I-130 Online Filers

[Nelly_M 7]

I just noticed that there is a draft version of I-130 sitting on my USCIS online profile page even though I completed and submitted my application awhile ago. Should I delete this draft or just ignore it? 

[LBX 44]

28 minutes ago, top_secret said:

I actually think it is meaningless what service center my case is at …

I agree. Why worry about it. You can't change your service center anyway.  I filed my I-130 online  .… figured average processing times across all centers at the time was about 9 months, give or take 3 months … used that time to start preparing for the NVC stage and then went about living my life. My approval came in about 7 months and I proceeded with the next stage.  If your I-130 application is outside normal processing times then you contact USCIS. 

 

The only people that can truly tell us what's going on in these centers are those that work there. So unless someone from USCIS has posted some explanation on a forum I have missed or someone has inside info - why worry about a game you don't know the rules. It just becomes a guessing game.

 

But I stand to be corrected.  

[Babu Frik 1,162]

2 hours ago, top_secret said:

I actually think it is meaningless what service center my case is at because I can find plenty of examples of cases that spent 3 months at Nebraska, got transferred to California and approved in a week.  Or were apparently sitting in Nebraska for 18 months but when someone called to check they find it had been transferred to California without notice 17 months ago.  It seems it is really only useful information if a case starts dragging on longer than it seems like it should.

 

But just for the sake of debate.  If I went strictly by the language of the notices available to me.  I have a mailed Receipt Notice listing the Texas Service Center.  I have an online case status that says Nebraska Service Center. Both are dated March 9.  However, going strictly by the grammar of the online case status. It says "we......mailed you a receipt notice" which is past tense, indicating that the mailing of the receipt notice happened before the time of the online case status.  Then is says "It is being processed at our Nebraska Service Center location" which is present tense.  Indicating that it is being processed at the Nebraska Service Center at the time of the online case status, which is a time that is later than when the online receipt was mailed.  So, since there is a disparity between the online case status and the receipt notice as to where the case is being processed, the grammar of the online case status says that it is the more current and up to date of the two.   Additionally, it says online "Current as of today at 11:07 a.m."

 

Either that or it is all just random.

Excellent advice.

At times I wouldn't even check anything for weeks at a time, it will drive you crazy checking all the time.

[Rusal 8]

For online filing, do we need to label the passport sized photos on the back? Seems like that defeats the purpose of uploading a simple 2" x 2" image.

[BabuG 0]

31 minutes ago, Rusal said:

For online filing, do we need to label the passport sized photos on the back? Seems like that defeats the purpose of uploading a simple 2" x 2" image.

Yes, we did it as per instructions 

[Rusal 8]

I was going to fill out the I-130A form and I noticed that the expiration date on the top right is saying 02/28/2021. This is pulled from the official website: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-130a.pdf

 

Is there going to be a problem if I fill this out and upload it in my application?

[Anne Kristina 0]

I was wondering the same. 

[JKLSemicolon 414]

16 minutes ago, Rusal said:

I was going to fill out the I-130A form and I noticed that the expiration date on the top right is saying 02/28/2021. This is pulled from the official website: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-130a.pdf

 

Is there going to be a problem if I fill this out and upload it in my application?

As long as you're using the latest form available directly from the USCIS website, then you're fine.

[JKLSemicolon 414]

2 hours ago, Rusal said:

For online filing, do we need to label the passport sized photos on the back? Seems like that defeats the purpose of uploading a simple 2" x 2" image.

Read through the entire thread if you have the time. You will find many different opinions on what to do.

 

In my case I exported the photo to a (600 dpi) PDF and added a second page with my name on it to that PDF. Others have printed the photos, written on the back, and then scanned them (which I am not a fan of), and others have simply uploaded the photos without writing any names, and instead named the file clearly with the full name and A-number (if applicable). The file name part should be done regardless, in my opinion.

 

When in doubt, look at what the instructions for the upload section to the online form say and make sure to follow any specific requirements there. I can't see those instructions anymore since I have already submitted the petition.

Edited March 30, 2021 by JKLSemicolon

[seekingthetruth 1,248]

2 hours ago, Rusal said:

For online filing, do we need to label the passport sized photos on the back? Seems like that defeats the purpose of uploading a simple 2" x 2" image.

 

2 hours ago, BabuG said:

Yes, we did it as per instructions 

No, you do not.  The paper instructions do no fit online filing word for word, unfortunately.

 

Labeling hard copy photos on the back is for old fashioned handling, as small photos tend to fall out of folders, etc.  Imagine having a stack of folders on your desk and one photo on the floor.  With online, no worries about this.

[Rusal 8]

1 minute ago, JKLSemicolon said:

Read through the entire thread if you have the time. You will find many different opinions on what to do.

 

In my case I exported the photo to a (600 dpi) PDF and added a second page with my name on it to that PDF. Others have printed the photos, written on the back, and than scanned them (which I am not a fan of), and others have simply uploaded the photos without any extra writing, and named the file clearly with the full name.

 

When in doubt, look at what the instructions for the upload section to the online form say and make sure to follow any specific requirements there. I can't see those instructions anymore since I have already submitted the petition.

Thanks, I decided to just follow the instructions on the form and provide a separate attachment with my name written on the back of the photo.

[seekingthetruth 1,248]

Question:  My I-130s were accepted and my cases are at NVC.

 

I wanted to go look at my I-130s online at USCIS, and my login no longer works.  Is that normal?

[JKLSemicolon 414]

2 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

Question:  My I-130s were accepted and my cases are at NVC.

 

I wanted to go look at my I-130s online at USCIS, and my login no longer works.  Is that normal?

I just logged into my account for the first time in a few weeks without issue.

 

The one time that I had an issue logging in (a few months ago), it was because something went wrong with the two-step verification process. I was able to restore access by using the 2fa backup code that you are given when you sign up for your account. Did you save that?

[seekingthetruth 1,248]

2 minutes ago, JKLSemicolon said:

Did you save that?

Yes, I have the backup code.  I don't even get to the 2FA step.  It just tells me invalid username or password.  I was just wondering if they cancel the login XX time after approval.  It has already been over 1 month since approval.

 

Not critical at this point.  I was just going to check something.

[JKLSemicolon 414]

18 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

Yes, I have the backup code.  I don't even get to the 2FA step.  It just tells me invalid username or password.  I was just wondering if they cancel the login XX time after approval.  It has already been over 1 month since approval.

 

Not critical at this point.  I was just going to check something.

I did a search and most threads where people had login trouble were from too many failed attempts. A poster in one thread mentioned that account would be closed if you don't log in, but I know you are on the same (relatively recent) approval timeline that I am, so that would be strange if you were already locked out for inactivity. I'm guessing you already know the standard advice of clearing cookies and browser history, trying a different browser, trying again after 24 hours, resetting your router/IP address, resetting the password, etc.

 

Good luck, hopefully it resolves itself soon and without the need to try to contact USCIS about it!

 

Edit: here's one relevant thread:

 

Edited March 30, 2021 by JKLSemicolon