WARPed's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Nicole
Beneficiary's Name: Rich
VJ Member: WARPed
Country: United Kingdom
Last Updated: 2012-08-11
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Immigration Checklist for Nicole & Rich:
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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 : |
London, United Kingdom |
| I-129F Sent : |
2008-01-17 |
| I-129F NOA1 : |
2008-01-23 |
| I-129F RFE(s) : |
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| RFE Reply(s) : |
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| I-129F NOA2 : |
2008-03-05 |
| NVC Received : |
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| 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 : |
2008-03-26 |
| Packet 3 Sent : |
2008-04-24 |
| Packet 4 Received : |
2008-05-02 |
| Interview Date : |
2008-05-21 |
| Interview Result : |
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2008-05-22 |
| US Entry : |
2008-07-01 |
| Marriage : |
2008-09-14 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-129f was approved in 42 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 119 days from your I-129F NOA1 date. |
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Port of Entry Review
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| Event |
Date |
| Port of Entry : |
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| POE Date : |
2008-07-01 |
| Got EAD Stamp : |
No |
| Biometrics Taken : |
Yes |
| Harassment Level : |
0 |
| Comments : |
POE was Tampa, FL. Everyone was very friendly. |
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Adjustment of Status
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Tampa FL |
| Date Filed : |
2008-10-04 |
| NOA Date : |
2008-10-09 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2008-11-01 |
| AOS Transfer** : |
2008-10-27 |
| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
2009-01-26 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
No |
| Greencard Received: |
2009-01-31 |
| Comments : |
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Employment Authorization
Document
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Chicago IL |
| Filing Method : |
Mail |
| Filing Instance : |
First |
| Date Filed : |
2008-10-04 |
| NOA Date : |
2008-10-09 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2008-11-01 |
| Approved Date : |
2008-12-10 |
| Date Card Received : |
2008-12-19 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your EAD was approved in 67 days. |
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Advance Parole
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Chicago IL |
| Filing Method : |
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| Filing Instance : |
First |
| Date Filed : |
2008-10-04 |
| NOA Date : |
2008-10-09 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Date Received : |
2008-12-12 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your AP was approved in 67 days. |
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Lifting Conditions
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Vermont Service Center |
| Date Filed : |
2010-12-20 |
| NOA Date : |
2010-12-21 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2001-03-04 |
| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
2011-05-07 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
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| Green Card Received : |
2011-05-19 |
| Comments : |
Biometrics was done late as I never received the first appointment letter and the date came and went without knowledge. Watching other applicants progress in the forums alerted me that I was being left behind. Called USCIS, found out what had happened and arranged another appointment. |
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Citizenship
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
Lewisville TX Lockbox |
| CIS Office : |
Tampa FL |
| Date Filed : |
2012-04-05 |
| NOA Date : |
2012-04-10 |
| Bio. Appt. : |
2012-05-31 |
| Interview Date : |
2012-07-26 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Oath Ceremony : |
2012-08-10 |
| Comments : |
Completed the oath ceremony. I am now a US Citizen! |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: London, United Kingdom
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
May 21, 2008 |
| Embassy Review : |
My interview was scheduled for 9am and after a fraught journey into the city I only arrived at 8:45. I allowed 3 hours to get just 50 miles from my home to the embassy and I needed every minute. I strongly suggest you leave plenty of time to arrive as travel can go wrong!
On arrival there was a single queue on the North side of the building that then went behind some construction fencing as it turned south along the front of the embassy. While I stood there the security guard divided us up so those there for 9:30 appointments had to wait. She supplied us with clear plastic bags. One had to contain electronic items that could not be taken in (phones, mp3 players...laptops are a big no no!) and in the other went my belt, wallet, change, watch etc. You will get this bag back after security. Interestingly and contrary to what I have read here or on the US Embassy website they had no problem with my Fiancée coming in with me...in fact she was ready to go and wait it out at Starbucks and the security guard suggested she go in with me providing she had some ID (Passport). We passed a second guard who checked my Appointment letter and once again sorted everyone into queues based on appointment time. Those with earlier interviews were processed first by a third guard who checked you in and inspected your passport. Finally you get to the security portacabin where you relinquish your clear bags, coat, purses etc for X-Ray and then walk through a metal detector. You may get asked to show your shoes to them. This whole process from start of the queue to after security took 45 minutes and wasn't a problem on the warm sunny day that it was. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. I saw a large bin of umbrellas which I guess they hand out if the weather turns.
