JeroenAndMichelle's US Immigration Timeline
Immigration Checklist for Michelle & Jeroen:
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USCIS I-129F Petition:
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Dept of State K1 Visa:
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USCIS I-485 Petition:
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USCIS I-765 Petition:
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USCIS I-131 Petition:
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USCIS I-751 Petition:
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USCIS N-400 Petition:
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K1 Visa
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
California Service Center |
| Transferred? |
No |
| Consulate : |
Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| I-129F Sent : |
2008-01-24 |
| I-129F NOA1 : |
2008-01-29 |
| I-129F RFE(s) : |
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| RFE Reply(s) : |
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| I-129F NOA2 : |
2008-06-05 |
| NVC Received : |
2008-06-12 |
| Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : |
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| NVC Left : |
2008-06-17 |
| Consulate Received : |
2008-06-19 |
| Packet 3 Received : |
2008-06-19 |
| Packet 3 Sent : |
2008-07-03 |
| Packet 4 Received : |
2008-07-09 |
| Interview Date : |
2008-08-12 |
| Interview Result : |
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2008-08-20 |
| US Entry : |
2008-10-02 |
| Marriage : |
2008-10-20 |
| Comments : |
Instructions (pkt 3) received on the same day as the consulate received my petition.. go figure that one out :D |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-129f was approved in 128 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 196 days from your I-129F NOA1 date. |
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Port of Entry Review
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| Event |
Date |
| Port of Entry : |
Minneapolis/St Paul |
| POE Date : |
2008-10-02 |
| Got EAD Stamp : |
No |
| Biometrics Taken : |
Yes |
| Harassment Level : |
0 |
| Comments : |
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Adjustment of Status
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Honolulu HI |
| Date Filed : |
2008-11-26 |
| NOA Date : |
2008-12-09 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2009-01-07 |
| AOS Transfer** : |
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| Interview Date : |
2009-03-13 |
| Approval / Denial Date : |
2009-03-13 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
No |
| Greencard Received: |
2009-03-27 |
| Comments : |
See my review of the local office ;) |
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Employment Authorization
Document
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Chicago National Office |
| Filing Method : |
Mail |
| Filing Instance : |
First |
| Date Filed : |
2008-11-26 |
| NOA Date : |
2008-12-09 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2009-01-07 |
| Approved Date : |
2009-01-31 |
| Date Card Received : |
2009-02-12 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your EAD was approved in 66 days. |
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Advance Parole
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Chicago National Office |
| Filing Method : |
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| Filing Instance : |
First |
| Date Filed : |
2008-11-26 |
| NOA Date : |
2008-12-09 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Date Received : |
2009-02-09 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your AP was approved in 66 days. |
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Lifting Conditions
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
California Service Center |
| Date Filed : |
2011-01-05 |
| NOA Date : |
2011-01-10 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2011-02-11 |
| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
2011-03-16 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
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| Green Card Received : |
2011-03-22 |
| Comments : |
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Citizenship
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
Phoenix AZ Lockbox |
| CIS Office : |
Honolulu HI |
| Date Filed : |
2011-12-14 |
| NOA Date : |
2011-12-21 |
| Bio. Appt. : |
2012-04-17 |
| Interview Date : |
2012-04-17 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Oath Ceremony : |
2012-05-09 |
| Comments : |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
August 14, 2008 |
| Embassy Review : |
Kind of bad news turned into happy news a bit later..
I had my interview August the 12nd and I arrived at the consulate at around 1.05pm for my 1.30pm appointment. Two people were ahead of me and while we were waiting for the gates to open, a lot more people came along.
At around 1.20/25pm the gates were opened and we were told to stand in lines, one for immigration and us citizen services and one for other services. With my nervous head, I initially entered the wrong line and that actually set me back about 4 people in the line (while I could have been first of the immigration line haha).
Anyways, after some waiting it was my turn to give my paperwork to a really nice Dutch consult employee and he told me that I would have to wait for a bit and that I would be called out for my interview when the consult was ready.
While I was waiting, I was talking to some of the other applicants and they asked me if I was nervous, which I really was because I had a previous conviction behind my name. It was really minor and I never had any punishment either but still, the papers where there so who knows what could happen.
At around 2.45/3.00pm I was called for the interview and the consult asked me how I did and I told him that I was ok but nervous. He told me that I had nothing to fear but yeah, I still feared the outcome a little bit. He asked me how I met my fiance, what my birthday was, what he had in common, why I wanted to marry her and such.
And then it was time to talk about my court records. I explained the consult what happened back then and what the ruling was. The consult was really unsure if he could give me my visa so they told me he had to put it all on hold and that he needed me to write them an email about what exactly happened and what the ruling was of the judge. This all in my words so they could make a decision based on that. I guess it is needless to say that I that kinda shocked me and I was kinda sad when I drove home.
