Which service centre to send i-129f?

[Hank_ 9,174]

In 2013, they transferred whatever was at VSC to TSC. Before then, I don't think TSC did I-129fs. TSC was apparently really, really, really bad at processing I-129fs, got a huge backlog and the resulting workload imbalance with CSC (average 3 weeks vs TSC's 8 months) got VJ up in arms.

A coordinated effort more than likely effected change and on March 26, 2015, they announced a workload transfer that would effect I-129fs (among others). There was a lot of hopeful speculation as to what that workload transfer would entail but long story short: they didn't actually move anyone stuck at TSC and apparently instructed the Lockbox to forward all I-129fs to CSC. I say "apparently" because they didn't announce a policy change-- it's just clear that that's what's happened. With the exception of the newbies who are confused when they fill out their timeline, no case tracked here on VJ has been routed to TSC since early April 2015. A few have been transferred from CSC to VSC but not sent to VSC directly from the Lockbox. Considering that CSC has been handling 100% of the I-129f caseload for 13 months and is still churning them out in less than half the time TSC was, I think that the arms raised here on VJ were justified. They simply did not have the resources to handle the workload.

For this OP: you send all petitions to Lockboxes. The Lockbox refers to the correct service center. It's a little weird now that only one service center takes I-129fs but that's just the process. It's probably because that's where the money is handled. So if service centers can't handle your check or money order, they're going to send it to the Lockbox anyway. Plus, who knows-- they could open up any of the service centers to I-129fs next week. The Lockbox would then route based on where the shortest line is (allegedly) or what state you live in (which is how the TSC/ CSC thing was an issue) or by flipping a coin or.... whatever.

Yup. The other poster was stating 6 years, which isn't reality

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Got it...I found the link...They changed it 6yrs ago...Never knew. Thanks

https://www.uscis.gov/archive/archive-news/change-filing-location-form-i-129f-petition-alien-fiancee

You were talking about the TSC processing I-129F petitions, then stated you found the link that shows they started 6 years ago. No. You used to mail the petitions directly to one of the service centers, the CSC or the VSC, but then 6 years ago in 2010, they started having all the petitions mailed to the Dallas Lockbox address. The lockbox is an intake facility. It is not the TSC.

In the summer of 2013, all the backlogged cases at the VSC were transferred to the TSC, which then began processing the I-129F petitions and the VSC stopped. Currently only the CSC is processing them because the TSC ended up getting severely backlogged, just as the VSC had.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

You were talking about the TSC processing I-129F petitions, then stated you found the link that shows they started 6 years ago. No. You used to mail the petitions directly to one of the service centers, the CSC or the VSC, but then 6 years ago in 2010, they started having all the petitions mailed to the Dallas Lockbox address. The lockbox is an intake facility. It is not the TSC.

In the summer of 2013, all the backlogged cases at the VSC were transferred to the TSC, which then began processing the I-129F petitions and the VSC stopped. Currently only the CSC is processing them because the TSC ended up getting severely backlogged, just as the VSC had.

I don't understand your first paragraph. The link i found showed that petitions used to be sent directly to TSC. I am only talking about TSC not other centers.

The link basically explains what you just said. I don't know what I said wrong. I wasn't aware from my earlier post that you could send the petition straight away to the service center. The link I found stated when and why it was halted. Again, we are talking about just TSC.

OP wants to know where to send her petition. we weren't taking about the who processed it after it has gone to the Lockbox (first processing stage)

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

I don't understand your first paragraph. The link i found showed that petitions used to be sent directly to TSC. I am only talking about TSC not other centers.

The link basically explains what you just said. I don't know what I said wrong. I wasn't aware from my earlier post that you could send the petition straight away to the service center. The link I found stated when and why it was halted. Again, we are talking about just TSC.

OP wants to know where to send her petition. we weren't taking about the who processed it after it has gone to the Lockbox (first processing stage)

People confuse the Dallas Lockbox and the TSC as the same place all the time. They are not. The lockbox is an intake facility and is not a service center at all. The TSC is a service center just happens to be in the same state as the lockbox, but they are not the same place.

The link you provided is from 2010. It is talking about the announcement back then, 6 years ago, that the petitions were to stop being directly mailed to the CSC and the VSC and to all start being mailed to the Dallas Lockbox address. Petitions back then were not mailed to the TSC before switching over to the lockbox address because the TSC was not processing I-129F petitions back then. If you read that old announcement, it only mentions California and Vermont. The TSC did not start processing I-129F petitions until July 2013, and have already stopped.

The I-129F instructions of where to file the form are right there on the USCIS page where you download the form. The OP only needed to read that.