I feel like my application fell through the cracks

[Mike & Emilie 0]

Hi there! To get right down to it, I submitted all the paperwork for my K-1 visa and received the NOA1 on 4/20/10. I know the USCIS says that it can take 5 months to get through the application but on average it seems like most people on this site get it in about 60 days. Its been more than 90 for me now. I called the 800 number but they were completely unhelpful. I've seen at least two time lines here on VJ that received NOA1 on the same day or after me who already have their NOA2. I'm really starting to worry that my application has somehow fallen through the cracks. Is there anything I can do, short of waiting for the 5 months to expire?

Thanks!

[ScottThuy 140]

No there is nothing you can do other than wait until you hit the 5 month mark. Falling through the cracks is when it has been a year or more and they cant find your file... many here have fallen through those cracks... it all depends on the case and who is reviewing it..

[krautlaus 7]

I hate to disappoint you but seeing others get approved within just a couple of weeks does not mean that you will get approved soon yourself... every case is different and there is an official timeline given by USCIS (depending on where you filed) because that is what you should be prepared to have to wait. They will not be able to help you until after the 6 months mark (that's what we were told by USCIS). Sorry.

I have a friend who basically ran through the process in 5 months (filing to visa in hand), our case is almost identical, yet it took us 11 months...

All the best!

edit for clarfication

Edited July 20, 2010 by krautlaus

[CF1404 0]

No there is nothing you can do other than wait until you hit the 5 month mark. Falling through the cracks is when it has been a year or more and they cant find your file... many here have fallen through those cracks... it all depends on the case and who is reviewing it..

What would you recommend doing for someone (like myself) who is outside the 5 month mark? Any advice you have would be great! I've already contacted my local Congressman's office and filed an inquiry with Customer Service.

[ScottThuy 140]

you have already done what can be done.... the congressional inquiry often pokes things loose, but the USCIS request takes a while to get things moving again.. they can always say there is an outstanding issue and the case requires additional processing which would allow them to sidestep the 5-6 month goal...

[Mike & Emilie 0]

Thank you for your replies. I guess I will just have to wait and see.

[Larysa 0]

I feel your pain and feel like I'm in the same boat.I feel nervous that there is something wrong with our paperwork and they have yet to send anything to get the process moving again but I hold out hope that for some reason it's just slow I despise seeing people who just filed in what May or June already approved and we have been waiting since the end of April. I wish the best for you and I and that we both get our NOA2 very soon.Good luck!

[thongd4me 69]

Hi there! To get right down to it, I submitted all the paperwork for my K-1 visa and received the NOA1 on 4/20/10. I know the USCIS says that it can take 5 months to get through the application but on average it seems like most people on this site get it in about 60 days. Its been more than 90 for me now. I called the 800 number but they were completely unhelpful. I've seen at least two time lines here on VJ that received NOA1 on the same day or after me who already have their NOA2. I'm really starting to worry that my application has somehow fallen through the cracks. Is there anything I can do, short of waiting for the 5 months to expire?

Thanks!

Go for an infopass ASAP. We didn't know what the real status of her AP & EAD were until we did that.

They just go to the computer & get the up-to-date info.

They might even move it along faster if they realize that someone on their side dropped the ball,

or they'll tell you what your application lacked.

Good luck!

[Larysa 0]

Go for an infopass ASAP. We didn't know what the real status of her AP & EAD were until we did that.

They just go to the computer & get the up-to-date info.

They might even move it along faster if they realize that someone on their side dropped the ball,

or they'll tell you what your application lacked.

Good luck!

If you go for an infopass appointment what good does it do for applications that are still out there waiting to be approved?

[Khomer1964 0]

Hi there! To get right down to it, I submitted all the paperwork for my K-1 visa and received the NOA1 on 4/20/10. I know the USCIS says that it can take 5 months to get through the application but on average it seems like most people on this site get it in about 60 days. Its been more than 90 for me now. I called the 800 number but they were completely unhelpful. I've seen at least two time lines here on VJ that received NOA1 on the same day or after me who already have their NOA2. I'm really starting to worry that my application has somehow fallen through the cracks. Is there anything I can do, short of waiting for the 5 months to expire?

