25% of applicants are approved on the first try.

You hardly ever hear about them because the other 75% gets on the internet and complains to high heaven. I have been called a liar by people who actually believe that everyone is denied on the first try!

I was lucky to be approved on the first try. I had 20+ years of medical records dating back to childhood and a number of major hospitalizations. I was unavailable for an interview so everything was done via paperwork. I was approved in about 5 months.