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Rosaly's US Immigration Timeline

  Petitioner's Name: Jeffery
Beneficiary's Name: Rosaly
VJ Member: Rosaly
Country: Netherlands

Last Updated: 2024-11-04
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Immigration Checklist for Jeffery & Rosaly:

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 : Frankfurt, Germany
I-129F Sent : 2023-09-28
I-129F NOA1 : 2023-10-02
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2024-03-29
NVC Received : 2024-04-18
Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : 2024-04-19
NVC Left : 2024-04-23
Consulate Received : 2024-04-25
Packet 3 Received : 2024-05-16
Packet 3 Sent : 2024-05-14
Packet 4 Received : 2024-05-16
Interview Date : 2024-07-12
Interview Result : Approved
Second Interview
(If Required):
Second Interview Result:
Visa Received : 2024-07-18
US Entry : 2024-08-24
Marriage : 2024-10-31
Comments : 2023, September 23 - i-129f Packet sent
2023, September 28 - Case received by USCIS
2023, Oktober 2 - NOA1 date. The letter was received within 2 weeks
2024, April 2 - Checked case status online: Case was APPROVED! (NOA2 letter received a week later, dated March 29)
2024, April 18 - Case inquiry at NVC
2024, April 19 - Reply NVC: Case received. Case Number assigned: transferred to Frankfurt
2024, April 23 - E-mail From NVC! Case forwarded to US Consulate in Frankfurt. Letter contained a website where i would find instructions on how to proceed.
2024, April 26 - CEAC Visa Status check: Ready! .

Some trouble with mail service in the netherlands, they cannot deliver my Packet 3. Address is correct but it somehow doesnt reach me (I can follow this through their app). It was supposed to end up in my mailbox May 8th, but that didn't happen. Reached out to FRN by email with the request if I could get this info by email.

2024, May 14 - Completed and submitted DS-160 and paid the Visa fee today, ahead of receiving P3. Took the gamble since I,m convinced I won't be receiving my mail at all.
2024, May 16 - Packet 3 was send to me by email! This is not what FRN usually does, but I asked them if they could since paper version is not reaching me. Info in this mail contained everything I already learned by asking for it on the VJ-Forum. Thank you so much for helping me out!
2024, May 16 - Packet 4! This is an Email with a link to where you can schedule your appointment (USTravelDocs) when clicked and logged, it immediately shows the first available appointment date on the left. I have to wait though, since I have not yet received all the documents my fiancé is to send me. Edit: Documents received on May 30th. They were send on May 23th with USPS so it took about a week to reach me in the Netherlands
2024, June 7 - Medical Exam in the IHCH, the Hague (Den Haag) For K1-visas, don't bother calling Amsterdam! (Height/Weight, Bloodpressure, temperature, eyevision, heart lungs (listening and xray) ears, throat neck, abdomen, skincheck. undressing, Yes. Touching, yes. STD test (for women, Cottonswab, you may do this yourself!) Vaccines: Hep-B, Varicella, DKTP, MMR (all optional at Medical, Mandatory for AoS.) Flushot (only in flu season) & Covid (country specific, Netherlands: Not needed) When unsure on Varicella (chickenpox/waterpokken) do the serology first, its Cheaper. Total costs for me specifically: 530 euros. Your health-insurance may or may not cover all or some of this. Friendly doctors and nurses! zero harassment.
2024, June 12 - Email Notification that Medical Results were send to Frankfurt Consulate.

2024, July 12 - The day of my interview! It got Approved!
Questions asked:
- Is this your 2nd marriage? (Yes)
- what about your spouse to be? (after some confusion, also yes)
- how did you meet? (online gaming)
- When did you meet in person for the first time? (november 2021)
- What does he do? (Us Navy)
- Does either of you have kids? (yes, he has a 5 year old daughter)
- Have you met her? (yes)
- You're approved, your visa will be send to you in 2 weeks.

2024, July 15 - CEAC Status Update: APPROVED!
2024, July 16 - CEAC Status Update: ISSUED!
2024, July 17 - Track and Trace Received from UPS
2024, July 18 - Visa and PoE Packet received!

2024, August 24 - Date of US entry.
2024, Oktober 31 - What started as a joke, became reality: We got Married on Halloween! (His favorite holiday, so at least he won't forget the anniversary,LOL! ?)
Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Your I-129f was approved in 179 days from your NOA1 date.

Your interview took 284 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.


Port of Entry Review
Event Date
Port of Entry : Atlanta
POE Date : 2024-08-24
Got EAD Stamp : No
Biometrics Taken : No
Harassment Level : 0
Comments : Customs was somewhat crowded at 11.30, but the line still moved fast because multiple booths were manned and they were handling the crowd at a nice pace. I was holding the big sealed envelope in my hand, so when I walked up the officer knew immediately to ask for a visa, which I then confirmed by telling him it is a K1 visa. It was good to learn the officer knew the process. He asked when we met and how, and when we planned on getting married, he chuckled when I told him we planned on Halloween, haha. He gave the envelope and my passport to a lady he had called over, and I was told to follow. I followed her to a small waiting area just across the baggage claim area, and was told to wait until my name was called. I waited for all of 3 minutes and got my passport back with a stamp on the K1 page. That was it! Funny enough they thanked me for my patience, LOL!
I went to collect and drop off my luggage and was at the next gate only 15 minutes later.
No harassment at all, staff is friendly and move quickly to the next step.


Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Frankfurt, Germany
Review Topic: K1 Visa
Event Description
Review Date : July 13, 2024
Embassy Review : My appointment was at 8.30, and was instructed to arrive 15 minutes before that time. When I arrived there was already a long line.
There are 2 Windows, and the line moves fast. At either window 1 or 2 you'll be asked for your passport and confirmation page of DS-160, mine was a black and white print and this was fine. They put a sticker or label on your passport with your info on it and a number, which will be called when you are wating in the bigger hall. Check if they put the right label on it before you leave the window (they accidentally switched 2 for other applicants, which was quickly resolved though).
After that you go stand back in line and wait again. We were let in 5 at the time. Inside there is a small area, where you get instructions to put everything you brought with you in a bin, empty pockets, remove belts, etc.
I only brought to transparent folders with all my documents in it, I did have to remove my belt.
I did see all kind of binders, harmonica folders and things like that, they were all allowed in. Phones and bags were all allowed in after being thoroughly scrutinized. Phones had to be turned off. While waiting, do not put your hands in your pockets!
It's like on the airport, it gets xrayed, you step through the portal and you are requested to stand around a table and wait for our belongings to be returned to us. The security staff is friendly but strict!
Then through a door, through a garden kind of area (just follow the green lines on the ground) and into the big hall. Not everyone here is for a K1 even though there's maybe hundreds of people there. You take place in the waiting area, there's chairs. My number was called pretty quick, I was asked for my documents and translations and they checked some generic administrative information like email address and if I used a visa or and Esta when traveling to the states. Passport and pictures where asked for too. The letter in packet 3 said 1 photo, so I only had 1, it was okay, but I recommend bringing 2 because that's what they will ask for. Then back to being seated, and I had no sense of time here. I don't wear watches and there's no clock. I've seen people being called in multiple times, or twice, I've seen them submit more documents, I've seen people laughing, I've seen people with watery eyes... there's really no telling who is there for what. I was called up to the window again. The lady at the window was very serious, did not smile, it was all business. I did not have the 'friendly' feeling with this person, but she was polite. When she noticed I was nervous, she did say something like : you can relax, just relax. And she continued.
I was to take the oath and then she asked questions.
- so this will be your second marriage? (Yes)
- what about your spouse to be? (Confused: started telling story about how we met, got interrupted)
- I mean if he's been married before. (Oh! Sorry, yes)
- where is his divorce certificate? (Grabbed it from my folder and gave it to her)
She looked at it, then gave it back.
- do you have any kids? (He has a 5 year old daughter)
-have you met her? (Yes)
She went through my documents, gave back all the originals and told me to do the fingerprint thing.
She was very quiet for what felt like a couple of minutes, and was typing things
-you're approved and you're visa will be returned to you in 2 weeks( blanc stare... not realizing what just had been said)
(Louder) - You're approved and your visa will be returned to you in 2 weeks...(oh! Thank you!)
I then walked away and realized in didn't get any packet or whatever, so turned around and walked back to window.
Had to wait a minute, she was talking. Then I asked about if I wasn't to receive a packet I had to bring to port of entry, then was told everything will be mailed to me.
All of this was very fast, I don't think it was any longer than 10 minutes.
I then walked back outside, through exit, follow green lines again, again through exit and you're in the outside waiting area again where you started.
I asked for the time immediately and it was now 10.30. I had been inside for over 2 hours.!

Overall experience is good! There's a photobooth inside, and there's toilets as well. The chairs are uncomfortable, and I have seen plenty of people pacing up and down in the area , or even people sitting there with a book to keep themselves occupied.

It's weird to leave my passport, I always have it with me. I hope to receive the email with track and trace soon.
Rating : Very Good


Timeline Comments: 6

JimmyX on 2024-05-22 said:
Thank you so much for updating this regularly and so thoroughly! I'm glad you're seeing progress!
Rosaly on 2024-05-30 said:
All the details i can give can potentially help others out and calm their nerves a bit because this process is stressful! I'll keep up the updates for everyones convenience! :D
Yareth on 2024-07-13 said:
Congratulations on your appproval! I've been following your journey as well and it's been very informative, so I also thank you a lot!
JimmyX on 2024-07-13 said:
I love the thorough review! You’re such a good writer and this is all super helpful; especially the details about losing sense of time, not knowing why all the other people were there, returning to ask about your packet. I will definitely share your experience with my fiancée even though she’s not even in Europe. Congratulations! Best wishes when you finally get over here and get married!
Rosaly on 2024-07-15 said:
Thank you both! :D
Rosaly on 2024-07-15 said:
Also: I can actually recommend not wearing a watch! I had no idea it had been 2 hours in total untill i was outside the building, but it didnt feel like it at all!
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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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