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jon&cess's US Immigration Timeline

  Petitioner's Name: Jon
Beneficiary's Name: Cess
VJ Member: jon&cess
Country: Philippines

Last Updated: 2012-02-11
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Immigration Checklist for Jon & Cess:

USCIS I-130 Petition:      
Dept of State IR-1/CR-1 Visa:    
USCIS I-751 Petition:  
USCIS N-400 Petition:  


IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Event Date
Service Center : California Service Center
Transferred? No
Consulate : Manila, Philippines
Marriage (if applicable): 2011-02-07
I-130 Sent : 2011-04-11
I-130 NOA1 : 2011-04-13
I-130 RFE : 2011-07-13
I-130 RFE Sent : 2011-07-18
I-130 Approved : 2011-07-28
NVC Received : 2011-08-08
Received DS-261 / AOS Bill : 2011-09-08
Pay AOS Bill : 2011-09-09
Receive I-864 Package : 2011-09-10
Send AOS Package : 2011-09-22
Submit DS-261 : 2011-09-13
Receive IV Bill : 2011-09-14
Pay IV Bill : 2011-09-14
Send IV Package :
Receive Instruction and Interview appointment letter : 2011-09-22
Case Completed at NVC : 2011-10-24
NVC Left : 2011-11-03
Consulate Received : 2011-11-08
Packet 3 Received :
Packet 3 Sent :
Packet 4 Received : 2011-11-02
Interview Date : 2011-12-09
Interview Result : Approved
Second Interview
(If Required):
Second Interview Result:
Visa Received : 2011-12-16
US Entry : 2012-01-18
Comments :
Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Your I-130 was approved in 106 days from your NOA1 date.

Your interview took 240 days from your I-130 NOA1 date.


Port of Entry Review
Event Date
Port of Entry : San Francisco
POE Date : 2012-01-18
Got EAD Stamp :
Biometrics Taken :
Harassment Level : 5
Comments :


Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Manila, Philippines
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Event Description
Review Date : December 10, 2011
Embassy Review : I've read a lot of consulate reviews here in VJ and all did help me a lot during my USEM interview yesterday. As a way of giving back and helping others, I'm gonna write my experience and share it to everyone.

Arrived at the embassy around 7am for my 8:30am appointment. The line wasn't that long (prolly coz its raining. hehe). Presented my passport and appointment letter at the officers inside the tent. They put a numbered sticker at the back of my passport and put it inside a zip lock (passport wide opened with the biographic page visible). Another sticker (with the same number) was put in a blank 2go visa delivery form. They then instructed me to proceed to the 2nd door (entrance for immigrant visa applicants). Here, I did undergo security check and I must say strict compliance is a MUST! No electronics, no fluids in any form, no foods! Candies are allowed though! They're gonna put your bags in a scanner (like the ones in an airport). After that, went through another door, did fall in line to get your queuing number (3 windows were dispensing the numbers). At the window, they're gonna ask for your appointment letter. They returned the last two pages (I believe they only need the first two) then gave me my lucky number 6169 (time 7:13am). They told me to proceed to the new building, 2nd door again (with entrance for immigrant visa applicants signage) and wait for my number to be called. All metal doors are heavy. Haha!

When I entered the new building, there was another security check (manual), yhen I took my seat and waited for my number to flash. Waited for two hours. My number flashed at window 40 for the biometrics (only 2 windows cater inkless finger scanning, window 40&41). 2 questions was asked, your name and birthday. Then they will instruct you to put your four left fingers in the scanner, then the right, then both thumbs. It only took a minute and its done. I sat and waited again for my number to flash for the filipino pre-screener. Waited for another two hours then I was called at window 43. The filipina prescreener was nice. We converse in tagalog. She requested me to hand her over my passport and sign the part 2 of the DS230 form. Asked my name, birthday, who is my petitioner, my relation to my petitioner, how did we meet (when I told her we were schoolmate during gradeschool), she was in awe, "akalain mong kayo din pala magkakatuluyan" she commented, I just smiled. She continued asking, when did you get married, when was the last time you saw him, and was surprised to my answer, "2 days after ng kasal nyo umalis na sya?", I nodded in approval. She continued asking, when did he arrive in the US, how did he got there, how did you meet again, "nurse din sya?", I corrected her, I answered "he's an automotive technician". She asked me who is our co-sponsor and what is his relation to my hubby. She later asked for our pictures. Coz my scrapbook can't fit through the provided slot, she asked me to flip the pages. As she was looking/reviewing my files, I saw a small pink slip on top of all the documents stamped with the word "APPROVED". Deep inside, I was rejoicing. Haha! Then she said I take my seat again and wait for my number to flash for the final/american CO interview.

After 2 hours, my number flashed at window 59 (time 11:30am). My American CO interviewer looks "cool". Irish-American wearing a shirt (unlike the other CO's wearing long sleeves and tie) and with lots of blings around his neck. Haha! He greeted me good morning, I greeted him back, asked me how am I doin, I said great, He then asked me how do I want our interview to be, tagalog or english. I chose english. He then asked me to raise my right hand and swear before him. He asked me what is my name, my birthdate, who is my petitioner, what is my relation to my petitioner, how did we meet, what does he do for a living (I told him I have here with me my hubby's new employment letter coz hubby's unemployed during our NVC stage, but he didn't asked for it). Asked when hubby arrived in the US, how did he get there, and reacted "How could you possibly marry someone who have been in the US for 11 years?", I told him how my hubby and I met again after so many years and was convinced. What really bothered and confused me was when the CO started asking about my co-sponsors AOS papers. Below is our conversation:

CO: Who is "the name of co-sponsor"?
Me: He is our co-sponsor
CO: What is his relation to your petitioner?
Me: He is my hubby's uncle
CO: Does he have a wife?
Me: His wife passed away a year ago
CO: Does he have any kids?
Me: He has three
CO: How many are still living with him?
Me: One
CO: The co-sponsor didn't declare in his IRS that he has a son living with him. He stated that a parent and a sister was staying with him.
Me: (shocked inside coz the CO was focusing on my co-sponsor's papers, good thing I reviewed his documents) I believe his son pays for his own taxes
CO: Ohhh, how old is his son?
Me: 25 sir
CO: okay

And this time, I noticed him looking at my co-sponsor's I-864 form, shaking his head. I saw that on the household size part of the AOS, (which my co-sponsor totaled "02" : me and him, instead of "04" : me, him and his 2 declared dependents) the CO put "4" beside the "02" total and wrote something.

