Where is my case when i'm awaiting NOA2?

[bobobobobo 31]

So I've received my NOA1 quite awhile back, waiting for approval and all that, but I'm curious where my file is when it's awaiting NOA2. Is it at the NVC/embassy or is it with USCIS still? 
Curious because I read that beneficiary cannot change country of residence while it is still with USCIS. 

 

Thank you in advance!

[powerpuff 6,438]

It’s at California Service Center with USCIS as indicated on your NOA1.

 

4 minutes ago, bobobobobo said:

Curious because I read that beneficiary cannot change country of residence while it is still with USCIS. 

Please provide a source as this is the first time I’m hearing of that.   

[bobobobobo 31]

5 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

It’s at California Service Center with USCIS as indicated on your NOA1.

 

Please provide a source as this is the first time I’m hearing of that.   

Alright, thank you

I looked around some more to see if anyone else had asked first and i stumbled upon this thread (latest reply)

 

 

[SalishSea 17,383]

10 minutes ago, bobobobobo said:

So I've received my NOA1 quite awhile back, waiting for approval and all that, but I'm curious where my file is when it's awaiting NOA2. Is it at the NVC/embassy or is it with USCIS still? 
Curious because I read that beneficiary cannot change country of residence while it is still with USCIS. 

 

Thank you in advance!

"NOA2" is simply the notice of petition approval.  Yours has not yet been adjudicated for approval, so obviously it is still at the California Service Center where all I-129Fs are processed.

 

Once approved, they will send you the NOA2 and the approved petition will go to NVC to wait for dispatch to the consulate.

 

It isn't that you cannot "change country of residence" while it is still with USCIS; its that USCIS is completely separate from the functions of the Dept of State, so such requests would have to be made once it gets to NVC.

[Crazy Cat 41,010]

2 minutes ago, bobobobobo said:

Alright, thank you

I looked around some more to see if anyone else had asked first and i stumbled upon this thread (latest reply)

 

 

The petition will remain at USCIS until a slot opens at the appropriate consulate.   Your petition has not yet been approved by USCIS, thus it is there.

[powerpuff 6,438]

1 minute ago, bobobobobo said:

Alright, thank you

I looked around some more to see if anyone else had asked first and i stumbled upon this thread (latest reply)

The beneficiary can definitely move. I have done so myself when I was going through K1 while waiting for NOA2 and I updated it when the petition arrived at NVC because they’re the ones who assign it to a consulate, so it’s unnecessary to do it while you’re at USCIS. I think that’s where your question came from, hope this helps 

[Crazy Cat 41,010]

17 minutes ago, bobobobobo said:

So I've received my NOA1 quite awhile back, waiting for approval and all that, but I'm curious where my file is when it's awaiting NOA2. Is it at the NVC/embassy or is it with USCIS still? 
Curious because I read that beneficiary cannot change country of residence while it is still with USCIS. 

 

Thank you in advance!

USCIS must approve the petition, then NVC must assign a DOS control number to your case before it ever goes to the consulate.  Your case is still at USCIS.

[bobobobobo 31]

11 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

The beneficiary can definitely move. I have done so myself when I was going through K1 while waiting for NOA2 and I updated it when the petition arrived at NVC because they’re the ones who assign it to a consulate, so it’s unnecessary to do it while you’re at USCIS. I think that’s where your question came from, hope this helps 

thank you! it definitely did

a question though: did it in any way prolong your case? I also read on another thread that it prolonged it by 30 days 

[powerpuff 6,438]

28 minutes ago, bobobobobo said:

thank you! it definitely did

a question though: did it in any way prolong your case? I also read on another thread that it prolonged it by 30 days 

Maybe by 2 weeks; also depends how backlogged your consulate is. If it’s really backlogged and your case would have been at NVC for a prolonged period, then it doesn’t affect anything.