Case Transfer from National Benefit Center

[AnnaF 0]

Our I-129F case is now at the National Benefit Center. I see a lot of people's cases being transferred from there to CSC or VSC? So before we can expect an approval, we should wait for a transfer notice first?? Why do they do this?

[Niels Bohr 72]

It's a new filing protocol that they implemented. Something I just found out in another thread.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced new filing procedures for Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) and Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Status). Effective April 2, 2007, these filings will be the first applications affected by the recently implemented Bi-Specialization policy which distributes petition documentation to specialized service centers.

Petitioners will be required to file these applications directly with the service center that has jurisdiction over the place of employment or residence. These forms will be either filed with the Vermont Service Center (VSC) or the California Service Center (CSC). Once the petition is sent to the VSC or CSC, petitioners can expect that the receipt notice and approval notice will come directly from that service center. This revised process should simplify the previous procedure of sending the applications to one service center which would then subsequently distribute to another for adjudication.

A grace period has been announced between April 2 and April 16 during which the USCIS will accept all I-129 and I-539 petitions regardless of the new filing procedures. Also, H-1B petitions that have been prepared in advance of the April 2 filing date do not require a change to the service center address on support letters or documents, but should be sent to the service center that currently has jurisdiction. Beginning April 17, 2007, all cases must be sent to the correct service center or the petition will be rejected and returned with fees and instructions for proper filing.

Edited April 13, 2007 by consolemaster

[AnnaF 0]

It's a new filing protocol that they implemented. Something I just found out in another thread.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced new filing procedures for Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker) and Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Status). Effective April 2, 2007, these filings will be the first applications affected by the recently implemented Bi-Specialization policy which distributes petition documentation to specialized service centers.

Petitioners will be required to file these applications directly with the service center that has jurisdiction over the place of employment or residence. These forms will be either filed with the Vermont Service Center (VSC) or the California Service Center (CSC). Once the petition is sent to the VSC or CSC, petitioners can expect that the receipt notice and approval notice will come directly from that service center. This revised process should simplify the previous procedure of sending the applications to one service center which would then subsequently distribute to another for adjudication.

A grace period has been announced between April 2 and April 16 during which the USCIS will accept all I-129 and I-539 petitions regardless of the new filing procedures. Also, H-1B petitions that have been prepared in advance of the April 2 filing date do not require a change to the service center address on support letters or documents, but should be sent to the service center that currently has jurisdiction. Beginning April 17, 2007, all cases must be sent to the correct service center or the petition will be rejected and returned with fees and instructions for proper filing.

I-129 is not the same as I-129F...What does that have to do with family reunification visas?

[Niels Bohr 72]

Oh. Hmm....I forgot.

At the USCIS, it says all LIFE ACT VISA are to be processed at the NBC. But, when they transfer it to CSC or VSC, I don't know what else is being done to them.

Edited April 13, 2007 by consolemaster