cwaf's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: Chris
Beneficiary's Name: Sveta
VJ Member: cwaf
Country: Ukraine
Last Updated: 2012-06-13
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Immigration Checklist for Chris & Sveta:
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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 : |
2008-02-15 |
| I-129F NOA1 : |
2008-02-19 |
| I-129F RFE(s) : |
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| RFE Reply(s) : |
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| I-129F NOA2 : |
2008-07-22 |
| NVC Received : |
2008-07-25 |
| Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : |
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| NVC Left : |
2008-08-15 |
| Consulate Received : |
2008-08-18 |
| Packet 3 Received : |
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| Packet 3 Sent : |
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| Packet 4 Received : |
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| Interview Date : |
2008-10-06 |
| Interview Result : |
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Second Interview
(If Required): |
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| Second Interview Result: |
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| Visa Received : |
2008-10-08 |
| US Entry : |
2008-10-14 |
| Marriage : |
2008-11-25 |
| Comments : |
2-4-08 I-29F was delivered to the Nebraska Service Center PO Box
2/14/08 I-29F returned to me--wrong location
2/15/08 Mailed to CSC
2/18/08 received at CSC (holiday)
2/20/08 check cashed
2/23/08 received NOA1 in mail
3/26/08 waiting as patiently as possible
5/2/2008 flying back to spend a week with my sweetheart in Kherson
5/8/2008 Fiance and her daughter have medical exams in Kiev while I am visiting--succesful
5/11/2008 returned back home....without them :-( but I will return for the interview whenever it is scheduled!
6/16/08...no updates yet. :-( However, we have decided that I will not travel for the interview, but will wait until after to come over and bring them home.
7/8/08 My package that I mailed on June 16th finally arrived. I sent my completed documents along with a couple of gifts. I was relieved the package arrived, and they were happy with the contents! :-) Now, if I can only get an NOA2 !!!!!
7-21-09 still waiting..impatiently!
7-22-08 received CRIS email saying we have been approved! :-)
7-28-08 NOA2 hard copy letter arrived at my house!
7-30-08 I called NVC and they verified my petition was there, but not yet sent to Kiev. The woman said to call back on Friday.
8-1-08 Called NVC in morning and in evening. Still has not shipped
8-2-08 Received letter from NVC stating they have my petition and gave new KEV case number. Stated it will ship to Kiev within one week.
8-11-08 have received 3 letters from NVC with the same info, just different dates on the letters. Called NVC again today and we are still in 'administrative processing'--'security check', supposedly.
8-15-08...called NVC early morning. Still in administrative processing. Called my congressman's office. Faxed over letter as requested.
8-19-08..called NVC and was told my package shipped on 8-15 !! I am not sure if my congressman had anything to do with it or not. Packet 3 was downloaded and completed by May. Fiance will call to schedule interview tomorrow.
8-20-08 Sveta called Embassy and they said our papers were "not yet there" and suggested she wait until next week to call again. :-(
9-2-08 Sveta called Embassy and the interview has been scheduled for October 6th. I have booked a one-way ticket to Kiev for the interview, and will purchase the three one-way tickets back home ONLY AFTER the visas are in hand!
Oct 3, 2008...depart for Kiev. interview on October 6th. Scheduled return with my new family October 14th. Wedding scheduled for Nov 25, 2008.
October 6th--interview went well
October 8th--picked up passport from FedEx office
October 14th--flew to the USA
October 15th--unpacking and house cleaning!
October 16th-- MORE house cleaning! hahaha (it will never end)
11-25-08 MARRIED at Key West! |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your I-129f was approved in 154 days from your NOA1 date.
Your interview took 230 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 : |
2008-10-14 |
| Got EAD Stamp : |
Yes,Passport Stamp |
| Biometrics Taken : |
Yes |
| Harassment Level : |
0 |
| Comments : |
there was some confusion as to if my fiance`s (at the time) daughter had to have a particular form. One official said yes and another said no. We filled it out and all went smoothly. I do not recall what form it was. |
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Adjustment of Status
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
Indianapolis IN |
| Date Filed : |
2009-01-20 |
| NOA Date : |
2009-02-02 |
| RFE(s) : |
2009-02-09 |
| Bio. Appt. : |
2009-02-24 |
| AOS Transfer** : |
2009-03-16 |
| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
2009-04-14 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
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| Greencard Received: |
2009-04-23 |
| Comments : |
mailed AOS package on 1-20-09.
NOA received on Feb 2, 2009
RFE received for tax information on Feb 9, 2009
Mailed RFE documents Feb 10, 2009
Biometrics scheduled for Feb 24th
Biometrics went smoothly for both.
My wife's and step-daughter's cases have been tranfrred to CSC 3-16-09
April 21st...received 'welcome" letters in mail, dated 4-14
April 23rd...Green cards arrived in mail!
