Confused about my wife's I-130 status

[micah83 0]

I am confused what is happening with my wife's I-130. It was approved back in mid-June, but NVC never received it. NVC made me wait 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, I sent them a copy of the approved I-130 I received in the mail and they told me they would contact USCIS to see what's going on. So it's been a very long wait. I even called USCIS and they told me the Seattle office was supposed to contact them with an update, but had not yet done so (not surprised).

So today, I get an e-mail from NVC (NVCResearch to be precise) stating the following:

"Dear Sir/Madam,

Please be advised that the National Visa Center (NVC) contacted U.S.
Citizenship Immigration Service (USCIS) in regards to your approved
petition. USCIS has informed us that they (NATIONAL BENEFITS CENTER -
NBC) have requested this file; they will review this petition and advise
NVC with status. Please allow ample time for USCIS to process your
petition."

I don't understand. Why did National Benefits Center request it? What is their deal? It seems they are a sub-section of USCIS? And why would USCIS need to review a petition and make a decision on a petition which they already reviewed and made a decision upon?! It was already approved! I looked up the case number on the USCIS website, but it still has the same status it did back in mid-June.

I am very confused what is going on. What is even more strange is that I also filed an I-129f, since the price was the same and when the time gets closer, it would enable me to have both options to choose from depending on the timing of my living situation: the K3 Spouse visa or the I-130. My I-129f also had problems initially, and was somehow sent to the National Records Center, for reasons I have no idea why. However, they were able to dig that out and get it to NVC about 6 weeks ago. So the Embassy has my I-129f, but that's useless without the I-130. Also i've decided to go the I-130 route anyway, so the I-129f wont even be necessary. So now it seems I am in limbo. It makes little sense to me why they would hold onto my I-130, but they have no problem sending the i-129f to NVC for processing at the Embassy.

I got a senator in my state to intervene, and he actually succeeded in getting my petition expedited for review by USCIS back in the summer, which I was happy about. But now I seem to have hit a dead end. I don't think the senator's office can do much right now, even though they have tried.

Edited October 16, 2013 by micah83