NOA1 - NOA2 current wait-time is 3 MONTHS?!

[AMZJ 61]

Well, our I-129f was approved in 21 days from our NOA1 date.

But... I AM ENGLISH

But seriously - I wish you all the very best for a smooth and easy process. At the time it all seems daunting and way too long. After the event it's just a memory. I can't believe how far our lives have come since we met. Bless you.

You were very lucky. Most of us are seeing wait times of 50-65 days. Mine took 95 because I had an RFE, it was day 57 that they sent it out. I haven't seen many petitions approved that fast since December. It's slowed down this year a lot.

[Scandi 4,166]

I think maybe it'll take longer than 3 months tbh. We filed i-129f in December and haven't heard anything yet so I'm afraid the 3 month info might not be correct either, sorry to say.

[Georgia16 2,858]

You were very lucky. Most of us are seeing wait times of 50-65 days. Mine took 95 because I had an RFE, it was day 57 that they sent it out. I haven't seen many petitions approved that fast since December. It's slowed down this year a lot.

She did the K-1 in August they were fast back there...

I think maybe it'll take longer than 3 months tbh. We filed i-129f in December and haven't heard anything yet so I'm afraid the 3 month info might not be correct either, sorry to say.

Sorry to hear. Please fill in your timeline and you are welcome to join us other Scandinavians in the scandinavian forum

[AstroCanada 206]

OK, so this seems like the best thread to ask. Just getting started with this process and getting married tomorrow! I'm marrying a Canadian I've been living with here while on a NAFTA work visa in Canada. My time here is ending and we want to move to California. (If you think the US is slow, you should see the Canadian process)

So the question is. Is there any best service center to try to direct our application? Our intended destination is California (CSC), but my parents (and permanent address while abroad) is in Illinois (NSC). Both are showing 5 month processing times for the I-130. Any tips on how to push my application in one direction or another? I see there's a line for "intended address" on the I-130 that I'm struggling with a bit. Not sure if that determines the service center. Also it seems everything is being sent to California these days?

Looking forward to all the great advice here. Thanks!

[Georgia16 2,858]

OK, so this seems like the best thread to ask. Just getting started with this process and getting married tomorrow! I'm marrying a Canadian I've been living with here while on a NAFTA work visa in Canada. My time here is ending and we want to move to California. (If you think the US is slow, you should see the Canadian process)

So the question is. Is there any best service center to try to direct our application? Our intended destination is California (CSC), but my parents (and permanent address while abroad) is in Illinois (NSC). Both are showing 5 month processing times for the I-130. Any tips on how to push my application in one direction or another? I see there's a line for "intended address" on the I-130 that I'm struggling with a bit. Not sure if that determines the service center. Also it seems everything is being sent to California these days?

Looking forward to all the great advice here. Thanks!

This forum is for K-1 visa and therefore the info you get isn't the same as your spouse visa info.

Here is the link for spouse visa forum

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/110-ir-1-cr-1-spouse-visa-process-procedures/

[Pennycat 880]

You were very lucky. Most of us are seeing wait times of 50-65 days. Mine took 95 because I had an RFE, it was day 57 that they sent it out. I haven't seen many petitions approved that fast since December. It's slowed down this year a lot.

You're comparing apples and oranges. She applied in August, when I'd bet good money the average processing time was somewhere around 30 or fewer days. You applied in January when the average was around 60 or less. Your file was handled in below average time, but the RFE is what took you above average. Luck is when you come in significantly faster than those who applied around you, not when you hit the average. Sure, I guess it's lucky if you happen to apply when the average is a bit shorter, but really, the line just is what it is at this point.

There always seems to be a glut of applications in Dec/January. That's when people travel a lot, generally, and also prime engagement season. Couple that with the fact that a lot of people, including USCIS employees who are in fact also people, take time off of work in Dec/January, things just slow down a bit all right around that timeframe. But seriously, two months to get through USCIS for *anything* is nothing short of a miracle, so I'd focus on that luck and prepare yourself for what you'll need to do during embassy phase. THIS is the part that you actually do have a fair bit of control over, timeline wise and if you act fast, you can get through in a month (but you'll have to get your hands on a checklist, do what you can on the checklist *before* the embassy contacts you, and then set up your interview the absolute moment you can-- each embassy is different for when you can and what sort of information you need to have to do it). This could be the difference in *months*, if you get it down right.

[yuna628 9,676]

OK, so this seems like the best thread to ask. Just getting started with this process and getting married tomorrow! I'm marrying a Canadian I've been living with here while on a NAFTA work visa in Canada. My time here is ending and we want to move to California. (If you think the US is slow, you should see the Canadian process)

So the question is. Is there any best service center to try to direct our application? Our intended destination is California (CSC), but my parents (and permanent address while abroad) is in Illinois (NSC). Both are showing 5 month processing times for the I-130. Any tips on how to push my application in one direction or another? I see there's a line for "intended address" on the I-130 that I'm struggling with a bit. Not sure if that determines the service center. Also it seems everything is being sent to California these days?

Looking forward to all the great advice here. Thanks!

