JA Tam's US Immigration Timeline

Petitioner's Name: TM Beneficiary's Name: AM VJ Member: JA Tam Country: Jamaica Last Updated: 2011-02-28 Add Comment to Timeline Register or log in to follow this timeline

Immigration Checklist for TM & AM:

USCIS I-130 Petition:       Dept of State IR-1/CR-1 Visa:     USCIS I-751 Petition:   USCIS N-400 Petition:

IR-1/CR-1 Visa Event Date Service Center : California Service Center Transferred? No Consulate : Jamaica Marriage (if applicable): 2003-12-18 I-130 Sent : 2006-07-17 I-130 NOA1 : 2006-08-02 I-130 RFE : I-130 RFE Sent : I-130 Approved : 2007-01-16 NVC Received : 2007-01-26 Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : 2007-02-02 Pay AOS Bill : 2007-02-06 Receive I-864 Package : 2007-03-14 Send AOS Package : 2007-03-15 Submit DS-261 : 2007-03-20 Receive IV Bill : 2007-04-03 Pay IV Bill : 2007-04-04 Send IV Package : Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : 2007-04-24 Case Completed at NVC : 2007-07-13 NVC Left : 2007-08-16 Consulate Received : Packet 3 Received : Packet 3 Sent : Packet 4 Received : 2007-08-20 Interview Date : 2007-09-21 Interview Result : Second Interview (If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : 2007-09-28 US Entry : 2007-10-14 Comments : Visa was ready 9/26/2007 Processing Estimates/Stats : Your I-130 was approved in 167 days from your NOA1 date. Your interview took 415 days from your I-130 NOA1 date.

Port of Entry Review Event Date Port of Entry : Miami POE Date : 2007-10-14 Got EAD Stamp : Biometrics Taken : Yes Harassment Level : 0 Comments : POE was actually Fort Lauderdale.

Citizenship Event Date Service Center : Dallas/Lewisville TX Lockbox CIS Office : Miami FL Date Filed : 2010-09-21 NOA Date : 2010-09-23 Bio. Appt. : 2010-10-15 Interview Date : 2011-01-06 Approved : Yes Oath Ceremony : 2011-03-09 Comments : The interview was done at Oakland Park. The oath ceremony took way too long. I swear that we only finally got the letter because we went for an Infopass appointment.

Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Jamaica Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Event Description Review Date : September 24, 2007 Embassy Review : We arrived at the embassy at 12:15pm. We were approached by the designated "cell phone" attendant who quickly advised us on what we could not take into the embassy and that we can leave this with her. We left our phones at home. We were then checked off the list at the front door and proceeded to the X-ray machine and metal detector. We were directed to the doors that would allow us access to where the interview would take place. There was another family ahead of us and the security guard was too busy yapping away on his cell phone . We were each given a pink slip of paper on which we wrote the Jamaican passport number (this would come in handy at Airpak later). The guard directed us to sit on the right side of the room we would enter. This would be Section A. We sat there for 45 minutes before we were called up by the rep at Window 7. Apparently the yappy security guard was suppose to take our letter from us so that they would recognize we were there and be put in queue. We were quickly checked in at Window 7 and directed to Section B. We were only sitting in Section B for 15 minutes before my SO was called to Window 16. When I accompanied him to the window the gentleman ensured that he knew who the beneficiary was and asked me who I was (the wifey - nuff said, no more questions, lots of smiles). At Window 16, my SO was fingerprinted - please proceed to Section C - this is where the moment of truth would be. We sat in Section C for another 45 minutes through which we were privy to much of the questions asked by the CO's. We were called to Window 22; once again I was asked who I was and after identifying myself, the CO's comment was, "We always appreciate when the spouse attends the interview". (Those who were requested to bring more evidence of their relationship were strongly urged to have their SO attend the follow up interview). The questions we were asked: 1. When did you get married?: December 2003 2. When and how did you meet?: 1995 at KOBC 3. (Directed to me) Did you meet when you were visiting?: No, I was living here 4. How did you get your greencard?: Parent 5. Do you have copies your 2006 W2's?: No, but my 2006 tax returns are there - (CO): Don't worry we'll make it work 6. How do you keep in touch?: We talk everyday CONGRATULATIONS and welcome to the United States of America. Please take.... After we heard that my hubby decided he had some questions for the CO When will we be getting back our original documents? - They will be returned to you when you get the delivery of your passport (give it 2 weeks). Do not open the envelope and at POE you will get the original documents. (ME) Do we have to make POE Miami? - No, you can go anywhere. Thank you...we were off singing in the rain (It was raining cats and dogs when we left - explains why I am sick now) Rating : Very Good

POE Review: Miami Event Description Entry Date : 2007-10-14 Embassy Review : POE Review for Fort Lauderdale: We arrived in Fort Lauderdale at 3:15pm EDT. The queue for immigration was out the door, snaking around a little room and out the door into the gangway leading from the gate. Approximately 3 international flights landed at the same time as our Air Jamaica flight. It took about 1 hour for us to be called to the cubicle of #10. I was asked how long I had been out of the country (which had been 1 day) and the purpose of my travel (to go get my husband). I was then asked if I brought anything else into the country other than my husband like food or alcohol (NO!) . He did not ask any questions of my husband, but typed in information from our packet into the system. He then took us to another room where the processing was completed. After sitting in the room for approximately 45 minutes (and being privy to some very interesting conversations), my husband was called to a little table at the corner of the room. There he was asked to sign something and fingerprinted. Approximately 2 minutes after this was done, we were told that we were free to leave. NB: We had originally been told by the consular officer that we could get our original documents at POE - unfortunately the Immigration officer told us we have to send a written request to get our original documents back to the National Records Center. We are in the process of getting this done. We also asked him if we would automatically get hubby's SSC. We were told that we would have to go to the office to get this done and it could be done the following day (today). After sitting in the SSA office for 4 hours today, we were told that we would have to wait 21 days to return to the office to apply. Reason being, our SSC is possibly being processed and will be automatically issued (apparently in the past they have issued 2 SSN to individuals). If we did not receive this in 21 days, we could return to the office and then they will check the master list to see if we are listed as one of those that are currently being processed; if not, they will then be able to issue the SSN. Hubby not too happy that he will be sitting down for 4-6 weeks possibly before he can work Harassment Level : Low

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

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