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

[AR & SA 2]

12 minutes ago, JKLSemicolon said:

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.

That is correct, JKL. Based on everyone's feedback my case was assigned to Nebraska according to the notice details after I sent it to the Texas Lockbox. 

 

The discrepancy came about when I read about varying processing times at NSC. Seems in the past couple of  weeks processing times have accelerated at NSC. That was not the case based on a lot of testimonials I was reading from about a 6-12 months ago. 

 

Appreciate your input and guidance. I am learning as fast as I can. 

 

 

 

[Chancy 6,243]

2 minutes ago, 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? 

 

Possibly.  For the longest time our online status said our case was being processed at the E-file center.  Our NOA1 letter came from Nebraska Service Center.  When we called the USCIS hotline, we found out that our case had actually been transferred to Potomac SC, despite what it said on our NOA1 and online status.  Our NOA2 came from Potomac SC.

 

[SalishSea 18,062]

3 hours ago, 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? 

That's not what that person is saying.  What he/she was saying was that your case was not 'transferred,' to NSC, as it was not originally sent to one of the other service centers for adjudication.  

 

The lockbox, which distributes petitions to the service centers, happens to be in Texas.  It is not the same as the TSC.

[JKLSemicolon 415]

2 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

That's not what that person is saying.  What he/she was saying was that your case was not 'transferred,' to NSC, as it was not originally sent to one of the other service centers for adjudication.  

 

The lockbox, which distributes petitions to the service centers, happens to be in Texas.  It is not the same as the TSC.

But the post by @top_secret (which was what the quote you included was replying to) was saying that even when the status online says Nebraska, it could actually be at another center.

 

There have been a few posts recently about discrepancies between the processing location on the NOA1 vs. myUSCIS versus what a USCIS rep has said over the phone or online. Regardless, the point that several have made in this thread still stands: best not to worry too much about which service center has your case, especially this early on. The most important thing is to make sure that everything you submit is correct and complete, because otherwise you will be looking at delays regardless of who is looking at your case.

[SalishSea 18,062]

Just now, JKLSemicolon said:

But the post by @top_secret (which was what the quote you included was replying to) was saying that even when the status online says Nebraska, it could actually be at another center.

 

There have been a few posts recently about discrepancies between the processing location on the NOA1 vs. myUSCIS versus what a USCIS rep has said over the phone or online. Regardless, the point that several have made in this thread still stands: best not to worry too much about which service center has your case, especially this early on. The most important thing is to make sure that everything you submit is correct and complete, because otherwise you will be looking at delays regardless of who is looking at your case.

I agree.  And what some of the newer VJ members don't always realize is that processing times by petition type/center are fluid and change all the time.   The center everyone wants their petition at now may not be the one everyone wanted it at 6 months ago.

[Chancy 6,243]

9 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

The center everyone wants their petition at now may not be the one everyone wanted it at 6 months ago.

 

So true!  When we filed online back in May 2020, we hoped our petition would get assigned to Potomac, or at least not Nebraska.  The next day, we got our NOA1, from Nebraska.  6 months later, we felt lucky that our petition actually went to Nebraska and not Potomac.  Then we found out it got transferred to Potomac...

 

[Ryan H 3,819]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to USCIS Service Centers forum.

[Paul and Sopheap 91]

On 3/30/2021 at 6:49 PM, 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? 

I got the online receipt yesterday, and it said that it was being processed in Nebraska. I chatted with an agent to verify and he said my petition had actually gone to the California center. I asked a second agent JUST to be sure and she also confirmed that our petition went to CSC. Seems like the online receipt is showing Nebraska for a lot of people but when they chat or get the mail receipt it will be a different location. 

[AR & SA 2]

This is so confusing...... I received a letter today (Form I-797C) from the Texas Service Center that shows my petition information and when USCIS received my paper-form. It has the same receipt number that I got via text message. 

 

I called CIS and the rep said in their system it is showing my case is being processed at Nebraska. She also told me she has no idea why I got a letter from Texas Service Center. According to her, USCIS has not even sent me a notice letter yet. So what the heck is form I-797C that I received today???

