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Filed: Timeline

Hello,

I granted with CR-1 visa just recently and two weeks ago I arrived to Florida. I just wanted to write my experience how things went with every single step we had with my wife. Because visa journey was so helpful to me to understand more about the situations.

I am originally from Bursa, Turkey. I married with my wife on February 22, 2014. We married in Bursa with small family wedding. After we married my wife stayed with me a few weeks more and turned to USA. Before we got married we hired a lawyer,his name is Arek Nizamian and he is from LA. He helped us a lot a long to way to prepare all documents, with my experience first I can say is hire a lawyer (if you could afford) because lawyer can help you with prepare all documents in order.

All the paper work we prepared took a few months and we send our papers to USCIS on May 2014, and it took 10 months for us to pass all legal process because of the lawyer we worked guided us well. At least 10 months waiting time you should expect.

Before interview you will get an e-mail about which documents you have to prepare. I will tell you exactly what I did and this can give you a tips about what to do.

Medical Exam : I went to Ankara, xray was 45 usd and vaccination was 200 usd . The day later you can take the results if everything goes well with your tests. Takes a few hours.

Birth Certificate: kaymakamliktan aldim (Nufus kayit ornegi)

Police certificate: Adliyeden aldim (arsivli adli sicil kaydi)

There is other paperwork you should prepare which everything you will provide should be original. When consulate sent e-mail that they will appoint that and follow everything on this e mail.

My interview was at 9:30 in the morning in Ankara. I arrived about 9:10. Everything went smooth, everyone in embassy was helpful, not maybe so friendly but trying to help you.

So, when you go in they ask you if you want interview in Turkish or English. I asked Turkish and the lady gave me the number and I have a seat. In about 30 minutes my number came up and I gave all the documents consulate required and proof of relationship. And you go back and seat again. Than after 30 minutes waiting my number came again and I went to window. They took my fingerprints and actual interview started there. There was a Turkish interpreter as well.

Consular officer asked me how did we meet? When did we meet? What I am planning to do when I go to US? Also said very good preparation. But somehow they needed some more extra administrative process and they will contact me in a week. They gave me orange pager.

A week later I received e mail from embassy says that visa is ready to be issued. I sent the y passport and in a week my passport came to PTT branch I picked with visa stamp.

With my experience, I could say follow directions from consulate and consulates web page. Prepare all your documents perfectly and proof of relationship with dates.

Also consular officer was so friendly. I would like you to understand is officers are well educated and doesn't have any personal issue with the applicants, just they want to protect their country and make sure that everything is in place.

Entrance of the USA; my port of entry was from Miami. You should bring envelope with you which embassy sending you with your passport. When I landed Miami I went to visitors line and officers took envelope from me and asked me to follow him. He guided me to waiting room and I started to wait over there. I waited about 1 hour and I gave finger prints and go back and sit again. Than another officer came and guided me to another room and I took a seat and started t wait. About 1,5 hour wait another officer called me and asked me a few simple question like when did I marry and something like that. After that he put entry stamp on my passport. My experience in Miami was good as well. Ofiicers wasn't friendly but wasn't rude as well, from my perspective they are just doing their job which is protecting their country.

So, I tried to explain shortly what happened from beginning till end. Hopefully someone over there can read this information and take good tips.

Good Luck Everyone.

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Kosova
Timeline

Congrats and welcome to the USA

XMY93gI.jpgXMY9m5.png

AAD1m5.pngThankYouUSA-Kosova.jpg

See my Timeline for details of our visa journey
17-Aug-2011 Our Wedding Day in Kosovo 
07-Nov-2011 Filed I-130
21-Nov-2011 NOA1
23-Aug-2012 NOA2 Approved 276 days
10-Jan-2013 Case complete via email

28-Feb-2013 Interview, result AP
11-Apr-2013 Embassy appointment - VISA APPROVED and issued in 4 hours
30-Apr-2013 POE Chicago O'Hare - He's home!

04-Sep-2014 Moved to northern California

12-Mar-2015 Filed ROC
16-Mar-2015 Documents delivered
18-Mar-2015 Check cashed
19-Mar-2015 NOA1 dated 03/16/2015 received in mail
13-Apr-2015 Biometrics completed
02-Feb-2016 Contacted USCIS about case, was told it's on hold because of security checks (email)
04-Mar-2016 Moved to Wisconsin
12-Aug-2016 New Biometrics appointment
14-Sep-2016 Contacted USCIS again about case (email said we should hear from them by Oct 6)
22-Sep-2016 Letter from USCIS dated 9/20 explaining the Service Request is currently being reviewed by an officer.
22-Sep-2016 Letter from USCIS dated 9/20 with Interview appointment for both of us for 28-Sep-2016
28-Sep-2016 Interview, both of us, separated, not hard, 10 min. each, result---said hubby will get GC in about 10 days
26-Oct-2016 *****STILL WAITING*****
02-Nov-2016 Card is being produced!!!
08-Nov-2016 Card is mailed
10-Nov-2016 Card is Delivered!!!! YAY
CITIZENSHIP: 

Biometrics appointment for 2020-03-27 has been cancelled until further notice as all field offices are closed because of COVID-19.

***NOA dated 12/10/2020 USCIS stated they are able to reuse previous Biometrics***

Interview was easy. My hubby's Oath Ceremony is scheduled for February 25th. I can't watch >sad< but happy he is getting his certificate!

25-FEB-2021 Oath Ceremony! My hubby is a Citizen!

 
 
 
 
 
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