Best Service Center for Processing

[AstroCanada 206]

Hey all. I'm new to your forum. Getting married tomorrow(!) and then starting the I-130 process. I'm an American living in Canada on a NAFTA work permit that expires Sept. 1. I'm marrying a Canadian. I'm trying to get a sense of what the fastest service center is to direct the I-130 as we're not entirely sure where we're going to move. I'm wondering if it gets sorted based on the "intended destination address" provided. Our most likely destination is California (CSC) but I could use my parents permanent address in Illinois (NSC). Both of them are showing 5 months to process the I-130.

Any tips at this point for fastest processing?

[B&Z 201]

Unfortunately, you can't choose which service center your petition gets sent to and it doesn't matter where you live (it's not assigned based on where you live). The petition gets assigned to whichever service center can handle the workload.

[AstroCanada 206]

Unfortunately, you can't choose which service center your petition gets sent to and it doesn't matter where you live (it's not assigned based on where you live). The petition gets assigned to whichever service center can handle the workload.

Aha, guess I can't get clever. Any tips on what intended address to choose when you're not sure where your job will take you?

[B&Z 201]

If you're living outside of the US, your petition should be sent to the Chicago lockbox (as stated at the very bottom of the list of states next to the Chicago Lockbox address on the I-130 Instructions)

Edited April 27, 2016 by B&Z

[Canerican 242]

Unfortunately, you can't choose which service center your petition gets sent to and it doesn't matter where you live (it's not assigned based on where you live). The petition gets assigned to whichever service center can handle the workload.

This is not correct. If you are living in the USA it is based on where you live, it says it right on the uscis website, "File at the Chicago or Phoenix Lockbox, depending on where you live." Although you are correct that it goes to the Chicago Lockbox if applying outside the USA.

[arken 4,197]

This is not correct. If you are living in the USA it is based on where you live, it says it right on the uscis website, "File at the Chicago or Phoenix Lockbox, depending on where you live." Although you are correct that it goes to the Chicago Lockbox if applying outside the USA.

....and from those lockbox facitlities, the petition gets assigned to any processing centers regardless of where the petitioner lives.

[AstroCanada 206]

We're both living abroad in Canada now, so it appears the Chicago lockbox is the place to file. I'm returning to the US in 4 months when my work authorization in Canada expires. Guess it doesn't matter where I tell them I'm moving. Just trying to make sure I optimize any decisions I make at this point.

[Bluey 2]

you are better off to file when you are back in states, just to save to hassle. my 2 cents.

[Caykay1 71]

Look in DCF. Since you're living abroad, I believe it should work for you and takes at most 90 days if you qualify. I don't know much just learning from here too. I don't know the requirement for DCF except being abroad and I believe married to a foreign native. Marry himself her and look that way. FASTEST

Edited April 27, 2016 by Caykay1

[AstroCanada 206]

you are better off to file when you are back in states, just to save to hassle. my 2 cents.

Why would I wait to move back? My I-130 will probably just sit around until I'm back in the states anyway. Might as well get some jump on this process.

Look in DCF. Since you're living abroad, I believe it should work for you and takes at most 90 days if you qualify. I don't know much just learning from here too. I don't know the requirement for DCF except being abroad and I believe married to a foreign native. Marry himself her and look that way. FASTEST

Sadly there is no DCF in Canada (except in exceptional circumstances). I'm quite jealous looking at the processing times of people on here that get to use DCF.

[JFH 12,190]

We're both living abroad in Canada now, so it appears the Chicago lockbox is the place to file. I'm returning to the US in 4 months when my work authorization in Canada expires. Guess it doesn't matter where I tell them I'm moving. Just trying to make sure I optimize any decisions I make at this point.

It makes no difference at all where you live or where you are moving to. Two neighbours could file on the same day and be sent to different service centres.

We had (jokingly) hoped for California because my husband was born there so our envelope included a nice blue California birth certificate. We were wishfully hoping someone at the Phoenix lock box would see it and say "ooooh I'll send this one to California". No such luck. We were sent to Nebraska. As I suspected we would all along.

[JFH 12,190]

This is not correct. If you are living in the USA it is based on where you live, it says it right on the uscis website, "File at the Chicago or Phoenix Lockbox, depending on where you live." Although you are correct that it goes to the Chicago Lockbox if applying outside the USA.

There are two lock boxes for CR-1 and you send to the one that is correct for your place of residence. But those are just lock boxes and mail reception centres. They don't process the petitions. They send the petitions randomly to the 5 service centres that do processs the petitions. Completely randomly. OP is asking about service centres. Not lock boxes. He was hoping he could nominate a service centre to process his petition.

[Thesmiths2016 117]

All of the above comments are correct. I filed from abroad, and sent to the chicago lockbox as instructed. They distribute to the service centres based on workload. Sometimes filed abroad applications seem to get expedited via California (who are also historically the fastest service centre) but it's completely outside your control. We got sent to Nebraska service centre which is currently sitting at 2nd place for speed from all the evidence we've seen. There's really no way to "sway" them one way or another sorry :-( But no matter where you end up for processing you'll be in good company here on the forum in the waiting game

[Ortolan 381]

Go ahead and file, to get started as soon as possible. When you do move, be sure to send in your change of address. Good luck!

[NikLR 13,227]

File from Canada. There is an unofficial auto expedite if you do not have a US address. Hopefully you'll be routed to California and get the petition done in a month or two vs 5. Do not wait until you're back into the USA to file, that just wastes time.