Potomac Service Center - 2021

[HurtRN 50]

I did not see another topic that was recent for a certain service center....I just learned my I-130 was apparently assigned to Potomac even though my paperwork online and in the mail showed Nebraska.  That changes the processing time dramatically.  I am looking for others that are in the Potomac service center and/or those who have recently been approved via that center and how long they had to wait. This whole process sure is full of up and down emotions.....especially when you see the official estimated processing times on USCIS's website.  

 

So so annoyed although I know I have no control over it.  All I can do it wait...but dang it is so hard. 

[Capital Z 51]

USCIS transfer cases to other centers without any notices according to them its called balancing of work load if you are lucky your case might transfer to a center with faster processing which rarely happens in my case mine was transfered from California to Vermont which is the slowest of all centers. As per Uscis processing estimates they are not accurate.

[HurtRN 50]

5 minutes ago, Capital Z said:

USCIS transfer cases to other centers without any notices according to them its called balancing of work load if you are lucky your case might transfer to a center with faster processing which rarely happens in my case mine was transfered from California to Vermont which is the slowest of all centers. As per Uscis processing estimates they are not accurate.

Thanks for the encouragement!  You would think spreading out the cases would make it more efficient but it is the US Government we are talking about…I should know nothing they do is efficient other than taxes in their favor. Haha. 

[AnnaCa 63]

1 hour ago, HurtRN said:

I did not see another topic that was recent for a certain service center....I just learned my I-130 was apparently assigned to Potomac even though my paperwork online and in the mail showed Nebraska.  That changes the processing time dramatically.  I am looking for others that are in the Potomac service center and/or those who have recently been approved via that center and how long they had to wait. This whole process sure is full of up and down emotions.....especially when you see the official estimated processing times on USCIS's website.  

 

So so annoyed although I know I have no control over it.  All I can do it wait...but dang it is so hard. 

Yeah, I feel you. We filed in April and were so happy about being assigned to Nebraska. It even said on the hard copy of the I-130 we got in the mail, but when we chatted with a live agent on uscis webpage they first told us that it was being processed in Texas. The next time we asked they told us Potomac (and has done so every time since). If you are not a member of the "I-130 Petition Potomac Filers" on Facebook I suggest you join there as well. It seems like people who filed in October/November 2020 are being approved now, which makes the waiting time closer to 11 months than the 13-16.5 months as stated on USCIS webpage. 

 

Also it seems like sometimes people who file for the K3 visa have their I-130 approved faster. Now this is not guaranteed or stated anywhere, but according to the posts in the Facebook group it looks like that is the tendency. K3 is an outdated visa in itself, it is not really processed anymore, but some file for it and hope that it will speed up the process of the I-130 being approved. There is no fee to file it, other than actually having to mail in the papers. 

 

Anyways, good luck! I hope you are approved fast! (and that the processing time in Potomac fall even more, for both our cases 😊) 

[HurtRN 50]

39 minutes ago, AnnaCa said:

Yeah, I feel you. We filed in April and were so happy about being assigned to Nebraska. It even said on the hard copy of the I-130 we got in the mail, but when we chatted with a live agent on uscis webpage they first told us that it was being processed in Texas. The next time we asked they told us Potomac (and has done so every time since). If you are not a member of the "I-130 Petition Potomac Filers" on Facebook I suggest you join there as well. It seems like people who filed in October/November 2020 are being approved now, which makes the waiting time closer to 11 months than the 13-16.5 months as stated on USCIS webpage. 

 

Also it seems like sometimes people who file for the K3 visa have their I-130 approved faster. Now this is not guaranteed or stated anywhere, but according to the posts in the Facebook group it looks like that is the tendency. K3 is an outdated visa in itself, it is not really processed anymore, but some file for it and hope that it will speed up the process of the I-130 being approved. There is no fee to file it, other than actually having to mail in the papers. 

 

Anyways, good luck! I hope you are approved fast! (and that the processing time in Potomac fall even more, for both our cases 😊) 

Hey - oh wow, so you have been waiting quite a while.  I have seen some people go through the entire process in 5-6 months - including NVC etc.  Thanks so much for that information on the Facebook group, I will definitely go look it up and join. 

 

I have heard about the K3 possibly being a nudge to hurry up the process....but, it is just so frustrating that someone could be approved so fast and then folks like you have been waiting for the first step to be completed for that same amount of time!  

 

I do not know what our choices are or what good it would do to make our voices heard to all congress men and women as well as senators....

 

Wishing you the best too....hopefully Potomac will get you processed thru ASAP.