WHY IS THIS YEAR TAKING SO LONG FOR NOA2?

[Kirin2002 257]

On the other hand you have easier countries to immigrate to such as mine, Spain. Here you don't need to get married. You can be "pareja de hecho" (like being married by law, but not really; although you get many of the advantages) and that's all. So yeah there are more difficult countries but there are easier too. Immigrate to the US it isn't a piece of cake. 

[kirreb 1]

6 hours ago, Scandi said:

And yet it's a superfast process compared to many other countries. If I had moved my husband (then fiancé) to Sweden instead it would have taken close to 2 years. So the 9 months it took for us to get the visa (stuck at USCIS for 6 months last year) is nothing in comparsion. The US immigration is fast for us regular K-1 and CR-1 visa filers.

Wow 2 years? My wife immigrated to Sweden in 2008 (we both lived in the US then), and from what I recall it took 1-2 months and cost ~$60, but maybe it’s different for fiances?

Edited September 29, 2017 by kirreb

[John & Rose 7,239]

11 hours ago, Delirium said:

4 months is pretty standard for an NOA2 I feel like (in regards to a K1 visa).

4 months would be nice.  Starting with May filers it is going over 5 months and soon will hit 6 months just for the NOA2!

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

there were 617,752 family based visa issued in 2016  it is up from 2012 which was 482,300

and with the other border crossings and non immigrant the total is 10,381,491

I can not find out many extra were hired with the new fees / maybe someone else knows

the chart for infomation is homeland security stats

https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/AnnualReports/FY2016AnnualReport/FY16AnnualReport-TableI.pdf

[Elsalove2016 34]

7 hours ago, Little_Vixen said:

My bf and I have been keeping a close watch on processing times as we want to file K1 in december. He is very pessimistic about it and thinks with all the new rules it will just take longer and longer. He is convinced that, now the president can't stop immigration, he will do whatever he can to discourage people to immigrate. He fears the proces will only be delayed more and more and become more expensive. 

What are the new rules ?

[John & Rose 7,239]

1 minute ago, Elsalove2016 said:

What are the new rules ?

They really impact the 7 or 8 counties that are on the terrorist watch list.  There have been a lot of changes in priorities at USCIS and we are all feeling the impact, some more than others.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

back in 2011-early 2012 the waiting period was the average 4-6 months and mid 2012 was bumped to 4-9 months. Mine was approved in 4 months exact but the interview didn't happen until 2 months and half later. My entire k1 process was 6 months exact and I moved on the 7th month anniversary of our first filling. Back then we only had vermont which was the fast one and California which as hell and fire and they had the slowest noa2 of history. We realized (not saying is a trend) but I've been in this forum for 6 years now and I noticed the things more quicker for people who applied on the last 3 months of the year comparte to early spring fillers

[GreatDane 366]

Immigration is a long process. NOA2's for an I129F typically take anywhere from 3-6 months. The entire process overall takes a bit longer. For us, we filed in April and received the visa in August. He then entered in October so he could say goodbye to his family, as he wouldn't be able to return during AOS. 

Be prepared to wait. Timelines change all the time. We started our process back in 2013 and are still at least a year from finishing with immigration. Our ROC alone was a 6 month processing when we applied and is now at least 1.5 years. Unfortunately, it is a long, expensive, and stressful process filled with waiting. Try not to get discouraged after one month - you have plenty of waiting in the future.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

45 minutes ago, GreatDane said:

Immigration is a long process. NOA2's for an I129F typically take anywhere from 3-6 months. The entire process overall takes a bit longer. For us, we filed in April and received the visa in August. He then entered in October so he could say goodbye to his family, as he wouldn't be able to return during AOS. 

Be prepared to wait. Timelines change all the time. We started our process back in 2013 and are still at least a year from finishing with immigration. Our ROC alone was a 6 month processing when we applied and is now at least 1.5 years. Unfortunately, it is a long, expensive, and stressful process filled with waiting. Try not to get discouraged after one month - you have plenty of waiting in the future.

I agree with you, is a long and daunting process to say the least. My k1 took 6 months exact and I moved the same week I got my visa. My aos took long 9 months and roc was 6 months. I think the ONlY short process for me was my citizenship that took 3 months and 1 day from the day I sent the package until my oath ceremony..I was in shock on how fast it was because I'm use to lengthy processes. I guess the being last year, election year, everything was super fast. I'm SO glad my hubby and I are finally done with immigration for good

[Dutchster 1,107]

9 hours ago, Little_Vixen said:

My bf and I have been keeping a close watch on processing times as we want to file K1 in december. He is very pessimistic about it and thinks with all the new rules it will just take longer and longer. He is convinced that, now the president can't stop immigration, he will do whatever he can to discourage people to immigrate. He fears the proces will only be delayed more and more and become more expensive. 

1) What new rules?
2) What discouragement? Putting effort into immigration? (e.g. more paperwork, fees up)

What do y'all expect? Immigrating for $100 within three weeks? 

[Scandi 4,176]

4 hours ago, kirreb said:

Wow 2 years? My wife immigrated to Sweden in 2008 (we both lived in the US then), and from what I recall it took 1-2 months and cost ~$60, but maybe it’s different for fiances?

No, not different for fiancés, in Sweden we don't make a diffeence between fiancé and spouse for immigration, you also don't have to be/get married. Living together as if you are married and being married is the same thing in the immigrations eyes. 

2008 is a long time ago, the massive immigration to Sweden in recent years, especially since 2015 have made the lines very long. So yes, 2 years now. 

[David & Diana R 1,005]

2 hours ago, Dutchster said:

1) What new rules?
2) What discouragement? Putting effort into immigration? (e.g. more paperwork, fees up)

What do y'all expect? Immigrating for $100 within three weeks? 

