What's Up With K1 Right Now?

[DanBucci 11]

It's nearing the 7th month from our NOA1 and still no NOA2. I'm starting to worry. Is this normal? USCIS states the pandemic didn't affect anything and the site says March 25 applicants can ask for a case inquiry.

 

How are you K1 people holding up? Specially March-May applicants.

Edited October 22, 2020 by DanBucci

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*moved from “process and procedures” to “progress reports”*~*~*

[payxibka 10,045]

24 minutes ago, DanBucci said:

It's nearing the 7th month from our NOA1 and still no NOA2. I'm starting to worry. Is this normal? USCIS states the pandemic didn't affect anything and the site says March 25 applicants can ask for a case inquiry.

 

How are you K1 people holding up? Specially March-May applicants.

Try this thread to join similarly situated people

 

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

4 hours ago, DanBucci said:

It's nearing the 7th month from our NOA1 and still no NOA2. I'm starting to worry. Is this normal? USCIS states the pandemic didn't affect anything and the site says March 25 applicants can ask for a case inquiry.

 

How are you K1 people holding up? Specially March-May applicants.

You forgot to ask about those in December,  January and February who are still waiting for their NIA2.  Just saying.

[DanBucci 11]

20 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

You forgot to ask about those in December,  January and February who are still waiting for their NIA2.  Just saying.

Even scarier; why so long? It's not fair and it's so stressing to see others filing same dates or earlier getting approved before you. I know it's gold holder is the winner, but still.

[payxibka 10,045]

41 minutes ago, DanBucci said:

Even scarier; why so long? It's not fair and it's so stressing to see others filing same dates or earlier getting approved before you.

Same complaint I have heard for almost 15 years.

[Sarahbmalvin 49]

Or how about September 2019 applicants who have already received their NOA2 in January but are still sitting in limbo because of the embassies not taking interviews. It’s infuriating.

Edited October 23, 2020 by Sarahbmalvin

[Greenbaum 12,259]

7 hours ago, DanBucci said:

Even scarier; why so long? It's not fair and it's so stressing to see others filing same dates or earlier getting approved before you. I know it's gold holder is the winner, but still.

Can I share somethings with you that I learned long ago about this process?

    • "the man with the gold makes the rules"
    • it will take as long as it will take 
    • no one with any certainty can tell you when some process will be completed
    • Your sense of urgency will never be equaled to what USCIS, NVC or your embassy demonstrates
    • Your journey is not going to mirror someone else's experience - yours and theirs are not the same
    • They only promised you a YES or NO answer. Never an exact time that their decision would be completed
    • Lowering your expectations will make you a much more relaxed individual

Good luck on your journey 
 

[bobjennyhitched 99]

4 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

Can I share somethings with you that I learned long ago about this process?

    • "the man with the gold makes the rules"
    • it will take as long as it will take 
    • no one with any certainty can tell you when some process will be completed
    • Your sense of urgency will never be equaled to what USCIS, NVC or your embassy demonstrates
    • Your journey is not going to mirror someone else's experience - yours and theirs are not the same
    • They only promised you a YES or NO answer. Never an exact time that their decision would be completed
    • Lowering your expectations will make you a much more relaxed individual

Good luck on your journey 
 

Good advice. I filed for a Spouse Visa and it took two years from start to finish, but a friend from my home town only took 13 months for the same type of visa. Why? No idea. However, I ended up with an IR1 10 year green card and he is now struggling to renew his as he got a CR1 instead.

 

I know this isn't the same as the K1 visa, but we are all on this journey and it's difficult regardless if you are married or not. Also, I moved in April 2020, reason, took the first flight out during the pandemic and we'd already waited two years.

 

Good Luck, video call with your partner and try to relax. Easier said than done I know

Edited October 23, 2020 by bobjennyhitched
Spelling

[JeanneAdil 6,510]

to maintain services USCIS asked for a fee increase (granted for October 2020 and then haulted) /they asked Congress for money to maintain operations and were denied (a small reprieve granted to stay ok till end of December 2020)  

 

Why Are Cases Taking Longer? Many factors can slow down your case. New policies at USCIS are restricting legal immigration. For example, one policy requires USCIS officers to conduct duplicate reviews of past decisions, adding unnecessary work to each case.Jun 7, 2019

but you're all paying the price as many subcontracts were not renewed / these people provide the extra security checks needed since January 2019.

