USCIS Chicago Lockbox - any experience?

[rahill 28]

I am currently in my fiancé's home country Ethiopia. Our fiancé visa was denied at the interview (basically the officer didn't believe we were a "bonafide" couple despite having spent months together and having submitted supporting documentation to show this fact. So we plan to marry while I am here and re-file for a spouse visa (CR-1) this time. I am planning to stay in Ethiopia for at least 6 months and do not want to wait until I am back in US to file because it breaks my heart that he might not be coming home with me. However, Ethiopia, unfortunately, does not allow direct consular filings so we have to send the petition to the Chicago lockbox. Does anyone on this forum have experience with this lockbox and applying while you are in your spouse's home country but not using direct consular filing? I plan to mail the petition via DHL and there is an address for "for express mail and courier deliveries" so I assume that includes DHL? Also, will the USCIS send me notification of receipt to an Ethiopian PO Box? There is no residential mail delivery here. I am a US citizen and I am maintaining a permanent address in the US (I am only renting while I am gone) but I assume I should put my Ethiopian residence address on the petition and only use my US address for the section that asks where we plan to live in country. Any information/guidance is appreciated.

[JFH 12,190]

The Chicago lockbox is just that - a mail box. They don't processs the applications there. They just open them, make a quick check that the form has been signed and the payment is there and then forward to a random service centre. Half of all petitions are sent to Chicago. The other half to Phoenix, AZ. People in the eastern half of the country and those overseas send to Chicago. The people in the western half of the country send it to Phoenix. You have no choice in the matter where you send it. As I said, all they are is a mail reception and handling centre.

The service centres work at different speeds, we have noticed. But since you have no control over which service centre your petition is sent to, it's not worth thinking about or worrying about which one it will go to. Ours was sent to Nebraska and you can see in my signature how long we have been waiting for an approval. Expect about 5 or 6 months for an approval.

[rahill 28]

The Chicago lockbox is just that - a mail box. They don't processs the applications there. They just open them, make a quick check that the form has been signed and the payment is there and then forward to a random service centre. Half of all petitions are sent to Chicago. The other half to Phoenix, AZ. People in the eastern half of the country and those overseas send to Chicago. The people in the western half of the country send it to Phoenix. You have no choice in the matter where you send it. As I said, all they are is a mail reception and handling centre.

The service centres work at different speeds, we have noticed. But since you have no control over which service centre your petition is sent to, it's not worth thinking about or worrying about which one it will go to. Ours was sent to Nebraska and you can see in my signature how long we have been waiting for an approval. Expect about 5 or 6 months for an approval.

Thank you for your response. Yes I am aware that it is a lock box. I was just wondering what kinds of response times people have gotten sending it through that lockbox and if they will accept something sent via DHL and if the notifications of receipt will be able to reach an Ethiopian PO Box. Thank you for your insight about where the applications go from there. When we applied for K-1 fiancé visa I was in the US and the petition was processed at the USCIS in California then sent to the NVC in NH and we got an approval after only 3 months. It sounds like filing from overseas may take longer from start to finish.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,408]

I don't believe USCIS sends notifications abroad. You should give someone's address in the US as mailing address, a trustworthy person, who'll check the mail and notify you.

CR-1 takes about a year from filing to visa in hand.

Edited July 1, 2016 by EM_Vandaveer

[JFH 12,190]

You can send it by DHL from overseas. USCIS places no requirements on which carrier you are to use to get the documents to them. So go with what works best for you. I sent ours from the UK as my husband is dyslexic so I was the "preparer" for our petition. It was picked up on Friday by UPS and delivered to Phoenix on Monday. That cost me around $30. I could have taken a cheaper, slower service but I'm impatient.

The length of time it takes will depend on which service centre you get.

I have heard of people receiving the NOA1 overseas (Australia, for example) and it took about a month. If you get an RFE time is of the essence so it's good to use the address of someone in the USA who can forward mail to you quickly if needed.

Edited July 1, 2016 by JFH

[teddy k 35]

Hi if I was you use DHL there're dependable on getting your package to the USA but I would use a USA address for the notice informing you that it was received if not your out of luck