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Honest question (No snark, I swear! :no: )

I often read posts stating things like "I'm getting engaged in 3 weeks" and I wonder if there is some formal process via which one gets engaged other than 2 people agreeing to marry each other some time in the future. Is there? Is this a cultural issue? In my (western) culture, there is no plan to have a plan to get married and while we also use the words fiance/fiancee, there is no real or legal distinction from that of a boyfriend/girlfriend. (Referring to someone as your "fiance", especially to strangers, can be seen as pretentious.) Once marriage is being discussed or one person asks the other to marry them, that is where I was taught the "engagement" begins. So, how is it where you are from? :)

Thanks!

 

 

AOS

03/24/11 - Got married in the Boogie-Down Bronx, NYC!
04/21/11 - Mailed I-130,I-765, I-485, I-864 and I-693 - Day 00

04/23/11 - Application delivered - Day 02
04/28/11 - NOA (most forms) - Day 07
05/03/11 - Checks cashed - Day 12
05/31/11 - Biometrics completed in the Bronx, NYC - Day 40
06/24/11 - Received someone else's employment authorization card!!! What the...? - Day 64
07/01/11 - Mailed the poor lady's card back after calling USCIS - Day 71
07/07/11 - Received poor lady's interview notice! What??? - Day 77
07/15/11 - Received my own EAD card - Day 85
08/12/11 - Interview. Approved on the spot! - Day 113
08/18/11 - Received card in the mail - Day 119

ROC
05/28/13 - Mailed I-751 - Day 00

05/30/13 - Application delivered - Day 02

05/31/13 - NOA I-797 - Day 03
06/04/13 - Check cashed - Day 07

06/06/13 - NOA delivered to my home/Biometrics letter generated - Day 09

06/10/13 - Received Biometrics letter in the mail - Day 13

06/27/13 - Biometrics completed in Milwaukee, WI - Day 30

09/10/13 - Application approved! - Day 105

09/14/13 - 10 year Green Card received! - Day 109

Citizenship

05/10/16 - Mailed N-400 - Day 00

05/12/16 - Application delivered - Day 02

05/13/16 - Credit card payment accepted - Day 03

05/17/16 - Received text & email update - Day 07

05/20/16 - Received 1st NOA (dated 05/13/16) & created ELIS acct - Day 10

05/21/16 - Received 2nd NOA (dated 05/16/16) confirming my DOB and address - Day 11

05/22/06 - Biometrics scheduled (online update) and appt letter was mailed on 05/20/16 - Day 12

05/24/06 - Biometrics letter became viewable online (appt scheduled for 06/07/16) - Day 14

05/27/16 - Received Biometrics letter in mail - Day 17

05/31/16 - Was denied walk-in fingerprints with just 1 person left in line. Milwaukee office, boo! - Day 21

06/07/16 - Biometrics completed in Milwaukee, WI - Day 28

12/21/16 - Passed Citizenship test/Interview was successful! - Day 197

01/26/17 - I am a US citizen!!! - Day 233

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
Timeline

I have seen this too, and probably more cultural/personal reasons behind it.

I know some people have planned to travel back over seas to see their fiance with the plan to propose, even thought the two are already getting ready to apply for the K-1 openly.

My partner and I never really did any proposals or what not, we just knew that's what we both wanted. Just how we are though together and as people so.

Everyone has their own ways of doing things, and again could be cultural and even to show their fiance's families their are serious.

08/15/2014 : Met Online

06/30/2016 : I-129F Packet Sent

11/08/2016 : Interview - APPROVED!

11/23/2016 : POE - Dallas, Texas

From sending of I-129F petiton to POE - 146 days.

 

02/03/2017 - Married 

02/24/2017 - AOS packet sent

06/01/2017 - EAD/AP Combo Card Received in mail

12/06/2017 - I-485 Approved

12/14/2017 - Green Card Received in mail - No Interview

 

   

brickleberry GIF they see me rolling college football GIF by ESPN  

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I have seen this too, and probably more cultural/personal reasons behind it.

I know some people have planned to travel back over seas to see their fiance with the plan to propose, even thought the two are already getting ready to apply for the K-1 openly.

My partner and I never really did any proposals or what not, we just knew that's what we both wanted. Just how we are though together and as people so.

Everyone has their own ways of doing things, and again could be cultural and even to show their fiance's families their are serious.

