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snewbery's US Immigration Timeline

  Petitioner's Name: Santiago
Beneficiary's Name: Luisa
VJ Member: snewbery
Country: Argentina
Last Updated: 2024-07-29
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Immigration Checklist for Santiago & Luisa:

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 : Argentina
I-129F Sent : 2022-02-19
I-129F NOA1 : 2022-02-22
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2023-06-14
NVC Received : 2023-08-17
Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : 2023-08-17
NVC Left : 2023-09-12
Consulate Received : 2023-09-15
Packet 3 Received : 2023-09-15
Packet 3 Sent :
Packet 4 Received :
Interview Date : 2023-10-24
Interview Result : Approved
Second Interview
(If Required):
Second Interview Result:
Visa Received : 2023-10-30
US Entry : 2023-12-01
Marriage : 2023-12-15
Comments : The State of Colorado allows self-officiating a marriage. We performed our own private ceremony at the Saint Catherine of Siena Chapel (a.k.a. Chapel on the Rock) in the beautiful mountain town of Allenspark, Colorado, right next to Rocky Mountain National Park.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chapel_on_the_Rock
Processing
Estimates/Stats :		 Your I-129f was approved in 477 days from your NOA1 date.

Your interview took 609 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.


Port of Entry Review
Event Date
Port of Entry : Denver
POE Date : 2023-12-01
Got EAD Stamp : Yes,Passport Stamp
Biometrics Taken : No
Harassment Level : 0
Comments : We arrived at Denver International since we had a connecting flight on COPA from Panama and Colorado is our home state. The Immigration Officer was very friendly, welcomed me back and welcomed Luisa to the USA. He also congratulated us on our upcoming wedding. The whole process took less than 5 minutes. I far prefer DIA to any other major US entry airport.


Adjustment of Status
Event Date
CIS Office : Denver CO
Date Filed : 2024-02-14
NOA Date : 2024-02-20
RFE(s) :
Bio. Appt. : 2024-03-19
AOS Transfer** :
Interview Date :
Approval / Denial Date : 2024-07-02
Approved : Yes
Got I551 Stamp :
Greencard Received: 2024-07-12
Comments :


Advance Parole
Event Date
CIS Office : Denver CO
Filing Method :  
Filing Instance : First
Date Filed : 2024-02-14
NOA Date : 2024-02-20
RFE(s) :
Date Received : 2024-07-12
Comments : Since my wife received her green card on 12 July 2024 I assume the AP is no longer necessary.
Processing
Estimates/Stats :		 Your AP was approved in 139 days.


Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Argentina
Review Topic: K1 Visa
Event Description
Review Date : October 24, 2023
Embassy Review : We setup the medical appointment with Dr. Grillo three weeks before the Embassy interview. Dr. Grillo was very friendly and allowed me to accompany my fiancee for the simple medical exam and all went well. She had to get three vaccines (Triple bacteriana, triple viral and Varicella) plus an X ray at the Trinidad Hospital a block away. The cost for the vaccines was 97000 pesos (100 dollars at the time). After that we walked to the US Embassy just blocks away and delivered the advance packet containing all the required document copies and passport style photos. The final interview at the US Embassy was the best and easiest part of this long and stressful process. Her appointment had been scheduled for 1:45PM but we got an email from the Embassy a few days before, moving it up to 9:45AM on the same Tuesday. My fiancee and I arrived 20 minutes early, there were long queues for the Tourist visas. We went straight to the guards who directed us to the ladies who work the queues, She announced that we were here for a K-1 visa, they asked her name, checked their tablets and sent her through the main gate, bypassing the lines. As others have mentioned, I was not allowed in the Embassy. She left her phone and other belongings with me and proceeded through the gate and the usual security screening. After that she was directed inside and told to skip another long queue and sit in a waiting area. Her name was called and she was directed to a window where a clerk asked for some of the originals of the required documents. Specifically the Acta de Nacimiento (birth cert.), Divorce decrees for both of us, good conduct police report, plus past and present Argentine passports. They also took her fingerprints at this time. After a short wait she was interviewed by the male consul who was very kind and friendly. His questions were:
how did we meet?
was I, the petitioner a US citizen?
whether she was previously married
had she ever been to the US? (No, which made things simple)
what was my profession?
did we have plans to marry once we arrive in the US? (obviously yes, and very soon!)
where would we live?
did I own my house?

The consul smiled and concluded the interview, taking another set of fingerprints and announced that she would get an email that same afternoon. When my fiancee asked if her Visa had been approved, he repeated that everything was OK and that she would get an email in the afternoon. She emerged from the Embassy with a smile, we had a long hug and headed for one of our favorite Confiterias in Recoleta, for coffee and medialunas. We checked the ceac.state.gov website and her Visa case showed "Approved". She did not receive the official email until the next day and the Visa then showed as "Issued". A celebration with friends at one of Recoleta's great restaurants would follow. We paid extra to have DHL deliver her passport and Visa document packet to her apartment in La Plata so we do not need to return to Buenos Aires.
Rating : Very Good


