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amul's US Immigration Timeline

  Petitioner's Name: P
Beneficiary's Name: T
VJ Member: amul
Country: India

Last Updated: 2022-02-05
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Immigration Checklist for P & T:

USCIS I-130 Petition:      
Dept of State IR-1/CR-1 Visa:    
USCIS I-751 Petition:  
USCIS N-400 Petition:  


IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Event Date
Service Center : Potomac Service Center
Transferred? No
Consulate : New Delhi, India
Marriage (if applicable): 2016-06-07
I-130 Sent : 2016-09-07
I-130 NOA1 : 2016-09-12
I-130 RFE : 2017-01-11
I-130 RFE Sent : 2017-02-20
I-130 Approved : 2017-03-01
NVC Received : 2017-03-17
Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : 2017-03-22
Pay AOS Bill : 2017-03-22
Receive I-864 Package :
Send AOS Package : 2017-04-25
Submit DS-261 : 2017-03-21
Receive IV Bill : 2017-03-27
Pay IV Bill : 2017-03-27
Send IV Package : 2017-04-25
Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : 2017-06-30
Case Completed at NVC : 2017-06-27
NVC Left : 2017-07-10
Consulate Received : 2017-07-13
Packet 3 Received :
Packet 3 Sent :
Packet 4 Received : 2017-06-30
Interview Date : 2017-08-16
Interview Result : Approved
Second Interview
(If Required):
Second Interview Result:
Visa Received : 2017-08-17
US Entry : 2017-09-14
Comments : POE was super easy -- I will do a more in depth review, but my husband said that the officer was a jolly guy, chilled and was joking around while asking questions. My hubby was himself -- chilled as well, but respectful!

We made it folks, WE HAVE MADE IT!!! 😍

Now the real journey begins....

Best of luck to all.

Update: Hubby received his green card on October 3rd, about 2 weeks after entry. Still waiting on the SSN though.
Update 2: We had to go to the Social Security Office and pick up his SS card. It was never sent.
Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Your I-130 was approved in 170 days from your NOA1 date.

Your interview took 338 days from your I-130 NOA1 date.


Port of Entry Review
Event Date
Port of Entry : Washington DC
POE Date : 2017-09-14
Got EAD Stamp : No
Biometrics Taken : Yes
Harassment Level : 0
Comments :


Lifting Conditions
Event Date
CIS Office : Potomac Service Center
Date Filed : 2019-09-10
NOA Date : 2019-09-20
RFE(s) :
Bio. Appt. : 2019-10-18
Interview Date : 2022-02-02
Approval / Denial Date : 2022-02-02
Approved : Yes
Got I551 Stamp : Yes
Green Card Received :
Comments : As of April 15, 2020, USCIS is ready to schedule our interview for Form I751. We are still waiting.... :/

I contacted the USCIS first week of Dec 2021 and was told I would hear back by Dec 28th -- on Dec 31st we got our letter with interview which is in Feb 2022! Huzzah!

Update:
It was such an easy process. Went in and out under 25 minutes. We spent about 5 min with the officer and she said, all is good. Hubby’s new GC is in the mail already. Best of luck to everyone! 


Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: New Delhi, India
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Event Description
Review Date : August 21, 2017
Embassy Review : Our interview was scheduled at 8 am and we arrived at the US Embassy in Delhi around 7.45 am. Got in line across the street as per directions from the Embassy personnel.

At 8 am, we were able to cross the street and get in line in front of the Embassy and after showing our (P4) interview appointment letter and our passports, we were told to follow the red line and made our way to the interview location.

We passed the security check and once inside, we continued walking along the red lines until it lead us to an area where we had someone arrange our paperwork. We were told to sit down -- far left side of the building had booths with benches across. We sat waiting for our turn and noticed that we did not have a number yet. When asked, we were told that our number would receive one in a while.

This leg of the process was conducted by Indian officers -- most of the time it was done in Hindi and once in Punjabi (as per my hubby). I was the only spouse there.

20 minutes later, we were called back to the same area and a sticker with 3 digits were affixed to our interview appointment letter. I came to realize that this was what others here referred to as a "token". So you are not actually handed a token or a piece of paper, but a sticker gets affixed onto your paperwork. Even better!

After that we were told to go back to the same seating area and wait for our number to be called. Once our turn came, we went up to the booth and I was asked if I was the petitioner (yes) and after that the whole conversation was in English. He brought (well, carried it with both hands is more like it) our case folder out and sat it by his desk. He collected all the documents we handed him (medical, originals). Did not ask for any further evidence, my W2 as it was mentioned on our "missing document letter" which I received 2 weeks prior to our interview.  

