TastyCake's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Gary
Beneficiary's Name: Anna
VJ Member: TastyCake
Country: Ukraine
Last Updated: 2024-03-19
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Immigration Checklist for Gary & Anna:
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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 : |
Ukraine |
| I-129F Sent : |
2018-12-07 |
| I-129F NOA1 : |
2018-12-11 |
| I-129F RFE(s) : |
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| RFE Reply(s) : |
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| I-129F NOA2 : |
2019-04-23 |
| NVC Received : |
2019-04-30 |
| Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : |
2019-05-14 |
| NVC Left : |
2019-05-28 |
| Consulate Received : |
2019-05-31 |
| Packet 3 Received : |
2019-06-03 |
| Packet 3 Sent : |
2019-06-03 |
| Packet 4 Received : |
2019-06-04 |
| Interview Date : |
2019-07-08 |
| Interview Result : |
Approved
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2019-07-11 |
| US Entry : |
2019-07-18 |
| Marriage : |
2019-07-28 |
| Comments : |
I visited my fiancee to attend the embassy interview with her. She got approved and a few days later she had her visa. I ended up extending my stay there and rearranged things so we could fly to the U.S. together.
Because everything was so 'on the fly', I got talked into a flight through NYC (JFK) instead of direct to Boston. Bad move. JFK is a MESS! We first went through Customs then a separate area for additional questions. This process end-to-end took between 20 and 30 minutes. We then got our bags and went to another terminal for our domestic flight to New England which was 6 or so hours later. When we boarded we sat on the stinking tarmac for two hours waiting for our turn to take off. Terrible. We ended up missing our last commuter rail train home so I had to pay 'uber' to get us there. I would say to avoid JFK if at all possible. |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-129f was approved in 133 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 209 days from your I-129F NOA1 date. |
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Adjustment of Status
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Boston MA |
| Date Filed : |
2019-09-23 |
| NOA Date : |
2019-10-04 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2019-10-24 |
| AOS Transfer** : |
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| Interview Date : |
2020-01-15 |
| Approval / Denial Date : |
2020-01-15 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
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| Greencard Received: |
2020-01-24 |
| Comments : |
1/24/2020 - Card Was Delivered To Me By The Post Office*
1/24/2020 - Green Card received via USPS Priority Mail (no signature required)
1/22/2020 - Card Was Picked Up By The United States Postal Service*
1/21/2020 - Card Was Mailed To Me*
1/18/2020 - Approval notice received in the mail
1/16/2020 - Case was Approved*
1/15/2020 - New Card is Being Produced*
12/14/2019 - Interview appointment letter received in the mail
12/09/2019 - Interview was Scheduled*
11/20/2019 - Case is Ready to Be Scheduled for An Interview*
* denotes a status that was visible online for our case
AOS INTERVIEW
We got through security and over to the USCIS office (thankfully on the 1st floor of a high rise building). We were there about 45 minutes early and the woman would NOT check us in until 30 minutes before the appointment. I think she said the system wouldn't let her check us in earlier.
No big deal. We took a seat for 15 minutes, went back up again and she checked us in, gave us a number and told us to sit by a particular window. Within minutes we were called to that window for a photo and fingerprints (only the index fingers this time). Then they directed us to another waiting area for the actual interview.
There we sat for maybe 10 minutes. They had monitors with numbers displaying and people would get up and go to where the monitor directed them. But for us... this woman came out unannounced and walked right up to us and addressed my wife by name. She clearly saw my wife's photos from the paperwork already available to her. She led us to her office and then the interview got underway.
The first thing she did was have us both take the oath. Then she began asking my wife questions.
During the entire interview she asked me only one question. She asked me how many siblings my wife had and then my job was done for the day.
My wife, on the other hand, was asked somewhere in the neighborhood of 30-35 questions... assorted shapes and sizes. The woman was VERY polite and nice but I was surprised by the number of questions when others on this website seemed to suggest they got only a few questions.
I guess it just depends on the agent you get. Again, the agent we had was very nice. We both liked her very much.
Some of the questions I can recall are:
1) What is the color of our shower curtain?
2) How many bathrooms and bedrooms in our apartment?
3) How many sibings does your husband have?
4) Does your husband have a good relationship with your mom and son?
5) When and where did he propose?
Then the agent picked a select number of those yes/no questions on the I-485 form and asked them.
The only glitch was they had to redo her photo and fingerprints because of some system issue. My wife was worried it was something about her fingerprints that messed something up. We had three agents huddled around the computer trying to diagnose the problem. They reassured my wife it had nothing to do with her.
I thought they were going to do a third try at the photos and fingerprints when suddenly the issue was resolved. The other two agents left and our agent said we were approved, explained the ROC process and we were done.
