tanyakaraman's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Tanya
Beneficiary's Name: Ozgur
VJ Member: tanyakaraman
Country: Turkey
Last Updated: 2008-07-31
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Immigration Checklist for Tanya & Ozgur:
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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 : |
Vermont Service Center |
| Transferred? |
No |
| Consulate : |
Ankara, Turkey |
| I-129F Sent : |
2007-02-22 |
| I-129F NOA1 : |
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| I-129F RFE(s) : |
03/22/2007 |
| RFE Reply(s) : |
03/28/2007 |
| I-129F NOA2 : |
2007-04-06 |
| NVC Received : |
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| Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : |
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| NVC Left : |
2007-04-17 |
| Consulate Received : |
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| Packet 3 Received : |
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| Packet 3 Sent : |
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| Packet 4 Received : |
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| Interview Date : |
2007-07-05 |
| Interview Result : |
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2007-07-10 |
| US Entry : |
2007-09-22 |
| Marriage : |
2007-10-21 |
| Comments : |
Wedding in Vegas on 10/21/2007 in the Valley of Fire...it was absolutely the most beautiful and special day of my life :) |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
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Port of Entry Review
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| Event |
Date |
| Port of Entry : |
JFK |
| POE Date : |
2007-09-22 |
| Got EAD Stamp : |
Yes,Passport Stamp |
| Biometrics Taken : |
Yes |
| Harassment Level : |
0 |
| Comments : |
My fiance's POE experience was very easy. He said was asked only if he promised to marry me...and if he had brought any carpets with him. LOL. He said everyone at JFK was very nice. They stamped his EAD for 90 days. |
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Adjustment of Status
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Chicago IL |
| Date Filed : |
2007-11-06 |
| NOA Date : |
2007-11-21 |
| RFE(s) : |
2007-12-06 |
| Bio. Appt. : |
2007-12-22 |
| AOS Transfer** : |
2007-12-28 |
| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
2008-03-21 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
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| Greencard Received: |
2008-03-29 |
| Comments : |
Initial RFE for English translation of birth certificate (which I had already sent) and Affidavit of Support (ooops, I had sent the wrong one! Didn't realize there was a different one for AOS). Later RFE for Affidavit of support (stating my 2006 income was insufficient) and Medical. Had to get new medical exam & resent affidavit using my 2007 income (worked like a charm, thank God :)) |
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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 : |
2007-12-10 |
| NOA Date : |
2007-12-26 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2008-01-15 |
| Approved Date : |
2008-01-15 |
| Date Card Received : |
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| Comments : |
Card production ordered same day as biometrics! WOW! |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your EAD was approved in 36 days. |
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Advance Parole
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Chicago National Office |
| Filing Method : |
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| Filing Instance : |
First |
| Date Filed : |
2007-12-10 |
| NOA Date : |
2007-12-26 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Date Received : |
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| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your AP was approved in 35 days. |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: Ankara, Turkey
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
August 15, 2007 |
| Embassy Review : |
Our visa interview was scheduled for July 5 at 10:15 a.m. We arrived outside the embassy around 9:30 so's we'd have plenty of time to get through security, etc. That really wasn't necessary, however. We waited outside (in the July heat!) until about 10:20 when the security guards finally let us inside. The security process was brief...maybe 5 minutes. They checked our passports, looked inside our bags and gave us a once-over with a metal detector wand. They took Ozzy's medical exam envelope and kept his passport. They gave us a number and we were let into a large room with glass windows at one end, rows of chairs in the middle facing the windows, and a UPS desk in the back. There were lights above each window that indicated what number was being served. We just sat and waited for maybe 1/2 hour or so, listening to other people's interviews (you could hear every word!) until our number was displayed. Ozzy had chosen to have his interview in Turkish (and agonized over whether he had made the "right" decision the whole time we were waiting...  ...I reassured him that it didn't matter as long as he was comfortable). Nevertheless, the woman who interviewed us began speaking in English and the entire interview was conducted in English (which was just fine, as he is quite fluent). She asked him how we met and he responded that we were introduced by a friend of mine. She asked me what that friend's name was. She asked him what he did for a living and some details regarding that. She asked me about my prior divorce. She asked me if I have children and how they feel about Ozzy. I told her they love him and that he calls and talks to them and sends them gifts, and also told her about the week came with me to visit Ozzy last fall. She asked what our wedding plans were. Ozzy was asked to sign a paper stating that he intended to marry me after his arrival to the US. Then she said, "Well, I see no problems!" and sent us to the UPS desk to pay for delivery of the visa! It was pretty quick and painless...the waiting was definitely the hardest part. The visa was delivered on July 10, the 3rd business day following our interview, although UPS claimed it had "no record" of the package prior to the date of delivery, so that was a bit worrisome. Ozzy did not believe he would actually get the visa until the day it arrived! He plans to fly to the US (via JFK airport) in September after he takes care of some necessary business, sells his belongings and finishes out the lease on his apartment. I am so excited and we are counting downt the days!
Some tips for other people going through the interview at Ankara:
1. Dress nicely (we did and we honestly felt that it helped in how we were treated/perceived)
2. Be prepared with your answers. I printed a list of sample questions from the US embassy website and we went over them prior to the interview. I feel this helped us in knowing what to expect.
3. Be affectionate...not overly of course, but hold hands, etc. You are engaged after all!
4. Be positive and confident. Unless there is a honest to God problem, I think most people get their visa, if for no other reason, just because the American citizen is asking for it.
5. Go together if at all possible. I watched several people whose interviews appeared to go well get turned down for lack of evidence of a relationship. Alternatively, I saw interviews go incredibly badly but the couple was there together and the visa was granted. If you can't go together, send lots and lots of evidence!
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| 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
