Curious about the service centers

[ad8816 32]

Hey everyone! I was researching about the service centers that process the I-130 petitions (petitioning for a spouse) and my question: is there any rhyme or reason for which service center processes the I-130 packet? For example, I am a natural-born US citizen, my husband who I am petitioning for is Italian (and he is not in the United States) and I live in California. Do any of these factors affect which service center will receive my I-130 petition? For example, maybe all US citizens petitioning for a spouse from Europe will be sent to a certain service center. 

I submitted my packed on 1/29/2018 and it was received at Arizona lockbox facility on 1/31/2017 and I still have not received my NOA1 or email/text alert. So as of now, I am waiting in anticipation and hoping it won't be sent to Nebraska.  I'm just very interested in the logistics of this whole process. Good luck to everyone on here who is also waiting and anticipating!

Edited February 6, 2018 by ad8816

[ClaoBui 0]

I believe the centers are just chosen on what is available with less processing flow. We were assigned to Potomac. Our I-130 took 4 months to be approved. Good luck!

[ad8816 32]

35 minutes ago, ClaoBui said:

I believe the centers are just chosen on what is available with less processing flow. We were assigned to Potomac. Our I-130 took 4 months to be approved. Good luck!

oh wow 4 months is great! Thanks  

Edited February 6, 2018 by ad8816

[ClaoBui 0]

Not to kill your hopes but be prepared for the rest of the process to be very slow. Ours was approved in July 2016 and the interview was not scheduled until May 2017.

[zeljuu 21]

5 hours ago, ClaoBui said:

Not to kill your hopes but be prepared for the rest of the process to be very slow. Ours was approved in July 2016 and the interview was not scheduled until May 2017.

 

I didn't realize that stage between NOA2 to the interview could take so long assuming no RFE's.

[agripa 100]

14 hours ago, ZakMrak said:

I didn't realize that stage between NOA2 to the interview could take so long assuming no RFE's.

This is certainly atypical. Take a look at the timelines.

 

NOA1-NOA2 is taking ~6 months

NOA2-Case Complete ~3 months (2-3 weeks to pay all fees and submit DS-260; 10 weeks for application to be looked at)

Case Complete-Interview ~1-2 months

 

However, if you receive a checklist from the NVC (their equivalent of an RFE), your clock completely resets, i.e., takes another 10 weeks for them to evaluate it. It's not like an RFE at the I-130 stage. So it's best to be extra careful when submitting things to the NVC.