Time between K1 NOA1 and NOA2. Why are some fast and others not?

[xwind 10]

I've been looking at the timeline statistics on this site and noticed that some K1 timelines process extremely fast. The average for NOA1 to NOA2 is about 3 months it seems. Some NOA2's took 6+ months with no RFEs, and then there are people who got their NOA2 within a month! Some people even had their consulate interview within 2 months of them filing the I-129F! This made me wonder what factors make the processing fast for some and slow for others?

Here are things that I thought of:

• How straight-forward and complete their case was
• If there was an RFE
• Time of the year when they filed
• Which country the application is for (high-risk vs low-risk countries)
• Which US service center handled the case
• Whether an immigration lawyer was involved or not

Is all of the above true or just some?

For the people who had fast processing times, what was your experience and why do you think it went so fast?

Thanks!

[Marco&Bettina 502]

I've been looking at the timeline statistics on this site and noticed that some K1 timelines process extremely fast. The average for NOA1 to NOA2 is about 3 months it seems. Some NOA2's took 6+ months with no RFEs, and then there are people who got their NOA2 within a month! Some people even had their consulate interview within 2 months of them filing the I-129F! This made me wonder what factors make the processing fast for some and slow for others?

Here are things that I thought of:

• How straight-forward and complete their case was
• If there was an RFE
• Time of the year when they filed
• Which country the application is for (high-risk vs low-risk countries)
• Which US service center handled the case
• Whether an immigration lawyer was involved or not

Is all of the above true or just some?

For the people who had fast processing times, what was your experience and why do you think it went so fast?

Thanks!

The answer to your thread title is "USCIS."

Edit: Look at the different Service Centers, CSC & TSC. Most of the difference is due to that.

2nd Edit: CSC processes significantly faster than TSC. USCIS doesn't appropriately spread the applications across the 2 SCs.

Edited December 2, 2014 by Marco&Bettina

[dwheels76 5,461]

I've been looking at the timeline statistics on this site and noticed that some K1 timelines process extremely fast. The average for NOA1 to NOA2 is about 3 months it seems. Some NOA2's took 6+ months with no RFEs, and then there are people who got their NOA2 within a month! Some people even had their consulate interview within 2 months of them filing the I-129F! This made me wonder what factors make the processing fast for some and slow for others?

Here are things that I thought of:

• How straight-forward and complete their case was
• If there was an RFE
• Time of the year when they filed
• Which country the application is for (high-risk vs low-risk countries)
• Which US service center handled the case
• Whether an immigration lawyer was involved or not

Is all of the above true or just some?

For the people who had fast processing times, what was your experience and why do you think it went so fast?

Thanks!

All you named can be a factor but the two things crossed out, which is no matter.

Honestly, its all about the adjudicator and how thorough or not they are. Some glean over files. Some want everything and the kitchen sink. I have had friends get RFE because they wanted a letter from a parent that has been out of the child's life for years. But the adjudicator wanted a permission to immigrate. So a absent parent had to be found. I have known of adjudicators requesting DNA at the USCIS stage (that is usually a embassy request).

Another had to get notarized affidavit from husbands parents from his country as to why they didn't attend the wedding (They didn't know about it).

Also you have to realize you see how each service center have their projected average their goal. (it's just a goal not a promise). Well when you have this one processed at 5 months, that one at 10 months, another at 3 people all over the place. Then suddenly as you have seen on VJ someone post "I got approved in 2 weeks". Look at that average it all smooths out. They have to get those crazy short stays in to make the goal look good.

Also people have background checks that sometimes they get a hit that gets kicked upstairs to higher checking (security checks they call it).

[yuna628 9,528]

The real issue why some people get processed fast and others slow, is actually due to the service center they are sent to first and foremost. TSC is backlogged, CSC is spitting them out in rapid speed. The other things you mention may have an affect, but it is not the driving factor for the majority of us right now with simple cases with little to no issues. Another factor that speeds up an application is if you are from an expedited country, such as the Philippines.

Edited December 2, 2014 by yuna628

[xwind 10]

The real issue why some people get processed fast and others slow, is actually due to the service center they are sent to first and foremost. TSC is backlogged, CSC is spitting them out in rapid speed. The other things you mention may have an affect, but it is not the driving factor for the majority of us right now with simple cases with little to no issues. Another factor that speeds up an application is if you are from an expedited country, such as the Philippines.

Funny you mention that, our application is for the Philippines actually. How is it considered an "expedited country"? Is the process better streamlined for them vs other countries or something?