Once out the security cabin you are behind the perimeter fence. You turn right and walk north, then turn the corner of the building where there is a large set of doors a short way down to the left. In here is a welcome desk where they check your Appointment letter once again and print you a numbered ticket. I was 5013. I walked in to find they were already on 5009. Immigrant visas (like the K1) get numbers in the 5000's. Non Immigrant Visa's get numbers in the 1000's. Then it is a waiting game. Find a seat and watch the screens/listen to the speakers for your number to be called. At the back of the room is a small shop selling drinks and snacks. It was reasonably priced. Non Immigrant visa numbers get called a lot more frequently than Immigrant ones so just be patient. Finally after maybe 30 minutes my number was called and was instructed to go to window number 1. There are 11 windows along one side of the hall in which you wait (numbered 1 to 11) and these will all deal with the first “paperwork” stage of your appointment. When called you just go to the window you have been appointed. I had a very nice Chinese lady deal with me. I spent more time giving her computer advice than I did talking visa stuff! She asked me for my numbered ticket, passport, two photos, my birth certificate, ACPO police report (I also submitted a copy of each of these at this point) and the I-134 and supporting documentation. She had me sign the DS-156 after she had stapled the pictures on. She then went through a little check list of docs ticking off the relevant items to ensure it was all there, looked over my medical report which she already had behind the counter and handed me a huge brown envelope containing my x-rays which she told me to pack in my luggage when I travelled. Next was fingerprinting. You put all four fingers of your left hand on the scanner at once...then your right fingers. Finally both thumbs at the same time. That was all there was to it. She gave me a yellow slip and told me to go to Window 12 to pay for the Visa and then to go back to her. So off I went where another nice lady at Window 12 took the slip and asked me how I was paying. I had $131 already counted out and handed it over. She gave me two receipts. One was for me and one for the lady back at window 1. Back I went to window 1 where the Chinese lady asked for one of the copies of the receipt and then handed me a Pink form. She said this is what you have to fill in to hand to the couriers providing you are approved and I was to fill it in while I waited to be called for the main interview. I thanked her and sat back down with my now "fraught with worry" fiancée. My only complaint about this part of the interview was I found it very hard to hear the lady. She may just have been softly spoken but she was behind a sheet of glass and a high counter. With the automated speaker system shouting constantly in the background and the general chatter of those waiting I struggled to hear.
I sat back down and started to fill the form (which is actually quite short and just needs an address) and before I had finished I was called to window 16 for my official “part 2” interview using the same speaker and TV system. Windows 13 and upwards are down a little corridor off the main area so it is much quieter which is nice. I was greeted by a very friendly American man. He asked me to raise my right hand and swear to the truthfulness of the documents I had submitted and the info I was about to verbally give. I was then asked to rescan the four fingers of my left hand to prove I was the same guy who had just been at window 1. Once all confirmed he then proceeded to ask in more a conversation manner than Q&A:
How did you meet your fiancée?
How many times have I visited her in the US?
What has been my longest visit to the US?
How many times has she been to see me?
Where do we plan to live?
Was she in computing like I was? What did she do?
He then proceeded to tell me that he was happy to advise my paperwork was in order and my application had been approved. I'd receive my passport with visa within 5 days providing my fingerprints did not turn up any nasties. He handed me back the original Birth and Police Certs as I had provided them with copies while at Window 1 and that was it.
I confirmed he needed nothing more form me seeing as I had a 4" thick binder of documents and had only given them about 5 things from it. He said it was all good. I thanked him and hurried back to Fiancée and broke the news. Excitedly we went to the courier counter at the end of the waiting room, handed over the fee of £14 and signed to confirm that they had taken down the address correctly from the pink form and we were done.
We left the way we had come in and collected out bag of electronics from the security hut as we left. All in all very simple and easy providing you have been thorough and are well prepared.
Some tips, hints and info:
American Fiancée’s are allowed in the waiting room with you. Mine made no attempt to come with me to the actual interview windows but they can come and wait with you if they have ID.
Mobile phones and small MP3 players/electronics will not be allowed into the embassy but they will hold them for you at the security hut. It is not a problem for you to take them with you. Big bags or laptops however are an issue. If you want a smooth interview don't take them.
Be organised. Get Cash for your fees and have it counted and in bags so you can just hand it over. I have heard that the credit card machine can break sometimes making you have to leave the embassy to find a cash machine. Organise your documents and supply them efficiently to the official. I'm sure they sense you are organised and make your life easier. I saw people in there that had no clue. They were drowning in paperwork, missing what they needed etc. If you are serious about getting approved then put in the time to get organised!
Take copies of all documents.
Don't worry about the I-134. My fiancée is unemployed as she quit to come to the UK for 5 months to wait out the K1. She does have the whole of the 5 x 125% poverty level in savings but no current income. We supplied a letter form her old employer stating her competence. Tax returns proving a good salary from her last position. 401K breakdowns and a notarised letter from her explaining the situation. The I134 got barely more than a cursory glance. I suspect that unless you are seriously under the required levels you will not get any problems at this K1 stage.
The sealed brown envelope will be mailed to you with your passport. I was worried that I didn't have it when I left. Searching the forums I found it arrives in the post. You will just leave the embassy with what you brought in and your x-ray.
Good luck. Be prepared for an anti climax to the whole K1/I129F event. Still I'd rather it be easier than harder than I expected.
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| Rating : |
Very Good |
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POE Review: Tampa
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| Event |
Description |
| Entry Date : |
2008-07-01 |
| Embassy Review : |
No problems here at all. My fiancee and I went in the normal visitor queue and when it was out turn to be processed the Immigration Officer was very friendly and welcomed me several times to the US. After the usual photo and forefinger prints he advised me to go and get my belongings from the luggage belt and then wait at some seats near the immigration booths to be processed. We were actually forgotten about for about 20 minutes but then the officer came and found us and took us to the immigration and customs office. My fiancee stayed outside the office but was asked to put all our cases through an x-ray machine while I was being processed. As for my actual processing I did nothing but sit in a chair and laugh and joke with the officers behind the counter who were dealing with my and a few other people with special entry visas. I didn't even realise when they handed me my passport back that they had finished and stayed chatting with them for another 5 minutes thinking they were still doing paperwork until they spelled it out that I could go. I said my thanks and left. Nothing was said about my customs form or 5 cases I had brought with me containing over $5000 in possessions (all declared). It was simple, quick and quite frankly a good laugh. 5 Stars to the Tampa immigration crew. |
| Harassment Level : |
Low |
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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
