My Visa Journey

[Forest Rider 1]

Greetings Interneters!

I was scouring these forums looking for information about the I-130 package, whether or not I should file for the K-3 after getting the NOA1, and all sorts of other related topics. I have to say that most everything I read seemed very useful, and it helped guide my wife and I make informed decisions at this point. I felt that I would start a topic about our visa journey, to add to the wealth of information already available.

With that said, I do have a question for you experts out there. Now that we have received NOA1, we have a receipt number and can check the status on the USCIS website. When I tried to see the average processing times, I selected the I-130 but then the second selection box did not have any option for my petition (USC for spouse older than 21). Does anyone know what I am doing wrong here?

[speedwell 224]

Greetings Interneters!

I was scouring these forums looking for information about the I-130 package, whether or not I should file for the K-3 after getting the NOA1, and all sorts of other related topics. I have to say that most everything I read seemed very useful, and it helped guide my wife and I make informed decisions at this point. I felt that I would start a topic about our visa journey, to add to the wealth of information already available.

With that said, I do have a question for you experts out there. Now that we have received NOA1, we have a receipt number and can check the status on the USCIS website. When I tried to see the average processing times, I selected the I-130 but then the second selection box did not have any option for my petition (USC for spouse older than 21). Does anyone know what I am doing wrong here?

There's no such option. You are petitioning for an immediate relative, that is, a parent, or a spouse, or a child under 21, not "a parent/spouse/child under 21".

Can you imagine a separate category for parents under 21? OK not trying to be mean, it just struck me that way...

Edited April 20, 2013 by speedwell

[stevie b 141]

Greetings Interneters!

I was scouring these forums looking for information about the I-130 package, whether or not I should file for the K-3 after getting the NOA1, and all sorts of other related topics. I have to say that most everything I read seemed very useful, and it helped guide my wife and I make informed decisions at this point. I felt that I would start a topic about our visa journey, to add to the wealth of information already available.

With that said, I do have a question for you experts out there. Now that we have received NOA1, we have a receipt number and can check the status on the USCIS website. When I tried to see the average processing times, I selected the I-130 but then the second selection box did not have any option for my petition (USC for spouse older than 21). Does anyone know what I am doing wrong here?

after about 45 days you can call uscis and inquire as to where your file is. most 130's are sent to a local office for approval

here is the link for the local offices.. it wont tell you dates, but will indicate volumes.. more approvals than receipts is 3-4 month wait, more receipts than approvals... looking more like 4-5 months

good luck!

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=4&office=81&charttype=1

Edited April 20, 2013 by stevie b

[Darnell 8,479]

congratulations on getting an receipt notice, NOA-1, formletter I-797C.

Please fill out yer timeline, over at http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=155730 nowish,

and you can see the approximate stuff for when you might get the approval.

[Forest Rider 1]

I don't know why I wasn't able to find the correct selection, but I found it. 18.5 months for the I-130 and only 5 months for the I-129F seems like a substantial difference. Is there any reason to believe this data is invalid? Should I rush out and submit a I-129F?

Edited May 22, 2013 by Forest Rider

[Ryan H 3,821]

Moving from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to USCIS Service Centers forum; topic is about USCIS operations.

**Organizer hat off**

OP, are you a US Citizen or a Green Card holder? I ask this because the I-130 timelines you posted screen shots of are for Green Card holders who filed an I-130.

Only US citizens would be able to start the (dead end) K3 process. Current procedures at the NVC have made the K3 virtually unobtainable (NVC administratively closes that process if they have an approved I-130 on station with the I-129F that was filed arrives at the NVC {which is usually at the same time as the I-130}).

[Forest Rider 1]

Moving from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to USCIS Service Centers forum; topic is about USCIS operations.

**Organizer hat off**

OP, are you a US Citizen or a Green Card holder? I ask this because the I-130 timelines you posted screen shots of are for Green Card holders who filed an I-130.

Only US citizens would be able to start the (dead end) K3 process. Current procedures at the NVC have made the K3 virtually unobtainable (NVC administratively closes that process if they have an approved I-130 on station with the I-129F that was filed arrives at the NVC {which is usually at the same time as the I-130}).

*smacks forehead*

Thanks! After this, I feel like to should review the forms again to make sure I didn't make any more silly mistakes.

[Forest Rider 1]

All three of my wife's sisters married USCs, and two of them had their I-130 approved in 2 - 3 months.

I checked the current processing times, and it seems that the Vermont office is the only office handling I-130 submissions. It states that it is taking 5.4 months, but I checked another page that says they are still processing petitions submitted last october (7 months backlog).

I am very tempted to ask all of my friends, family, and co-workers to go ahead and ask congressmen and women to inquire with USCIS. Would this be a futile effort?

