Filing I-130 Next Week, then Electronic Processing for CR1

[FoundNanning 0]

I will file my I-130 next week (filing from Boston, MA). After approval, I will utilize electronic processing for CR1. I plan on joining my wife in China when she has her interview. Here's my questions:

1) Assuming no RFEs or 'black hole', what is the range/most likely dates for I-130 approval, and then for interview date?

2) How much notice will I get of interview date (worrying about the potential high cost of a last minute ticket to China).

Thanks,

Leon

[Ryan H 3,812]

Posted times by USCIS from NOA1 to NOA2 is 5 months.

Not sure on notice of interview date so I'll let others who know better give you an idea.

[Darnell 8,478]

2. 25 to 45 days - appointment letter is sent via email, from NVC, about 10 days after 'case complete' at NVC - is special hidden queue for interview appointment scheduling, all seems 'automatic and very quick' for EP.

[FoundNanning 0]

I'm a little confused. Are we saying about 5 months for I-130 approval, and then using EP, 24-45 days until I GET an appointment date? If so, how long before actual appointment am I given a date so I can buy a plane ticket?

[Robby999 1,024]

Received wife's appointment letter on April 2nd for a May 4 interview date! This was in 2010, you should have about 30 days notice! Good Luck

[FoundNanning 0]

Thanks to everyone.

So, assuming the 'stars align' and all goes well, it is theoretically possible that:

I-130 NOA2 Approval in 5 months;

EP Filed/Receive Appointment Letter in 25 to 45 days;

Embassy Appointment in 30 days.

Total time from I-130 filing to Embassy Appointment 7-7.5 months.

Have I understood everything correctly?

[LBeachey 45]

Doing a timeline search for NOA2 from 4/1/11 to 6/1/11

Avg time from filing to NOA1 - 8 days

Avg time from NOA1 to NOA2 - 105 days

Avg time from NOA2 to interview - 86 days

This is a total of 199 days which is just shy of 7 months. I would be mentally prepared for longer however, historical timelines are closer to 10 months.

[Darnell 8,478]

I'm a little confused. Are we saying about 5 months for I-130 approval, and then using EP, 24-45 days until I GET an appointment date? If so, how long before actual appointment am I given a date so I can buy a plane ticket?

lets see - current in/out at NVC - using the timeticks below:

Time Ticks for Tracking - feel free to copy/paste this into yer profile/signature area/about me area:

NVC Received CaseFile *

NVC Casefile Number Issued *

Request DS-3032 Kit from NVC *

IIN received via email from NVC, as part of AOS Fee Bill EMAIL.

OPTIN EMAIL SENT TO NVC +

AOS FEE BILL PAID ONLINE &

AOS Fee Bill Marked Paid []

OPTIN ACCEPTED by NVC

AOS CoverSheets Generated &

IV Fee Bill Showing as 'Payable' []

IV FEE BILL PAID ONLINE &

IV Fee Bill marked as PAID []

IV CoverSheets Generated &

AOS email packet sent +

IV email packet sent +

NVC reports 'Case Completed' *

'Sign in Fail' at the Online Payment Portal &

Final Review Started at NVC *

Final Review Completed at NVC *

Interview Date Set *

Appointment Letter Received via Email

Interview Date

====

legend

* - USCitizen must call, inquire

+ - Your or foreign Spouse send off via email.

& - YOU do this.

[] - Online Payment Portal Status thingie - you log in, eyeball review it.

====

Things that go together -

OPT IN Accepted and IV Fee Bill Available to be Paid Online - almost the same date.

NVC Reports 'Case Complete' and 'Sign In Fail' - almost same day.

====

Things that make you go angly and aquiverish -

--Sign in Fail

--Final Review Complete (as Interview Date Set will occur within 6 days)

--Interview Date Set (time to get busy - you have between 20 to 45 days to wrap up yer relationship evidence)

--__--__--__

So figure 3 to 5 weeks at NVC, for EP, from the time 'NVC Casefile Number Issued ' to the time of 'Sign In Fail'

then within a week, the appointment date is set

and that date is set 25 to 45 days out from the 'setting' date.

HTH ?

Edited June 27, 2011 by Darnell

[FoundNanning 0]

Do these numbers take EP into consideration, or are they average of all?

Doing a timeline search for NOA2 from 4/1/11 to 6/1/11

Avg time from filing to NOA1 - 8 days

Avg time from NOA1 to NOA2 - 105 days

Avg time from NOA2 to interview - 86 days

This is a total of 199 days which is just shy of 7 months. I would be mentally prepared for longer however, historical timelines are closer to 10 months.

[LBeachey 45]

Do these numbers take EP into consideration, or are they average of all?

This is from the timeline function here on VJ. It is not clear who used EP and who did not. I originally though your estimate of 7 months was optimistic but the timeline would seem to support it.

[FoundNanning 0]

I don't want to 'beat this to death', but hope go clarify for the benefit of others:

Darnell: Adding up your estimates, from best case to worst case, and adding 5 months for I-130 approval, gives a possible range from about 6.5-7.5 months using EP.

LBeachey: Your numbers from the timeline indicate an average of just shy of 7 months forth same process. Yet, these numbers include both EP and non-EP filers. In fact, I am guessing most are non EP.

If both of your 'number crunching' is accurate, then I am not seeing the big benefit/time saving from EP processing.

[Darnell 8,478]

non EP cases, for china, CR-1/IR-1 visa types,

suffer from the 'dead zone time' between

NVC send casefile to

GUZ IV open casefile.

There's 2 to 5 months of 'dead zone wait time' once a paper case hits the China Customs house - see http://guangzhou.usembassy-china.org.cn/iv_faqs.html#B3

and then

the casefile still has to be opened (1 week)then

the case has to be scheduled (1 to 4 weeks) then

the appointment is still 25 to 45 days out.

I'll leave it to you, to do the math, but will mention TRENDING, aye?

Current TREND on I-130 approval, no expedite, is between 2 to 3 months, on casefiles with recent NOA-2 approval from USCIS.

[FoundNanning 0]

Darnell:

I AM a believer in EP (mostly by being educated from your posts). I WILL do EP no matter what! And I thank you for all yuur good information that is constanly informing me and others.

BUT I still can't get it thru my THICK SKULL why LBeachey's reading of the timeline reads:

Avg time from NOA2 to interview - 86 days

Again, if this 'average' number is accurate (presumably containing more standard processing than EP), then it seems 'too quick' for an 'average'.

[Darnell 8,478]

Uhm, click yer flag, that drops you to the CHINA portal.

Then click the IR-1/CR-1 timeline thingies on the left.

ONCE you have a timeline up, sort on NOA-2 date, have a gander.

[FoundNanning 0]

I didn't see any column for days from NOA2 to interview (Guess you have to compute it yerself?). Anyway, I'll take yer word for it! :-)

So, putting your two numbers together: Current trend for NOA2 Approval = 2-3 months + (EP) NOA2->Interview Date=1.5-2.5 months (about)

Gives me a total of roughly 3.5 to 5.5 months from filing to appointment date using EP (potentially, assuming all goes well and stars line up).

I got it now?