Unbelievably short Timelines

[speedwell 224]

The only thing we could think of was that the person who processed our case was fond of the military.

This is likely. I've seen it in the policy documentation that you only read if you go digging quite deep. Military filers get a sort of expediting.

The OP is jealous, but why not? Everyone is separated from their most intimate partner at just the time when we should be building our relationship, and in the middle of relocating to a completely different country. It is torture. Often the best we can do is to compare ourselves to people who have it worse, and think we're fortunate to not be like those people. But as time drags on and we become weary, the people waiting longer than us and who have special needs become fewer and fewer, and every other approval feels like a denial to us. It's not the fault of the people who were approved that they were approved, of course, but the earliest approvals, especially those in a month to six weeks, are galling to people who expected five months and are sitting at seven and now seeing estimates of eight to ten.

I'm choosing to read the OP's post as saying that the statistical outlier early approvals are legitimate, but that their data points are not helpful in compiling an estimate of when the average case filing should be expected to occur, any more than we should count the data points of outliers who have been waiting longer than a year. Approvals that are that early skew the timelines on this site, too, and it's frustrating to see the algorithm show such an early approval date when the reality is so likely to be different.

[MmmBlondie 8]

This is likely. I've seen it in the policy documentation that you only read if you go digging quite deep. Military filers get a sort of expediting.

The OP is jealous, but why not? Everyone is separated from their most intimate partner at just the time when we should be building our relationship, and in the middle of relocating to a completely different country. It is torture. Often the best we can do is to compare ourselves to people who have it worse, and think we're fortunate to not be like those people. But as time drags on and we become weary, the people waiting longer than us and who have special needs become fewer and fewer, and every other approval feels like a denial to us. It's not the fault of the people who were approved that they were approved, of course, but the earliest approvals, especially those in a month to six weeks, are galling to people who expected five months and are sitting at seven and now seeing estimates of eight to ten.

I'm choosing to read the OP's post as saying that the statistical outlier early approvals are legitimate, but that their data points are not helpful in compiling an estimate of when the average case filing should be expected to occur, any more than we should count the data points of outliers who have been waiting longer than a year. Approvals that are that early skew the timelines on this site, too, and it's frustrating to see the algorithm show such an early approval date when the reality is so likely to be different.

OP has every right to be jealous your right, the post just made me feel kind of bad for getting approved. I think its unfair that so many people are still waiting

[The Mean Lady 604]

i would feel terrible being approved after even ninety days

i have no intentions of making a thread about it out of respect for vermont filers

[speedwell 224]

OP has every right to be jealous your right, the post just made me feel kind of bad for getting approved. I think its unfair that so many people are still waiting

Do not feel bad. Do not. You early approvers are not the problem or the cause of unfairness. The laws and their unequal application by USCIS are the problem and the cause of unfairness.

[EminTX 131]

I once had an ex-bf that was going through a fraud trial with his ex-wife. The short of his story is that his US born but foreign raised ex-gf called him up out of the blue and asked to get back together, he was an idiot and agreed to everything. She filled out all the paperwork from here in Kansas and told him (non-English speaking at that time) that everything was good and that some things have different meanings in English--like MARRIAGE for example--sometimes the word FIANCE can be used, instead. His culture has two different kinds of marriage so he didn't question it at all. Once here, employed, in college, and absolutely helpless to simply return, she abandonded him, filed for an "emergency divorce" in their resident state of Kansas and was granted that divorce within a few hours while he was out of town. (Based on unsubstianted abuse because we all "know" how Middle Eastern men can be!) She then cleaned out the bank account and the apartment and left his clothes in a pile on the living room floor. He had the car that he had traveled in and his clothes. She then sued for the car. Fortunately, the judge in that one told her she was greedy and stupid. As soon as 9/11 happened and The Department of Homeland Security came into being, she called them to report him as a terrorist. And as a fraud. And....

She demanded that he pay her over 100,000U$ to leave him alone.

He spent over 30,000U$ in legal fees and around 8 years of his life. He had given up a successful medical practice in his home country.

I went to court with him once. His file was so thick that it was two of them, several inches thick, and rubber banded together. The baliff accidently dropped them (at 8 in the morning) and the judge said, "Oh no! Put that on the bottom of the stack for this afternoon." Simply because his file was absurdly oversized, he had to wait until EVERY OTHER ONE was finished, including the ones with a court time for after 1 pm. I like to think that the people who serve the public are fair, but that was evidence enough to not overwhelm ANYbody with more than is necessary because they might just put you on the bottom of the stack. USCIS is esentially a group of strangers in whose hands you are putting your fate. Don't irritate them with too much or useless ####### or they might stick you on the bottom of their stack, too.

