SEPTEMBER I-130 Filers: Check in right here!!

[abbielovesjeremy 5]

Abbie - makes up for the lost NOA1!! Congrats!

(Maybe all those 'touches' I'm worrying about on ours is a good thing?!?)

well we know from what we read here that touches don't really mean anything unless it came with an approval some touch could just mean they moved it from somebody's hand to somebody else's table. but nevertheless the touches lifted my spirits

[AUS2USA 0]

Hmmm, So i just looked at the status on USCIS, and it says "Initial Review". Looking into backgrounds for frud and what not. I was hoping it'd say "Accepted" haha. This isn't a bad thing is it? I mean, we have nothing to worry about wither of us. just wondering if it's normal =) cheers

[abbielovesjeremy 5]

Hmmm, So i just looked at the status on USCIS, and it says "Initial Review". Looking into backgrounds for frud and what not. I was hoping it'd say "Accepted" haha. This isn't a bad thing is it? I mean, we have nothing to worry about wither of us. just wondering if it's normal =) cheers

yup it's normal

[gpmaan 0]

hey guys, we just found out today that we got approved. hubby checked his PO box mail and in there was our NOA2 hard copy. woot woot!

funny thing is when i checked our case status online today it still doesn't say approved. it's not updated. and our NOA2 was dated 09/18/2009 (our last touch)

wow, looking at your timeline, ill have to say it was rather quick! congrats. hopefully ours goes as fast. im going home this december to see my wife, it would be a great x-mas gift if we can get a NOA2 before i go back home. anyway, im ecstatic, optimistic and hopeful that we'll get a speedy answer.

btw abbie, what kind of documents did you provide to bonafide your marriage besides your Marriage Certificate?

[Bern. 3]

Hmmm, So i just looked at the status on USCIS, and it says "Initial Review". Looking into backgrounds for frud and what not. I was hoping it'd say "Accepted" haha. This isn't a bad thing is it? I mean, we have nothing to worry about wither of us. just wondering if it's normal =) cheers

Is this new because I never ever heard of Initial Review until NVC. o_O?

EDIT: I checked USCIS...new website, haha. I wish it was like that when my file was there :3

gluck to all <3

Edited September 27, 2009 by Bern.

[Mobiusrain 0]

Another one gets their NOA2, congratz abbie ^^. Looks like things are getting a bit speedy lately. I hope we all get our NOA2s before Christmas =D.

Yeah I also know touches can be pretty meaningless, but I'd be pretty excited if mine got touched again. Only one touch 2 days after NOA1, nothing new yet, just more waiting, haha ......

[abbielovesjeremy 5]

wow, looking at your timeline, ill have to say it was rather quick! congrats. hopefully ours goes as fast. im going home this december to see my wife, it would be a great x-mas gift if we can get a NOA2 before i go back home. anyway, im ecstatic, optimistic and hopeful that we'll get a speedy answer.

btw abbie, what kind of documents did you provide to bonafide your marriage besides your Marriage Certificate?

yeah actually i was expecting an october approval at the earliest. but getting approved earlier, hey i ain't complaining!

aside from the NSO certified MC, i also provided YM chat logs, skype call history, few pictures and 5 affidavits from friends and family having personal knowledge of your relationship. try this link i just googled it Evidence of Bonafide Marriage (***removed***)

Another one gets their NOA2, congratz abbie ^^. Looks like things are getting a bit speedy lately. I hope we all get our NOA2s before Christmas =D.

Yeah I also know touches can be pretty meaningless, but I'd be pretty excited if mine got touched again. Only one touch 2 days after NOA1, nothing new yet, just more waiting, haha ......

thanks mobius. yeah they are doing double time. makes me wonder if they ever sleep

keep the faith, it's gonna be sooner than you think

Edited September 28, 2009 by abbielovesjeremy

[AUS2USA 0]

yeah actually i was expecting an october approval at the earliest. but getting approved earlier, hey i ain't complaining!

aside from the NSO certified MC, i also provided YM chat logs, skype call history, few pictures and 5 affidavits from friends and family having personal knowledge of your relationship. try this link i just googled it Evidence of Bonafide Marriage (***removed***)

See, I sent over marriage certificate, Aus property lease agreement with both our names and an australian joint bank account. we were going to send skype chats and phone cards etc. but i have that filed ready for the interview.... i'm thinking i made the wrong choice? haha

EDIT: One other thing is this whole 'touched' thing. I understand that it's when someone at the department physically picks up the papers and logs it. Thats to my understanding anyway. On average, how many 'touches' are there. And where to you see notices of it being touched? I can't seem ti find it on my case tracker on USCIS. Cheers

Edited September 28, 2009 by AUS2USA

[abbielovesjeremy 5]

EDIT: One other thing is this whole 'touched' thing. I understand that it's when someone at the department physically picks up the papers and logs it. Thats to my understanding anyway. On average, how many 'touches' are there. And where to you see notices of it being touched? I can't seem ti find it on my case tracker on USCIS. Cheers

hi AUS2USA, there's no column of the "touch" just the date last updated... it changes when somebody touches your file

[Deep2009 18]

hey guys, we just found out today that we got approved. hubby checked his PO box mail and in there was our NOA2 hard copy. woot woot!

funny thing is when i checked our case status online today it still doesn't say approved. it's not updated. and our NOA2 was dated 09/18/2009 (our last touch)

That is good news... lets have the good news keep coming to this forum...

