Bh_sarah

I got curious and went to check the threads for the approved in February, January and for the ones approved in December 2022. They did end up getting their cases sent to the embassy at around the 60 day mark, which is a good timeline considering 30 days for USCIS -> NVC and 20 weeks for NVC case assignment. Things started getting slower on January, then definitely slower on February. March became almost the norm to wait 60 days to have the case received by NVC only. I'm analyzing the VJ timelines right now to confirm it. If anyone want to check it too, feel free. It also coincides with the time USCIS ramped up processing, so I know it's all circumstantial evidence, but I would say it's definitely NVC being backlogged and not really the embassies being busy, at least not in the phase we are now, waiting to get the case transferred. It sucks, but we have no control again, just like we had no control over the processing times until now Hoping they do something to speed up NVC processing now.

I thought about checking other visas but didn't want to face another disappointment... Guess my intuition was correct. This sucks. They know we're one of the most backlogged visa categories and they decide to make us wait a little bit more. Wonderful.

I'm trying to understand this too and I am trying to follow the cases from my country close. It does seem that no matter what country, it's taking at least 60 days for the petition to reach NVC (to hear back from NVC saying that they have your case, no case number allocated yet). The only case that took about 40 cases that I know is one from Cuba. Then it's 2 weeks to get a case number. Now, after the case number and getting it to reach the embassy is something I am not following too closely, probably because I pay attention to January and February cases and most have not been sent yet. The NVC waiting being country-dependent to me only works in the last stage, and not in the USCIS -> NVC stage. This one used to be 30 days, people usually didn't even inquire NVC about it before because they got the NVC confirmation inside the expected timeline. Now it's taking 2x, 3x more for everyone it seems (at least K1, not sure about other visas).

I am truly sorry. I was approved less than a month ago and I am hoping it doesn't get sent back too, seems to be happening with a bunch of cases. Sometimes they even get another approval date months after without the status ever updating to case returned. Seems a lot of December 2021 filers are experiencing the same thing. If you're interested, I can send you a FB group specific for returned cases. I would no worry about it being a mistake from your end, it's usually an internal mistake the NVC happened to catch. I hope it's an easy fix and you get to hear good news soon from NVC. Rooting for you and that it doesn't take too long.

That status there on the USCIS case status page means NVC (Department of State) sent your case back to USCIS. NVC found something wrong with it and USCIS needs to correct it. Then USCIS will send your case back to NVC once it's all fixed. Unfortunately the NVC timeframes do not apply to you here because your case was sent back. Lawfully tells me your case may be updated to the following statuses.

Glitch for sure. I even gave up on scanning Feb yesterday when I saw there was nothing. But I was checking Lawfully and they say that there were "276 cases finished" yesterday. So probably the updated came in later/after the general scan. I'm checking CaseTracker now to see if the approvals showed up. EDIT: Yep, approvals from the 5th came super late, they are now showing up on CaseTracker too.

Hi, all. I know I am basically the only one posting here, but for the lurkers out there: I scanned a few ranges (about 40%) and I didn't see any activity, just one single RFE. So I will leave the full scan for tomorrow. Hopefully more will show up until then.

I'll start inquiring at 30 days because it's the official timeline they give us. Though I won't expect anything until around 70-80 days. I mean, if I didn't follow VJ or other social media, I would never know people are getting their case numbers at around 90 days so I will pretend I do not know haha

Shoot, I'm sorry. MO is a red one too but I guess we were lucky that our representative never said anything about processing times, only asked if we wanted them to ask USCIS for an update (maybe it's the proximity to the city so we got a more progressive representative? Not sure). We did end up getting approved that same week but I can't say for sure if it was the result of this or not. Not sure if trying again and getting them stats about April/May cases now being prioritized even though you're still inside the "normal" times could work. And the inquiry date from USCIS is a terrible thing: it's not really based on 16.5 month (80% of the cases in the last 6 months). It's actually based on them processing 93% of the cases in the past 6 months, which makes the inquiry date about 18 months after filing. They honestly don't want people making them accountable for anything. But yes, get calling, emailing, try to bother them until you hear something. You can say there are May filers getting approved (this is public knowledge), and then based on that you are indeed way outside normal processing times.