Ooh, I didn't think of that! :)

 

 

AOS

03/24/11 - Got married in the Boogie-Down Bronx, NYC!
04/21/11 - Mailed I-130,I-765, I-485, I-864 and I-693 - Day 00

04/23/11 - Application delivered - Day 02
04/28/11 - NOA (most forms) - Day 07
05/03/11 - Checks cashed - Day 12
05/31/11 - Biometrics completed in the Bronx, NYC - Day 40
06/24/11 - Received someone else's employment authorization card!!! What the...? - Day 64
07/01/11 - Mailed the poor lady's card back after calling USCIS - Day 71
07/07/11 - Received poor lady's interview notice! What??? - Day 77
07/15/11 - Received my own EAD card - Day 85
08/12/11 - Interview. Approved on the spot! - Day 113
08/18/11 - Received card in the mail - Day 119

ROC
05/28/13 - Mailed I-751 - Day 00

05/30/13 - Application delivered - Day 02

05/31/13 - NOA I-797 - Day 03
06/04/13 - Check cashed - Day 07

06/06/13 - NOA delivered to my home/Biometrics letter generated - Day 09

06/10/13 - Received Biometrics letter in the mail - Day 13

06/27/13 - Biometrics completed in Milwaukee, WI - Day 30

09/10/13 - Application approved! - Day 105

09/14/13 - 10 year Green Card received! - Day 109

Citizenship

05/10/16 - Mailed N-400 - Day 00

05/12/16 - Application delivered - Day 02

05/13/16 - Credit card payment accepted - Day 03

05/17/16 - Received text & email update - Day 07

05/20/16 - Received 1st NOA (dated 05/13/16) & created ELIS acct - Day 10

05/21/16 - Received 2nd NOA (dated 05/16/16) confirming my DOB and address - Day 11

05/22/06 - Biometrics scheduled (online update) and appt letter was mailed on 05/20/16 - Day 12

05/24/06 - Biometrics letter became viewable online (appt scheduled for 06/07/16) - Day 14

05/27/16 - Received Biometrics letter in mail - Day 17

05/31/16 - Was denied walk-in fingerprints with just 1 person left in line. Milwaukee office, boo! - Day 21

06/07/16 - Biometrics completed in Milwaukee, WI - Day 28

12/21/16 - Passed Citizenship test/Interview was successful! - Day 197

01/26/17 - I am a US citizen!!! - Day 233

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline

Honest question (No snark, I swear! :no: )

I often read posts stating things like "I'm getting engaged in 3 weeks" and I wonder if there is some formal process via which one gets engaged other than 2 people agreeing to marry each other some time in the future. Is there? Is this a cultural issue? In my (western) culture, there is no plan to have a plan to get married and while we also use the words fiance/fiancee, there is no real or legal distinction from that of a boyfriend/girlfriend. (Referring to someone as your "fiance", especially to strangers, can be seen as pretentious.) Once marriage is being discussed or one person asks the other to marry them, that is where I was taught the "engagement" begins. So, how is it where you are from? :)

Thanks!

One time I went to an "engagement party" held by my high school history teacher from India and it was a huge celebration, endless food, tons of people, etc....so I don't know about India as a whole (that was my only experience) but I get the impression that for some cultures it's a really big deal.

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

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One time I went to an "engagement party" held by my high school history teacher from India and it was a huge celebration, endless food, tons of people, etc....so I don't know about India as a whole (that was my only experience) but I get the impression that for some cultures it's a really big deal.

I know a lot of people who have engagement parties. But question is more along the lines of, "Is that when they became engaged?". I know the party is for celebrating the engagement, but what about the engagement itself? Or is it treated as one and the same, that is, engagement party = engagement. Do you think that's it? :)

 

 

AOS

03/24/11 - Got married in the Boogie-Down Bronx, NYC!
04/21/11 - Mailed I-130,I-765, I-485, I-864 and I-693 - Day 00

04/23/11 - Application delivered - Day 02
04/28/11 - NOA (most forms) - Day 07
05/03/11 - Checks cashed - Day 12
05/31/11 - Biometrics completed in the Bronx, NYC - Day 40
06/24/11 - Received someone else's employment authorization card!!! What the...? - Day 64
07/01/11 - Mailed the poor lady's card back after calling USCIS - Day 71
07/07/11 - Received poor lady's interview notice! What??? - Day 77
07/15/11 - Received my own EAD card - Day 85
08/12/11 - Interview. Approved on the spot! - Day 113
08/18/11 - Received card in the mail - Day 119

