Expediting applications from Philippinesa

[pinayanne27 8]

As we read here before that they are expediting applications from Philippines due to Yolanda.

Is this still applicable?

Our case is being processed at Texas Service Center for a month now. Our last update was the change of alien number.

[Rob63 10]

I'm not sure there ever was an "official" expediting of petitions from the Philippines... but they were definitely processing them faster compared to other countries. The avg. days through TSC had been about 31 days if you look at the Timeline Stats. page. I only see about 5 NOA2's for Philippines in June, so it definitely looks like they are slowing down.

I am still waiting since March 24th...so frustrating when I see other petitions submitted in April, even some getting RFE's, and now they already have interviews set-up for July. And no, they were not CSC, they were TSC.

I would prepare yourself for the 5 to 6th month wait...if it happens sooner, then you are lucky and be happy.

Good Luck!

[Rob63 10]

Also, the US Embassy is probably swamped with visa interviews right now, so they have probably slowed it down here to relieve the workload there.

[Wyatt Cox 16]

Yes, the expedites are official:

http://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-reminds-filipino-nationals-impacted-typhoon-haiyan-available-immigration-relief-measures

We filed on 12/26/13 and got our NOA2 on 2/10/14.

Whether the expedites are still happening is uncertain. Be patient.

[yannix 24]

If you were affected by Yolanda, you can send an expedite request to USCIS.

[Rob63 10]

Yes, the expedites are official:

http://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-reminds-filipino-nationals-impacted-typhoon-haiyan-available-immigration-relief-measures

We filed on 12/26/13 and got our NOA2 on 2/10/14.

Whether the expedites are still happening is uncertain. Be patient.

Yes, I have read that previously, but nowhere does it say anything about expediting K1 Visa applications. It talks about immediate family members, but a fiancé is not an immediate family member - I guess it's possible that USCIS in this situation treats the I-129F petition as the same...

It is clear that many K1 visa petitions from the Philippines were processed quite quickly even if the beneficiary was not directly affected by the typhoon...my guess is if you polled visajourney members that were processed in under 60 days, 90 percent would tell you their fiancé was not directly affected by the typhoon.

[Wyatt Cox 16]

Sorry, the OP didn't state what petition he was pursuing. I know our CR-1 was expedited. K1s are not an immigrant petition (though treated as one pretty much along the way) so I am guessing they are not under a blanket expedite.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Yes, I have read that previously, but nowhere does it say anything about expediting K1 Visa applications. It talks about immediate family members, but a fiancé is not an immediate family member - I guess it's possible that USCIS in this situation treats the I-129F petition as the same...

It is clear that many K1 visa petitions from the Philippines were processed quite quickly even if the beneficiary was not directly affected by the typhoon...my guess is if you polled visajourney members that were processed in under 60 days, 90 percent would tell you their fiancé was not directly affected by the typhoon.

Well the K-1 is a non-immigrant visa, and the expedite was directed at immigrant visas (thus immediate family members). The K-1 in many ways get treated like an immigrant visa in how it is handled, which has it perks. I think with USCIS they didn't try to figure out what part of the Philippines the beneficiary was from and just did the blanket approach, that is the only explanation I can see with so many K-1 blasting through the process at USCIS.

[Rob63 10]

Well the K-1 is a non-immigrant visa, and the expedite was directed at immigrant visas (thus immediate family members). The K-1 in many ways get treated like an immigrant visa in how it is handled, which has it perks. I think with USCIS they didn't try to figure out what part of the Philippines the beneficiary was from and just did the blanket approach, that is the only explanation I can see with so many K-1 blasting through the process at USCIS.

I agree with you completely... except for my petition LOL

Hoping for some kind of news this month...

I noticed the avg. days from NOA1 to NOA2 at TSC has now gone from 31 days to 32 days for Philippines... so looks like Philippines is slowing down to me.

[Hank_ 9,174]

I agree with you completely... except for my petition LOL

Hoping for some kind of news this month...

I noticed the avg. days from NOA1 to NOA2 at TSC has now gone from 31 days to 32 days for Philippines... so looks like Philippines is slowing down to me.

Add 110 - 120 days to that for what "was" normal, I think other countries are still experiencing that timeline.

[VOL 425]

I noticed the avg. days from NOA1 to NOA2 at TSC has now gone from 31 days to 32 days for Philippines... so looks like Philippines is slowing down to me.

Can you give me link to where you are finding that information?

[Rob63 10]

Can you give me link to where you are finding that information?

If you go to your timeline and click on the link that says "Show Similar Timelines" you will see the data when you scroll down the page

Edited July 3, 2014 by Rob63