Filing from Michigan

[sachinky 465]

If I my husband is filing from MI -- where is it supposed to go? The Chicago Lockbox or Detroit? I have no clue. 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?

[candacet 0]

firstly, what r u filing...is it I130?

[sachinky 465]

Please help -- I am really confused. The woman said something about pinning your zipcode in an automated machine. And when my husband used his MI zipcode, it said Detroit. But the website says Chicago. USCIS said our petition had been cancelled but they haven't sent back our packet yet. I don't know what to do.

Yes, to clarify, it is the 1-130.

[imaisha 1]

Where is this automated machine? Where did you mail it to?

The instructions state pretty clearly :

Petitioners who reside in AK, AZ, CA, CO, Guam, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NE, NV, ND, OH, OR, SD, UT, WA, WI, or WY must file their stand-alone Form I-130s with the Lockbox using the following address:

USCIS

P.O. Box 804625

Chicago, IL 60680-4107

So I'm not sure who "the woman" is or what she thought you meant.

[sachinky 465]

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.

[sachinky 465]

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 Today when we saw the check was no longer pending but money hadn't been withdrawn, my husband called the USCIS office again.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.

[imaisha 1]

Could you post the toll-free number?

[carolynhotstuff 252]

I live in Michigan and my attorney mailed out my I-130 a week ago and I'm sure it was sent to Chicago. I just called 1-800-375-5283 and was told by the operator that Michigan still uses Chicago but cases can be rerouted if necessary. I just emailed my attorney because I am worried now. I hope there is some big mistake and that your check will get cashed and your case sent to the correct place.

[sachinky 465]

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.

[Malrothien 6]

The information line is known as the Misinformation line for a reason. If you filed an I130 it should have gone to Chicago, not Detroit.

[sachinky 465]

That's what I thought. Thanks for your help, guys. What do I do though? Call and insist they don't cancel my petition? Because the check is no longer showing up as pending and no $ has been withdrawn. Speak to someone in charge of their faculties? I don't want to have wasted this entire month completely because of some stupid error on their part.

[carolynhotstuff 252]

My lawyer says the Chicago lock box is the correct one. I would call and ask for a supervisor to try to find out what is really going on with your case. I hope others with more knowledge will post because I am new also and don't know what to tell you.

[sachinky 465]

Ok. Phew. Well, my husband is on the line now, and is giving them hell. Or so, in his words. Let's see what happens. Fingers crossed.

[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. 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.