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MCOBAQ's US Immigration Timeline

  Petitioner's Name: Matt
Beneficiary's Name: Sergio
VJ Member: MCOBAQ
Country: Colombia

Last Updated: 2023-05-28
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Immigration Checklist for Matt & Sergio:

USCIS I-129F Petition:      
Dept of State K1 Visa:    
USCIS I-485 Petition:  
USCIS I-765 Petition:      
USCIS I-131 Petition:      
USCIS I-751 Petition:  
USCIS N-400 Petition:  


K1 Visa
Event Date
Service Center : California Service Center
Transferred? No
Consulate : Bogota, Colombia
I-129F Sent : 2021-01-18
I-129F NOA1 : 2021-01-20
I-129F RFE(s) :
RFE Reply(s) :
I-129F NOA2 : 2021-08-25
NVC Received : 2021-09-01
Date Case #, IIN, and BIN assigned : 2021-09-10
NVC Left : 2021-10-26
Consulate Received : 2021-10-27
Packet 3 Received : 2021-11-09
Packet 3 Sent :
Packet 4 Received : 2021-11-09
Interview Date : 2021-12-01
Interview Result : Approved
Second Interview
(If Required):
Second Interview Result:
Visa Received : 2021-12-09
US Entry : 2022-02-25
Marriage : 2022-04-30
Comments :
Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Your I-129f was approved in 217 days from your NOA1 date.

Your interview took 315 days from your I-129F NOA1 date.


Port of Entry Review
Event Date
Port of Entry : Orlando
POE Date : 2022-02-25
Got EAD Stamp :
Biometrics Taken : Yes
Harassment Level : 0
Comments : Professional, stress-free experience.


Adjustment of Status
Event Date
CIS Office : Orlando FL
Date Filed : 2022-05-19
NOA Date : 2022-05-23
RFE(s) : 2023-03-30
Bio. Appt. : 2022-06-27
AOS Transfer** :
Interview Date :
Approval / Denial Date : 2023-05-22
Approved : Yes
Got I551 Stamp :
Greencard Received: 2023-05-27
Comments : 12/8/2022: Advised by USCIS phone rep that our interview had been waived, but application is still being processed. We are within usual processing time for Orlando field office.
3/30/2023: Received RFE. They are asking for a copy of our marriage certificate (it was included with the I-485 we submitted) and a DS-2053 medical report from the exam prior to entry (that should be in that sealed envelope we handed over at the POE; how would we have it?!?).
3/31/2023: Submitted online request for help to US Representative’s office re documents USCIS has requested but which they should have on file. Received phone call confirming they’d already sent the issue to USCIS and will get back to us (usually a week).
4/12/2023: Congressman’s office received a bland USCIS reply basically restating what they asked for in the RFE.
4/14/2023: New medical exam completed. Currently waiting on blood test results before we can receive completed I-693.
4/28/2023: USPS Delivered our RFE response to USCIS Orlando Field Office.
5/15/2023: Online status changed to reflect that USCIS received response to RFE.
5/22/2023: Case Approved
5/26/2023: Card Produced
5/27/2023: Card Received!!!


Employment Authorization Document
Event Date
CIS Office :
Filing Method :
Filing Instance :
Date Filed : 2022-05-19
NOA Date : 2022-05-23
RFE(s) :
Bio. Appt. :
Approved Date : 2022-06-28
Date Card Received : 2022-07-02
Comments :
Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Your EAD was approved in 40 days.


Advance Parole
Event Date
CIS Office :
Filing Method :  
Filing Instance : First
Date Filed : 2022-05-19
NOA Date : 2022-05-23
RFE(s) :
Date Received :
Comments :
Processing
Estimates/Stats :
Based on timeline data, your AP may be adjudicated between September 16, 2022 and October 6, 2022*.

If this date range has passed or your application is past due per USCIS processing times then you should consider calling the USCIS to inquire on your petition. If you have been approved please update your timeline.


Member Reviews:

Consulate Review: Bogota, Colombia
Review Topic: K1 Visa
Event Description
Review Date : December 6, 2021
Embassy Review : Overall a professional and positive experience at the US Embassy for my fiancé’s K-1 visa interview. We arrived at the visa applicant entrance a few minutes before the appointment time and an attendant checked his passport and appointment sticker (which had been placed on his passport at the fingerprint appointment). I double checked that I was allowed in as the US citizen petitioner, and she confirmed that I was. We waited in a line specifically for K-1 visa and immigrant visa applicants (next to us were lines for non-immigrant visas and for US citizen services) for a few minutes. During this time we were given a laminated card that listed the order in which they wanted the applicant to have the documents ready. The line moved along through security at a reasonable pace, but there was plenty of time to get the documents ready.
Once inside (you’re inside the door but it’s kind of an outdoor environment protected from the sun but open to the elements - and beware of any birds hanging out on the beams above you…they might just leave you a present!) there are signs directing you to wash your hands - not everyone complies.

The first window you come to is really just to confirm the type of visa you’re applying for and to review your documents. I stood a couple of feet behind my fiancé as he spoke with the officer and handed over documents. Once everything was in the proper order, we were directed to a waiting area for the immigrant visa officers.