The same night, I send them an email in which I explained everything and also added the explanation of my uncle, who is a retired lawyer, about the classification (the classification was different to what really happened back then) and then I had to wait for the ruling of the consult.
This morning, 2 days after the interview, I called the consulate to check if they received my email in good order and they told me that they just printed it out and had it added to my case. I was happy to hear that they would look at it real soon and told them I would wait until I heard from them again.
About 30 minutes later, I received an email from the consulate, saying that they would approve my application and that they would like me to call them for an appointment to hand over my passport.
All in all it was a good experience I think. Of course I was sad about the initial application hold up but it turned out to be for the good. I can understand they cannot give everyone their visa just right away when they had court records and I am actually happy that they didn't deny me right away as well (which they could have done and then I would have been further away from home in the timeschedule).
So yah, I give them a 5 out of 5.. I could say something lower in rating but that wouldn't be fair because they were simply doing their job with the hold on my application. The people were nice and the process was fast and smooth. |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
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POE Review: Minneapolis/St Paul
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| Event |
Description |
| Entry Date : |
2008-10-02 |
| Embassy Review : |
I was first (out of 2 or 3 I think) who got into the line for new immigrants and got out in like 5 minutes or something, it all went super smooth. I only had two questions, one was when we would get married and the other was why my fiance didn't enter my daughter into the petition (at first we didn't think this was needed as we thought it was only for her if we would file for her but we wouldn't, this is what I told the officer also and since I wouldn't file for her, it was all ok). I told the officer she must be a fast reader as she was going through it all so quickly, she laughed and told me she was just checking if everything was there. After that it was 'welcome to the United States' and I was able to proceed  |
| Harassment Level : |
Low |
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Local US CIS Office Review: Honolulu HI
Review Topic: cis_topic
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
March 14, 2009 |
| Embassy Review : |
Well, we're not entirely sure but we think it should be ok.
The interview was at 10.15 AM but we were there at around 10.05 AM. After about 10 to 15 minutes, our number was called and we met the immigration officer who would take our interview. The first impression that we got from this man was very nice, he didn't make a strict impression but seemed to be a bit more relaxed.
First he took our oath and then explained how things would take place, he would mostly look if everything was in order and he would ask questions on base of the forms. He also explained that there might be moments in which nothing would be said but we shouldn't be worried about that as he might still be writing certain things down.
He mostly asked us some general questions, like on which address we lived, when we met, how that this was, when we got married, if I had children (and that was a "yes, one, but there will be two soon" after which he congratulated us) and more of that kind of questions. Nothing special really and you don't have to worry about it I think, as long as your marriage is in good faith and so I did not worry much about those questions either.
And then we came to the scary part, my court record.. he started to read everything and read my explanation also which I added to the application (for those who do not know what it is about, I once have been arrested for participation of theft, however, I never did anything like that. I only once had the goods in my car but at that time I did not even know those were stolen, that is something I found out later when the police arrested me.. so basically that something nothing special but, well, you never know what the USCIS might say). The officer did not ask much about these documents, except if I had been more in contact with the police of if this was the only thing so I told him that there was nothing else except for the one time they pulled me over for speeding but that was nothing special. During the talks that followed I told him that I was quite worried about that part but he told us that it would not be much of a problem and, even though he did not say it with that much words, we shouldn't worry much about it.
After this he gave us some general explanations of what would happen next. He would process the documents and if he didn't see anything weird, which he did not expected, then we should receive, the latest in two months, but more probably at the end of April, the greencard. He also explained how we had to request the permanent residency in two years from receiving the conditional greencard (this one is conditional for two years to see if it is really a bonifide marriage) and that we had to do that within a certain amount of time. He asked us to sign some documents which were related to this and from that it also showed that he didn't think that there was anything weird about our application. He also told us that, if there would be anything unclear or if they needed another document, that they would be in touch but if we do not hear a thing, then wouldn't be a problem.
He asked some documents after this to see that the marriage was really real, we gave him some bank statements and some voided checks which had our names on it, some copies of the registration and title of our car and a few more of these things. This was more than enough for him. We also gave him two pictures that he liked to have for the dossier as extra proof and that was basically all, I think we have been inside for less than an hour.
To know it really sure, I asked again what he thought of the interview and he told us again that we shouldn't have to worry and that he would check everything and that we would receive the greencard, if there were no special things, could receive within the timeframe given. I also asked if he needed the EAD card (employment authorization) and Advance Parole documents but he said he rather didn't do that as, in the unlikely case that something goes wrong, I would at least have the insurance that I can work and travel if needed.. sounds like a solid explanation to me.
So ok, we did not get the relieving "you're approved" but we think we shouldn't worry about it as we really did not get that impression from the immigration officer.
All in all a very good experience. |
| Harassment Level : |
Very Good |
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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