June 15, 2009..went back to SS office to have new cards ordered without restrictions |
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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 : |
2009-01-20 |
| NOA Date : |
2009-02-02 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
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| Approved Date : |
2009-03-25 |
| Date Card Received : |
2009-03-30 |
| Comments : |
mailed EAD with AOS packet to Chicago on 1-20-09
NOA received Feb 2, 2009
RFE received for tax information on Feb 9, 2009
Mailed RFE documents Feb 10, 2009
Biometrics scheduled for Feb 24th
CRIS emails--cards ordered March 25, 2009--cases updated online
received both EAD cards--March 30th |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your EAD was approved in 64 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 : |
2009-01-20 |
| NOA Date : |
2009-02-02 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Date Received : |
2009-03-26 |
| Comments : |
mailed AP with AOS packet to Chicago on 1-20-09
NOA received Feb 2, 2009
AP arrived for only stepdaughter on 3-26
AP arrived for wife on 3-27-09 |
Processing
Estimates/Stats : |
Your AP was approved in 59 days. |
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Lifting Conditions
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| Event |
Date |
| CIS Office : |
California Service Center |
| Date Filed : |
2011-01-12 |
| NOA Date : |
2011-01-19 |
| RFE(s) : |
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| Bio. Appt. : |
2011-02-28 |
| Interview Date : |
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| Approval / Denial Date : |
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| Approved : |
Yes |
| Got I551 Stamp : |
No |
| Green Card Received : |
2011-04-04 |
| Comments : |
mailed I-751 packet on January 12, 2011. I expect and RFE as I forgot to copy both front and back of the greencards. D'OH!!
January 21st..check cashed..no NOA yet
Jan 22nd ..received NOA dated 1-19
Wife scheduled for biometrics on 2-28
step-daughter scheduled for biometrics 2-25 I wish they were on the same day!
4-4-11 new green cards arrive for both! |
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Citizenship
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| Event |
Date |
| Service Center : |
Phoenix AZ Lockbox |
| CIS Office : |
Indianapolis IN |
| Date Filed : |
2012-01-26 |
| NOA Date : |
2012-02-03 |
| Bio. Appt. : |
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| Interview Date : |
2012-04-19 |
| Approved : |
Yes |
| Oath Ceremony : |
2011-06-24 |
| Comments : |
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Member Reviews:
Consulate Review: Ukraine
Review Topic: K1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
October 17, 2008 |
| Embassy Review : |
Our interview was fairly smooth. My story is a little longer and detailed, but I feel it may help someone in the future. We arrived in Kiev on Saturday and rented an apartment (arranged 2 weeks ahead) for 4 nights for $55.00 a night. Getting TO the apartment proved a challenge when the wheels broke on my suitcases, but we made it. We went to a Pro Bank to pay for our applications, knowing they closed at 4pm. Our taxi driver made CERTAIN we made it on time, as he zipped along the roads. We made it with 15 minutes to spare, paid for the applications, and recieved the receipt/notice. We went to the Embassy on Sunday just so we knew where we were to go for our Monday morning, October 3rd, 9:30am appointment. We arrived a little early-9am--and there were many people waiting outside. We walked up to the front and I showed my passport and was allowed to go ahead since I was a USA citizen. However, my fiance and her daughter were not allowed in yet since they were NOT USA citizens yet and not yet married to one. The guards told me to go ahead, so I took all of our paperwork, thinking I would get a headstart with it. It is not completely clear where to go, but I was finally instructed to go to the Immigration room. I was surprised since a K1 is a nonimmigrant visa, but I went on back. After waiting for 25 minutes for 9:30 to arrive, I began looking back down the hallway for my fiance. Three other 9:30 appointment women came into the room while I waited. One woman told me, through her daughter, that "my woman was not allowed in". I immediately went outside with all the paperwork and discovered they were not allowed in because I had their passports!!  After providing those to the guards, we were ushered into the guard building, leaving the banned items there to retrieve later. Back in the Immigration room, we had 2 women who had gotten ahead of us. However, it only took aout 15 minutes before we were at the window and providing the documents as the man asked for them. We were instructed to sit back down and wait until called again. After a while, we were called and Sveta and her daughter both were electronically finger printed. We returned to our seat again to wait. There were two or three women who had been waiting along with us, and when their names were called, it took them only 5 minutes each to complete the 'interview' and walk out with the pink card in hand. When finally our turn, the man--an American--asked me if I spoke Russian. I replied "no" and he joked "good! now we can talk all about you!" He asked them something in Russian and after Sveta answered, he asked me about how many times I had been over before to Ukraine. He had my information in front of him, so I knew he was just testing me. I found out later that he had asked the same question to Sveta and he was comparing our answers. After informing him, he said "OK! That's it! Everything is fine." He had the women raise their right hands and swear to the truth, and then I did the same. He gave the pink card and we were off to the FedEx tent/pavillion in the courtyard. There we obtained the information needed to allow us to retrieve the passport with the visas directly from the FedEx office instead of waiing for it to be delivered. That wa sit. We arrived at 9am and left about 11:30. I think ours was a little longer since there was Sveta and her daughter, but it was not an uncomfortable wait. The people were all helpful and I saw no one that was not pleasant.
The next afternoon (Tuesday) we were explored the city and decided to go to the FedEx office for 2 reasons: the first was we hoped the passport would be there even though FedEx had not yet called us. The second reason was so we would know where we were going when it was time. It was good that we scouted a day ahead because the FedEx office was not an easy place to locate! Her passport was not there yet. The FedEx employee informed us the Embassy brings over the passports at 6pm daily, so we hoped it would arrive that evening abd be ready for us the next morning. We had a nervous time, though, because we had to leave the apartment at noon on Wednesday and were not certain where would would stay if the passport was not yet ready. However, those fears were relieved at 11:15 when FedEx called and said we could pick it up!
The only potential problem was a mispelling in one of three places for their last name. Unsure as to how big of an issue it would be, we went back to the Embassy and I spoke to a woman there. She said since it was an obvious typo and not a completely different name, it would be fine. It turned out she was correct and no one even mentioned it during our trip to the USA. Overall, I was very happy with our experience. |
| Rating : |
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