I keep coming back here to see if you got your approval since you're the earliest case I know still waiting. I am so sorry, it's infuriating. Even more infuriating when USCIS says your case is processing normally and you can only make in inquiry next month. I also felt the same way as you and now I even feel ashamed complaining when so many other earlier filers are still waiting – it's heartbreaking seeing people complain about NVC waiting and it's hard to see people that filed with you with interviews scheduled or visa issued. I only heard of WOM being used for people stuck in AP for months, whose medicals even expired (there's a famous thread here for Montreal). I am not sure of anyone using it for NOA2s, as it's pretty expensive. Forgive me if it's a stupid question: did you try reaching out to your congress representative? Or calling USCIS, saying "info pass" and trying to speak with a tier 2 agent? It's ok to assume it's not worth it as they will say you're within normal processing, but I would start bothering them every day until your case is touched. You shouldn't be the one spending 5k so they can do their jobs (even though I understand this is the last resort for many people, and a completely unfair and infuriating one). On a more hopeful note, there were 38 approvals for December cases in the last 7 days and 85 still as "case received". I'm hoping you can hear something this week.

Today's numbers [June 2nd, 2023] They're back with the RFEs approvals now. Hoping everyone has a nice weekend! 48000 - 1 approval (from RFE), 1 denial (from RFE) 48500 - 2 approvals (from RFEs) 50000 - 2 approvals (from RFEs) 51500 - 2 approvals (from RFEs) 52000 - 2 approvals (1 from RFE) 52500 - 1 RFE 53500 - 1 approval (from RFE), 1 denial (from RFE) 54500 - 1 approval (from RFE) 55000 - 1 approval (from RFE), 1 RFE 55500 - 1 approval, 1 RFE Today's totals: 13 new approvals (11 from RFEs), 3 RFEs, 2 denials Totals so far: 2088(+13) Approved 317(+2) Denied/Rejected 504(-9) RFE/RFERs 295 Pending Cases 163 Withdrawals Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15yTdQDjmS6ik3bPNGmThSc0jFUszsiGcXurI1hT_Jcw/edit?usp=sharing

I know this feeling way too well. It isn't fair or logical, and the anxiety and frustration ramp up when you see people that filed 1, 2 months after you get their approval while you're still waiting. Unfortunately, my opinion is that it's normal, and it's a gamble. Some people get left behind and to me that doesn't mean at all that their case is more complicated than others or that they did something wrong. There are people still waiting from February, imagine how they are feeling seeing May cases being approved. And you'd think that they are more prone to get an RFE because "there was to be something wrong with their case" but nope, 19 straight approvals yesterday in a single range in late February. 15 approvals yesterday in November 2021! To me is simply a matter of luck if you have a simple case, a matter of getting your case randomly picked by an agent in the first wave vs. having it randomly picked when they already moved the bulk of activity to other months. You're still inside normal processing times, even if they are focusing on recent ones. It's coming. Don't let anxiety get the best of you now. Contacting your congress representative about it also doesn't do any harm if you think it will help you feel more in control.

Ohhh I see. Let’s hope they address the NVC delay soon by hiring more people and ramping up processing. Or else it will only get longer with USCIS speeding up (assuming it’s NVC that is backlogged and USCIS not sending petitions in time because of that). I don’t think I ever thought about the quantity of days until interview, I hope I get to the end before 600 seeing I’m on day 463 haha I just don’t know anymore.

Someone on the FB group called and reported the agent said 180 days. I would disregard that. Seems they keep adding 30 days to the count whenever people keep calling, it’s crazy.

The NVC timeframes page takes in consideration the cases that already arrived to them, not the approval day of the cases that USCIS is sending to NVC. Example: they say they are working on cases received on May 4th. But from what I’m seeing, these are cases that were approved in March, which would mean USCIS took 2 months to send the case to NVC. I’m saying that because I haven’t seen any April case yet get a positive answer from the NVC inquiry, all they are getting is that they have not received the case yet. I think this is true for the cases approved in the first wave and cases from April 22 and forward. I was expecting to be approved in 440 days, then they started speeding up and I thought I’d be approved in 400 days like the filers in my month… but nope. So I’m getting the NVC wait without having traded anything on the I-129f phase I-134? I won’t do it now because the form expires on July 31st. I’ll wait for the new version as I’m not expecting an interview until September.

Today's numbers [June 1st, 2023] Look at these amazing numbers today!!! June started well for the remaining of untouched cases! 47000 - 4 RFEs 47500 - 1 approval, 1 RFE 48000 - 1 approval (from RFE) 48500 - 1 approval 49500 - 1 approval (from RFE) 51000 - 1 approval (from RFE) 52000 - 1 approval 52500 - 4 approvals 53000 - 4 approvals 53500 - 2 approvals, 2 RFEs 54000 - 1 RFE 54500 - 1 approval 55000 - 19 approvals(!!!) 55500 - 4 approvals, 1 RFE 56000 - 1 approval, 1 case transferred (counted as withdrawal) Today's totals: 40 new approvals (3 from RFEs), 9 RFEs, 1 withdrawal (case transferred) Totals so far: 2075(+40) Approved 315 Denied/Rejected 513(+4) RFE/RFERs 300 Pending Cases 163(+1) Withdrawals Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15yTdQDjmS6ik3bPNGmThSc0jFUszsiGcXurI1hT_Jcw/edit?usp=sharing

Haha not the kind of history I wanted to be making! I look at people that filed 6 months behind me and their whole process was over in about a year. Then I look at people that filed 6 months after me and they are counting on getting their NOA2s in 10 months (and it's getting faster). I know, I know, I should not compare since every case is different, but makes me feel definitely unlucky! But then again, we met in 2020 and faced so many complicated things already, I don't know why I expected this part to be easy.