 

USCIS says this:

 

averting this furlough comes at a severe operational cost that will increase backlogs and wait times across the board, with no guarantee we can avoid future furloughs. A return to normal operating procedures requires congressional intervention to sustain the agency through fiscal year 2021.”

The additional cost savings come through the descoping of federal contracts that assist USCIS adjudicators in processing and preparing case files as well as a myriad of other support activities. Anticipated operational impacts include increased wait times for pending case inquiries with the USCIS Contact Center, longer case processing times, and increased adjudication time for aliens adjusting status or naturalizing. Naturalization ceremonies will continue. Previously, members of Congress requested that agency leadership avoid operational cuts of this magnitude. However, Congress must still act on a long-term solution that will provide USCIS with the necessary financial assistance to sustain the agency throughout FY 2021 and beyond.

[kris&me 572]

Every embassy has made a statement about the slowdown because of the virus and USCIS did also and updates it frequently

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-to-covid-19

 

Not sure why you would not think a slowdown would happen when offices closed completely and some still are not open

Our information is private and for security reasons to protect us,  officers could not work on cases from home

 

Example:

Yesterday i called AT&T to change my card info when a new one came and the girl could not do it as she works still from home

i had to wait for someone to call me back that was in the office /  that is happening with all our office personal here for company after company.

 

Advice to get thru this:

Forget immigration unless you are asked for a document

When you talk to each other,  keep it romantic or talk about the future 

Dealing on immigration will drive you nuts and possibly create a wedge between the 2 of you 

No one needs this anxiety so stop worrying day to day and stay busy 

[DanBucci 11]

My fiancee and I are completely fine. Our relationship couldn't be healthier and the distance only makes us stronger. Our conversations and our every day video chats never fail to flourish with fun and remain as beautiful as we were being together, if not better.

 

I was just asking what the hell is with K1. I'm making sure it's still rolling since there hasn't been a major update for a whole month & a half. I haven't read anything about March and April filers in the community. Does the visa exist anymore? People are seeming to lose hope, ditch it for the I-130.

Edited October 27, 2020 by DanBucci

[Greenbaum 12,259]

3 hours ago, DanBucci said:

My fiancée and I are completely fine. Our relationship couldn't be healthier, and the distance only makes us stronger. Our conversations and our everyday video chats never fail to flourish with fun and remain as beautiful as we were being together, if not better.

 

I was just asking what the hell is with K1. I'm making sure it's still rolling since there hasn't been a major update for a whole month & a half. I haven't read anything about March and April filers in the community. Does the visa exist anymore? People are seeming to lose hope, ditch it for the I-130.

The sky is not falling!

 

USCIS continues to approve applications as they have done over the course of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It may have slowed but it didn't stop. Some embassies are reopening and processing K-1 visas. Most of those are in countries that haven't been as infected as others have. South American countries have been hit the hardest as well as some of the Western European countries. There're several tools that are available to you to use to keep track of yours and other's processes.  I've outlined some tools in my PDF that you can find in the monthly NOA2 to NVC to Embassy threads. Check the first page, first post and use the link to get your copy. There is also the apps that you can use to track your case. Look in March or April for information and to join the conversation. Links also are there for these apps. 

 

Advice - don't sit back and moan about what is going on. Do some research. The quantity and quality of the information that is on VJ boggles the mind. Try using the tabs in the blue ribbon at the top of the page. Under forums there is a lot of topics that would help you determine "what the hell" is going on. Tap on the flag in your profile and follow where it takes you. You'll be surprised of all the information available to you just from that one exercise. Use the tab for "immigration timelines" and "processing times." Good luck and stay engaged. 

[Laurencia 0]

On 10/27/2020 at 8:12 PM, DanBucci said:

My fiancee and I are completely fine. Our relationship couldn't be healthier and the distance only makes us stronger. Our conversations and our every day video chats never fail to flourish with fun and remain as beautiful as we were being together, if not better.

 

I was just asking what the hell is with K1. I'm making sure it's still rolling since there hasn't been a major update for a whole month & a half. I haven't read anything about March and April filers in the community. Does the visa exist anymore? People are seeming to lose hope, ditch it for the I-130.

K1 April filer here and there are a lot of April filer still waiting patiently for the approval

[DanBucci 11]

1 hour ago, Laurencia said:

K1 April filer here and there are a lot of April filer still waiting patiently for the approval

Keep us posted!