CRAIG GING
The Meeting:
March 11, 2004 - Ging's first email response to Craig.
The constant communication went on and sooner progressed through phone calls, daily emails and chats. The communication was daily and this was a very good chance fo both of them getting to know each other further.
May 21, 2004 - Craig's first visit to see Ging. Meeting place was at NAIA at the passenger's waiting area. This was a special day...the day they got engaged ;).
June 01, 2004 - Craig's departure to US. (Tearful for both)
September 03, 2004 - Craig's 2nd visit to Ging...same meeting place.
September 07, 2004 - Craig got his Affidavit of Capacity to Marry at US embassy, Manila.
September 08, 2004 - Craig and Ging applied for their marriage license (Ging's hometown).
September 14, 2004 - Craig's departure to US. (Both were wishing vacation should never end!)
September 23, 2004 - Ging claimed their marriage license.
October 18, 2004 - Craig's 3rd visit to see Ging...they are getting married!
October 24, 2004 - The Wedding Day!
October 26, 2004 - Craig and Ging were off to HongKong for a 5-days honeymoon.
October 30, 2004 - Arrived in Manila from HongKong.
November 05, 2004 - Craig and Ging went to Tagaytay for their honeymoon extension :).
November 07, 2004 - Craig's departure to US. (Heavy heart for both!)
I-130/CR-1 TIMELINE: (Immigrant Spousal Visa Petition)
Using a lawyer...
December 30, 2004 - I-130 package submitted to Vermont Service Center (VSC).
January 03, 2005 - Received NOA-1. This was the receipt date. (I-797 Notice of Action from USCIS).
January 14, 2005 - NOA-1 Notice Date
February 23, 2005 - We received an email from USCIS saying that our case was on RFE (Request for further Evidences) which means the INS needs further informations and documents from us. Missing document was Ging's birth certificate which we believe was submitted. We thought it was a case of misplacement of documents or simply got lost along the way??? 
March 07, 2005 - RFE documents sent to VSC.
March 09, 2005 - RFE documents received by VSC.
March 14, 2005 - case "touched"
May 28, 2005 - Craig's 4th visit to see Ging. They both worked for their joint tax returns filing.
June 15, 2005 - NOA-2. Petition was approved online. (Yehey!)
The papers were then forwarded directly to the National Visa Center (NVC).
NATIONAL VISA CENTER (NVC) TIMELINE:
June 24, 2005 - NVC email saying papers have been received.
July 03, 2005 - Manila case number assigned.
July 13, 2005 - Affidavit of Support & Immigrant Visa fee bills received by Craig (petitioner).
July 18, 2005 - Affidavit of Support & IV fee bill payment sent back to NVC.
July 23, 2005 - a letter from NVC was received by Craig from the mail.
August 11, 2005 - Affidavit of Support form I-864 received by Craig.
August 16, 2005 - Notarized affidavit of support form sent back to NVC.
August 18, 2005 - NVC received forms.
October 07, 2005 - RFE notice was received by lawyer. Tax returns (2003) were the missing documents needed. We were not sure if this was overlooked by our lawyer or a case of document misplacement again, but either of the two was a case of a sad story...it meant our length of wait was extended! :(.
October 13, 2005 - NVC received the RFE documents.
May 15, 2006 - We received an email from USCIS and lawyer too that Ging was scheduled for a visa interview at the US embassy, Manila.
After 7 months, too late. We decided to ignore the interview schedule and chose to go ahead with Ging's adjustment of status here in the US since she was already in the US before the interview was scheduled.
I-129F/K-3 TIMELINE: (Non-Immigrant Visa Spousal Petition)
February 24, 2005 - I-129F package sent to Chicago.
February 28, 2005 - they received the package.
March 07, 2005 - Missouri Service Center (MSC) received the package from Chicago.
March 16, 2005 - case "touched"...(case update through email)
July 05, 2005 - NOA-2 petition approved online! (Yehey!!!)
July 18, 2005 - package was forwarded to US embassy in Manila.
July 22, 2005 - US embassy Manila received package.
January 13, 2006 - Ging's St. Luke's medical examination
January 23, 2006 - Visa Interview at Us Embassy, Manila (approved...thank God!!!)
January 27, 2006 - Ging received her visa at Swagman Hotel, Malate, Manila.
February 02, 2006 - Ging and Craig finally returned to the US together.
Adjustment of Status (AOS) & Employment Authorization Document (EAD) TIMELINE:
March 21, 2006 - Appointment for TD shot vaccination (and PE/blood tests). Yes, civil surgeon did give me PE again...
