Unbelievably short Timelines

[Xanax 349]

Thanks Xanax, I feel better now. Xanax always makes me feel better.

Haha. I think when we start this process they should send out some valium and a bottle of something as compliments from the US government

Edited February 10, 2013 by Xanax

[destiny64 222]

I worked at immigration 20+ yrs ago, here is the system they use. The mail arrives via post and goes into the mail room, mail clerks open the mail and look for the file, photos , and fees depending on the application. The paperwork goes into a cue for the data entry clerk to then input information into the computer and add the fee. Your file then goes into another building which is just for people who file, they file all day. When your turn comes up, the officer calls for file numbers and the file is removed from the shelf along with however many others and is worked on. That is how its done. In the last few months at least for the VSC, they are back logged and sending out I-130s to local offices, if that persons local office doesn't have a lot to do you will be processed very fast....less than 30 days because you just jumped first in line when they moved you to another location, (at least in the beginning of moving these files).

That would explain in some cases why they had a fast turnaround. Another reason could be the file clerks aren't so good at pulling the correct file when gathering, and they process what was brought to them. I for one know the file clerk job is the most boring job that I ever had to do in my life , I was a mail clerk at the time (was moved to help for two weeks to file because they were backlogged).

Looking at rows and rows of A#s , its very easy after a long day to get your numbers out of order when reading...human error

[888888 2]

When I see the occasional post like (Approved after only 30 minutes, didn't even have time to finish the TV show I was watching) -

It makes me think about everything we have been doing so far and question it for a second. Then I realize something important to me.

I don't mean to be cynical, just skeptical. The timing of these rare cases is always bizarrely fast and lacking in substantive details. Although this could actually have happened in 66 days or 30 minutes, I tend to think that it is highly unlikely that someone could circumnavigate through a bureaucracy as thick as USCIS and get approved before all other applications that are ahead of them by many months.

Unless there is a life threatening causative event or unless their last name is Obama, it is just too good to be true and I suspect that there are those who join and post here, the ridiculous so that others will get even more frustrated than they already are.

Even if it is true, (congratulations, I'm jealous) - I look at the timelines of all the 2500 or so people who have documented their journeys here and 99.0% have journeys that are taking 180+ days to get to NOA2 -

I choose to think that the smarter thinking on my part is to trust the information of the 99% and put little stock in the fast and furious -

Now if the OP could tell us what they did that caused their paperwork to defy the laws of physics, that would be truly useful information. But as for me, I think the majority here are smart, judicious and for the most part have done our homework and accept the fact that God is Great and government is crazy.

VERY nicely put ! I think the same thing often, but scared to post it .

[NikLR 13,227]

BTW I do not accept the fact that god is great... Just sayin' i do agree that the gov't is crazy tho. Hehe.

Life is an unholy mess of unfair, unjust, and unequal. It's not sunshine, rainbows, and fluffy bunnies. But it does eventually balance. You cannot know happiness without sad, hunger unless you've gone without, or really appreciate what it means to hold a loved one unless your arms have been empty. How you choose to spend your life or learn the lesson is up to you.

[bigdog 376]

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.

[dreamwarrior 0]

I feel bad for the people who filed in June like me and at CSC yet still not approved. I did file from abroad but I did not use my international address like others who got autoexpedited in 2-4 weeks, 8 weeks the longest. My 3 month wait seemed fairly normal at the time but I guess it was semi-expedited.

[Hilario 13]

Although I found your post highly amusing I also found a hint of, to put it in the easiest way possible, jealously.

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.

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!

I just want to peronally thank you and your fiancee for his service to the armed forces, IMO you should be put in front of the line!!!!

Along with all the other brave military people out there.

God Bless

and I pray for his safety!

[MmmBlondie 8]

I just want to peronally thank you and your fiancee for his service to the armed forces, IMO you should be put in front of the line!!!!

Along with all the other brave military people out there.

God Bless

and I pray for his safety!

Thank You. My interview is tomorrow and im hoping that if approved I can be in the US when he comes back next month. I haven't been able to speak to him for a few days properly due to a few major incidents including them being attacked

I miss him so much but im glad this deployment was a short one and he will be back soon.

[Hilario 13]

Thank You. My interview is tomorrow and im hoping that if approved I can be in the US when he comes back next month. I haven't been able to speak to him for a few days properly due to a few major incidents including them being attacked

I miss him so much but im glad this deployment was a short one and he will be back soon.

I am sure the interview will be flawless, Good luck!!

[Roze 0]

I worked at immigration 20+ yrs ago, here is the system they use. The mail arrives via post and goes into the mail room, mail clerks open the mail and look for the file, photos , and fees depending on the application. The paperwork goes into a cue for the data entry clerk to then input information into the computer and add the fee. Your file then goes into another building which is just for people who file, they file all day. When your turn comes up, the officer calls for file numbers and the file is removed from the shelf along with however many others and is worked on. That is how its done. In the last few months at least for the VSC, they are back logged and sending out I-130s to local offices, if that persons local office doesn't have a lot to do you will be processed very fast....less than 30 days because you just jumped first in line when they moved you to another location, (at least in the beginning of moving these files).

