Processing Times Confusion

[Pecker 17]

Hey VJ's, I have a question about the processing times for the I-130 and I-485.

So I checked at the USCIS and saw the national ( and the Texas SC, the one I'm being processed at) average processing time for adjustment of status for someone adjusting from F-1 trough marriage to a USC is 5 months, by that tho, they mean when someone applies concurrently.

But in my case I filed the I-130 and then I'm getting ready to file the I-485. So if the process as a whole takes 5 months, what about the individuals packages? Meaning the I-130 and I-485 itself, how long until the I-130 is APPROVED?

Thanks VJ's.

[kcros 0]

Just curious why you are waiting until the I-130 is approved? I'm filing from Boston as well and I just got my interview date 84 days from the day we mailed the package. Is there a reason you're holding off filing for AOS?

[Pecker 17]

Just curious why you are waiting until the I-130 is approved? I'm filing from Boston as well and I just got my interview date 84 days from the day we mailed the package. Is there a reason you're holding off filing for AOS?

Just because I couldn't file the I-485 just yet because I still needed some paperwork for it, so to kick start it I went ahead and sent the I-130.

And now I'm actually thinking if I should even file the I-485 before the I-130 is approved, just because what if for some reason they denied, I might loose the $420 from the I-130, but not the 1k from the I-485.

[Hypnos 6,578]

When you concurrently file an I-130 and an I-485 for an alien already present in the US, the NBC does the initial processing before handing off to the local office for an interview and final adjudication.

USCIS Service Centres only handle standalone I-130s, where people are seeking immigrant visas for their alien relatives.

If you intend to file for AoS, there is essentially no point to filing a standalone I-130 first, because it doesn't protect the alien's status, and any time it has spent pending will not gain you anything since the I-130 will just be re-routed to the NBC and placed into the back of the queue again.

It's recommended where possible that you concurrently file your I-485 with your I-130, since, as I said there is no benefit to doing it separately. Even if the I-130 were to be approved, you'd still be sent to the back of the queue with your I-485, first at the NBC, then at your local office. The already-approved I-130 would not put you ahead in the process in any meaningful way.

Edited August 3, 2014 by Hypnos