Tool for forecasting dates

[ppfkl 0]

Hi all,

I've been a lurker here for a while. I've found a lot of great information from everyone here. The data analyis is great too. Many thanks. So, I thought I'd return the favor.

While the data and analysis are excellent I wanted a more customized view of the trends. So I've put together a tool to analyze people's history so you can forecast dates. I'm attaching it if you want to use it. After all, we're all in the waiting game together and anything that helps us have reasonable expectations and a sense of control helps 8-). So I thought I'd post it here for your use. It can handle 1000 Timeline search records.

The file has 3 worksheets: "Countdown", "Analysis", and "Scratch"

"Countdown" predicts end dates based on your inputs. There is also a section that will tell you how long it is until your next trip to see your loved one 8-).

"Analysis" calculates Min, Max, Average, and Median processing times for your timeline search results.

"Scratch" is a scratchpad to do the initial copy from the webpage.

Quick instructions:

To to Immigration Timelines -> Timeline Search

Enter your criteria and select "Detailed" results

Select "All" for max results

Select Find

In the spreadsheet:

Go to the "Scratch" worksheet and delete everything

Select the table returned from your Timeline Search

Copy it into Scratch

Go to Analysis

Select A31:AB1031

Delete

Go to "Scratch"

Select the table from the Timeline Search

Copy it (^c)

Go bact to "Analysis"

Select cell A31

Paste Special -> Values (alt-E S V <enter>)

The spreadsheet will calculate Min, Max, Average, and Median for each of the process steps. There may be times when you have to clean up data as people enter things like "NA or n/a" for RFE or they use non-standard date formats. You'll have to find those entries and correct it manually.

In this version you'll find the results of our search. Since we filed in December and are seeking a K-1 through the California Service Center we want to know what processing times look like for others in our situation so our search options are:

Visa Type: K-1

Service Center: California

NOA1 Date: 10/1/2006 - 1/31/2006

Results: Detailed

Max Results: ALL

Once we get our NOA2 we'll change the search criteria to be:

Visa Type: K-1

Service Center: All

Beneficiaries Country: China

Embassy: Guangzhou

Detailed Results: All

NOA2 Date: 10/1/2006 - 12/31/2007

Results: Detailed

Max Results: ALL

That way we can focus on the China specific part of the process.

I hope you find this tool useful.

Best Regards,

PPFKL

Countdown___scrubbed.zip

[safitu 0]

WOOOOOOOOO weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! You are amazing!!!! How can we ever thank you. THis is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RIMASH 0]

WOW.....really impressed................. with your work...........................I HAVE NO WORDS TO PRAISE YOU....

[JamalNTam 1]

I cant open the file ! I'm confused!

[ppfkl 0]

I cant open the file ! I'm confused!

You'll need a program called WinZip to unarchive it. I had to compress it because it is bigger than the upload limit.

[AngelD 0]

you can get a free trail version of winzip at winzip.com

easy to use-just double click on the zipped file (the file should have a tiny icon on it that looks like a file in a vice grip) and it will open winzip--it will open it in a new window and you can just double click on the file in there.

there is a great help menu if you have any questions on how to use winzip for other things--great program if you create large sized files and want to compress them to email.

A