CR1 VISA when will I get NOA2

[R2DMom 1]

My husband and I applied CR1 in May 2023, we received NOA 1 on the same month but 148 days later, there’s no other updates from USCIS. 
How long does it usually take to receive NOA2? And anyone applied the same visa on the same month as us? 

[pushbrk 12,814]

29 minutes ago, R2DMom said:

My husband and I applied CR1 in May 2023, we received NOA 1 on the same month but 148 days later, there’s no other updates from USCIS. 
How long does it usually take to receive NOA2? And anyone applied the same visa on the same month as us? 

About a year.  Note, you did both or even your husband alone "apply for" anything.  Your husband filed a petition in your behalf.  In a year or so, when that petition is approved, you will start YOUR visa application process.  Don't expect ANY updates between NOA1 and NOA2 (petition approval).  It's a black hole.

[powerpuff 6,604]

Topic moved from Process & Procedures section to Progress Reports.

 

58 minutes ago, R2DMom said:

How long does it usually take to receive NOA2?

12-14 months is the average.

 

 

[Jason and May 79]

17 hours ago, R2DMom said:

My husband and I applied CR1 in May 2023, we received NOA 1 on the same month but 148 days later, there’s no other updates from USCIS. 
How long does it usually take to receive NOA2? And anyone applied the same visa on the same month as us? 

Your husband would have used a different USCIS service center than me, but with the Nebraska service center, it took just shy of 12 months for our application packet to be adjudicated by USCIS. I think it was 323 days (I would have to look at our timeline again to be specific on the days), which is when we got our NOA 2.

 

A month after that, we got notice of arrival at NVC, and within a few days, I was able to pay the fees, and we started my wife's visa application. All of that--from NVC arrival to being documentarily qualified--took another month. Now we've been waiting since August 24, 2023, to get notice of my wife's interview. All in, we've been waiting about 15 months. I suspect we will be waiting several months more for her to get notice of an interview at her consulate. 

It's a really long wait. As P pointed out, between NOA 1 and NOA 2, you will not hear a thing from any agency or any one. Similarly, after being documentarily qualified by NVC, you will not hear anything at all until you suddenly get that magic letter and/or email that says the consulate will now interview you and the NVC will schedule the interview, etc. It's very much a "hurry up and wait game," just like we used to say in the Marine Corps. 

Best of luck with your journey, 

Jason 

[R2DMom 1]

51 minutes ago, Jason and May said:

Your husband would have used a different USCIS service center than me, but with the Nebraska service center, it took just shy of 12 months for our application packet to be adjudicated by USCIS. I think it was 323 days (I would have to look at our timeline again to be specific on the days), which is when we got our NOA 2.

 

A month after that, we got notice of arrival at NVC, and within a few days, I was able to pay the fees, and we started my wife's visa application. All of that--from NVC arrival to being documentarily qualified--took another month. Now we've been waiting since August 24, 2023, to get notice of my wife's interview. All in, we've been waiting about 15 months. I suspect we will be waiting several months more for her to get notice of an interview at her consulate. 

It's a really long wait. As P pointed out, between NOA 1 and NOA 2, you will not hear a thing from any agency or any one. Similarly, after being documentarily qualified by NVC, you will not hear anything at all until you suddenly get that magic letter and/or email that says the consulate will now interview you and the NVC will schedule the interview, etc. It's very much a "hurry up and wait game," just like we used to say in the Marine Corps. 

Best of luck with your journey, 

Jason 

Hi! Thank you for your reply.

My husband applied online and when we received NOA1 letter, it doesn’t say which service center it came from. How would we see which visa center our application went to?

 

I’m in Japan but last year when I saw someone’s time line on blog, she got NOA 2 within like 6months so I didn’t think time period between NOA1 & NOA2 be so long. Do you think it changes recently that takes longer than before? 

 

[Jason and May 79]

7 minutes ago, R2DMom said:

Hi! Thank you for your reply.

My husband applied online and when we received NOA1 letter, it doesn’t say which service center it came from. How would we see which visa center our application went to?

 

I’m in Japan but last year when I saw someone’s time line on blog, she got NOA 2 within like 6months so I didn’t think time period between NOA1 & NOA2 be so long. Do you think it changes recently that takes longer than before? 

 

Your husband would know which service center since he submitted the packet (I suspect its probably Texas); but, also on the NOA 1, it will say at the bottom which service center is handling the processing of the application. 

 

I really don't know much about service-center-specific timeframes. Others on VJ who are more expert-like on that would have much better--and more accurate--answers than me. 

However, if you use the Immigration Timelines search function, you can filter your search by service center, and then you can compare others who used that same service center and look at their timeline results. 

Somewhat like this: 

[R2DMom 1]

5 minutes ago, Jason and May said:

Your husband would know which service center since he submitted the packet (I suspect its probably Texas); but, also on the NOA 1, it will say at the bottom which service center is handling the processing of the application. 

 

I really don't know much about service-center-specific timeframes. Others on VJ who are more expert-like on that would have much better--and more accurate--answers than me. 

However, if you use the Immigration Timelines search function, you can filter your search by service center, and then you can compare others who used that same service center and look at their timeline results. 

Somewhat like this: 

On actual mail that came from USCIS it says it’s from Potomac Service Center. So I assume that’s the service center that’s processing our application? 

[Jason and May 79]

7 minutes ago, R2DMom said:

On actual mail that came from USCIS it says it’s from Potomac Service Center. So I assume that’s the service center that’s processing our application? 

Nebraska Service Center services our area, but all our official documents mailed to us came from the Potomac Service Center. I believe USCIS transfers cases to balance workloads when center services centers get backlogged, but I don't believe you get notified if your application is transferred. I always left our service center as Nebraska, because I didn't know if it was transferred, and I never called. We just waited. 

At the end of the day, nearly every estimate you look at for USCIS processing time frames will be between 10 and 15 months. The online tool USCIS provides is wildly inaccurate. Right before we got our NOA 2, our estimate went from 1 month remaining to 5 months remaining, and then "it's taking longer than expected to process your application...." Right after that last change, we got the NOA 2. So, it's really a waiting game. But you can always try to call to inquire which service center is processing your application if you want to know, and if another VJ member doesn't have a more accurate explanation for you. It doesn't hurt and might give you peace of mind.

[SalishSea 17,745]

3 hours ago, Jason and May said:

Nebraska Service Center services our area

Service center assignment is not related to area of residence of petitioner.

[pushbrk 12,814]

32 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

Service center assignment is not related to area of residence of petitioner.

Correct.  It used to be years ago, but not since they started digitizing the files.  No matter what information you get about service center, it could be worked on at any location, since the files are digital and they share workload.

 

It will take a year or so.  Be happy if it doesn't.  You're in a black hole.

 

[Jason and May 79]

5 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Correct.  It used to be years ago, but not since they started digitizing the files.  No matter what information you get about service center, it could be worked on at any location, since the files are digital and they share workload.

 

It will take a year or so.  Be happy if it doesn't.  You're in a black hole.

 

The explanation is helpful, pushbrk. Thank you! 🤙🏾