Phoning USCIS about NOA2 for I-129F

[JudithF 1]

I feel the same.

NOA 1 was Oct 19 and up to this day I havent heard anything. we called once but yeah, they cant give you any more infortmation unless 5 months have passed.

It just seems that way more are being approved within 4 weeks and there are only a slight number that got really unlucky, like us. Hoping for anything this week!!

[yuna628 9,716]

I got lucky on that. Based on my residency my case was supposed to be in Texas

Actually, as of earlier this year all newly filed applications are going to the California Service Center, regardless of the state you live in, for an undetermined amount of time.

You are well within processing times, and you can expect that you will be processed far quicker than if you had been placed at Texas.

[Pennycat 880]

I feel the same.

NOA 1 was Oct 19 and up to this day I havent heard anything. we called once but yeah, they cant give you any more infortmation unless 5 months have passed.

It just seems that way more are being approved within 4 weeks and there are only a slight number that got really unlucky, like us. Hoping for anything this week!!

If the average is 33 days (which is 4 weeks and 5 days), then it really is just "seems like". And you are all but guaranteed to be approved in under 3 months which is nothing short of a miracle given how things are for people who are *still * at TSC, having applied in March.

I don't know for sure but I've long had the suspicion that beneficiaries who have been to the US before actually take a few extra weeks process because USCIS probably asks CBP for some sort of paperwork about your entries/exits/etc. Anecdotaly, the theory seems to mostly hold up but of course there are always exceptions to every rule-- there was one person who got through TSC in a lightning speed 4 months (during the time period they were averaging 8) was a beneficiary who had been to the US many times.

[Mamed 18]

If you're worrying about NOA2 for an I-129f from CSC 24 hours after your Visajourney estimate has lapsed, you're setting yourself up for a HUGE amount of disappointment throughout this whole process.

The official timeline for an I-129f at CSC is 5 months (see here: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processingTimesDisplay.do;jsessionid=abcPGRYcBXOeTb1RoOcgv . The information here is from other VJ members- I know this read my OP

, it is not an estimate from the government. It is to allow you to get an idea of what is really happening (which is that they're averagint 33 days). If you hit the 5 month mark, THEN they will look into your case for you. Not before. Anything faster than 5 months is a gift.

I'm aware of everything you said because I've been reading about this visa since January. [i was] I'm aware of 5 months too, but when I did my timeline it showed I should expect something on Dec 3-6 and If this date range has passed or your application is past due per USCIS processing times then you should consider calling the USCIS to inquire on your petition - This is the only reason I started this thread.

AND NOW I GOT MY UPDATE TODAY

On December 8, 2015, we updated your name for your Form I-129F, Petition for Fiance(E), Receipt Number WACXXXXXXXXX. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

[JudithF 1]

If the average is 33 days (which is 4 weeks and 5 days), then it really is just "seems like". And you are all but guaranteed to be approved in under 3 months which is nothing short of a miracle given how things are for people who are *still * at TSC, having applied in March.

I don't know for sure but I've long had the suspicion that beneficiaries who have been to the US before actually take a few extra weeks process because USCIS probably asks CBP for some sort of paperwork about your entries/exits/etc. Anecdotaly, the theory seems to mostly hold up but of course there are always exceptions to every rule-- there was one person who got through TSC in a lightning speed 4 months (during the time period they were averaging 8) was a beneficiary who had been to the US many times.

I have actually been on a J1 twice, once in 2008/2009 and once in 2014/2015. But I do not have the two-year rule so i thought it wouldn't be a problem...I should have maybe sent a copy of my Ds Form which states that I am not subject to the two-year rule, maybe it would have sped things up

[Pennycat 880]

I'm aware of everything you said because I've been reading about this visa since January. [i was] I'm aware of 5 months too, but when I did my timeline it showed I should expect something on Dec 3-6 and If this date range has passed or your application is past due per USCIS processing times then you should consider calling the USCIS to inquire on your petition - This is the only reason I started this thread.

