I-130 October 2020 Filers

[ztiberiusd 38]

Case status changed to actively reviewing as of March 17th!!! I thought I was going crazy checking the website every day.

 

From others experiences, how long is the case usually in the "actively reviewing" phase? 

[ztiberiusd 38]

The date on actively reviewing changed again, and then around 12 hours later, case approved!!! Hooray!

[mycase17 114]

1 hour ago, ztiberiusd said:

The date on actively reviewing changed again, and then around 12 hours later, case approved!!! Hooray!

Congratulations. 

[dopheretta 3]

On 4/2/2021 at 6:44 PM, ztiberiusd said:

The date on actively reviewing changed again, and then around 12 hours later, case approved!!! Hooray!

Congrats!! Did your case stay at Nebraska SC the whole time?

 

 

We filed on October 28 and are still waiting. However,  our VisaJourney I-130 approval estimate says it is "past due". Did any of you get the same thing?

[ztiberiusd 38]

3 hours ago, dopheretta said:

Congrats!! Did your case stay at Nebraska SC the whole time?

 

 

We filed on October 28 and are still waiting. However,  our VisaJourney I-130 approval estimate says it is "past due". Did any of you get the same thing?

Yes, it did stay at NSC the whole time.

 

I wouldn't worry too much. My approval estimate went past due numerous times. If you regularly look at the timeline, the estimate will move around some. I had it a few times where it'd become past due, then the estimate would update and it was suddenly within the date range again. It is just that, an estimate.

 

There's been a lot of cases of very quick approvals lately, but I'm still thankful that mine only took as long as it did. Given you filed around two weeks after we did, hopefully you will hear about yours in the next couple of weeks!

 

Best of luck and keep us updated. 

[Skyman 321]

51 minutes ago, ztiberiusd said:

My approval estimate went past due numerous times. If you regularly look at the timeline, the estimate will move around some. I had it a few times where it'd become past due, then the estimate would update and it was suddenly within the date range again. It is just that, an estimate.

I wonder if they change the estimates based on the number of case inquiries they get.

[dopheretta 3]

Hi everyone,

 

Found out today that our case was transferred to the Potomac Service Center, where the processing times range from 13-16.5 for a USC filing for a spouse. We were previously at Nebraska Service Center, which would have meant that we could inquire about it being past due next month. Feeling a little defeated..

[ElectricPepsi 1]

Hi all,

 

My spouse and I applied in late October 2020 and we received our NOA1 on the same day with the notice that our case was being processed in Nebraska, with an estimated processing time of 2-7 months.

 

7 months later and we haven't heard a single word back. Today was the date that our case fell outside of the expected processing time, so we tried to request an update using the online form on the USCIS website. The system replied with an automated response that our case was not outside usual processing times, and to try again once we were.

 

At this point we used the live chat service and got hold of an agent, who informed us that our case had in fact been referred to Potomac several days after our NOA1 was sent, meaning our estimated processing time is now 13-17 months, not the 2-7 months we originally expected.

 

The only silver lining is that the case was referred to Potomac mere days after Nebraska received it, so at least our 13-17 month countdown starts from October 2020 still, and not from any time more recent.

 

It's very disheartening that the time scales are so lengthy and the process is so opaque. Planning our lives around a move that we anticipate but cannot predict certainly has its challenges.

 

Hopefully this update can help inform others who may find themselves in a similar position.

 

As an aside, even worse is the fact that we originally had reached out to the US embassy in London, thinking that would be our quickest and most direct route toward getting visas processed. After three months of not hearing back from them, we decided that we were wasting our time and instead filed online. Within 48(!) hours of submitting that application we received a phone call from the embassy telling us our appointment was ready. After informing them that we had just filed online, we were told there was unfortunately no longer anything they could do to help us. An incredibly frustrating experience from start to finish.

Edited May 21, 2021 by ElectricPepsi

[Skyman 321]

2 hours ago, ElectricPepsi said:

Today was the date that our case fell outside of the expected processing time, so we tried to request an update using the online form on the USCIS website. The system replied with an automated response that our case was not outside usual processing times, and to try again once we were.

I ran into the same deal.  If you wait a day or 2 the system will allow you to file the case inquiry based on Nebraska, however, a week later you'll get an automated reply that the case is within processing time (because it's really in Potomac.)  Mine also said Nebraska for mine but the reply came from Texas where it really is.  I think your best bet to speed things up is to request the I-765 be expedited.  I did that and one week later received a biometrics appointment.  Can't hurt.