Congratulations...

[sachinky 465]

We sent in our packets on Sept. 3 -- never got our NOA1, check was pending for a while. Now when my husband called the USCIS, they said MI filers have to file in Detroit. Even though the instruction package says Chicago. Can someone help me? We followed the instructions and mailed the I-130 to the correct Chicago Lock Box address. Because we still hadn't received our NOA1s, my husband called to ask what was going on? The woman on the other end of the line said our petition was cancelled because we filed it in Chicago and not in Detroit. She said to call some toll-free number where, when prompted for the zip code, the automatic machine message read out an address for Detroit. Our check was pending for a while, so my husband had called a week or so ago too. The guy on the line said there was some mix-up with about 2000 applications. And that we should have our NOAs by the end of the following week (which was last week). Today when we saw the check was no longer pending but money hadn't been withdrawn, my husband called the USCIS office again. And then we hear that the petition has been cancelled due to incorrect filing -- that we should've filed in Detroit, not Chicago. I have no idea what the heck is going on. I feel sick to my stomach.It's basically the same customer service number -- 1-800-375-5283. And the zip code thing is an option on the automated system. Now because I am outside the U.S., I can't access it, but my husband can. Once he punches in the zip code, it says that the local USCIS office that serves his zip code is Detroit. And gives him an address for that office. I looked it up. It basically processes N-300, N-400 etc -- intention to declare U.S. citizenship. Different forms altogether. Now I don't know if this woman is completely incompetent or not.

[Mobiusrain 0]

We sent in our packets on Sept. 3 -- never got our NOA1, check was pending for a while. Now when my husband called the USCIS, they said MI filers have to file in Detroit. Even though the instruction package says Chicago. Can someone help me? We followed the instructions and mailed the I-130 to the correct Chicago Lock Box address. Because we still hadn't received our NOA1s, my husband called to ask what was going on? The woman on the other end of the line said our petition was cancelled because we filed it in Chicago and not in Detroit. She said to call some toll-free number where, when prompted for the zip code, the automatic machine message read out an address for Detroit. Our check was pending for a while, so my husband had called a week or so ago too. The guy on the line said there was some mix-up with about 2000 applications. And that we should have our NOAs by the end of the following week (which was last week). Today when we saw the check was no longer pending but money hadn't been withdrawn, my husband called the USCIS office again. And then we hear that the petition has been cancelled due to incorrect filing -- that we should've filed in Detroit, not Chicago. I have no idea what the heck is going on. I feel sick to my stomach.It's basically the same customer service number -- 1-800-375-5283. And the zip code thing is an option on the automated system. Now because I am outside the U.S., I can't access it, but my husband can. Once he punches in the zip code, it says that the local USCIS office that serves his zip code is Detroit. And gives him an address for that office. I looked it up. It basically processes N-300, N-400 etc -- intention to declare U.S. citizenship. Different forms altogether. Now I don't know if this woman is completely incompetent or not.

Really sorry to hear about that, especially when you do everything as per I-130 form instructions. As far as I know, all I-130 Petitions for Alien Relatives go to the Chicago Lockbox address, just a different PO box depending on which state you reside in. I have never heard about MI filers needing to file at Detroit, unless it was for another type of form. There must have been a big screw up on their side. Man that would really piss me off big time, having your petition cancelled for incorrect filing which was not your fault!! So unfair. I suggest you look into it, call again and state how it specifically says in the I-130 instructions that you're supposed to mail them to the Chicago Lockbox.

[sachinky 465]

Yeah, they admitted it was an error on their part after my husband ripped them a new one. However, since it's been cancelled I don't know how long it'll take for them to start up the process again. Hopefully, we'll have our NOA1s soon enough. Maybe by next week. They said to call up today as well, and make sure they've made a move on it. Do you think we could impress upon them how since this is a clerical error on their part, they are obliged to expedite the case or at least make it a priority? I don't want to have wasted a month's worth of waiting for nothing. This is frustrating as hell.

[abbielovesjeremy 5]

i can't seem to find the expedite criteria in the new USCIS site... so i just copied/pasted this one from immigration portals forum:

=========

USCIS Considerations to expedite Cases

All expedite requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and are granted at the discretion of the Director. The criteria are as follows:

* Severe financial loss to company or individual

* Extreme emergent situation

* Humanitarian situation

* Nonprofit status of requesting organization in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States

* Department of Defense of National Interest Situation (Note: Request must come from official United States Government entity and state that delay will be detrimental to our Government)

* USCIS error

* Compelling interest of USCIS

If your case is at a local office at the time you need to make your emergency request, please go to the local office in person to make your request. Please be sure to take all supporting documentation with you.

If your case is at one of our Service Centers or the National Benefits Center, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 to receive further instructions on where and how to send your request.

=========

so i think you are qualified ... am i right guys?

[sachinky 465]

Thanks for the information. Seems like we should qualify. However, our case is still at Chicago and from what I can tell, the check has not been deposited yet. When my husband called them earlier this morning, they said that they'd start processing it in the afternoon. The guy who we spoke to said that since he wasn't in charge of processing the paperwork, there wasn't much he could do about expediting it. Though he said he'd "try."

So in this case, who do I make the request to? Is it an official request made in writing? Should we wait until we get our NOA1 and request the Service Center? Or will the people at USCIS themselves print an expedite on the forms?

Thanks for your help. =)