BedfordshireToTennessee

Okay, thank you for clarifying anyway. Shame the quicker option is no longer available. However, I'm glad I hadn't missed something so it is still business as usual

JonB 47

moving within the year would be a long shot to say the least, as just the sending the i130 form to USCIS and for them to send it to the NVC will probably take around 12 months then the NVC stage depends on how long it takes you to upload all the correct documents they want etc.. All these timelines were pre covid so who knows what backlog there is etc.

My process started end of Oct 2018 and it took over 12 months for USCIS to send to NVC, then a month or so for the NVC stage to complete. then 23rd Mar 2020 we got interview date for embassy but that was also the day UK went into lockdown. I finally had medical on 21st Sept and have the embassy interview 28th Sept. So my timeline has taken almost 2 years but at least when I do arrive in the US I will have been married 2 years so that will skip some extra paperwork and fees as I won't have to remove conditions

BedfordshireToTennessee

Thanks for the reply, JonB. A few questions though if you don’t mind.
Firstly, was there any reason for it taking almost 18 months to get your initial appointment (before it was cancelled due to Covid)?
Secondly, were there any updates between the day you applied and when they had sent it off to NVC?
My only glimmer of hope is that currently I can’t imagine there are *that* many people applying for US visa’s due to Covid. However, I’m probably being too hopeful there!

Good luck with the interview!

Pulaski

You're assuming that there are the same number of workers porcessing visas as before covid-19 struck. I think a lot of the staff were furloughed for a while, and even if they've been recalled, the nature of the US government is that some of the staff could easily have been transferred to other tasks.

It was widely reported even before covid-19 struck that the finances of the USCIS were precarious, so cutbacks to staffing were likely inevitable anyway, and have probably been greater as the visa applications have dropped sharply, and some visa types suspended entirely.

JonB 47

1: when we sent the i130 off to the Phoenix drop box it was showing as around 6-8 months processing time then it just got longer and longer I think towards the end it said 12-15 month processing time

2: All we got update wise was that they received the i130 then nothing until the end of the uscis processing when they sent email saying it was being sent to NVC, then once they had it they email and ask you to login on webpage and start doing the process there, pay more fees, the ds260 form and affidavit of support form as well as uploading the supporting docs, etc. Then when all submitted and complete, fee paid etc then they will check it and if everything is correct they will email again and say that all is good and they are sending it to embassy. then wait for appointment.

BedfordshireToTennessee

Forgot to ask, are you in the US? Or, we’re you in the US when you started your application?
I am currently still in the U.K. so have submitted ours online through the USCIS portal. We submitted on the 14th of September and got our receipt of application on the 16th.

You didn’t receive a single update in over a year?

Thanks for your responses

Noorah101

USCIS does not send notices or updates during processing time, unless it's an RFE asking for additional evidence. I believe you can set up an account online to go in and view your case status, but all you will see is that the case was "touched" and you won't know exactly what was done. That that's only if a person actually goes in and updates the case online, which doesn't always happen. It's not reliable.

Rene

stuwoolf

Hi,

Let me give you my recent and current experience, albeit using the "quick" DCF route.

Sent papers - i-130 Spouse Visa - to US Embassy London on March 5th and receive a "Properly Filed".

Then Covid hit!

June 29 received an email advising the Petition was Approved and the case was passed to Visa Unit US Embassy London.

Waited 2.5 months for a case number.

With the case number its possible to book a medical and a visa interview. Medicals appointments are easy to come by. Interview appointments are rather more difficult to get. Not withstanding possible cancellations, it will be fortunate to get an interview date in November. I understand interviews only take place on Tuesday and Thursday.

So far, the "quick" route has taken 8 months.

Quite what is happening on other filing routes is anyones guess. I am completely unsighted on that.

Having said all that, please dont be put off. It is what it is. The sooner you start then sooner you are on your way. However, gird your loins and be ready for a very frustrating rollercoaster ride!

I wish you good luck.

🙂

BedfordshireToTennessee

Yes, this is the point we are at currently. I know the case has been opened and received, but as you say, who knows that that actually entails.

BedfordshireToTennessee

Thanks for this. Unfortunately, they have suspended the expedited service due to Covid, otherwise I would have gone down this route.
We had hoped that a year was a fair estimate, allowing for frustration. However, it may seem as though a year would be lucky

We’ll buckle in and enjoy the ride I guess, albeit a boring one by the sounds of it! At least we’ll reap the rewards at the end. As for now we have the issue of trying to book an appointment for a consular report for a birth abroad, which they are only taking bookings a week in advance currently and they are nigh on impossible to get.

JonB 47

I am in UK and wife is in US. we filled in paperwork when I was there after we married then the day after I returned to UK she took copies of the whole package then once got the marriage certificate back with certified copies she sent the original off to the drop box then mailed me a full copy of everything. That was actually last time I saw her in person as we couldn't plan a visit as we had no idea what was going on with no updates on case, it's just been lots of skype and texts

Noorah101

The "expedited service" you refer to is the old DCF process, which is gone forever. It's not suspended due to COVID. USCIS ended that service completely.

Rene

blessed345

I dont know how the process works...but couldnt you have stayed there while the paperwork was being processed over there ?

JonB 47

Yes if I wanted to take the risk of going over on a vwp with the purpose of getting married and staying then running the risk of it getting rejected and banned from the US. We wanted to do it the proper way and when we did it it was only showing as 6-8 month processing time. My cousin who put paperwork in around same time or just a little later than we did, had theirs completed even after nvc rejected it firstly and they were together in the US earlier this year. Though technically if it wasn't for Covid then I would be there now as original interview was for 24th April

civilservant

1st post and you're proposing something that is total illegal, visa fraud, and can get you a permanent ban from the US.

Good job!