Confused about processing times

[visaquestion1234 27]

Hi guys,

 

I’ve been looking at the processing times and I’m a little confused. Do those times indicate what a current filer should expect? I’m an early September filer and I know that current processing times are about 9-12 months. But what if in, say 2 or 3 months, the processing time drops to 8-11 months? What does that mean for me? Will I benefit from that?

 

The main reason I am asking this is because I would love for my fiancée to have advanced parole by November of 2019. Using worst case timelines, that wouldn’t work for a filer in September of 2018. However, it just may be possible for a 10 month K1 plus a 4 month AP. That seems like wishful thinking now, but I wonder if things will speed up a bit before next fall. Thoughts?

 

Thanks!

[accumbyte 149]

10 minutes ago, visaquestion1234 said:

The main reason I am asking this is because I would love for my fiancée to have advanced parole by November of 2019.

Is there a specific reason for that? Is there something she wants do in her country in late 2019?

[visaquestion1234 27]

Yes, simply a personal visit. It will not be an emergency.

[NikLR 13,227]

Depends on how long it takes for the marriage certificate to come back to you and how fast you can file AOS and then how fast your local office is working.  A few local offices are really fast with 3 month turnaround on green cards but most are looking at about a year.  

I suspect it may slow down even more rather than speed up though the longer this shutdown lasts as background checks etc will take longer to complete. 

[accumbyte 149]

5 minutes ago, visaquestion1234 said:

Yes, simply a personal visit. It will not be an emergency.

Then an option is to delay 1 or more of the following:

• The medical
• The K-1 interview
• US entry with the K-1

The visa is usually valid for 6 months after the medical date.

[visaquestion1234 27]

2 minutes ago, accumbyte said:

Then an option is to delay 1 or more of the following:

• The medical
• The K-1 interview
• US entry with the K-1

The visa is usually valid for 6 months after the medical date.

Yeah, I’m hoping we don’t have to go that route. 😕 Thanks for your answers.

[visaquestion1234 27]

A year for green cards? I’ve never seen an estimate that high. I mean, if she can get her work authorization and advance parole before that, it doesn’t matter so much I guess.

Edited January 13, 2019 by visaquestion1234
Quote

[accumbyte 149]

4 minutes ago, visaquestion1234 said:

I’ve never seen an estimate that high.

It can vary wildly. The Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN office is about 1.5 years: https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/656415-minneapolis-st-paul-mn-office-aos-filers/?page=31 The Jacksonville, FL office tends to be quick with some cases in the 3-4 month range.

[NikLR 13,227]

10 minutes ago, visaquestion1234 said:

A year for green cards? I’ve never seen an estimate that high. I mean, if she can get her work authorization and advance parole before that, it doesn’t matter so much I guess.

Generally speaking 4-6 months for EAD/AP

[Greenbaum 12,259]

41 minutes ago, visaquestion1234 said:

Hi guys,

 

I’ve been looking at the processing times and I’m a little confused. Do those times indicate what a current filer should expect? I’m an early September filer and I know that current processing times are about 9-12 months. But what if in, say 2 or 3 months, the processing time drops to 8-11 months? What does that mean for me? Will I benefit from that?

 

The main reason I am asking this is because I would love for my fiancée to have advanced parole by November of 2019. Using worst case timelines, that wouldn’t work for a filer in September of 2018. However, it just may be possible for a 10 month K1 plus a 4 month AP. That seems like wishful thinking now, but I wonder if things will speed up a bit before next fall. Thoughts?

 

Thanks!

Well, one thing that in your favor is they approved one September recently so maybe by the end of the month you'll hear about your case being approved. So many factors play into a timeline that it's difficult for us to give you anything near a best guess. Your mileage may vary.

[geowrian 22,337]

1 hour ago, visaquestion1234 said:

Do those times indicate what a current filer should expect? I’m an early September filer and I know that current processing times are about 9-12 months. But what if in, say 2 or 3 months, the processing time drops to 8-11 months? What does that mean for me? Will I benefit from that?

They are current processing timelines. Nobody knows what will happen to them in the future.

When I filed the I-129F in late 2016, it was taking 30 days. haha It took ~4 months and has grown a lot.

[carmel34 3,635]

The whole processing time thing is a huge uncertainty.  Some cases go quickly, others take forever.  Best way to go is not plan on anything for sure and just wrap your head around the idea that it's mostly out of your control (except for the speed at which you reply to RFEs, send in documents pay fees, etc.), so like we're all doing, wait patiently and hope for about average times.  If you look at the USCIS processing times alone, the averages are going up every year, so if these trends hold, average times today are likely to be less than in the future.  K1 in particular has really slowed down the last year for some reason.  Maybe the TV show has helped increased the number of applications or something, hard to say with so many factors at play.  Try to visit as often as you can during the wait.  Good luck!

[visaquestion1234 27]

Sorry, just another quick question - does everyone have an interview for AOS after getting married via a K1? I’ve read both.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

12 minutes ago, visaquestion1234 said:

Sorry, just another quick question - does everyone have an interview for AOS after getting married via a K1? I’ve read both.

As of some time in 2017, they started requiring an interview for all AOS from K-1 cases, I believe. Used to be that some people didn't have to have one.

[geowrian 22,337]

11 minutes ago, visaquestion1234 said:

Sorry, just another quick question - does everyone have an interview for AOS after getting married via a K1? I’ve read both.

People doing AOS from K-1 used to be generally eligible for an interview waiver. That changed last year (or as it late 2017 now? that seems like ages ago already) and the USCIS policy manual updated their interview waiver guidelines.

I don't want to say "all", but I'm not aware of any recently.