Done--Really's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Rick
Beneficiary's Name: Emma Rosa
VJ Member: Done--Really
Country: Costa Rica
Last Updated: 2015-05-09
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Immigration Checklist for Rick & Emma Rosa:
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USCIS I-130 Petition:
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Dept of State IR-1/CR-1 Visa:
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USCIS I-751 Petition:
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USCIS N-400 Petition:
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IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
California Service Center |
| Transferred? |
No |
| Consulate : |
Costa Rica |
| Marriage (if applicable): |
2010-11-22 |
| I-130 Sent : |
2010-12-22 |
| I-130 NOA1 : |
2011-01-06 |
| I-130 RFE : |
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| I-130 RFE Sent : |
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| I-130 Approved : |
2011-05-09 |
| NVC Received : |
2011-05-18 |
| Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : |
2011-05-19 |
| Pay AOS Bill : |
2011-05-19 |
| Receive I-864 Package : |
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| Send AOS Package : |
2011-06-02 |
| Submit DS-261 : |
2011-05-24 |
| Receive IV Bill : |
2011-05-25 |
| Pay IV Bill : |
2011-05-25 |
| Send IV Package : |
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| Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : |
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| Case Completed at NVC : |
2011-07-29 |
| NVC Left : |
2011-07-28 |
| Consulate Received : |
2011-07-29 |
| Packet 3 Received : |
2011-08-02 |
| Packet 3 Sent : |
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| Packet 4 Received : |
2011-08-02 |
| Interview Date : |
2011-09-08 |
| Interview Result : |
Approved
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2011-09-12 |
| US Entry : |
2011-11-03 |
| Comments : |
Our original plan was to file a K-1, but Emma Rosa was here for Thanksgiving, and we decided to elope, so we caught a train to NYC, went to City Hall, and got married the same day--just like in all the old black-and-white movies !! She is back in CR as we go thru the process.
And a year later she is here for our second Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year--not to mention our first wedding anniversary !! |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-130 was approved in 123 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 245 days from your I-130 NOA1 date. |
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Port of Entry Review
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| Event |
Date |
| Port of Entry : |
Newark |
| POE Date : |
2011-11-03 |
| Got EAD Stamp : |
No |
| Biometrics Taken : |
Yes |
| Harassment Level : |
0 |
| Comments : |
Flawless |
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Lifting Conditions
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
California Service Center |
| Date Filed : |
2013-08-08 |
| NOA Date : |
2013-08-08 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2013-09-10 |
| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
2013-12-02 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
No |
| Green Card Received : |
2013-12-09 |
| Comments : |
Smooth as silk...just follow the directions--really !! |
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Citizenship
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
Lewisville TX Lockbox |
| CIS Office : |
San Antonio TX |
| Date Filed : |
2014-09-05 |
| NOA Date : |
2014-09-08 |
| Bio. Appt. : |
2014-10-10 |
| Interview Date : |
2015-02-20 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Oath Ceremony : |
2015-05-08 |
| Comments : |
Oath ceremony in Austin TX, not San Antonio where we had the interview |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: Costa Rica
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
September 9, 2011 |
| Embassy Review : |
I won't repeat what everyone has already said about how friendly and helpful everyone is at the embassy--it couldn't be better--so will focus on what you can do to make things a little bit better and the specific questions they asked.
As to making it a little bit better, arrive early. Our appointment was for 12:15 and we were there about 20 minutes early and there were 6 couples ahead of us--you have to rememebr it is a small country so there will never be zillions ahead of you, but being at the head of the line is always better. There were maybe 4 - 5 couples behind us. At any rate, they take people in the order they arrive, and not by their scheduled appointment time, so if you arrive earlier, you will finish earlier.
The questions were easy:
How did you meet?
Where did you meet??
What was the date??
How many times have you seen each other?? Where?? When??
Do you have kids?? How Many?? Ages?? Where do they live??
Where will you live in the US?? Address?? Telephone??
What is your job?? Husbands job??
You may know there are two interviews--an informal one and then a second one after they review the documents and swear in the beneficiary. The first actually asked more questions, and took longer--maybe 15 minutes. The second was a little over 5 minutes.
Net net, it was easy for us, but we felt so bad for a couple which was still talking when we left. The woman had entered the US undocumented when she was a teen ager, later married a USC and eventually got her green card and then became a naturalized citizen. She is marreid to a man from El Salvador who had been deported and had waited out his 5 year ban, but in addition to that problem had been in jail for a minor crime, and this was their third try to get him approved--we left well before they had a decision, but they were being grilled--in a pleasant way--but grilled, so i fyou have a rough spot in your backgound, don't expect to just breeze through.
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| Rating : |
Very Good |
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POE Review: Newark
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| Event |
Description |
| Entry Date : |
2011-11-03 |
| Embassy Review : |
It could not have been easier. Emma was all the way through customs and out the door to me in under 40 minutes from the time the plane reached the gate.
She went through the visitors line because it looked to be shorter than the USC line, was taken immediately to the secondary processing for new immigrants, and waited less than ten minutes to get her passport stamped. She was asked no questions whatsoever by the first CBP agent--she just handed him the package and her passport, and no questions from the agent in secondary processing, and no questions going through customs, even though she had two GIANT suitcases plus a carry on plus a computer bag.
The only disappointment if you want to call it that is that the I-551 stamp is so tiny--we had both imagined some big, fancy stamp taking up the whole page, but no--tiny is fine !!!
She is home, we are doing all the little things that need to be done to get ready for winter, and life is REALLY, REALLY good !!! |
| 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
