USCIS case status update

[bubbleout 0]

As I have mentioned in my last topic that I have filed a petition for my fiancee. I have been monitoring the USCIS website case status daily. I have also registered my self with case status update portfolio. Most of the time in last few weeks that case status portfolio shows that there has been an update to my pending case. But when I check the case status it still shows its in the intial review. What dose that update means in the portfolio, could anyone here knows about it.

[Gingerpants 8]

The updates are what VJ refers to as 'touches.' All petitions have their own bar-code and each time your petition is moved that bar-code gets scanned which registers as an update. Some people will get many of these during their Initial Review, where as others won't get any. Your petition will remain in Initial Review until it has been approved and you receive your 2nd Notice of Action.

[magdasal 19]

The updates are what VJ refers to as 'touches.' All petitions have their own bar-code and each time your petition is moved that bar-code gets scanned which registers as an update. Some people will get many of these during their Initial Review, where as others won't get any. Your petition will remain in Initial Review until it has been approved and you receive your 2nd Notice of Action.

Exactly. Touches don't mean anything at all, except that somebody at USCIS looked at your package. In fact, it is certainly looked at far more often than that. It just gives you some very weak feedback that something is happening...though you have no idea what that something is. It's actually good that such a system is in place. After many months of no activity, a touch can give you some hope that you haven't been completely forgotten. Of course, it works the other way too..some people have only gotten one or two touches after their initial filing, then suddenly gotten approved. Kind of jarring, but a pleasant surprise. Anyway, don't get too concerned about it...if you get touches or not, it doesn't seem to mean much as far as your approval date goes.