Jaxpo's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Corey Beneficiary's Name: Mila VJ Member: Jaxpo Country: Philippines Last Updated: 2019-01-08 |
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Immigration Checklist for Corey & Mila:
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Member Reviews: None Found
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Timeline Comments: 14
Jaxpo on 2018-09-17 said:Went today 9/17/2018 to Seoul USCIS to file the I130. The lady who checked our packets for my wife and stepdaughter told us that approval of the I130 takes 3-5 months. I was shocked, because the embassy told us that it takes 6-8 months for the whole process here. She did say that it can be faster for cases that are less complicated.
Also: We had everything tabbed and put into a folder using ACCO fasteners. The first thing the lady did was take all the tabs off, remove the fastener and give me back the folder. She also did not even look at the table of contents that I made and simply handed it back to me. Any extra stuff that was not on the USCIS site they just handed back to me. The ONLY thing she did not check was the evidence part. She just said "This is the evidence?" and I responded yes so she put it back. (She was nice about everything, not rude at all.)
We had filled out the G325 but they never took it from us. She never even asked about it. They did want a copy of my ARC card though which is not listed on the website. Luckily we had it with us. I had gotten a passport photo which is what I read on the USCIS website, however they want a visa photo. 5x5. We had to go to the first floor and have one taken for my wife and I.
There were a few things on the I130 that had to be filled out there. For my wife, she had to list her previously married name, and her maiden name, where it said "other names."
Now we wait...
Jaxpo on 2018-10-01 said:10/01/2018 Received an Email this morning saying that the I-130 for my wife and step daughter were both approved. We never received an NOA1 at all. It went straight to NOA2. Seems really fast considering there was also a Chuseok 3 day holiday involved last week. Total consulate working days from filing to NOA2 was only 8 days.
Jaxpo on 2018-10-05 said:Received the case number and instructions for my wife and daughter's CR1 and CR2 on October 5th, 2018 by email.
Jaxpo on 2018-10-22 said:At the moment, the most difficult part is getting my step-daughter to Korea from the Philippines for the medical exam. As usual, the Philippines is a terrible place to get anything done and getting a tourist visa is no exception. DO NOT believe anything you read on the MOFA website for Cebu. Call them, record the call, ask for their name, make them list every document needed.
If you have a child that is a minor, DO NOT believe anything on the DSWD website and DO use their online system. Again call them and repeat the things above. Even with that it will be a roll of the dice to whether or not your stuff is accepted when you or someone you know takes the stuff in. I am entirely convinced that no one at DSWD has a clue what is actually required.
Jaxpo on 2018-10-22 said:Apparently these message can't be edited. I meant to say "DO NOT" use the DSWD website.
Jaxpo on 2018-11-13 said: Jaxpo on 2018-11-13 said:My wife and daughter did their medical exams on November 6th. The results were picked up on November 13th.
Jaxpo on 2018-11-13 said:I have read some information saying that the CR2 applicant does not need to make an interview appointment. Some are saying that they will just be included in the CR1 appointment. THAT IS NOT TRUE. I called and they said there must be an appointment scheduled for each one.
Jaxpo on 2018-12-15 said:My wife and daughter had their interview yesterday at the U.S. Embassy in South Korea. We arrived on time and were the second people called up. The first reviewed all the documents. They gave us back a lot of extra documents that we had included. In fact, nearly everything that we had prepared as evidence was simply handed back to us. They accepted both the CR1 and CR2 packets and then we waited...for over 2 hours. My wife was then called to the window we first went to and the guy explained we were missing a document for my daughter. It was something we had left at home. He did not catch it the first time and apologized. They still allowed both my wife and daughter to interview. we waited another 30 minutes and then my wife and daughter were called to a different window. My wife was asked five questions or so, all basic stuff and my daughter was asked two questions. They then had my wife bring me up to the window. I was asked one question and it was over. My wife was told that hers was approved, however, my daughter's cannot be approved until we submit the document. However, it will be approved once they receive that. All together the waiting was two and a half hours, and the actual interview was five minutes. With that said, I did see quite a few interviews for other people during that time that took much longer. The lady doing the interview was "strict" at first, however, once the questions were answered she smiled and her demeanor changed a lot. The passports should be available with visa stamps next week. It says 5 business days, however, she acted like it could take less. We'll see. Glad this part is over. Only thing left now is entering the U.S.
Jaxpo on 2018-12-20 said:My wife received her passport and Visa on December 19th. My daughter's is still in administrative processing. I am a little worried about hers being done in a timely manner. They assured us that if we use d the courier service it would just take a day or two extra for processing. I could have went home and got the document myself then took it back to the USCIS before the interview. They however, were adamant that the courier service would not be much longer. We'll see I guess but I have seen no update at all on the site with my daughters passport.
Jaxpo on 2019-01-03 said:My daughter's visa was approved on December 31st. Last thing will be a trip to Guam to stop the clock on entering the U.S.
Alex&Jen on 2019-01-07 said:WOW!! That was very timely and sounds like an easy process. I will be filing for my husband's visa this week. I would like to ask you questions since I have never done this before and we want to be together as soon as possible.
Jaxpo on 2019-01-08 said:We took a trip to Guam on January 5th, 2019 to make it all official. My wife and daughter are now permanent residents of the U.S. It was very easy in Guam for us to be processed. We arrived and did an initial check at customs which took a few minutes. He then called the border patrol office and they came and escorted us to their area. We waited maybe 5 minutes why my wife and daughters packets were checked. Then they called my wife to the counter and explained a few things to her. They didn't ask her any questions. My daughter was then called up and both passports received the stamps. The border patrol lady then let me know about needing to remove the conditions on their visas since they have CRs not IRs and we were done.
Jaxpo on 2019-01-08 said:@Alex&Jen sure you can ask me questions, however, realize that the processing time can be different depending on where you get this all done. Here in S. Korea, this was much faster for example, then it would have been doing it from the U.S. I had a friend and his Korean wife process it from the U.S. and it took them over a year. In fact, it took so long they had to get a second medical exam done. So timing is very dependent on what consulate you are going through.
*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.
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