ROC
05/28/13 - Mailed I-751 - Day 00

05/30/13 - Application delivered - Day 02

05/31/13 - NOA I-797 - Day 03
06/04/13 - Check cashed - Day 07

06/06/13 - NOA delivered to my home/Biometrics letter generated - Day 09

06/10/13 - Received Biometrics letter in the mail - Day 13

06/27/13 - Biometrics completed in Milwaukee, WI - Day 30

09/10/13 - Application approved! - Day 105

09/14/13 - 10 year Green Card received! - Day 109

Citizenship

05/10/16 - Mailed N-400 - Day 00

05/12/16 - Application delivered - Day 02

05/13/16 - Credit card payment accepted - Day 03

05/17/16 - Received text & email update - Day 07

05/20/16 - Received 1st NOA (dated 05/13/16) & created ELIS acct - Day 10

05/21/16 - Received 2nd NOA (dated 05/16/16) confirming my DOB and address - Day 11

05/22/06 - Biometrics scheduled (online update) and appt letter was mailed on 05/20/16 - Day 12

05/24/06 - Biometrics letter became viewable online (appt scheduled for 06/07/16) - Day 14

05/27/16 - Received Biometrics letter in mail - Day 17

05/31/16 - Was denied walk-in fingerprints with just 1 person left in line. Milwaukee office, boo! - Day 21

06/07/16 - Biometrics completed in Milwaukee, WI - Day 28

12/21/16 - Passed Citizenship test/Interview was successful! - Day 197

01/26/17 - I am a US citizen!!! - Day 233

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Share on other sites

My wife and had the "discussion" about getting married. After that we referred to each other as "fiance". We planned our wedding while she was in Costa Rica and I was in the U.S.. I did not see her in person from the time we had officially decided to get married and my return trip to Costa Rica for the wedding. However, when I arrived at SJO (airport) the first thing I did was get down on 1 knee and present her with her engagement ring and ask her to marry me. Wedding was a few days later.

I don't know of any formal process here, only a tradition of asking for someones hand in marriage before you refer to them as your fiance.

Edited by Rebe y Justin

06/28/15 Married in Costa Rica

11/25/15 sent 3 I-130's

12/01/15 3 NOA1's

04/14/16 3 I-130's approved

04/19/16 NVC received 3 cases

04/28/16 Received DS-261/AOS bill

04/28/16 Received IV-Bill's

04/28/16 Pay AOS Bill (1 fee)

04/28/16 Pay IV Bill (3 fees)

05/17/16 Submit 3 DS-261's

06/07/16 Send AOS Package

06/07/16 Send 3 IV packages

06/14/16 NVC scan date 3 cases

07/15/16 CC for CR-1(was told on phone case complete and waiting for 2-CR-2 cases)

07/18/16 Checklist for 2 CR-2's (missing I-864 for both children)('correction' agent failed to send individual I-864 for each applicant, sent 3 copies of I-864 for wife)

07/19/16 Send response to checklist via FedEx (two I-864's for two CR-2's )

07/21/16 2nd scan date, NVC received checklists responses

07/27/16 Sent expedite email request to NVC. Request children's cases to join Wife's completed case.

08/11/16 Email from NVC; US Embassy, San Jose is willing to expedite, 3 cases/ waiting for review of checklists

09/02/16 call to NVC, 6 weeks point, now waiting for supervisor review

09/22/16 CC for both CR-2 cases (took 2 months to review)

09/27/16 3 expedited visa statuses changed to "in transit"

10/04/16 3 cases at embassy status changed to "ready", waiting for interview instructions

10/05/16 Received instructions email from embassy, without interview date

10/07/16 Wife and kids went to medical (Walk-in). Completed X-ray, Urine, Blood. Scheduled physical for 10/12/16

10/12/16 Wife and Kids completed physical and received sealed medicals.

10/19/16 Interview request email sent to embassy

10/26/16 Embassy provided interview date

11/03/16 Interview - APPROVED ALL 3!!

11/14/16 Picked up passports with visas?

