it's been 16 weeks since NOA1 and no news - normal??

[Imwaitingforyou 0]

July 16th? well I've been waiting since June 17th for mine so you may have a ways to wait yet. in less than a week is my 5 month mark and nothing so far my thoughts to you is just patience. I call my fiancee 2-3 times a week to keep from going crazy but I'll admit it isn't cheap. But good luck on the waiting in truth there isn't really any easy way to handle it you just got to be as patient as possible

[nattrav 0]

here is my point: I 130 leads to a complete green card for your spouse with a timeline about 12 months.

I 129 leads to only a temporary visa for your spouse with a timeline of about 7 months not

to mention more $$$.

When you do the math it comes out that the K 1 visa is kind of lame, that's why I would go I 130 if I had to do it all over again. I heard some I 130s get processed much sooner than the I 129s. The longer they stretch the timeline for the I 129, the less sense it makes.

yeah, can see your point - the money seem better with the i 130 - but - we didnt want to be married and apart - we've been living together for 3 years, in different countries working together, so being separated while engaged then getting together for our big day would be better for us, than trying to plan the wedding and visa app, then getting married, then 'see ya!'

knowing that when we get together we get to do last few wedding things, then get married (YAY) and get a flat together, is the thing that is making the process bearable....

ah, the things we do for

[waitwaitwait 3]

Waiting is no fun but on the positive side. The fact that you are waiting for NOC 2 and did not get a Request for information it is encouraging. An RFI would definitely put you outside the norm. Congratulate yourself for doing a complete job on your petition submission.

[Yellowhead 12]

I don't kknow where you guys get the idea of five months...I have been reading a whole lot of the posts where these couples get their visas mostly after 6 or 7 months. It does not matter when you get NOA1 or NOA2, if you get your visa after 8 months, then 8 months is your timeline. In my understanding the I 129f (to be more specific) is not serving it's purpose. By the way is there any one out there who can tell us why they came with the I 129 petition? I am asking because its no difference now between the I 129 and the I 130. Infact, If I had to do it all over I would go for the I 130... It is less expensive with your partner getting their green card much sooner, and more. Think about it and do the math before reply. Again the uscis or whoever is responsible are not using the I 129 K 1 visa for it's original purpose. It's that simple.

It is not that simple. Every step of the timeline is different depending on a number of factors. I-129f filing location, consulate in the foreign fiances country, their processing times, and any RFE's that happen along the way. I129-f is not the same as I-130. I 129f serves its purpose as a fiance visa. It is suitable for fiances, not couples who are already married. This is why they have the I-129f petition. These timelines for individual steps in the process are valuable in that they give people a framework in which to base their case, based on the individual factors that their cases entail. Not everyone is willing to get married and live apart for a year in some cases, or more, so the fiance visa exists for this reason. It allows couples to get to know each other before signing their lives off to each other. It makes tons of sense and serves its purpose quite well. Yes, the waiting sucks, but patience is a good skill to learn. Especially when marrying someone after knowing them quite minimally in person

Not to mention, some people aren't willing to marry if there is a chance that they could never be a resident in the same country. I-129f gives them this piece of mind before tying the knot.

To answer the original posters question, people are correct. 5 months is the guideline right now (it has been less in the past, but loads shift throughout the year). Just relax and you will get it soon June filers are currently getting their NOA2's at the CSC, so you shouldn't be too far behind. Best of luck!

[aoifemc 2]

exactly. poeple should not be getting impatient with others, this site is for giving and receiving advice and there are no stupid questions! so lighten up people!

[CoffeeMuse 5]

I call my fiancee 2-3 times a week to keep from going crazy but I'll admit it isn't cheap.

If you want to talk daily and have a computer, it is much cheaper to use the internet to talk with something like Skype or Ventrilo. A microphone and speakers or headset is all you need and you can chat cheaply or for free, depending on what you have access too. I use a ventrilo server I have had access to to talk to my fiancee but I've been told there are free ventrilo servers you can set up that have a limited number of users allowed but that should be fine for just 2 people.

