michmac's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Todd
Beneficiary's Name: Olga
VJ Member: michmac
Country: Russia
Last Updated: 2008-08-29
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Immigration Checklist for Todd & Olga:
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USCIS I-129F Petition:
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Dept of State K1 Visa:
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USCIS I-485 Petition:
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USCIS I-765 Petition:
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USCIS I-131 Petition:
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USCIS I-751 Petition:
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USCIS N-400 Petition:
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K1 Visa
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
Nebraska Service Center |
| Transferred? |
No |
| Consulate : |
London, United Kingdom |
| I-129F Sent : |
2007-03-14 |
| I-129F NOA1 : |
2007-03-20 |
| I-129F RFE(s) : |
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| RFE Reply(s) : |
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| I-129F NOA2 : |
2007-06-29 |
| NVC Received : |
2007-07-05 |
| Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : |
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| NVC Left : |
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| Consulate Received : |
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| Packet 3 Received : |
2007-07-12 |
| Packet 3 Sent : |
2007-07-25 |
| Packet 4 Received : |
2007-08-18 |
| Interview Date : |
2007-09-24 |
| Interview Result : |
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2007-10-04 |
| US Entry : |
2007-10-15 |
| Marriage : |
2007-12-01 |
| Comments : |
Transferred to CSC for processing.
By chance discovered on 19 June that application had already been approved!
NOA2 delayed by computer problems: actual approval date June 12, date notice posted June 29, notice mailed July 5.
Visa issue delayed inexplicably by the embassy. It was not sent until my fiancée called to enquire (at £1.20/minute!). Once she called, she had it the next day. Methinks it was just mishandled internally, but bad show all the same. Good thing we didn't make the plane ticket any sooner!
A note to those buying return (round-trip) tickets for use in a single direction. Airlines may cancel the entire ticket if you don't use the first part, so always do this by scheduling an unneeded return segment, rather than an unneeded departure segment. |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-129f was approved in 101 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 188 days from your I-129F NOA1 date. |
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Port of Entry Review
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| Event |
Date |
| Port of Entry : |
Detroit |
| POE Date : |
2007-10-15 |
| Got EAD Stamp : |
No |
| Biometrics Taken : |
Yes |
| Harassment Level : |
0 |
| Comments : |
It appears that State allows 90 days from the date the visa is approved by USCIS to the date they process the application at the embassy. The embassy is supposed to enter a new 'expiration' date for the packet when they process the visa. The London embassy failed to do that in our case and my fiancée arrived at Detroit Metro Airport, only to be told upon the opening of her packet that her visa had expired 3 days prior! The skilled local officer took the packet away to another room for about 15 minutes and cleared up the problem. All the same, it was messy and just one more strain on a difficult day. Paperwork details - gotta love 'em! |
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Adjustment of Status
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Detroit MI |
| Date Filed : |
2008-02-15 |
| NOA Date : |
2008-02-25 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2008-03-14 |
| AOS Transfer** : |
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| Interview Date : |
2008-08-18 |
| Approval / Denial Date : |
2008-08-18 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
No |
| Greencard Received: |
2008-08-28 |
| Comments : |
The interview in Detroit was fairly straightforward. They wanted evidence of our marriage and ongoing relationship - a copy of our marriage license, photographs, bank account records in both our names, housing together, the usual stuff. They also wanted either a letter from the petitioner's employer or two recent pay statements, not things they explicitly ask for in the appointment letter, but we were glad we brought them along. They took my wife's I-94 from her passport as well as the EAD card she had received, so she is without any documents showing her legal status until the resident alien card arrives, which could be two weeks to two months, according to the interviewer.
Update: the resident alien card arrived in 10 days - not bad! It was in a non-descript envelope and you could feel the card inside. |
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Employment Authorization
Document
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Chicago National Office |
| Filing Method : |
Mail |
| Filing Instance : |
First |
| Date Filed : |
2008-02-15 |
| NOA Date : |
2008-02-25 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2008-03-14 |
| Approved Date : |
2008-04-23 |
| Date Card Received : |
2008-05-03 |
| Comments : |
It appeared in the mail from the Missouri (?!) Service Center without comment. It came in a plain unmarked white envelope that obviously had a card inside - much the same way as credit cards are distributed. |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your EAD was approved in 68 days. |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: London, United Kingdom
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
September 24, 2007 |
| Embassy Review : |
Some notes taken from a conversation with my fiancée, who was the one at the interview:
She spent 30 minutes in line, perfectly timed to get drenched by a passing English rainstorm - there's no covered waiting area. She was one of about 200 getting visas this morning, of which perhaps 15 were immigrant visas of one kind or another. She was seen fairly soon and people were pleasant.
She described the gentleman who interviewed her as a bit robotic, but pleasant. (But then, who wouldn't be robotic after hundreds of similar interviews?) She was asked the standard 'how did you meet' question, some questions about my history and family (did she know where my brother lives?), our plans for children, etc. She was asked to supply a confirming fiancé intent letter from me, so I was glad she had asked me to send it recently. They also asked one of her, which she was allowed to pen on the spot. The interviewer reiterated what seems to have become a standard policy, that if the first letter of intent is more than 90 days old, they want a new one, too.
Our papers were very well in order, which likely contributed to the ease of the process for her this morning. They continue to charge $100 for the visa and priority post for delivery of the visa runs about £20. They told her to expect delivery 'within a week'.
So, she arrived at 7:30am for an 8am appointment, and was done and out and drying her soggy feet in Grosvenor Square by 10:50am. She was in a very happy mood when she called me, so I'd say it all went very well. 
Thumbs up to the staff at the embassy! |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
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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
