Stand-alone I-130 transferred to local field office

[Sascafig 12]

After having our I-130 petitions for my stepsons (for IR2 visas) sit at the NBC for over five months, I received an update last night that our cases have been transferred to our local field office. Until I can call to verify, I'm assuming this will be the Houston office. Is there anyone who has had recent experience with this USCIS location? There is no processing time available online for I-130 petitions for that office, so I'm hoping someone can give me an idea of what we have in store for us. Does anyone know if the packets get reviewed to any extent before leaving the service center, or is the local office the first to actually go through our file?

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

Back in October 2013 USCIS announced a workload transfer- from National Benefits Center to service centers (TSC, NSC and CSC).

USCIS sends out incorrect updates (local office, another office, USCIS office), it's just a glitch. Your file is being transferred to one of the service centers.

You will receive one or two more incorrect updates and in a few days you will get a hard copy letter with a location of the transfer

You can also try calling Customer Service to find out where your file is going. FYI, Tier 1 will no be able to tell you anything, have them transfer you to Tier 2!

Congrats and good luck

[Darnell 8,478]

ya, yet another workload transfer notice - I really hate these guys

Prior, circa August 2012, I-130s routed MSC->local office->NVC, and happened as a result of the DACA intake queue.

then in october 2013, local offices were told to hurry up and finish, as rerouting was to change 1 NOV 2013.

---

as to the 'notice of transfer to a local office'

I claim it's a data error at USCIS, instead. The back office system that generates the notice/email/text whatever was not updated . It's been over a year, IIRC, this lack of update.

Most likely yer being transferred to TSC, which is not a local USCIS office, but if you want clarity on that phone call, ask for an ISO and ask for casefile location, imploring the ISO to dig a bit in their system. Getting an ISO is not an easy task.

If'n it's actually at or going to TSC, that's a blessing, as TSC has been flipping em out in under 60 days from arrival.

Edited February 26, 2014 by Darnell

[Sascafig 12]

USCIS sends out incorrect updates (local office, another office, USCIS office), it's just a glitch. Your file is being transferred to one of the service centers.

You will receive one or two more incorrect updates and in a few days you will get a hard copy letter with a location of the transfer

If'n it's actually at or going to TSC, that's a blessing, as TSC has been flipping em out in under 60 days from arrival.

Thank you both for the heads up, I couldn't have asked for better people to respond. The advice is graciously accepted, I'll wait for the hard copy notice to see what location it gives me. If it's headed to a service center then I will hope for Texas, O Texas! but even if I get stuck at a different one I'll have the means and opportunity to haunt their processing times site and bang my head against that particular wall until our approval comes down. That's a comfort at least

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

You can try and call Customer Service to find out where your petition is being transferred to. When the first person answers- Tier 1- just play stupid and say you got a few updates and you do not know what they mean and you would like to find out...

It worked for us today... and they escalated our call to a Tier 2 right away. You can chose a call back option so you don't have to spend hours on the phone,

Our file went to NSC. The worst service center. TSC is not as bad anymore. CSC is the fastest.

NSC means 2 more months of waiting. At least. SIgh.

[Ryan H 3,812]

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