[nattrav 0]

To answer the original posters question, people are correct. 5 months is the guideline right now (it has been less in the past, but loads shift throughout the year). Just relax and you will get it soon June filers are currently getting their NOA2's at the CSC, so you shouldn't be too far behind. Best of luck!

i know! i've seen a number of june filers - up to mid june - receiving ther NOA2, which makes me so excited to see each day there are new approvals...the USCIS are moving along, slowly, but surely....YAY!!!!

[turtlewife 0]

hi, where did u send your petition?

[bulon 3]

hi. last february 20, 2010 we filed our k1 petition but was denied last may 10, 2010. we are denied because we only submitted the form I-129F. we did not include other required documents such as proof of relationship, g-325, cover letter, etc. we did not research well.

this june 18, 2010 we refiled and got our noa1 last june 25, 2010. we now asked for a professional help and completed our form I 129f with all the package needed in assembling it.

2 days ago, we called uscis and asked about our petition because its nearing the 5 months mark estimate which is on nov. 25, 2010, but they told my fiancee that we will wait for another 4 months in the usual 5 months wait because our k1 petition is refiled. hope this is not true...if it is true it means our noa2 wait will be 9 months and we can get it on march 2012...

can this be true???...pls help!!!thank you very much and congratulations to those who got their noa2!

[CoffeeMuse 5]

As my timeline shows, I sent the I129F in October 2009 and received the NOA1 later that same month. I had to wait until about January 20, 2010 for the NOA2 (notice of action which was the approval of my I129F application). It took about 12 weeks to get my approval and it was a K1 for a UK citizen. I can imagine it might take longer for other countries and of course case load and available staffing cause the processing times to vary. I'm sure with the economic downturn, staffing isn't at an all time high.

Regarding the I129F, I don't think I could have done it on my own (my Fiancee and I went over most of the paper work together) without the VJ website. It has a great guide and is very thorough and shows you all the items you need to include to submit a "complete" I129F and avoid an RFE or denial. Of course I went over the items and contents numerous times and asked a family member to review the final version before making my two copies and sending it to the Vermont processing center. But if you follow the guide here on VJ and go over it with a fine tooth comb, you should be able to get it approved with no delays (assuming you included all the qualifying and requisite items.)

Edited November 12, 2010 by CoffeeMuse

[KeithandDonna 0]

Unfortantely when looking at CSC's process time, things are running slower then they usually do. We had our NOA1 on 25Jun10 and we just got our NOA2 on 17Nov10. Also, I had selected the option on the USCIS web site to be notified by text and email to be notified and never have gotten a text or email. The status there still shows our application is under initial review, even though I got the NOA2 in the mail on 22Nov10. The good news is that tings have moved very fast since then. The application has already been mailed from NVC to the embassy on 22Nov10 and according DHL's tracking system, the package with our application has just arrived in Manila and will soon be delivered to the embassy. Hopefully when you get your NOA2 things will move just as quick for you too.

[Speedytax 3]

I didn't see anyone comment about Igors list.That really comforted me. I got my NOA1 on June 24, and just received my NOA2 on Nov.22. So it took 2 days less than 5 months.Here is the link to Igors CSC site. then just

go down the list looking for your name and date.I went from number 166 to NOA2 approved. But it is fun to watch the top 20 approved and see what date their NOA1 and NOA2 were. It gives you hope. here is the link. http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/igor/vjdata/default.aspx

Edited November 26, 2010 by Speedytax

[keysjangle 145]

Something interesting I found on the UCSIS website:

I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Purpose of Form :

For citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States to establish the relationship to certain alien relatives who wish to immigrate to the United States.

Note: A separate form must be filed for each eligible relative. USCIS processes Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, as a visa number becomes available. Filing and approval of an I-130 is only the first step in helping a relative immigrate to the United States. Eligible family members must wait until there is a visa number available before they can apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status to a lawful permanent resident.

Something to keep in consideration?

[JlovesA 109]

Something interesting I found on the UCSIS website:

Something to keep in consideration?

That doesn't apply to spouses and children (minor children I think, not 100% on that), fortunately.