National Benefits Center Semiannual AILA Meeting

[En-oh-eh-to now 147]

Hello fellow VJ'ers,

I hope I'm not providing redundant information, but I recently came across some information on the Outreach section of USCIS website. The National Benefits Center holds a semiannual meeting with the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the transcript is made public. The most recent meeting was May 10, 2013, and there are some interesting details relevant to those of us with a pending I-130. As we have heard and noticed, processing for I-130's is slowing down to crawl, but many VJers report that customer service reps claim the problem is an influx of I-130 petitions. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, because in the last meeting, the NBC reveals that there will be a new division (division 8) for processing stand-alone I-130's located in the Overland Park facility. They anticipated that this division will begin processing I-130's by the end of the fiscal year 2013, which means the end of September. As such, we should soon start seeing some movement in I-130 petitions.

Of course, we I-130 petitioners hope that the NBC starts processing our cases in the new division as anticipated, but one can never be sure. If this is not the case, then surely the issue will be raised in the next AILA meeting, which, if history is any indication, will be on November 29, 2013. I am just making sure VJers have access to this information, and can even encourage their attorneys (if they are AILA members) to address I-130 processing issues at the next meeting.

You can view the transcript from May 10, 2013 here: http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Outreach/Notes%20from%20Previous%20Engagements/2013/May%202013/NBC-AILA-QA-2013-05-01.pdf

[DvMan 49]

So if I read that correctly, they HAVE been sending the I-130's to local field offices. I hope they start pumping approvals out at the end of September! They need to get moving!

[scienceworks 64]

Thanks for sharing. Have been losing sleep over this.

[scienceworks 64]

This is confusing. In their previous meeting it says "Once NBC adjudicates an I-130 petition, it forwards it to the perspective field office bi-weekly based on the petitioner’s zip code." I am not sure what adjudicate means here.

The current info says , "NBC anticipates that Division 8 will begin to adjudicate stand-alone immediate relative Form I-130 petitions by the end of Fiscal Year 2013."

The word adjudicate is used here also.

Is the the Division 8 going to stop sending it to field offices or are they going to send it to local offices, but on faster pace?

[Lisa y Miguel 62]

I don't know if this means ANYTHING. But I sent my 130 to Chicago lockbox. I have a MSC #. But my noa says national benefits center.

And also confusing. ..my noa email says I can look up my case status but when I put in my number it says it didn't exist and uscis hotline says I need to wait 30-45 days. Well then WHY does the email contradict that? Ughhh

[En-oh-eh-to now 147]

I don't know if this means ANYTHING. But I sent my 130 to Chicago lockbox. I have a MSC #. But my noa says national benefits center.

And also confusing. ..my noa email says I can look up my case status but when I put in my number it says it didn't exist and uscis hotline says I need to wait 30-45 days. Well then WHY does the email contradict that? Ughhh

NBC = National Benefits Center = Missouri Service Center = MSC. I guess the new facility will be KSC.

Well, I got email notification informing me to expect the I-797 in the mail, but no hard copy ever arrived. The service rep told me that since I'm a foreign filer, I may or may not get the hard copy. Very helpful.

[En-oh-eh-to now 147]

This is confusing. In their previous meeting it says "Once NBC adjudicates an I-130 petition, it forwards it to the perspective field office bi-weekly based on the petitioner’s zip code." I am not sure what adjudicate means here.

The current info says , "NBC anticipates that Division 8 will begin to adjudicate stand-alone immediate relative Form I-130 petitions by the end of Fiscal Year 2013."

The word adjudicate is used here also.

Is the the Division 8 going to stop sending it to field offices or are they going to send it to local offices, but on faster pace?

I hope the NBC clarifies this at the next meeting...or that they just start processing I-130's again!

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

I just found this on AILA website:

• Call for Questions—Upcoming Meetings with the USCIS NBC and NRC(8/2/2013)
  The AILA NBC Liaison Committee is accepting questions for its upcoming engagement with the USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC) and National Records Center (NRC). Submit your agenda items by August 12, 2013.
  AILA Doc. No. 13080248.

Not sure when this will happen though, looks like soon!

[scienceworks 64]

Speculation is the name of the game.

[En-oh-eh-to now 147]

I just found this on AILA website:

• Call for Questions—Upcoming Meetings with the USCIS NBC and NRC(8/2/2013)

  The AILA NBC Liaison Committee is accepting questions for its upcoming engagement with the USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC) and National Records Center (NRC). Submit your agenda items by August 12, 2013.

  AILA Doc. No. 13080248.

Not sure when this will happen though, looks like soon!

The meetings are once every six months, so the next should be at the end of November.

[semidevil 12]

thanks for sharing and good info.

So to clarify for us who are living outside of U.S:

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c) What is the processing time expected to be for stand-alone I-130s filed by an overseas petitioner?

Response: The current processing time for stand-alone I-130s filed by an overseas petitioner is approximately 60 days from the date of receipt at NBC.

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Is this the 'current' expectation or proposed expectations? It almost sounds as if this is the current processing time. As a May filer, I'm wondering if mine got lost in the shuffle as it is past 60 days.

[En-oh-eh-to now 147]

c) What is the processing time expected to be for stand-alone I-130s filed by an overseas petitioner?

Response: The current processing time for stand-alone I-130s filed by an overseas petitioner is approximately 60 days from the date of receipt at NBC.

-----------

Is this the 'current' expectation or proposed expectations? It almost sounds as if this is the current processing time. As a May filer, I'm wondering if mine got lost in the shuffle as it is past 60 days.

I have been following abroad petitioners (I'm one too) and realized that even overseas I-130 petitions have been slowing down are now being approved after 90 days and beyond. All I-130's are getting pushed aside, it seems. To train the new I-130 division? To catch up with all those previously rejected DOMA filers? DACA? Speculation is the name of the game, as one poster put it.

[NikLR 13,227]

***moved to immigration news and discussion from IR1/CR1 process and procedures***

[JKSforever 7]

What is that mean?is this a good news?is this apply for cr1 also?i'm sorry i dont know it seem to be chaotic for me because they change where our cases go am i right?can u explain this further vj family. im cr1 petition waiting for noa2 since march 4 is my priority date.

[Ellinora 72]

We are overseas filers, and we're past the 90 day mark.

"NBC anticipates that Division 8 will begin to adjudicate stand-alone immediate relative Form I-130 petitions by the end of Fiscal Year 2013."

Our case was already sent to Overland Park, KS in May. Does this mean that the case will just gather dust in there until the end of fiscal year?