Chicago lockbox is ROLLING ALONG NOW!! WOO HOO!!

[Minya's wife 24]

Thanks to everyone for their input. I didn't want to lose time and I also wanted to try to file both together. From what I heard on the phone, the Chicago location would be the one processing the packet - so I sent both there together ... If I had sent them to VSC the whole thing would have been forwarded to the lockbox anyway ... so I didn't want to make the process longer for no reason ... If they reject the concurrent filing of the 129F then I'll just make up a second 129F application and send it in with the canceled check and/or signature verification which I asked for through USPS ... that should work ... I hope I didn't delay my timeline in any manner by taking this route ....

The problem is that if they reject the petition they may reject the whole thing, i.e. they will send both the I-130 and the I-129F back to you w/ a letter telling you to follow instructions....which means you would have wasted time. The caution here is that since in some cases, it is taking month(s) to even get a case # and your check cashed....it may be wise not to second guess USCIS because you may end up with having lost time for no reason.

It can be a real bummer if you wait say one month for your petition to be "looked at" only to receive the whole thing back in the mail w/ a note saying Rejected - Not filed correctly. Then you'd have to send the I-130 only again....wait again until they look at it and log it, send you the NOA1 for you then to send of the I-129F. Which is the process you should have followed in the first place. To me, its not worth the risk, but that's just MHO.

-p

Edited January 16, 2008 by Paula&Minya

[Justin and Masako 0]

Where do you find the processing time for the Chicago Lockbox? When I go to the USCIS site for processing times the Chicago location doesn't list I-130 so I am assuming that the Chicago option doesn't actually refer to the Lockbox. Anyone have insight on this?

Thanks,

[SusieK 3]

Where do you find the processing time for the Chicago Lockbox? When I go to the USCIS site for processing times the Chicago location doesn't list I-130 so I am assuming that the Chicago option doesn't actually refer to the Lockbox. Anyone have insight on this?

Thanks,

Here ya go just scroll down...

Cheers

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD

again please keep in mind they are just scanning them in there, and then shipping them either to VSC or CSC - good luck on journey

Edited January 16, 2008 by SusieK

[rajee 1]

again please keep in mind they are just scanning them in there, and then shipping them either to VSC or CSC - good luck on journey

So would that mean that even though the I-130 went to Chicago, I should send my I-129F (if they make me resend it) to VSC (I'm in NJ)????

[Eric777 0]

Hi, Does anyone know how long after NOA1

are you able to log onto USCIS online case

site and have your # recognized??

[SusieK 3]

again please keep in mind they are just scanning them in there, and then shipping them either to VSC or CSC - good luck on journey

So would that mean that even though the I-130 went to Chicago, I should send my I-129F (if they make me resend it) to VSC (I'm in NJ)????

Raj-

Not sure where your application will end up, thats the problem right now or maybe not for your really want that I-130 to go through and they seem to be on a similar timeline or at least within a few months of the I-129f.

But again, our first stop was Texas and then on to CSC as our region , but as we all know, Hello Windy City Chicago and then it went to Vermont. So I am not sure nor do I think there is any ryhme or reason right now to this. I dont want to guess and say send it to where it states, although that makes sense, but that is totally up to you.

Cheers

Susie

case access online available to some, others not just yet. I have had a tatto put on my forhead saying "PATIENCE" so that everytime I look in the mirror I remember why we are doing this, why we are struggling and yet in the long haul of this process we will look back at our post and say oh yeah, I remember that journey. Or maybe we will just take drugs and I mean heavy duty to forget this whole process ever existed. j/k

[Justin and Masako 0]

Where do you find the processing time for the Chicago Lockbox? When I go to the USCIS site for processing times the Chicago location doesn't list I-130 so I am assuming that the Chicago option doesn't actually refer to the Lockbox. Anyone have insight on this?

Thanks,

Here ya go just scroll down...

Cheers

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...0004718190aRCRD

again please keep in mind they are just scanning them in there, and then shipping them either to VSC or CSC - good luck on journey

Thanks SusieK!

[Imua 0]

This is what I was thinking too - best to follow the rules to the letter rather than run the risk of them rejecting both of our petitions and having to go back to square one. I am thinking with how long it takes to get an NOA1 it doesn't make much sense to file for K-3 anyway at this point in time - I think either way it looks like it's going to take 9 months to a year, hopefully not longer... at least with the CR-1 you don't have to deal with AOS and your spouse can work right away - this is an issue for us. The main reason I was thinking of K-3 was if there was a possibility for the interview to be in the summer when I could be there with my husband - since I filed late and there have been all the delays it doesn't look like that will be possible, so if his interview is in January that would work for us as well since I can also take vacation at that time - but really who knows anything at this point???

Thanks to everyone for their input. I didn't want to lose time and I also wanted to try to file both together. From what I heard on the phone, the Chicago location would be the one processing the packet - so I sent both there together ... If I had sent them to VSC the whole thing would have been forwarded to the lockbox anyway ... so I didn't want to make the process longer for no reason ... If they reject the concurrent filing of the 129F then I'll just make up a second 129F application and send it in with the canceled check and/or signature verification which I asked for through USPS ... that should work ... I hope I didn't delay my timeline in any manner by taking this route ....

The problem is that if they reject the petition they may reject the whole thing, i.e. they will send both the I-130 and the I-129F back to you w/ a letter telling you to follow instructions....which means you would have wasted time. The caution here is that since in some cases, it is taking month(s) to even get a case # and your check cashed....it may be wise not to second guess USCIS because you may end up with having lost time for no reason.

