Waiting over 8 months on NOA2 for a CR-1 Visa (I-130)

[humamandrifa 7]

Hi, I filed for my Wife Petition and received NOA-1 on December 6th 2016. I was following USCIS processing times and within a month they only process 10-11 days worth of cases for an I-130 from November 15-26 2016 right now on their website. Is anyone taking longer than expected to get their NOA-2. I hear others only took a month or 2 for NOA2 on an I-130 spousal petition and Im just patiently waiting and nothing I can do at this point and thats what USCIS keeps telling me everytime I call them about my case. Its no help. Is talking to a Senator going to help at all?? like how long are they gona take..I am just worried that im waiting this long and doing something else will just delay my wait even more. Does someone have experience or can help me with this manner? I know the only response i keep getting is "keep waiting" from USCIS. Thanks in advance!!

Edited August 10, 2017 by humamandrifa

[Coco8 1,042]

NOA 2 does not take 1 or 2 months.

 

Your timeline is correct. The whole spousal visa takes 12-14 months.

Edited August 10, 2017 by Coco8

[fcl 42]

Our NOA2 took almost 8 months, after several service requests we contacted congressman, we where told our case was held back due to background checks, two weeks later we where approved.  Not sure if congressman was able to speed up our case, but it definitely doesn't hurt to try, at least they will tell you why your case is taking so long.

[Mill&bill 131]

On 8/11/2017 at 0:25 AM, humamandrifa said:

Hi, I filed for my Wife Petition and received NOA-1 on December 6th 2016. I was following USCIS processing times and within a month they only process 10-11 days worth of cases for an I-130 from November 15-26 2016 right now on their website. Is anyone taking longer than expected to get their NOA-2. I hear others only took a month or 2 for NOA2 on an I-130 spousal petition and Im just patiently waiting and nothing I can do at this point and thats what USCIS keeps telling me everytime I call them about my case. Its no help. Is talking to a Senator going to help at all?? like how long are they gona take..I am just worried that im waiting this long and doing something else will just delay my wait even more. Does someone have experience or can help me with this manner? I know the only response i keep getting is "keep waiting" from USCIS. Thanks in advance!!

Hi this is same in my situation. my husband is a US citizen and he applied me and we received our NOA -1 on same date as your December 6th 2016. we are waiting and calling but there is no response. it is more than enough. i am very worried.

[humamandrifa 7]

9 hours ago, Mill&bill said:

Hi this is same in my situation. my husband is a US citizen and he applied me and we received our NOA -1 on same date as your December 6th 2016. we are waiting and calling but there is no response. it is more than enough. i am very worried.

Hi, I know I have been calling many times as well. only keep saying to keep waiting...The processing time as USCIS is still November 26th 2016, it became very slow to reach the Dec 2016. I just dont know what to do, they say file inquiry after date has passed their website and then call senator for help. I dont know if i can do that now because USCIS website did not allow me

10 hours ago, fcl said:

Our NOA2 took almost 8 months, after several service requests we contacted congressman, we where told our case was held back due to background checks, two weeks later we where approved.  Not sure if congressman was able to speed up our case, but it definitely doesn't hurt to try, at least they will tell you why your case is taking so long.

Can I ask if you called your congressman before or after the processing time has passed on USCIS website? Congrats on your approval ! I am still waiting and I dont know what to do next, USCIS tells me everytime its normal processing times and im almost 9 months waiting now.

[humamandrifa 7]

On 8/10/2017 at 0:46 PM, Coco8 said:

NOA 2 does not take 1 or 2 months.

 

Your timeline is correct. The whole spousal visa takes 12-14 months.

I meant there are people who get their NOA2 in 1-2 months, im just here waiting, and others within 3-4 months. im double that . Thanks for your input

[fcl 42]

1 hour ago, humamandrifa said:

Hi, I know I have been calling many times as well. only keep saying to keep waiting...The processing time as USCIS is still November 26th 2016, it became very slow to reach the Dec 2016. I just dont know what to do, they say file inquiry after date has passed their website and then call senator for help. I dont know if i can do that now because USCIS website did not allow me

Can I ask if you called your congressman before or after the processing time has passed on USCIS website? Congrats on your approval ! I am still waiting and I dont know what to do next, USCIS tells me everytime its normal processing times and im almost 9 months waiting now.

Thanks, We contacted congressman before, but by the time (couple of days) they contacted USCIS, we were already out of normal processing times, so they replied back with some info.  Since you are so close from being out of normal processing time (they usually update processing times every 15th), you might as well start contacting your congressman.  

