National Benefits Center (MSC)

[Ms Hogan 295]

Hello! I just saw your timeline. I was wondering, my i-130 is at NBC, and it only took 40 days for you to get your NOA2 is it because you live abroad? Are you the petitioner or the beneficiary?? because I am the petitioner and I heard that if both the petitioner and the beneficiary live abroad they get processed faster especially at NBC, is this true?

I'm the beneficiary along with my 2 children. We did NOT file from abroad. My husband is in the US and filed from there.

Edited February 28, 2013 by MsHogan

[Persepolis 5]

It seems the processing statistics of USCIS has been updated to December 12.

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/

My local field office has surged from 2,000 pending petitions to nearly 3,500 in the last 3 months......great. By the time they update To February there will probably be 5,000 pending petitions.

[ngaamba 0]

My two I -130s have been pending for 100 days now. Do I have cause to worry? Last update was dec 18 th last year. My field office is Phoenix. Anybody update me on any expectations please. What to do? The wait is killing me!!!!

No NOA 2 yet!!!

[*Milly* 3]

I'm the beneficiary along with my 2 children. We did NOT file from abroad. My husband is in the US and filed from there.

[Sangita 4]

Hello VJ Members!

My experience with USCIS:

USCIS doesn't always give you the correct information. During my USCIS stage, I was told my petition was transferred to a local office but it never was. It went to Vermont Service Center then transferred to NBC. I got my NOA2 (4 months) from NBC itself. I felt that they were never able to help me. It's when you get into the NVC stage where you feel like your petition is getting somewhere and whatever questions you may have is answered more thorougly. At the same time USCIS never gave me a hard time but patience is the key. Others might of had it better but this my story lol. Best of luck to everyone that's still waiting for their NOA2.

[The Mean Lady 604]

Hello VJ Members!

My experience with USCIS:

USCIS doesn't always give you the correct information. During my USCIS stage, I was told my petition was transferred to a local office but it never was. It went to Vermont Service Center then transferred to NBC. I got my NOA2 (4 months) from NBC itself. I felt that they were never able to help me. It's when you get into the NVC stage where you feel like your petition is getting somewhere and whatever questions you may have is answered more thorougly. At the same time USCIS never gave me a hard time but patience is the key. Others might of had it better but this my story lol. Best of luck to everyone that's still waiting for their NOA2.

Who says you were never transferred to a local field office?

Did you just decide that yourself?

I'm getting tired of people saying where their petitions were NOT transferred.

The only thing you can be sure of is where you're told you petition IS transferred.

Not where it ISNT transferred.

[Sangita 4]

Who says you were never transferred to a local field office?

Did you just decide that yourself?

I'm getting tired of people saying where their petitions were NOT transferred.

The only thing you can be sure of is where you're told you petition IS transferred.

Not where it ISNT transferred.

Every petition doesn't get transferred to a local office. And no I didn't decide it for myself. After I received my NOA2, I checked to see where it was sent from. When I saw that it wasn't from a local office, I was a bit curious so I called USCIS and spoke to a Tier 2. I was told by a Tier 2 that my petition was never tranferred to a local office and was always with NBC. Also I wanted to know for myself so I can help others with questions that they might have regarding tranfers that's all. No need to get all fed up with people saying what they may think is going on with their case. Like I said, every case is different. I don't know about your petition but for others like me my petition stayed at NBC and not a local office. So I thought I'll just clarify my side of the story and share my experience. I'm waiting for my husband's interview as my case is already completed with no issues.

[The Mean Lady 604]

Every petition doesn't get transferred to a local office. And no I didn't decide it for myself. After I received my NOA2, I checked to see where it was sent from. When I saw that it wasn't from a local office, I was a bit curious so I called USCIS and spoke to a Tier 2. I was told by a Tier 2 that my petition was never tranferred to a local office and was always with NBC. Also I wanted to know for myself so I can help others with questions that they might have regarding tranfers that's all. No need to get all fed up with people saying what they may think is going on with their case. Like I said, every case is different. I don't know about your petition but for others like me my petition stayed at NBC and not a local office. So I thought I'll just clarify my side of the story and share my experience. I'm waiting for my husband's interview as my case is already completed with no issues.

Just for clarification, I think the majority, if not ALL NOA2s come from NBC.

Regardless of transfer.

Even those that had interviews at their field offices (obvious guarantee of transfer) have NOA2 from NBC.

[NikLR 13,227]

Just for clarification, I think the majority, if not ALL NOA2s come from NBC.

Regardless of transfer.

Even those that had interviews at their field offices (obvious guarantee of transfer) have NOA2 from NBC.

Yes this is true. I have yet to see an NOA2 that has come from a field office and not NBC.

[friendlyusa 37]

Huh. By the time we figure this out we will be approved already (hopefully) LOL.

to me it all is PURE LUCK at its purest form!!

[sugarbritches 1]

My case was transferred to NBC and never went to a field office and I got my NOA2 in less than 3 months. When I called USCIS as to why it was transferred to NBC they said the california service center is backlogged and it was transferred to NBC to lighten their case load and for faster processing. I am the beneficiary and the petitioner resides with me abroad. We have filed everything from abroad and just waiting for interview date now.

