Can someone explain "Keeping Track" to me

[Afrilaskan Queen 0]

Hi All,

I see that ZeeBee on VJ.com has an awesome track on approvals, denails and such for visa approval in sub-saharan. Perhaps my brain is just completely overwelmed but I have one major question - people refer to patterns and numbers of visa's given. Is this suggesting that people are given or denied visa's based on how many is alloted for that area or the country at the time? Is this an way to predict? Because I see patterns, on some of the charts on this site it appears some areas in particular months have significantly higher denials then other months. What accounts for that?

I am sure everyone figured this out real quick, but I am just puzzled - can someone spell it out for me? Thanks

[Zee Bee 61]

Hmm...I'm not sure what you are talking about with the patterns of approvals and denials. Can you share what you have found?

Here is what I do know: there are no limits on immigrant visas for spouses of USCs (and their beneficiaries), so the denials that are given are probably due to one reason or another, not the number of visas available. The number of visas are not allotted by country, but some countries have more visa petitions than other countries, so it may lead to an increase in denials in those areas.

[Bassi and Zainab 1]

There actually are limits on the number of immigrant visas issued by country by fiscal year. However, denials or approvals are not based on that. Sometimes couples receive an approval and then have to wait for an available immigrant visa. We've had several in Panama last year alone here on VJ. One woman said she was told the wait would be a year. There are no limits on non immigrant visas because they are not directly tied to residency in the US. I don't believe anyone on VJ has yet determined the trend on denials by country. We have identified things that could be red flags and usually share those with people applying for visas. But I don't honestly know if the COs even know. Sometimes it really just seems arbitrary. For instance, there was a large number of visas petitions just before the fees were raised. So, proportionally there could be a larger number of denials. There were staff issues and changes at service centers that effected the processing of petitions in 07-08. That could also have a residual effect on denials or approvals.

[Afrilaskan Queen 0]

Hi Zee Bee, thanks for replying back. I got swarmed at work today, I wish I had more time to respond right now. In short, in answer to your question. For example I was looking at the approval/denials for April for Lagos for the last few years - they always dip way down during that time and visa approvals go way up in September (saw that on this site). I do not know if that's due to less petitions going through at that time or what?

There was a lawyer once who mentioned in passing to me that visa's can be generally given out during certain times more then others, I still wonder what that meant. That's what got me wondering I guess, why do they have spouses wait on each other at all? I guess I'm just still coping with the emotion of being denied for no real reason. 2 years later, I wonder how long they can legally separate you if you have not done anything wrong.

I started analyzing that because the situation my husband faced during his first interview seemed so far out there that I wondered when and where staff is overturned and rotated. Perhaps it's just an "out there" thought, but I've had too much time to think I believe...lol.

Well I have to go, but I hope that answers your question.

[idocare 3]

From my understanding; a K-1 or K-3 visa request is separate from the alloted visa programs. Say for instance; if your an American requesting for someone from another country that is your fiance or spouse to join you here, they have no bearing to the amount of visas alloted to America. You as a U.S. citizen have a right to petition for your fiance or spouse to come to join you here in America.

I believe the petition times are refering to how long it takes to process your petition. But by you requesting a visa as a American citizen; it lessens or pretty much gives your Alien a clear entrance in to America as long as you nor he don't have questionable history that would disqualify one of you.

The wait on filing a K-1/K-3 (from my understanding ) is the time it takes the USCIS to get around to processing your petition. ( They get many request from all over the Globe Countries that I never heard of except for watching the introduction at an Olympic game ) ( It still amazes me how some Americans travel to these not too much talked about countries and find love ) ( Wait; I thought I found love on the internet)

So in short; your case that you filed is based on how fast that our Country can process it; it has nothing to do with a limit of people (entering America) in their particular Country, nor the alloted amount.

My understanding is that if your an American in good standing; you can petition for your loved one to join you here. The wait times exist cause there are a enormous amounts of petitions that the uscis have to process. Even with mentioning that; it's a short cut for your loved one to come into America.

I hope this helps.

Edited February 12, 2009 by idocare