Is it normal for a stand alone I-130 for overseas spouse to sit for 9 months with zero updates?

[TO285 1]

Filed the I-130 using the USCIS online form filer. Case immediately went to 'Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS' and I received the notice of receipt online and in the mail.  It has 'Our records show nothing is outstanding at this time. We will let you know if we need anything from you.' on the case home page.

 

Since then, there has been zero changes at all to the case, no notifications, no emails, no contacts to me or her.  Estimated time until case decision was originally 8 months but is now at 'Your case is taking longer than expected to process. You will be notified if you need to take any action.'

 

So, is this totally normal? Is this just how the USCIS operates and how cases generally go, total silence/blackbox until a case decision? I was kind of expecting them to reach out periodically to confirm details, request additional things, etc but there's been totally nothing at all.

 

Would there be any use contacting a congressmen or senator from my local state to inquire about my case or would that potentially make things worse?

 

Sorry guys, I'm sure this is a common question, just thought I'd reach out and ask.

[Troy B 223]

Yes, it's normal.   The actively reviewed probably means it had a change in which service center is processing it.  Here is what my wife's timeline for i-130 looked like:

submitted i-130/130a and evidence
8/31/2021
added beneficary evidence
9/3/2021
Case is being actively reviewed by USCIS 9/28/2021
I-130 Approval notice on 8/16/2022
 

between, 9/29/201 to 8/15/2022 there was no news.

[JeanneAdil 6,491]

u filed online which put your case into the system generating the notice "case is being actively reviewed" 

 

https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

 

u can check the US office serving your visa for the processing times

 

Please do a timeline and ID the country 

 

 

Edited August 27, 2023 by JeanneAdil

[pushbrk 12,876]

Absolutely normal.  What's really happening is the case is waiting its turn, for a human to spend about 20 or 30 minutes "adjudicating".  If no problems, it will be approved at the end of those minutes.  There's really nothing to update for an I-130.

[Redro 4,611]

Our I-130 took 9 months to approve out of Vermont this was in 2021. At the time Vermont had a processing time of 13 months.

We got our actively reviewed at the 6 month (think they moved the case from Nebraska to Vermont).

Currently it takes 12-13 months for an I-130 to be approved. 

All you are doing is waiting for 12 months after the. I-130 is submitted. You'll get your approval/denial/ RFE as soon as someone looks at the application. 

 

Edited August 27, 2023 by Redro

[powerpuff 6,697]

~~ Topic moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports ~~

[TexasRafael 134]

19 hours ago, TO285 said:

Filed the I-130 using the USCIS online form filer. Case immediately went to 'Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS' and I received the notice of receipt online and in the mail.  It has 'Our records show nothing is outstanding at this time. We will let you know if we need anything from you.' on the case home page.

 

Since then, there has been zero changes at all to the case, no notifications, no emails, no contacts to me or her.  Estimated time until case decision was originally 8 months but is now at 'Your case is taking longer than expected to process. You will be notified if you need to take any action.'

 

So, is this totally normal? Is this just how the USCIS operates and how cases generally go, total silence/blackbox until a case decision? I was kind of expecting them to reach out periodically to confirm details, request additional things, etc but there's been totally nothing at all.

 

Would there be any use contacting a congressmen or senator from my local state to inquire about my case or would that potentially make things worse?

 

Sorry guys, I'm sure this is a common question, just thought I'd reach out and ask.

Ours sat without any information for 12 months and 29 days and then it was approved in 2 days.  So nothing out of the ordinary, just be patient.

[retheem 564]

22 hours ago, TO285 said:

Filed the I-130 using the USCIS online form filer. Case immediately went to 'Case Is Being Actively Reviewed By USCIS' and I received the notice of receipt online and in the mail.  It has 'Our records show nothing is outstanding at this time. We will let you know if we need anything from you.' on the case home page.

 

Since then, there has been zero changes at all to the case, no notifications, no emails, no contacts to me or her.  Estimated time until case decision was originally 8 months but is now at 'Your case is taking longer than expected to process. You will be notified if you need to take any action.'

 

So, is this totally normal? Is this just how the USCIS operates and how cases generally go, total silence/blackbox until a case decision? I was kind of expecting them to reach out periodically to confirm details, request additional things, etc but there's been totally nothing at all.

 

Would there be any use contacting a congressmen or senator from my local state to inquire about my case or would that potentially make things worse?

 

Sorry guys, I'm sure this is a common question, just thought I'd reach out and ask.

Lol some of us waited for 18 months before anything happened

[TO285 1]

Thanks for the info and responses everyone. Glad to know it's normal (weird to say glad for that lol.)