EPB's US Immigration Timeline

Petitioner's Name: Ethan Beneficiary's Name: Everline VJ Member: EPB Country: Kenya Last Updated: 2009-03-24 Add Comment to Timeline Register or log in to follow this timeline

Immigration Checklist for Ethan & Everline:

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 : Vermont Service Center Transferred? No Consulate : Armenia I-129F Sent : 2008-02-11 I-129F NOA1 : 2008-02-12 I-129F RFE(s) : RFE Reply(s) : I-129F NOA2 : 2008-03-31 NVC Received : 2008-04-09 Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : NVC Left : Consulate Received : Packet 3 Received : 2008-05-02 Packet 3 Sent : 2008-05-27 Packet 4 Received : Interview Date : 2008-07-02 Submit Review Interview Result : Second Interview (If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : 2008-07-15 US Entry : 2008-07-16 Marriage : 2008-09-21 Comments : 2008-03-03: Touched 2008-03-31: Touched 2008-04-01: Received NOA2 notice via email, effective date Mar 31, 2008! 2008-05-22: Everline received her passport, which had been issued Apr 28th, but not released due to an administrative error. She had applied for the passport in mid-Feb. 2008-05-27: Instructions in Pkt 3, to turn in form DS-230 part 1, were incorrect. Everline went to US Embassy, but was turned away. Correct steps are medical exam, followed by visa appt, at which time DS-230 along with DS-156 & -156-K are to be submitted. Pkt 3 instructions also stipulated 4 passport photos, but 5 are required (2 for the panel physician, 3 for the embassy). 2008-07-02: Interview at embassy after waiting one month for appt. Visa granted (although they don't tell you that; they issue a generic form telling you to come back on a certain date--if no reasons for denial are checked off, you can expect the visa, pending a "security check") 2008-07-14: Went to embassy as instructed per form issued July 2nd. Visa was not ready, pending the "security check". Embassy staff were indifferent. Told to come back on the 18th, when the visa "might" be ready. 2008-07-15: Received visa after intervention from office of Sen. Bernard Sanders (VT). The only positive with this embassy is that the consul general (or acting consul general) responds quickly, when contacted by a U.S. Senator (as opposed to responding to my emails, which were ignored). Processing Estimates/Stats : Your I-129f was approved in 48 days from your NOA1 date. Your interview took 141 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.

Adjustment of Status Event Date CIS Office : Boston MA Date Filed : 2008-10-09 NOA Date : 2008-10-18 RFE(s) : Bio. Appt. : 2008-11-05 AOS Transfer** : Interview Date : 2009-03-02 Submit Review Approval / Denial Date : 2009-03-11 Approved : Yes Got I551 Stamp : No Greencard Received: 2009-03-23 Comments :

Employment Authorization Document Event Date CIS Office : Chicago National Office Filing Method : Mail Filing Instance : First Date Filed : 2008-10-09 NOA Date : 2008-10-16 RFE(s) : Bio. Appt. : 2008-11-05 Approved Date : 2008-12-17 Date Card Received : Comments : Processing Estimates/Stats : Your EAD was approved in 69 days.

Member Reviews:

POE Review: JFK Event Description Entry Date : 2008-07-16 Embassy Review : Cleared immigration and customs within 30 minutes. Everline and I were together, and were able to enter through the U.S. citizens' queue. The officer stamped her I-94 with a work authorization. We were directed to another desk, where the officer had some questions for me, concerning a previous marriage, a previous K1 (where a visa was never issued) and our marriage plans. That was it; they sent us along to customs, where we exited with zero hassle. Harassment Level : Low

Local US CIS Office Review: Boston MA Review Topic: cis_topic Event Description Review Date : March 17, 2009 Embassy Review : The interviewer was polite, but all business. We were a bit surprised by questions that pertained to information supplied in our original petition (e.g., the interviewer asked to see our emails to each other, and photos taken during my visits to Kenya), but when we replied that those documents were in the petition (which was in front of the interviewer on her desk), she was satisfied. Photos from our wedding, showing the two of us with family members, were a key part of the interview. Everline's immunization records were incomplete, so we were given a form to take to a civil surgeon, and advised to return in person w/ the completed documents. We got that done on Friday and Monday of the following week (these civil surgeons are sketchy; if all you need are a couple of jabs, it's best to call ahead and make sure they won't force you to pay for a high-priced exam--we got scammed). I returned the following Tuesday with the physician's envelope. An immigration officer examined it, and informed me that we were "all set" and Everline would have her green card within a month. Six days later, we received confirmation of same in the mail (14 days after the interview)! Harassment Level : Moderate

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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