Common trends in K-1 approvals

[Starlight95 1]

Hello everyone,

First of all I want to wish all the March, April, and May filers congrats on their approval. I am just happy that they are approving faster than before. I don't know about everybody else, but I noticed a common trend in approvals. It seems like they usually get through the mid month, and than move on to the next month. For instance, if your on the last dates of the month for some reason you are stuck there for some time. I think USCIS follows the FIFO method . It sucks to have filed on the last days of the month, means you may be waiting for some time. This is just my take on this, as I noticed a pattern. I know VJ is not completely accurate, but it gives us an idea at least.

[dutchmatt 1]

Yikes...i am march 26th

[endoftheroad 1]

Hello everyone,

First of all I want to wish all the March, April, and May filers congrats on their approval. I am just happy that they are approving faster than before. I don't know about everybody else, but I noticed a common trend in approvals. It seems like they usually get through the mid month, and than move on to the next month. For instance, if your on the last dates of the month for some reason you are stuck there for some time. I think USCIS follows the FIFO method . It sucks to have filed on the last days of the month, means you may be waiting for some time. This is just my take on this, as I noticed a pattern. I know VJ is not completely accurate, but it gives us an idea at least.

Interesting theory. I think it is more like there is a stack of files and whoever gets which handful and works faster gets the petitioner through first.

[NatPatBen 3]

OP, I see where you're coming from. I noticed that trend too back when I studied Igor's list for long periods of time daily.

I used to wonder if I'd have been better filing at the beginning of January instead of the end of December.

[Otto 83]

FIFO being First In, First Out.

Generally speaking - that is the pattern they follow (at least that's what they claim) - in reality, because of a lot of variables (such as volume of cases, individual case particulars, etc.) it may not actually turn out that way. It could be that a lot of people submit petitions/cases at the beginning/end of the month because it is kind of an artificially start/stop point which might create more volume during these 'peak' periods (kind of like going to the DMV at the end of the month will usually result in longer waits than if you go during the mid-month times.).

[Starlight95 1]

FIFO being First In, First Out.

Generally speaking - that is the pattern they follow (at least that's what they claim) - in reality, because of a lot of variables (such as volume of cases, individual case particulars, etc.) it may not actually turn out that way. It could be that a lot of people submit petitions/cases at the beginning/end of the month because it is kind of an artificially start/stop point which might create more volume during these 'peak' periods (kind of like going to the DMV at the end of the month will usually result in longer waits than if you go during the mid-month times.).

Hmm...that is a good comparison. I see what you mean.

[Starlight95 1]

Yikes...i am march 26th

Hang in there, I am sure they will go back and finish March soon. You are ahead than most of us

[Starlight95 1]

OP, I see where you're coming from. I noticed that trend too back when I studied Igor's list for long periods of time daily.

I used to wonder if I'd have been better filing at the beginning of January instead of the end of December.

Yes, I guess I have been studying it a lot more than I should. But, I am glad that you noticed this pattern as well.

Edited July 21, 2009 by Starlight95

[Starlight95 1]

Hello everyone,

First of all I want to wish all the March, April, and May filers congrats on their approval. I am just happy that they are approving faster than before. I don't know about everybody else, but I noticed a common trend in approvals. It seems like they usually get through the mid month, and than move on to the next month. For instance, if your on the last dates of the month for some reason you are stuck there for some time. I think USCIS follows the FIFO method . It sucks to have filed on the last days of the month, means you may be waiting for some time. This is just my take on this, as I noticed a pattern. I know VJ is not completely accurate, but it gives us an idea at least.

Interesting theory. I think it is more like there is a stack of files and whoever gets which handful and works faster gets the petitioner through first.

Yes, if my theory is right you should be your approval sooner than the end of March 09 filers. Since, you are mid April filer.

[-Cinnamon- 0]

God is great, All the time.

xoxo

[Philosykos 0]

Hello everyone,

First of all I want to wish all the March, April, and May filers congrats on their approval. I am just happy that they are approving faster than before. I don't know about everybody else, but I noticed a common trend in approvals. It seems like they usually get through the mid month, and than move on to the next month. For instance, if your on the last dates of the month for some reason you are stuck there for some time. I think USCIS follows the FIFO method . It sucks to have filed on the last days of the month, means you may be waiting for some time. This is just my take on this, as I noticed a pattern. I know VJ is not completely accurate, but it gives us an idea at least.

