I-130 Sent to Texas - Transferred to Nebraska After 27 Days

[AR & SA 2]

Hi, I sent my I-130 to the Texas SC on 03/02 and was waiting for my delayed receipt notice. Last night (03/29), all of a sudden, I received a text message that it has been received and is now being processed at the Nebraska SC. I assume this is my NOA1 after 27 days. 

 

Looking at the USCIS processing times, it seems Nebraska is processing IR1/CR1 cases much faster these days. This is in stark contrast to what everyone is complaining about extended delays at the NSC.  Should I be worried? It seems there are all sorts of bad feedback about NSC processing times. 

 

Also, what is everyone's thoughts about applying for the K3 now that I got my receipt notice? The goal is not so much getting the K3 approved, however, using it as a leverage to ensure my I-130 does not get stuck in Nebraska? 

 

 

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

You sent the I-130 to the TSC?  or a the lockbox?  No need for worry since you have no control over which service center processes your I-130.  K-3s are dead.  Don't even bother.  None were issued last year, I have heard.  It guarantees nothing at all.  Just sit back and enjoy the ride....and read, read, read.....

Edited March 30, 2021 by Lucky Cat

[JFH 12,190]

Service center processing times come and go depending on the workload. The published processing times relate to how long those currently being approved have, on average, been waiting. That really doesn’t affect you at all. Yours may be faster or slower. 
 

Spend the time you are waiting for approval on getting things ready for the NVC so that you can get through that part as quickly as possible. 

Edited March 30, 2021 by JFH

[AR & SA 2]

I think it is the lockbox per instructions from USCIS website for FedEx deliveries. (2501 S. State Hwy, 121 Business, Suite 400, Lewisville, TX 75067). 

 

 

 

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

1 minute ago, AR & SA said:

I think it is the lockbox per instructions from USCIS website for FedEx deliveries. (2501 S. State Hwy, 121 Business, Suite 400, Lewisville, TX 75067). 

 

 

 

That's the lockbox. 

[JFH 12,190]

1 minute ago, AR & SA said:

I think it is the lockbox per instructions from USCIS website for FedEx deliveries. (2501 S. State Hwy, 121 Business, Suite 400, Lewisville, TX 75067). 

 

 

 

Yes, that’s the lockbox not the Texas service center. The lockbox is just a big mail handling room. They open the packages, make a few cursory checks to see that the form is signed, the correct fee has been paid and the correct form (version) has been used. Then they send the petitions to the various service centers for adjudication. 

[AR & SA 2]

4 minutes ago, JFH said:

Service center processing times come and go depending on the workload. The published processing times relate to how long those currently being approved have, on average, been waiting. That really doesn’t affect you at all. Yours may be faster or slower. 
 

Spend the time you are waiting for approval on getting things ready for the NVC so that you can get through that part as quickly as possible. 

Great point, JFH.  

 

Frankly,  it is nerve wracking because Nebraska seems to suffer from chronic delay times. 

[Crazy Cat 41,836]

Just now, AR & SA said:

Great point, JFH.  

 

Frankly,  it is nerve wracking because Nebraska seems to suffer from chronic delay times. 

Our case was originally sent to Nebraska in 2016.  A few months later, USCIS transferred the I-130 to the Texas service center.  It didn't delay the process.  USCIS routinely transfers cases.

[AR & SA 2]

2 minutes ago, JFH said:

Yes, that’s the lockbox not the Texas service center. The lockbox is just a big mail handling room. They open the packages, make a few cursory checks to see that the form is signed, the correct fee has been paid and the correct form (version) has been used. Then they send the petitions to the various service centers for adjudication. 

ahhhh... got it. At least, I got my receipt notice in 27 days. I read people are waiting months for just a receipt notice these days. 

 

Hope my case does not get stuck in Nebraska now that I landed there.  

[pushbrk 12,876]

To be clear, there IS  a Texas Service Center.  It's in Mesquite, 30 minutes East of downtown Dallas.  The Lockbox is actually in Lewisville, in a strip mall/office building, 20 minutes NW of downtown Dallas.  The USCIS "local office" is in Irving.

Edited March 30, 2021 by pushbrk

[JKLSemicolon 411]

58 minutes ago, AR & SA said:

Hi, I sent my I-130 to the Texas SC on 03/02 and was waiting for my delayed receipt notice. Last night (03/29), all of a sudden, I received a text message that it has been received and is now being processed at the Nebraska SC. I assume this is my NOA1 after 27 days. 

 

Looking at the USCIS processing times, it seems Nebraska is processing IR1/CR1 cases much faster these days. This is in stark contrast to what everyone is complaining about extended delays at the NSC.  Should I be worried? It seems there are all sorts of bad feedback about NSC processing times. 

 

Also, what is everyone's thoughts about applying for the K3 now that I got my receipt notice? The goal is not so much getting the K3 approved, however, using it as a leverage to ensure my I-130 does not get stuck in Nebraska? 

 

 

I'm not sure where you are seeing "everyone" complaining about extended delays at the Nebraska Service Center. I certainly haven't seen any complaints recently, and the recent data on this website shows that processing has been faster than other centers:

 

I would focus more on preparing the things that are under your control and not worry about what center is processing your case.

 

As others have said, don't bother with the K3.

[JKLSemicolon 411]

Just to add: based on what you describe, your timeline is not accurate in that your case was not transferred. It never was at the Texas Service Center; you filed the petition at the Dallas Lockbox and it was assigned to the Nebraska Service Center. To others reading, the delay in receiving the I-797 receipt notice/NOA1 described here is why filing the I-130 online can have its advantages (a receipt notice is generated immediately).

 

Good luck.

[top_secret 2,417]

Nebraska has been very fast for some people lately.  I noticed a number of ~60 day approvals in the last few weeks.  However they are also slow for some people.  Just because it says online that it was sent to Nebraska does not necessarily really mean that it is being processed in Nebraska because it could say Nebraska but really be processed in California. One could call and inquire but some of the phone agents may give a correct answer but some may not give the correct answer.  The only way to know with certainty where it would actually be adjudicated is to wait until after the adjudication and see where it says on the NOA2.  All is well.

[AR & SA 2]

1 minute ago, top_secret said:

Nebraska has been very fast for some people lately.  I noticed a number of ~60 day approvals in the last few weeks.  However they are also slow for some people.  Just because it says online that it was sent to Nebraska does not necessarily really mean that it is being processed in Nebraska because it could say Nebraska but really be processed in California. One could call and inquire but some of the phone agents may give a correct answer but some may not give the correct answer.  The only way to know with certainty where it would actually be adjudicated is to wait until after the adjudication and see where it says on the NOA2.  All is well.

When I look up the receipt status online it states "It is being processed at our Nebraska Service Center location" . Are saying that may not be accurate? 

[top_secret 2,417]

Just now, AR & SA said:

When I look up the receipt status online it states "It is being processed at our Nebraska Service Center location" . Are saying that may not be accurate? 

Well if I went looking for others outcomes as examples, I could find multiple cases where it was completely accurate and multiple cases where it turned out not to be accurate.