Need help with what USCIS told me

[Jughead 3]

I called USCIS this morning. It's been over 45 days since I got my NOA1 and my case doesn't show up online or on the automated system. I was connected to a Tier 2 representative. They told me that the case is still at the National Benefits Center and it is pending. However, it will be transferred to a local field office within 2 months. They then told me that once it is transferred I (petitioner) will get a notice to go in for an interview at the field office. After the interview at the field office, the case will be sent back to the National Benefits Center for final review before going to the NVC.

Does any of this make sense? The representative told me this is the standard procedure when the petitioner is in the US and the beneficiary is overseas and that it doesn't mean anything is wrong with the case. I know cases get transferred to field offices all the time. But most people on here have said they were never notified that their case went to a field office...which makes me question if anything I was told by the representative is correct.

[oohpartiv 484]

No, not everything she said is necessary true, and there's no guarantee it'll apply to your case. Your case COULD (probably will) get sent to a local field office, but you won't be notified of it happening - even if you call and ask if it's been sent, there's a chance they could tell you no even though it has. As for the interview she mentioned, some field offices have been calling in the petitioners for interviews before approving their cases, but this is in no way the norm. I've seen a few cases like that, but by no means do ALL cases sent through field offices required to attend an interview. As for sending the case back to NBC, I don't think anybody's really sure about that. It looks like the local offices are sending them back to NBC after approval, and then NBC sends out the notices, but this is more guesswork than actual fact.

In any case, the important thing is that your case has been received and is processing. If they need you for an interview, they'll contact you, and when they approve your petition, you'll get the NOA2 in the mail. I know it's easier to check the status online, but there's no actual need to do so, so don't stress too much. There are several people here on VJ whose cases didn't show up for several weeks, and even a few whose cases didn't show up until it changed to "post decision". Good luck.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

That's what you get for calling the misinformation line...

It doesn't matter that your case is not online. The online checking tool looks nice and fancy, but it doesn't do anything. Your ticker will just sit there until your petition is approved. There is nothing wrong with your case. In fact, there is a note on the webpage now that you should expect a delay before it will show up on that webpage.

The people you call are call center employees who read from a screen and are not USCIS employees. They do not know what they are talking about.

Your case will most likely be approved by you doing nothing. There is a very remote chance you will be called for a stateside interview, but that is only for cases in which they suspect fraud. Whatever happens, you need to sit tight and check your mail normally. They will send you further instructions, in your mailbox, whatever they are. Don't obsess about checking online, because it's worthless

Good luck and good patience.

[dibbzy 2]

nyukan no iutta koto tadashi desu ,shizuka de mail to notice matte kudasai

Ganbare nippon

[Jughead 3]

Thanks everyone for the reassurance. Had a feeling what they were telling me this morning wasn't 100% accurate. Thanks for making sense out of it!