PaddyH

9 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

Do the following please:

 

1. Many of our answers are predicated on the information you supply in your profile. When we look at the left column and can't determine your timeline or your Embassy it's hard for us to give you a factual answer. If you look at the profile of others here, they have a flag for their country, so it makes it easy for us to reply as we can quickly determine your Embassy. Our answers will sometimes be tailored to a specific Embassy hence the reason for you to complete your profile.

 

So, if you could help yourself out and complete your profile that sure would help us out when we want to reply to your question with factual information.

 

Go to the top right of this page select your name (it's on the upper right hand corner)>my profile>[below your picture on the right column] edit my profile. Scroll to the bottom and fill in "Immigration Info". There now we can better serve you.

 

Thanks

 

2. Each case is different, you can check the current processing times for the I-129F petition, see the “Check Processing Times” page.  USCIS  process fiancé(e) petitions in the order they receive them. Once they complete their processing, your approved petition is then forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC). The NVC will then send the petition to the U.S. Embassy or consulate, which will need time to process your fiancé(e) for a visa.

 

3. There are several tools available to you. Go up to Immigration Timelines on the blue ribbon above and select it. Once you are on the next page looked to your left and you will see a box that states, "find similar timelines" and select it. A list will populate with those who are processing close to your timeline. When they start to change you will soon be behind them.

 

Also, there is another place you can go and follow others who are processing the same time you are and for the same Embassy. Go to the blue ribbon at the top of this page and select "portals". Scroll down the left-hand side of the page till you get to VJ "your country's name" Timelines. Just below it you'll see "K-1" so you select it and out pops a window with others from your country.

 

4. Currently it's been taking about 2 weeks for USCIS to send the file to NVC. Then it's been taking about 2-3 weeks for NVC to assign the case number. Then it's taking another 2-3 week depending on the Embassy to receive your case. Your mileage may vary! None of this is written in stone so your mileage may vary. Like others have said it depends a lot on your Embassy and prevailing winds.

 

Thanks Greenbaum! I updated my timeline as well. Cheers.

Hey All,

I was hoping some folks might be able to help with a couple of questions around estimated timelines.

I received NOA 2 on 9/4

NVC received application on 9/20 (still waiting for them to create a Case Number)

How long does it take for NVC to issue case number? (I believe 2-3 days but wanted to confirm)

From the time NVC receives your case how long does it take to send to the embassy?

When NVC sends to the embassy how long does it take for them to receive it? (once again believe i read previously its 3-5 business days as they send the case details via Fedex but wanted to confirm if anyone else knows for sure)

Just trying to gauge the overall time especially since its getting closer to the finish line

Hi @Greenbaum and @vaksurik by any chance were you able to upload a copy of the P3 for The Netherlands? This would be very helpful if I could see what documents I need to get in order while I wait for my application to go to NVC.

30 minutes ago, SilverMonk said:

Alright guys it happened, we got APPROVED!

I called this morning and the agent seem reluctant to give me any information after I told her I was the beneficiary. She asked what I wanted and I very kindly said that we're reaching 8 months and the last thing we heard was that our case was received. She then said we were approved. I then asked if she was sure lol she said she was. Then I said its because we've been waiting so long that I wanted to make sure. She then proceeded to tell me that it was approved yesterday and went to to repeat my case number and repeat our names and birth-dates. Then she said I haven't heard anything online because they're having problems with their systems. I still could not believe it and neither could my fiancee so she called them too and they also informed her that it was approved. Im gonna trust the two agents lol So I believe its official guys!

No updates as of yet on any of the two sites btw. 

I know the journey is just beginning but I wanted to thank everyone for the support so far and thank everyone for the prayers and wishful thinking!

Details: 
Packet sent: Jan 12th
Noa1: Jan 16th
Approval: September 5th (Day 232)

 

Congrats SilverMonk!! 

19 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

 

 

It's your lucky day. Greenbaum has information that may set you free. Just leave a nickel in the cup.