Yes, if you keep calling USCIS right now, they will tell  you're in normal processing times. Hopefully by tomorrow they will update the processing dates. That way you can file an inquiry plus congressman.  

[humamandrifa 7]

3 hours ago, fcl said:

Thanks, We contacted congressman before, but by the time (couple of days) they contacted USCIS, we were already out of normal processing times, so they replied back with some info.  Since you are so close from being out of normal processing time (they usually update processing times every 15th), you might as well start contacting your congressman.  

Yes, if you keep calling USCIS right now, they will tell  you're in normal processing times. Hopefully by tomorrow they will update the processing dates. That way you can file an inquiry plus congressman.  

Im going to try a Senator this week for CA. they usually update twice a month but not very much.

Can I ask if you got your approval on the Physical Home Mail first?? (Or does it also change on the website case status? I keep seeing Case was received, I wanted to know whats the first thing to expect for an approval?)

 

Wenever I call USCIS its always a generic response from their typical call scripts.

Thanks and good luck on your next steps!

[fcl 42]

14 minutes ago, humamandrifa said:

Im going to try a Senator this week for CA. they usually update twice a month but not very much.

Can I ask if you got your approval on the Physical Home Mail first?? (Or does it also change on the website case status? I keep seeing Case was received, I wanted to know whats the first thing to expect for an approval?)

 

Wenever I call USCIS its always a generic response from their typical call scripts.

Thanks and good luck on your next steps!

On our case we got an email alert, uscis website case status was also updated as approved same day, got the letter in the physical mail six days later.  But again with USCIS you never know, here in VJ I've heard of people finding out by getting approval letter by physical mail, while website never updated at all. 

[acidrain 325]

I feel like everyone else who got a different service center from Nebraska won the i130 sweepstakes.

 

If this were a competition this is how it plays out:

#1 - Vermont - March 14, 2017 - how is it that they can be 3 months ahead of Nebraska and not have files transferred to balance workload?

 

#2 - Potomac - Not sure of accurate time as Visa Journey has it listed as Oct 24, 2016 but the USCIS page has them processing at Jan 1, 2017 as of May 31. They are likely into March - again why isn't Potomac getting transfers if they are ahead by 3 months?

 

#3 - Texas - Feb 11, 2017 - Nearly 2 months ahead of Nebraska - again why isn't Texas getting transfers?

 

#4 - California - Jan 27, 2017 - What the heck happened to all their i130's??? If you take a look at the USCIS processing times page they no longer list i130!! Does this mean USCIS (aka useless) decided to cut out 1 service center out of i130 processing? Do they plan on replacing this service center with another or hiring more people for the backlog?

 

#5 - Nebraska - Dec 13, 2016 - There are still Nov filers getting processed and every month we are lucky if 15 days of files are going through. USCIS claims i130 petitions are supposed to be processed within 9 months max. At this rate we are all going to be lucky if we get our applications processed by the end of 2017.

 

If the USCIS processing times page is correct they processed Nov 26, 2017 i130's as of June 30. Visa Journey says today they are processing i130s from Dec 13, 2017. That suggests that in 30 working days (not total days) they have only processed 17 days worth of applications. They are clearly not keeping up with their workload.

 

There is an obvious solution to the problem but yet nobody in USCIS (useless) wants to deal with it.

 

If anyone speaks with their Congressperson the people in charge of USCIS need to figure out a solution before the problem gets any worse.

 

I've waited 6 months so far with no end in sight. A few years back we were able to apply at our consulate abroad and the i130 took 2 months (we never completed). But they've hiked the fees and the people who work at the NSC are incredibly rude. This whole process is ridiculous. There is something wrong when I am forced to be separated from my spouse who I've been married to for almost a decade. But if you've never met your boyfriend you can get a K-1 Visa and enter the US for 90 days. My spouse and I joked how we should just get a divorce and file K-1 so we aren't separated. The scary part is by the end of this process it wouldn't take that much longer.

Edited August 15, 2017 by acidrain

[mstein 3]

On 2017-08-14 at 11:27 AM, humamandrifa said:

Hi, I know I have been calling many times as well. only keep saying to keep waiting...The processing time as USCIS is still November 26th 2016, it became very slow to reach the Dec 2016. I just dont know what to do, they say file inquiry after date has passed their website and then call senator for help. I dont know if i can do that now because USCIS website did not allow me

Can I ask if you called your congressman before or after the processing time has passed on USCIS website? Congrats on your approval ! I am still waiting and I dont know what to do next, USCIS tells me everytime its normal processing times and im almost 9 months waiting now.

