Experience calling USCIS about case status and processing times for I-751

[irl 0]

I am a late September filer, called USCIS today because I don't have any updates on my case for more than 5 months. I asked to speak to tier 2 and the lady told me that the normal processing time for I-751 cases is 1 year and that I even can't ask about a service request before my 1 year extension letter (NOA1) expires. I was really surprised to hear that as the uscis website indicates that the normal processing time is 6 months. When I politely asked her about the website info and said that I even know a few people who had submitted their cases later than I did and had already been approved, she told me that there must be a mistake in the website and all my info is wrong and that I should not argue (which I actually did not) and advised to wait.

Now I have a few questions to you guys:

1. What is the normal processing time for I-751? Can we rely on the info from their website?

2. Can I submit a service request if there is no info about my case for more than 6 months?

3. What was your experience talking to tier 2 officers?

Thanks. Any thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated.

[victorian221b 12]

Hello!

I would call back again and get a different person. And when you do, don't even bring up what other people's experiences are because that's the reaction you get.

To answer your questions:

1) Normal processing time per USCIS is currently "6 months" and this is based on the current average process time for I-751 - 6 months can change to 9 months if the current average processing time is 9 months etc. Now, USCIS gives you the allowance to follow-up if you don't hear back after 6 months - I don't think anyone should argue that as it's documented so I don't understand why some Tier 2 officers would argue. However, you don't HAVE to follow-up after 6 months if you want to wait - you have up to a year to do that. USCIS understands how frustrating it is to wait so they give you the timeframe so that you can give them a reasonable time to get to your case. With that said, the officer you spoke isn't wrong - you do have up to a year but whether it's considered the "normal processing time" it's debatable. Some Tier 2 officers will say you are out of the normal processing time if it's beyond 6 months.

2) I would wait and call again after your 6 months mark - 5 months is a bit short. You will have a better chance of getting a service request submitted at that time.

3) I spoke with two Tier 2 officers. As I mentioned in the beginning, don't bring up what other people experienced or what you already know. I have seen nothing but unhelpful results when you do that. When I called each time, I assumed that I am not aware of many of the logistics (even though I've been on VJ for a while) so that this way the Tier 2 will make an attempt to educate you on the process. The first time I called was just to get an "idea" of whether I should receive a receipt notice after I submitted my RFE. The second time I called, it was regarding a response to a service request I had submitted through a Tier 1. The letter tells me my case is still in "normal processing time" but the Tier 2 I spoke with (different person from my first call) tells me that although usually they give applications 6 months there is no guarantee that the adjudicator reviewing your case will follow that. The most he could do was send in a more specific service request and I just had to wait. This is the reason why I would call back again and speak with a different person because you may get someone who is more helpful than the first.

Hope this helps! Good luck.

I am a late September filer, called USCIS today because I don't have any updates on my case for more than 5 months. I asked to speak to tier 2 and the lady told me that the normal processing time for I-751 cases is 1 year and that I even can't ask about a service request before my 1 year extension letter (NOA1) expires. I was really surprised to hear that as the uscis website indicates that the normal processing time is 6 months. When I politely asked her about the website info and said that I even know a few people who had submitted their cases later than I did and had already been approved, she told me that there must be a mistake in the website and all my info is wrong and that I should not argue (which I actually did not) and advised to wait.

Now I have a few questions to you guys:

1. What is the normal processing time for I-751? Can we rely on the info from their website?

2. Can I submit a service request if there is no info about my case for more than 6 months?

3. What was your experience talking to tier 2 officers?

Thanks. Any thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated.

[irl 0]

Thank you very much, Victorian221b. Your response is really helpful.

I will call again after 6 months if I don't have any info before that.

Hello!

I would call back again and get a different person. And when you do, don't even bring up what other people's experiences are because that's the reaction you get.

To answer your questions:

1) Normal processing time per USCIS is currently "6 months" and this is based on the current average process time for I-751 - 6 months can change to 9 months if the current average processing time is 9 months etc. Now, USCIS gives you the allowance to follow-up if you don't hear back after 6 months - I don't think anyone should argue that as it's documented so I don't understand why some Tier 2 officers would argue. However, you don't HAVE to follow-up after 6 months if you want to wait - you have up to a year to do that. USCIS understands how frustrating it is to wait so they give you the timeframe so that you can give them a reasonable time to get to your case. With that said, the officer you spoke isn't wrong - you do have up to a year but whether it's considered the "normal processing time" it's debatable. Some Tier 2 officers will say you are out of the normal processing time if it's beyond 6 months.

2) I would wait and call again after your 6 months mark - 5 months is a bit short. You will have a better chance of getting a service request submitted at that time.

3) I spoke with two Tier 2 officers. As I mentioned in the beginning, don't bring up what other people experienced or what you already know. I have seen nothing but unhelpful results when you do that. When I called each time, I assumed that I am not aware of many of the logistics (even though I've been on VJ for a while) so that this way the Tier 2 will make an attempt to educate you on the process. The first time I called was just to get an "idea" of whether I should receive a receipt notice after I submitted my RFE. The second time I called, it was regarding a response to a service request I had submitted through a Tier 1. The letter tells me my case is still in "normal processing time" but the Tier 2 I spoke with (different person from my first call) tells me that although usually they give applications 6 months there is no guarantee that the adjudicator reviewing your case will follow that. The most he could do was send in a more specific service request and I just had to wait. This is the reason why I would call back again and speak with a different person because you may get someone who is more helpful than the first.

Hope this helps! Good luck.