New USCIS Processing Times are off Their Meds

[bdrew612 1,071]

Are they including the expedited requests from the Philippines in the average? Considering the high volume and fast processing time of these, they this could easily skew the average from 9 to 5.

That's a great question. But I'm thinking the expedited and Phillipines petitions would have just gone through NBC, rather than the service centers, right?

Is there any way to find this out?

[Exocet 88]

It doesn't really matter what date/timeframe they post, because it doesn't actually make them DO anything. And putting in a service request is pointless anyway. Once again, it doesn't actually DO anything. You can service request as many times as you like.. and all they have to do is respond with "we have your case, but we're still not going to touch it".

[bdrew612 1,071]

Congressional inquiries for people outside the processing time is another option. Contact your Senators/Representatives too.

[Ryan E 10]

That's a great question. But I'm thinking the expedited and Phillipines petitions would have just gone through NBC, rather than the service centers, right?

Is there any way to find this out?

According to the timeline database they are going to service centers first.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/k1list.php?op6=Nebraska+Service+Center&op66=All&op7=All&dfile=No&op1=&op2=&op3=5&op4=1&op5=5%2C6%2C8%2C10%2C11%2C13%2C14%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C25%2C26%2C27%2C28%2C108%2C110%2C111%2C208%2C210%2C211&cfl=0

[dwheels76 5,466]

5 months for Texas and Nebraska? Really USCIS????!!!! That sounds great but now they're going to be flooded with service requests, which is going to slow everything down. What nonsense, this new crock of lies is going to be just as destructive as their forever-stuck-in-October-2012 nonsense. USCIS you never fail to disappoint me.

That means that everyone in the November thread who's at one of those two can now file a service request, and not a single on of us (not counting flukes from 4 months ago and expedites) have been approved. Nonsense!!!!!

I wouldn't believe it. Usually what the service centers do is start approving the most resent petitions. Everyone gets all excited and its someone who filed like 3 months ago so guess what the average comes way down

You really don't believe the ones waiting past 7 months are figured in that 5 months do you. Lets see some old petitions start getting approved than I will get all excited.

[Dualie 185]

I wouldn't believe it. Usually what the service centers do is start approving the most resent petitions. Everyone gets all excited and its someone who filed like 3 months ago so guess what the average comes way down

You really don't believe the ones waiting past 7 months are figured in that 5 months do you. Lets see some old petitions start getting approved than I will get all excited.

I am with you here. I view everything on that site with a slanted eye and cocked eyebrow. Still not expecting much action until maybe September, then if it comes sooner...I'll get excited.

[Collie 122]

literally laughing at these new time frames for processing. Wow, way to go USCIS - it looks awesome - the only thing impressive about that is that y'all are awesome at number fudging....we all know the real processing times

[UncleBeer 244]

My guess is USCIS started getting heat from the NYTimes article, and from numerous folks contacting their representatives thereafter. Their solution: tell the public you've successfully halved the processing time.

Even if it isn't true.

[Eastyo 100]

Do it now. They're going to get flooded anyways, best to be first in line. The only reason I am not is because Vermont is the 1 service center that's not listing 5 months.

They should have been honest and moved it to June 30th. That would have allowed the service requests to mop up the stragglers behind June. Now with July, August, September, and November (!) filers putting in service requests they are going to get flooded. USCIS you bloody morons, what the hell is wrong with you.

You are also assuming service requests mean anything, from what we see they don't really.

[QueenOfBlades 224]

That's all very true. When I was waiting for our approval and CSC hadn't approved anything in months because of DACA, when the approvals did finally start coming out, they were like November/December filers when there were still August/September 2012 filers left over. This was around March 2013, if I remember correctly. Helps bring the average processing times down. K-1s have been blasting out for a long time though, I expected the processing times to go up again soon.

Service requests don't really do a whole lot. We tried everything while we were waiting for our K-1 NOA2 - the Ombudsman, Senator, service request, congressman. Only thing we didn't do was InfoPass, and the only thing that helped at all was our congressman. He put pressure on them for us and chased them up numerous times, and kept us informed all the way through. I would recommend that, if you want to try something to find out what's going on. Ours were the first batch transferred to TSC when they re-opened it to K-1s, and they found out where they'd send it to before we got the letter, then someone else said Texas weren't trained to do K-1s yet and would take a month to train them; then our congressman got onto the USCIS liaison in D.C about that too.

Pretty sure our service request response was something along the lines of "You're still in processing times, please wait" but they never update the date on their processing times to make sure you can't file a request. Congressman is the way to go imo if you want help.

Edited March 19, 2014 by QueenOfBlades

[VNBCI130 94]

Oh I'm rocking the boat and I lodged our first service request earlier this evening. My patience has now completely expired. If the USCIS wants to set their processing timetable in a foolish manner and I can capitalize on it, then so be it.

I know that I'm very, very fortunate that I'm now with my husband in the US but please don't hate on me for that. I know that many are going through serious emotional distress being separated...I lived it...so I know many of you deserve to get answers and approvals fast!

But it still does not justify them sitting on our I-130 for 6 months since being transferred!

Our NOA1 issued on July 2, 2013. Our petition has been transferred and sitting at NSC since Sept 2013...and some people who filed before me are still not approved??? Those transferred to NSC after me and with NOA's after me are getting approved???

Complete, utter, freaking rubbish!!!

Sorry folks, but I'm mad enough for all of us at this moment.

Please keep us posted about your Service request. I am debating if I should file one too or not? I am PD 09/09 and went to NSC on Feb 25. Thank you and good luck!

[itsigo 0]

How can we find what s our new Service center after transfer ??

[dwheels76 5,466]

How can we find what s our new Service center after transfer ??

When you receive the letter in the mail it will tell you what service center it was sent to.

[itsigo 0]

When you receive the letter in the mail it will tell you what service center it was sent to.

this i guess it takes a few days to receive it ?weeks ?

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

How can we find what s our new Service center after transfer ??

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE YOUR CASE IS: you have 2 options. The first is to wait for the letter from USCIS, the second is to call USCIS. If you want to call, here is my suggestion, and it has worked for a few of us on here smile.png

Call 1-800-375-5283. You must be the petitioner, USCIS will not speak with the beneficiary. Option 1 for English. Then option 2. Option 1 to enter your receipt number (enter your receipt number). Then press 3 to get connected to a customer service agent.

The first agent you speak with will not know any specifics about your case. What the agent will do is simply read what is on the screen (the same screen we're looking at when we check our case status online). When you get the agent on the phone, feign ignorance about your case. "I just got three e-mails about my case being transferred and I'm really confused". The agent will read the screen, at which point you can say "So where did my case go? Why is it going to the local office? I've never heard of I-130s going to the local office? Is there something wrong with my file?" The agent will likely re-read the screen. At this point, simply request to be transferred to a Tier 2 agent who can provide more specifics on your case.

If the agent you're speaking to is a jerk face and won't transfer you, hang up and try again smile.png

Once you're transferred, you'll get an obnoxious hold time, you can request a call back - there's a prompt that will walk you through that process. The Tier 2 agent will call you back. Start the same conversation again "I'm confused, where's my case going. I keep getting e-mails that my case is being transferred. Is there something wrong". The agent should let you know where it went.

The petitions are not being transferred to Lee's Summit. That's where they've been. Do not accept this as an answer from the customer service agent. If this is all too much for you, relax. You'll get a nice pretty letter from USCIS soon telling you where it went, but for impatient people like me, try the tactic listed above. Play dumb, but be firm in getting an answer. This is your petition, you have every right to know where it is.