NOA 1 to NOA 2 Timeline

[ELandCL 2]

We are already on its 83 days since we received NOA 1. My fiance made a follow up of our k1 visa application last week and the lady who attended his call is not that friendly and she told my fiance that it will take 5 months to know the result of our visa application if it is approve or not and if it was approved we will get the NOA 2. She said if we have not receive any visa application result or NOA 2 after 5 months, my fiance should call them back again. The lady also did not tell my fiance the current status of our visa application if they still have it and they are still reviewing it.

My fiance made a follow up call again today. The lady that he was spoken to was very nice and wanted to help than the lady from last week. The lady today said the same thing. My fiance asked her what months are currently being processed by USCIS but the lady could not tell.

Does it really takes 5 months to know the result of our visa application and get NOA 2? I have read Greenbaum’s and other guides and they said it will only take an approximately 60 - 75 days after you have submitted your I-129F packet then we will be able receive NOA 2. I also read other VJ member’s timeline and they received their NOA 2 on the approximate time given by Greenbaum’s and other guides.

Me and my fiance are very frustrated that we cannot be together the soonest time because of the delay in the visa application approval. And I’m worried that our visa application file might stay under the pileup of new and latest visa application files or USCIS might mistag our visa application file as an inactive petition and forwarded our file to National Records Center (NRC).

Please enlighten us regarding this matter. Thank you very much in advance.

[Dutchster 1,107]

Give the USCIS up to five months to process your petition. This is their normal processing time. It can take 2-3 months to get approved but not every case is the same, please remember that.

Mine was approved in 84 days. I know how hard it is to be apart but unfortunately, immigration is a long long dreadful wait and pain in the ###. Good luck!

[NewBrunswicker 19]

I wouldn't get impatient yet on this one. According to the VJ statistics, the average is 77 days for your country. I can be a little longer. Patience is the key here. You are just above the average here.

As for your status, you can check online.

Good luck,

[LKMK 85]

We are already on its 83 days since we received NOA 1. My fiance made a follow up of our k1 visa application last week and the lady who attended his call is not that friendly and she told my fiance that it will take 5 months to know the result of our visa application if it is approve or not and if it was approved we will get the NOA 2. She said if we have not receive any visa application result or NOA 2 after 5 months, my fiance should call them back again. The lady also did not tell my fiance the current status of our visa application if they still have it and they are still reviewing it.

My fiance made a follow up call again today. The lady that he was spoken to was very nice and wanted to help than the lady from last week. The lady today said the same thing. My fiance asked her what months are currently being processed by USCIS but the lady could not tell.

Does it really takes 5 months to know the result of our visa application and get NOA 2? I have read Greenbaums and other guides and they said it will only take an approximately 60 - 75 days after you have submitted your I-129F packet then we will be able receive NOA 2. I also read other VJ members timeline and they received their NOA 2 on the approximate time given by Greenbaums and other guides.

Me and my fiance are very frustrated that we cannot be together the soonest time because of the delay in the visa application approval. And Im worried that our visa application file might stay under the pileup of new and latest visa application files or USCIS might mistag our visa application file as an inactive petition and forwarded our file to National Records Center (NRC).

Please enlighten us regarding this matter. Thank you very much in advance.

I was feeling a lot like you today. Actually quite upset. So I went to the USCIS app and did some searching. Here is what I found. I looked at about 5000 cases with received dates that include both mine and yours.

So here are some interesting I-129F statistics from case #WAC1690478000 - #WAC1690483000. These are from dates received from 23 May - 26 May 2016. I had no idea there were that many cases in a 3 day period.

Total cases: 658

Pending cases: 79

Approved cases: 315

RFE cases: 232

MISC cases: 32

And these are just I-129F cases. No wonder why it takes so long to process. I pulled them off the USCIS app under the search function. I plugged in a start receipt and did a 500 count at a time. Then you can sort by I-129, etc. Be careful because the app only lets you do about 2500-3000 cases and then will lock you out of the site. Then counted the numbers and put them in an excel sheet. The results are quite interesting.

