FOSSLGRL's US Immigration Timeline

Petitioner's Name: John Beneficiary's Name: Jenna VJ Member: FOSSLGRL Country: Canada Last Updated: 2022-08-18 Add Comment to Timeline Register or log in to follow this timeline

Immigration Checklist for John & Jenna:

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 : Montreal, Canada I-129F Sent : 2016-05-23 I-129F NOA1 : 2016-05-27 I-129F RFE(s) : 2016-08-09 RFE Reply(s) : 2016-08-16 I-129F NOA2 : 2016-08-26 NVC Received : 2016-09-07 Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : NVC Left : 2016-09-09 Consulate Received : 2016-09-15 Packet 3 Received : 2016-09-26 Packet 3 Sent : 2016-09-26 Packet 4 Received : 2016-09-29 Interview Date : 2016-11-09 Interview Result : Approved Second Interview (If Required): Second Interview Result: Visa Received : 2016-11-21 US Entry : 2016-11-21 Marriage : 2016-12-05 Comments : Processing Estimates/Stats : Your I-129f was approved in 91 days from your NOA1 date. Your interview took 166 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.

Port of Entry Review Event Date Port of Entry : CDN-USA Border POE Date : 2016-11-21 Got EAD Stamp : Biometrics Taken : Yes Harassment Level : 0 Comments :

Adjustment of Status Event Date CIS Office : Seattle WA Date Filed : 2017-02-07 NOA Date : 2017-02-22 RFE(s) : Bio. Appt. : 2017-03-21 AOS Transfer** : Interview Date : 2018-12-18 Approval / Denial Date : 2019-01-31 Approved : Yes Got I551 Stamp : No Greencard Received: Comments :

Employment Authorization Document Event Date CIS Office : Chicago National Office Filing Method : Mail Filing Instance : First Date Filed : 2017-02-07 NOA Date : 2017-02-22 RFE(s) : Bio. Appt. : 2017-03-21 Approved Date : 2017-05-17 Date Card Received : 2017-05-24 Comments : Processing Estimates/Stats : Your EAD was approved in 99 days.

Advance Parole Event Date CIS Office : Chicago National Office Filing Method :   Filing Instance : First Date Filed : 2017-02-07 NOA Date : 2017-02-22 RFE(s) : Date Received : 2017-05-24 Comments : Processing Estimates/Stats : Your AP was approved in 99 days.

Citizenship Event Date Service Center : CIS Office : Date Filed : 2021-11-04 NOA Date : Bio. Appt. : Interview Date : 2022-08-18 Approved : Yes Oath Ceremony : 2022-08-18 Comments :

Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Montreal, Canada Review Topic: K1 Visa Event Description Review Date : November 10, 2016 Embassy Review : Overall I am very impressed with my experience. My interview was yesterday (November 9th). My appointment was for 7:30am and I arrived at 6:45am. I was the first person there, but shortly after another gentlemen joined me. Within about 20 minutes, there were another 10-15 people. They opened the doors for us at 7:30 and at that point there were approx 20-25 people waiting. They let us in the building one at a time. Once inside the door, a woman checked my DS-160 and my passport. She put a sticker on my passport and gave both items back to me. She also gave me a laminated checklist with a number on it. I was number 1 since I was first. That was the number they used to call my name for the rest of that morning, and the checklist is the order of which you need to organize your documents after you go through security, when you are in the waiting area. The security screening which was basically like being at the airport. They took my fitbit and phone out of my purse and gave me a ticket with a number which was used on my way out to retrieve my items. I then proceeded downstairs into a waiting room. At precisely 8am, an officer came into the waiting room and removed the tape from the elevator, which we then started cramming into to go up to the 19th floor. Once upstairs, there was a helpful employee who directed us to either the immigrant or non immigrant visa waiting area. Within about 10 minutes I got called up to the first window. I was asked my name, address, who my spouse was, his address and phone number. I also had to give them the documents as they asked for them. Keep in mind that you will need a photocopy of both your birth certificate (I copied both sides) and your passports biometrics page. Nowhere does it say to bring these items, but they do require them, so make sure you are prepared! I was also given back the xray result and vaccine record which is for later use once you adjust your status in the US. I sat back down for what was the longest 15 minutes of my life. Then I was called to window #8 for my interview. I was interviewed by a woman who was neither friendly or unfriendly. She did not come off as intimidating and I felt comfortable with her. I had serious concerns because of a prior overstay, so after I was asked how I met my spouse etc., she started asking about the overstay. It was a 4 month overstay, and I think she just wanted to make sure that I only had the one overstay on my record and that I didn't incur a ban. Keep in mind I have been terrified of this moment through the entire process so my palms were sweating. She asked if I had ever been arrested and I said never. She told me that everything looked fine and that I can expect my visa within 1-2 weeks. She handed me my "Welcome to America" pamphlet with some info, and also a sheet with information about how to check the tracking of the package. I thanked her profusely and she told me to have a good day! It was 9:00 at that point. I walked away with a big smile and went back down the elevator, exited the building and immediately called my fiance to give him the news. Anyone who is stressing about this interview... don't be! It was truly the easiest part of the process... just make sure you have all of your paperwork in order. As for the medical... my medical was the week before and I picked up my results the day before. I had some concerns about my medical because I was just paranoid that they would find something. Well let me tell you, as long as you don't have any of the diseases they screen for, and are mentally sound, you will not have any issues. One thing I recommend, if you are in need of a flu shot, get it before your medical because they will charge you 25 dollars for it. I didn't realize they would force me to have it which is why I didn't. I also had to get an updated tetanus shot which was 40. So check the vaccine list, if you are missing anything, best to get it from your own doctor for free. My medical cost me about 520 after the vaccines. Yikes! Rating : Very Good