I think this 'pattern' is an illusion. I imagine all these adjudicators working on the petitions *roughly* in a first come, first serve order. By the time enough of them have reached the middle of the month for it to make its mark on Igor's List (which represents only a sample of the actual petitions filed), others are already starting to work on the next month.

What happened in January definitely does not support your theory: that month, there was a noticeable gap on Igor's List around mid-January for some time (I particularly noticed this gap because I was one of these mid-month filers), while the people who filed around the 26/27th of the month had long been approved. There were also some early January filers who waited longer. I do think there always is a batch of petitions that came in around the same time that gets stuck with a slow adjudicator, but I think it's random at which time of the month these people have filed.

Ultimately, I think any larger 'pattern' is just your perception, because you feel you are waiting too long, and you are desperately trying to understand why. It's like Murphy's Law... Good luck in getting your approval soon!

[DaleandPat 0]

Hello everyone,

First of all I want to wish all the March, April, and May filers congrats on their approval. I am just happy that they are approving faster than before. I don't know about everybody else, but I noticed a common trend in approvals. It seems like they usually get through the mid month, and than move on to the next month. For instance, if your on the last dates of the month for some reason you are stuck there for some time. I think USCIS follows the FIFO method . It sucks to have filed on the last days of the month, means you may be waiting for some time. This is just my take on this, as I noticed a pattern. I know VJ is not completely accurate, but it gives us an idea at least.

Maybe you have something. I sent my K1petition in on April 17, but the NOA1 was May1. Then 76 days later I have my NOA2. I noticed others close to my NOA1 are also being processed and the NOA2s are really showing up. I thought it odd how the NOA1s in May are being processed and what looks like many of the NOA1s in April are just sitting there. Can it be also that they are picking the low hanging fruit first; the simpler or easier petitions first?

I would think you would be coming up on your approval very soon. Good luck and God bless.

[Starlight95 1]

Hello everyone,

First of all I want to wish all the March, April, and May filers congrats on their approval. I am just happy that they are approving faster than before. I don't know about everybody else, but I noticed a common trend in approvals. It seems like they usually get through the mid month, and than move on to the next month. For instance, if your on the last dates of the month for some reason you are stuck there for some time. I think USCIS follows the FIFO method . It sucks to have filed on the last days of the month, means you may be waiting for some time. This is just my take on this, as I noticed a pattern. I know VJ is not completely accurate, but it gives us an idea at least.

Maybe you have something. I sent my K1petition in on April 17, but the NOA1 was May1. Then 76 days later I have my NOA2. I noticed others close to my NOA1 are also being processed and the NOA2s are really showing up. I thought it odd how the NOA1s in May are being processed and what looks like many of the NOA1s in April are just sitting there. Can it be also that they are picking the low hanging fruit first; the simpler or easier petitions first?

I would think you would be coming up on your approval very soon. Good luck and God bless.

Thanks! Good luck to you on the rest of your journey!

[Starlight95 1]

Hello everyone,

First of all I want to wish all the March, April, and May filers congrats on their approval. I am just happy that they are approving faster than before. I don't know about everybody else, but I noticed a common trend in approvals. It seems like they usually get through the mid month, and than move on to the next month. For instance, if your on the last dates of the month for some reason you are stuck there for some time. I think USCIS follows the FIFO method . It sucks to have filed on the last days of the month, means you may be waiting for some time. This is just my take on this, as I noticed a pattern. I know VJ is not completely accurate, but it gives us an idea at least.

I think this 'pattern' is an illusion. I imagine all these adjudicators working on the petitions *roughly* in a first come, first serve order. By the time enough of them have reached the middle of the month for it to make its mark on Igor's List (which represents only a sample of the actual petitions filed), others are already starting to work on the next month.

What happened in January definitely does not support your theory: that month, there was a noticeable gap on Igor's List around mid-January for some time (I particularly noticed this gap because I was one of these mid-month filers), while the people who filed around the 26/27th of the month had long been approved. There were also some early January filers who waited longer. I do think there always is a batch of petitions that came in around the same time that gets stuck with a slow adjudicator, but I think it's random at which time of the month these people have filed.

Ultimately, I think any larger 'pattern' is just your perception, because you feel you are waiting too long, and you are desperately trying to understand why. It's like Murphy's Law... Good luck in getting your approval soon!

Yes, its discouraging when other May filers get their approvals. Then you just start focusing your attention on Igor's list and trying to figure out their approval system. It's true I am trying to understand how they work. As I feel their is no order to their approvals. It's almost like winning the lottery you will never know when you will win.