Makes you realize how small you really are. When I did this I went through 5000 cases and that was basically only for 3 days. VJ is only but a small picture of what is really going on behind the scenes.

knowing the sheer numbers thy process on a daily basis calmed me down a little. I hope it helps for you too. Please let me know if this helps. Good luck to us and hang in there. ?

[Scandi 4,168]

Does it really takes 5 months to know the result of our visa application and get NOA 2?

Nah, it can take longer too. Ours was approved in June this year after almost 6 months (177 days). Ours was a simple case, and no RFE either.

It's a lottery, you never know beforehand if your case will be a fast or a slow one. Some just get stuck and they never get to know why.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Phil. Regional Forum to K1 Progress Forum~

~Similar topics are often discussed at this forum, not country-specific~

[Dutchster 1,107]

Nah, it can take longer too. Ours was approved in June this year after almost 6 months (177 days). Ours was a simple case, and no RFE either.

It's a lottery, you never know beforehand if your case will be a fast or a slow one. Some just get stuck and they never get to know why.

The chance that it happens is very small though but it indeed happens.

[farzram 11]

Unfortunately cases are processed in the order they are received (annoying I know)

The people at USCIS can be rude, but they will definetly give you that standard time and there's not anything you can do until the 5 months is up. But it seems it's taking 2-3 months on average right now so you probably (and hopefully) won't be waiting that long.

Mine took EXACTLY 5 months. I had an RFE though and was overseas so didn't respond RIGHT away like most people, took my time... So yes they most likely will process it before or at 5 months. Good luck and hang in there

[Greenbaum 12,259]

This entire process is about patience. At times it feels like eternity to hear back from USCIS/NVC/Embassy. USCIS states that it can take up to 5 months to adjudicate your application from NOA1. There is not much you can do till you are approved, then once approved you will see that you will be very busy getting documents together, completing your medical and then your interview.

More Patience is needed.

[enxhi96 34]

It usually takes 2-3 months but can take longer of course. I got my NOA2 after 95 days.. The wait is hard but you need to be patient it will come when you least expect it!

[KeithandMariah 0]

I'd recommend completing your timeline on this site to get an approximate date based on users statistics.

For your own well being, I'd recommend accepting you cannot make the process move any quicker and maybe put a note in your diary to contact USCIS after the 5 months have passed.

If you can't control it, don't carry around with you.

It will be worth it in the long run.

Bets of luck

[rofel 5]

I feel you on this. VJs shows petitions files last June with Noa2 already. That adds to our frustrations too. We submitted our file month of May, and until now, our case is never touched yet since Noa1 but you can see other timelines with noa2 with just 60 days of waiting. I wonder why is that if uscis process petition on first come first serve basis.

[dafnyduck 14]

Hi kabayan! Don't worry about it too much. Ours took about 90 days for the NOA2 to arrive so you and your fiance are still well within the normal timeline. Just be patient and it will come! Also remember all cases are different so don't compare your timeline with the others. Trust the system and if the NOA2 still hasn't arrived in 5 months, then that's the time to take action. Good luck on your journey!

[Greenbaum 12,259]

"uscis process petition on first come first serve basis"

NO. Because every case is different. If the agent enters your information for a background check and some thing comes up, but a different applications has their's coming back with a full report that can be evaluated. Once the agent completes their case it's sent on while the agent is still waiting on your information to come back. That information may take a day, a week or month(s) to return. In the meantime the agent keeps processing other case while waiting for your file to be updated. Nothing is guaranteed in this process.

I'm waiting on my wife's ROC and it normally takes 6 months but right now it looks like it will be a year. Everyone in California are processing within normal times but not Vermont. Is it unfair YES. Can I do anything about it? NO.

Edited August 17, 2016 by Greenbaum

[ELandCL 2]

Thank you so much everyone for your words of encouragement and all your help.

My fiance and I really need those and it made us feel better. We already updated our timeline here on this site. Also, i just have the USCIS app installed in my phone and i will try to familiarize it.

My fiance and I will still wait, pray and be more patient.

God bless us all.