That would explain in some cases why they had a fast turnaround. Another reason could be the file clerks aren't so good at pulling the correct file when gathering, and they process what was brought to them. I for one know the file clerk job is the most boring job that I ever had to do in my life , I was a mail clerk at the time (was moved to help for two weeks to file because they were backlogged).

Looking at rows and rows of A#s , its very easy after a long day to get your numbers out of order when reading...human error

thanks for this post!very informative

[MeredythB 38]

Does filing abroad actually change anything?

Filing from abroad CAN increase your chances of being processed quickly. Not in all cases. There is a thread on here that talks about the "auto-expedite" queue that many of us experienced. I filed for my husband's visa from abroad and we were approved in a little less than 7 weeks. I don't know anyone in Immigration, didn't bribe any officials, and have no special circumstances. I am grateful that we were approved so quickly, but there is CERTAINLY some residual guilt when I see people who have been waiting for ages to have their petitions approved.

[StephAnn2012 50]

<br />BTW I do not accept the fact that god is great... Just sayin' i do agree that the gov't is crazy tho.  Hehe.  <br /><br />Life is an unholy mess of unfair, unjust, and unequal.  It's not sunshine, rainbows, and fluffy bunnies.  But it does eventually balance. You cannot know happiness without sad, hunger unless you've gone without, or really appreciate what it means to hold a loved one unless your arms have been empty.  How you choose to spend your life or learn the lesson is up to you.<br />

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

Thanks for responding. Just a question - Do you not believe in "God" or just don't think he is great? I have wrestled with all the injustices you mentioned and agree, life's not fair. The cool thing about the God I believe in is that he prepares us to deal with life's injustices. He allows life to be unfair because of choice. He gives us a choice to be good or bad, happy or sad and it is through this journey that we learn that life is temporary and that believing there is something better to follow is what keeps us going, in spite of the things life throws at us.

As far as govt. goes - looks like we are on the same wave length there.

[dwheels76 5,468]

Regarding file sizes, I am always shocked by the people on here that brag about including hundreds of pages of chat logs as "evidence". I can't see how that ever would help anyone's case and I am pretty sure that if I had to deal with that in my job, those would automatically go on the bottom of the stack. It's just triage, plain and simple--help out the most people you can in the shortest time--if it takes 3x or 5x or 10x longer to deal with your file, it probably won't be dealt with first. Or second. Or anytime soon. (I wouldn't put a separate caseload in front of it, though.)

Okay I was going to be silent but this hit a nerve. Obviously you don't deal with a high-fraud country or a country where more is needed.

Many people here have been denied at USCIS because they wanted more evidence. I have known of a few friends who sent chat logs, phone records, emails, cards, letters affidavits. One was 7 lbs of evidence and you know what? USCIS didn't RFE but denied the petition for "lack of evidence of a Bonafide

Relationship". My petition was just 219 pages (really that's not a lot considering). Ummm excuse me but these petitions end up in a CO's hands where they render a decision before the interviewee has even got there .

I know you r saying "well than bring the evidence to interview". You assume the CO will even ask for evidence which they may or may not do.

I will not tell anyone to lessen their evidence so someone can get through quicker. Thick files is hardly the issue for USCIS.

I have known many who submitted 15 lbs (yes at USCIS) and from date of USCIS arrival to husbands visa in hand was exactly 6 months (not bad).

I also added 900 more pages and 2 photobooks at NVC. You got a problem with that too? Guess I should think of you and your easy embassy and risk maybe my husband being denied because you can't wait. Or you feel my evidence which is for real evidence showing a bonafide marriage and ongoing relationship

Good God. Unbelievable.

Yep ya'll dwheels has finally reach her limit. This has totally taken me aback. WOW!

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

I'm with you dwheels. We maybe submitted 5 pages of bonafide evidence and we are at 98 days not yet approved, whilst you were approved at 102 days. Not only that but we filed from abroad and put in an expedite request 3 weeks ago and have had 3 congressional inquiries. There is nothing anyone can do to sway how fast USCIS will decide to process their case.

[NikLR 13,227]

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

Thanks for responding. Just a question - Do you not believe in "God" or just don't think he is great? I have wrestled with all the injustices you mentioned and agree, life's not fair. The cool thing about the God I believe in is that he prepares us to deal with life's injustices. He allows life to be unfair because of choice. He gives us a choice to be good or bad, happy or sad and it is through this journey that we learn that life is temporary and that believing there is something better to follow is what keeps us going, in spite of the things life throws at us.

As far as govt. goes - looks like we are on the same wave length there.

I'll pm you.