K1 Visa Timeline for a Japanese & U.S. couple in 1999

As I know what a pain it is to deal with the United States Immigration & Naturalization Service, I am posting my timeline for marrying a Japanese citizen via the K1 (Fiance) visa process. The whole process is a pain in the rear. Actually my experience went about as smoothly as it could so I really feel for those who have glitches or more complicated situations. I recommend following this process as opposed to doing something like having your loved one come over as a tourist and then getting married. It seems to taken significantly longer to get the adjustment of status processed for such couples and the foreigner can't legally work or leave & return to the U.S. in that period.

Timeline

• 4/01/1999 Mailed I-129F Petition to Nebraska Service Center
• 4/25/1999 Received Notice of Action (Receipt of I129F) with a receipt date of 4/13/1999 and notice date of 4/21/1999
• 5/15/1999 Received return of original documents sent in with I-129F
• 6/03/1999 Received K1 Visa Packet from American Embassy - Tokyo postmarked 6/1/1999, dated 5/28/1999
• 6/08/1999 Went to get vaccinations, police records & birth certificate (koseki) per instructions; we translated the koseki ourselves
• 6/28/1999 Picked up vaccination forms & police agency forms and turned in K1 packet to American Embassy in Tokyo
• 7/10/1999 Received Notice of Action (Approval Notice) with a receipt date of 4/21/1999 and notice date of 7/1/1999 saying that I-129 petition has been approved
• 7/18/1999 Received appointment letter dated 7/13/1999 (postmarked 7/15) for visa interview at embassy 
• 8/04/1999 Interview at American Embassy in Tokyo; interviewer looked at photos, made sure everything was in order and stamped the passport -- received visa!
• 9/22/1999 Applied for Adjustment of Status (I-485) in Detroit; application was deemed not complete; the self-translation of koseki (birth certificate) was not accepted so had a Japanese teacher notarize the translation
• 9/29/1999 Submitted notarized translation, received conditional permanent residency (passport stamp) same day (I had prepared I-765 -- Employment Authorization -- but did not use)
• 12/01/1999 Received conditional green card with expiration of 9/28/2001 (notice date 11/26/1999); we were all set but... noticed that our last name was misspelled!
• Spring/1999 Applied for new green card to fix spelling mistake;  fee was waived
• 6/18/2000 Received Notice of Action (Replace Alien Registration Card) with Received Date of 3/21/2000 & notice date of 6/13/2000 (postmark 6/15)
• 9/11/2000 Received replacement green card with notice date of 9/7/2000 (postmark 9/8/2000)
• 7/07/2001 I-751 Removal of Conditional Status petition sent with following evidence:
  • 3 Affidavits from friends
  • New IRA Account confirmation letter
  • Renters Insurance Policy
  • Homeowners Insurance Policy
  • Joint Visa Statement
  • Federal Income Tax Form 1040
  • State Income Tax Form
• 8/09/2001 Received Notice of Action (for I751 application) with a receipt date of 7/17/2001 and notice date of 8/2/2001 (postmark 8/6/01).  It stated "Your alien card is extended 1 year - employment & travel authorized. Processing your form will require a minimum of 300 to 360 days. If you have not heard from us within 12 months, then you may contact this office" 
• 7/16/2001 Received permanent green card with expiration date 7/11/2012 (postmark 7/13)

The pink text represents actions taken by my fiancé in Japan.  All other text represents actions taken in the U.S.  The exact day for some dates are uncertain; in those cases, the color has been set to a lighter shade. 

I hope this information is useful for some of you out there. If you feel I can be of further assistance, please contact me via my guestbook link below. Also if you haven't already done so, be sure to check the k1 faq for more information about the k1 visa process.