How long for an interview date after NOA2??

[JoshandSarah 52]

Hi guys, 

 

We got NOA1 in November and roughly expecting NOA2 around July, do you guys have any idea how long it takes from NOA2 to the Interview stage??

Keep in mind I'm from New Zealand which there shouldn't be too many people applying from I wouldn't think?

 

Also wanted to ask what I should have prepared for the interview but the first part was my main question, thank you guys all so much! 

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

1 hour ago, JoshandSarah said:

Hi guys, 

 

We got NOA1 in November and roughly expecting NOA2 around July, do you guys have any idea how long it takes from NOA2 to the Interview stage??

Keep in mind I'm from New Zealand which there shouldn't be too many people applying from I wouldn't think?

 

Also wanted to ask what I should have prepared for the interview but the first part was my main question, thank you guys all so much! 

 

No one can say with any certainty how long a process will take during these times. Your questions would get more concentrated eyes on if you were to become a part of the conversation in your country's sub-forum where others are conversing on all matters related to your embassy. Go to the blue ribbon above, select "forums" then scroll about three-fourths of the page down and select the region that most represents where your country is located.  

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R4ScahjwyfABUukA8Vt_MhrqY5NP8zr3/view?usp=sharing that's the P3 for New Zealand that lists the required documents and procedures needed for the visa.

 

Important: Police certificates expire after one year, unless the certificate was issued from your country of previous residence and you have not returned there since the police certificate was issued. If at the time of your interview the following three items are all true, you must bring a new police certificate to your visa interview: You are more than 16 years old;

The police certificate submitted to NVC was obtained more than one year ago; and you still live in the country that issued the certificate.

 

We applied for her certificates just this month, because she needed one from Japan from a foreign exchange trip and that one is supposed to take 2-3 months.

 

If you find anything not up to date or the information is wrong, please share your findings. Please compare the date of the P3 of mine with the date from your copy, once you receive yours from your embassy. Keep in mind that I try and be factual with my information, but I can't do it on my own and that's where you come in and can give back to the community those who come behind you. Without others ahead of you I would not be able to provide this to you.  I can only share factual information if folks like you continue to be my eyes and ears for your embassy. I wish you much success in your visa journey. 
 

 

[Sarah&Facundo 595]

It varies SO much from country to country, and even more so now during the pandemic. For some countries, it can be a few weeks and for others it can be months. Wait times are even longer now due to the pandemic and major backlogs from services being closed for a long period of time. If your country has a sub-forum, you can see if anyone has posted recently regarding their wait times.

But you'll get there!!

Edited January 13, 2021 by Sarah&Facundo

[JoshandSarah 52]

I appreciate your words guys! thanks Sarah&Facundo, I did not know how much it varied between countries cause I noticed some countries were really long waits where as with the NOA1 to NOA2 the timeframe is the same doesn't matter the country so they say but this it matters alot

 

 

[payxibka 10,045]

2 minutes ago, JoshandSarah said:

I appreciate your words guys! thanks Sarah&Facundo, I did not know how much it varied between countries cause I noticed some countries were really long waits where as with the NOA1 to NOA2 the timeframe is the same doesn't matter the country so they say but this it matters alot

 

 

Your advantage, at the moment, is new Zealand is actually doing interviews for k1, a majority of consulates around the world still  are not.

[Sarah&Facundo 595]

4 minutes ago, JoshandSarah said:

I appreciate your words guys! thanks Sarah&Facundo, I did not know how much it varied between countries cause I noticed some countries were really long waits where as with the NOA1 to NOA2 the timeframe is the same doesn't matter the country so they say but this it matters alot

 

 

Yes, because the paperwork processed between the Noa1 and Noa2 is within the US. The country does not matter and the paperwork is supposedly processed in order of how it was received. After the Noa2, the paperwork is sent to the country of the beneficiary, and that is where processing time varies. 

