6 full weeks since NOA2 and nothing... is this normal.

[TrappedNJapan 0]

I sure am glad my job in the USA fell through. My wife and I were really hoping to get her a spousal visa in a few months. 3 weeks just to get the insane paper work in order. 2 months for NOA1. 2 more months for NOA2. Now add 6 more weeks and still waiting. I checked status on the USGOV website it says they WILL mail us some instructions soon. Future tense.

We are both living overseas in Japan and like my name says I am trapped here until this visa idocracy gets sorted.

People were saying if you explain that you are filing from overseas you will probably get the "secret priority filing". well... almost 6 months in and we are still not past NOA2.

Is it normal to take this long after the NOA2 to receive something, anything?

[Boo Rowe 9]

very good question.... I am hoping someone answer this for you and as well as for my husband and I to have some up to date information as well...We have been waiting almost 3 weeks and that's nothing compared to your wait. I do wish the two of you the best of luck and an speedy process.

[Shauneg 762]

Did you file DCF? I can't beleive it's taking that long for dcf...

[Boo Rowe 9]

What is that? I hope you don't mind me asking.

[TrappedNJapan 0]

DCF? Direct Consular filing.

No they don't have that in Japan. Shut it down 10-15 years ago. They only have DCF in a handful of countries now.

Luckily we are no longer in a rush to get this done. We actually may want to stay another year if my current contract is renewed which didn't seem likely 4 months, now I am being told it is a possibility. That being said I am still worried because the process seems to be taking longer than usual. And its not like the process is easy to understand or follow to being with. I am dead serious that learning to write a master's thesis was easier than figuring out and putting together properly the visa petition. and that was only step one of about 12. So far we done with what? 3 steps. I suppose we have hit no major snags, thank you, other than the length of time everything seems to be taking.

[Shauneg 762]

Sorry, didn't realize they did away with that.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

[TrappedNJapan 0]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

"July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail

August 8, 2011: NVC received file"

So you got you NCV file in less than two weeks!!!

My wife and I have been married for 4 years. What in the world could be taking them so long. We gave them an impeccable visa application packet.

[shiroiuso 3]

Sometimes they just go through slow patches, and even your impeccable paperwork and "unofficial priority filing" for living abroad isn't worth much when that happens. It took us 8 months to get our NOA2 (living abroad, no RFEs) and then two more months to get anything from NVC... so all things considered you're doing pretty good.

Fortunately if you decide to stay in Japan for another year, it is very easy to stall the process at NVC. They only need to hear from you once a year to keep your case current.