bolero_pa's US Immigration Timeline

Petitioner's Name: A Beneficiary's Name: C VJ Member: bolero_pa Country: Philippines Last Updated: 2024-10-23 Add Comment to Timeline Register or log in to follow this timeline

Immigration Checklist for A & C:

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 : Manila, Philippines I-129F Sent : 2019-09-25 I-129F NOA1 : 2019-10-02 I-129F RFE(s) : RFE Reply(s) : I-129F NOA2 : 2020-01-15 NVC Received : 2020-01-31 Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : 2020-02-18 NVC Left : 2020-02-18 Consulate Received : Packet 3 Received : Packet 3 Sent : Packet 4 Received : Interview Date : 2021-07-08 Interview Result : Approved Second Interview (If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : 2021-07-15 US Entry : 2021-07-27 Marriage : 2021-09-25 Comments : March 8, 2020 we schedule interview for Thursday March 26, 2020, 07:35am March 12, 2020 it was announced that Manila lockdown begins midnight March 15, 2020 until April 14, 2020 March 13, 2020 As a result of the lockdown we cancelled March 26 interview and rescheduled it for Thursday April 23, 2020, 07:35am (Unfortunately, this appointment was also cancelled because Manila was in strict lockdown March 15, 2020 - June 1, 2020. By that time the embassy was no longer conducting routine K-1 visa interviews.) June 2, 2021 Visa Expedite request emailed to support-philippines@ustraveldocs.com and online at https://ph.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/immigrant-visa-inquiry-form/ (After patiently waiting a over a year, some concerns emerged and I had to submit a request for K-1 Expedite) June 15, 2021 - Received email informing us an interview date of the first week of July 2021. July 1, 2021 St Lukes - packet picked up next day. July 8, 2021 Visa interview. VERY brief. Interview only lasted 2-3 minutes. Paperwork was in excellent order. July 12, 2021 CFO process initiated online despite no in-hand visa. CFO agent replied via email instructing us to make contact once Visa arrives July 15, 2021 Visa arrives in Mindanao. July 15, 2021 Contact made with CFO. They phoned and scheduled a same-day appointment. The call lasted 40 minutes after which they emailed the certificate for her to print and bring to airport. July 27, 2021 Flight from Philippines to US. THINGS YOU CAN DO WHEN UNCERTAIN ABOUT CEAC EXPIRINING OR ANYTHING With basically every concern I regularly called the embassy in Manila. Actually it's the "US Visa and Information Services", some sort of call center, but they provide decent advice on what to do. They are open 6pm to 2am pacific time M-F (sort of like Sunday through Thursday our time) US Visa and Information Services 1-703-520-2235 Once connected you will hear a few messages, then press, 1, 2, 1, 2 Then you listen to about 8 minutes of music, then most of the time the call cuts off. About 1 in 10 calls get through, but that's what I did about 500 times over the past 18 months. They were able to reassure me or inform me on actions I needed to take to keep the case in good standing. Lots of stress over the process uncertainties, but they usually were able to help keep me focused and calm. September 25, 2021 Married (This is the time we SHOULD HAVE APPLIED FOR SSN in person at a local branch. Instead we lumped the SSN application in with the I-485, which greatly delayed ability to do all the things for with an SSN is required, like getting a bank account or driver's license, etc.) October 14, 2021 I-485 mailed October 15, 2021 I-485 received April 2, 2022 EAD ID Card received April 11, 2022 Went to local Social Security office to apply for and/or make sure the SSN was being processed. Rather than waiting longer, which was encouraged on some forums, we went in directly. It was the thing to do. Otherwise we would likely have waited an additional 2-3 weeks for a card to arrive, that perhaps never would have arrived. April 18, 2022 Social Security card arrived in mail. January 2023 Green Card arrived in mail. (Resident since 12/29/2022; Expires 12/29/2024. This makes 9/30/2024 the earliest date we can file the I-751) October 3, 2024 I-751 completed and mailed via USPS. October 7, 2024 I-751 received by Dept. of Homeland Security. October 12, 2024 I-797 Notice of Action Date October 31, 2024 Biometrics Appointment Processing Estimates/Stats : Your I-129f was approved in 105 days from your NOA1 date. Your interview took 645 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.

Adjustment of Status Event Date CIS Office : Chicago IL Date Filed : 2021-10-15 NOA Date : 2021-10-18 RFE(s) : Bio. Appt. : 2021-11-19 AOS Transfer** : Interview Date : Approval / Denial Date : 2022-12-31 Approved : Yes Got I551 Stamp : Greencard Received: Comments : Approved without interview. However, on November 18, 2022 we received an RFE (Request for Information). They requested (and we immediately send via US postal service): Proof of relationship like recent photos together (we sent black and white photos from home printer, not color photos which cost more), copy of joint apartment co-lease contract, electric bill, basically a few documents that prove we were living together. For some reason they also requested the birth certificate of my 10yo son from a previous relationship.

Employment Authorization Document Event Date CIS Office : Chicago National Office Filing Method : Mail Filing Instance : Date Filed : 2021-10-15 NOA Date : 2021-10-18 RFE(s) : Bio. Appt. : 2021-11-19 Approved Date : 2022-03-26 Date Card Received : 2022-04-02 Comments : We made the mistake of not applying for SSN when she first arrived, or thereabouts. Instead we lumped SSN application in with the I-485, which very much delayed SSN (by like 4-5 months). Regardless, the EAD arrived without the SSN. Others said wait for 2-3 weeks after EAD for the SSN to arrive. We waited 1 week then went directly to the Social Security Office. Within 12 minutes of arriving there the SSN was being processed and requires 2 weeks to arrive. So once EAD arrives, just go immediately to SS office instead of waiting. Processing Estimates/Stats : Your EAD was approved in 162 days.

Lifting Conditions Event Date CIS Office : Date Filed : 2024-10-07 NOA Date : 2024-10-12 RFE(s) : Bio. Appt. : 2024-10-31 Interview Date : Approval / Denial Date : Approved : Got I551 Stamp : Green Card Received : Comments :

Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Manila, Philippines Review Topic: K1 Visa Event Description Review Date : July 8, 2021 Embassy Review : VERY brief. Interview only lasted 2-3 minutes. Paperwork was in excellent order. They asked where she would live (with me). They asked if she had ever traveled abroad. They asked how we met. Maybe a couple more simple questions like that. There were about 30 interviewees in the waiting area for that 6:30am time slot. They invited them into the embassy at 6:10 am. There were only three consular people conducting interviews and each typically lasted 10 minutes. Rating : Very Good

Timeline Comments: 8



*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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