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By Marrienne in General Immigration-Related Discussion

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Marrienne Rising Star

Marrienne   112

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Greece
 Timeline
Posted

(I apologize if this is in the wrong section, please move if it is )

I was wondering if you can suggest a POE that you think is fast and efficient since we will be travelling a very long ways with 3 small children (who will probably be very cranky by that point).

We plan on booking from here to our selected POE and then from that airport to Grand Rapids.
Selections include, New York, Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago.

We are thinking Chicago O'Hare.

What do you guys think??

Click "spoiler" below for a detailed account of our journey to a CR1 visa via DCF in Athens, Greece.

 

2011 - Met hubby online and became friends
Early 2013 - Confessed our love for each other * Late 2013 - I got pregnant with our daughter
2014 - Our baby was born in Athens, Greece and completed our family. We now have two boys and a girl!! 2013 - 2015 - Looking for jobs in Greece, none were available (due to socioeconomic crisis) 2015 - Decided only way to feed our family was to immigrate and started the process December 2015 - Got married (Greece has a LOT of red tape for foreigners marrying Greeks)
January 2016 - Finished gathering all documents and getting them translated
* * DCF in Athens, Greece * *
28th January 2016 - Finally filed I-130s
29th June - ISSUED!!!!!!1st July - Visa packages and passports delivered to DHL.4th July - Visas in hand! CU in two weeks USA!!
19th July- POE Detroit. All went well!! (excluding our screaming, jet lagged toddler!!)

 

After Arrival in the US

September 2016 - Hubby is diagnosed with congestive heart failure
October - February 2016 - Battle with drug use, overdosing, bringing home a tiny paycheck

March - July 2017 - I am working 80 hr weeks to make ends meet. Discovered hubby's affair. Still overdoses and is hospitalized. Has quit working all together.
July - October 2017 - Marriage counseling. Revealed hubby has "several" mental conditions. Is started on several mental meds.

October 2017 - Got accepted for a college course. Got better job to help raise my kids.

October 2017 - March 2018 - Situation at home is toxic. He files for divorce.

July 2018 - Divorce is final. I have full custody of our daughter.

 

ROC (GC expires July 19th 2018)

July 16th - Package for ROC is delivered to the CA service center (divorce waiver).

August 30th - NOA1 received with 18 month extension (fee waiver approved).

March 28th 2019 - Biometrics

August 8th 2019 - Case Approved No RFE No Interview - 10 year GC in production

N400 (Online - Detroit, MI office)
June 6th 2023 - Applied for naturalization under 5 year rule.
June 7th 2023 - Application received/Biometric will be reused.
June 16th - Interview scheduled.
July 27th - Upcoming interview.



**Our DCF journey to an IV took 5 months and 1 day from turning in the I-130 to getting "Issued"**


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Hypnos Grand Master

Hypnos   6,576

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

PoE will be the first place you enter the US at that's on this list: https://www.cbp.gov/contact/ports

It does not have to be anywhere near your final destination. Whatever is the most convenient for you would be the best.

I would add that I know from personal experience that Chicago O'Hare is an extremely busy and massive airport. If young children are an issue, you may wish to look elsewhere.

Widow/er AoS Guide | Have AoS questions? Read (some) answers here

 

AoS

Day 0 (4/23/12) Petitions mailed (I-360, I-485, I-765)
2 (4/25/12) Petitions delivered to Chicago Lockbox
11 (5/3/12) Received 3 paper NOAs
13 (5/5/12) Received biometrics appointment for 5/23
15 (5/7/12) Did an unpleasant walk-in biometrics in Fort Worth, TX
45 (6/7/12) Received email & text notification of an interview on 7/10
67 (6/29/12) EAD production ordered
77 (7/9/12) Received EAD
78 (7/10/12) Interview
100 (8/1/12) I-485 transferred to Vermont Service Centre
143 (9/13/12) Contacted DHS Ombudsman
268 (1/16/13) I-360, I-485 consolidated and transferred to Dallas
299 (2/16/13) Received second interview letter for 3/8
319 (3/8/13) Approved at interview
345 (4/3/13) I-360, I-485 formally approved; green card production ordered
353 (4/11/13) Received green card

 

Naturalisation

Day 0 (1/3/18) N-400 filed online

Day 6 (1/9/18) Walk-in biometrics in Fort Worth, TX

Day 341 (12/10/18) Interview was scheduled for 1/14/19

Day 376 (1/14/19) Interview

Day 385 (1/23/19) Denied

Day 400 (2/7/19) Denial revoked; N-400 approved; oath ceremony set for 2/14/19

Day 407 (2/14/19) Oath ceremony in Dallas, TX

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Harpa Timsah Grand Master

Harpa Timsah   13,258

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Israel
 Timeline
Posted

O'Hare is the busiest airport in the country, or it was. I don't know if you can engineer a good POE though. Too many unpredictable factors. You all can probably go in the citizen line with your husband, which is faster. But you will have to have secondary inspection which can take a bit.

