trying to figure out lockbox times and service centres

[trandy 5]

My wife is about to file the I-130. We're trying to understand where and how long etc.

Been here: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplay.do and there's a couple of menus, the first is a drop down menu that lists field offices and the next one is service centers.

She is based in Seattle.

So I'm just wondering how we use that function to estimate times? I gather the service centers are appointed randomly but the field office is, I assume, the nearest one to where you live in the US?

Edited July 29, 2015 by trandy

[tasakchy 9]

The service center is actually based on location.

https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.type&OfficeLocator.office_type=SC

The map tells you that Washington state applications go to the Nebraska Service Center. They are currently processing I-130 applications from January 26, 2014. So, it's about a 1.5 year wait for approval.

[Mrs_Carmona9412 8]

I'm glad I didn't do this on my own! My husband and I went through a lawyer. There are so many steps, forms, etc... I'm sure we would have missed something. We filed our i-130 november 2012, after everything in between, he just got his visa approval on monday! Almost 3 years! Good luck on your journey!

[trandy 5]

I guess we won't be filing then. Damn. Would be quicker for her to come back to the uk and file direct to london.

[dwheels76 5,468]

My wife is about to file the I-130. We're trying to understand where and how long etc.

Been here: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplay.do and there's a couple of menus, the first is a drop down menu that lists field offices and the next one is service centers.

She is based in Seattle.

So I'm just wondering how we use that function to estimate times? I gather the service centers are appointed randomly but the field office is, I assume, the nearest one to where you live in the US?

Gosh yes if you can DCF then do so. She is a resident of UK then then do it. Nebraska is 5 months not 1.5 years. But DCF is like from start to finish you would be done in 5 months or less.

[tasakchy 9]

Ooh sorry the processing times said Jan 2014 so I thought that meant they're currently adjudicating petitions from Jan 2014. California on the other hand says 5 months.

[dwheels76 5,468]

Ooh sorry the processing times said Jan 2014 so I thought that meant they're currently adjudicating petitions from Jan 2014. California on the other hand says 5 months.

It does mean the last batch of petitions they processed were from that date. But the service centers do this all the time to keep that 5 month processing commitment. Like California lately has been approving at 60 days and 45 days than they will approve at 6 months 7 months. All to keep those 5 months processing dates.

But lockbox don;t have a processing time just to let you know.

[Lemonslice 4,843]

My wife is about to file the I-130. We're trying to understand where and how long etc.

Been here: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplay.do and there's a couple of menus, the first is a drop down menu that lists field offices and the next one is service centers.

She is based in Seattle.

So I'm just wondering how we use that function to estimate times? I gather the service centers are appointed randomly but the field office is, I assume, the nearest one to where you live in the US?

If your wife is living in the United States, then she will need to mail it to the lockbox; see page 4 of the instructions: http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-130instr.pdf

I am a bit confused about the field office talk, are you currently in the United States?

[Ryan H 3,812]

***Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to USCIS Service Centers forum.***

**Moderator hat off**

So I'm just wondering how we use that function to estimate times? I gather the service centers are appointed randomly but the field office is, I assume, the nearest one to where you live in the US?

If you live in a country that has a USCIS field office and you qualify to file there, processing times at service centers stateside are moot.

To answer your question for the benefit of others who will read this, when a petition is sent from a lockbox facility to a service center, the primary determining factor will be balancing workload. If location plays a role, it's only secondary. Stateside field offices have no role in service center assignment for a petition.

[*Snowdrop* 604]

OP - I don't understand your question based on your previous posts on here.

Haven't you just already had your interview in London?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/558562-can-i-visit-the-us-as-normal-after-getting-a-212a-blue-slip/

Why are you looking into lockbox filing now?

[Pennycat 880]

The service center is actually based on location.

https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.type&OfficeLocator.office_type=SC

The map tells you that Washington state applications go to the Nebraska Service Center. They are currently processing I-130 applications from January 26, 2014. So, it's about a 1.5 year wait for approval.

I think that 2014 is a typo. It is Jan 2015....at least that's what it looks like around here. The report before it changed to a date said 5 months...meaning they were processing them within goal time of 5 months. When they showere a date, they're admitting that they're outside of goal time and show you by how much. There's no way they were within 5 months one day and then had an 18 month backlog the next....