Case Status Change to Being Actively Reviewed (Merged threads)

[rustyf 3]

I submitted my I-130 (US Citizen for my foreign spouse) in Feb 2024. It was submitted on Feb 27, 2024 and receipt acknowledged on Feb 29, 2024. I got another notice today which I believe now indicates Potomac (originally submitted to Nebraska) and a new status of actively reviewing as of Mar 12, 2024. Is it possible that this is a good sign in terms or favorability or processing time? My submission was full of evidence, tabbed, indexed, organized and over 300 pages. It was also submitted by a renowned immigration lawyer.

[TBoneTX 45,031]

Thread is moved from the main CR-1 forum to the Case Progress subforum.

1 minute ago, rustyf said:

Is it possible that this is a good sign

Welcome to the forum!  Yes, it is.

2 minutes ago, rustyf said:

My submission was full of evidence

Depending on what, and where your beneficiary will interview (where?), this might have been appropriate.

3 minutes ago, rustyf said:

tabbed, indexed, organized and over 300 pages. It was also submitted by a renowned immigration lawyer.

He should have known better.  It's too much and all had to be disassembled by the USCIS mailroom people.

 

Hoping that you hear something soon!

[TBoneTX 45,031]

Oh, Bogota.  Far too much material was submitted, unless you the petitioner had to submit legal papers from court cases or convictions.

 

Regardless, you should hear something soon.

[rustyf 3]

I doubt the attorney actually submitted everything. He probably prioritized what he selected. He has a 99.5% success rate since 2002. Sound like this may be a good sign based on what ya'll say. Thanks so much for the feedback and your time. I hope you have a great day.

no legal issues, lots of photos, calls, gifts, travel, and bona fide evidence 😉

[rustyf 3]

I think my 25 years legal background made be present the kitchen sink, bathroom and the backyard lol. Things like where she is in my estate plan, bank accounts, life insurance, credit cards, her military dependent ID card (I am retired army), etc. All valuable evidence I believe 😉 we will see 

[Family 3,988]

30 minutes ago, rustyf said:

I think my 25 years legal background made be present the kitchen sink, bathroom and the backyard lol. Things like where she is in my estate plan, bank accounts, life insurance, credit cards, her military dependent ID card (I am retired army), etc. All valuable evidence I believe 😉 we will see 

You will be approved In No Time…though Potomac seems very slow. 
‘Only 2 reasons for Big filings , Dazzle  Them With Brilliance or Baffle Them With BS …given your extensive evidence  and exhibit layout, you are in first category. ..smooth sailing😂
 

[TBoneTX 45,031]

Be sure to report back here with what we hope is happy news!

[rustyf 3]

What is the big indicator that mine is moving fast?

 

Is it that I received the "being actively reviewed" so quickly? Would transferring my case from Nebraska to Potomac cause the status to change to being actively reviewed. Thanks guys - this is all new to me!

 

These data collection sites are interesting base on groupings of submissions.

 

https://hilites.today/uscis_cases/ioe-stats#google_vignette

 

https://www.casestatusext.com/forms/I-130/IOE-LB

[Family 3,988]

1 hour ago, rustyf said:

What is the big indicator that mine is moving fast?

 

Is it that I received the "being actively reviewed" so quickly? Would transferring my case from Nebraska to Potomac cause the status to change to being actively reviewed. Thanks guys - this is all new to me!

 

These data collection sites are interesting base on groupings of submissions.

 

https://hilites.today/uscis_cases/ioe-stats#google_vignette

 

https://www.casestatusext.com/forms/I-130/IOE-LB

The movement you describe is not an indicator of speed. ..and quite common. ‘You will have approval without an RFE whenever they get around to it . 

Had you posted before filing , I would have said FILE ONLINE and keep it UNDER 30 pages . 
 

But attorneys seem to be resistant to change , so many balk at online ….but USCIS prefers it and that step completely avoids the mailroom / service center shuffle / queue for scan and organizing those weighty 300 pages .
 