USCIS

08/22/2012 1-130 mailed to Chicago lockbox

08/31/2012 USCIS receives application/priority date

09/07/2012 Check cashed

09/07/2012 NOA1 email – routed to CSC

09/13/2012 Case transferred to NBC in Missouri

09/17/2012 1-797c NOA1 hardcopy received

10/03/2012 Touched

11/13/2012 1-130 approved/ NOA2 email

11/15/2012 Case forwarded to NVC

11/19/2012 NOA2 hardcopy received

NVC

11/21/2012 NVC receives case

11/23/2012 Case number assigned + DS-3032 email sent

11/27/2012 AOS fee invoiced + paid

12/01/2012 AOS shows as paid + cover sheet printed

*Waiting on federal tax returns from IRS before AOS package can be mailed*

12/04/2012 DS-3032 acceptance email

12/04/2012 IV fee invoiced + paid

12/05/2012 IV shows as paid + cover sheet printed

12/07/2012 IV package mailed to NVC using royal mail tracked

12/21/2012 IV package delivered to NVC (not ever using royal mail again!)

01/07/2013 IV package is reviewed and accepted

01/08/2013 Checklist generated requesting AOS

01/23/2013 AOS package mailed using DHL express

01/24/2013 AOS package delivered to NVC

02/01/2013 AOS package reviewed

02/01/2013 RFE– Tax return missing due to IRS sending us the wrong form and wrote incorrect income amount on question 25 due to miscalculation

02/02/2013 Responded to RFE -sent using DHL express

02/05/2013 AOS package delivered to NVC

02/14/2013 Case complete

02/22/2013 Received a case complete email

[Jeisson&Ellie 2]

I'm the beneficiary along with my 2 children. We did NOT file from abroad. My husband is in the US and filed from there.

So you're saying you got lucky and got approved that fast?!

[Ms Hogan 295]

So you're saying you got lucky and got approved that fast?!

I'm sure it was a combination of things such as being extremely well-prepared with a perfectly prepared case file, having three and a half years of history together, being from an almost-no-fraud country, and the right amount of luck to land on the right desk. There are no red flags, no questions, nothing for anyone to have to stop and look at for anything longer than a moment.

We obviously were very fortunate to land wherever we did. The timing was key it seems as we didn't get lost in the shuffle of all the cases moving around but we slipped in before all of the new waivers started having to be dealt with as well. We stayed at NBC and were never sent to a local office so it didn't get caught up anywhere.

Our NOA2 came after only 40 days. I will never know just how it happened so I can only guess.

I've still got to get through my interview next week so who knows. Maybe that's where we'll run into a snag.

There was definitely a lot of luck. But if there is anything I can do to help anyone here, I'm open to do it. I just wish everyone could have a nice smooth journey, too.

ETA: I've been accused of FAKING my information here in order to make other people feel bad because we were approved so quickly. I have been made to feel guilty for having been approved so quickly. I was prepared for a long wait just like everyone else. Instead, we've made record time. So if you're going to complain, as others have, about my very fast progress, please don't bother as I've already been bombarded with that.

Edited February 28, 2013 by MsHogan

[NikLR 13,227]

Your interview is so soon! That's exciting!

Only people missing brain cells would accuse someone of faking info to make others feel bad. Why on earth would you want others to feel bad about this process? Goodness! People are getting hit with stupid sticks left, right and centre.

[Jeisson&Ellie 2]

I'm sure it was a combination of things such as being extremely well-prepared with a perfectly prepared case file, having three and a half years of history together, being from an almost-no-fraud country, and the right amount of luck to land on the right desk. There are no red flags, no questions, nothing for anyone to have to stop and look at for anything longer than a moment.

We obviously were very fortunate to land wherever we did. The timing was key it seems as we didn't get lost in the shuffle of all the cases moving around but we slipped in before all of the new waivers started having to be dealt with as well. We stayed at NBC and were never sent to a local office so it didn't get caught up anywhere.

Our NOA2 came after only 40 days. I will never know just how it happened so I can only guess.

I've still got to get through my interview next week so who knows. Maybe that's where we'll run into a snag.

There was definitely a lot of luck. But if there is anything I can do to help anyone here, I'm open to do it. I just wish everyone could have a nice smooth journey, too.

ETA: I've been accused of FAKING my information here in order to make other people feel bad because we were approved so quickly. I have been made to feel guilty for having been approved so quickly. I was prepared for a long wait just like everyone else. Instead, we've made record time. So if you're going to complain, as others have, about my very fast progress, please don't bother as I've already been bombarded with that.

Don't worry I'm not here to bombard you. I believe what you say is true. But about being prepared, I got everything together all the documents I needed for the I-130 as well and I've been a month in to it already and still no NOA2 ugh!! I just really wish this year was over!! I want it to get approved just so I feel like we're going somewhere but this process definitely requires patience.