aa1979

Yes

Thanks for your input!

This.  K1, on a good day, is mildly "quickER".  It certainly won't be if the case receives RFE's and additional scrutiny beyond what one might expect.  Considering the totality of the circumstances as mentioned by @Marieke H, expect the scrutiny.  There's faster and then there's safer bet. 

Both are red flags. Beyond cultural norms, age difference is asymmetrically applied because of biological differences between male and female reproductive potentials. Even with extreme age differences of 40+ years, the younger female can still have children with the older male, with *minimally* increased risk of birth defects resulting from his age. Even though they do not plan to have children together, the age difference will most likely prevent them from changing their minds in the future. This is why this is a red flag. Of course, as many others have said, no one can tell how significant this issue will be in the ultimate decision-making by the officer. 

Beware comparing cases which seem to be similar..... Age difference (older female) combined with little time together and cultural norms can be red flags in some countries.

theres no definite way of knowing.
it is almost entirely up to the officer doing the visa interview if they believe the relationship is bonafide
no one can say for sure that it will cause an issue, but chances are the relationship may be more scrutinized by the interviewing officer.
 

Do you know how much longer? What  is the estimated time difference between the two categories?

I did not pay any extra... and I received my passport within 2 days.

I am going to update the previous reply so that it is representing some new changes in order to keep the picture all together for Charleston, SC locator 34 processing center. For the other applicants at other processing centers: please note that Charleston's processing center is one of the slowest processing centers, especially with the routine applications, so please be careful as you compare it to your own processing center at some other location or as you draw any conclusions.
 
Here are a few timelines with locator 34 in Charleston, SC and hopefully that will give you some idea of how long it is taking for approval at that location these days. I am providing the day of the application at USPS/library/county office and the day in which approval was indicated (if any). I am also including whether the application was expedited or routine service. All the approved applicants received their passports within 3 business days post approval date.

ROUTINE APPLICANTS:
Applicant 1)   Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS --- Routine service --> approved 12 weeks later (June 25).
Applicant 2)  Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> approved 11 weeks later (June 18).
Applicant 3)  Applicant applied on 6/21/21 at a County/Library office -- Routine Service --> Approved  10 weeks and 5 days later, or approximately 11 weeks later on (September 4th).
Applicant 4) Applicant applied on 6/28/21 at City hall -- Routine Service --> Approved 11 weeks + 4 days later on (September 17th).
Applicant 5)  Applicant applied on 6/29/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> Approved 11 weeks + 2 days later on (September 16th). 
Applicant 6)  Applicant applied on 7/6/21 at USPS -- Routine Service -->  Approved 11 weeks + 2 days later on (September 23rd). 

All applications in the routine service were approved as predicted, which took about 11-12 weeks after submitting applications at county/city halls or at USPS office. 

EXPEDITED APPLICANTS:
Applicant 7)  Applicant applied on 6/10/21 at USPS -- Expedited Service --> Approved 4 weeks + 1 day later (July 9).
Applicant 8 )  Applicant applied on 8/17/21 at USPS -- Expedited Service --> Approved  exactly 5 weeks later (September 21st). 
Applicant 9) Applicant applied on 8/21/21 at USPS -- Expedited service --> Approved 3 weeks + 6 days later, almost 4 weeks, on (September 17th). 
Applicant 10) Applicant applied on 8/23/21 at USPS -- Expedited service --> Approved 4 weeks + 3 days later (September 21st) 

All applications in the expedited service were approved as predicted, which took about 4-5 weeks after submitting applications at county/city halls or at USPS office. 


I hope that answers your questions in regards to Charleston, SC's processing center.

On a slight drift topic I recently used my new US passport! Maybe traveling with it is not such a difference for those of you from the global west, but for me to drop the hassle factor of my old passport was great: to be able to visit two countries I would have needed individual visas for before and be able to use the e-gates at Heathrow was such a treat! In fact - even the fairly last minute decision of where to go without having to worry about getting visas on time was a pleasure. (Never mind the cost of the expedited passport was less than the two visas would have cost). 

The answer is no they did not send it back. We got the passport with absolutely no issues and without any concerns or problems! The signature was left blank on the certificate.   

The answer is no they did not send it back. We got the passport with absolutely no issues and without any concerns or problems! The signature was left blank on the certificate.   