You do not 'direct' an application anywhere nor do you dictate where it will go. You follow the instructions of where to send your application, and it is taken to the appropriate location from there. K1s do not get sent to the same place or undergo the same process as a spousal visa. Completely different wait times handled by completely different service centers.

[Heather&Kevin 25]

NO! Oh my goodness doesn't anybody read this site before posting inflammatory statements like this?!

Texas is closed to new applications and has been since March 27, 2015. The only files getting approved out of Texas on Visajourney statistics are (1) those unfortunate souls who had to wait 13 months for their NOA2 and (2) people who are actually at CSC but don't pay attention to details, or read enough to know what is going on (ahem) and so put their "Service Center" as Texas just because they happened to mail their application to the "Dallas Lockbox". Two completely different things, but a lot of people simply refuse to have a clue and so mess up the data.

Once again, CSC is the ONLY USCIS Service Center taking new applications and has been since late March 2015.

I was under the impression that TSC was now catching up on the backlog, and the poor souls who had to wait for 13+ months were getting some joy in their process. Which I understood to be (in part) represented by the downswing in the graph. Apologies if I misread the data in line with inaccurate timelines.

When I said 'at the expense of CSC' I was referring to the fact that all cases go there now. Hence they are getting a little more delayed now.

Any inflammation created in emotional states is purely accidental.

[Heather&Kevin 25]

...prepare yourself for what you'll need to do during embassy phase. THIS is the part that you actually do have a fair bit of control over, timeline wise and if you act fast, you can get through in a month (but you'll have to get your hands on a checklist, do what you can on the checklist *before* the embassy contacts you, and then set up your interview the absolute moment you can-- each embassy is different for when you can and what sort of information you need to have to do it). This could be the difference in *months*, if you get it down right.

YES! This is very true. It's possible to cut valuable time from this part of the process.

I got my NVC case number (a lot of patience and hanging on the telephone) and then worked out a very hopeful timeline for the movement of my case out of NVC and across the Atlantic and then through the London Embassy

I already had the police report which I knew I would need. And I booked the medical very early, estimating the time it would take for my case to travel from the USA to UK - aiming for both to land at the Embassy on roughly the same day.

And also making good use of the Embassy website status checker to send my 'readiness for interview' just as soon as I knew they had the information in hand (prior to any formal notification).

Check your local info and play the game. And best of luck.

[Scandi 4,166]

Sorry to hear. Please fill in your timeline and you are welcome to join us other Scandinavians in the scandinavian forum

Thank you. This forum is a bit confusing to me right now, could you please link me to the Scandinavian forum?

[AMZJ 61]

She did the K-1 in August they were fast back there...

Sorry to hear. Please fill in your timeline and you are welcome to join us other Scandinavians in the scandinavian forum

You're comparing apples and oranges. She applied in August, when I'd bet good money the average processing time was somewhere around 30 or fewer days. You applied in January when the average was around 60 or less. Your file was handled in below average time, but the RFE is what took you above average. Luck is when you come in significantly faster than those who applied around you, not when you hit the average. Sure, I guess it's lucky if you happen to apply when the average is a bit shorter, but really, the line just is what it is at this point.

There always seems to be a glut of applications in Dec/January. That's when people travel a lot, generally, and also prime engagement season. Couple that with the fact that a lot of people, including USCIS employees who are in fact also people, take time off of work in Dec/January, things just slow down a bit all right around that timeframe. But seriously, two months to get through USCIS for *anything* is nothing short of a miracle, so I'd focus on that luck and prepare yourself for what you'll need to do during embassy phase. THIS is the part that you actually do have a fair bit of control over, timeline wise and if you act fast, you can get through in a month (but you'll have to get your hands on a checklist, do what you can on the checklist *before* the embassy contacts you, and then set up your interview the absolute moment you can-- each embassy is different for when you can and what sort of information you need to have to do it). This could be the difference in *months*, if you get it down right.

What I pretty much meant was what you both said. They were processing faster back then. I agree with what others have been saying. Those of us who were processed in under 5 months were lucky. 3 months with an RFE, honestly I'm grateful it wasn't longer.

The OP's lawyer hasn't taken into consideration NVC, they are a bit behind at the moment too. Some people are waiting a long time to get their case number at the moment.

[Scandi 4,166]

What if you change your mailing address with USCIS, does that force them to touch your petition? If so, would it help getting an RFE or NOA2 faster?

[AMZJ 61]

What if you change your mailing address with USCIS, does that force them to touch your petition? If so, would it help getting an RFE or NOA2 faster?

Shouldn't slow it down any.

[Georgia16 2,858]

Thank you. This forum is a bit confusing to me right now, could you please link me to the Scandinavian forum?

Here it is

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/185-scandinavians/page-260

[zoieeee 0]

It took them a month? That's 'good' to hear because we called the NVC yesterday, three weeks after NOA2, and the friendly woman told us we're not in the system yet and we should allow them 35 days in total.

Yeah I called them after about 2 weeks and the guy told me to wait 35 days. I got my packet from the consulate before my fiance even received the confirmation from the NVC saying they had sent it. Hope you hear something soon!!