[Darnell 8,479]

Forest Rider

When you get the paper receipt notice - let us know what the receipt # starts with ? If it's MSC - it'll route

National Benefits Center->Local Office

[Forest Rider 1]

Forest Rider

When you get the paper receipt notice - let us know what the receipt # starts with ? If it's MSC - it'll route

National Benefits Center->Local Office

My receipt notice does in fact start with a MSC. When I checked the processing times for I-130, USC for spouse, the only option for which office was Vermont. I also noticed that they were working on petitions recieved in October back in March, so it is likely they are working on December submissions.

I checked the processing times for the local office near me (Portland Oregon), and it does not list any processing times for the I-130. Does this mean that my local office does not process I-130 petitions?

[Darnell 8,479]

No, it only means Portland doesn't count stand-alone I-130s in any stats.

Here's the VJ MSC stats page - you should study it.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/monthly_filers.php?form=2&visa=3&scenter=4&option=3&sortby=2

Could you, would you, redo your timeline to reflect China / Guangzhou (or what ever the actual US Embassy will be) in the Consulate section, up at http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=155730 and also shift your service center to 'National Benefits Center' whilst doing the edit ?

Now then - are you a USCitizen, or not ? Answer please, and Thanks in advance !

Edited May 29, 2013 by Darnell

[stevie b 141]

My receipt notice does in fact start with a MSC. When I checked the processing times for I-130, USC for spouse, the only option for which office was Vermont. I also noticed that they were working on petitions recieved in October back in March, so it is likely they are working on December submissions.

I checked the processing times for the local office near me (Portland Oregon), and it does not list any processing times for the I-130. Does this mean that my local office does not process I-130 petitions?

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=4&office=72&charttype=1

Portland does in fact process 130's and has been since august of last year.

[Forest Rider 1]

No, it only means Portland doesn't count stand-alone I-130s in any stats.

Here's the VJ MSC stats page - you should study it.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/monthly_filers.php?form=2&visa=3&scenter=4&option=3&sortby=2

Could you, would you, redo your timeline to reflect China / Guangzhou (or what ever the actual US Embassy will be) in the Consulate section, up at http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=155730 and also shift your service center to 'National Benefits Center' whilst doing the edit ?

Now then - are you a USCitizen, or not ? Answer please, and Thanks in advance !

Thanks Darnell and Stevie.

I updated the timeline with your suggestions, and yes I am a US citizen.The VJ MSC page is very informational, thanks for pointing it out for me.

I have to say that without this community, this process would be much more difficult. Thank you for all your help!

[Darnell 8,479]

But wait - it gets more 'funner' ...

Next week, say about Wednesday,

call into the USCIS National Call Center, ask for an ISO, then ask (in this order):

1. What date was my casefile transferred to the local office?

2. Which local office was it transferred to ?

----

Then as soon as you learn of this, which local office, get an infopass appointment into that local office, and talk with some humans.

The right human for you will be the I-130 Adjudication Unit Supervisor, but it's not always easy to speak to that person. I've given hints on what to do, how to do - use the advanced search tool here, search terms = 'Unit Supervisor' , Member Name = 'Darnell', then click on 'Display as posts' ..

Only the I-130 Adjudication Unit Supervisor can give you an accurate estimate (and even then, it's only an estimate) of WHEN your casefile will be reviewed and adjudicated. Any human answering the phone at USCIS National Call Center is useless on this stuff, for local office load and processing times. Heck - even the ISOs are clueless. Click my profile, read a bit about my path on the VisaJourney - it ain't pretty.

[Forest Rider 1]

But wait - it gets more 'funner' ...

Next week, say about Wednesday,

call into the USCIS National Call Center, ask for an ISO, then ask (in this order):

1. What date was my casefile transferred to the local office?

2. Which local office was it transferred to ?

----

Then as soon as you learn of this, which local office, get an infopass appointment into that local office, and talk with some humans.

The right human for you will be the I-130 Adjudication Unit Supervisor, but it's not always easy to speak to that person. I've given hints on what to do, how to do - use the advanced search tool here, search terms = 'Unit Supervisor' , Member Name = 'Darnell', then click on 'Display as posts' ..

Only the I-130 Adjudication Unit Supervisor can give you an accurate estimate (and even then, it's only an estimate) of WHEN your casefile will be reviewed and adjudicated. Any human answering the phone at USCIS National Call Center is useless on this stuff, for local office load and processing times. Heck - even the ISOs are clueless. Click my profile, read a bit about my path on the VisaJourney - it ain't pretty.

I didn't want to seem too critical of them, so I waited until today to call. I asked to speak with a ISO, and the original agent seemed all too happy to help me first so I have him my receipt #. He said that my case file doesn't appear to have been transferred to any other office other than the national benefits center, and that he did not have any information regarding how much time it would take for them to complete the review. He also said that if the USCIS NBC time estimate is 5 months, to call back in September if I haven't noticed any updates. Should I call back and be more demanding to speak with a ISO? Should I go ahead and pass out my receipt # to family and friends to ask them to send letters to their congress men/women?