Thanks - I am already looking at tickets and hope to get out of the city by this Friday.  My wife is ecstatic about it - she finally feels like an "American" now.  lol

That is not weird.  It is actually within their normal patterns and routine.  They are not teasing you and I think it happens to so many people.  I expect it to be there by Tuesday (not Wednesday) depending on where you live and would not be surprised if it gets there by potentially Monday.  It is not because you paid extra.  I think that's the pattern and that's normal for them for many people (paid extra or didn't pay extra).

Updates:
 
I am going to update the previous reply so that it is representing some new changes in order to keep the picture all together for Charleston, SC locator 34 processing center. For the other applicants at other processing centers: please note that Charleston's processing center is one of the slowest processing centers, especially with the routine applications, so please be careful as you compare it to your own processing center at some other location or as you draw any conclusions.
 
Here are a few timelines with locator 34 in Charleston, SC and hopefully that will give you some idea of how long it is taking for approval at that location these days. I am providing the day of the application at USPS/library/county office and the day in which approval was indicated (if any). I am also including whether the application was expedited or routine service. All the approved applicants received their passports within 3 business days post approval date.

ROUTINE APPLICANTS:
Applicant 1)   Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS --- Routine service --> approved 12 weeks later (June 25).
Applicant 2)  Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> approved 11 weeks later (June 18).
Applicant 3)  Applicant applied on 6/21/21 at a County/Library office -- Routine Service --> Approved  10 weeks and 5 days later, or approximately 11 weeks later on (September 4th).
Applicant 4) Applicant applied on 6/28/21 at City hall -- Routine Service --> Approved 11 weeks + 4 days later on (September 17th).
Applicant 5)  Applicant applied on 6/29/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> Approved 11 weeks + 2 days later on (September 16th). 
Applicant 6)  Applicant applied on 7/6/21 at USPS -- Routine Service -->  Application is still in process after 10 weeks+ 3 days (Should wait for 1 week).

EXPEDITED APPLICANTS:
Applicant 7)  Applicant applied on 6/10/21 at USPS -- Expedited Service --> Approved 4 weeks + 1 day later (July 9).
Applicant 8 )  Applicant applied on 8/17/21 at USPS -- Expedited Service --> Application is still in process after 4 weeks + 3 days. (Application is expected to be approved, I am guessing, within 1 week, based on the previous expedited approved service.
Applicant 9) Applicant applied on 8/21/21 at USPS -- Expedited service --> Approved 3 weeks + 6 days later, almost 4 weeks, on (September 17th). 
Applicant 10) Applicant applied on 8/23/21 at USPS -- Expedited service --> Application is still in process after 3 weeks + 4 day. (I am guessing that this applicant should wait to the end of next week before any expectations of approval and hopefully they will be approved within that time frame).



I hope that answers your questions in regards to Charleston, SC's processing center.

I thought I was applicant 7 (applied on Aug 17, in process on the 20th). Did your wife also apply on the 17th?

EDIT:  SORRY I WAS WRONG, I am the one who applied on the 21st!!! Ugh.
So August 21 - Sept 17. 

Well, congrats to you guys. I'm still "in process" as of my last time checking a minute ago. ☺️

My application got approved today.
 
Applied 6/28 at City Hall
Application in progress: 7/19/2021 with Routine Service
Application approved:  9/17/2021
 
Location: 34

Updated the above with approval for my wife.  Not shipped yet.

I am going to give you a few timelines with locator 34 in Charleston, SC and hopefully that will give you some idea of how long it is taking for approval at that location these days. I will provide the day of the application at USPS office and the day in which approval was indicated (if any). I will also type whether it was expedited or routine service. All the approved applicants received their passports within 3 business days post approval date.
 
Applicant 1)   Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS --- Routine service --> approved 12 weeks later (June 25).
Applicant 2)  Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> approved 11 weeks later (June 18).
Applicant 3)  Applicant applied on 6/29/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> application is still in process after 11 weeks (Should wait for 1-2 weeks).
Applicant 4)  Applicant applied on 7/6/21 at USPS -- Routine Service -->  Application is still in process after 10 weeks (Should wait for 2-3 weeks).
Applicant 5)  Applicant applied on 6/10/21 at USPS -- Expedited Service --> Approved 4 weeks + 1 day later (July 9).
Applicant 6)  Applicant applied on 8/21/21 at USPS -- unknow routine/expedited service --> Application is still in process after 3 weeks + 2 days.
Applicant 7)  Applicant (you) applied on 8/23/21 at USPS -- Expedited service --> Application is still in process after 3 weeks. (you should wait to the end of next weeks before any expectations of approval).

