I-130 sent to USCIS last oct., check cashed March this year, still no NOA1 - is it normal?

[Kalina D 0]

as the title says my husband filed and sent I-130 last October. Few days ago he checked at the bank if the check has been cashed and it has - in March 2009... he hasn't got NOA1 yet... should i be worried? is there a limit of the time u have to send I129A after u get NOA1? I'm a newbie here and still trying to figure out what the whole process is and how long it takes ...

[Darnell 8,479]

In a few days (OCT 1 ) it's gonna be past the 6 month window (from the check cashing ) .

Is it possible that he's moved since filing in October?

He should be able to call in to USCIS and request a 'service request' to FIND the I-130.

Did he say which Service center he's homed to ? (CSC or VSC)

VSC had some problems, many cases were transferred to CSC because of the load at VSC (and apparently the folk at CSC are really good with processing, ie - speed of turnaround for NOA-2 ).

If he gets hassled at USCIS, he can talk to the Immigration Liason Staffer ( a human ) at 1) his US Representative office and 2) his two US Senator's offices - I do recommend to talking to all 3 humans here - as out of the three offices, ONE of them SHOULD have an EXCEPTIONAL Immigration Liason Staffer (Your husband will have to figure this out, himself , during the phone calls to them ). They'll probably ask him to email personal data on the two of you (they'll need it when they're talking to USCIS ) .

GOOD LUCK ! and Welcome Aboard !

[Kalina D 0]

so what happens when we pass that 6 month window? do we have to start from the beginning?

he hasn't moved...

Edited September 26, 2009 by Kalina D

[Darnell 8,479]

Ah, sorry, I wasn't so clear.

IIRC, USCIS operators will tell ya 'don't bother us unless it's been 6 months'.

AS IS, your petition is fine, it's not invalidated, but USCIS hasn't done anything past 'cashing the check'. HE SHOULD have gotten the first notice, NOA-1 , as a 797-C receipt notice.

I don't want to raise your worry levels, at all, but right now, I'd be concerned with the casefile being LOST somewhere. A Service Request does a coupla things - but the most important thing it does is to FIND the casefile, see WHO has it (they won't tell you WHO has it, but a search will be started).

Did he make the original submission into USCIS or was it done via an attorney? If through an attorney, then he/she is falling down on the job.

Edited September 26, 2009 by Darnell

[Kalina D 0]

he filed everything himself ( now i feel like hiring an attorney was a much better idea but anyway) and i will follow your advise and tell him to call all the places you mentioned first thing on Monday thank you very much for your reply i hope everything turns out ok! this whole visa situation is such a pain in the b*tt

[Beth/ Paris Heart 2]

as the title says my husband filed and sent I-130 last October. Few days ago he checked at the bank if the check has been cashed and it has - in March 2009... he hasn't got NOA1 yet... should i be worried? is there a limit of the time u have to send I129A after u get NOA1? I'm a newbie here and still trying to figure out what the whole process is and how long it takes ...

On the back of the check is a receipt number starting with EAC or WAC that is your USCIS case number, use it and call USCIS Monday!!

[christeen 966]

Ah, sorry, I wasn't so clear.

IIRC, USCIS operators will tell ya 'don't bother us unless it's been 6 months'.

AS IS, your petition is fine, it's not invalidated, but USCIS hasn't done anything past 'cashing the check'. HE SHOULD have gotten the first notice, NOA-1 , as a 797-C receipt notice.

I don't want to raise your worry levels, at all, but right now, I'd be concerned with the casefile being LOST somewhere. A Service Request does a coupla things - but the most important thing it does is to FIND the casefile, see WHO has it (they won't tell you WHO has it, but a search will be started).

Did he make the original submission into USCIS or was it done via an attorney? If through an attorney, then he/she is falling down on the job.

Actually, you can do a service request at 5 months not 6... So I would be on the tele on Monday getting them to track it down... as paris said, you can look on the back of the check for the USCIS number (WAC or EAC).

As far as the lawyer, as many here will tell you, if you follow the guides here and the past experience of others, your immigration process can take much less time and definetly cost much less by doing it youself. But it is important to familiarize youself with the guides here. A lawyer does not guarantee faster or more accurate filing! After all, nobody cares more about your case than you!!!

[Chris Me lil D 17]

as the title says my husband filed and sent I-130 last October. Few days ago he checked at the bank if the check has been cashed and it has - in March 2009... he hasn't got NOA1 yet... should i be worried? is there a limit of the time u have to send I129A after u get NOA1? I'm a newbie here and still trying to figure out what the whole process is and how long it takes ...

On the back of the check is a receipt number starting with EAC or WAC that is your USCIS case number, use it and call USCIS Monday!!

Just to add... when you use the number on the back of the check, add 1 to the last digit and this will be ur USCIS number. For example, 987654321 + 1 = 987654322

[Beth/ Paris Heart 2]

as the title says my husband filed and sent I-130 last October. Few days ago he checked at the bank if the check has been cashed and it has - in March 2009... he hasn't got NOA1 yet... should i be worried? is there a limit of the time u have to send I129A after u get NOA1? I'm a newbie here and still trying to figure out what the whole process is and how long it takes ...

On the back of the check is a receipt number starting with EAC or WAC that is your USCIS case number, use it and call USCIS Monday!!

Just to add... when you use the number on the back of the check, add 1 to the last digit and this will be ur USCIS number. For example, 987654321 + 1 = 987654322

Thank you Chris & Ani, I completely forgot that part, its been a eternity since we did the add one digit thing, UGH!!!!