I-129F NOA1 to NOA2 Processing Time

[soprano82 5]

I was wondering if I could get some testimony as to the accuracy of Visa Journey's NOA1 to NOA2 processing times for the I-129F? For the CSC, where my application was forwarded to, the current processing date has been floating around March 31st, 2017 for about a week now for some reason. I've seen it advance as far as April 2nd, then move right back to March 31st today. The processing time for the CSC, as reported by Visa Journey, had been steadily moving by a day with the passing of each day until recently. Additionally, USCIS reports that they are currently processing I-129F's from January of 2017 (on the web and over the phone), which I cannot understand as there seem to be people that have submitted their applications after that date (as late as March) and have already received NOA2 (from the reports I have seen on this site). Another question I had was how many days/months worth of I-129F applications does USCIS typically cover in a given month? The answer to that question may explain why there are so many discrepancies between Visa Journey's processing date and USCIS's processing date. Since USCIS updates where they currently are each month, I was thinking someone may have potentially determined this statistic.

 

Here's a little background on my case. My I-129F was received by USCIS on April 28th, 2017, so it has been nearly 3 months, but I still haven't heard back from USCIS regarding NOA2. I realize this is to be expected on some level, but I am confused as to how this site calculates the estimated time in comparison to what USCIS is reporting and what is going on with the Visa Journey's processing date as of late. Maybe the algorithm Visa Journey uses to assess what date each service center is currently processing is gaining more data from users inputting data to support a particular date, but I am not sure. I was really hoping to potentially get NOA2 by early September at the latest, before I go to visit my fiancee in her country, so I could hand deliver the paperwork that is needed for her interview and avoid having to mail it there. However, I'm beginning to question whether that is a realistic possibility at this point.

 

Thank you in advance for the advice. I am very thankful to have such an amazing community of people to consult regarding questions I have related to the visa process.

[KULtoATL 1,551]

USCIS does not update their processing times in a timely manner as they go. VJ estimated USCIS processing times is based on VJ members' data, which is just a small sample of the USCIS entire petition population. Currently the I-129F NOA2 is taking closer to 4 months than 3 months, to be honest. 

[KULtoATL 1,551]

ETA: We are a March filer. With March filers, we were supposed to get NOA2 in June. When USCIS started sending out NOA2 to some March filers in June, there were quite a number of February filers who still did not receive theirs. Also, some March filers just gotten their NOA2 in the last few days along with April filers, of course. The delay could be due to backlog, speed of adjudicators, adjudicators going on vacation and what not. Your NOA1 date is end of the month so you might end up with the May filers pool. Have a bit of patience even if it's frustrating

[geowrian 22,338]

If you want to see the data:

https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-studies/immigration-forms-data/data-set-all-uscis-application-and-petition-form-types

 

That has how many I-129Fs USCIS is receiving, approving, and denying each quarter. The official processing timelines on the USCIS website are 2-3 months old at any point in time. They update once a month, and are about 2 months old at the time they are posted.

[ME ♥ Æ 50]

You should not have anything to worry about if you filed before May...you should get your NOA2 sometime before September.

There's no way to know for sure about these processing times.

All you can do is file and just forget about it... and try and visit your fiancé/ée as much as you can while your case is pending.

[DakotaKid 38]

17 hours ago, soprano82 said:

 

 

Here's a little background on my case. My I-129F was received by USCIS on April 28th, 2017, so it has been nearly 3 months, but I still haven't heard back from USCIS regarding NOA2.

My 129F was received at the CSC on 28 March, and I haven't heard a peep from them.  My case tracker shows it at 120 days.  After I had sent the paperwork, I was tracking the CSC processing times for K1 visas.  Back then they were averaging between 93 & 94 days.  Just have to be patient.  It will happen when it happens.  Frustrating none the less...  I was hoping to have my fiance here in September, but I doubt that it will be possible.

Edited July 26, 2017 by DakotaKid
incorrect spelling

[yk8orange 1]

HI. Did you get NOA2 ? My fiance in the US filed in Jun and got NOA1 on Jun 23rd. I live in Japan and I've been checking this visajourney & USCIS site everyday and disappointed.
We have still been waiting for NOA2. I feel like I have to wait forever. I'm not sure when they are going to check his application and if something is wrong with his papers when they check ?
It will take another time
When I check the visajourney, I can feel it's not only me that feeling anxious.
 

[soprano82 5]

At this time, I still have not received any updates regarding the application. The process does take a long time for those that file toward the middle of the year. From data on this site, I noticed that people that filed anytime from the beginning of the year to around March were getting NOA2 within 2 to 3 months, but after that time, it starts to take much longer for a reason that I don't completely understand. I think my application will be looked at in the next week or so, based on the VJ estimate, but I am a little anxious too, because I am going back to Japan to visit my fiancee in Tokyo for a few weeks next week. I never would have thought it would take this long to get NOA2. My fiancee is starting to feel anxious as well.