12/01/16 Entry at Atlanta?

10/16/18 I-751 Mailed to California

10/19/18 I-751 Delivered

11/05/18 I-751 Check posted to account(no text or email, account says Phoenix on transaction)

 

 

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My wife and had the "discussion" about getting married. After that we referred to each other as "fiance". We planned our wedding while she was in Costa Rica and I was in the U.S.. I did not see her in person from the time we had officially decided to get married and my return trip to Costa Rica for the wedding. However, when I arrived at SJO (airport) the first thing I did was get down on 1 knee and present her with her engagement ring and ask her to marry me. Wedding was a few days later.

I don't know of any formal process here, only a tradition of asking for someones hand in marriage before you refer to them as your fiance.

Aww... (L)(F)

 

 

AOS

03/24/11 - Got married in the Boogie-Down Bronx, NYC!
04/21/11 - Mailed I-130,I-765, I-485, I-864 and I-693 - Day 00

04/23/11 - Application delivered - Day 02
04/28/11 - NOA (most forms) - Day 07
05/03/11 - Checks cashed - Day 12
05/31/11 - Biometrics completed in the Bronx, NYC - Day 40
06/24/11 - Received someone else's employment authorization card!!! What the...? - Day 64
07/01/11 - Mailed the poor lady's card back after calling USCIS - Day 71
07/07/11 - Received poor lady's interview notice! What??? - Day 77
07/15/11 - Received my own EAD card - Day 85
08/12/11 - Interview. Approved on the spot! - Day 113
08/18/11 - Received card in the mail - Day 119

ROC
05/28/13 - Mailed I-751 - Day 00

05/30/13 - Application delivered - Day 02

05/31/13 - NOA I-797 - Day 03
06/04/13 - Check cashed - Day 07

06/06/13 - NOA delivered to my home/Biometrics letter generated - Day 09

06/10/13 - Received Biometrics letter in the mail - Day 13

06/27/13 - Biometrics completed in Milwaukee, WI - Day 30

09/10/13 - Application approved! - Day 105

09/14/13 - 10 year Green Card received! - Day 109

Citizenship

05/10/16 - Mailed N-400 - Day 00

05/12/16 - Application delivered - Day 02

05/13/16 - Credit card payment accepted - Day 03

05/17/16 - Received text & email update - Day 07

05/20/16 - Received 1st NOA (dated 05/13/16) & created ELIS acct - Day 10

05/21/16 - Received 2nd NOA (dated 05/16/16) confirming my DOB and address - Day 11

05/22/06 - Biometrics scheduled (online update) and appt letter was mailed on 05/20/16 - Day 12

05/24/06 - Biometrics letter became viewable online (appt scheduled for 06/07/16) - Day 14

05/27/16 - Received Biometrics letter in mail - Day 17

05/31/16 - Was denied walk-in fingerprints with just 1 person left in line. Milwaukee office, boo! - Day 21

06/07/16 - Biometrics completed in Milwaukee, WI - Day 28

12/21/16 - Passed Citizenship test/Interview was successful! - Day 197

01/26/17 - I am a US citizen!!! - Day 233

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline

I know a lot of people who have engagement parties. But question is more along the lines of, "Is that when they became engaged?". I know the party is for celebrating the engagement, but what about the engagement itself? Or is it treated as one and the same, that is, engagement party = engagement. Do you think that's it? :)

Maybe! My husband (from Russia) was insanely happy to be engaged, for him it was very serious and definately not on the same level as "a girlfriend" and the word "fiancé" is not pretentious at all in Russia, I guess things here are slightly more old fashioned still, but it does depend on the person.

My sister lives in Austria and what's really weird is nobody in Austria marries anymore. It's just co-habitation (even with children) but no marriage. So her engagement and wedding there was such a big deal that they ended up having their wedding twice, one in the town hall and one in the church....yeah, odd. I guess in the West the general trend is marriage/engagement isn't that big of a deal anymore, but for some people it still means something.

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
Timeline

I bet when they talk about getting engaged at a certain date they mean the actual proposal itself.