April 05, 2006 - AOS, EAD & Advance Parole packages submitted c/o our lawyer.
April 28, 2006 - Ging's Biometrics schedule
May 10, 2006 - Ging went for biometrics appointment (USCIS Baltimore)
Note: Ging wasn't able to do her actual biometrics schedule appointment since we were out of town then. Since biometric schedule is usually good for 3 months,, we just followed the instruction to go on any following Wednesday with the same time as noted on the schedule.
June 24, 2006 - Advance Parole (Form I-131) was approved and issued.
June 30, 2006 - Employment Authorization Card (EAD) approved.
July 01, 2006 - Employment Authorization Card received from the mail.
July 07, 2006 - AOS Notice for Interview Date received from the mail.
July 13, 2006 - Ging applied for SSN
August 09, 2006 - Ging got her SSN card from the mail.
August 30, 2006 -Ging had her Adjustment of Status Interview (AOS) at 9:15AM.
September 05, 2006 - Ging got her "Welcome to the USA" letter of notice from USCIS.
September 09, 2006 - Ging received her "Welcome to the USA" letter
September 18, 2006 - Ging got her green card from the mail.
March 14, 2007 - We received an email from the USCIS like the following below:
**DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ***
The last processing action taken on your case
Receipt Number: EAC0507250446
Application Type: I130 , IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR
ORPHAN
Current Status: Case was shipped to the Department of State for visa
processing.
On March 14, 2007, we shipped this approved or re-affirmed case to the
Department of State for visa processing. For more information, please
contact them directly.
If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case
status results listed above, or if you have not received a decision from
USCIS within the current processing time listed*, please contact USCIS
Customer Service at (800) 375-5283.
*Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at
www.uscis.gov under Case Status & Processing Dates.
*** Please do not respond to this e-mail message.
Sincerely,
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
The email above refers to the immigrant petition application in which Ging was scheduled for visa interview supposedly at the US embassy in Manila last May 15, 2006. We both decided to ignore the interview since Ging is already in the US by that time using the K3 visa.
We are following up on this email...
May 11, 2007 - We went for an INFOPASS appointment at 11AM (USCIS Baltimore District Office)
I-130 Update: As per the immigration officer: The papers were forwarded to DOS and is sitting there APPROVED. She said further, there's nothing much to do (that's a good news!) about it since Ging is now a green card holder and all we have to do is just uplift Ging's conditional status to get the 10 years green card 90 days before Ging's GC expires.
SSN Card Update: RE: Removal of the note "Valid For Work Only With DHS Authorization".
No big issue about the note since Ging can still use it that way. But per choice, the note can be removed after Ging can get her GC renewed, or either getting the G-845 form and do status verification.
All went well, that ends well. No BIG things worth doing not until May 2008.
Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence ( I-751) Timeline:
June 03, 2008 - I-751 Petition package sent to Vermont Service Center via Fedex overnight.
June 04, 2008 - Package delivered, received by Stanley according to fedex tracking number.
June 11, 2008 - Check encashed.
June 12, 2008 - Ging received a letter from USCIS saying her GC is extended for antoher year and is authorized to travel within the specified period. (with a notice date of June 10, 2008)
July 03, 2008 - Ging received her ASC appointment notice for biometrics schedule (fingerprinting) with a receipt date of June 30, 2008.
July 19, 2008 - Ging renewed her Learner's Permit (expiring July 21, 2008) at MVA Westminster branch.
July 23, 2008 - Gings Biometrics appointment schedule at 2PM.
August 16, 2008 - Ging was rescheduled for second biometrics (fingerprints were not readable by FBI) at 8AM.
February 19, 2009 - Received a letter of transfer notice from USCIS dated February 12, 2009 saying that the petition will be moved to California Service Center for faster processing.
February 20, 2009 - Case touched.
February 23, 2009 - We got an INFOPASS appointment at 10:30AM.(USCIS Baltimore) RE: TRAVELLING OUT OF THE COUNTRY WHILE GC IS PENDING.
UPDATE: The CO's advice was that I don't need a stamp on my passport. I just have to present the letter of extension sent by USCIS in support for my expired GC.
March 09, 2009 - I-751 Petition is approved as per the approval letter from USCIS received via mail on March 11, 2009.
March 19, 2009 - Received Ging's 10-years Green Card via mail.
N-400 APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION TIMELINE:
September 18, 2009 - N-400 package sent via Fedex.
September 22, 2009 - received and signed for by: B. CONTEH
September 25, 2009 - Check cashed ;)
September 28, 2009 - Received NOA1 from the mail with a notice date of Sept. 24, '09 saying application has been received and is in process.