Contact USCIS ?

[Paul&Vha 2]

Hey everyone, I filed the i-130 for my wife back on November 17th, 2011, and have gotten my NOA1 already. I have not heard anything from them, and I was not able to get a hold of a live representative when I called before. I am aware that our case is still within the projected 5 month timeframe, but I was wondering if there is any way to contact them and get more info than the case tracking page online that just says "initial review". Does that mean that they haven't looked at our petition yet, and that it's still sitting somewhere? It seems impossible that it could take all that long to process once it was actually looked at. Waiting without any word is excruciating , and we just want some kind of word on what's going on, but that seems impossible from what we have seen/heard from the USIS. Are we just in the dark until they decide to approve it? And why does it take so long? Just because there are so many that are looked at before ours? Let me know of anything that might make the "in the darkness" feeling a little brighter, thanks in advance everyone,

Paul.

[Oksana & Max 94]

Hey everyone, I filed the i-130 for my wife back on November 17th, 2011, and have gotten my NOA1 already. I have not heard anything from them, and I was not able to get a hold of a live representative when I called before. I am aware that our case is still within the projected 5 month timeframe, but I was wondering if there is any way to contact them and get more info than the case tracking page online that just says "initial review". Does that mean that they haven't looked at our petition yet, and that it's still sitting somewhere? It seems impossible that it could take all that long to process once it was actually looked at. Waiting without any word is excruciating , and we just want some kind of word on what's going on, but that seems impossible from what we have seen/heard from the USIS. Are we just in the dark until they decide to approve it? And why does it take so long? Just because there are so many that are looked at before ours? Let me know of anything that might make the "in the darkness" feeling a little brighter, thanks in advance everyone,

Paul.

It will say initial review, until someone will look at this. You will not get any additional information from them even if you will get a hold of the life person. They will see the same thing as you see. What is happening all of the petitions goes to big pile, and then one by one they are getting looked at. Once they look at this it doesn't take that long anymore. Since you are within your timeframe just hang in there we all being in the waiting game. So don't worry and you will get there.

Edited March 6, 2012 by Oksana & Max

[kelad 8]

Hey everyone, I filed the i-130 for my wife back on November 17th, 2011, and have gotten my NOA1 already. I have not heard anything from them, and I was not able to get a hold of a live representative when I called before. I am aware that our case is still within the projected 5 month timeframe, but I was wondering if there is any way to contact them and get more info than the case tracking page online that just says "initial review". Does that mean that they haven't looked at our petition yet, and that it's still sitting somewhere? It seems impossible that it could take all that long to process once it was actually looked at. Waiting without any word is excruciating , and we just want some kind of word on what's going on, but that seems impossible from what we have seen/heard from the USIS. Are we just in the dark until they decide to approve it? And why does it take so long? Just because there are so many that are looked at before ours? Let me know of anything that might make the "in the darkness" feeling a little brighter, thanks in advance everyone,

Paul.

Hi Paul,

You can join the november group that we have. We are waiting "patiently" in there. Well by April we will reach our 5 month mark, so hopefully things will start moving a lil faster by then and the NVC is really not that slow, so after this approval it shouldn't be that long a wait.

[marissa musthaler 3]

Hi Paul,

You can join the november group that we have. We are waiting "patiently" in there. Well by April we will reach our 5 month mark, so hopefully things will start moving a lil faster by then and the NVC is really not that slow, so after this approval it shouldn't be that long a wait.

Just be patient we are all in the same boat waiting . . since august 15, 2011 when we received our NOA 1, from then on we haven't heard anything . . but we are still waiting . . marisse

[pushbrk 12,898]

Hey everyone, I filed the i-130 for my wife back on November 17th, 2011, and have gotten my NOA1 already. I have not heard anything from them, and I was not able to get a hold of a live representative when I called before. I am aware that our case is still within the projected 5 month timeframe, but I was wondering if there is any way to contact them and get more info than the case tracking page online that just says "initial review". Does that mean that they haven't looked at our petition yet, and that it's still sitting somewhere? It seems impossible that it could take all that long to process once it was actually looked at. Waiting without any word is excruciating , and we just want some kind of word on what's going on, but that seems impossible from what we have seen/heard from the USIS. Are we just in the dark until they decide to approve it? And why does it take so long? Just because there are so many that are looked at before ours? Let me know of anything that might make the "in the darkness" feeling a little brighter, thanks in advance everyone,

Paul.

It a black hole. Any information available between receipt notice and approval notice is either meaningless or a request for evidence. You wait through the black hole as best you can.

[Laure&Colin 558]

I don't know if it helps but it will answer your "why does it take so long" question:

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=4&office=2&charttype=1

In December there were 225,000 pending I-130 petitions nationwide, and about 115,000 pending at the California Service Center alone.

[pushbrk 12,898]

I don't know if it helps but it will answer your "why does it take so long" question:

http://dashboard.usc...e=2&charttype=1

In December there were 225,000 pending I-130 petitions nationwide, and about 115,000 pending at the California Service Center alone.

That and it's important to understand that there has been absolutely NO PROGRESS on a petition except the passing of time. They aren't doing ANYTHING with it. It's just sitting waiting it's turn. When it's turn comes, it will be dealt with in from 20 minutes to a few days.

