zomgitsrin's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Bo
Beneficiary's Name: Serene
VJ Member: zomgitsrin
Country: Malaysia
Last Updated: 2016-04-07
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Immigration Checklist for Bo & Serene:
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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 : |
Texas Service Center |
| Transferred? |
No |
| Consulate : |
Malaysia |
| I-129F Sent : |
2015-02-13 |
| I-129F NOA1 : |
2015-02-18 |
| I-129F RFE(s) : |
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| RFE Reply(s) : |
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| I-129F NOA2 : |
2015-08-10 |
| NVC Received : |
2015-08-21 |
| Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : |
2015-08-21 |
| NVC Left : |
2015-08-28 |
| Consulate Received : |
2015-09-01 |
| Packet 3 Received : |
2015-09-15 |
| Packet 3 Sent : |
2015-09-21 |
| Packet 4 Received : |
2015-10-05 |
| Interview Date : |
2015-10-19 |
| Interview Result : |
Approved
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2015-10-22 |
| US Entry : |
2015-11-20 |
| Marriage : |
2015-12-09 |
| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-129f was approved in 173 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 243 days from your I-129F NOA1 date. |
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Port of Entry Review
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| Event |
Date |
| Port of Entry : |
JFK |
| POE Date : |
2015-11-20 |
| Got EAD Stamp : |
No |
| Biometrics Taken : |
Yes |
| Harassment Level : |
0 |
| Comments : |
"Flew in to JFK from Oslo Gardermoen on K1 visa. Fiance was with me, and we both took the line for "non-American citizens" as I had to go through processing.
Queue was very long, but we stood in it watching the news about the Paris attacks. Took us over 1 & 1/2 hours to get to the immigration counters.
Went up to the counter together, handed over our passports and sealed envelope. Taken to the side office where we sat and waited while the officers went through the paperwork. Was reminded to "make sure you get married within 90 days, or we'll come lookin' for ya!" with a wink and a smile, then sent on our way with no problem at all.
Overall, easy and painless experience. Immigration officers are friendly and understanding; they've definitely processed their share of K1 visas for sure!" |
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Adjustment of Status
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Charleston SC |
| Date Filed : |
2016-01-23 |
| NOA Date : |
2016-01-27 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2016-02-24 |
| AOS Transfer** : |
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| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
2016-03-30 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
No |
| Greencard Received: |
2016-04-07 |
| Comments : |
Did not have an interview. AOS approved while EAD and AP still said "Case Received". |
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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 : |
2016-01-23 |
| NOA Date : |
2016-01-27 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2016-02-24 |
| Approved Date : |
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| Date Card Received : |
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| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Based on timeline data, your EAD may be adjudicated between March 19, 2016 and March 26, 2016*.
If this date range has passed or your application is past due per USCIS processing times then you should consider calling the USCIS to inquire on your petition. If you have been approved please update your timeline. |
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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 : |
2016-01-23 |
| NOA Date : |
2016-01-27 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Date Received : |
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| Comments : |
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Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Based on timeline data, your AP may be adjudicated between March 29, 2016 and April 11, 2016*.
If this date range has passed or your application is past due per USCIS processing times then you should consider calling the USCIS to inquire on your petition. If you have been approved please update your timeline. |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: Malaysia
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
March 28, 2016 |
| Embassy Review : |
Appointment was scheduled for noon. Fiance was with me; granted entry via his American passport and my I/C.
You get passed through 2 security checks - wear simple, light clothing/shoes and do not bring any electronics in with you. Car keys and such paraphernalia will be left with the first security counter at the front of the building. Second security just walks you through a metal detector and (if necessary) a simple pat down. Security staff will then stamp your interview letter with corresponding letters (my K1 letter got a 'B' stamp) and give you a queue number.
Proceed to waiting rooms and stare at electronic counter on the walls. Eventually called up to the counters 3 times: Document submission, fingerprinting, and actual final interview.
Protip: Have your documents in the exact order as the list sent to you in Packet 4, as the staff collecting the documents will ask for them going down that list. The better you know your stack of papers, the easier and quicker the process will go for you.
The most excruciating part of the entire process is the waiting. My final interview only took place at about 4.30PM or so, so I'd been there for about 5 hours. There were plenty of travel visa applicants waiting with me, which the embassy handled first - I assume the travel visas are more straightforward and easier to process - before getting around to the immigration visas (study/work/migrants).
The final interview was a breeze compared to everything else. You start off taking an oath to tell the truth, and are asked some questions:
- How did you two meet?
- What have you been doing since then?
- Why did you two decide to move to the US to get married?
- What are you planning to do in the States?
- What are your wedding plans like?
Basically just trying to get a good idea of your relationship timeline. If you two know each other well enough (and you should!) and just tell the honest truth, you'll make it through just fine. I had also been previously rejected for a travel visa (twice), but it did not affect this K1 application whatsoever (the interviewer brought it up to clarify, but that was it).
The interviewer also did not ask me for the rest of the photos and proof of continuation of relationship that was requested in Packet 4 (but I did have them prepared with me).
After a bit of typing on her computer, the interviewer then told me that my visa was approved and that I would be notified of the availability of my passport + visa for pick-up at the Aramex offices.
I received an email from Aramex about 3-4 days later telling me my passport was ready at the office. Drove over to pick it up, then jetted off to America!
Overall, a pretty easy, pleasant experience. The staff was friendly and understanding, the embassy is comfortable to wait in (with bathrooms and water fountains available), and the process fairly straightforward. Just be prepared for a bit of (uncertain-ish, slightly confusing) waiting, but it'll all be worth it in the end! |
| Rating : |
Good |
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POE Review: JFK
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| Event |
Description |
| Entry Date : |
2015-11-20 |
| Embassy Review : |
Flew in to JFK from Oslo Gardermoen on K1 visa. Fiance was with me, and we both took the line for "non-American citizens" as I had to go through processing.
Queue was very long, but we stood in it watching the news about the Paris attacks. Took us over 1 & 1/2 hours to get to the immigration counters.
Went up to the counter together, handed over our passports and sealed envelope. Taken to the side office where we sat and waited while the officers went through the paperwork. Was reminded to "make sure you get married within 90 days, or we'll come lookin' for ya!" with a wink and a smile, then sent on our way with no problem at all.
Overall, easy and painless experience. Immigration officers are friendly and understanding; they've definitely processed their share of K1 visas for sure! |
| Harassment Level : |
Low |
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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