Edited January 13, 2021 by Sarah&Facundo

[Greenbaum 12,259]

The biggest roadblock for visa approval from USCIS is the background checks and how fast or slow they are completed. Background checks on both the petitioner and the beneficiary are conducted at the NOA1 to NOA2 stage. If a country is computerized and efficient with the processing request from USCIS then the speed at which that process is completed in is far greater than a third world country who "drag" their feet because of technology, their record keeping and the procedures they use to complete and return the background check back to USCIS. So, yes, I'm sure "first in" are processed in order they are received but the return of the background check cannot be predicted and most often is "all over the board" as to their completion timeline. Hence why some applications are approved sooner than others hence the reason some who apply after others are finding that their case is being adjudicated well after others.

 

You can learn more about background checks from the link I have in the {month} I-129f Filers threads. Just my two cents.

[FamousJerry 47]

Our NOA2 was on 11/14/2017 and my wifes interview for K1 was on 3/21/28 so about 4 months for our interview in Thailand.

[SalishSea 17,928]

Kia Ora!

 

Auckland is one of the best consulates in the world, I believe.  SO efficient and communicative.  In 2018, our time from NOA2 to interview was approximately a month, if I remember correctly.  My fiance had his interview about a month after that (they offered an earlier date, but he was working down in the South Island).  Back then, the NOA1-NOA2 period was the longest part of the journey (until AOS, lol.  That was wayyyy longer).  Our time from filing to wedding was 9 months.  

 

As far as questions asked, it was pretty straightforward.   We hadn't front or side-loaded our petition (not even one photo), so he took loads of photos and evidence from the 8ish visits we'd had by then.  I can't remember if they even wanted to look at any of it, but I think not.

 

Good luck and keep us updated!  Always nice to see another Kiwi/American couple here on VJ.  We're in the minority here!

 

 

[Loren Y 2,755]

4 hours ago, FamousJerry said:

Our NOA2 was on 11/14/2017 and my wifes interview for K1 was on 3/21/28 so about 4 months for our interview in Thailand.

A lot depends on how involved you are with the process after NOA 2. I was ready to roll as soon as NOA 2 arrived. My wife was from Thailand also, NOA 2 was 07/03/2018, interview was 08/16/2018, so about a month in a half for us. Have background checks done, ds160 ready to submit, make sure you can get the medical scheduled quickly. I was able to schedule her medical only 3 days out from my phone call, some take a few weeks to get scheduled, so check on that also, and check that any packets you need to send to the embassy are ready to go. Thailand embassy had them available on their website, so you didn't have to wait for them to send them to you. Stay on top of it and you should be able to shave some time off from NOA 2 until interview.

[NoMansLand2020 298]

It's dependent on a lot of factors. We received NOA2 last June. We still have not been able to schedule an interview and probably won't be able to until summer months or later. 

[SalishSea 17,928]

42 minutes ago, NoMansLand2020 said:

It's dependent on a lot of factors. We received NOA2 last June. We still have not been able to schedule an interview and probably won't be able to until summer months or later. 

Totally different situation at OP's consulate.

[JoshandSarah 52]

Jorgedig, Thank you so much for your words! you and your fiancé have an amazing story - we'll keep you updated! Josh.

[fivefoot_explorer 4]

20 hours ago, JoshandSarah said:

Hi guys, 

 

We got NOA1 in November and roughly expecting NOA2 around July, do you guys have any idea how long it takes from NOA2 to the Interview stage??

Keep in mind I'm from New Zealand which there shouldn't be too many people applying from I wouldn't think?

 

Also wanted to ask what I should have prepared for the interview but the first part was my main question, thank you guys all so much! 

 

I'm from NZ too! From NOA2 to the interview was a month. It was very quick. They received my packet 2019-09-04 and my interview was 2019-10-26.

The interview was very quick. They asked about my personal details, my husbands personal details, what his occupation and when I was planning to get married.

 

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!