POE Review: CDN-USA Border Event Description Entry Date : 2016-11-21 Embassy Review : I drove from Kingston, Ontario down to Nashville Tennessee. Instead of dealing with the madness at the Detroit crossing, I went east about 40km to the Thousand Island Bridge crossing, and drove through New York. It was wonderfully fast and easy. It was snowing so there was virtually no one making the crossing. There was one car ahead of me and I waited about 30 seconds for my turn. The lady at the window was very friendly and joked about me having to drive down by myself without my fiance helping me. She asked if I had alcohol and I told her I had some coolers and asked if she needed the receipt, she said no. She took my package and passport, and told me to park ahead in one of the bays. When I pulled in, the woman who took my car keys was very serious. She instructed me to go inside the building to the waiting area, and wait for my name to be called. There was no one else inside so I sat down awkwardly all alone. Right away I saw a man with my folder in his hand and he approached one of the computers. They had a nice giant TV screen so that kept me entertained for the short time I was in there. I waited about 5 minutes for him to enter some stuff into the computer and then he called me up. He was neither friendly or unfriendly. I had to confirm/write down the address where I would be living. He took my finger prints and asked me if I had ever been arrested. He instructed me to sit back down while he finished entering data into the computer. 5 more minutes went by, and he called me back up to collect my passport with stamp and I-94. He confirmed that I was aware I had 90 days to marry my petitioner. He handed me an orange ticket and told me to the agent who took my car keys. I went back to my car, the woman came out, I gave her the ticket, she gave me my keys and told me to drive safe. And that was it! A total of 20 minutes or so, I wasn't keeping track. As far as I know they didn't do a search of my vehicle... which I was happy for because my stuff was so crammed in there, and I had a bicycle on top, it was very difficult to get it in there. I give the experience 10/10 or 5 *'s. I don't see any way that it could have been better and I'm very glad that I didn't have to deal with the hoards of people at the Detroit crossing. Harassment Level : Low

Local US CIS Office Review: Seattle WA Review Topic: cis_topic Event Description Review Date : August 18, 2022 Embassy Review : I attended my naturalization interview this morning. Arrived about 40 minutes before start time. Parking is still $8 but you can pay with a card now. Grab your things out of your car and enter your plate number at the machine. (I made the mistake of leaving my things in my car and going to the machine first because I assumed I'd have to go back to the car to place the parking ticket. So I had to walk all the way back to the car just to get my stuff). Getting in the building and through security was quick, there wasn't a line. There was only one person waiting in front of me to get checked in. Check-in was friendly, and fast. I got my ticket and went upstairs. Reminder that it's better to go to the area to the right when you go up the stairs, it is easier to hear the agents who come out to call numbers. My number was called after maybe 20-25 minutes? It was quick. The girl who interviewed me was very neutral and emotionless, which was honestly fine with me. The interview itself was really simple. We started with the civics questions which was great, to get it out of the way. The questions I was asked were: 1) What is an amendment? 2) What happened on 9/11? 3) Who was the president during WWII? 4) Who is my state governor? 5) How long are representatives elected for? 6) Name two holidays? I probably spent more time studying than I needed to, stayed up late (and studied again at breakfast). The problem was that there were about 30% of the questions that I was iffy about, and I didn't know what was going to be asked so I wanted to make sure I reviewed all of it. I'd still recommend spending time going over all of the questions and have someone else ask you them if you can. Then you can go in confident and pass with flying colors. Once the questions were over with, we did the English test which was also very easy. I had to repeat and write one basic sentence. After that, the agent asked me some questions. They were very simple questions. My name, previous last names, date of birth, how many times I've left the country in the last 5 years. If I had any work or school updates. She updated my file that I had now graduated college. Then she asked if I had been arrested. And finally, she asked if I was willing to swear allegiance to the United States. After that she said my oath ceremony would be held downstairs and asked if I had any questions. She printed a paper with my results (pass). I went downstairs, sat in the auditorium with about 25 other people. They took my green card and gave me a packet with some information and a little flag. within 15 minutes the ceremony started. Once we all took the oath, our naturalization certificates were handed out one at a time. The entire thing took about 20 minutes. My interview was scheduled for 9:25 and at 10:25 I was walking out the front doors, a citizen with a big smile on my face. It could not have gone more smoothly. I don't understand why the Seattle office gets such a bad rap, I've always had a good experience. Harassment Level : Very Good

Timeline Comments: 1



*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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