We waited roughly 20-30 minutes until my fiancé’s name was called. He stepped up to the window and spoke with the officer via the phone, and again I stood a couple of feet behind him to indicate I was there with him but that I did not want to intrude. While I could not hear the questions, I could tell from my fiancé’s answers that they were rather straightforward questions about how we met, how many times I’d visited, if we both spoke the same languages, what type of work we both did, etc. The officer asked where I was at the moment, because my fiancé pointed to me over his shoulder. This lead to a polite smile and wave between me and the officer. Many documents were passed to the officer and quickly reviewed and passed back to my fiancé, including the evidence of ongoing relationship since the I-129F had been filed. I had given my fiancé the I-134 Affidavit of Support and many more financial documents than the instruction packet asked for, and he handed over all of that to the officer - and he kept it all. In the end, the officer tucked my fiancé’s passport into a file folder (at this point I knew we were getting good news) and told him he’d been approved and would received the passport with the visa via DHL in about 2 weeks.
All together, we were at the embassy for 2 hours. The actual interview lasted about 5-10 minutes.

We stayed at the Hyatt Place hotel, which was about an 8-10 minute walk down the street from the embassy. The room was comfortable and perfectly clean, breakfast was included each morning, and the service was friendly.

(updated on December 9, 2021)
Rating : Very Good


Timeline Comments: 8

blank avatar Apc90 on 2021-11-25 said:
Hello! I would like to know what additional steps did you do after the US Embassy in Colombia received your case. My case was received the same day as you but we haven’t heard anything since then…did you only wait for the package or did you do something additional? Is the package sent to the beneficiary or to the petitioner? Thank you and I wish you the best for the interview!!
blank avatar Apc90 on 2021-11-25 said:
Hello! I would like to know what additional steps did you do after the US Embassy in Colombia received your case. My case was received the same day as you but we haven’t heard anything since then…did you only wait for the package or did you do something additional? Is the package sent to the beneficiary or to the petitioner? Thank you and I wish you the best for the interview!!
MCOBAQ on 2021-11-25 said:
Hi! So about a week after our file was received in Bogota and we hadn’t heard anything, we did three things. (1) I emailed the embassy at ivbogota@state.gov and requested they send the relevant instruction packets so that my fiancé could schedule his interview (I included the case number, fiancé’s name, fiancé’s DOB, and my name). A week later, on about 11/4, with no response, (2) My fiancé went ahead and submitted his DS-160 online form and paid the $265 application fee. (3) The next day, I sent an email to asa_contactus+co+info+en@visaops.net saying that the file had been received in Bogota, that the DS-160 had been submitted, fee paid, and please send the instruction packet. I included the same info as above, plus the DS-160 application confirmation number which was assigned when that form was submitted. No response other than an automated reply to say they’d received my email. At last, on 11/9, my fiancé received the welcome email from the embassy with the instruction packet 3/4 attached along with some other attachments re the Intl Marriage Brokers Act, etc. So, which of the above triggered them to finally send the email to him with the instructions? I’m not entirely sure. Given the lack of response, I somehow doubt it was my emails. If your fiancé has not submitted the DS-160 yet, I’d suggest doing that and paying the fee asap. I have a feeling that’s what moved things along. Let me know if you have other questions. Best of luck!
blank avatar Sara&Rich on 2021-12-15 said:
Hello, First of all, congrats on approval!! that is awesome. How long before the interview did your fiance do the medical exams? were they difficult to schedule? my fiance is from Medellin so I want to schedule everything within a few days of each other is possible so we dont have to make mulitple flights. thank you
MCOBAQ on 2021-12-15 said:
Hi - scheduling the interview and then getting the medical exams scheduled so there would be enough time for them to process the results ahead of time was a bit difficult, I’m sorry to say. When we were scheduling, there were no interview dates very far out, so when a date about 10 days out opened up we took it right away. Then my fiancé went about calling/emailing/messaging on WhatsApp with the only 2 medical clinics that do exams for K1 applicants in Colombia. After a full day, he got the medical exams scheduled to take place over 2 days. The results would not be ready for another 3 business days after that, so rather than stay in Bogota the entire time, he flew back home (he lives in Barranquilla). He returned 2 days before the interview (and I flew down to meet him), and that’s when he was able to pick up the results. Honestly it all will depend on the schedule when your fiancé gets his interview arranged. Likely your fiancé will either have to make two trips to Bogota (one for medical and one for interview), or make one extended visit to Bogota because the medical clinic needs several days after the exams to produce the results. By the way, when my fiancé went to pick up his results, he was directed to come to the clinic at 6:30 PM. He was allowed up into the office along with dozens of other K1’s waiting on their results. I was required to wait out in the street. Two hours later, the cafes were closed and I was shivering. Still worth it though.
LauraRamirez on 2022-12-17 said:
Hi! Congrats on your approval! Happy for you :) I have a question, how did you go inside the embassy with your fiancé? It’d be so helpful for me once I go since it’d be nice to have his support with me! Thank you.
MCOBAQ on 2022-12-17 said:
Hi - Thank you so much. When we got to the K-1 visa applicant line, there was an embassy employee making sure everyone entered the correct line. I asked if I was allowed to go with my fiancé, because I was the US citizen petitioner, and they said yes. It was that simple really. Like I said in my review, I did not interfere in my fiancé’s interview, but I stood a few feet behind him so that the officer could see I was there to support him and answer questions if he wanted me to. If you’ll be more comfortable with your fiancé there and he is able to be in Bogota, then I would say he should definitely go with you. Let me know if you have any questions- and good luck!
LauraRamirez on 2022-12-19 said:
Thank you so much!!! He’ll definitely be there now that we know is possible! And thank you your detailed review. I’ll let you know if we have any more questions.
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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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