Question about processing time

[ChrisMc 5]

When I read the USCIS website about the processing of the K1 Visas it says they are processed on a "first come, first served basis".  However, I have noticed that several couples who have a NOA1 date AFTER mine have already gotten their second NOA.  It seems to me then, that they are either not processing on a first come, first served basis like they claim, or else something has happened with my petition.  Should I be worried?  FYI, my NOA1 date was 2/14/2017.  I have checked the USCIS website with my assigned number and all it says was that my petition was received by the California Service Center on 2/13/2017.   Thanks everyone.

[geowrian 22,338]

They're generally processed in a first come, first served basis. However, they don't go strictly in that order. They are processed by a variety of officers in batches. Some take longer than others, some have different priorities (they don't only work on I-129Fs all day), some cases take longer, some cases are waiting in other checks, sometimes a person can be out, etc. I wish there was more info available and that they better distributed the load, but that's just the way it is. It's possible for somebody who filed a month after you to get lucky, or a person who filed a month before you to still be waiting. There's still a handful of Nov. filers who are still waiting to hear back.

 

I'll refer back to a previous post I made:

What they're doing makes sense from a process flow. Think of it like a supermarket with 10 registers open and 100 customers...

• The lines very likely won't be exactly equal to start with.
• Some cashiers will go faster than others.
• Some people will have more items than others.
• Some people will have items that won't scan, or require somebody to look them up by hand.
• Some people won't have sufficient funds, or pay slowly.

Assumption: Once you pick a line, you cannot move to a new line.

 

In this scenario, 9 times out of 10 there will be a line moving faster than your own. The 5 people in line #1 could get checked out while your line sits there on person #1 still.

 

Is it the cashier's fault for some people taking wayyyy longer than others? The store's? To make it more fair, should they have cashiers wait until all front-line customers are checked out before moving to the next? Should they put all the low-item count/exact change/etc. people at the front (or use a dedicated line)? unfortunately, there's not really a solution that works best for everybody, and all the 'fair" solutions are just inefficient. This line/queue management process conundrum comes up in all sorts of process flows, and there simply isn't a generic solution...just ways to prioritize certain aspects (fairness, fastest average time, optimal customer experience, etc.).

Edited May 29, 2017 by geowrian

[SH_KY 3]

Just randomly looked on two timelines and they got 92 and 98 days. Its been 103 days since then, should be pretty close.

[JFH 12,191]

Also, some cases are expedited for various reasons (military due to be deployed, medical reasons and other individual matters). The only answer I can give anyone when they ask how long it will take is "it will take as long as it takes". 

[ChrisMc 5]

Thanks everyone. I had read a few reports of people not receiving their NOA2, even though they were approved.  It made me worry.  The wait is so nerve racking for everyone.  All we can do is hang in there I guess.  Thanks again.

[JenNewman223 4]

Hi. Our NOA1 date is 02/17/2017. I've been getting worried too. But nice to know I'm not the only one. Let's hope both ours get looked at soon. 

Edited June 2, 2017 by JenNewman223

[ChrisMc 5]

11 minutes ago, JenNewman223 said:

Hi. Our NOA1 date is 02/17/2017. I've been getting worried too. But nice to know I'm not the only one. Let's hope both ours get looked at soon. 

Just now got our NOA2 in the mail.  Yours could very well be on the way!!!  Hang in there.  SO happy!

 

[JenNewman223 4]

That's great news for you both! Fingers crossed it comes soon. 

[MrTD 9]

We're waiting also. The wait seems forever. Received my NOA 1 Feb 22. Called the USCIS # today and the only response I received was to look at the processing times on their website. Hopefully we will hear something soon.

[Bill and Claudio 10]

Hi. Our NOA1 date is 02/09/2017. We still waiting... unfortunately some cases take longer than others. 

Happy for your NOA2! Now I want mine.. lol

[ChrisMc 5]

1 hour ago, MrTD said:

We're waiting also. The wait seems forever. Received my NOA 1 Feb 22. Called the USCIS # today and the only response I received was to look at the processing times on their website. Hopefully we will hear something soon.

Yeah, except they never update their website and the tracker doesn't work. According to the tracker, our case still hasnt been touched yet, but the NOA2 came in the mail.  Hopefully everyone else's are on the way.  Best wishes!