Hi! I don't think I understand. Do what? Know it's through email or not? My embassy's website tells me is through email. I researched Ghana's website but can't find a lot of info there. I'd check with other people here on VJ that went through the same embassy.

That theory was about the NVC holding petitions when it comes to sending them to the embassy, not when it comes to USCIS sending them to NVC. I don’t know if this is true because I’m not following much of the embassy phase since it’s specific info. Most people get to “ready” status pretty quickly. However, there are also theories about NVC being the one backlogged and not able to handle the volume of cases USCIS is processing. Someone called USCIS and an agent told them that NVC is asking USCIS to hold petitions for at least 90 days before sending to them. It’s hard to trust the agent’s word too because it could just be USCIS shifting blame to NVC. We can’t know for sure. We honestly filed K1 in the worst period ever where processing times are at its higher mark for both I-129f and NVC.

I don't know if this is true for every embassy, but it seems that the Packet 3 and 4 are sent through email now, not physical mail. I would research your embassy to make sure – don't want to give you false info here. I know mine is through email.

Greenbaum is the VJ member that put this document together as far as I know. But I don’t think he’s active here anymore to send out P3s (this PDF guide is pretty old, it even says you should call NVC but they don’t take calls anymore). P3 is the Packet 3 that embassies send with the list of documents and procedures required for the beneficiary. It’s really hard to go back to waiting. I’d say keep emailing NVC and calling USCIS if it makes you feel more active about it all. Some people are contacting their congress representatives as well about it because the petitions should be sent in 30 days like the notice, but now some people are reporting USCIS is telling them to wait 180 days, which is ridiculous seeing the I-129fs expire in 4 months. They probably just want people to stop calling and are giving unrealistic timelines. Unfortunately we’re a bit powerless right now again. Makes me absolutely sad to see you have been in this since December 21 and it’s still not over.

Today's numbers [May 31st, 2023] So happy to see many approvals from untouched cases today! 49500 - 3 approval (from RFEs) 50000 - 2 approvals (from RFEs) 50500 - 1 approval (from RFE) 52000 - 1 approval (from RFE), 3 RFEs, 1 withdrawal 52500 - 2 approvals (1 from RFE), 1 RFE 53000 - 2 approvals 53500 - 2 approvals (1 from RFE), 1 denial (from RFE) 54000 - 1 RFE 54500 - 1 approval 55500 - 3 approvals Today's totals: 17 new approvals (9 from RFEs), 1 denial (from RFE), 5 RFEs, 1 withdrawals Totals so far: 2035(+17) Approved 315(+1) Denied/Rejected 509(-6) RFE/RFERs 346 Pending Cases 162(+1) Withdrawals Spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15yTdQDjmS6ik3bPNGmThSc0jFUszsiGcXurI1hT_Jcw/edit?usp=sharing

Some RFEs are taking a lot of time to get approved, but at the same time it seems they are mostly focusing on approving RFEs than approving untouched cases right now in the early 2022 months. If you're worried, contact your local congress representative and ask them to help. They can talk directly with USCIS and request an update for you. 53 days does seem a long wait.

It unfortunately the last part does depend on how backlogged is your embassy. I follow the timelines here on VJ and interviews are being scheduled 2 months after we can fill DS-160, unfortunately. The USCIS to NVC part is usually taking 60-90 days, but the rest of the process really depends on the country. Yeah, I'm debating here if we should just go and get married quickly and start AOS but it doesn't feel right to me after all we've been through. This whole process is just frustration after frustration! Nothing ever goes according to the plan. And I guess the less people that can go the better for me since I don't want a big wedding at all! haha the good thing with being on the south hemisphere is that December is our summer vacations so my family has time off to go to the wedding, even if it's just close family. But a summer/fall outdoor wedding sounds just so much better than a winter one! And if you can get married later but have a proper celebration with everyone, just go for it too!

Good luck! And only through the online NVC inquiry form it seems. NVC doesn’t take calls anymore. That’s my approach as well! I’ll start to worry when I’m around 70, 80 days in. And yes, I’m thinking late September for me for the interview too. And moving in late October. Marrying in November/December even if on the holidays. Having a whole winter Christmas wedding thing wasn’t my plan but it is what it is haha