March 2021 K1 I-129F filers

[J&D1008 376]

1 hour ago, slavaskii said:

I'll reply, I would love for our little March community to be more active and we might as well keep each other updated on these things!

 

I guess the discrepancy could come from the fact that VisaJourney statistics are self-reported, and there's a fair amount of people who might not return to update their profiles or may have entered the original NOA1 date incorrectly. I know other websites have been saying 9-12 months for the whole process whereas the page here still estimates 400+ days. CSC has an updated processing time of 6-8 months, but it fluctuates. I saw in the November I-129F filers thread that they were starting to see progress; there was also a lucky person from December that just got approved within the past few days. Personally, I'm going to be checking out those old filer threads to see when they're seeing action. 

 

The one thing I don't know, however, is if processing times are actually getting better or worse. I know there's efforts to clear the backlog (and you'd assume it could only get better over time with embassies finally reopening for interviews), but it still seems rather slow. I still maintain that March was a good time to file, as we seemed to have no delays in getting NOA1 and by the time our I-129Fs are adjudicated, the embassies will most likely have dealt with the previously unscheduled interviews. Best wishes to all!

Honestly, the processing times are just an average.  Unfortunately, even though they are on October, there are still some from July and August waiting for there NOA-2. Then again it really comes down to the embassy. If the backlog is cleared then maybe the whole process is less than a year

[HaitianQueen94 10]

16 minutes ago, J&D1008 said:

Honestly, the processing times are just an average.  Unfortunately, even though they are on October, there are still some from July and August waiting for there NOA-2. Then again it really comes down to the embassy. If the backlog is cleared then maybe the whole process is less than a year

I thought the embassys had nothing to do with NOA2 that it is the service centers in charge of that.

[Keithn85 400]

9 minutes ago, HaitianQueen94 said:

I thought the embassys had nothing to do with NOA2 that it is the service centers in charge of that.

You are correct but the reply was aimed at the first paragraph and the second paragraph.  The first was talking about websites speaking to the entire process vs just the NOA-2.  

[Keithn85 400]

1 hour ago, slavaskii said:

I'll reply, I would love for our little March community to be more active and we might as well keep each other updated on these things!

 

I guess the discrepancy could come from the fact that VisaJourney statistics are self-reported, and there's a fair amount of people who might not return to update their profiles or may have entered the original NOA1 date incorrectly. I know other websites have been saying 9-12 months for the whole process whereas the page here still estimates 400+ days. CSC has an updated processing time of 6-8 months, but it fluctuates. I saw in the November I-129F filers thread that they were starting to see progress; there was also a lucky person from December that just got approved within the past few days. Personally, I'm going to be checking out those old filer threads to see when they're seeing action. 

 

The one thing I don't know, however, is if processing times are actually getting better or worse. I know there's efforts to clear the backlog (and you'd assume it could only get better over time with embassies finally reopening for interviews), but it still seems rather slow. I still maintain that March was a good time to file, as we seemed to have no delays in getting NOA1 and by the time our I-129Fs are adjudicated, the embassies will most likely have dealt with the previously unscheduled interviews. Best wishes to all!

Yep, the best way to approach it is prepare for the worst and hope for the best.  That way if it takes a 1-1.5 years you arent surprised, but if you're reunited within that timeframe, you are pleasantly surprised.  For hoping reasons, i am hoping to have my fiancee here before winter, but i also know it could take until possibly spring of 2022.  I won't lose hope, but i also won't cry over spilled milk.  As a couple, we have to be strong for each other during this time and continue with life regardless.  We chose the k1 route over the CR-1 so we understand that the circumstances might put a hefty delay.  But we can still hope for the best!

[HaitianQueen94 10]

22 minutes ago, Keithn85 said:

Yep, the best way to approach it is prepare for the worst and hope for the best.  That way if it takes a 1-1.5 years you arent surprised, but if you're reunited within that timeframe, you are pleasantly surprised.  For hoping reasons, i am hoping to have my fiancee here before winter, but i also know it could take until possibly spring of 2022.  I won't lose hope, but i also won't cry over spilled milk.  As a couple, we have to be strong for each other during this time and continue with life regardless.  We chose the k1 route over the CR-1 so we understand that the circumstances might put a hefty delay.  But we can still hope for the best!

You said a mouth full. I want to cry! Because i was hoping for my winter wedding in december and it doesn’t look like it will happen... not only is the processing centers taking long for NOA-2s but the embassy in our country is backed up and not doing much about it!

[Keithn85 400]

1 minute ago, HaitianQueen94 said:

You said a mouth full. I want to cry! Because i was hoping for my winter wedding in december and it doesn’t look like it will happen... not only is the processing centers taking long for NOA-2s but the embassy in our country is backed up and not doing much about it!