I know, right?  Here we go again blaming President Trump for anything immigration.  I think we should be able to apply at Ben Franklin Stores throughout the US and pay $12.95 and get approved on the spot.  Don't you?  hahahaha

[Little_Vixen 1,869]

4 hours ago, Elsalove2016 said:

What are the new rules ?

2 hours ago, Dutchster said:

1) What new rules?
2) What discouragement? Putting effort into immigration? (e.g. more paperwork, fees up)

What do y'all expect? Immigrating for $100 within three weeks? 

The ones for the countries on the terrorist watchlist come to mind. The possibility of ending the diversity visa.

The change in wether or not the 'dreamers' will be granted a visa. The press release about looking deeper into social media channels of immigrants and anyone dealing with immigrants.

 

You can agree or disagree on either of these, thats beside my point. (Cause believe it or not I agree with some) But the way I see it, he is trying very hard to limit immigration and that scares me. Cause he not only bars the possibility for the terrorists and the moochers and the bums, he will also make it very difficult for the regular people who actually fell in love and want to be together. It scares me. I feel like if you wish to fall in love with a foreigner you better well make damn sure you're part of the upper class cause the common man won't be able to afford it very soon. 

 

And yes, I would totally agree with 3 weeks and 100 bucks. 

No seriously. It has to cost what it costs. The paperwork, the people, the stamps, the overhead costs ect. But it should not become a) a milk cow or b) a deterrent. Second, I think it's ridiculous the procedures last as long as they sometimes to. In the Netherlands we have a code of conduct for the government in which they need to come to a decision within a certain period, usually 8 weeks. You will be notified at the beginning within what period a decisions will be taken. If it has not been decided on within that period the request is granted. Period. No questions asked. 

If they think immigration is such a hot topic and they want to monitor the people coming in more they should put more and better educated people on the task. 

In my opinion it's not fair to have people put their life on hold for almost a year just cause the government doesn't employ enough people.

 

Just my opinion. Like it or leave it.

[John & Rose 7,239]

4 minutes ago, Little_Vixen said:

The ones for the countries on the terrorist watchlist come to mind. The possibility of ending the diversity visa.

The change in wether or not the 'dreamers' will be granted a visa. The press release about looking deeper into social media channels of immigrants and anyone dealing with immigrants.

 

You can agree or disagree on either of these, thats beside my point. (Cause believe it or not I agree with some) But the way I see it, he is trying very hard to limit immigration and that scares me. Cause he not only bars the possibility for the terrorists and the moochers and the bums, he will also make it very difficult for the regular people who actually fell in love and want to be together. It scares me. I feel like if you wish to fall in love with a foreigner you better well make damn sure you're part of the upper class cause the common man won't be able to afford it very soon. 

 

And yes, I would totally agree with 3 weeks and 100 bucks. 

No seriously. It has to cost what it costs. The paperwork, the people, the stamps, the overhead costs ect. But it should not become a) a milk cow or b) a deterrent. Second, I think it's ridiculous the procedures last as long as they sometimes to. In the Netherlands we have a code of conduct for the government in which they need to come to a decision within a certain period, usually 8 weeks. You will be notified at the beginning within what period a decisions will be taken. If it has not been decided on within that period the request is granted. Period. No questions asked. 

If they think immigration is such a hot topic and they want to monitor the people coming in more they should put more and better educated people on the task. 

In my opinion it's not fair to have people put their life on hold for almost a year just cause the government doesn't employ enough people.

 

Just my opinion. Like it or leave it.

I agree.  When you realize that it averages about 20 minutes for the actual approval process but it takes up to 6 months to even have anyone look at the petition.  On top of that they charge almost $600 for that 20 minute review. It does get a little ridiculous.  

 

It is what it is and the process may not be broken but it is certainly strained.  We are currently in an isolationist culture and we were stupid enough to fall in love with a foreigner.  Oh well, we are all here with the same feelings.  

 

Someone please remind the President that he married an immigrant!!!!  LOL

[David & Diana R 1,005]

Just now, John & Rose said:

I agree.  When you realize that it averages about 20 minutes for the actual approval process but it takes up to 6 months to even have anyone look at the petition.  On top of that they charge almost $600 for that 20 minute review. It does get a little ridiculous.  

 

It is what it is and the process may not be broken but it is certainly strained.  We are currently in an isolationist culture and we were stupid enough to fall in love with a foreigner.  Oh well, we are all here with the same feelings.  

 

Someone please remind the President that he married an immigrant!!!!  LOL

You have no idea what you are talking about.  I am a government investigator and I do background checks on people.  It can take hours, sometimes days to search official government data bases.  Then you have to wait for results from several agencies, depending on the kind of background check, sometimes waiting days for responses.  Then you have to wait to get "hard copies" via mail to confirm what you were told or what you saw online.  Then going over facebook and other social media making sure that the person applying is not a terrorist.  And that is a basic background check.  The background checks required for these cases involve much more work than you could ever imagine.  Not to mention the USCIS agent having to go through dozens of documents, sometimes hundreds of documents/pages that have been submitted by the petitioner, photos, forms, letters, etc.... I have no idea where you get an idea of 20 minutes but it's insulting.  Not to mention each agent is saddled with hundreds of these cases on their desks daily.  It's not like you are the only person applying.  There are tens of thousands of people.  Please be more considerate of others when you speak of things you have no personal knowledge of.  My wife got here 8 months almost to the day after we applied for a CR-1 from the Philippines and it was worth all the waiting and the money spent.  I don't think that was an unreasonable amount of time at all.   BTW:  I think President Trump is well aware that he is married to an immigrant. God Bless America,  david