Timeline Comments: 23

Keickhoff on 2022-05-15 said:
Welcome and good luck on your journey through this process, hopefully the approval process is shortening
Keickhoff on 2022-12-26 said:
How are things? Hopefully you are going to hear something soon
Snewbery on 2022-12-26 said:
Happy Holidays! Since I recently retired and have dual citizenship I am in Argentina with my fiancee Luisa so we wait patiently together. According to this site, our 129f will be processed sometime between mid-may and early June, then come the NVC processing and finally the Embassy as you well know. It's ridiculous to have to wait this long to go back and get married but at least we are enjoying life in Argentina which is a lot of fun, especially during the holidays. I look at your history in VJ which serves as a good guide. I hope all is well with you and Marisa as you seek the green card. Happy New Year!
Keickhoff on 2023-04-30 said:
What is happening with your application? I don't see any progress! Still waiting on your NOA2?
Snewbery on 2023-04-30 said:
Yes, only 30% have been processed from Feb 2022. Hopefully any day now. How is your I-485 plus Adv. Parole and Employment Permit going?
Keickhoff on 2023-04-30 said:
We applied for the EAD and AOS in September last year, after hearing nothing until late March we received an RFE for the 485. I returned the requested evidence on April 6th and on the 8th the AOS was approved and Marisa received her residence card in the mail!!! I have read a few other timelines that had a similar experience, the residence card was received without ever getting the work card. So now we are set until we file for the removal of conditions in 2 years. Best of luck to you two, I hope you hear something soon Keith
Keickhoff on 2023-06-16 said:
Congratulations on the NOA2, hopefully things will move quickly from here like ours did Keith/Marisa
Keickhoff on 2023-06-16 said:
Congratulations on the NOA2, hopefully things will move quickly from here like ours did Keith/Marisa
Snewbery on 2023-06-18 said:
Thank you, it took 477 days to NOA2 but hopefully the NVC stage to Embassy goes more quickly. I'm sure the final Embassy part will be the easiest since there are very few K1's pending in Argentina. The US Embassy here is very efficient from what I hear. If I may ask, how did you handle Medical Insurance for Marisa once in the US? Thank you and enjoy summer. We are both in Argentina and winter is upon us. Santiago and Luisa
Keickhoff on 2023-06-18 said:
We bought a temporary 90 day travel insurance, then went to the marketplace and bought insurance, limited choices in South Dakota, hopefully you have more options in Colorado. We found things to move pretty quickly once we received our NOA2. She was stateside in 3 months Best of luck Keith and Marisa
MarkDinOB on 2023-08-17 said:
NVC!! Congrats Santiago y Luisa! We got our case number and are in transit to the embassy right now as well. I was hoping to see your good news this week too! ?
MarkDinOB on 2023-08-17 said:
NVC!! Congrats Santiago y Luisa! We got our case number and are in transit to the embassy right now as well. I was hoping to see your good news this week too! ?
Snewbery on 2023-08-18 said:
Hi Mark and congrats to you and Guada! you are really flying along, perhaps because you also have two K2 cases so you deserve it. I had sent in two inquiries with negative responses from NVC so I contacted my Congressman's office and within two days they sent a reply that NVC had received the case and assigned the BNS case number. Hopefully we will hear soon that it's in transit to the embassy. We spent all last week in the Palermo area of Buenos Aires and walked by the Embassy. It's a really nice part of town with great parks and restaurants so I hope you enjoy it if you come for her interview. BTW, thanks for letting me know about the WhatsApp group, my fiancee joined and she sees all of Guada's posts, she is working hard to get all that paperwork together. Best wishes to you and your family!
Snewbery on 2023-08-18 said:
Hi Mark and congrats to you and Guada! you are really flying along, perhaps because you also have two K2 cases so you deserve it. I had sent in two inquiries with negative responses from NVC so I contacted my Congressman's office and within two days they sent a reply that NVC had received the case and assigned the BNS case number. Hopefully we will hear soon that it's in transit to the embassy. We spent all last week in the Palermo area of Buenos Aires and walked by the Embassy. It's a really nice part of town with great parks and restaurants so I hope you enjoy it if you come for her interview. BTW, thanks for letting me know about the WhatsApp group, my fiancee joined and she sees all of Guada's posts, she is working hard to get all that paperwork together. Best wishes to you and your family!
Keickhoff on 2023-09-15 said:
Getting close Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!
Snewbery on 2023-09-15 said:
Thank you Keith, waiting on the Embassy to contact us for the medical and interview now.
MarkDinOB on 2023-09-15 said:
Yes!! Another step closer for you, Santiago y Luisa! Felicidades!! Yay!!
Keickhoff on 2023-09-15 said:
Marisa had to contact one of the doctors on the list for the medical, then go to the embassy website and schedule her own appointment
Snewbery on 2023-09-15 said:
Yeah, we got the P3 email from the Embassy and we are on it now. Finally things are moving along. We hit the worst delay period in USCIS, now the Covid logjam finally seems to be clearing out. We will be happy to go, the current Gov't here is an absolute disaster with runaway inflation, fortunately I came with a lot of greenbacks and life is good for us.
Keickhoff on 2023-10-22 said:
Interview next Tuesday!!! Muy bueno!!, I am sure it will be a breeze, but good luck
Snewbery on 2023-10-22 said:
Thank you, finally!!! If all goes well I will purchase our flights home right away, to travel right after Thanksgiving. We get back to back winters but she's looking forward to her (possibly) first white Christmas and our wedding before that.
Keickhoff on 2023-12-29 said:
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Snewbery on 2023-12-29 said:
Thank you Keith!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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*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

vjTimeline ver 5.0




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