February 2013 I-130 Filers

[PanchoVilla 2]

okay I just checked my online status (which has never been available) and it said our case was approved. so we're happy about that! Have you called NVC? when would you suggest we start calling?

I would say yeah definitely call just to see where you are at. Although, they might not be able to give you info but just keep calling (my opinion)especially if you've filed from abroad. Did you file from the US or abroad?

I filed here in California.

I got an MSC case number .

[wormwood1 0]

Wondering how many people filing in late feb. have gotten NOA2

USCIS Stage

02/19/13 - Sent I-130 to Chicago Lockbox

02/20/13 - I-130 delivered/ Received

03/01/13 - NOA1, Received

03/12/13 - NOA1 Hard copy received

04/10/13 - NOA2, Waiting...Hope this happens soon!

[ITGeniusGuru 3]

Wondering how many people filing in late feb. have gotten NOA2

I filed (I-130) at end of Feb (got NOA-1 in less than a week later) and do not expect NOA-2 until August or September.

[wormwood1 0]

I filed (I-130) at end of Feb (got NOA-1 in less than a week later) and do not expect NOA-2 until August or September.

A couple of people on here already show they have NOA2 and filed at the end of Feb. as well....Hopefully we get it quicker then that! Sept....(omg misery)

[ITGeniusGuru 3]

A couple of people on here already show they have NOA2 and filed at the end of Feb. as well.

Yeah I've seen that, they filed from overseas (DCF?). Somehow, they get preferential treatment ... I don't know how that works. Had I known, maybe I would have filed my I-130 at US Consulate in Hong Kong if I could.

[wormwood1 0]

Yeah I've seen that, they filed from overseas (DCF?). Somehow, they get preferential treatment ... I don't know how that works. Had I known, maybe I would have filed my I-130 at US Consulate in Hong Kong if I could.

I sent mine to Chicago lock box....AIT in Taiwan does not accept I-130's to my knowledge ( I thought everyone files through a lock box)....Why are you thinking they got preferential treatment?

[ITGeniusGuru 3]

Why are you thinking they got preferential treatment?

I was being sarcastic. Overseas filers typically get NOA-2 in less than 2 months. Again, I do not know why or how that works. As far as I know, they file the application to a US Consulate and not mail it to a lockbox in the US. I filed my I-130 by mailing it to the Chicago lockbox.

[oohpartiv 484]

Yeah I've seen that, they filed from overseas (DCF?). Somehow, they get preferential treatment ... I don't know how that works. Had I known, maybe I would have filed my I-130 at US Consulate in Hong Kong if I could.

It's not DCF. DCF is when the USC lives abroad with the beneficiary, and meets the long lists of requirements necessary to be able to file directly with the embassy, usually including legal residency of that country for a minimum of six months. A very small amount of countries are able to do this anymore - Peru, Germany, Italy, to name a few. DCF has a different procedure than the normal I-130 filing, and is much much quicker. From the day they file the I-130 to the day they're issued the visa is usually a matter of weeks.

Filing from abroad is something different - they file all the same paperwork through a lockbox as everyone else, but for some reason when a foreign address is put on the I-130, the approval seems to come faster (somewhere around the two month mark, usually). They do all the same stuff and are required the same documents throughout the whole process. You would've had to move to Hong Kong if you would have wanted that, and even then this "auto-expedite" isn't promised. I filed from abroad (and am still abroad, for that matter) and got no special treatment. I had to wait 197 days for my NOA2.

Edited April 18, 2013 by oohpartiv

[ITGeniusGuru 3]

I had to wait 197 days for my NOA2.

Thanks for clarification. Yeah 197 days (6 - 7 months) sounds about average waiting time for filers like us from within the US to a lockbox.

Edited April 18, 2013 by ITGeniusGuru

[Waitingggg 20]

Is your local office Chicago?

Thanks for clarification. Yeah 197 days (6 - 7 months) sounds about average waiting time for filers like us from within the US to a lockbox.

[ITGeniusGuru 3]

Is your local office Chicago?

I do not expect my application to be sent to a local office, since my wife is not applying for Adjustment of Status (she is not in the US yet).

Edited April 18, 2013 by ITGeniusGuru

[HuskerPower66 3]

I filed (I-130) at end of Feb (got NOA-1 in less than a week later) and do not expect NOA-2 until August or September.

Yep, I'm sadly in your court on that one. Just a wait and see proposition.

[oohpartiv 484]

I do not expect my application to be sent to a local office, since my wife is not applying for Adjustment of Status (she is not in the US yet).

It doesn't matter if she's applying for AoS or not. Since August 2012, all petitions have gone to NBC (instead of other service centers, like CSC or VSC), and from there the vast majority have been sent out to local field offices according to the zip code from the address listed on the I-130 (unless it's a foreign address, in which case it will stay at NBC for processing). If you're still waiting for NOA2 after two months, it is very likely that your case is at your local office.

Edited April 18, 2013 by oohpartiv

[ITGeniusGuru 3]

Since August 2012, all petitions have gone to NBC (instead of other service centers, like CSC or VSC), and from there the vast majority have been sent out to local field offices according to the zip code from the address listed on the I-130.

Huh! thanks for that, I did not know. That would make Chicago my field office then since it has to be the closest to Moline, IL. The Online case status shows it is still in "Initial Review". Will it show it has been transferred to a local office when they do actually transfer it? And do you know, how long it would take for a NOA-2 afterwards?

[oohpartiv 484]

Huh! thanks for that, I did not know. That would make Chicago my field office then since it has to be the closest to Moline, IL. The Online case status shows it is still in "Initial Review". Will it show it has been transferred to a local office when they do actually transfer it? And do you know, how long it would take for a NOA-2 afterwards?

It won't update online when your case is transferred, but if you call USCIS and talk to a Tier 2, they can tell you the date it was sent over. As far as I know, Chicago is pretty busy, but lately they've been picking up the pace, or so it seems. Once you confirm that the case has been transferred, you can make an info pass appointment to go in in person and get information on your case, and how long it will take to be adjudicated. Plus, there's a Chicago Transfers thread floating around here somewhere. Lots of luck!