So many touches...

[Laura & Kyle 16]

I've received a lot of touches recently, but still no sign of a biometrics appointment letter... I'm not working myself up yet about this, but am really hoping we get one by the end of the week. I wonder what all these touches mean... Has anyone else had their I-130 touched much more often than their I-485? (that almost sounds dirty.. )

[shellyalex 0]

Don't pay too much attention to touches as it may or may not mean anything. Take a look at my timeline, I only had 2/3 touches during our journey.

[HeatDeath 430]

When you send a packet to USCIS, the form and accompanying documentation are put in a file folder together. That file folder has a barcode on it. Every USCIS adjudicator has a barcode scanner on their computer. Whenever they open your folder to look at something, cross check something, or for any reason at all, they swipe that barcode to check your file out of storage, and then they swipe it again when they're done to check it back in to storage. That pair of barcode swipes shows up on the website as a "touch".

Touches, by themselves, mean very little. they just mean that a USCIS officer opened your file to see something. They mean that your file is being looked at, and the process is slowly moving forward, but very little else. That's why they don't bother doing email alerts for them.

To make matters worse, some adjudicators, I suspect the older ones, are a little slack regarding their barcode readers and don't do the swipes as often. And some adjudicators may do your entire approval in one sitting, so you wouldn't see any touches there either. So you may see very few, if any touches. On my AOS case, I saw one touch the day after my biometrics appointment, and nothing else until the day it was approved, a month and a half later.

[Laura & Kyle 16]

thanks for the feedback. I love knowing exactly how something works (even if it is the gov't).

Another question... While we filed our papers in Chicago (the National Benefits Center), when does our paper work leave their office and go to our field office (mine being Norfolk, VA)? Do all parts of the application actually go to Norfolk, or do some get approved in Chicago?

[HeatDeath 430]

thanks for the feedback. I love knowing exactly how something works (even if it is the gov't).

Another question... While we filed our papers in Chicago (the National Benefits Center), when does our paper work leave their office and go to our field office (mine being Norfolk, VA)? Do all parts of the application actually go to Norfolk, or do some get approved in Chicago?

As I understand it, Chicago receive everything, and then forward it all to the National Benefits Center in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Lee's Summit will usually do the processing for the EAD and Advance Parole Documents. The AOS is usually transferred to either the local USCIS office or the California Service Center. I think the decision is usually made based on a combination of how busy your local office is vs. how busy the CSC is, and whether there are any obvious complications or red flags on your file. For me, the transfer to CSC occurred about 2 weeks after they received it. Your timings may vary.

[ruby_7 45]

When you send a packet to USCIS, the form and accompanying documentation are put in a file folder together. That file folder has a barcode on it. Every USCIS adjudicator has a barcode scanner on their computer. Whenever they open your folder to look at something, cross check something, or for any reason at all, they swipe that barcode to check your file out of storage, and then they swipe it again when they're done to check it back in to storage. That pair of barcode swipes shows up on the website as a "touch".

Touches, by themselves, mean very little. they just mean that a USCIS officer opened your file to see something. They mean that your file is being looked at, and the process is slowly moving forward, but very little else. That's why they don't bother doing email alerts for them.

To make matters worse, some adjudicators, I suspect the older ones, are a little slack regarding their barcode readers and don't do the swipes as often. And some adjudicators may do your entire approval in one sitting, so you wouldn't see any touches there either. So you may see very few, if any touches. On my AOS case, I saw one touch the day after my biometrics appointment, and nothing else until the day it was approved, a month and a half later.

Interesting answer...How should I find out if my file or case is touched? I really don't know about this since I only entered my receipt number when I follow up my case...

[HeatDeath 430]

Once you've entered your receipt numbers on the website, it'll give you a little chart, with one row for each case you've entered. They call this your case portfolio. One of the columns in this chart is "Date Last updated" or something like that. When you log in and notice that that date has changed; that's a touch. They don't email you for touches, so the only way to tell that a touch has occurred is to log in and notice that the date has changed from what it was before.

[ruby_7 45]

Once you've entered your receipt numbers on the website, it'll give you a little chart, with one row for each case you've entered. They call this your case portfolio. One of the columns in this chart is "Date Last updated" or something like that. When you log in and notice that that date has changed; that's a touch. They don't email you for touches, so the only way to tell that a touch has occurred is to log in and notice that the date has changed from what it was before.

Well Heat thank you very much for that info, I actually thought that's what you guys are saying here online...I guess USCIS processor of my case doesn't like my case at all or me because the last update displayed when I log on is still the same : Dec. 9, 2009 for my I-90 replacement card ....Geez nobody wants to work on it, huh ! lol....Although I've seen this posting below on my " ADD A CASE PORTFOLIO" saying this:

* Note on "Last Updated" date:

Your case may have a new "Last Updated" date and you may receive an Email and/or text message notification of your case being updated, without the status of the case changing. This is due to internal USCIS processing being performed on your Case. This will be reflected in the "Last Updated" date, but may not result in a different status message.

[ruby_7 45]

Once you've entered your receipt numbers on the website, it'll give you a little chart, with one row for each case you've entered. They call this your case portfolio. One of the columns in this chart is "Date Last updated" or something like that. When you log in and notice that that date has changed; that's a touch. They don't email you for touches, so the only way to tell that a touch has occurred is to log in and notice that the date has changed from what it was before.

And also Heat, I'm badly waiting for my GC card replacement this is why I'm very much worried since its over a month already when it ordered production on Dec. 9, 2009 but now I'm expecting delays on it as one poster stated online that it may take up to 6 months to get the replacement due to the large volume on the cases...Although I noticed here, that plenty of us have been approved but the cards take longer than what they expected. Takes time to produce the card but plenty have been waiting.....Supply versus Demand....

[juliava 80]

Laura&Kyle, can I borrow some "touches" from you guys so my case will start moving again?

These touches mean that your application is not lost and they ar working on it. I look for those damn "touches" every day and still nothing. Be happy that you get them!Good luck, I am sure something will come in the mail soon!