Does USCIS have heart about the process? quicker process technique.

[j_hunt_12 0]

I know the processing times are very random most of the time BUT.....

Looking over the forum on visajourney it seems like those who send in a LOT of materials and have a more "normal story" have better processing times. I saw one couple that had a 2 month time period before the interview, but they entered a lot of materials including engagment party pictures. Does anyone else see a correlation between number of pic and materials and process times? It seems like maybe if the couples' story is fairly normal, they were together a fair amount of time, and they sent in a lot of pictures and materials they do better off. Does this seem true to anyone else? It seems like those who do worse don't sent much information.

I know everyone at USCIS is heartless but maybe not completely; I can see where the heart might come in to play if they see a really "cute" couple that made a very good effort to send a lot a materials, including personal stuff etc..

Thanks...

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Hi

Welcome to VJ.

To answer your question, I really don't think the USCIS works that way. I doubt they are sorting through applications looking for the cutest or "The most in love" couples.

They have hundreds upon thousands of applications and they are working them as fast as they can.

I really don't know what to say about the few applications that get processed quicker than normal. Perhaps by accident they were put into the wrong box to begin with or just by some lucky fluke, their file was picked up and worked.

Perhaps some people do have a more straight forward case than others. Some do have more evidence and submit that evidence and it's an easier file to approve. Some people probably get caught up in name checks and other things that prolong their approvals and so people who filed after them get approved first.

I just think that if you submit all the information and evidence that is required, are honest and truthful, you'll get your approval. Some get theirs quicker, some later....that's life.

Enjoy the ride.

~Laura

Edited January 13, 2008 by ~Laura and Nick~

[j_hunt_12 0]

I know it sounds ridiculous, but it really seems kind of like it. I've learned that most people have hearts (even the Gov.). And I know many of them. It seems like they might throw in the thicker packets for quiker processing because they know that they made an effort. I don't know. You're probably right though. I've just been looking through a lot a post though and it seems like they process them quicker. Probably just me looking for an easy way out though

Edited January 13, 2008 by j_hunt_12

[drawbridgep 8]

"Does the USCIS have heart" I doubt it. ;-) Just kidding if they're reading this and put my application back a few months.

I read too of applications entered after mine which have been approved within weeks and I've waited a year. And I sent a LOT of evidence.

Just the way the machine works I think.

[drbilldc 0]

I know the processing times are very random most of the time BUT.....

Looking over the forum on visajourney it seems like those who send in a LOT of materials and have a more "normal story" have better processing times. I saw one couple that had a 2 month time period before the interview, but they entered a lot of materials including engagment party pictures. Does anyone else see a correlation between number of pic and materials and process times? It seems like maybe if the couples' story is fairly normal, they were together a fair amount of time, and they sent in a lot of pictures and materials they do better off. Does this seem true to anyone else? It seems like those who do worse don't sent much information.

I know everyone at USCIS is heartless but maybe not completely; I can see where the heart might come in to play if they see a really "cute" couple that made a very good effort to send a lot a materials, including personal stuff etc..

Thanks...

at the risk of sounding slightly arrogant, we appear to be one of those 'warm fuzzy' "real couples' and we are still trapped in the Chicago lock box collecting dust... www.myspace.com/williamandekaterina judge for yourself.

Bill

[rebeccajo 14]

I once knew a petitioner in this community whose entire packet consisted of 16 pages. They were approved just like anyone else.

[weedebz 0]

my packet was smaller than most people I talked to. It covered all the bases but didn't include as much bulk as some people. It was so much smaller than other peoples I was almost certain I'd get an RFE...I didn't and approved within the average time.

To most people at USCIS I know it sounds harsh but we are all just numbers.

[j_hunt_12 0]

Ohhh yeah... I am just talking about 129f sent - K-1 visa approval. Once together nothing else matters.... 6 months isn't good but not bad... I would be completely happy with 6 months there... it's the 1-2 year 129f-k1 i'M worried about...

[rebeccajo 14]

Ohhh yeah... I am just talking about 129f sent - K-1 visa approval. Once together nothing else matters.... 6 months isn't good but not bad... I would be completely happy with 6 months there... it's the 1-2 year 129f-k1 i'M worried about...

Where are you coming up with those kinds of numbers?

[j_hunt_12 0]

I've seen a good few over a year before allowed in the U.S. (none at two years... your right) I know a few people personally that went over a year waiting. My application will still be a while from now. I'm worried about those USCIS warnings and what times will be if I apply like 6 months from now... times have been getting longer.

[pushbrk 14,514]

I've seen a good few over a year before allowed in the U.S. (none at two years... your right) I know a few people personally that went over a year waiting. My application will still be a while from now. I'm worried about those USCIS warnings and what times will be if I apply like 6 months from now... times have been getting longer.