AOS for my husband
8/17/10: INTERVIEW DAY (day 123) APPROVED!!

ROC:
5/23/12: Sent out package
2/06/13: APPROVED!

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Marrienne Rising Star

Marrienne   112

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Greece
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thanks guys!

What about Newark or Detroit then?

Click "spoiler" below for a detailed account of our journey to a CR1 visa via DCF in Athens, Greece.

 

2011 - Met hubby online and became friends
Early 2013 - Confessed our love for each other * Late 2013 - I got pregnant with our daughter
2014 - Our baby was born in Athens, Greece and completed our family. We now have two boys and a girl!! 2013 - 2015 - Looking for jobs in Greece, none were available (due to socioeconomic crisis) 2015 - Decided only way to feed our family was to immigrate and started the process December 2015 - Got married (Greece has a LOT of red tape for foreigners marrying Greeks)
January 2016 - Finished gathering all documents and getting them translated
* * DCF in Athens, Greece * *
28th January 2016 - Finally filed I-130s
29th June - ISSUED!!!!!!1st July - Visa packages and passports delivered to DHL.4th July - Visas in hand! CU in two weeks USA!!
19th July- POE Detroit. All went well!! (excluding our screaming, jet lagged toddler!!)

 

After Arrival in the US

September 2016 - Hubby is diagnosed with congestive heart failure
October - February 2016 - Battle with drug use, overdosing, bringing home a tiny paycheck

March - July 2017 - I am working 80 hr weeks to make ends meet. Discovered hubby's affair. Still overdoses and is hospitalized. Has quit working all together.
July - October 2017 - Marriage counseling. Revealed hubby has "several" mental conditions. Is started on several mental meds.

October 2017 - Got accepted for a college course. Got better job to help raise my kids.

October 2017 - March 2018 - Situation at home is toxic. He files for divorce.

July 2018 - Divorce is final. I have full custody of our daughter.

 

ROC (GC expires July 19th 2018)

July 16th - Package for ROC is delivered to the CA service center (divorce waiver).

August 30th - NOA1 received with 18 month extension (fee waiver approved).

March 28th 2019 - Biometrics

August 8th 2019 - Case Approved No RFE No Interview - 10 year GC in production

N400 (Online - Detroit, MI office)
June 6th 2023 - Applied for naturalization under 5 year rule.
June 7th 2023 - Application received/Biometric will be reused.
June 16th - Interview scheduled.
July 27th - Upcoming interview.



**Our DCF journey to an IV took 5 months and 1 day from turning in the I-130 to getting "Issued"**


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Harpa Timsah Grand Master

Harpa Timsah   13,258

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Israel
 Timeline
Posted

When you said New York I thought you meant JFK. I would take Newark; it's my closest airport and its kind of crappy, but it's big enough where people should know how to process immigrant visas, and small enough where it's easy to get around.

AOS for my husband
8/17/10: INTERVIEW DAY (day 123) APPROVED!!

ROC:
5/23/12: Sent out package
2/06/13: APPROVED!

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NikLR Grand Master

NikLR   13,220

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

O'Hare is the busiest airport in the country, or it was. I don't know if you can engineer a good POE though. Too many unpredictable factors. You all can probably go in the citizen line with your husband, which is faster. But you will have to have secondary inspection which can take a bit.

Nah that would be Atlanta. It's actually the busiest airport in the world.

OP have you looked at the POE reviews?

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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Marrienne Rising Star

Marrienne   112

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Greece
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

I have but was hoping for a little newer info as some os years old

Click "spoiler" below for a detailed account of our journey to a CR1 visa via DCF in Athens, Greece.

 

2011 - Met hubby online and became friends
Early 2013 - Confessed our love for each other * Late 2013 - I got pregnant with our daughter
2014 - Our baby was born in Athens, Greece and completed our family. We now have two boys and a girl!! 2013 - 2015 - Looking for jobs in Greece, none were available (due to socioeconomic crisis) 2015 - Decided only way to feed our family was to immigrate and started the process December 2015 - Got married (Greece has a LOT of red tape for foreigners marrying Greeks)
January 2016 - Finished gathering all documents and getting them translated
* * DCF in Athens, Greece * *
28th January 2016 - Finally filed I-130s
29th June - ISSUED!!!!!!1st July - Visa packages and passports delivered to DHL.4th July - Visas in hand! CU in two weeks USA!!
19th July- POE Detroit. All went well!! (excluding our screaming, jet lagged toddler!!)

 

After Arrival in the US

September 2016 - Hubby is diagnosed with congestive heart failure
October - February 2016 - Battle with drug use, overdosing, bringing home a tiny paycheck

March - July 2017 - I am working 80 hr weeks to make ends meet. Discovered hubby's affair. Still overdoses and is hospitalized. Has quit working all together.
July - October 2017 - Marriage counseling. Revealed hubby has "several" mental conditions. Is started on several mental meds.