[JKLSemicolon 413]

5 minutes ago, Skyman said:

I ran into the same deal.  If you wait a day or 2 the system will allow you to file the case inquiry based on Nebraska, however, a week later you'll get an automated reply that the case is within processing time (because it's really in Potomac.)  Mine also said Nebraska for mine but the reply came from Texas where it really is.  I think your best bet to speed things up is to request the I-765 be expedited.  I did that and one week later received a biometrics appointment.  Can't hurt.

The I-765 would not be applicable for anyone filing for a CR-1/IR-1.

[Skyman 321]

5 minutes ago, JKLSemicolon said:

The I-765 would not be applicable for anyone filing for a CR-1/IR-1.

Right, forget that part.

[ASHR2020 5]

14 hours ago, ElectricPepsi said:

Hi all,

 

My spouse and I applied in late October 2020 and we received our NOA1 on the same day with the notice that our case was being processed in Nebraska, with an estimated processing time of 2-7 months.

 

7 months later and we haven't heard a single word back. Today was the date that our case fell outside of the expected processing time, so we tried to request an update using the online form on the USCIS website. The system replied with an automated response that our case was not outside usual processing times, and to try again once we were.

 

At this point we used the live chat service and got hold of an agent, who informed us that our case had in fact been referred to Potomac several days after our NOA1 was sent, meaning our estimated processing time is now 13-17 months, not the 2-7 months we originally expected.

 

The only silver lining is that the case was referred to Potomac mere days after Nebraska received it, so at least our 13-17 month countdown starts from October 2020 still, and not from any time more recent.

 

It's very disheartening that the time scales are so lengthy and the process is so opaque. Planning our lives around a move that we anticipate but cannot predict certainly has its challenges.

 

Hopefully this update can help inform others who may find themselves in a similar position.

 

As an aside, even worse is the fact that we originally had reached out to the US embassy in London, thinking that would be our quickest and most direct route toward getting visas processed. After three months of not hearing back from them, we decided that we were wasting our time and instead filed online. Within 48(!) hours of submitting that application we received a phone call from the embassy telling us our appointment was ready. After informing them that we had just filed online, we were told there was unfortunately no longer anything they could do to help us. An incredibly frustrating experience from start to finish.

We also filed in October 2020 for the I-130 online and our case was placed at the Nebraska Service Center.  Through the USCIS chat and connecting with a live agent, we found out that our case is actually at the Potomac Service Center. 

 

It is disheartening to see the differences in processing times between the two service centers. Until we are approved, we cannot really plan anything and the potential for it to take longer has really made it difficult.

 

I am sorry you are also in the same situation! I will definitely update you here, if we hear anything.

Edited May 22, 2021 by ASHR2020

[dopheretta 3]

Did anyone here get an approval lately?

 

Still waiting PD 10/28/2020

[whiterabbitt 37]

Hi! Our PD 26 Oct 2020, Texas Processing Center.

Some good news! Our 'Case Received' updated to 'Case is being Actively Reviewed' yesterday. I checked the documents tab on the USCIS website and we have 2 approval pdfs for my husband and lawyer! I expect because it is the weekend it should change to 'Case Approved' in a few days.

 

(Initially thought my PD was Nov 10 2020 as we paper filed and thats when we got notice. However in the approval pdf, it says PD 26 Oct)

 

Good luck everyone! Hang in there, yours should hopefully be soon! 

Spoiler

 

 

[Gozde 10]

58 minutes ago, whiterabbitt said:

Hi! Our PD 26 Oct 2020, Texas Processing Center.

Some good news! Our 'Case Received' updated to 'Case is being Actively Reviewed' yesterday. I checked the documents tab on the USCIS website and we have 2 approval pdfs for my husband and lawyer! I expect because it is the weekend it should change to 'Case Approved' in a few days.

 

(Initially thought my PD was Nov 10 2020 as we paper filed and thats when we got notice. However in the approval pdf, it says PD 26 Oct)

 

Good luck everyone! Hang in there, yours should hopefully be soon! 

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Congrats @whiterabbitt! Good luck on the next steps. My PD is December 14, also at Texas, hoping for approval in the next few months.