this question is for a friend of mine:

I filed for I-130 (F2A) [Spouse with Permance Greencard] for my husband at Vermont Service Center in March 2005. Currently priority date online shows January 2006.

Not sure if my case is approved or not but I have a new number from NVC and when I call them they say that they are currently processing files from July 15, 2003. is that possible? I thought once you are approved with your service center, NVC does rest of the process and there is no hold time there.

anyone have any info?

Since USCIS knows there is a long wait for visa numbers on limited class visas, they can take a year or more to process the petition and send it on to NVC, after that and NVC will put the case into storage until a visa number is issued for the case. When USCIS approves the case has nothing to do with when NVC issues a visa number.

Currently NVC is working on F2A petitions from July 03 for India. SEE the bulletin. http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/bull...letin_1360.html

You can get the priority bumped up to unlimited immediate class by naturalization and becoming a US Citizen.