approval trends over years?

[geowrian 22,337]

They don't finish or work on a particular date. They take cases as they are assigned, and mix that in with other priorities (they don't just process I-129Fs), processing throughput of the IO, vacations/illnesses, background checks, verification of documents, potential supervisor review, etc. Usually you'll see a range of about a week or 2 of dates being hit the hardest, but also outliers from a month or two back/forward as well.

 

Some delays are due to RFEs having been responded to, background checks that took a while and finally came in, expedites, etc. Some of it is just random luck on what IO gets your case and how that fits in with the other factors above (and likely many more unknown to anybody here).

IOs put cases on the side when they have an issue that they cannot resolve at the time (background checks, supervisor review, etc.) and then work on the next case.

 

Think of it like a giant store with many checkout lanes. Some go faster. There's always one going faster than your own. There's always one going slower than yours. Sometimes yours is faster but then the person in front of you has items that won't scan, or wants to pay in all change, etc. The only difference is you cannot pick your lane or change it...you get whatever you get and just need to wait it out.