 

Lastly, I created an online account on my.uscis.gov and wanted to add my paper-filed case to my online account. In addition to my receipt number, it is asking me for an access code. When will I get the access code?  Does it come in a separate letter or will it be send when they actually send me another notice letter?

 

Any help is appreciated. 

Edited April 3, 2021 by AR & SA

[Dasf 16]

12 minutes ago, AR & SA said:

This is so confusing...... I received a letter today (Form I-797C) from the Texas Service Center that shows my petition information and when USCIS received my paper-form. It has the same receipt number that I got via text message. 

 

I called CIS and the rep said in their system it is showing my case is being processed at Nebraska. She also told me she has no idea why I got a letter from Texas Service Center. According to her, USCIS has not even sent me a notice letter yet. So what the heck is from I-797C that I received today???

 

Lastly, I created an online account on USCIS and wanted to add my paper-filed case to my online account. In addition to my receipt number, it is asking me for an access code. When will I get the access code?  Does it come in a separate letter or will it be send when they actually send me another notice letter?

 

Any help is appreciated. 

Hi. So when I first filed by mail I got the receipt # via text message. It said it was processing in Nebraska. However the 797 was mailed from Texas, and phone reps say it is in CA.

 

You should be receiving the 797 shortly. I received two. One is the "account access". It tells you how to make an online account and it gives you the access code you need to make one. The other will be the receipt which is also a 797. Shows your spouse name, the fee you paid, the priority date etc. 

 

If you look up your case online right now vs creating an account you will literally see the same info. I was so eager for a paper receipt and to make an account but you will still get the same status update. I am assuming yours right now states "Your case has been received and is being processed at the so and so service center".

 

https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do

Edited April 3, 2021 by Dasf

[AR & SA 2]

2 minutes ago, Dasf said:

Hi. So when I first filed by mail I got the receipt # via text message. It said it was processing in CA. However the 797 was mailed from Texas, and phone reps say it is in CA.

 

You should be receiving the 797 shortly. I received two. One is the "account access". It tells you how to make an online account and it gives you the access code you need to make one. The other will be the receipt which is also a 797. Shows your spouse name, the fee you paid, the priority date etc. 

 

If you look up your case online right now vs creating an account you will literally see the same info. I was so eager for a paper receipt and to make an account but you will still get the same status update. I am assuming yours right now states "Your case has been received and is being processed at the so and so service center".

 

https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do

I did receive my first 797C today from Texas Service Center which has my spouse's name, receipt number and it shows the payment amount. It does not state where my case is being processed. Looking up my receipt number on USCIS online, it says it is being processed at Nebraska and the rep confirmed that. 

 

So,  you are saying a second 797C letter will be sent with more details including my online access code  which I can use to add my paper-filed case to my USCIS online account that I created? 

 

Thanks for your reply, btw. 

[Dasf 16]

2 minutes ago, AR & SA said:

I did receive my first 797C today from Texas Service Center which has my spouse's name, receipt number and it shows the payment amount. It does not state where my case is being processed. Looking up my receipt number on USCIS online, it says it is being processed at Nebraska and the rep confirmed that. 

 

So,  you are saying a second 797C letter will be sent with more details including my online access code  which I can use to add my paper-filed case to my USCIS online account that I created? 

 

Thanks for your reply, btw. 

Yes, that is correct. Looks like we are in the same boat. Online says Nebraska, NOA1 mailed from Texas... Seems like a lot of filers initially see Nebraska. Im wondering if its just a default before they assign it to a different center.

[AR & SA 2]

2 hours ago, Paul and Sopheap said:

I got the online receipt yesterday, and it said that it was being processed in Nebraska. I chatted with an agent to verify and he said my petition had actually gone to the California center. I asked a second agent JUST to be sure and she also confirmed that our petition went to CSC. Seems like the online receipt is showing Nebraska for a lot of people but when they chat or get the mail receipt it will be a different location. 

Paul, it is more confusing than that.......

 

03/29 text message / online status say Nebraska

04/02 receive 1st 797-C letter from the Texas Service Center

04/02 Called CIS agent and she has no idea why I have received a 797C notice and thinks its a glitch in the system. She says a notice has not been sent yet and my case is with Nebraska 

According to Dasf a second 797-C will be coming with more info and  will include the online access code