The wait.

[molly_ 1]

We sent our I-129F packet back in June and got the first NOA on June 28. Now we're waiting on our NOA2. This topic's just going to sound like whining, I'm sure, but has it ever taken less than 5 months (the apparent average) for any of you to get your second NOA?

I say this because I just got back from visiting my fiance a couple days ago after staying in the UK for two months on a visitor's visa. We can't reasonably see each other again until this goes through because we both need some steady employment for the time being, and this last visit was pretty expensive. We're 20 & 21 years old so paying for trips across the Atlantic takes quite a bit of saving up. Basically, the prospect of waiting over 5 months to see each other (yet again) is really sad to think about.

Of course we're willing to wait as long as it takes, but I'm just looking for a little hope that maybe the USCIS will be extra-efficient. (I know that's a little naive, because lol bureaucracy.)

My question is pretty much: how long did it take for you?

Edited August 19, 2011 by mollygos

[JudyKCski 12]

Exactly 5 months and 4 days between NOA1 and NOA2.

Vermont Center

[Inky 1,111]

You can see each other on video chat? its not the same as in person but at least you can see each other. We do that when my husband is deployed and it makes things easier.

other then that mine was approved 5 days after NOA1. From CSC.

[Mandy_Amro 3]

Hi there! Mine was approved in just over 3 months, but we have been waiting for an interview since our case was completed at the NVC in May. Check out this link! You can sort them by the dates NOA1s or NOA2s were recieved, and see how long it took others from the UK. http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?cfl=$cfl&op1=&op2=&op3=1&op4=1&op5=5,6,7,8,10,11,13,14,15,16,17,18,20,21,22,23,25,26,27,28&op6=All Towards the bottom, select the UK, then hit find. Good luck on your journey! Also check this link: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/stats.php?cfl=$cfl

Hope it helps!

Edited August 20, 2011 by Mandy_Amro

[molly_ 1]

Those links are helpful! Thanks!

And Inky, we do use Skype pretty much every day. It's still tough though, yknow? He doubles as my best friend (especially as I've recently moved to Maryland and don't know too many people down here), so being without him feels a little like missing a limb.

Exactly 5 months and 4 days between NOA1 and NOA2.

Vermont Center

I read in your profile that you made lots of 3-month trips to Norway-- I don't want to be nosy, but was just wondering if you had trouble with immigration getting into the country for visits? Because I've been to the UK three times (2 weeks, 1 month and 2 months)and each time they've basically interrogated me for details on why I'm there, what I do for a living, what my fiance does, what his mother does, how much money I have, how I saved up that much money at a part-time job, how we met, etc. Just to get into the country. I like to think I'm not the only person in the world that happens to. Maybe Norway's more lax?

Last time I visited the border control officer genuinely got on my case because I worked a part-time job for a couple months and had $1000 in my bank account. It was more than a little invasive. I'm not some scummy looking person and I've seen some really classless people stroll through those gates without question, so I'm kind of weirded out by the whole thing. Also, my fiance never has a problem getting into the US.

/endrant

But yeah. I'd just like to know how other people in similar circumstances get through immigration without the border force getting all judgemental about your long-distance relationship.

Edited August 20, 2011 by mollygos

[Inky 1,111]

Those links are helpful! Thanks!

And Inky, we do use Skype pretty much every day. It's still tough though, yknow? He doubles as my best friend (especially as I've recently moved to Maryland and don't know too many people down here), so being without him feels a little like missing a limb.

Yes I know how you feel! Since I came here hes been gone more than been here. It was hard when I was in Canada but seems harder more so now that i'm living here. But it is what it is and yours will be over soon =) keep your chin up!

[molly_ 1]

Thanks for the encouragement. We're staying positive. I hope things will get easier for you!

[Gav & Jackie 0]

I got my NOA2 just under 4 months after my NOA1 so fingers crossed your application will get approved swiftly. I know how you feel with the long wait and not knowing the progress of your application but unfortunately that, along with the distance, are just 2 very unfortunate things about the process.

In terms of seeing each other during the process, I was out in the U.S. visiting Jackie for about a month this past July and Border Patrol never gave me any problems at all. I'm not sure if its because they are unaware of the pending K-1 application, the application has no influence on visiting or because I used to have a student visa and was in and out of the country all the time and have been a frequent visitor since it expired, but my time at BP is always very brief.

Something to note in case it helps: If you guys are ever having trouble with Skype, provided you both have google e-mail accounts, you can use the google video chat facility. I find that it can work better than Skype. I'm not sure why but I'm assuming because it does not have to deal with as much traffic as Skype (any comp techs want to confirm or deny this?).

[Ready to do it 101]

103 days. Vermont. Got it on Monday

[JoannaV 174]

You can try to predict the wait, but it's not really possible. It varies a lot. Given the current timelines I wouldn't be expecting it to change enough that you get it in a month. But other than that, you can't predict much. It's best to prepare for the longest wait and then be pleasantly surprised if it's shorter :-) Sometimes USCIS do weird things, like accidentally work on new petitions rather than old ones. Which is grand for those with the new petitions.