BTW--this relationship was extremely verbally volatile--if he had been a violent man, we would have had fist fights. Looking back, I can't believe we never did. He was absolutely NOT physically abusive and probably couldn't be pushed into it. He did get all his immigration straightened out and is now a successful physicial in Boston. I hope he now has a wife that is both deaf and a pacifist.

[Teague 6]

Most of those timelines are filed from abroad.

That's why they approve so fast.

Your over exaggeration, however, was hilarious.

Thank you for that.

My hubby filed from abroad its our almost 11 month waiting now..

[Tigre&Tigresa 11]

Of course it sounds jealous, we do get jealous reading posts about people getting approved in 30, 20, 15 days! because this wait hurts so much. I get happy when I see petitions approved, it is great! but it is only human to feel jealous I think, because we wanna be with our loved ones so bad. It's so frustrating... and we go crazy thinking why not us, why can't we be the lucky ones next time...

[StephAnn2012 50]

<br />Although I found your post highly amusing I also found a hint of, to put it in the easiest way possible, jealously. <br /><br />Our petition was approved within 28days and I have my interview this Monday. We filed at the end of October before my fiancé was deployed to Afghanistan with the US Air Force. We were thinking of expediting and although we looked into it, we didn't. I still dont know to this day why we were approved so fast but very thankful we were. The only thing we could think of was that the person who processed our case was fond of the military. <br /><br />From talking to other people on VJ, I understand that their petitions are taking a rather long time and it must be frustrating for them...yourself included. I'm sure your NOA2 will come through soon. Try not to think about other petitions and just remember that sooner rather than later you will be with your loved one. I personally think the whole process is like a game of snakes and ladders. I guess we were just lucky and rolled a double 6 but im sure you'll be climbing that ladder soon!<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Blondie, what gave you the idea that there was a hint of jealousy in my post? Could it be the part where I said, "even if it is true, (congratulations, I'm jealous)? I'm just spit balling here, but I bet that might have misled you to believe that there was a "hint" of jealousy and for that misunderstanding, please forgive me.

It could not be categorized as a "hint" of anything, more of an overt gut reaction. Kind of like when I am at the popsicle stand waiting with all of my other friends in the hot summer sun, just waiting "in line" for our turn and then a pretty girl walks up to the front of the line to simply "ask" the popsicle guy Andy where she should get in line and Andy smiles at her and asks what she wants. The whole time I'm thinking "hey what's up with that?" Me and friend Mikey have been waiting here all day for the new Caramel Nutty Buddy and that's the one she tells Andy that she'll have. That is more of the feeling I was trying to convey.

So go enjoy your Caramel Nutty Buddy, by the way, Andy told me when I finally got up to the front of the line when it was my turn, Andy told me he gave you the last one! (envy)

[speedwell 224]

People, let's try not to carp and snipe at each other. We are not each other's enemies. The inefficiency and unfairness of the process is the enemy.

[StephAnn2012 50]

<br />People, let's try not to carp and snipe at each other. We are not each other's enemies. The inefficiency and unfairness of the process is the enemy.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

What are you talking about? I see people having a very reasonable and somewhat humorous discussion about timelines. I hope everyone is enjoying their journey. My fiancee and I are totally at peace with the process. Out time will come when the powers that be, don't have to pee. My original post was simply an observation that those who join this journey site to simply inform those of us mere mortals that their mission is accomplished while we are still waiting to speak to an operator, is frustrating.

Someone much smarter than me put it best when he/she said that the extremely short and long timelines screw up the real number as to how long the silent majority shall wait.

I wish I was able to come to this site and tell people I got approved in record time, but then again, why would I do that? The purpose of this site is to have like minded people help other like minded people find their way out of this dark tunnel. It doesn't help much to hear they got theirs unless they can also share how I could do the same as them.

So, lets agree that they can brag and I can throw up.

[StephAnn2012 50]

<br />Have you ever had a desk piled high with stuff you have to do, and you don't know where to start, and then someone comes along and hands you another pile? You could react three ways. You could say, "What the hell are you doing, you fool, look at all this ####### I have to do!" Or you could say, "Put it over there and I'll get to it when I get to it." Or, you could do like I've known myself and other people I work with to do, and say, "OK, fine, to hell with this stuff that's making me crazy; I'll work on this new stuff that hasn't had time to stress me out yet." USCIS doesn't have the luxury of doing the first thing. They usually do the second thing. But sometimes I think they do the third thing. <br /><br />If I make myself insane enough to try to think like a bureaucrat, the thought comes to me that processing a few files extra super fast brings down the <b>average</b> time it takes me to do a file. So if things start getting out of whack and I look unproductive, whammo, a few files with skid marks on the back from where they landed when they flew outta here should bring my numbers back into line!!  <img src='http://static-forums.visajourney.com/public/style_emoticons/default/rofl.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /><br />

<br /><br /><br />

OMG, I've seen your desk and your boss called and asked if you had completed that thing he asked you to do last October... )

[NikLR 13,227]

Let's practice something straight out of Bambi shall we?