[dwheels76 5,461]

Funny you mention that, our application is for the Philippines actually. How is it considered an "expedited country"? Is the process better streamlined for them vs other countries or something?

Because of the typhoon.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

~ Moved from K-1 Process to K-1 Case Filing and Progress Reports -topic is filing/case status ~

[xwind 10]

Because of the typhoon.

At first I thought you were kidding, I had to look it up. I wasn't aware they expedited cases for people affected by the typhoon, which is pretty neat. I'm not sure if we're applicable to that or not, but I also don't want to get my hopes up so I'll just be patient and see what happens with ours.

Back to the topic though, so from what you guys said, the main factor is the service center and the adjudicator and also what appears to be an even bigger factor....pure luck. I hope ours gets forwarded to CSC then... *crosses fingers*.

[citizenkim 0]

We were one of the lucky ones and got approved in 12 days. We were pretty surprised about that, though in the later steps we had some delays on our end getting some paperwork.

You definitely make some good points, all of which I think are applicable in our case. I think ours was approved in a short time due to our case being pretty straightforward (no children or prior marriages, had evidence for 2.5 years, no red flags, etc), no RFE, the fact that we were at the CSC, and that my fiance's from a low-risk country (France). I had a feeling our filing date may have helped things but who knows for sure. And we never used a lawyer; just this site, which was an immense help

[yuna628 9,528]

At first I thought you were kidding, I had to look it up. I wasn't aware they expedited cases for people affected by the typhoon, which is pretty neat. I'm not sure if we're applicable to that or not, but I also don't want to get my hopes up so I'll just be patient and see what happens with ours.

Back to the topic though, so from what you guys said, the main factor is the service center and the adjudicator and also what appears to be an even bigger factor....pure luck. I hope ours gets forwarded to CSC then... *crosses fingers*.

You won't be forwarded to CSC, as I think WV is handled by TSC. But not to worry, your case will indeed be expedited. Even at TSC, you won't be processed as fast as CSC, but you should expect movement in a month to a couple of months baring any rare exceptions.

[menkemaman 0]

I am June filers at CSC center I haven’t received NOA2 yet, the trues no one knows the way thing work, I have been calling and asked them twice weeks last month, the answer I am getting from them is working June 16 filers, I know that it is not true, I also do know they are a lot of us June filers have not received NOA2 yet.

good luck to everyone.

[alicia98981 128]

I think the down side of the fast approvals though is that their processing then gets a little backlog when it comes time to go through NVC as well

[_Paul&Jesica_ 70]

I've been looking at the timeline statistics on this site and noticed that some K1 timelines process extremely fast. The average for NOA1 to NOA2 is about 3 months it seems. Some NOA2's took 6+ months with no RFEs, and then there are people who got their NOA2 within a month! Some people even had their consulate interview within 2 months of them filing the I-129F! This made me wonder what factors make the processing fast for some and slow for others?

Here are things that I thought of:

• How straight-forward and complete their case was
• If there was an RFE
• Time of the year when they filed
• Which country the application is for (high-risk vs low-risk countries)
• Which US service center handled the case
• Whether an immigration lawyer was involved or not

Is all of the above true or just some?

For the people who had fast processing times, what was your experience and why do you think it went so fast?

Thanks!

I would add to this: background checks. Sometimes common names end up in a hit that has to be thoroughly investigated and can introduce significant delays into the K-1 process.

I used an attorney up until the petition was approved and it had minimal impact to the overall duration between NOA1 and NOA2.

I do think that country of the beneficiary can significantly impact the duration as well, drastically slowing down for MENA region beneficiaries, and drastically increasing for Philippines beneficiaries.

[ram19 7]

We consider ourselves lucky for getting our noa2 in 39 days. Considering that were same sex couple. We were scared though that we may get an rfe but thank god we didn't. I'm from the Philippines too and case was processed at csc. Hope u guys get yours soon too

[Johvani&Allan 0]

Like most, we carefully studied timelines and tried to figure out why some were fast and others were not. Ours, fortunately, ended up being one of the fastest. I attribute part of that to the fact that the I-129F packet was submitted only after extensively researching what was needed in the packet, how to compile the packet, etc. We followed every do and don't. From having run a program which required people to complete applications, I will share with you that 90-95% of applications received were incomplete or in some way inappropriately done. I belief that when the packets are reviewed initially, those that are impeccably completed are put on a fast track, the rest are put in the massive piles with the rest...perhaps I am wrong. It was also clear in my research that applications involving the Philippines generally move rather quickly.