After that he told me that would be all, that's all the questions he needs to ask, and that I should take a seat and wait for my number to be called again for further instructions. I was waiting for him to tell me the magic words "CONGRATULATIONS YOUR VISA IS APPROVED AND WELCOME TO AMERICA" but no to avail. So I asked him, Sir, is my visa approved? He told me,"I CANNOT CONFIRM THAT AS OF THE MOMENT. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED SOME TECHNICALITIES but your papers looked good. Just wait for your number to be called again".

After hearing this, I felt devastated. All that's running in my mind during that time was that the CO was shaking his head while looking at my co-sponsors AOS form. Okay, it is true that he put a wrong total number of house hold size (putting "02" instead of "04"), but hey, his annual income ranges $38K per year. That would be enough for a house hold size of 6. And I was also thinking, was it my fault he put the wrong total number of house hold size? Can that simple mistake jeopardize everything we did? A lot of things were going through in my mind and I was literally shaking!

Cut off time (12noon-1pm), so I went outside and talked to my mom. I was cranky and felt sorry for being mataray to her. I was so stressed and all that. Glad she accompanied me, we sat together in the middle of the rain downpour and started praying. She also texted my entire family and asked to pray for me. After that, I felt somewhat relieved and re-enter the building (same process all over again).

When my number was called again, I was praying, crossing my fingers and toes hoping that I don't get a 221g form. Thank GOD! The guy at the last window told me that I can be with my prince this christmas. He also asked me if I'm still practicing my profession (I am a nurse). Then commented that I work in the US as a nurse coz I'll earn more that what I'll be earning here in PI. He later instructed me to drop my 2go form at a window for the visa delivery! I am approved right? What y'all think?

Over all it was still a pleasant experience (expect for the fact that it was raining cats and dogs the whole time). The American CO was strict but I do believe that he's just doin his job.

Lesson learned: PRAY! It can really do MIRACLES! I'm a living and breathing proof of that. Study all of your documents. You never know what your American CO might ask you! All of the time I spent reviewing really paid off. Smile all the time. Be confident and defend your answers. That's what I did.
Rating : Good


POE Review: San Francisco
Event Description
Entry Date : 2012-01-18
Embassy Review : Hello everyone! As promised, I'm gonna share my detailed POE experience last jan 18th of this year. POE was on SFO.

Hubby and I arrived on SFO last jan 18th at 6:30pm. A lot of people were in the US citizen's lane. Hubby instructed me to go to the new immigrants line, far right, only 3 people were on that line. I just brought my visa packet, passport & admission record (given during the flight) with me and left everything else with hubby. A serious faced, strict Chinese-American immigration officer was at the counter. When my turn was called, he asked for my passport and form (I think its a customs form - not sure though). Coz I was unable to present him the form (we were asked to fill up forms at the plane, hours before landing. An admission record for me, a form for US citizens for hubby and a customs form for the both of us. Those who traveled together will only get one customs form. Hubby has ours) he was lookin for, he shouted "next". He didn't even look at me, nor gave me instructions. So I asked him, where should I go, what should I do. Luckily, a fellow Filipina was next in line with me, so she showed me the form. After recognizing the form, I told the officer that I'm with my husband and he has that form, he stared at me and told me to "go to your husband". I thanked him and went back to my hubby.

After 30mins, our turn was called, a Indian-American immigration officer catered us. We handed out our passports, my visa packet and all of our 3 forms. He took my picture and biometrics and told us to move to another lane (I think its lane 7, left side - another line for new immigrants, he didn't open my visa packet). There were 2 lines at lane 7. The American immigration officer told us to go the 2nd line. He was only catering the 1st line! After an hour of standing and waiting in line, another officer approached his counter and gave out forms. Our American officer had run out of green card forms! That's when the American officer asked everyone in the 2nd line to get one form, print our index fingerprint, sign and move at the back of the 1st line! By that time, all of the other counters were empty. So, for speedy process, we were again, asked to move to another counter. A Vietnamese-American immigration officer will serve us this time. Again, we handed out our passports, my visa packet, all of our 3 forms and my green card form. Our officer was very friendly. The immigration officer on the counter beside us, catering another client, sounds pissed. She was shouting, telling the client he should not lie with her and that she can deny his entry to the US. Our immigration officer and hubby chatted for quite a while. I was already starving! Haha! When he opened my visa packet, he was in shocked. He can't find my pictures. He told me, each packet usually has 2 2x2 pictures inside but mine has none and those pictures were needed in order for them to issue me my green card. Luckily, I brought with me 8 2x2 pictures! LOL! So I gave the immigration officer 2. He later then explained us the removal of conditions procedure, asked us to sign and gave us a copy. He told us that the green card may took about 1-6months to process.

It took us 2 long, excruciating hours to get out of the airport!

BTW, I just received my US SSN last monday!
Harassment Level : Moderate


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*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

vjTimeline ver 5.0




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