Me and my man were engaged before the proposal, but the official date of our engagement is the day he went down on one knee and popped the question. That's the date friends and family know about and that's also the date we celebrate. (L)

K-1: 12-22-2015 - 09-07-2016

AP: 12-20-2016 - 04-07-2017

EAD: 01-18-2017 - 05-30-2017

AOS: 12-20-2016 - 07-26-2017

ROC: 04-22-2019 - 04-22-2020
Naturalization: 05-01-2020 - 03-16-2021

U.S. passport: 03-30-2021 - 05-08-2021

En livstid i krig. Göteborg killed it. Epic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBs3G1PvyfM&ab_channel=Sabaton

 

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Sweden
Timeline

My country's culture is slowly changing regarding being engaged. Today tons of kids give each other rings and *whops* they're engaged, often with no plans at all to marry.

I'm still too old-fashioned for that stuff. For me there HAS TO be a real proposal (him going down on one knee and all), not just a "oh shall we just say we're engaged now?". And all the time in between the proposal and the wedding is engagement, and preferably there's no more than a year in between. That's how I look at it.

K-1: 12-22-2015 - 09-07-2016

AP: 12-20-2016 - 04-07-2017

EAD: 01-18-2017 - 05-30-2017

AOS: 12-20-2016 - 07-26-2017

ROC: 04-22-2019 - 04-22-2020
Naturalization: 05-01-2020 - 03-16-2021

U.S. passport: 03-30-2021 - 05-08-2021

En livstid i krig. Göteborg killed it. Epic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBs3G1PvyfM&ab_channel=Sabaton

 

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Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Philippines
Timeline

Engagement parties are something cultural I guess. If there is a separate engagement party apart from the date they first discussed marriage, then they themselves have to agree when/which do they consider as official engagement date.

As for our case, I was in Georgia and my fiance was in Texas when he proposed to me. He sent me off couple of days back to Georgia and begun that he wanted something long term with me. We were discussing about it in the past midnight and I passed out in the middle of the convo. He called the next day and we discussed some more. He asked if he needs to come to Philippines. I told him, he dont need to.

Although we agreed to start a life together, prior to going much into details I asked him to discuss this first with his parents and ask for their blessings. The discussion go on for a couple more days until I have to go back to Philippines. We didnt have an official engagement date until couple of days before my Interview. I asked him "It's my interview day in a couple of days and for sure the engagement date will be asked. We discussed our marriage plans for a number of days, which should be our official engagement date?"

Not all engagement have movie like themes. We had a simple one but that is what we both want it.

Edited by MsCompE
Previous U.S. Visa/Trips
03-10-2014 : B1 issued date
03-24-2015 : B1/B2 issued date
02-26-2016 : Visited my aunt in Corpus Christi
02-27-2016 : Meet Ryan and he asked me out 
03-30-2016 : He proposed before I left U.S.
04-01-2016 : I left U.S. I wish I had enough days to marry him.
But, I have a very important business meeting to physically attend in Cebu on 04/04. I also have a business trip due in Japan for May 2016. 
Circumstances lead me to K-1. 
K1 - Journey
Spoiler

 

04-22-2016 : Sent I-129F Packet
07-20-2016 : Received NOA2
08-01-2016 : NVC Case # assigned
08-25-2016 : Interview Date and APPROVED!!! 
09-03-2016 : VOH
AOS - Journey
Spoiler

12-14-2016 : POE

12-30-2016 : Wedding Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
01-20-2017 : Sent I-485, I-765, I-131 Packet
01-24-2017 : NOA1 Received Date
02-03-2017 : Received NOA1 Hard Copy
02-04-2017 : Received Biometrics Appointment Scheduled on 02/17
02-08-2017 : Completed Biometrics
04-22-2017 : EAD Update - Card in Production
04-27-2017 : Received EAD & AP Approval Notice
05-01-2017 : Received EAD & AP Combo Card
05-01-2017 : Received EAD & AP Combo Card
11-17-2017 : I-485 Approved Date
11-25-2017 : I-485 Approved Notice Received
11-27-2017 : GC Received at the mailbox. No text/email notification. USCIS Case Status is still at "Fingerprint Fee Received" 
 
 
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In the UK it certainly doesn't have the same meaning that it used to. Here people also say "we're getting engaged on my birthday" or something like that. Obviously if they have already decided to marry then to me they are already "engaged" but what they mean is "he's giving me a ring on my birthday". Also many people here are engaged with no concrete plan to get married. People will co-habit for years with a ring on their finger with no real urge to marry. When people get "engaged" people will ask "so when are you getting married?" and often the response will be "oh we're not getting married, we are just getting engaged". I don't get it. Engagement is a plan to marry.