At the end, he gave a domestic violence pamphlet to my husband and asked him to read it. Handed back some documents that were no longer needed (stuff from my AOS file) as well as all of our originals. We were told to move to the middle area, where there was only two interview booths. Nevertheless, do not worry about the sections and booths, as you will be told where to be.

The number that was assigned and affixed to our interview appointment letter was used both times we were called up -- once, for the paper inspection and collection process where the officers were locals and then the interview.

Once our number flashed, we got up and went up to the booth. The VO did not ask me who I was, instead she asked my husband if he was comfortable with having the interview in English. Then she asked both of us to raise our right hands and swore us in.

I was surprised to say the least -- did not expect to be allowed to stand by my hubby let alone being sworn in. I was nervous yet excited at this point. We were not asked to produce any chat records, photos or evidence and so began the interview.

The questions seemed very methodical and pertaining to our case, hence I knew that the massive 7 lb file I carefully, lovingly and meticulous cultivated was definitely scrutinized over.

The VO fired off questions to the both of us. She was very professional, had a poker face and sublimely efficient.

Hubby: How did you guys meet?
Hubby: How do you guys communicate?
Me: Ma'am, when was your first visit?
Me: How long was your stay?
H: What did you do (on the first trip)?
H: Did you guys get married on that trip?
H: How did you marry each other?
H: Did you have your parents at that time?
H: Why not?
H: What's your religion?
M: And you Ma'am?
M: Did you have any of your family on your wedding day?
H: Have you ever been out of the country?
H: Where?
M: Ma'am, do you have any children?
H: Do you talk to her (child)?
M: Ma'am, why did you get divorced?
M: You have custody of your daughter, is that correct?
M: Anyone else living with you besides your daughter?
Both of us: What do you do for a living?
H: What will you do in the US?

Then we heard, "Ok, so your visa is approved."

Time stood still and we hardly remember what she said to us after that, but we managed to smile, thank her (a lot!) and hug each other and walk out. It took another 24 hours for us to really adjust to the news -- that it was finally over, that we had made it! 

Overall, the US Embassy in New Delhi runs like clockwork. Efficient, clean, orderly, comfortable and we have received courteous and professional service! While the whole thing took us about 2-2.5 hours, our main interview lasted about 5 minutes. 
 
Important Note:

1. Do NOT wear a digital watch, especially a smart watch! Even if it looks remotely like a smart watch, you will be removed from the queue and need to find a place to stash your watch. The person in front of us had a digital watch and no matter how much he tried to explain that it was not a smartwatch, he was not allowed to stay in the line (or enter the Embassy) with it. We watched his entire family leave the line as well.

2. During your VAC/Biometrics visit your Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application Form DS-260 confirmation page will be stamped. You *will* need this on your interview date -- please do NOT forget it. This is one of the papers the officer specifically asked for as he gathered our originals, sealed medical envelope etc. -- when he asked for my husband's DS-260, I went in our files and he noticed the first print out, which had no stamp on it. He said, "no I need the one with the stamp on it". I had that one right behind it as I printed duplicates of everything and secured them in twos with paperclips.
Rating : Very Good


POE Review: Washington DC
Event Description
Entry Date : 2017-10-14
Embassy Review : Hubby landed at Dulles Airport at 8.40 am, was in line around 9.15 am and came out around 10.25 am! The customs line was long and it took him some time, but he was not pulled into a room etc. -- all was very straightforward and quick once he made it to the end of the line!

He told me that the officer was very friendly and started joking around with him as soon as my husband handed his sealed envelopes to him. They were thick ones and we did not know what they contained until the officer opened them up.

The officer said, "Come on man, you are killing me, you are suppose to make it easy on me, what is up with these thick envelopes?" and laughed.

Then he opened everything up and to my husband's surprise, the envelopes contained my front loading handiwork! Ha! Pages and pages of our chats, all the photos -- so the Officer looked at the pics and said:

"Oh wow, so tell me about this...how did this happen?"

My hubby answered and then they had what seemed like a causal convo.

"Oh, I see that your wife is not Indian, what does your family think of that?"

Hubby answered the same way he did when we were at his interview. He behaved like he always does with people he meets, respectful, chilled and smiles and laughs, talks, but does not joke around.

That is it!

The office then said, Welcome to the United States and when my hubby asked if he would get the papers back, the Officer said, "oh no you don't get them back."

He was treated with respect and the officer was friendly and relaxed. Love how he was welcomed HOME!

Harassment Level : Low


Timeline Comments: None yet, be the first!

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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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