[Adriene H 89]

Hey everyone, I filed the i-130 for my wife back on November 17th, 2011, and have gotten my NOA1 already. I have not heard anything from them, and I was not able to get a hold of a live representative when I called before. I am aware that our case is still within the projected 5 month timeframe, but I was wondering if there is any way to contact them and get more info than the case tracking page online that just says "initial review". Does that mean that they haven't looked at our petition yet, and that it's still sitting somewhere? It seems impossible that it could take all that long to process once it was actually looked at. Waiting without any word is excruciating , and we just want some kind of word on what's going on, but that seems impossible from what we have seen/heard from the USIS. Are we just in the dark until they decide to approve it? And why does it take so long? Just because there are so many that are looked at before ours? Let me know of anything that might make the "in the darkness" feeling a little brighter, thanks in advance everyone,

Paul.

'Initial Review' means a bunch of things are happening right now

to your petition, like running the petitioner/beneficiary names

through background checks in various databases, etc.

But I don't think there's any way of specifically finding out

what is happening with your case on a day to day basis ... you

just need to be patient and know it can take 6.5 to 7 months

until it's approved or denied.

[pushbrk 12,898]

'Initial Review' means a bunch of things are happening right now

to your petition, like running the petitioner/beneficiary names

through background checks in various databases, etc.

But I don't think there's any way of specifically finding out

what is happening with your case on a day to day basis ... you

just need to be patient and know it can take 6.5 to 7 months

until it's approved or denied.

No, "Initial Review" says NOTHING about what is happening now. For a petition filed in November, NOTHING is happening now. Eventually, the things you list WILL happen but it will be in the last hour or last few days before the approval notice, RFE or denial is issued.

[Adriene H 89]

No, "Initial Review" says NOTHING about what is happening now. For a petition filed in November, NOTHING is happening now. Eventually, the things you list WILL happen but it will be in the last hour or last few days before the approval notice, RFE or denial is issued.

I see the following when I enter my own receipt number

on the USCIS Case Status page ...

'Initial Review'

"During this step, USCIS initiates the background checks of the applicant/petitioner and identifies issues that may need to be addressed either during an interview or by asking the applicant/petitioner to submit additional information or documentation. USCIS reviews the applicant's/petitioner's criminal history, determines if there are national security concerns that need to be addressed, and reviews the application/petition for fraud indicators"

You must have some inside info on the inner workings of USCIS then?

[ullnvrkno 95]

I don't know if it helps but it will answer your "why does it take so long" question:

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=4&office=2&charttype=1

In December there were 225,000 pending I-130 petitions nationwide, and about 115,000 pending at the California Service Center alone.

Dumb question but what does "awaiting customer action" mean? That RFE's were requested? And "all other pending"? All other pending forms of visa apps or all i130 visa apps? If I'm reading it right I'm in the 10000 Dec 2011 i130s that hasn't been completed

[Matt & Rocio 28]

I see the following when I enter my own receipt number

on the USCIS Case Status page ...

'Initial Review'

"During this step, USCIS initiates the background checks of the applicant/petitioner and identifies issues that may need to be addressed either during an interview or by asking the applicant/petitioner to submit additional information or documentation. USCIS reviews the applicant's/petitioner's criminal history, determines if there are national security concerns that need to be addressed, and reviews the application/petition for fraud indicators"

You must have some inside info on the inner workings of USCIS then?

On this site there is an interview with a former USCIS worker, I believe he worked in the Nebraska Service Center. In this interview he talked about how the USCIS process worked.

As I understand it your petition is first processed by the lockbox who is in charge of processing the payment and doing a basic check of the petition. The petition is then sent to one of the service centers where it sits in a pile with other petitions until the day arrives that they get to that pile of petitions. The USCIS officer does the background checks and confirms that the required documents are present. If everything checks out the petition is approved if not an RFE is generated.

To the OP you there is a way to talk to a live person at USCIS, but you will be wasting your time. They will not be able to give you any specific details about the status of your petition other than to tell you what date they are currently working (note that this is only updated once or twice a month and isn't very accurate). I suggest you read up on the NVC process to make sure you have everything ready for that phase, but for now you should wait at least 1-2 months before you should expect to hear something on your case. I personally had to wait 7 months (received my NOA2 notice last Friday), but it appears they are picking up the pace so you could hear something in April.

[Matt & Rocio 28]

Dumb question but what does "awaiting customer action" mean? That RFE's were requested? And "all other pending"? All other pending forms of visa apps or all i130 visa apps? If I'm reading it right I'm in the 10000 Dec 2011 i130s that hasn't been completed

Awaiting customer action would mean that an RFE was sent and they are waiting for the customer to reply.

Remember that I-130 petitions can also be for brothers, sisters, parents, children over 21, etc. These have lower priority to a spouse or child under 21, so you will likely not have to wait for all the I-130 petitions ahead of you to be worked before they get to yours.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

[ullnvrkno 95]

Awaiting customer action would mean that an RFE was sent and they are waiting for the customer to reply.

Remember that I-130 petitions can also be for brothers, sisters, parents, children over 21, etc. These have lower priority to a spouse or child under 21, so you will likely not have to wait for all the I-130 petitions ahead of you to be worked before they get to yours.

Is this *just* for the IR-1/CR-1 I-130's that have NOA1s in 12/2011?

Thanks for your patience while I ask question after question

Edited March 6, 2012 by ullnvrkno