I have been married once before and I was very young and my then-boyfriend gave me an engagement ring. I wore it until we got married but not all the time. I usually only wore it when we were out together but I didn't wear it to work, for example. After we got married I never wore it and I gave it back to him when we decided to divorce.

With my current husband there was no ring. He liked to refer to me as his fiancée to people but it's not a word I like to use because it's become pretty much meaningless here. Like the OP said, calling yourself fiancé here or saying you're engaged can sound pretentious.

I often see here people asking if they need to be "officially engaged" to start the K-1 or if they need "proof of engagement". Here in the UK (and in the USA) engaged is not a legal status and not something that can be or needs to be proved. A ring receipt proves you bought a ring, that's all.

Edited by JFH

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

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Filed: Other Country: Nigeria
Timeline

I did it the old fashion way of getting on my knee and proposing we knew we wanted to get married she just didnt know the exact day i was going to propose, from my experience some ppl in nigeria dont take marriage or engagement seriously , i have a cousin whose been engaged with the same chick for years and still not married, but there are ppl who still take it seriously, even in the USA ppl dont take it seriously like it should be , meh

 

 

 

 

 

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Definitely agree with everything in JFH's first paragraph.

My husband and I joked about getting married while we were on a vacation but then two months later he got down on one knee with a ring.

We didn't really refer to the two month period between the proposal and our (very small) wedding as an engagement and I'm not sure I even called him my fiancé! Our announcement to friends and family was simply that we were getting married. It was a second marriage for both of us so everything was far more laid back and relaxed than our first engagements and weddings, which were total circuses in comparison.

I'm from the UK, hubby is from Michigan and is a retired US Army LTC.   We are currently stationed overseas.

Here is our immigration journey so far....

10.26.13 - Our wedding in Scotland 

11.26.14 - Filed I-130 at US Consulate, Frankfurt (DCF)

11.18.14 - Returned to Scotland to renew our vows for our first wedding anniversary

01.08.15 - NOA2 received in snail mail, together with case number and Packet 3 instructions

02.15.15 - Submitted Packet 3

02.17.15 - Packet 4 received by email with instructions to schedule medical and interview

02.18.15 - Email authorisation received from Consulate to gain access to appointment calendar

03.03.15 - Medical

03.18.15 - Interview - Approved

03.21.15 - Visa in hand

06.10.15 - POE Chicago (final destination Detroit)

07.20.15 - Received SSN in mail

07.27.15 - Received 2 year green card in mail

The journey to ROC starts here...!

10.05.15 - Returned to Germany on government orders

05.25.17 - Mailed ROC package to California Service Centre

06.14.17 - Received NOA 1 (dated 05.30.17) in mail

09.05.18 - Received a second NOA (dated 08.11.18) in mail granting a further six months extension to green card due to 'processing delays'

11.26.18 - ROC - Approved

12.05.18 - Approval Notice I-797 received in mail

12.18.18 - 10 year green card received in mail

The journey to citizenship starts here...!

 

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In the Netherlands it's quite normal you surprisingly go on one knee and present a ring blabla. However, agreeing on getting engaged is also a thing and not super weird. For us of course marriage was the only option if we wanted to be together soon/forever. That's also what I told to everyone, that we agreed on getting married, that we kind of discussed about getting engaged and marry sooner than we thought (because we really wanted to be together, and still obviously :P ) but the proposal was still a real surprise for me even though we discussed getting engaged. And personally, I loved how we agreed on this and talked about it instead of him doing a random, total suprise - out of the blue proposal. Now we both knew we were ready.

01/13/2016: I-129F filed  07/15/2016: K-1 visa in hand
10/13/2016: Filed AOS + EAD/AP.   07/07/2017: Permanent resident (Conditional)
04/16/2019: Filed ROC  11/17/2020: Approved. (10 yr GC)

 

Naturalization                                                        
09/02/2020: Filed (Online)    09/08/2020: NOA1: (NBC
10/22/2020: Biometrics Reuse Notice.  12/22/2020: Online Status Changed to Interview Was Scheduled.  
01/29/2021: N-400 Interview - PASSED! 01/29/2021: Same-day oath ceremony.  

'Merica. 

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