October 2017 - Got accepted for a college course. Got better job to help raise my kids.

October 2017 - March 2018 - Situation at home is toxic. He files for divorce.

July 2018 - Divorce is final. I have full custody of our daughter.

 

ROC (GC expires July 19th 2018)

July 16th - Package for ROC is delivered to the CA service center (divorce waiver).

August 30th - NOA1 received with 18 month extension (fee waiver approved).

March 28th 2019 - Biometrics

August 8th 2019 - Case Approved No RFE No Interview - 10 year GC in production

N400 (Online - Detroit, MI office)
June 6th 2023 - Applied for naturalization under 5 year rule.
June 7th 2023 - Application received/Biometric will be reused.
June 16th - Interview scheduled.
July 27th - Upcoming interview.



**Our DCF journey to an IV took 5 months and 1 day from turning in the I-130 to getting "Issued"**


.
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Lemonslice Experienced

Lemonslice   4,632

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Honestly, I have flown to all of those airports from other countries (not activating my visa though), and as much as I had good experience at times, it was crazy crowded at other times. It is hard to plan your arrival with a quiet time at the airport and each and every agent will be more or less friendly depending on the day.

Focus on what you can control to make your decision. My pick would be to take the flights with the least amount of connection (ideally, only one). Then a connection with plenty of time not to feel rushed. Dulles, Detroit or Newark have somewhat shorter walk from the international arrivals to the regional flights. Snacks, games, toiletries to refresh.

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SunflowerSweet Proficient

SunflowerSweet   1,321

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

I had an absolutely terrible experience at Newark when I was returning from England earlier this year. I think it was due a combination of lack of staff, as less than a fourth of the stations where officers check your documents were open and only one of the multiple bag re-check stations was being used, as well as construction that had closed a significant amount of the terminal.

Our plane had come in almost an hour earlier than expected and I ended up just barely getting to my next gate with the 3 hour layover I had budgeted. People had gotten restless and angry waiting in line and were shouting at security. It was not fun.

This can happen at any of the airports you mentioned though, so it's really hard to say for sure which is best to go with. I have not had any problems with O'Hare, but when I fly in there it's always my final destination, so I can't say much about the experience of re-checking and getting to another terminal.

Edited by MorganandMichael

~*INTENT IS DETERMINED AT POE*~

 

Forever wishing for an eye-roll reaction.

 

 

K-1 Visa~
9/28/2015 - I-129f Packet Mailed to Texas Lockbox
10/1/2015 - NOA 1 Email - I-129f sent to California Service Center
10/8/2015 - NOA 1 Hard Copy
10/27/2015 - NOA 2
11/21/2015 - Packet 3 Received
1/08/2916 - Medical! Lots of jabs >.>
2/23/2016 - APPROVED!
6/20/2016 - POE
7/29/2016 - Married ❤️

~*Approval 146 Days from NOA1*~


AOS ~
9/9/2016 - AOS/AP/EAD packet mailed to Chicago Lockbox
9/11/2016 - Delivered to Chicago Lockbox
9/20/2016 - Received Text/Email NOA1
9/23/2016 - Hard Copy NOA1s
10/12/2016 - Biometrics Appointment
11/04/2016 - AP Status "Approved" EAD "Date of Birth Updated"
11/18/2016 - Received EAD/AP Combo Card!
12/23/2016 - Received Green Card

~*Green Card 95 Days from NOA1*~

 

ROC~

10/12/2018 - Mailed ROC Packet

11/8/2018 - NOA-1 

7/5/2019 - Biometrics

~*STILL WAITING 607+ Days since NOA*~

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A'n'L Proficient

A'n'L   735

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Norway
 Timeline
Posted

I always find Detroit to be very efficient. Maybe not the friendliest staff...

If it isn't difficult, it isn't worth it.

 

K1 process

9/24/15: I129f sent

9/30/15: NOA1

11/2/15: NOA2

Delayed processing due to work

3/15/16: Medical

4/28/16: Interview (approved)

Delayed entry due to work

8/12/16: POE Detroit

 

9/4/16: Wedding!

 

AOS process:

9/9/16: I485/I131/I765 sent

9/14/16: Received 3xNOAs by text/e-mail (day 2)

9/14-18/16: Received 3xpaper NOAs 

9/23/16: Received biometrics appointment letter (day 11)

10/3/16: Biometrics appointment (day 19)

11/4/16: EAD+AP approved (day 53)

11/16/16: EAD status changed to card shipped (day 65)

11/17/16: EAD/AP combo card received (day 66)

12/30/16: Notice of interview scheduled (day 109)

2/1/17: AOS interview (day 142) - APPROVED

2/8/17: GC received (day 150)

 

ROC process:

11/3/2018: ROC window opens

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NikLR Grand Master

NikLR   13,220

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

So to clarify does your POE need to be one of those mentioned on the list - or can you go clear in say San Jose, CA?

they're coming from Greece so likely the POE will have to be on the east coast.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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