It can be a real bummer if you wait say one month for your petition to be "looked at" only to receive the whole thing back in the mail w/ a note saying Rejected - Not filed correctly. Then you'd have to send the I-130 only again....wait again until they look at it and log it, send you the NOA1 for you then to send of the I-129F. Which is the process you should have followed in the first place. To me, its not worth the risk, but that's just MHO.

-p

[rajee 1]

The problem is that if they reject the petition they may reject the whole thing, i.e. they will send both the I-130 and the I-129F back to you w/ a letter telling you to follow instructions....which means you would have wasted time.

-p

I appreciate your feedback - but I hope you're wrong lol ... I figured that there was nothing wrong with my I-130 application and it was in a separate envelope so it should be treated entirely as a separate entity ... If my I-129F is not acceptable, that's hopefully a separate issue ...

Speaking of rejecting the I-129F ... does anyone know if it's kosher to send ANOTHER I-129F with proof of filing the I-130 (ie cleared check, etc) without waiting to hear whether the first one was rejected or accepted (ie, they would potentially have one already rolling and get a second one from me) ... I would be happy to send a second I-129F so long as they don't get all confused .... I can note in the cover letter that it came to my attention that I may have made an error in filing so please check if it is not already in the system and use this new I-129F ...

I think I've seen people mention sending a second petition when the first one ran into glitches, regardless of whether it was accepted or rejected, and that having worked out ... please let me know what you guys think.

VJ IS AWESOME!

On an unrelated note - as of 1/16/08 CHICAGO LOCKBOX IS UP TO 11/1/07 I-130S!!!

Edited January 17, 2008 by rajee

[Justin and Masako 0]

As of January 4, 2008, USCIS has completed initial data entry and issued receipt notices for applications and petitions except for I-130s (Petition for Alien Relative) which are being receipted at the Chicago Lockbox facility, as noted below:

Chicago Lockbox (as of 1/16/08)

Form Number Date Received

I-130 11/1/2007

All Other Forms Current

New update on the USCIS site. At least its moving.

[Leedah 22]

The website says as of Jan.17, 2008, they are processing apps for Nov.5, 2008.

However I just got off the phone with an immigration officer this morning around 11something and he said they were on Nov.8th, 2008.

Hope this helps whomever sent on the 8th.

Peace out

By the way who ever clicked my link below, got 10 free international minutes and also bought more minutes,...thank youuuuuuu.

I just got $1. Appreciate that who ever you are. I am on a mission to get those $1's to add up and get a plane ticket for my hubby when he's approved. (wishful thinking? lol) So, instead of buying phone cards at the corner store, folks pulleezze buy from me instead so I can get some free minutes to chat with my hubby and a few bucks here and there. Atleast you will have a database of your calls to print out and show at your interviews.

Ok, let me shut up before I get booted the heck outta here. TEE HEE

Bye Yall,

Leedah

[Minya's wife 24]

The problem is that if they reject the petition they may reject the whole thing, i.e. they will send both the I-130 and the I-129F back to you w/ a letter telling you to follow instructions....which means you would have wasted time.

-p

I appreciate your feedback - but I hope you're wrong lol ... I figured that there was nothing wrong with my I-130 application and it was in a separate envelope so it should be treated entirely as a separate entity ... If my I-129F is not acceptable, that's hopefully a separate issue ...

Speaking of rejecting the I-129F ... does anyone know if it's kosher to send ANOTHER I-129F with proof of filing the I-130 (ie cleared check, etc) without waiting to hear whether the first one was rejected or accepted (ie, they would potentially have one already rolling and get a second one from me) ... I would be happy to send a second I-129F so long as they don't get all confused .... I can note in the cover letter that it came to my attention that I may have made an error in filing so please check if it is not already in the system and use this new I-129F ...

I think I've seen people mention sending a second petition when the first one ran into glitches, regardless of whether it was accepted or rejected, and that having worked out ... please let me know what you guys think.

VJ IS AWESOME!

On an unrelated note - as of 1/16/08 CHICAGO LOCKBOX IS UP TO 11/1/07 I-130S!!!

There was a member here on VJ who used to be a USCIS adjudicator. His name is "Huskerkiev" and his thread (many pages long) explains a lot of what physically happens to a from when it is mailed to the adjudication. To USCIS, these petitions that are so very important to us are just papers....it is not until the file pops on an adjudicators desk, that anyone looks too closely at it. In the mailroom, where they sort the mountain of applications received, they basically go by a checklist....and if the petition does not conform to that checklist, it is not accepted.

But...I too hope I'm wrong in being so cautionary....I am certainly curious as to your progress, please keep us posted.

-P

[jeca 0]

Good news!Chicago lockbox is updated to 11/13/2007

[Leedah 22]

I am wondering something....

The USCIS website says they are updating and sending receipts.

So would that mean that by the time they update and get to a person's individual date, that person WOULD HAVE received a receipt notice BY that dateon the website OR will the person receive a receipt notice within a week or so OF that date??

Very confusing to say the least.

Leedah

[j.debonis 0]

I am wondering something....

The USCIS website says they are updating and sending receipts.

So would that mean that by the time they update and get to a person's individual date, that person WOULD HAVE received a receipt notice BY that dateon the website OR will the person receive a receipt notice within a week or so OF that date??

Very confusing to say the least.

Leedah

Leedah, I did a little comparison between when people have received their NOA1 (based on their time lines) and the dates that USCIS has updated their website (recorded in various threads for easy reference). Don't get confused here...I'm not talking about the updated dates found on the website itself (still relevant) but the date that update changed. People are receiving their NOA1 several days to several weeks after the update. This makes sense though.