All together now:

If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

<EOM>

[StephAnn2012 50]

<br />Since this was about me I will answer it again. I have said before I think they sometimes just grab a file and stamp it approved. I'm glad this time it was mine.<br /><br /> There was nothing special about our paper work. I didn't file from abroad. There was no expedite. We had only met in person one time. This was during a 2 week trip I took there. And during this time we got married. I have just the normal things that are suggested you put. Flight receipts and details, Hotel receipts, 20 pictures of us together and with his family, 25 pages of chat records between the 2 of us plus another 5 between me and my son while I was in Turkey. 7 Affidavits from family and friends saying our marriage is real. Like I said nothing special.. <br /><br />And the night before I was approved my lawyer had sent an email that the USCIS was still moving slow and to be ready for a 5 mo wait. So were we all shocked. My husband even asked if I was sure that they didn't email us by mistake. He had to go online and look himself and asked me how this happened. This just shows that there is no true system at the USCIS. And I feel bad for those's waiting 5 mo and more. And I am not the 1st person from Dec to be approved. And there have been people approved in less time than me.  I will also admit I have questioned a few people post too. <br /><br />I am just happy my husband is closer to being here with me.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

My post wasn't about you, it was about the uselessness of hearing a great success story without finding out the "so what"! When you share something great, ask yourself, so what does this mean to my intended audience. How can I make my story relevant to the people at which it was aimed? So the so what to your story (thanks for the details) is that you are using a lawyer. The rest is useless to us. Now prey tell success story teller, what is your attorney doing? What did he/she do for you that you think helped this to move quickly? Is his name Cochran? Obama? Rockefeller? Trump? Anything you can remember about this attorney could help us nab the perpetrator of good practices and thus could help all of us who apply said lesson to achieve our dreams even faster. BTW - congratulations to you. I truly wish I was you but not if your female, because that would be weird as I am engaged to a wonderful woman already.

[StephAnn2012 50]

<br />I once had an ex-bf that was going through a fraud trial with his ex-wife.  The short of his story is that his US born but foreign raised ex-gf called him up out of the blue and asked to get back together, he was an idiot and agreed to everything.  She filled out all the paperwork from here in Kansas and told him (non-English speaking at that time) that everything was good and that some things have different meanings in English--like MARRIAGE for example--sometimes the word FIANCE can be used, instead. His culture has two different kinds of marriage so he didn't question it at all.  Once here, employed, in college, and absolutely helpless to simply return, she abandonded him, filed for an "emergency divorce" in their resident state of Kansas and was granted that divorce within a few hours while he was out of town. (Based on unsubstianted abuse because we all "know" how Middle Eastern men can be!) She then cleaned out the bank account and the apartment and left his clothes in a pile on the living room floor.  He had the car that he had traveled in and his clothes.  She then sued for the car.  Fortunately, the judge in that one told her she was greedy and stupid.  As soon as 9/11 happened and The Department of Homeland Security came into being, she called them to report him as a terrorist.  And as a fraud.  And....<br /><br />She demanded that he pay her over 100,000U$ to leave him alone.  <br /><br />He spent over 30,000U$ in legal fees and around 8 years of his life.  He had given up a successful medical practice in his home country.   <br /><br />I went to court with him once.  His file was so thick that it was two of them, several inches thick, and rubber banded together.  The baliff accidently dropped them (at 8 in the morning) and the judge said, "Oh no!  Put that on the bottom of the stack for this afternoon."  Simply because his file was absurdly oversized, he had to wait until EVERY OTHER ONE was finished, including the ones with a court time for after 1 pm. I like to think that the people who serve the public are fair, but that was evidence enough to not overwhelm ANYbody with more than is necessary because they might just put you on the bottom of the stack.  USCIS is esentially a group of strangers in whose hands you are putting your fate.  Don't irritate them with too much or useless ####### or they might stick you on the bottom of their stack, too.  <br /><br />BTW--this relationship was extremely verbally volatile--if he had been a violent man, we would have had fist fights.  Looking back, I can't believe we never did.  He was absolutely NOT physically abusive and probably couldn't be pushed into it.  He did get all his immigration straightened out and is now a successful physicial in Boston.  I hope he now has a wife that is both deaf and a pacifist.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

I think there was a moral lesson in that post. Keep your files only as thick as necessary to tell your story, right?

[StephAnn2012 50]

<br />Let's practice something straight out of Bambi shall we?<br /><br />All together now:<br /><br />If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.  <br /><br /><EOM><br />

<br /><br /><br />

Thanks Bambi. Lesson learned. It would be really nice if those "people" would tell us just how much they had to give and to who to get to the front of the line. That would be very nice indeed and that's all I'll say on that suject. Because Bambi's mom got killed.