Only EB1/EB2 update on NVC (DQ, IL)

[funxfusion 5]

On 11/14/2025 at 12:11 PM, Oyoafin said:

How was your interview. Kindly share your experience 

 

It went well! I already entered the US last week. Here's the long version:

 

Category EB2 NIW

Processing Consulate - Hong Kong

 

Timeline

PD - 2023/9/20

I140 approved - 2023/12/15

NVC welcome letter - 2024/1/8

DQ - 2024/4/23

Case transferred to Montreal - 2025/1/27

PD becomes current - 2025/5/13

Case transferred back to Hong Kong - 2025/5/28

DQ - 2025/6/4 

Retrogression - 2025/7/1

PD is current again - 2025/9/15

Interview Letter - 2025/9/26

Interview - 2025/11/7

Visa received - 2025/11/10

US Entry @ SFO - 2025/11/18

 

Before the Interview

• I was having some issues scheduling for courier delivery because I actually have an account on us visa scheduling from before, but it was for an H4 case and the profile country was set to my spouse’s country. I had to send a request on usvisascheduling.com to ask them to remove the H4 application and change the profile country back to Hong Kong. They requested:
• Interview Letter copy
• Passport bio page copy
• A signed, written statement showing the request to change the profile country to Hong Kong

 

After rectifying this issue I was able to register for courier service. Note: you need to choose “IV - Registration” for application type otherwise you have to start all over again.

 

The Interview

 

1. The Hong Kong consulate does not allow tote bags or backpacks. I showed up with a small (slightly larger than A4) , see-through document bag and security was OK with it. Absolutely no drinks, no food, no large electronics
2. Led to a smaller waiting room for IV
3. The first consular officer (CO) checks out documents. He asked for:

• passport on file on DS260
• Original HK ID card
• Original HK Birth Certificate (note: if you were born before 1997 and/or your birth certificate was hand written and in the landscape format, you need to obtain a new variation of a certified copy of your birth certificate (核證副本), which is computer printed and in the portrait format. You can apply online for this document on HKGov’s website. 
• Asked if lived anywhere for over 6 months after turning 16, and then provide original police certificates (Hong Kong police certificates are sent directly to the Consulate)
• Asked if I’m married, then provided the original marriage certificate - we were married in Ontario. Be sure to request the “long form”, or the certified copy (NOT the summary) of the certificate, which includes the marriage license and the certificate portion.
• Provided expired US Visas on expired passports ( 1x B1/B2, 1x F1)
• Provided current job’s employment verification letter, which has a company letterhead, a brief explanation on what the company’s business is, my role title, my current salary and my working hours per week (this much info was needed for Ontario OHIP, I just asked my employer to use the same letter)
• Provided current job’s payslips(last 2)
• Provided job offer from a US employer
• Provided past EAD cards - I held 3x DED-EAD cards and 1x OPT-EAD card. 
• Provided form I-94 showing that I left the US before my DED expired
• Provided Court Official Record (for a reckless driving charge that was later dismissed by DA - I obtained this by calling the county’s court clerk and they sent it to a US address) and court case summary.

 

Then came a loooong wait … I think I waited for close to 90 mins. The CO interviewed a lot of FB and marriage based cases before mine. Lots of people were missing documents left and right, or their affidavit of support is insufficient. I was the last to be interviewed that morning.

 

CO then had me do a vow and took my fingerprints.

 

CO then asked the following questions which were surprisingly simple:

Q:When did you first come to the US?

A: 20XX, on F1

Q: what did you do after your studies in the US?

A: work for **company** as a **role**

Q: Where are you currently working now?

A: work for **company** as a **role**

Q: Did you have any trouble with the law (if applicable, explain)

A: Yes, I was going too fast, was clocked **speed** over **posted limit**. In **state**, the state trooper told me that they had to charge reckless if I went **number** over. I then hired an attorney and had the reckless charge dismissed.

Q: Are you married?

A: yes

 

She then told me the case is “approvable” and will recommend the case for approval. Confirmed the case is not under AP. Told me to wait for a week.

 

She kept my current passport and the expired B1/B2 visa

 

The whole process took exactly 2.5 hours from appointment time to the end of the interview. Bring a book otherwise you will be bored to death

 

Courier Delivery

 

After 3 days, I received a text and email from usvisascheduling.com saying that my visa is ready for pickup. I opted for courier office pickup. I went to the designated location and show them the confirmation slip I got when registering on us visa scheduling.com. 

 

The package consists of multiple items - passport, with the immigrant visas printed on it; instructions on how to pay the immigrant fee for USCIS to issue the plastic green card, a note on getting your SSN and global tax burden (yay!), and a dossier that we are instructed NOT to open before seeing the CBP officer when entering the US.

 

Entering the US

Entered via SFO on 11/18. I was told to line up at the All visas line which was very long. When it's my turn, I told the officer that I have an immigrant visa and I gave him the whole packet I received from the consulate. Then I was sent to Secondary.

 

In secondary, officers are a lot stricter about the no phone policy - so bring a book! After waiting for around 30 mins, I was called and the officer asked if I need to change the shipping address for the green card. In my case I said no, and he stamped my passport and told I was good to go. And thus I’m officially admitted as an LPR 🤘

Edited 7 hours ago by funxfusion

[TBoneTX 48,527]

4 hours ago, funxfusion said:

I already entered the US last week. Here's the long version

Congratulations and welcome!

Thanks for your detailed report -- it will be valuable to many others here.