The key is to relax. My wife was rather nervous, misstated some things, etc. but our agent was very understanding. No need to be nervous. I don't think they're looking to deny you. They're just making sure you really are a couple. |
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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 : |
2019-09-13 |
| NOA Date : |
2019-10-04 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2019-10-24 |
| Approved Date : |
2020-01-15 |
| Date Card Received : |
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| Comments : |
We had a successful AOS interview before this was fully adjudicated so it no longer applies. |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your EAD was approved in 124 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 : |
2019-09-13 |
| NOA Date : |
2019-10-04 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Date Received : |
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| Comments : |
We had a successful AOS interview before this was fully adjudicated so it no longer applies. |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your AP was approved in 124 days. |
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Lifting Conditions
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
National Benefits Center |
| Date Filed : |
2021-10-26 |
| NOA Date : |
2021-10-28 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2021-11-13 |
| Interview Date : |
2024-03-19 |
| Approval / Denial Date : |
2024-03-19 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
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| Green Card Received : |
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| Comments : |
3/19/2024 - We had our combo interview today. Both cases were successfully adjudicated.
9/18/23 - Another colossal waste of time. We just heard back from the senator's office (I was surprised how quickly) and the USCIS liaison ONLY addressed the outstanding N-400 (still stuck at the National Benefits Center... still within 'normal processing time'... same fertilizer as back in June). The I-751 case wasn't even mentioned. So, we have decided to fire the senator's office. They are a complete waste of taxpayer dollars.
9/6/23 - Apparently we are a glutton for punishment. We wrote back to our senator's office for a fresh inquiry after 90 days had passed. This is likely going to be an exercise in futility but we're bored. Let's see what comes of it THIS time. Likely not much. Elected officials = useless
6/7/23 - Senator's office forwarded a note from the USCIS 'liaison' which merely stated this case was within normal processing times. To make matters worse, the 'liaison' stated this case was in Vermont when we knew for a fact it was now at the National Benefits Center. We subsequently confirmed this two times with the USCIS directly through online chat via Ask Emma. The senator's rep said we can reach out again in 90 days but we are questioning the value. This reach out to the senator's office yielded nothing but the standard USCIS response and some of the feedback from the liaison wasn't even correct
5/1/23 - At our request, a Senator's office has gotten involved and has reached out to the USCIS on our behalf
11/4/22 - Online case status changed to 'Case Was Updated To Show Fingerprints Were Taken'
10/27/22 - Case was transferred to the National Benefits Center (NBC). N400 was submitted online on 10/24/2022
11/13/21 - Biometrics waived letter received. Online case status still reads 'Case Was Received' |
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Citizenship
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
Online |
| CIS Office : |
Boston MA |
| Date Filed : |
2022-10-24 |
| NOA Date : |
2022-10-24 |
| Bio. Appt. : |
2022-10-24 |
| Interview Date : |
2024-03-19 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Oath Ceremony : |
2024-03-19 |
| Comments : |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: Ukraine
Review Topic:
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
July 15, 2019 |
| Embassy Review : |
It was an extremely easy process. There are vans across the street where you can pay 100 UAH for things you can't bring into the embassy. It is safe.
Immediately after check-in we were called to the room to provide our documents. This took 10 minutes. We waited maybe 35 minutes and then were called to the window for the interview. The man was very polite and only had a few questions for my fiancee. He had a couple of questions for me as well.
The questions were easy and my recommendation is to simply have all your documents put together ahead of time and you should be all set.
There is a very good visa interview checklist on the embassy website. It tells you all the things that you will need.
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| Rating : |
Very Good |
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Local US CIS Office Review: Boston MA
Review Topic: cis_topic
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
January 16, 2020 |
| Embassy Review : |
We had our AOS interview at the JFK Building at Government Center.
We got through security and over to the USCIS office (thankfully on the 1st floor of that high rise building). We were there about 45 minutes early and the woman would NOT check us in until 30 minutes before the appointment. I think she said the system wouldn't let her check us in earlier.
No big deal. We took a seat for 15 minutes, went back up again and she checked us in, gave us a number and told us to sit by a particular window. Within minutes we were called to that window for a photo and fingerprints (only the index fingers this time). Then they directed us to another waiting area for the actual interview.
There we sat for maybe 10 minutes. They had monitors with numbers displaying and people would get up and go to where the monitor directed them. But for us... this woman came out unannounced and walked right up to us and addressed my wife by name. She clearly saw my wife's photos from the paperwork already available to her. She led us to her office and then the interview got underway.
She asked me one... ONE... question. She asked me how many siblings my wife had and then my job was done.
My wife, on the other hand, was asked somewhere in the neighborhood of 30-35 questions... assorted shapes and sizes. The woman was VERY polite and nice but I couldn't help thinking how others on this website seemed to get less questions.
For example...
What is the color of our shower curtain?
How many bathrooms and bedrooms in our apartment?
How many sibings does your husband have?
Does your husband have a good relationship with your mom and son?
When and where did he propose?
Then she picked a select number of those yes/no questions on the I-485 form and asked them.
The only glitch was they had to redo her photo and fingerprints because of some system issue. My wife was worried it was something about her fingerprints that messed something up. We had three agents huddled around the computer trying to diagnose the problem. They reassured my wife it had nothing to do with her.
I thought they were going to do a third try at the photos and fingerprints when suddenly the issue was resolved. The other two agents left and our agent said we were approved, explained the ROC process and we were done.
The key is to relax. My wife was rather nervous, misstated some things, etc. but our agent was very understanding. No need to be nervous. I don't think they're looking to deny you. They're just making sure you really are a couple. |
| 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
