MarJhi's US Immigration Timeline
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Petitioner's Name: M Beneficiary's Name: J VJ Member: MarJhi Country: Philippines Last Updated: 2023-03-25 |
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Immigration Checklist for M & J:
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Member Reviews:
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Timeline Comments: 11

We are using an immigration lawyer for the process. Original application sent on July 10, 2021 but credit card payment was rejected for unknown reason. Used the same card (worked for them) to pay the lawyer the $535 fee and they wrote a paper check to USCIS. So the receipt for the NOA1 was on 7/27/21

Petition approved on 10/27/22 after 458 days, about 15 months. Estimate when petition was filed was 8 months, no nearly double the time from the original estimate.


Complete silence after NOA2 until 96 days letter received the following message from NVC,
"The National Visa Center (NVC) received your fiancé (e)’s/spouse’s approved I-129F petition from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). NVC will now forward the petition to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Manila, Philippines. Please note that the transfer process can take several weeks. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate will contact your fiancé (e)/spouse when they are ready to process his or her petition."

10 days ago our attorney was able to get our interview scheduled for March 9th, however we had to reschedule because that is actually too quick, the date my fiancé receives her NBI clearance and her medical appointment at St. Lukes is on March 9th and 10th.
Our attorney canceled the original interview and today he emailed us with a new interview appointment for March 16th, one week after the medical. I know a lot of people on here don't believe in using an attorney, but ours seems to be on the ball!
March 9th: Receive NBI clearance
March 9th and 10th: Medical appointment at St Lukes
March 16th: Interview at the Embassy

My fiance arrived for Day 1 of her medical at St. Lukes about 2.5 hours early, which she said should have been maybe just an hour early. Overall day one was about 90% waiting and 10% actual testing, answering medical history questions and the drawing of blood. She said everyone was kind and friendly and helpful. Day 2 she will not show up so early now that she knows the traffic situation getting there for a 1PM appointment. Day one took about 3.5 hours. There are chairs outside but those belong to entrepreneurs who charge you to sit in them while you wait to go inside. Bring water!

Day 2 of medical at St. Lukes was about an hour and a half total, mostly waiting. All they did was check vitals and give her shots that she didn't have records for and had her wait to be released. They gave her a cd and a sealed brown envelope, told her not to open either and take them with her to her interview and sent her home. Very easy 2nd day.

Interview @ 6:30AM, approved!

Visa received, 7 days after interview.

Airline tickets are skyrocketing right now so went ahead and booked a flight for May 5th without the CFO appointment in place yet. Best/easiest flight available is from Manila to Honolulu with a 4 hour layover and then a 6 hour flight to here in Phoenix. Before May 5th that flight is nearly $2400, after May 5th its just under $1100. Should have the CFO done well before then and it gives her time to get things in order before she leaves the Philippines. There were cheaper options but it involved more layovers and layovers that were far too short or far too long. 4 hours and 5 minutes in Honolulu should be a reasonable amount of time to get through immigration and make her connection to Phoenix.

CFO shenanigans causing a huge delay. If it wasn't for the CFO she would be here on 3/30 not 5/27. This is the worst part of the whole experience. She has her visa in hand but the CFO stupidity is adding more time to what an excruciating wait has already been.
*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
