm Answers: K1 K-1 Rio Brazil Medical and Interview Scheduling for key scheduling times. Processing Estimates/Stats : Your I-129f was approved in 91 days from your NOA1 date. Your interview took 201 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.

Port of Entry Review Event Date Port of Entry : Houston POE Date : 2020-05-26 Got EAD Stamp : No Biometrics Taken : Yes Harassment Level : 0 Comments : Immigration process in Houston was very pleasant. Took about 15 minutes with simple questions. The USCIS officers were very pleasant and welcomed me to the USA.

Adjustment of Status Event Date CIS Office : Chicago IL Date Filed : 2020-06-26 NOA Date : 2020-07-24 RFE(s) : Bio. Appt. : 2020-08-21 AOS Transfer** : Interview Date : 2021-03-30 Approval / Denial Date : Approved : Got I551 Stamp : Greencard Received: Comments : Note: Sandra died of covid on December 18, 2020, so we will not be able to proceed to the AOS interview. I have notified USCIS. I miss her so much.

Employment Authorization Document Event Date CIS Office : Chicago IL Filing Method : Mail Filing Instance : First Date Filed : 2020-08-05 NOA Date : 2020-08-18 RFE(s) : Bio. Appt. : Approved Date : Date Card Received : Comments : 765 was mistakenly rejected because no extra fee was paid (no extra fee is required when you submit it with your 485), so now we have to wait for the packet to be returned so we can re-file. Processing Estimates/Stats : Based on timeline data, your EAD may be adjudicated between September 28, 2020 and October 9, 2020*. If this date range has passed or your application is past due per USCIS processing times then you should consider calling the USCIS to inquire on your petition. If you have been approved please update your timeline.

Advance Parole Event Date CIS Office : Chicago IL Filing Method :   Filing Instance : First Date Filed : 2020-06-26 NOA Date : 2020-07-24 RFE(s) : Date Received : Comments : Processing Estimates/Stats : Your AP was approved in 66 days.

Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Review Topic: K1 Visa Event Description Review Date : January 17, 2020 Embassy Review : The embassy interview process was simple. Our appointment was at 9:20 am on Tuesday (K-1 interviews are only on Tuesdays). We arrived at 8:30 and there was a very long line outside the embassy. But there are line attendants that check your passport (or you can walk up and talk to them). When they see that you are a K-1 applicant, they immediately take you inside to the security check, and then directly upstairs to a waiting room with about 30 chairs. There were about 10 single people and 6 couples in the room. An attendant in the room will give you a list of the order they would like the paper in. Note that the list does not match the embassy website list -- there are fewer items on the paper list they hand you. The attendant will go through your paperwork and pull out items they don't want (for example, the two 5x5 cm photos). They also have extra copies of the "intention to marry" letter that the beneficiary can sign if you forgot yours. They are very friendly and helpful. After getting your paperwork organized, they will call you up to a separate window for a document pre-check. After checking to make sure your documents are in order, they will hand it back and you go sit back down and wait to be called for the interview. We waited about 2 hours for the interview. The interview lasted about 5 minutes and the interviewer asked me and my fiance' (Brazilian beneficiary) the following questions (through a glass window): 1) [to me -- USC]: Do you speak Portuguese? (a little bit). 2) [to fiancé]: Would you prefer to interview in English or Portuguese? (Portuguese). Interviewer response: OK, I'll do the interview in Portuguese and translate anything you (me, USC) would like me to. 3) [to fiancé]: How did you meet? (Tinder). 4) [to fiance]; When did you first meet? (March 20180 5) [to fiancé]: How many times have you met since then? (8) 6) [to both of us]: This will be a second marriage for both of you? (yes) 7) [to fiancé]: Do you have any children? (yes, two). What ages? (25 and 26). 8) [to me]: Do you have any children? (yes, one). What age? (19) 9) [to fiancé]: I see you've been to the USA twice, was this to see your fiance' or for other purposes? (to see fiancé) 10) [to fiance']: Have you read the domestic violence papers handed to you when you entered? (yes). Do you understand your rights (yes). Then "OK, your visa is approved, you should receive it in the mail in about 2 weeks. Do you have any questions?" (no) Some tips below: 1) Don't stand in line outside the embassy -- tell an attendant you are a K1 applicant. 2) The waiting room is VERY cold (everyone was shivering) -- take a light jacket. 3) Take a copy of the USC passport. This was not on the embassy website list, but they asked for it. But they also said they could make a copy there if you don't have it. 4) If you do the medical exam the day before (as we did) you will not have a medical exam certification, but it will have been electronically transmitted to the embassy, so no problems. They never asked about it -- it appeared they already had it from the doctor. 5) See my thread on scheduling and timing the medical exam for more info on this (search on k1 Brazil Rio medical exam schedule). 6) Many people were there (and were approved) without their USC fiancé, so it is possible. But it seems to help if the USC can be there. Rating : Very Good

Timeline Comments: 6



*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

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