Question about our AOS processing and location.

[Ryan76 46]

My wife (who was my fiancee - came here on K-1) had her Biometrics 1 month ago. When I go to the USCIS web page to track her case, it still says "Acceptance" phase. I was thinking at some point in time that may change to "Initial Review" or "Decision". It also says on the USCIS tracking page that her case is being processed at the National Benefits Center, and when I go down to the drop-down box menus at the bottom to try to get a time estimate, there is no option for "National Benefits Center", just dozens and dozens of cities.

Her Biometrics went fine, and when I look at USCIS to track her EAD and Application for Travel Document it says they both have been approved. EAD was approved Nov. 29, card production ordered on Dec. 4.

So everything seems to be moving along fine there. But i was a little concerned about the I-485, why it still says "acceptance" phase, and why is it being processed at the National Benefits Center - which I apparently can't get a time estimate on.

Is all this normal? Just checking to get some opinions. They have a local office where I live in Indianapolis so I kind of figured that's where the I-485 would be processed.

[feli114 65]

From what I have read, since August, they have been processing all AOS applications for k1 through the National Benefits Center. If you are interviewed, then it will be at your local USCIS office. Good luck to you.

[Ryan76 46]

From what I have read, since August, they have been processing all AOS applications for k1 through the National Benefits Center. If you are interviewed, then it will be at your local USCIS office. Good luck to you.

My paperwork was received by USCIS, and it says "fingerprint fee was accepted on Sept. 21", so yea...that's right around August. I wonder how this will effect the time frames.

It kind of stinks because you can't check the "time estimate" portion of the status page, since there is no option for the processing location "National Benefits Center".

[didopage 337]

From what I have read, since August, they have been processing all AOS applications for k1 through the National Benefits Center. If you are interviewed, then it will be at your local USCIS office. Good luck to you.

Not completely true. All AOS applications from K-1 go through NBC, but that's not new. What is new is that since August 1st, AOS cases chosen to be waived from an interview stay at NBC and are processed there. The other ones are transferred from NBC to a local USCIS office for an interview.

It is not possible to know if a case is chosen to be waived from an interview until you get a direct approval.

OP, about the "Acceptance" stage, that's normal. It happens to everybody. Your case will either be transferred and you will receive a letter for an interview (short wait), or your case will be processed at NBC (long wait, I didn't see any approval yet since August 1st).

NBC doesn't show any timeline for I-485 marriage based cases.

Edited December 5, 2012 by didopage

[Ryan76 46]

Ok, thanks for the tips. They received our paperwork and accepted it on Sept. 21. Biometrics was Nov. 5.

I don't suppose there's anyway to get a ballpark idea of when they will send it to a local office for interview IF they decide to go that route.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Ok, thanks for the tips. They received our paperwork and accepted it on Sept. 21. Biometrics was Nov. 5.

I don't suppose there's anyway to get a ballpark idea of when they will send it to a local office for interview IF they decide to go that route.

Here is the news article about the re-shifting of AOS petitions:

http://www.visajourney.com/news/2012/09/30/workload-transfer-from-service-centers-to-field-operations/#more-509

[OZ62 17]

My wife (who was my fiancee - came here on K-1) had her Biometrics 1 month ago. When I go to the USCIS web page to track her case, it still says "Acceptance" phase. I was thinking at some point in time that may change to "Initial Review" or "Decision". It also says on the USCIS tracking page that her case is being processed at the National Benefits Center, and when I go down to the drop-down box menus at the bottom to try to get a time estimate, there is no option for "National Benefits Center", just dozens and dozens of cities.

Her Biometrics went fine, and when I look at USCIS to track her EAD and Application for Travel Document it says they both have been approved. EAD was approved Nov. 29, card production ordered on Dec. 4.

So everything seems to be moving along fine there. But i was a little concerned about the I-485, why it still says "acceptance" phase, and why is it being processed at the National Benefits Center - which I apparently can't get a time estimate on.

Is all this normal? Just checking to get some opinions. They have a local office where I live in Indianapolis so I kind of figured that's where the I-485 would be processed.

2012-08-31: Sent I-485 and I-765 applications sent from Doral, FL to lock box, Chicago, IL

2012-09-06: Case accepted and routed to USCIS National Benefits Center for processing

2012-09-13: Received both I-485 and I-765 NOA's (9/6/12) and the Biometrics appointment letter

2012-10-03: Biometrics appointment

2012-11-05: I-765 - Approved - Employment Authorization Card production ordered

2012-11-09: I-765 - Employment Authorization Card mailed

2012-11-13: I-765 - Employment Authorization Card received

2012-12-06: I-485 still says "Acceptance"

We are still waiting like so many others. There is another couple that came a month before us and they are also waiting. As soon as they get theirs, we hope that within a month, we get ours. It's all a long waiting process. I have read that folks don't see any movement and next you see is "Approved"

[s2kroma 0]

2012-08-31: Sent I-485 and I-765 applications sent from Doral, FL to lock box, Chicago, IL

2012-09-06: Case accepted and routed to USCIS National Benefits Center for processing

2012-09-13: Received both I-485 and I-765 NOA's (9/6/12) and the Biometrics appointment letter

2012-10-03: Biometrics appointment

2012-11-05: I-765 - Approved - Employment Authorization Card production ordered

2012-11-09: I-765 - Employment Authorization Card mailed

2012-11-13: I-765 - Employment Authorization Card received

2012-12-06: I-485 still says "Acceptance"

We are still waiting like so many others. There is another couple that came a month before us and they are also waiting. As soon as they get theirs, we hope that within a month, we get ours. It's all a long waiting process. I have read that folks don't see any movement and next you see is "Approved"

We already had our biometrics done last week but when checking on USCIS website on our case status it doesn't find our case status. Is there a reason why? Do I use the Application Number in the Form that was received from them? Mine starts with MSC.

[didopage 337]

We already had our biometrics done last week but when checking on USCIS website on our case status it doesn't find our case status. Is there a reason why? Do I use the Application Number in the Form that was received from them? Mine starts with MSC.

Yes, that's the "MSC..........." number. But sometimes the USCIS website is unreliable and it doesn't work.

[s2kroma 0]

Yes, that's the "MSC..........." number. But sometimes the USCIS website is unreliable and it doesn't work.

I guess it doesn't work , that's the application number that i used. Anywhere else i can check on the case status?

[didopage 337]

I guess it doesn't work , that's the application number that i used. Anywhere else i can check on the case status?

Did you type also "MSC"? No, that's the only place. Otherwise, you will receive the important updates by mail (like interview, RFE, etc)

[s2kroma 0]

Did you type also "MSC"? No, that's the only place. Otherwise, you will receive the important updates by mail (like interview, RFE, etc)

Yes I did use MSC and the numbers after, just like it is on my papers

[OZ62 17]

Yes I did use MSC and the numbers after, just like it is on my papers

Just enter the numbers.... not the letters...