When I filed in late 2005, the average timelines had come down so much in the last 18 months, I was anticipating them to continue in the same direction. We hoped for a 5 or 6 month process from filing to visa. Timelines didn't continue to shorten and have since lengthened again at least temporarily. We were fortunate to reunite 9 months from our wedding date, 8 1/2 months from initial filing.

[MissYoko 4]

I've seen a good few over a year before allowed in the U.S. (none at two years... your right) I know a few people personally that went over a year waiting. My application will still be a while from now. I'm worried about those USCIS warnings and what times will be if I apply like 6 months from now... times have been getting longer.

You know j_hunt, all the applicant will say that they are the most trully in love, and that they gonna die if they have to wait. And its true. Some off us have the chance to see often their SO and so have a lot of evidence of relationship. But. Either some of us, because of money, because of life etc... can't go to see often their SO and don't have a lot of evidence. It dont mean that they're less in love.

So it will be heartless from the USCIS to give advantage only to the ones who may travel a lot. No?

So we have all to wait and to be patient. True love is stronger than time.

Kisses

Yoko

[rakkaus 0]

I know the processing times are very random most of the time BUT.....

Looking over the forum on visajourney it seems like those who send in a LOT of materials and have a more "normal story" have better processing times. I saw one couple that had a 2 month time period before the interview, but they entered a lot of materials including engagment party pictures. Does anyone else see a correlation between number of pic and materials and process times? It seems like maybe if the couples' story is fairly normal, they were together a fair amount of time, and they sent in a lot of pictures and materials they do better off. Does this seem true to anyone else? It seems like those who do worse don't sent much information.

I know everyone at USCIS is heartless but maybe not completely; I can see where the heart might come in to play if they see a really "cute" couple that made a very good effort to send a lot a materials, including personal stuff etc..

Thanks...

Rampant political incorrectness to follow. The factors that determine how long your petition takes are the following:

1. Whether it appears to be a valid engagement, versus an engagement entered into in bad faith by one or both partners. Factors include whether you've ever met, whether the non-USC fiance(e) is from a high-fraud consulate, whether there is a significant age difference between the two of you, whether the two of you don't share a common language, etc. You and I have both seen marriages between USC's where we think, "There's no way she loves him for who he is, she just wants his money." Replace money with citizenship, and that's basically the reason for the process.

2. Whether you appear to have done your homework. If you have to get multiple RFE's for things you should have included, your petition will take longer. This is very dependent on the adjudicator. VJ has members whose response to "how did you meet?" was "We met on the internet." and who did not get an RFE. We also have members whose applications should have been marked "Use proper lifting technique," who nonetheless got an RFE. Follow the rules carefully. I do suspect that adjudicators, like employees anywhere else, are inclined to favor customers who make a conscious effort to keep things straightforward.

3. Whether one or both of you triggers Administrative Review. Reasons can be anything from a name that matches some list somewhere, to more sinister problems. Certain consulates have much higher rates of AR than others, corresponding roughly to which ones have much higher rates of fraud than others.

4. Whether vast hordes of people applied at the same time as you did. It appears that petitions received after the massive July rush were processed, in many cases, before petitions received during it. Unless USCIS plans to raise rates again in the near future, this is probably a one-time phenomenon for now.

Basically, all the government cares about are two things: first, that you and your fiance(e) want to marry each other for reasons other than citizenship, and second, that the citizen-to-be will not be on welfare. Depending on your circumstances, this may be very easy to prove, or very hard to prove. That's one of the main reasons for the discrepancy. But to be honest, in my time on VJ I've found that most "instant approvals" are either Cuban petitions or mis-filled timelines, and most long-delayed approvals either had serious problems or bizarre consulate-related issues (like poor Omoba, VJ's own version of "The Terminal"). In between, the above factors pretty much explain everything else.

Good luck!

[bakofoil 27]

I really don't think it has anything to do with USCIS workers having a heart or not or how thick your file is as long as it contains the minimum suggested in the guides here. Some petitions are more time-consuming in terms of name checks and requesting additional evidence but I doubt they even have the time to form personalised opinions on whether particular couples are cute or not.

The fact remains that they are understaffed and have been struggling with working through an increase of applications due to a backlog last July caused by the fee increases. According to a news article yesterday they estimate needing a further 2500 workers to get things back on track.

Having said all of that, despite almost grinding to a halt back in September VSC are currently approving petitions submitted in September and October (4 months from NOA1 to NOA2). CSC, on the other hand, are still dealing with some June and July applications and approaching a six month timeframe for approval. It's still within their accepted timeframe.

It's hard to stay patient when some of the processing seems out of 'received date' order but I suppose (and I have to keep reminding myself of this) on the whole they are processing in order and within the accepted time. Some applications get lucky, others don't.

[weedebz 0]

Rakkaus...very well said.

military expedites are also responsible for the occasional "out of place" approval.