How many times did your case get "touched" before approval`?

[JuneFirst 1]

Hi,

just wondering how many times your cases had gotten touched before they got approved?

And what exactly does a touch mean? Do they actually work on it or maybe just put it from pile A to pile B?

How come cases get touched and then nothing happens for weeks?

Questions, Questions, Questions...

Happy Easter

[Christi and Ian 24]

A touch just means "something" has happened with the case, and yes, it could just mean it went from pile "a" to pile "b" - there's no rhyme or reason to it.

On the USCIS website, when the "last updated" date changes, it means the case has been touched - some have not had their cases touched before approval, others have had their cases touched many times, and are still waiting for approval.

It can mean you're about to be approved, it can mean they're sending you a request for further evidence, it can mean a change of address, a change of venue - better not to count on it.

[Inky 1,110]

Not everyone that sees your case will log it in the system, its up to the agent/agents reviewing your files and case if they want to log it in the system when they do something or not, you cant always refer to touches because they may approve without a single touch shown on the website.

[JuneFirst 1]

A touch just means "something" has happened with the case, and yes, it could just mean it went from pile "a" to pile "b" - there's no rhyme or reason to it.

On the USCIS website, when the "last updated" date changes, it means the case has been touched - some have not had their cases touched before approval, others have had their cases touched many times, and are still waiting for approval.

It can mean you're about to be approved, it can mean they're sending you a request for further evidence, it can mean a change of address, a change of venue - better not to count on it.

Thanks for the answer.

I guess it makes the journey a little more interessting not just a plain wait but also a few highs "Honey, our case has been touched!"

[Christi and Ian 24]

There are times when a touch may be significant - if you're nearing the end of 3 months after filing, and your case is touched it could mean you're about to be approved within a day or two...however, that's not guaranteed...it's definitely something to keep an eye on though.

[antoneya 9]

I checked my case everyday and I did not have any touch...

[toma1 10]

just wondering how many times your cases had gotten touched before they got approved?

And what exactly does a touch mean?

Do they actually work on it or maybe just put it from pile A to pile B?

How come cases get touched and then nothing happens for weeks?

ZERO.

NOTHING, IGNORE IT.

BOTH OR NEITHER.

NO ONE KNOWS NOR IS THERE ANY WAY TO KNOW.

[toma1 10]

There are times when a touch may be significant

The problem is that there is absolutely no way to tell a significant touch from an insignificant touch. Moreover, there is no way to tell whether a "significant" touch is going to be in your favor or work against you. Therefore it is best to ignore all of them.

It's like if I told you I rolled two dice in a box. If the number was 2, your application was denied; if the number was 12, your application was approved. If the number was anything else, nothing will happen. A touch is like telling you that I rolled the dice today, but not what the number was.

Edited April 3, 2010 by toma1

[Christi and Ian 24]

The problem is that there is absolutely no way to tell a significant touch from an insignificant touch. Moreover, there is no way to tell whether a "significant" touch is going to be in your favor or work against you. Therefore it is best to ignore all of them.

It's like if I told you I rolled two dice in a box. If the number is 2, your visa was denied; if the number is 12, your visa was approved. If the number is anything else, nothing will happen. A touch is like telling you that I rolled the dice today, but not what the number was.

And I stated above that the touches were irrelevant, but at a certain time during the process it COULD be significant, ie: when the case is nearing the priority date. I did add the caveat that nothing is certain.

I'm not disagreeing with you - but honestly, how many of us ignored the USCIS website when it showed our case was recently updated?

Edited April 3, 2010 by Christi and Ian

[toma1 10]

And I stated above that the touches were irrelevant, but at a certain time during the process it COULD be significant, ie: when the case is nearing the priority date. I did add the caveat that nothing is certain.

But you can't even know that your case will be one of the ones that are completed at the priority date. It could be shorter or longer. Looking at touches near a priority date could give a false sense of security. Maybe they touched it several times because something was wrong with it and you are about to get an RFE; maybe they found that your fiancee had committed visa fraud in the past without your knowledge; maybe you are about to get approved; maybe your paperwork is about to be lost in the bottom of someone's file drawer. Even touches that happen near a priority date cannot be interpreted as positive or negative and they might even be neutral.

I'm not disagreeing with you - but honestly, how many of us ignored the USCIS website when it showed our case was recently updated?

Nothing you can do based on a touch anyway... it's a black box. They shouldn't even report these.

Edited April 3, 2010 by toma1

[Christi and Ian 24]

But you can't even know that your case will be one of the ones that are completed at the priority date. It could be shorter or longer. Looking at touches near a priority date could give a false sense of security. Maybe they touched it several times because something was wrong with it and you are about to get an RFE; maybe they found that your fiancee had committed visa fraud in the past without your knowledge; maybe you are about to get approved; maybe your paperwork is about to be lost in the bottom of someone's file drawer. Even touches that happen near a priority date cannot be interpreted as positive or negative and they might even be neutral.

Nothing you can do based on a touch anyway... it's a black box. They shouldn't even report these.

Actually, I'm glad they do report them. After waiting over 5 months after filing K-3 our case was finally touched on March 4th, and we were approved on March 5th.

The fact that our case had been touched only AFTER I had a congressional inquiry DID provide a sense of relief. AGAIN...as I have stated many times above, a touch could mean but, HOWEVER it CAN provide a sense that SOMETHING is being done.

If this WASN'T the case than so MANY of VJ's members wouldn't bother mentioning their touches in their time lines.

Let me end this by AGAIN saying that a touch could be NOTHING, so as not to confuse anyone...

[canadian_wife 1,822]

We had what seemed like 10 touches before approval - but I'm sure most of those were for the RFE we got! No worries, some get touches, others don't get any before approval. It is really irrelevant so don't put any weight behind touches.

Good luck.

[tena13 0]

We had what seemed like 10 touches before approval - but I'm sure most of those were for the RFE we got! No worries, some get touches, others don't get any before approval. It is really irrelevant so don't put any weight behind touches.

Good luck.

How do u check to see if ur case was touch I keep looking but am not sure what am doing. What's the right web site n where u go from their n what should it say?