I-129F Processing Times

[NotPennysBoat 20]

Does anyone know what methods are used to determine when who's I-129F get processed when?

There seems to be very little rhyme or reason as to when applications are processed.
 

For example, Person A can submit their application two weeks later than Person B  submitted his, and yet, Person A may be approved weeks or even months before Person B is.

It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. One of the more popular threads on here is from a person who was approved for the CR1 after a month, yet most of them take a year. 

 

Can anyone shed some insight into why situations like this happen? Shouldn't everyone's applications be done in chronological order?

 

Edited May 3, 2020 by NotPennysBoat

[NoMansLand2020 298]

7 minutes ago, NotPennysBoat said:

Does anyone know what methods are used to determine when who's I-129F get processed when?

There seems to be very little rhyme or reason as to when applications are processed.
 

For example, Person A can submit their application two weeks later than Person B  submitted his, and yet, Person A may be approved weeks or even months before Person B is.

It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. One of the more popular threads on here is from a person who was approved for the CR1 after a month, yet most of them take a year. 

 

Can anyone shed some insight into why situations like this happen? Shouldn't everyone's applications be done in chronological order?

 

A lot has to do with background checks. 

 

Application A gets to an adjudicator and ends up having to go through a more extensive background check. The adjudicator has to wait to hear back before proceeding with the case... Therefore they move on to another application and are able to approve without waiting. 

 

I received NOA1 a month before you did. I've seen Jan and Feb filers already get their NOA2. I'm still waiting on mine.. 135+ days now. Other earlier Dec filers are still waiting. 

 

At this point with most embassies being closed for interviews you will still be waiting. 

Edited May 3, 2020 by Solaris81

[SalishSea 17,818]

I have always suspected that those who send a huge pile of unnecessary and not required documents wait longer as the adjudicator simply has more paperwork to weed through.  

[SalishSea 17,818]

35 minutes ago, NotPennysBoat said:

One of the more popular threads on here is from a person who was approved for the CR1 after a month, yet most of them take a year. 

I believe it was their petition (not the CR-1 visa) that was approved after a month.  That person is extremely lucky, and the exception.  I have been reading VJ for five years, and that is the first time I have seen a non-expedited petition randomly be approved that fast.

[geowrian 22,337]

Think of it like a massive supermarket with 100s of checkout aisles. You get in one aisle and you sit there until you checkout. Sometimes you get a slow one. Sometimes you get a fast one. Sometimes a price check is needed. Sometimes somebody is paying in change alone. All sorts of things can mean somebody who was in another line finishes before you. You are almost never in the slowest line. You are almost never in the fastest line.

[NotPennysBoat 20]

1 hour ago, Solaris81 said:

A lot has to do with background checks. 

My fiancee and I both are clean for everything so I don't know if that is the case for us. I got approved for a passport extremely quickly last year, although there could be different checks being done for this. 

 

1 hour ago, Jorgedig said:

I have always suspected that those who send a huge pile of unnecessary and not required documents wait longer as the adjudicator simply has more paperwork to weed through.  

I filed a very slim packet, didn't front-load very much. Just the essentials and some secondary evidence of meeting and a relationship (airbnb, boarding passes, engagement ring receipt, etc).  I imagine the people sending 40 page binders or waivers take a long time to sort out though, and that the current situation probably has slowed  USCIS down quite a bit. 
 

 

1 hour ago, Solaris81 said:

I received NOA1 a month before you did. I've seen Jan and Feb filers already get their NOA2. I'm still waiting on mine.. 135+ days now. Other earlier Dec filers are still waiting. 

That is  what promoted this thread honestly, I saw a lot of members from around my timeframe already receiving their NOA2s  and I got a bit anxious. Hope you get yours soon! 🙂

 

[geowrian 22,337]

2 minutes ago, NotPennysBoat said:

My fiancee and I both are clean for everything so I don't know if that is the case for us. I got approved for a passport extremely quickly last year, although there could be different checks being done for this. 

There are several checks that go on, and sometimes they get held up despite having a squeaky clean history. Sometimes it's as simple as somebody with the same or similar name having a history, and a manual investigation is needed to ensure they are looking at the right person.

I have some of the same security checks done regularly for my security clearances. I have not encountered a delay yet. Yet sometimes somebody will get stuck in them for months before they can approve the clearance request.

Being issued a passport is pretty much "are you a USC + are you on a no-fly list, or owe back support?". It's an entirely different level of checks.

[NoMansLand2020 298]

44 minutes ago, geowrian said:

There are several checks that go on, and sometimes they get held up despite having a squeaky clean history. Sometimes it's as simple as somebody with the same or similar name having a history, and a manual investigation is needed to ensure they are looking at the right person.

I have some of the same security checks done regularly for my security clearances. I have not encountered a delay yet. Yet sometimes somebody will get stuck in them for months before they can approve the clearance request.

Being issued a passport is pretty much "are you a USC + are you on a no-fly list, or owe back support?". It's an entirely different level of checks.

Exactly. If you have ever lived out of the country of different state than where you reside or your fiance has lived elsewhere, they will run checks in those areas. Sometimes getting an answer back from the various organizations that keep that information takes time.. Especially those abroad. With the pandemic, it's probably a ton slower as a lot of places are half staffed and maybe operating with limited capabilities.

 

I am also willing to bet that these applications (I129f) aren't even looked at for the first two months. So a majority of the approval period they are waiting to be worked on. 

 

I also have security checks done for clearances. I waited 3.5 yrs to be adjudicated for a TS while other colleagues were getting theirs back at 2 yrs. 

Edited May 3, 2020 by Solaris81

[NotPennysBoat 20]

16 minutes ago, Solaris81 said:

I am also willing to bet that these applications (I129f) aren't even looked at for the first two months. So a majority of the approval period they are waiting to be worked on. 

That's what a lot of other people say as well, so they might not have even gotten to my application yet. 

 

[SalishSea 17,818]

In 2018 when we did our K-1, NOA2 was taking a minimum of 6 months.  Consider yourself lucky that the recent processing times are shorter.

[Erin & Ricky 12]

I've been wondering the same thing. I know that it does make a difference where your fiancee is coming from. People who are coming from certain countries get more vetting before they allow them to come into the county. 

[Ankissa 7]

34 minutes ago, Erin & Ricky said:

I've been wondering the same thing. I know that it does make a difference where your fiancee is coming from. People who are coming from certain countries get more vetting before they allow them to come into the county. 

What countries do you mean?

[Just Paul 4,595]

37 minutes ago, Erin & Ricky said:

I've been wondering the same thing. I know that it does make a difference where your fiancee is coming from. People who are coming from certain countries get more vetting before they allow them to come into the county. 

Beneficiary's background isn't usually check at the USCIS.  It is reviewed at the consulate.

[SalishSea 17,818]

8 hours ago, Erin & Ricky said:

I've been wondering the same thing. I know that it does make a difference where your fiancee is coming from. People who are coming from certain countries get more vetting before they allow them to come into the county. 

That vetting is done primarily at the consulate level, rather than USCIS.  The petition is about the petitioner.

[Erin & Ricky 12]

 

On 5/4/2020 at 1:11 PM, Paul & Mary said:

Beneficiary's background isn't usually check at the USCIS.  It is reviewed at the consulate.

 

16 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

That vetting is done primarily at the consulate level, rather than USCIS.  The petition is about the petitioner.

 

True but I would assume that if the beneficiary is coming from a country where there has been a history of fraud that the petitioner will get extra screening to make sure the relationship is legitimate... right?