As a uni student and then a bum living with my parents, (but with savings from my time as a student) I was fortunate enough to be able to take several long trips to the US whilst waiting. We did the CR-1 route so we were married and it was pretty much as if I was living in the US but visiting my parents lol. So we did not have to be apart for toooo long at a time. After my last visit though I was not planning on heading back until I got my visa, and at the time my prediction was that it could be quite a while. As it turns out, it wasn't so long. But I know how daunting it can seem. All you can do is take one day at a time. It's horrible being apart for even a weekend, so I've always felt that it doesn't make too much difference how much longer you have to wait. It is nice to know that the end is in sight though.

We used Skype and all those online things early in our relationship. But we stopped using the internet so much later on. I don't know if this is an option for you, but we used Vonage and could talk on our mobiles any time we wanted for as long as we wanted. Costs money, but pretty cheap. My husband in the US paid for Vonage, and also paid for a UK number (which is a cheap little addition to a Vonage plan.) At the time I had a cheap mobile phone contract which allowed me to have unlimited calls/texts to 5 UK numbers. So I could call the UK Vonage number, which was then forwarded to my husband. And although the Vonage US number was linked to a house phone it could be forwarded to my husband's mobile. It was great being able to call at any time from anywhere, without incurring any additional charges. I found that kept us connected better than trying to coordinate online communication.

One day at a time. Focus on those things you want to talk to him about tomorrow. Plan little surprises. Write letters on nice stationery.

And prepare for his arrival. Even if you're living in a tent make the tent a lovely welcoming home, lol. (For your fiance's part, he can focus on saying goodbye to his friends and favourite places. Tell him to eat a pasty!)

In a few years time the memory of the pain of being apart will fade. But you will remember the good things from this time.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

58 days for us. Then we waited three months to get our interview.

I hardly remember any of that now.

[bigdog 376]

We sent our I-129F packet back in June and got the first NOA on June 28. Now we're waiting on our NOA2. This topic's just going to sound like whining, I'm sure, but has it ever taken less than 5 months (the apparent average) for any of you to get your second NOA?

I say this because I just got back from visiting my fiance a couple days ago after staying in the UK for two months on a visitor's visa. We can't reasonably see each other again until this goes through because we both need some steady employment for the time being, and this last visit was pretty expensive. We're 20 & 21 years old so paying for trips across the Atlantic takes quite a bit of saving up. Basically, the prospect of waiting over 5 months to see each other (yet again) is really sad to think about.

Of course we're willing to wait as long as it takes, but I'm just looking for a little hope that maybe the USCIS will be extra-efficient. (I know that's a little naive, because lol bureaucracy.)

My question is pretty much: how long did it take for you?

7 months start to finish for visa. she arrived about 3 months later.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

9 months. It took almost exactly 5 months for our NOA2 and then, since Montreal is horribly slow, took another 4 months to get an interview.

[molly_ 1]

Thanks for the input, guys. I'll expect 5+ months but hope for a teeny bit less.

I got my NOA2 just under 4 months after my NOA1 so fingers crossed your application will get approved swiftly. I know how you feel with the long wait and not knowing the progress of your application but unfortunately that, along with the distance, are just 2 very unfortunate things about the process.

In terms of seeing each other during the process, I was out in the U.S. visiting Jackie for about a month this past July and Border Patrol never gave me any problems at all. I'm not sure if its because they are unaware of the pending K-1 application, the application has no influence on visiting or because I used to have a student visa and was in and out of the country all the time and have been a frequent visitor since it expired, but my time at BP is always very brief.

Something to note in case it helps: If you guys are ever having trouble with Skype, provided you both have google e-mail accounts, you can use the google video chat facility. I find that it can work better than Skype. I'm not sure why but I'm assuming because it does not have to deal with as much traffic as Skype (any comp techs want to confirm or deny this?).

Skype does get kinda wonky with the connection sometimes sometimes. Maybe we'll try Google video instead.

And they never give my fiance trouble about getting into the US, which is why it's strange to me. They only make it difficult for me to try to get into the UK. In June when I went over the officer asked me even more questions than usual, and when I told him that I really wasn't going to overstay my welcome and that I was petitioning for my fiance to come to America, he just responded with "Well we don't know how that's going to work out, do we?"

He was a special sort of #######. He asked me questions about my employment and financial situation and then basically told me I was a loser (I'm only 20 years old?) and that I would always have trouble getting in. Genuinely made me start to cry and then wouldn't even look at me when he finally told me I was allowed in.

All this, and I've never overstayed a visa, have no criminal background, I'm polite and answer their questions respectfully, etc. It's just really bizarre that I'm always treated this way.

Er, I do keep rambling on the subject, but it really bugs me considering how nice the US border control officers are toward my fiance who is living under the exact same circumstances as me.

[cmoore25 4]

When I went to the UK in February - I dealt with the same exact thing! I think I was questioned for at least 15 minutes. I was so nervous about it all that the further into the questioning we got the more suspect I probably looked! Lol

However, I was SHOCKED when I went through customs this time! I went right up to the man, gave him my passport and prepared myself for the interrogation. All he asked was where I was headed (Scotland), why (to visit my Fiance), and for how long (2 weeks). He smiled and told me to enjoy my stay. I was stunned, but, happy!!

My guess is it all depends on the worker, time of day, and how big the line is...who knows! But if you head back over - good luck! I hate that part of the trip the most!

Oh! And it took us 125 (+/- a day or so) from NOA1-NOA2. We are now just waiting for packet three - I called DOS yesterday and they confirmed that London had logged the case - so that should be to my fiance any day now. Our medical is already scheduled for Sept 6th!

Good luck!