Remember, concentrate on hope though.  Don't expect, but hope.  actually....let me post something here i posted in my January group chat...

[Keithn85 400]

4 minutes ago, HaitianQueen94 said:

You said a mouth full. I want to cry! Because i was hoping for my winter wedding in december and it doesn’t look like it will happen... not only is the processing centers taking long for NOA-2s but the embassy in our country is backed up and not doing much about it!

ok so this is what i wrote in light of all the stuff going on for the January group.  

On 6/6/2021 at 7:52 PM, Keithn85 said:

If I suggested this in a previous reply in this post already, then disregard (or note the importance) but one thing that my fiancee asked for while we were choosing photos to pack in the I-129F packet, was for us to review our trips.  Our first meeting and trip was in Turkey (i mean when we finally met in person after talking online for a while).  We went over those pictures and it was so enjoyable to chat about it.  What we did was utilize Anydesk and I shared my screen with her.  
So what i am saying out of all of this is take some time out and "sit down" and review some photos from the 2 year meeting requirement.  Talk about it with your significant other.  It might be painful to realize the current situation, but it will also remind you both of the reason you are going through this.  

We delayed our visit until September for a couple of reasons, so I am figuring out something to do with her in the meantime to compare with the January "review past trips" chat.

I know we (as in all of us here) are trying to live out our daily lives as not to be pulled into a depression of "this is never going to happen," but i also believe these little things remind ourselves.  Kind of like listing reasons why you fell in love or proposed to your significant other.  I'll call this reply "Sentimental Sunday."  Stay strong everyone and don't lose hope!

When i put in my petition, I front loaded how we met and our tentative plans for marriage.  I put in there Fall 2021 for my timeline to marry her.  That does not mean that it will happen at that time or USCIS will take pity on me and adjunctate my petition to meet that deadline, but I put that as a definitive goal.  If that goal is not reached, I will understand.  So dont plan as far as ordering stuff (and they forewarn you about this on the embassy's site, at least I know Ukraine did for sure) but plan as far as having it a goal that can be moved.  Who knows what will happen with yours.  There is no methodical reason for how they process and yours might be a NOA-2 a month before everyone else.  But it also might be later.  Just prepare yourself for the possibility as nobody knows.
You are going to cry, you are going to wonder "what is taking them so long?"  And that is what this website was developed for.  To give people some glimmer of hope but to also be a community of people going through the same process.  We aren't going to say "stop being emotional about this" or something like that.  We are going to understand because we all are going through this.  

[Keithn85 400]

4 minutes ago, Keithn85 said:

ok so this is what i wrote in light of all the stuff going on for the January group.  

When i put in my petition, I front loaded how we met and our tentative plans for marriage.  I put in there Fall 2021 for my timeline to marry her.  That does not mean that it will happen at that time or USCIS will take pity on me and adjunctate my petition to meet that deadline, but I put that as a definitive goal.  If that goal is not reached, I will understand.  So dont plan as far as ordering stuff (and they forewarn you about this on the embassy's site, at least I know Ukraine did for sure) but plan as far as having it a goal that can be moved.  Who knows what will happen with yours.  There is no methodical reason for how they process and yours might be a NOA-2 a month before everyone else.  But it also might be later.  Just prepare yourself for the possibility as nobody knows.
You are going to cry, you are going to wonder "what is taking them so long?"  And that is what this website was developed for.  To give people some glimmer of hope but to also be a community of people going through the same process.  We aren't going to say "stop being emotional about this" or something like that.  We are going to understand because we all are going through this.  

cue the coffee replies....

[RobInNYC 3]

Great attitude Keithn85, and thanks for posting. Exactly how I'm trying to think about this process. The only thing I can control is getting my I-129F in their hands, everything after that is out of my control so I'll hope but not expect any specific time frame or date. Here's to everyone hoping and waiting! And thanks for the inspiration along the way.

[slavaskii 886]

2 hours ago, Keithn85 said:

ok so this is what i wrote in light of all the stuff going on for the January group.  

When i put in my petition, I front loaded how we met and our tentative plans for marriage.  I put in there Fall 2021 for my timeline to marry her.  That does not mean that it will happen at that time or USCIS will take pity on me and adjunctate my petition to meet that deadline, but I put that as a definitive goal.  If that goal is not reached, I will understand.  So dont plan as far as ordering stuff (and they forewarn you about this on the embassy's site, at least I know Ukraine did for sure) but plan as far as having it a goal that can be moved.  Who knows what will happen with yours.  There is no methodical reason for how they process and yours might be a NOA-2 a month before everyone else.  But it also might be later.  Just prepare yourself for the possibility as nobody knows.
You are going to cry, you are going to wonder "what is taking them so long?"  And that is what this website was developed for.  To give people some glimmer of hope but to also be a community of people going through the same process.  We aren't going to say "stop being emotional about this" or something like that.  We are going to understand because we all are going through this.  

