Unnecessary Panic for processing times?

[AZSunshine78 437]

I'm seeing many posts discussing how far behind processing is for K-1 visas and that this year has been one of the slowest for noa2 approval times, as well as some posts stating May and June filers will have some of the longest waits ever recorded.

 

Any truth/evidence of all this chatter?

 

*June 5th filer

[jaybeltisroy 211]

Yes so far there is a long wait for NOA2 approval. Some get it within 150 days and some are still waiting more than 180 days already. It really depends on the case not to mention RFE.

Edited October 3, 2017 by jaybeltisroy

[Blessed21 141]

47 minutes ago, AZSunshine78 said:

I'm seeing many posts discussing how far behind processing is for K-1 visas and that this year has been one of the slowest for noa2 approval times, as well as some posts stating May and June filers will have some of the longest waits ever recorded.

 

Any truth/evidence of all this chatter?

 

*June 5th filer

Have friend who filled in early May I think  and she got a noa2 yesterday October 2. 

[RJandHamid 1,133]

It's true that K1 NOA2 processing times are seemingly increasing. I think the reason many people are frustrated now is because they are comparing the current processing timeline to what the processing time was several months to about 1 year ago, where NOA2 was taking between 1-3 months. Now recent filers are waiting 4+ months for NOA2 and many think there is something wrong with their case or that something is going on at the CSC because current timelines are not matching historical ones. However, the K1 visa is still one of the quickest ways to permanently immigrate to the USA.

 

I'm actually starting to suggest getting married and filing CR1 petition instead of the K1 to many couples deciding between K1 and CR1 because it's ultimately cheaper and currently isn't taking that much longer, if you don't mind waiting an additional 6ish months. Plus CR1 visa holders can work and travel upon entry, so it really does make more sense at this point in time. 

Edited October 3, 2017 by RJandHamid

[Crazy Cat 41,888]

Just now, RJandHamid said:

It's true that K1 NOA2 processing times are seemingly increasing. I think the reason many people are frustrated now is because they are comparing the current processing timeline to what the processing time was several months to about 1 year ago, where NOA2 was taking between 1-3 months. However, the K1 visa is still one of the quickest ways to permanently immigrate to the USA.

 

I'm actually starting to suggest getting married and filing CR1 petition instead of the K1 to many couples deciding between K1 and CR1 because it's ultimately cheaper and currently isn't taking that much longer, if you don't mind waiting an additional 6ish months. Plus CR1 visa holders can work and travel upon entry, so it really does make more sense at this point in time. 

From filing to Green Card in hand is faster with a CR-1 takes about 12-14 months.  How long is filing to Green Card in hand for K-1? 

[RJandHamid 1,133]

Just now, missileman said:

From filing to Green Card in hand is faster with a CR-1 takes about 12-14 months.  How long is filing to Green Card in hand for K-1? 

Currently anywhere from 6-12+ months to get the green card after adjusting status on a K1. For work/travel authorization, it's currently taking around 4 months after filing AOS. The cost to file AOS also went up last year to $1225. 

 

So my timeline would be:

K1 & Marriage: December 2016 - Aug 2017: 8 months

AOS paperwork filed: September 2017

EAD&AP estimate: January 2018: 4 months from now

 

So in my case about 12 months (hopefully not more) from filing K1 to the beneficiary being able to work and travel abroad. That's not including the estimated time for green card in hand because it's difficult to predict. 

[Georgia16 2,858]

It's not the longest. The year before we applied there was a wait about 1 year to get NOA2.

[C-ma'am 684]

**Post moved from K1 Process to Progress Reports

[geowrian 22,337]

6 hours ago, AZSunshine78 said:

as well as some posts stating May and June filers will have some of the longest waits ever recorded.

Those people haven't seen the waits years ago. The current wait of ~4-5 months is nowhere near the longest ever. It's way up from last year (was only 30 days shortly before I applied!), though.

[patientguyinlove 92]

Based on historical data, it's been worse, but no one really knows what will happen with yours (June) or mine (August). Some folks are suggesting the timelines are getting worse...so expect issues to compound.

 

We've heard a lot of speculation about the causes: emergency visas for Haiti, increased cost=more applications before the change, Cuba, H1B premium processing (temporary hiatus), competing political priorities.

So many potential reasons that no one can really say unless they work for USCIS and understand the reasons why they are moved away from K1 processing at any particular time.

 

I'm fairly certain panicking won't result in faster processing times. So, sit back, save money and try to enjoy your last few months being single.

[Highmystic 234]

9 hours ago, AZSunshine78 said:

I'm seeing many posts discussing how far behind processing is for K-1 visas and that this year has been one of the slowest for noa2 approval times, as well as some posts stating May and June filers will have some of the longest waits ever recorded.

 

Any truth/evidence of all this chatter?

 

*June 5th filer

I got our NOA2 in 152 days,  May 3 to Oct 2.  It's a pain waiting and the more you worry about the worse it gets! LOL.  If everything is complete and in order, it will pass in time.

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

9 hours ago, RJandHamid said:

Currently anywhere from 6-12+ months to get the green card after adjusting status on a K1. For work/travel authorization, it's currently taking around 4 months after filing AOS. The cost to file AOS also went up last year to $1225. 

 

So my timeline would be:

K1 & Marriage: December 2016 - Aug 2017: 8 months

AOS paperwork filed: September 2017

EAD&AP estimate: January 2018: 4 months from now

 

So in my case about 12 months (hopefully not more) from filing K1 to the beneficiary being able to work and travel abroad. That's not including the estimated time for green card in hand because it's difficult to predict. 

For the AOS part depends if you get an interview or not- a guy on here last week got his AOS approval in around 3 months.. I got mine in 3.5 months earlier this year - so the range of time from K1 to Green Card in hand is huge.

[Crazy Cat 41,888]

11 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

For the AOS part depends if you get an interview or not- a guy on here last week got his AOS approval in around 3 months.. I got mine in 3.5 months earlier this year - so the range of time from K1 to Green Card in hand is huge.

How many months between filing and Green Card in hand for you?

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

22 minutes ago, missileman said:

How many months between filing and Green Card in hand for you?

Filing i129f? 

Well I filed in end of March 2016 and had my Green Card in hand end of March 2017. But I waited a while first before booking visa interview and after visa in hand before traveling over because I wanted to work a bit more.. so I don't think my timeline is very good for comparison hahaha  and I also think those things make it hard to compare filing petition to GC in hand for the 2 processes. Some get married Day 1 - some wait until day 90... etc etc.

But you can see the individual parts in my timeline - i129f filing to NOA2 - roughly 3 months... filing AOS to GC - 3.5 months... 

I would say that on average it takes 1-2 months from NOA2 to K1 interview - so that can be added in there somewhere too.

For some ppl though... the green card will take over a year to get after AOS filing even... like I said.. the range is crazy.

Edited October 3, 2017 by Suss&Camm

[DandY 134]

13 hours ago, AZSunshine78 said:

I'm seeing many posts discussing how far behind processing is for K-1 visas and that this year has been one of the slowest for noa2 approval times, as well as some posts stating May and June filers will have some of the longest waits ever recorded.

 

Any truth/evidence of all this chatter?

 

*June 5th filer

I have observed that May/June are on track to have the longest wait time in a few years--but it was longer back when DACA was instituted. And if it does not get better June will be up there with us.