Thanks!

Hello There,

Reading your post, it makes me think of what I went through. It was very frustrating seeing people get approved after only 30 days, while mine took over 90. I believe there may be an explanation for why it is taking so long. Outside of an RFE (Request for Evidence), I read on this site that any applications that were submitted and received prior to May 15th were processed in Vermont and the ones received after May 15th were forwarded to Texas for processing. Texas, where the workload was apparently very light, would then send those applications back to Vermont to be finalized. So my guess is that maybe your application is in Vermont, like mine was, and will be processed there. Just hang in there. I know how frustrating it is. I was on 90 days waiting and calling VSC every other day to no avail. Finally, after 98 days, I got the NOA2. Hope you can get it soon.

Kurt and Ellen

July 2009 - Met online

October 2009 - Met for first time in Shanghai

February 2010 - Ellen visited me in USA

March 2010 - Engaged

March 30, 21010 - Sent i-129f packet Priority mail

April 2, 2010 - USCIS received

April 6, 2010 - Received NOA1 in mail, dated April 2, 2010

April 7, 2010 - USCIS cashed check

June 2, 2010 - Called USCIS Customer Service, no update (60 days)

July 2, 2010 - Called USCIS Customer Service, no update (90 days)

July 9, 2010 - USCIS website still showing status as 'In Review'

July 11, 2010 - Website says ' Post decision Activity'. Application approved (98 days)

July 17, 2010 - Received hardcopy of NOA2

July 19, 2010 - tried to contact NVC for status. Could not get through. busy signal all day

July 19, 2010 - Finally reach NVC by phone (646pm EST). Case was forwarded to China embassy today

JuLY 21, 2010 - DHL website shows package sent to China

[krautlaus 7]

There is a reason they publish the average processing times.. that's how long you should expect to wait. I don't know what's so hard to understand about that.

Do not expect your petition to be done with in 90 days if it clearly says an avg 5 months on an official gov website!

If you're beyond the 5 months (or 6 months as we were told) - call USCIS and ask for an update. If that doesn't help (up to 90 days..), then call your senator or senator.

[thongd4me 69]

If you go for an infopass appointment what good does it do for applications that are still out there waiting to be approved?

The purpose of the infopass appointment for the OP has nothing to do with anyone

else's application, good or bad. He simply wants information and that is the purpose

of the infopass. His processing time has gone beyond the average for both CA & VT centers. Disengenuous replies don't help.

[shedn 0]

We got our NOA2 approval yesterday July 21, it took a week after approval to get the email. WE RECEIVED THE NOA2 on JULY 21, 2010 by EMAIL, BUT the USCIS approval date was July 14, 2010, so your may already be approved, too. Good news is once you get the approval that's one week less waiting time towards interview. USCIS email and case status are 1 week behind actual approval.

[O & C 3]

Hi there! To get right down to it, I submitted all the paperwork for my K-1 visa and received the NOA1 on 4/20/10. I know the USCIS says that it can take 5 months to get through the application but on average it seems like most people on this site get it in about 60 days. Its been more than 90 for me now. I called the 800 number but they were completely unhelpful. I've seen at least two time lines here on VJ that received NOA1 on the same day or after me who already have their NOA2. I'm really starting to worry that my application has somehow fallen through the cracks. Is there anything I can do, short of waiting for the 5 months to expire?

Thanks!

Hello, All I have to say is don't give up the faith. It's coming.. Wish you the best!

[Dodi 69]

We got our NOA2 approval yesterday July 21, it took a week after approval to get the email. WE RECEIVED THE NOA2 on JULY 21, 2010 by EMAIL, BUT the USCIS approval date was July 14, 2010, so your may already be approved, too. Good news is once you get the approval that's one week less waiting time towards interview. USCIS email and case status are 1 week behind actual approval.

It was for YOUR case, but not for most people. This is not the norm. It can come on the same day (most) or it can take weeks, even months for the online/email system to update itself. That isn't the standard.