I posted in another thread but this may help you. My NOA1 was December 6 in Nebraska. At the end of July, we figured it won't hurt to contact our senator (still within normal processing time). We sent a release authorization, and we got a reply back from them dated August 3rd. Basically it said we are still in line, our case has not been assigned yet and to just look at the website. But then this week, we received our NOA2 approval in the mail, and it is dated August 8th. So I'm not sure if the senator's inquiry helped get the case assigned. Sometime between August 3rd and 8th, we were assigned and approved. It is worth noting that as of right now (August 15), our online status still says "case received". Also we were supposed to be signed up for e-notifications and we didn't get anything from them. 

[humamandrifa 7]

8 minutes ago, mstein said:

I posted in another thread but this may help you. My NOA1 was December 6 in Nebraska. At the end of July, we figured it won't hurt to contact our senator (still within normal processing time). We sent a release authorization, and we got a reply back from them dated August 3rd. Basically it said we are still in line, our case has not been assigned yet and to just look at the website. But then this week, we received our NOA2 approval in the mail, and it is dated August 8th. So I'm not sure if the senator's inquiry helped get the case assigned. Sometime between August 3rd and 8th, we were assigned and approved. It is worth noting that as of right now (August 15), our online status still says "case received". Also we were supposed to be signed up for e-notifications and we didn't get anything from them. 

Congrats on your approval and il definetely check that out. I was going to contact a Senator this week. Was there a specific website or form that you filled out?

I mean it doesn't hurt to try it out, I was wondering myself. Thanks! that would be so helpful. Did you receive NOA2 through a Physical Mail at home?

[humamandrifa 7]

16 hours ago, acidrain said:

I feel like everyone else who got a different service center from Nebraska won the i130 sweepstakes.

 

If this were a competition this is how it plays out:

#1 - Vermont - March 14, 2017 - how is it that they can be 3 months ahead of Nebraska and not have files transferred to balance workload?

 

#2 - Potomac - Not sure of accurate time as Visa Journey has it listed as Oct 24, 2016 but the USCIS page has them processing at Jan 1, 2017 as of May 31. They are likely into March - again why isn't Potomac getting transfers if they are ahead by 3 months?

 

#3 - Texas - Feb 11, 2017 - Nearly 2 months ahead of Nebraska - again why isn't Texas getting transfers?

 

#4 - California - Jan 27, 2017 - What the heck happened to all their i130's??? If you take a look at the USCIS processing times page they no longer list i130!! Does this mean USCIS (aka useless) decided to cut out 1 service center out of i130 processing? Do they plan on replacing this service center with another or hiring more people for the backlog?

 

#5 - Nebraska - Dec 13, 2016 - There are still Nov filers getting processed and every month we are lucky if 15 days of files are going through. USCIS claims i130 petitions are supposed to be processed within 9 months max. At this rate we are all going to be lucky if we get our applications processed by the end of 2017.

 

If the USCIS processing times page is correct they processed Nov 26, 2017 i130's as of June 30. Visa Journey says today they are processing i130s from Dec 13, 2017. That suggests that in 30 working days (not total days) they have only processed 17 days worth of applications. They are clearly not keeping up with their workload.

 

There is an obvious solution to the problem but yet nobody in USCIS (useless) wants to deal with it.

 

If anyone speaks with their Congressperson the people in charge of USCIS need to figure out a solution before the problem gets any worse.

 

I've waited 6 months so far with no end in sight. A few years back we were able to apply at our consulate abroad and the i130 took 2 months (we never completed). But they've hiked the fees and the people who work at the NSC are incredibly rude. This whole process is ridiculous. There is something wrong when I am forced to be separated from my spouse who I've been married to for almost a decade. But if you've never met your boyfriend you can get a K-1 Visa and enter the US for 90 days. My spouse and I joked how we should just get a divorce and file K-1 so we aren't separated. The scary part is by the end of this process it wouldn't take that much longer.

This is very true from what you sourced, I am trying to find out why it takes so long, oh well patients is key there is nothing to do once its in the govt hands. and i agree its pretty useless to call USCIS as they only use their "generic" scripts to talk to you saying are we customer filing etcc form etc and how to help and verify processing times which is all found on website and thats it.

[mstein 3]

1 hour ago, humamandrifa said:

Congrats on your approval and il definetely check that out. I was going to contact a Senator this week. Was there a specific website or form that you filled out?

I mean it doesn't hurt to try it out, I was wondering myself. Thanks! that would be so helpful. Did you receive NOA2 through a Physical Mail at home?

Thanks! To find a senator, I just googled "[state] senators" and found a search by zip code to find our senator. Our senator happened to have an online form that we filled. But I think most of them have information on immigration inquiries. And yes we got it mailed through physical mail. We didn't get any emails or text messages.