That's a great way to think about it, especially in regards to the realistic 'flexibility' of marriage plans. It was difficult for me to decide when to send the packet because I left to visit my fiancee in Belarus from December-March, and she finishes her university studies in January 2022. I heard a lot of people discussing their petitions going nowhere back then, and ultimately decided to wait until March to both prepare the best I-129F I could and hope that the process became quicker. I'm happy I did it, as we were able to work on the packet together and even signed our intent letter on the last day. One of the biggest problems with this process, I realized, is the fact we're so used to planning things for an exact date, but that's not how they work at all. I would love for my fiancee to be here in January-February, but if we already have NO2 at that point and are just waiting for the interview? Fine, we would probably prefer a March wedding anyway  The extra month(s) are quite short in the grand scheme of things, and I'm very happy to see people come back here to support one another.

2 hours ago, HaitianQueen94 said:

You said a mouth full. I want to cry! Because i was hoping for my winter wedding in december and it doesn’t look like it will happen... not only is the processing centers taking long for NOA-2s but the embassy in our country is backed up and not doing much about it!

I'm sorry that the embassy in Haiti is particularly backed up, though the good news is that by the time your I-129F is ready there should be substantial progress made towards clearing the backlog. Also crazy to see someone here from Naples too, by the way!

[EatBulaga 315]

21 hours ago, Keithn85 said:

cue the coffee replies....

Okay I can hope😅 and as another post suggests "be more active".

Let's just for amusement sake, make an educated guess at our case timetable using the average historical processing times

https://www.visajourney.com/times/k1-fiance-visa-historical/

kind of like what slavaskii did.

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/758635-march-2021-k1-i-129f-filers/page/15/?tab=comments#comment-10474996

 

So our case estimated timeline looks like:

 

End of Oct 2021 -- I129F Approval Estimate for NOA2 (about 229 days at CSC from my Mar 5, NOA1)

End of Nov 2021 -- NOA2 to NVC (about 25 days)

Mid Feb 2022 -- NVC Processing (about 81 days)

Late Feb 2022 -- NVC to Consulate (about 8 days)

Mid Apr 2022-- Taiwan Consulate receiving to the Actual Interview (about 51 days )

https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/stats.php

 

So hoping everything goes on average for our case, my fiancee can hopefully be in the US by May 2022? which is about 14-15 months process? Does this look right? Or hopeful 😂?

 

 

Edited June 11, 2021 by EatBulaga

[slavaskii 886]

1 hour ago, EatBulaga said:

So our case estimated timeline looks like:

 

End of Oct 2021 -- I129F Approval Estimate for NOA2 (about 229 days at CSC from my Mar 5, NOA1)

End of Nov 2021 -- NOA2 to NVC (about 25 days)

Mid Feb 2022 -- NVC Processing (about 81 days)

Late Feb 2022 -- NVC to Consulate (about 8 days)

Mid Apr 2022-- Taiwan Consulate receiving to the Actual Interview (about 51 days )

https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/stats.php

 

That certainly seems fair! One thing I noticed while pouring through the statistics is that the embassy stage time is truly just an average, and you're either going to be waiting a lot less or a lot more. I can only see this number improving as things open up and the backlog is cleared; after all, people were just stuck on this stage for months. As another example, I think the current average is around 120 days at the embassy stage, but when you look at individual embassies (ie, Taipei) you might see a drastically different number (like 32). 

 

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the NVC stage really dependent on your embassy for the K1? I saw recently the NVC being likened to a 'warehouse' for files that couldn't be shipped anywhere due to coronavirus. I'm aware that nearly 500,000 petitions are waiting at the NVC for further instruction, but if your interview post is opened, would there really be any delay in just shipping it right out? 

 

For our estimated timeline, I'm hoping for an interview late January-March, but that's being calculated based on what we currently know about the backlog. Each step being lowered by 20 days makes a huge difference (of course, the inverse is true as well...). I don't know if we'll see much progress on getting the CSC wait time down, but I'm mainly concerned about the NVC being overloaded. 

[Zzdem 37]

100 days! And counting ….  How’s the waiting everyone 

[Ivan&Maja 27]

5 hours ago, Medzz said:

100 days! And counting ….  How’s the waiting everyone 

Checking the status every day...worrying

[AishaniA93 108]

5 hours ago, Ivan&Maja said:

Checking the status every day...worrying

Why are you worrying? It’s taking upwards of 7.5-8 months for people to be approved at the moment. Checking your status daily will only make it worse - try and distract yourself  We are December filers, I made it a point to only check once a month until now (6.5 months) where I am checking every fortnight. Otherwise I’d stress