 

The only thing we can really do is continue to wait, but fortunately VJ tries to estimate the NOA1 dates of applications that are being processed, which I am assuming is what you have been following as I have. I tried calling USCIS at one point to check after about 3 months, but I noticed they aren't really interested in helping you look into the status of your application beyond what you likely already knew when you called in. USCIS doesn't regularly update their processing times either, so VJ is likely a more accurate source to track when you can expect your application to be viewed and hopefully adjudicated. Another source you should look at is the link, that one of the posters on this thread provided, that has the numbers for how many applications (all applications encompassed) USCIS has received, approved, and denied each quarter (this is pretty well hidden on the USCIS site). I found this to be useful as you can get a general idea of where your application is sitting; based on when you sent it in during the quarter, etc. Since their year starts in October, they are in the 4th quarter now. The 3rd quarter, which is where your application was filed, has not been added to these statistics yet, but I would think it would be done in the next couple weeks or so based on when the 2nd quarter was added (June 8th, which is 3 months after the 2nd quarter ended).

 

Lastly, while my fiancee has been feeling stressed out at times with the process of waiting for the visa to come through, she has been doing her best to distract herself from it by continuing to work a simple department store job (that she can exit from quickly when the visa comes in) and spending time with friends / family that she won't see quite as much anymore once the visa is done. I recognize that you may be doing many of these things already, but I think it's important to embrace the time you have left in Japan as you will have the rest of your life to spend with your fiance. I don't know how good your fiance's Japanese is, but I have been continuing to improve my Japanese during this time, to keep my mind off the visa, by studying for the JLPT at the end of year. Best of luck and hope your application comes in sooner rather than later.

 

Here's the link I discussed again for convenience:

https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-studies/immigration-forms-data/data-set-all-uscis-application-and-petition-form-types

 

Edited September 8, 2017 by soprano82

[daleguthery 305]

18 hours ago, yk8orange said:

HI. Did you get NOA2 ? My fiance in the US filed in Jun and got NOA1 on Jun 23rd. I live in Japan and I've been checking this visajourney & USCIS site everyday and disappointed.
We have still been waiting for NOA2. I feel like I have to wait forever. I'm not sure when they are going to check his application and if something is wrong with his papers when they check ?
It will take another time
When I check the visajourney, I can feel it's not only me that feeling anxious.
 

I'm with you. I filed on June 1st and NOA1 on June 8th. Tomorrow is our 100th day in the process.

[Josiah angela 23]

Me and my fiance were june fillers too... We filled on june 6,2017 and recieved noa1 june 9,2017...still waiting for noa2?praying to havr noa2 soon? Goodluck to us😊😊😊😊

[Emeryx 38]

On 9/9/2017 at 4:07 AM, daleguthery said:

I'm with you. I filed on June 1st and NOA1 on June 8th. Tomorrow is our 100th day in the process.

 

I was reading your timeline process below your post. I'm a june filer too, few weeks after you but i was curious to know how you know you're number 989 on the VJ Queue. 

[j N j 50]

1 hour ago, Emeryx said:

 

I was reading your timeline process below your post. I'm a june filer too, few weeks after you but i was curious to know how you know you're number 989 on the VJ Queue. 

maybe by this.. http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/monthly_filers.php?cfl=

 

[JFH 12,191]

*~*~*moved from "process and procedures" to "progress reports" - enquiry about processing times*~*~*

[Derik-Lina 230]

On July 25, 2017 at 8:29 PM, soprano82 said:

I was wondering if I could get some testimony as to the accuracy of Visa Journey's NOA1 to NOA2 processing times for the I-129F? For the CSC, where my application was forwarded to, the current processing date has been floating around March 31st, 2017 for about a week now for some reason. I've seen it advance as far as April 2nd, then move right back to March 31st today. The processing time for the CSC, as reported by Visa Journey, had been steadily moving by a day with the passing of each day until recently. Additionally, USCIS reports that they are currently processing I-129F's from January of 2017 (on the web and over the phone), which I cannot understand as there seem to be people that have submitted their applications after that date (as late as March) and have already received NOA2 (from the reports I have seen on this site). Another question I had was how many days/months worth of I-129F applications does USCIS typically cover in a given month? The answer to that question may explain why there are so many discrepancies between Visa Journey's processing date and USCIS's processing date. Since USCIS updates where they currently are each month, I was thinking someone may have potentially determined this statistic.

 

Here's a little background on my case. My I-129F was received by USCIS on April 28th, 2017, so it has been nearly 3 months, but I still haven't heard back from USCIS regarding NOA2. I realize this is to be expected on some level, but I am confused as to how this site calculates the estimated time in comparison to what USCIS is reporting and what is going on with the Visa Journey's processing date as of late. Maybe the algorithm Visa Journey uses to assess what date each service center is currently processing is gaining more data from users inputting data to support a particular date, but I am not sure. I was really hoping to potentially get NOA2 by early September at the latest, before I go to visit my fiancee in her country, so I could hand deliver the paperwork that is needed for her interview and avoid having to mail it there. However, I'm beginning to question whether that is a realistic possibility at this point.

 

Thank you in advance for the advice. I am very thankful to have such an amazing community of people to consult regarding questions I have related to the visa process.

Have you received your NOA2 yet? I am almost on the same timeline.

[soprano82 5]

Apologies for taking so long to respond. I am actually abroad visiting my fiancée at the moment. I still haven't received NOA2 yet, but I think there's a chance it'll happen this week based on VJ's current processing time estimates. Best of luck to you and hope your's comes in soon.