CMJuilland

Okay, I'm a total freak when it comes to numbers, so I started that game as well, and not only for our receipt date. Granted, I'm a little lazier than you guys; I didn't take the time to look at what exact number a certain date starts; I check cases for a couple of days before up until our receipt date (Nov 2), i.e. WAC1790044500 up until WAC1790053000. I even have an excel sheet where I keep track of all of that. Living in Europe, I usually do the search in the morning, and I see quite some approvals compared to Thursday. In order for me not to get locked out of the app (case tracker for iPhone), I also noted within which 500 batch there are i129Fs and where there are none. So, for all these cases, there are a bit under 500 (491 to be exact) unworked / withdrawn / whatever (category is called "other"), 117 approved, 53 RFEs, and 110 rejections. 
Oh, and in order not to get locked out of the app so often, I usually switch off my WIFI when I run the search. If I still get locked out, I can just run it again when I'm in a different area. It may take a little longer sometimes, but at least I get to run my searches. Anyway. Seeing roughly 20 cases looked at for Thursday and another 20 for yesterday gives me hope that ours could be adjudicated within about a month. Also, USCIS - NVC seems to have gotten back to the normal couple of days as opposed to the 4-week wait back in November and December, so that's something to keep in mind as well. Have a great weekend everyone, and since Monday is a holiday, let's hope there isn't another slowdown due to inauguration next Friday. Keeping my fingers crossed for all of us; may we all get an approval soon. 
On another, more personal note, my fiancée and I have done the LDR thing for far too long; we've known each other for more than a decade, and over the last couple of years, ever since our relationship became more serious, we have literally invested 10s of thousands of $$ in airline tickets between the two of us. While it's always the greatest feeling to arrive at the airport of each other's country, it's always just as devastating boarding the plane to leave... And while I personally take comfort in seeing so many other people in the same situation we are in (for many years, I could never find anyone to understand as I didn't know anybody in an LDR with 1000s of miles between them), it also deeply saddens me that there are so many people here who are on the same emotional rollercoaster ride. Wishing us all the energy to stay happy despite everything we're going through. 

Even though I'm not all that worried yet, but I am still clutching at every straw. The CSC's processing times have changed again - they jumped a month to August 16, 2016. For early November filers, that could mean about another 2.5 months if the estimate is correct or about 4.5 months total. Hopefully, though, they will speed up again. Keeping my spirits up, even though I just got back from my fiancée's. It's gonna be hard, and any piece of news sent by USCIS would definitely make it easier. Anyway, keeping my fingers crossed for all of us. 

Thanks, Jim, for the clarifications and yay for the faster USCIS-NVC transfer. Let's just hope that we're moving forward and get our NOA2s later this month. It seems though that they are slowly creeping up to our dates, although there is not always the same amount of movement day by day, but at least there has been some since Christmas. 
Wishing all of you a great day. 

Mzladyq, you're actually in good company. A lot of people on here have NOA1-dates similar to yours, and none of us have gotten approved as of yet. We're all hoping and wishing that we will be approved sooner rather than later. I hope that at the very least having company provides a little bit of solace...

I'm a silent reader of the October thread (we filed at the beginning of November), but I was really hoping for you guys that your approval would finally come through. Congratulations!! I'm very happy for you It was about time.

Hey Forena,
We are in a similar situation as in having talked back and forth about marriage, and when we finally took the decision, we didn't have rings yet. I can only assume, but if I get asked that question, I will explain to them that there is no specific date, but rather a longer lasting discussion about marriage, with the rings being purchased later on in the process. So, how about you do something similar, i.e. explain to the CO that you do not have a concrete date of engagement, but that you decided to do something official once the process of K1 was set in motion?

Technically, we would not have been required to pay again, but it would have delayed the whole thing even further. It would have meant for them to dig in and look for our check, which we pictured as a nightmare, especially after having lost our file. In order for things to move faster now, we decided to just bite the bullet and pay again; especially because I would really like to see some progress while I'm here. It's much easier to react to possible RFEs or the like when you're physically together (and in the same timezone for that matter)...