Confusing regarding i485/i765/i131 timeframes/filing locations

[FidyAndSquawks 0]

Hello, I'll be arriving on the 26th and soon after that we'll be getting married, I've been looking into the process now so it's less stressful/complicated when we actually have to file it.

 

1. Where to file? When going to the i765 usics page, you get this link: https://www.uscis.gov/uscis-lockbox-filing-locations-chart which states the i765 should be filed to Dallas, and near the top it states 485 can also be filed there, but when you go to the i485 page it states SC should file to Chicago.

 

2. Timeframe confusion - currently processing time estimate by USICS for i-131 shows as 22.5 months for Texas Dallas, i485 shows 14 months for Texas, 13 months for Greer SC, 22.5 for Chicago IL

    2.1 What exactly happens here? Do I submit to texas/chicago/wherever and they forward it to Greer so I can take my biometrics/interview there? Is it all wrong and I file to Greer SC?

    2.2 It seems like the processing time for I-131 is longer than I-485 - is there any point at all for me to apply for I-131, would it not be a waste of money?

 

3. Looking at this website, people in Greer, SC have had a GREAT turnaround for their GC, is it locale based and they just dont have a lot of cases so it gets processed quicker?
 

[MalloryCat 560]

1. if you are filing the 3 forms concurrently (ie, all in the same package) they all go to the same lockbox location. so which ever one is for your state, it all goes there. so since you are in SC, you would send it to whichever of the Chicago lockboxes, depends on which mailing service you use. you want to look at this chart, as you are filing for the family based forms https://www.uscis.gov/forms/all-forms/uscis-lockbox-filing-locations-chart-for-certain-family-based-forms

 

2.1. after receiving your entire package, the lockbox will determine where to send each form. these forms all get scanned in electronically so its pretty simple to get where it needs to go. usually the NBC (national benefits center) will process the I-765 and the I-131, and eventually send the I-485 onto your local USCIS office. Biometrics are done at an application support center, which is not the same as a USCIS office. when biometrics get scheduled, it gets sent to whichever application support center is closest to you.

2.2 that is up to you. if you feel like there is a chance you have an emergency back home (sick family member, etc) than you should file the form. if you believe the chances of that are low, than don't bother as it wouldn't be worth the money. We didn't file the I-131 personally.

 

3. no real way to know honestly. non-border states might have less applications there.

Edited April 11 by MalloryCat

[FidyAndSquawks 0]

10 minutes ago, MalloryCat said:

1. if you are filing the 3 forms concurrently (ie, all in the same package) they all go to the same lockbox location. so which ever one is for your state, it all goes there. so since you are in SC, you would send it to whichever of the Chicago lockboxes, depends on which mailing service you use. you want to look at this chart, as you are filing for the family based forms https://www.uscis.gov/forms/all-forms/uscis-lockbox-filing-locations-chart-for-certain-family-based-forms

 

2.1. the lockbox will determine where to send each form. these forms all get scanned in electronically so its pretty simple to get where it needs to go. usually the NBC (national benefits center) will process the I-765 and the I-131, and eventually send the I-485 onto your local USCIS office. Biometrics are done at an application support center, which is not the same as a USCIS office. when biometrics get scheduled, it gets sent to whichever application support center is closest to you.

2.2 that is up to you. if you feel like there is a chance you have an emergency back home (sick family member, etc) than you should file the form. if you believe the chances of that are low, than don't both as it wouldn't be worth the money. We didn't file the I-131 personally.

 

3. no real way to know honestly. non-border states might have less applications there.

Thank you for the answers, regarding the 2.2, I was more questioning the fact that the i-131 processing time seems to be longer than the processing time for my i-485. So it's not a question of do I think i'll need to go home for a sick family member or such, but more of a whats the point of filing it, if it gets completed after the i-485 and is useless. Have you heard of anyones i-131 taking longer than their GC?

[MalloryCat 560]

7 minutes ago, FidyAndSquawks said:

Thank you for the answers, regarding the 2.2, I was more questioning the fact that the i-131 processing time seems to be longer than the processing time for my i-485. So it's not a question of do I think i'll need to go home for a sick family member or such, but more of a whats the point of filing it, if it gets completed after the i-485 and is useless. Have you heard of anyones i-131 taking longer than their GC?

well the point of filing it for most people is mostly for the reason i mentioned. theres a high chance of an emergency back in their home country that they need to attend to.

i personally haven't, so im not sure

you can see the timelines on this site for the advanced parole (form i-131) the most recent one, theirs got approved in a little over a month, the ones before that were more than 6 months https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/aplist.php?op5=3,6,9,10

 

most people don't file the I-131 because the processing time is so unpredictable. and it now has such a large fee associated with it.

Edited April 11 by MalloryCat

[Edward and Jaycel 1,268]

1 minute ago, MalloryCat said:

most people don't file the I-131 because there processing time is so unpredictable. and it now has such a large fee associated with it.

 

This is why we didn't file one for Jaycel.... The approval timelines are all over the place and for us it wasn't worth the money.

[K1visaHopeful 2,965]

Please complete your VJ timeline in reciprocity. 

Your statistics help all members while we help you personally.

A blank one helps no one and that's not fair.

[smilingstone 281]

Recent AOS filer here also and I didn't bother with the I-131. It's too costly both in terms of time and money, defeating the purpose of enabling travel with little warning if needed.