AND NOW I GOT MY UPDATE TODAY

On December 8, 2015, we updated your name for your Form I-129F, Petition for Fiance(E), Receipt Number WACXXXXXXXXX. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

You do realize that the link you posted for "USCIS processing times" is a Visajourney site, and has nothing whatsoever to do with USCIS or the US government? And that the actual USCIS processing times that they are referring to are found, quite conveniently on the USCIS website, linked in the post of mine that you quoted and again here. And that it says "5 Months"? And the VJ guide says that you should call if you're past USCIS processing times? And that the VJ estimates mean exactly nothing except giving you a good guess?

And that yep, you got yours 2 days more than average. Which is how averages work. Someone else got theirs in 31 days. You got yours in 35. Together, they average 33.

[Pennycat 880]

I have actually been on a J1 twice, once in 2008/2009 and once in 2014/2015. But I do not have the two-year rule so i thought it wouldn't be a problem...I should have maybe sent a copy of my Ds Form which states that I am not subject to the two-year rule, maybe it would have sped things up

I don't think it's a matter of the two year rule. I think it's literally if you say yes on question 15, they have to request an entry/exit report from CBP and that probably adds a couple business days to the process. I don't think it's a problem whatsoever, just an extra step that not everyone needs. Every time you need a new report from a different agency, for anything, it just takes a little extra time. I'm talking a matter of days here, not months.

[tyler007 26]

Did you have your name wrong or name change since last month? I don't get it.

[Mamed 18]

Did you have your name wrong or name change since last month? I don't get it.

No, I haven't sent them anything after original form. But I read that this indicates approval. I'm gonna call them to find out

[tyler007 26]

Yes sounds like your name got input wrong at some point snd they are updating it . maybe they pressed the wrong button instead of the one for NOA 2. Let us know what they tell you . Good luck to everyone

Edited December 8, 2015 by tyler747

[walran 24]

I am not sure that I would wait the whole five months if I was three months into this and had not heard anything I would be calling my local congressman and asking them to look into it. They do a fair number of service things for constituents and if you are at all active in business or facebook I am sure that one of your friends either works for the congressman or knows someone who does.

I posted a need for congressional help on a tourist visa for one of my employees in India and they intervened rapidly to give me information and an update..

When I look at the "Nepal" NOA! to NOA2's it looks like those in the CA center are looking at an average of 60 days but it is funny because all the recent approvals came December 3-4 no matter whether they applied the 20th of September or the 3rd of November.. Not sure how that works?

Good Luck!

[walran 24]

You do realize that the link you posted for "USCIS processing times" is a Visajourney site, and has nothing whatsoever to do with USCIS or the US government? And that the actual USCIS processing times that they are referring to are found, quite conveniently on the USCIS website, linked in the post of mine that you quoted and again here. And that it says "5 Months"? And the VJ guide says that you should call if you're past USCIS processing times? And that the VJ estimates mean exactly nothing except giving you a good guess?

And that yep, you got yours 2 days more than average. Which is how averages work. Someone else got theirs in 31 days. You got yours in 35. Together, they average 33.

CatherineA, IT looks like you were on the crazy unlucky side of the continuum..! 173 days to NOA2 would have me gong bonkers, getting married and then starting the process over I would guess and probably waiting another 173 days...

[Pennycat 880]

CatherineA, IT looks like you were on the crazy unlucky side of the continuum..! 173 days to NOA2 would have me gong bonkers, getting married and then starting the process over I would guess and probably waiting another 173 days...

Depends on your perspective of crazy unlucky. I was one of the first people to get out of TSC for Feb 15 filers. At that time, TSC was averaging over 220 days. CSC was averaging 3 weeks. So unlucky to live in a state assigned to TSC yes, but so were half or more filers. Very lucky to get through in under 6 months, when the average was over 7.

Marrying would have only made it take longer (NVC alone is 6 months. K1s don't do NVC). We were stuck. Us TSC people fought USCIS to even out the timelines and all they did was shut down Texas and send everyone to California. We all stayed in line at Texas for months. People who filed months after us got married before we even had NOA2. Good times. So this is why I try to urge calm and perspective to new folks who are a day or a week beyond average. You could triple the average and still be in a very very good place with this.

[Alaska2012 462]

The congressman won't do nothing until the 5 months that uscis states is the normal timeline is up.

[walran 24]

The congressman won't do nothing until the 5 months that uscis states is the normal timeline is up.

Actually that isn't true.. I had a response in about 45 days..