I hope that answers your questions in regards to Charleston, SC's processing center.

I am going to update the previous reply so that it is representing some new changes in order to keep the picture all together for Charleston, SC locator 34 processing center. For the other applicants at other processing centers: please note that Charleston's processing center is one of the slowest processing centers, especially with the routine applications, so please be careful as you compare it to your own processing center at some other location or as you draw any conclusions.
 
Here are a few timelines with locator 34 in Charleston, SC and hopefully that will give you some idea of how long it is taking for approval at that location these days. I am providing the day of the application at USPS/library/county office and the day in which approval was indicated (if any). I am also including whether the application was expedited or routine service. All the approved applicants received their passports within 3 business days post approval date.

ROUTINE APPLICANTS:
Applicant 1)   Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS --- Routine service --> approved 12 weeks later (June 25).
Applicant 2)  Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> approved 11 weeks later (June 18).
Applicant 3)  Applicant applied on 6/21/21 at a County/Library office -- Routine Service --> Approved  10 weeks and 5 days later, or approximately 11 weeks later on (September 4th).
Applicant 4)  Applicant applied on 6/29/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> Approved 11 weeks + 2 days later on (September 16th). 
Applicant 5)  Applicant applied on 7/6/21 at USPS -- Routine Service -->  Application is still in process after 10 weeks+ 2 days (Should wait for 1 week).

EXPEDITED APPLICANTS:
Applicant 6)  Applicant applied on 6/10/21 at USPS -- Expedited Service --> Approved 4 weeks + 1 day later (July 9).
Applicant 7)  Applicant applied on 8/17/21 at USPS -- Expedited Service --> Application is still in process after 4 weeks + 2 days. (Application is expected to be approved, I am guessing, within 1 week, possibly today, based on the previous expedited approved service).
Applicant 8 ) Applicant applied on 8/21/21 at USPS -- Expedited service --> Application is still in process after 3 weeks + 5 days. (I am guessing approval will happen within the next 10 days).
Applicant 9) Applicant applied on 8/23/21 at USPS -- Expedited service --> Application is still in process after 3 weeks + 3 day. (I am guessing that this applicant should wait to the end of next week before any expectations of approval and hopefully they will be approved within that time frame).



I hope that answers your questions in regards to Charleston, SC's processing center.
 

I am going to update the previous reply so that it is representing some new changes in order to keep the picture all together for Charleston, SC locator 34 processing center. For the other applicants at other processing centers: please note that Charleston's processing center is one of the slowest processing centers, especially with the routine applications, so please be careful as you compare it to your own processing center at some other location or as you draw any conclusions.
 
Here are a few timelines with locator 34 in Charleston, SC and hopefully that will give you some idea of how long it is taking for approval at that location these days. I am providing the day of the application at USPS/library/county office and the day in which approval was indicated (if any). I am also including whether the application was expedited or routine service. All the approved applicants received their passports within 3 business days post approval date.

ROUTINE APPLICANTS:
Applicant 1)   Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS --- Routine service --> approved 12 weeks later (June 25).
Applicant 2)  Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> approved 11 weeks later (June 18).
Applicant 3)  Applicant applied on 6/21/21 at a County/Library office -- Routine Service --> Approved  10 weeks and 5 days later, or approximately 11 weeks later on (September 4th).
Applicant 4)  Applicant applied on 6/29/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> Approved 11 weeks + 2 days later on (September 16th). 
Applicant 5)  Applicant applied on 7/6/21 at USPS -- Routine Service -->  Application is still in process after 10 weeks+ 2 days (Should wait for 1 week).

