timelines

[norfolk 2]

Why are some cases faster than others ?
I have noticed some cases taking only 4-5 months while others taking up to 1 year ?

Thank you

[Meg&Andrew 297]

Cases are not taken in order they are received. While some fly through,  others get caught up on FBI checks (can be as simple as having a common name), RFE's, and even having an adjudicator that received your case, but left on vacation and has not been back to review your file. Although most common delays stem from our own mistakes. Such as missing paperwork, not filling out forms correctly, and things of that sort. 

[sweetadams 138]

On 8/15/2017 at 11:06 PM, norfolk said:

Why are some cases faster than others ?
I have noticed some cases taking only 4-5 months while others taking up to 1 year ?

Thank you

It actually depends on the local field office handling your case. Some staff within the local office too are faster than the others. So basically, it just depends on the field office handling your case and also the type of case.

[xillini 71]

On 8/15/2017 at 10:06 PM, norfolk said:

Why are some cases faster than others ?
I have noticed some cases taking only 4-5 months while others taking up to 1 year ?

 

Mostly it depends on local field office, which is ultimately responsible whether they approve the case or not.

Some local offices such as NYC or in New Jersey State takes much longer while other offices in western coast takes less. 

Some local offices in Southern CA such as Orange County takes around 3-4 months, when they have AOS interview before they receive EAD/AP card while other offices in NYC generally takes up around 1 year. (And if you do look USCIS local field offices, there are 3-4 field offices near LA metropolitian, whereas there are virtually only 2 local field offices, although I am sure NYC USCIS local field offices have much more staffs)

You do have to take into number of cases that are being filed to each office because immigrants generally tend to live near coast line. 

 

The varying timeline also depends on immigration service officers. Since no two cases are the same, meaning every case is unique with all different stories, it does not take the same amount of time for USCIS to process the case. 

 

And there are multiple factors that gives different timeline, but in general, USCIS wants to finish the case within an year for marriage- based AOS. Although at this point it seems that USCIS fails to accomplish missions, they will do their best to follow up the back-log and provide quality service