After 7 months still NOA1 received

[Dukeonee 1]

I filed November 10th 2016 and on April 20th 2017 I called USCIS that it's been over 5 months.

They sent me a letter on April 28th that they would send  a decision within 45 days. 

Now it's June and still haven't received a decision. I am so frustrated and confused on why it's taking so long. Anyone point me in the right direction? 

 

[Fantasy 1]

Hi what form did u file ?

I'm November filers k1 still waiting for noa2.

[cordoba2015 224]

Did you file a I-130 petition for an immigrant spouse (CR-1 or IR-1 visa)? If so, it sounds like your petition is at Nebraska Service Center based on the length of time it is taking for approval. 7+ months is a pretty standard wait for them, unfortunately.

 

Our petition was approved back in February of this year after almost 7 months, and it takes them even longer on average now to approve. We were one of the "lucky" ones, if you can call it that. They have been getting progressively slower over the past year, averaging 5 months a year ago and now at 7+. Hang tight, it can't be much longer now.

[Unshakable Faith 493]

Anyone outside of processing times should contact their local senator to inquire about their case status.

 

Look up your senators and contact them.  Usually that helps speed things up that are outside of normal processing times. 

[Dukeonee 1]

I filed for a I-129f and is at the California Service Center. 

I moved recently and haven't updated my drivers license. Should I call my local senator in my new residence? 

[PrincyE 87]

its so crazy how some people have to wait so long. i dont understand 

[Springrain22 427]

12 minutes ago, PrincyE said:

its so crazy how some people have to wait so long. i dont understand 

Do you understand how many petitions they get every day? Do you understand that they only work on money they have from fees?

[Ubahsi 43]

15 hours ago, Fantasy said:

Hi what form did u file ?

I'm November filers k1 still waiting for noa2.

Ouch, hope you receive your NOA2 soon, that's just ridiculous! 

[KozmicBlues 592]

1 hour ago, Springrain22 said:

Do you understand how many petitions they get every day? Do you understand that they only work on money they have from fees?

I think everyone here understands that USCIS is dependent on limited resources/funds to complete thousands of petitions per month. However, I do not think it is unreasonable to expect that, at minimum, petitions be processed in a timely and orderly manner. The fact that people in February are getting approvals while someone in November/December is still waiting is just not acceptable. It would be completely different if it was free to file these petitions. But we have paid $500+ for these petitions to be processed so I don't think it's unreasonable for someone to question the way things are being handled. 

[Andrea&Henry 311]

1 hour ago, KozmicBlues said:

I think everyone here understands that USCIS is dependent on limited resources/funds to complete thousands of petitions per month. However, I do not think it is unreasonable to expect that, at minimum, petitions be processed in a timely and orderly manner. The fact that people in February are getting approvals while someone in November/December is still waiting is just not acceptable. It would be completely different if it was free to file these petitions. But we have paid $500+ for these petitions to be processed so I don't think it's unreasonable for someone to question the way things are being handled. 

I do agree with you completely but that is not the reality unfortunately. My now husband and I filed for my k1 visa on fall 2011 and through vermont service center and it took us only 3 months to get the NOA2 and less than 8 months after filing  we were already married and living together. Total opposite situation for California service center that had processing time of 6-8 months just for the NoA 2. 

 

I remember back then, somebody shared a post about an ex USCIS employee who handled this type of visa. I don't remember to well (this was 6 years ago) but he said something about it depends on many many things how fast or how slow they worked. They have a bunch of people in different shifts and each one of them handled certain amount of petitions. Some people are faster than others so it was pretty much like winning a lottery. He also share that the time of the year you file, is also a huge influence. He said that december- february and june-july are the busiest because is when people file the most. 

 

Also if you get an RFE, you basically are taken out of the line and you go back to the end of the line. He shared many many things that might be happening. He also said that they transfer cases from Service center to others so that explains why sometimes vermont is faster than others, and then california is the fast one. Bck then we didn't have Texas Service center (no that I can remember).

 

I've been here in this community for 6 years and I think I've seen it all...including like 3 years ago a bunch of people were getting the NoA 2 within 1 months (like a BUNCH). It all depends

[Redheadguy03 505]

I definitely think they should go in more of an order. I'm glad we're approved already, but I feel bad for the people still waiting. I know this process was extremely stressful and my fiance was super patient with me. I'm so impatient and she kept me going the whole time. 

[Diane and Chris 651]

We filed early November. Approved and visa in hand April 24th. Something doesn't sound right here. 

[Adriana&Marko 58]

20 hours ago, Dukeonee said:

I filed November 10th 2016 and on April 20th 2017 I called USCIS that it's been over 5 months.

They sent me a letter on April 28th that they would send  a decision within 45 days. 

Now it's June and still haven't received a decision. I am so frustrated and confused on why it's taking so long. Anyone point me in the right direction? 

 

I'm a November filer to I got a rfe back in March so I heard back from them 4 months later had to send them 2 papers for my rfe took me two months so my case has been on hold a while and now it's been 2 weeks still nothing back yet from my rfe being sent in case has been active for 198 days😞

[jameyj 73]

Filed for K-1 early January 2017. Still waiting for NOA2 or RFE.

 

I have tried

•  Calling USCIS (twice) and speaking to a Tier 2. They clearly do not know much either. One said my case was not assigned yet. 
• Calling NVC to see if somehow I just didn't get a NOA2. No luck there. 
• Contacting  one of my state US senators for assistance. Despite several emails and calls, I have received no help there.
• Contacting my local US Representative who DID reply and contacted USCIS and received a prompt reply basically saying I was still within normal processing times. The US Rep staff person told me she would follow up every thirty days. 

There is no apparent reason for the delays. My fiance is not even from a difficult country (Indonesia). I used to know someone who worked at the IRS. She was probably a senior manager level there. Her comments were that people there (IRS) were incredible stupid and lazy and nothing every seemed to get done unless it involved millions of dollars. The  only smart and ambitious people were at very senior levels. This is the IRS, the revenue generating mechanism of the US government, mind you.....  I get the strong feeling a similar culture exists at USCIS except perhaps more to an even greater extent. The people I have talked to at USCIS have been pleasant but they are certainly not informed. There is no rhyme or reason for a delay like mine. 

[Unshakable Faith 493]

18 hours ago, Dukeonee said:

I filed for a I-129f and is at the California Service Center. 

I moved recently and haven't updated my drivers license. Should I call my local senator in my new residence? 

Yes, inquire with the state senator's office from the state you live in- doesn't matter about your DL.