 

https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/privacy/privacy_pia_uscis_ibbcs.pdf

 

As part of its benefits adjudication process and as required by law, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducts background checks on petitioners and applicants who seek certain immigration benefits. These background checks consist of four separate checks against systems within Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In order to facilitate the collection and transmission of information necessary to complete background check processes, USCIS maintains five information technology electronic systems: the Fingerprint Masthead Notification System (FMNS), the Customer Identity Capture System (CICS), the FD-258 Tracking System - Mainframe (FD-258 MF), the Benefits Biometrics Support System (BBSS), and the Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS) Manifest. USCIS is conducting this privacy impact assessment (PIA) because FMNS, CICS, FD-258 MF, BBSS, and IBIS Manifest collect, use, and share personally identifiable information (PII). This PIA replaces the previously published USCIS PIA for the "Background Check Service (BCS)" which describes planned background check-related systems that were never implemented. Upon publication of this PIA, the BCS PIA will be retired.

 

And two days ago I posted an interview that was taken from an XUSICS agent who spoke about his job as adjudicator and what steps they took to come to a conclusion. Go back a few tabs and you may find the link.

Thank you very much, that write up is very helpful to provide insight into the USCIS black box! 

48 minutes ago, SilverMonk said:

Yeah I wished my fiancee did that too but she's more of the type "Ok. Thank you. Bye"

 

Have you gotten answers to any of those 5 questions you used as an example because I'd like to know the answer to all of them too lol.

 

Maybe from calling you know if the adjudication step is after the background check or before?

 

Yeah I'll pass onto my fiancee all the information you just gave me. It's a little frustrating talking to her about this tho because I'm the type that does what is needed to get things moving and she's more the type that waits it out and says calling wont do anything and that it's "wasting her time".

To be honest most times you don't get any specific answers. But I have previously found out that i was in background checks and it seems that the adjudication step occurs once backgrounds checks clear. For the background checks they definitely send them somewhere else or some other department but i have no clue where. Finding out when the last activity on your case is something i was provided today (even though it only advised it was assigned to another officer). At the very least this much information will tell you if you are still in background. If it is in July i would definitely say still background, while if it's recent then highly unlikely to be in background.

Don't worry about your fiancee not being the pushy type, if I am being honest, like everyone else here I don't think it makes any difference either way. At the end of the day they'll get to it when they get to it. Having more information in the meantime is nice but won't have any impact on USCIS timelines.

7 minutes ago, SilverMonk said:

If you read my post from yesterday you'll see that were in the same situation "security checks" and we have more or less the same dates (day 225 old site).

 

And about your question, some seem lucky and are able to get an agent that goes the extra mile to help them and others get agents that just tell them the first thing that shows up on their screen. Which is that are case is still processing lol.

 

If on 8/9 you found out that your case was in background checks that's already a good sign because I had to make an official inquiry to find that out. But how were you able to find that out btw?

I have been ringing and asking to talk to a Tier 2 nearly every day. Most days you get the usual scripted story but if you get someone that seems helpful i always try to push them on where exactly in the process my case is:

Is it still in background checks?

Is it at the adjudication step? 

Is there an RFE?

When was the last activity on my case?

When should i expect to hear from someone?

Sometimes they give you a little more insight, previously an agent told me that i had passed all initial background checks (8/9) and that it should be smooth sailing from there but that it was still in background processing, he did however have to pull up some separate database to view this. I think after today a good idea is to ask what exact date your case was last updated, they definitely have that information available to them.

I am at day 222 mark since NOA1. My timeline is: 

Advised that case in background checks 8/9

Outside Normal Processing Time 8/18

Filed Inquiry 8/20

Assigned to another agent 8/21

Congress Rep Requested Update 8/24

After calling and being transferred to a Tier 2 agent twice today and being disconnected, the third time was a charm. The update I got was that the last day my case was touched was when it was assigned to an agent 8/21. They were unable to provide any additional detail around if the background checks were complete and it was in adjudication. 

Has anybody else had any joy with figuring out where in the process the case is from talking to Tier 2 (especially those that call every day) ?

Hi All,

I am 216 day mark since NOA1. I filled an inquiry on Monday but got the response that they will get back to me before 9/4 (however this seems to be inconsistent looking at other folks). I have rang and asked to talk to a Tier 2 on a number of occasions and while some are pretty unhelpful, two gave me the update that was case was sent for background checks in July and there was no update since. Does anyone have an idea around how long the background check phase usually takes? 

Additionally i reached out to my congress representative yesterday, hopefully they will be able to help, at the very least it can't do any harm.  From the form they asked me to fill out it appears that they get a lot of similar requests. 

NOA1 Old site 1/19

NOA1 New site 1/23