EXPEDITED APPLICANTS:
Applicant 6)  Applicant applied on 6/10/21 at USPS -- Expedited Service --> Approved 4 weeks + 1 day later (July 9).
Applicant 7)  Applicant applied on 8/17/21 at USPS -- Expedited Service --> Application is still in process after 4 weeks + 2 days. (Application is expected to be approved, I am guessing, within 1 week, possibly today, based on the previous expedited approved service).
Applicant 8 ) Applicant applied on 8/21/21 at USPS -- Expedited service --> Application is still in process after 3 weeks + 5 days. (I am guessing approval will happen within the next 10 days).
Applicant 9) Applicant applied on 8/23/21 at USPS -- Expedited service --> Application is still in process after 3 weeks + 3 day. (I am guessing that this applicant should wait to the end of next week before any expectations of approval and hopefully they will be approved within that time frame).



I hope that answers your questions in regards to Charleston, SC's processing center.
 

I am going to add two more applicants to my previous reply in order to keep the picture all together for Charleston, SC locator 34 processing center.
For the other applicants at other processing centers: please note that Charleston's processing center is one of the slowest processing centers, especially with the routine applications, so please be careful as you compare it to your own processing center at some other location or as you draw any conclusions.
 
Here are a few timelines with locator 34 in Charleston, SC and hopefully that will give you some idea of how long it is taking for approval at that location these days. I am providing the day of the application at USPS/library/county office and the day in which approval was indicated (if any). I am also including whether the application was expedited or routine service. All the approved applicants received their passports within 3 business days post approval date.

ROUTINE APPLICANTS:
Applicant 1)   Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS --- Routine service --> approved 12 weeks later (June 25).
Applicant 2)  Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> approved 11 weeks later (June 18).
Applicant 3)  Applicant applied on 6/21/21 at a County/Library office -- Routine Service --> Approved 10 weeks and 5 days later, or approximately 11 weeks later on (September 4th).
Applicant 4)  Applicant applied on 6/29/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> application is still in process after 11 weeks (Should wait for 1-2 weeks).
Applicant 5)  Applicant applied on 7/6/21 at USPS -- Routine Service -->  Application is still in process after 10 weeks (Should wait for 2-3 weeks).

EXPEDITED APPLICANTS:
Applicant 6)  Applicant applied on 6/10/21 at USPS -- Expedited Service --> Approved 4 weeks + 1 day later (July 9).
Applicant 7)  Applicant applied on 8/17/21 at USPS -- Expedited Service --> Application is still in process after 4 weeks. (Application is expected to be approved, I am guessing, within 1 week based on the previous expedited approved service).
Applicant 8 ) Applicant applied on 8/23/21 at USPS -- Expedited service --> Application is still in process after 3 weeks + 1 day. (I am guessing that this applicant should wait to the end of next week before any expectations of approval and hopefully they will be approved within that time frame).

Unknown expedited or routine service:
Applicant 9) Applicant applied on 8/21/21 at USPS -- unknow routine/expedited service --> Application is still in process after 3 weeks + 3 days.


I hope that answers your questions in regards to Charleston, SC's processing center.

I am going to give you a few timelines with locator 34 in Charleston, SC and hopefully that will give you some idea of how long it is taking for approval at that location these days. I will provide the day of the application at USPS office and the day in which approval was indicated (if any). I will also type whether it was expedited or routine service. All the approved applicants received their passports within 3 business days post approval date.
 
Applicant 1)   Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS --- Routine service --> approved 12 weeks later (June 25).
Applicant 2)  Applicant applied on 4/2/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> approved 11 weeks later (June 18).
Applicant 3)  Applicant applied on 6/29/21 at USPS -- Routine Service --> application is still in process after 11 weeks (Should wait for 1-2 weeks).
Applicant 4)  Applicant applied on 7/6/21 at USPS -- Routine Service -->  Application is still in process after 10 weeks (Should wait for 2-3 weeks).
Applicant 5)  Applicant applied on 6/10/21 at USPS -- Expedited Service --> Approved 4 weeks + 1 day later (July 9).
Applicant 6)  Applicant applied on 8/21/21 at USPS -- unknow routine/expedited service --> Application is still in process after 3 weeks + 2 days.
Applicant 7)  Applicant (you) applied on 8/23/21 at USPS -- Expedited service --> Application is still in process after 3 weeks. (you should wait to the end of next weeks before any expectations of approval).

I hope that answers your questions in regards to Charleston, SC's processing center.