Has your visa wait time matched with published estimates?

[cbott 0]

Just wondering if anyone has anecdotes to share.

I filed for my CR1 in April 2013 and by my best estimate I think I'll receive it in September 2014 (so 17 months instead of the 10-12 month estimated wait time that's reported throughout this period). How about you guys, how did your wait time measure up to what you expected?

In my case, there was one major delay that was self inflicted (I filed my AOS incorrectly and had to redo it) but mostly just each step has been taking way longer than expected. I didn't get my original I797 Notice of Action approving my initial petition until 8 months after submitting it (as far as I can tell, this is the signal that your visa is actually starting the process of getting active attention). Based on that alone, I had virtually zero chance of completing within the 11 month time frame that the NVC was giving as it's estimate at the time (still had to do choice of agent, AOS and IV procesing fees, AOS package, 260 package, doctors appointment and interview in Montreal). I also had the NVC send me a letter stating they hadn't received my emailed documents at the DS260 stage, although I could see they they'd been sent correctly. I resent the exact same email and they appear to have been accepted this time. At this point I'm hoping that I get my letter from Montreal within the next 30 days assigning me an interview. I'm hoping this whole thing will be wrapped within the next 3 months...tell me I'm not out to lunch!

Processing times are of course estimates and patience is a virtue! I thought it would be interesting to hear about the experience of others.

[ricky and elaine 8]

Filed April 2013, NOA2 Dec/13 - 3 months at NVC..6 wks till Interview. Total 13.5 months. No RFE. Electronic processing.

[Bonnie&Bob 33]

Also filed in April 2013 and still waiting. K3 sent to Montreal which sat for 3 months there and cr1 stayed at NVC for 3 months. Paid interview fee $240 and they cancelled my k3 within 3 days after paying it and now proceesing with cr1. All pk 3 sent (aos, ds260, original docs.etc). They told me up to 30 days for review and I will get an email with my interview date for Montreal. Maybe we will get the same day.

[ItsComplicated 1]

Filed May 15th, 2014. USCIS approved on June 10th. Received NOA2 in mail June 17th. I plan on calling the NVC on Monday for the first time to see if they have received our case.

Unless I read wrong, the average I-130 approval wait time is 5 months, so, we are ahead of schedule I believe. But, there is still a long way to go.

Best of luck to you guys waiting.

[NikLR 13,227]

Can't compare my timeline to your guy's as I started in 2012 not 2013.

When you get a case complete from the NVC they put you in the queue to get an interview.

You normally get 30-60 days notice of the interview date. Example: if your case is completed from the 1-15th of a month, you may get an interview for the next month. But if it's from the 15th plus, you normally have to wait until the 1st of the following month to get an interview date for the month after that. (Look at my timeline for it to make better sense.)

Summer is the worst. We had people last year who were CC in June but no one got an Aug interview, everyone had to wait until Sept.

[cbott 0]

Filed May 15th, 2014. USCIS approved on June 10th. Received NOA2 in mail June 17th. I plan on calling the NVC on Monday for the first time to see if they have received our case.

Unless I read wrong, the average I-130 approval wait time is 5 months, so, we are ahead of schedule I believe. But, there is still a long way to go.

Best of luck to you guys waiting.

USCIS APPROVED your case 1 month after filing? What type of visa are you applying for?

At one month post filing I only had a confirmation that they'd received the application (Form 1-797C) and it took an additional 7 months before I received the I-797 Notice of action that approved the initial petition and moved it to the National Visa Center.

[ItsComplicated 1]

USCIS APPROVED your case 1 month after filing? What type of visa are you applying for?

At one month post filing I only had a confirmation that they'd received the application (Form 1-797C) and it took an additional 7 months before I received the I-797 Notice of action that approved the initial petition and moved it to the National Visa Center.

IR1

Maybe we got lucky, I did check a few other timelines similar to ours and they had also received approval rather quickly. I realize that this isn't the norm thouh. I wish I had an answer for ya, but, I'm pretty new to this.

Edited June 25, 2014 by ItsComplicated

[NikLR 13,227]

IR1

Maybe we got lucky, I did check a few other timelines similar to ours and they had also received approval rather quickly. I realize that this isn't the norm thouh. I wish I had an answer for ya, but, I'm pretty new to this.

Are you both in Canada? Was the service center California?

[Rlelle09 28]

I was actually wondering this same thing...sorta. I always see people post that it takes 6 months to a year to complete this whole process. I'm a little bit on the fast track as well, but assume it's about to slow down. Does anyone have a good estimate of how much longer it will take me to finish. I was hoping for an interview at the end of September, but that's with no checklists of course. Thoughts anyone? am I dreaming??? Say it ain't so!!

[ItsComplicated 1]

Are you both in Canada? Was the service center California?

Yes to both questions (for me).

I was actually wondering this same thing...sorta. I always see people post that it takes 6 months to a year to complete this whole process. I'm a little bit on the fast track as well, but assume it's about to slow down. Does anyone have a good estimate of how much longer it will take me to finish. I was hoping for an interview at the end of September, but that's with no checklists of course. Thoughts anyone? am I dreaming??? Say it ain't so!!

I remember looking at quite a few timelines one day last week and I noticed a few that were done in about 6 months start to finish. September is probably not going to happen, but, hey, who knows right? From all my reading I was under the impression the I-130 approval was the longest stage of the process and we're both ahead of the game in that respect, so, hopefully we continue to be lucky and stay on that path.

[Rlelle09 28]

Yes to both questions (for me).

I remember looking at quite a few timelines one day last week and I noticed a few that were done in about 6 months start to finish. September is probably not going to happen, but, hey, who knows right? From all my reading I was under the impression the I-130 approval was the longest stage of the process and we're both ahead of the game in that respect, so, hopefully we continue to be lucky and stay on that path.

I really wanted to be out of here by the end of September seeing as though we're driving to South Carolina...sigh. West Virginia is THE WORST state to drive through during the winter..ugh! :-(:-(:-(:-(

[pro_star 52]

I dunno. I-15 through Montana can have some pretty sketchy moments in the winter as well...

I pretty much gave myself a window as my Californian wanted to drive up and help me move so he wouldn't have to deal with the winter driving.

[Rlelle09 28]

I dunno. I-15 through Montana can have some pretty sketchy moments in the winter as well...

I pretty much gave myself a window as my Californian wanted to drive up and help me move so he wouldn't have to deal with the winter driving.

Well thank God we never drive through Montana lol!! We did, however, get stranded in West Virginia on i-77. They got a little bit of snow and the place turned into a ghost town. There was an abandoned police car in the middle of the street!! Lol! I couldn't believe what I was seeing. We were able to get off 77 and to the nearest hotel, but when we returned to 77, all the cars from the night before were STILL there and NOT moving.

[NikLR 13,227]

Yes to both questions (for me).

I remember looking at quite a few timelines one day last week and I noticed a few that were done in about 6 months start to finish. September is probably not going to happen, but, hey, who knows right? From all my reading I was under the impression the I-130 approval was the longest stage of the process and we're both ahead of the game in that respect, so, hopefully we continue to be lucky and stay on that path.

The reason yours was done so fast is because California auto-expedites couples who live abroad together.

I found Wyoming to be absolutely more boring than Montana... Granted we went in June.... but wow, I can see why it's the least populated state.

[ItsComplicated 1]

The reason yours was done so fast is because California auto-expedites couples who live abroad together.

I found Wyoming to be absolutely more boring than Montana... Granted we went in June.... but wow, I can see why it's the least populated state.

That's interesting about California auto-expediting...I guess it's just luck of the draw that we got sent to them?