[rustyf 3]

25 minutes ago, Family said:

The movement you describe is not an indicator of speed. ..and quite common. ‘You will have approval without an RFE whenever they get around to it . 

Had you posted before filing , I would have said FILE ONLINE and keep it UNDER 30 pages . 
 

But attorneys seem to be resistant to change , so many balk at online ….but USCIS prefers it and that step completely avoids the mailroom / service center shuffle / queue for scan and organizing those weighty 300 pages .
 

Thank you kindly for that, I appreciate it.

 

UPDATE: I opened the document received today and is my online access code and at the bottom left it says the USCIS TSC SV Center.  Yet the envelope said Potomac as return address. The original submission was to Nebraska.  It seems this online access code notice date aligns with the date that reflects actively being reviewed - both the USCIS account access date and the date of actively being reviewed are both 12 Mar.

 

I JUST LOGGED IN ONLINE AND IT SAYS ESTIMATED TIME FOR DECISION IS 4 MONTHS.

 

Have a great evening!

Edited March 20 by rustyf

[TBoneTX 45,031]

1 hour ago, rustyf said:

ESTIMATED TIME FOR DECISION IS 4 MONTHS

Sounds like you're ahead of the power curve.   

[OldUser 6,480]

@rustyf "Actively reviewed status" typically is a transitional status. Many don't see anything happening for months. Estimates on USCIS website are largely inaccurate.

 

I hope the case gets approved soon, but realistically you should be ready to wait for a year.

 

Good luck!

[Redro 4,611]

5 hours ago, rustyf said:

I submitted my I-130 (US Citizen for my foreign spouse) in Feb 2024. It was submitted on Feb 27, 2024 and receipt acknowledged on Feb 29, 2024. I got another notice today which I believe now indicates Potomac (originally submitted to Nebraska) and a new status of actively reviewing as of Mar 12, 2024. Is it possible that this is a good sign in terms or favorability or processing time? My submission was full of evidence, tabbed, indexed, organized and over 300 pages. It was also submitted by a renowned immigration lawyer.

 

In my time following cases an early active review can mean several things:

ONE: The case was assigned to another center (you only discover this for certain when you receive NOA2- be aware your case can change centers several times) 

TWO: Nothing. 

THREE: 3-7 days after 1st active review you receive APPROVAL! 

FOUR: Case will only be approved after 12-18 months... this case had amazing evidence - the couple resided together in a third country so they a lot of evidence going back years.... 

 

side note: I was told by many to not pay attention to the first active review- only get excited when the second active review appeared. 

 

 

Here is hoping you receive good news soon! If not, remember the average processing time for the I130 is currently 12 months. 

Also know- the average time from filing to visa in hand is 18-24 months. It doesn't matter how strong your evidence is. I've seen couples married with children wait 12 months for the initial I-130 approval. The only good thing about a case that is well organized is you are less likely to receive an RFE- but then again- the more paperwork you submit- the likelier a page does not scan correctly and you receive an RFE where they request you resubmit the paperwork. 

 

If I were you, I would try to forget about the immigration process and enjoy every day. You have a lawyer handling your case- so let him worry about the journey. 

Edited March 20 by Redro

[garebear397 68]

12 hours ago, Redro said:

If I were you, I would try to forget about the immigration process and enjoy every day. You have a lawyer handling your case- so let him worry about the journey. 

100% agree with this, just have in mind it will be a year (for USCIS part) and if it arrives sooner, great!

 

The "actively reviewing" status many get within the first few months....but it doesn't seem to actually mean anything of consequence. I submitted in June 2023 and got an active review in September...and no news since. And yeah...the USCIS time estimate is almost complete garbage. You will get to "6 weeks" before decision....and then it will go to "Your case is taking longer than expected to process". Which is also not something to worry about...that just seems to be how the notifications go for most people. 

 

Good luck with everything I am sure it will all go smoothly in the end! 

[TexasRafael 128]

When my petition changed to actively being reviewed, it was approved two days later, but that was after being there one year!  Hope it will be good news for you sooner.