February 2016 I-130 filers

[EdinErvina 2]

Looks like my instructions made a mistake (I hope the below works):

(800) 375-5283, after select English or Spanish, Hit respectively 87716.

You have to choose English or Spanish first, then do the 87716. Sorry!

It did not let me choose 8 after selecting English

[B&Z 201]

It did not let me choose 8 after selecting English

I guess we can all kiss that shortcut goodbye.

[happiestoflives 15]

Unfortunately, Potomac Service Center has been having systems issues and they haven't been updating the website regularly. None of our cases are appearing on the online tracker at all yet; we're all in the same boat on that one.

Looks like you'll have to call USCIS periodically to get updates regarding whether your expedite request has been approved or not.

1-800-375-5283, then press 8...7...7...1...6 to leave a message and get a supervisor to call you back.

By trial and error, and entering different Potomac case numbers into the online case tracker. The last one in the system is YSC1690003505 and it says it was received January 19th. No others have been entered into the system after that (you can try searching YSC1690003506, etc, etc, and nothing comes up).

201 B INA is the law that pertains to Immediate Family visas, it's just telling you which category your petition falls under - Spouse of a US Citizen.

I am not sure I understand your message. You said no YSC case number after the one you mentioned is entered? Did I get this right? Because I am absolutely certain that our case number (received by USCIS on Feb 23) is in the system. I just checked the one you mentioned and got an error message, then I checked the one before, which does get a result - and that result is the same as mine, with the exception of the dates. (We also got a hard copy of NOA1 in the mail a few days later.)

It's a pity the shortcut does not work anymore Then again, we're so new in the system, what is going to change for a few more months anyway?

[B&Z 201]

I am not sure I understand your message. You said no YSC case number after the one you mentioned is entered? Did I get this right? Because I am absolutely certain that our case number (received by USCIS on Feb 23) is in the system. I just checked the one you mentioned and got an error message, then I checked the one before, which does get a result - and that result is the same as mine, with the exception of the dates. (We also got a hard copy of NOA1 in the mail a few days later.)

It's a pity the shortcut does not work anymore Then again, we're so new in the system, what is going to change for a few more months anyway?

Hmmm, then I guess you're a lucky one-off case...none of the rest of ours at Potomac is online yet and I've been waiting a month.

Edited March 4, 2016 by B&Z

[happiestoflives 15]

Hmmm, then I guess you're a lucky one-off case...none of the rest of ours at Potomac is online yet and I've been waiting a month.

That's odd

[Petitioner1 0]

I am not sure I understand your message. You said no YSC case number after the one you mentioned is entered? Did I get this right? Because I am absolutely certain that our case number (received by USCIS on Feb 23) is in the system. I just checked the one you mentioned and got an error message, then I checked the one before, which does get a result - and that result is the same as mine, with the exception of the dates. (We also got a hard copy of NOA1 in the mail a few days later.)

It's a pity the shortcut does not work anymore Then again, we're so new in the system, what is going to change for a few more months anyway?

Are you sure your case is shown?

I dont think so, you could be at another center, but not Potomac and I am sure about the fact that January 19th was the last case entered.

Edited March 4, 2016 by Petitioner1

[happiestoflives 15]

Are you sure your case is shown?

I dont think so, you could be at another center, but not Potomac and I am sure about the fact that January 19th was the last case entered.

My case is definitely in Potomac, number YSC16900*****.

[Petitioner1 0]

My case is definitely in Potomac, number YSC16900*****.

Ha interesting!

You joined VJ in October of 2015, you must have an older case than us who filed and joined in February 2016

Edited March 5, 2016 by Petitioner1

[happiestoflives 15]

Ha interesting!

You joined VJ in October of 2015, you must have an older case than us who filed and joined in February 2016

You do realize that just because I joined then does not mean I filed right away?? We sent initial paperwork (I-130 and accompanying papers) off in February of this year.

[Petitioner1 0]

You do realize that just because I joined then does not mean I filed right away?? We sent initial paperwork (I-130 and accompanying papers) off in February of this year.

Awesome and I am glad for you. I have resisted it because one of the officer at USCIS told me that PSC doesn't have any data entry since January 2016, he must be wrong!

[happiestoflives 15]

Awesome and I am glad for you. I have resisted it because one of the officer at USCIS told me that PSC doesn't have any data entry since January 2016, he must be wrong!

To be honest, I don't quite see a pattern in the way Potomac works, but hey, whatever, they do their job, so I actually expected that we would wait longer for NOA1, both e and hard copy, but it was here within a week of arriving there. If the data on the papers didn't match and it didn't clearly say Potomac and YSC, I would doubt the info myself, but I have seen it, and the date is absolutely correct. Maybe they're slowly working backwards as they have time or something?! It seems everything is speculation only, until you actually get some info in the mail or from a Tier 2 officer.

[JFH 12,190]

Could be they are not loading them into the system in date order. Maybe alphabetically as and when they get time. They are advertising for new staff. Hopefully the jobs will be filled soon and things will move faster.

I joined in 2012 but we filed in February 2016. We initially planned to do the K-1 but changed our minds very quickly when we realised I would be nothing more than a housewife for several months, unable to work.

[Dal&Rose 45]

I will say filing taxes as married filing jointly is a bit a of pain when including foreign income and no SSN/ITIN (yet). Hubby went to Embassy and got the ITIN form completed and passport certified to be sent in with my taxes. Been waiting for the appointment date to arrive for a month now...

[gradtaai 8]

I will say filing taxes as married filing jointly is a bit a of pain when including foreign income and no SSN/ITIN (yet). Hubby went to Embassy and got the ITIN form completed and passport certified to be sent in with my taxes. Been waiting for the appointment date to arrive for a month now...

Not sure if this is off topic but the first year I did jointly with my wife. I put "filed for" for her ITIN and included a copy of some form I received when I filed. I thought I might have to send in an amended return but never did.

[Dal&Rose 45]

I think for anyone that is filing in February and dealing with all the details of marriage and life in USA, it is on-topic. Since I am filing with the W-7 form, I'll be sending in my tax return with it. Also ended up on Tech Support for 2 hours with Turbo Tax for another reason. But it's good to go, just need to print it, get the statement for "treated as resident alien" signed by hubby, ITIN info, and I sign statement, and mail it off. And hope I didn't screw up. I have actually never done my own taxes. I already paid a professional. LOL

On a side note, when my husband made arrangements to head to London (he lives about an hour south of Birmingham), his father mentioned it would cost so-so to get to London, then the Embassy fee for certification. But in the end, our return is much nicer with MFJ, so it was worth the hassle and such to go up to London for the day.