Where am I? after CR1/I-130 filing, so confused

[newguy05 1]

Hi guys, i read through many of the threads and discussion but still very confused in term of where my file is at and how to get a ballpark status.

I am us citizen, and filed for CR1 / I-130 spouse visa for my wife on May 13 2013 and received NOA1 about a week later. This is where it gets confusing, my case file starts with MSC and the status has been stuck in "Initial Review" per below:

"On May 13, 2013, we received this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN, and mailed you a notice describing how we will process your case. Please follow any instructions on this notice. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you"

1) I mailed in the application from jersey city, NJ. How do i tell which service center my application went to (NOA1 does not have that info). It seems a lot people can easily tell what service center their application is at, how do you guys find this out?

2) Is there anyway to get a ball park estimate how much longer the wait will be? we waited about 4 months so far without a single update or notification. It has been very difficult on us as I have to stay in the US due to my job, and she cannot come here until this visa is completed so we were separated soon after our wedding.

Any info you guys can provide will be greatly appreciated.

[HettyandSaid 18]

We have a similar date. My Noa1 was May 10. MSC is The national benefits center. If you fill in your timeline it gives you an estimated time for when your case can be adjudicated. Right now mine is saying between November 28 - December 12 as possible time to get NOA2.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Hi guys, i read through many of the threads and discussion but still very confused in term of where my file is at and how to get a ballpark status.

I am us citizen, and filed for CR1 / I-130 spouse visa for my wife on May 13 2013 and received NOA1 about a week later. This is where it gets confusing, my case file starts with MSC and the status has been stuck in "Initial Review" per below:

"On May 13, 2013, we received this I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN, and mailed you a notice describing how we will process your case. Please follow any instructions on this notice. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you"

1) I mailed in the application from jersey city, NJ. How do i tell which service center my application went to (NOA1 does not have that info). It seems a lot people can easily tell what service center their application is at, how do you guys find this out?

2) Is there anyway to get a ball park estimate how much longer the wait will be? we waited about 4 months so far without a single update or notification. It has been very difficult on us as I have to stay in the US due to my job, and she cannot come here until this visa is completed so we were separated soon after our wedding.

Any info you guys can provide will be greatly appreciated.

For starters, you mailed a petition, not an application. What are the first 3 letters on your NOA1? That will indicate where your petition was sent to.

Since you filed in May, the soonest you can probably expect to hear anything would be November or December.

[newguy05 1]

We have a similar date. My Noa1 was May 10. MSC is The national benefits center. If you fill in your timeline it gives you an estimated time for when your case can be adjudicated. Right now mine is saying between November 28 - December 12 as possible time to get NOA2.

Sorry where do you go to fill this in to get the timeline estimate?

What are the first 3 letters on your NOA1? That will indicate where your petition was sent to.

Hi Ryan, is this the number you are referring to? Preference Classification: 201 B INA SPOUSE OF USC or MSC139***** number? I dont see any other number on the Form I-797C Notice of Action.

Thank you guys

Edited September 8, 2013 by newguy05

[HettyandSaid 18]

do you see here in your post under where your photo is...or should be..right now its a generic photo... you will see Timeline / Photos. if you click on YOUR timeline..it will allow you to fill in the dates .

Edited September 9, 2013 by HettyandSaid

[apple21 953]

Sorry where do you go to fill this in to get the timeline estimate?

Hi Ryan, is this the number you are referring to? Preference Classification: 201 B INA SPOUSE OF USC or MSC139***** number? I dont see any other number on the Form I-797C Notice of Action.

Thank you guys

That's your receipt number.

Edited September 9, 2013 by apple21

[Ryan H 3,812]

Hi Ryan, is this the number you are referring to? Preference Classification: 201 B INA SPOUSE OF USC or MSC139***** number? I dont see any other number on the Form I-797C Notice of Action.

MSC139XXXXX is what I was referring to. MSC is the National Benefits Center in MO; your petition will stay there, go to the facility in Overland Park, KS, or be sent to your nearest USCIS field office for adjudication.

[squirrelisan 23]

newguy:

Keep in mind these estimates are just estimates based on other visajourney users filling out their timeline. Any estimates this system is generating is already "old", as they are from people who already went through the process, incomplete because there are thousand of people who do not submit timelines, or do not keep them up to date. The time it takes your particular petition will vary...but check out the cr-1 visa progress forum.

4 months seems rough, but try waiting a year. Hang in there buddy. If you want some advice, make the most of your time, and read on the process, gather all the necessary documentation, and get ready so that you don't waste any time. Seeing that you don't understand what info your USCIS receipt number is about, I assume you are not fully prepared nor fully understand the next stage in the process. Mistakes will generate RFE's and wasted time. There is still a lot of questions issues and work you can take care of now.

Have you read LingChe's shortcuts already? Have you gotten foreign documents translated? Passport photos prepared? Etc...

[dashaoz 0]

newguy:

Keep in mind these estimates are just estimates based on other visajourney users filling out their timeline. Any estimates this system is generating is already "old", as they are from people who already went through the process, incomplete because there are thousand of people who do not submit timelines, or do not keep them up to date. The time it takes your particular petition will vary...but check out the cr-1 visa progress forum.

4 months seems rough, but try waiting a year. Hang in there buddy. If you want some advice, make the most of your time, and read on the process, gather all the necessary documentation, and get ready so that you don't waste any time. Seeing that you don't understand what info your USCIS receipt number is about, I assume you are not fully prepared nor fully understand the next stage in the process. Mistakes will generate RFE's and wasted time. There is still a lot of questions issues and work you can take care of now.

Have you read LingChe's shortcuts already? Have you gotten foreign documents translated? Passport photos prepared? Etc...

I totally agree with squirrelisan, giving a head start helps. Hope we all will not make any mistakes that would prolong the situation..

Also, I received my NOA1 exactly 5 months ago (April 11) and no NOA2 yet, still waiting and waiting. I, on the other hand, moved to Turkey and started the whole process from here thinking that it would be faster (I'm Turkish -American, my wife Belarussian). But I guess it won't be that fast.. Good luck to you new guy..

[TBoneTX 45,328]

*** Thread moved from CR-1 Process forum to the CR-1 Case Progress subforum. ***