I applied for I-130 09/21/06 and received my NOA1 on the 9/27/06 for my wife.....so far there was few date changes in the web site. So I finally called them today the 1/31/07 and they said that, they need more info and they send a mail on 1/25/07 but I did not see anything on the web site about them needing any more information.......did anyone have to go through this situation. does that mean I have to wait another 3 more months for my approvals

You have a RFE coming your way, it depends how fast you can send the RFE back as to how long you will be waiting!!!!!

It does seem a little slow, but maybe things will begin to speed up in the coming shortness of time!! I've noticed approvals for people who applied just before me, so maybe, personally speaking, an approval isnt too farr off.

Thanks for posting, i have already opened in here a thread about the waiting time (long) at VSC...what number did you call...i have to call them also asap...Thanks!!!

I have also been waiting in VSC since September 11. I have already called them once and was told that they are still working on cases from March 12, that every case is processed differently, and that they usually like us to allow them 180 days to process these cases.

I am also waiting in VSC since 9/11, my hubby is from Bmore, MD too! I called them about a week ago, and I got the same spiel about waiting until the date on the website changes to September. Fingers crossed they catch up with the rest of the SC, as they are processing July 06 applications.

The number I called was the USCIS Customer Service Center 1-800-375-5283

Hello! Always love to meet other Marylanders (and future Marylanders). That's the same number I called and that's when they told me that thing about March 12...and I asked her, the processing date hasn't changed for several months, does that mean they're making no progress at all? And she basically said that they probably got a lot of cases in on that day. Imagine how long we're going to have to wait if it takes them 3 months to do 1 day's worth??? But I can't imagine that the date won't change this month. It has to change. No matter what, once that 180 days mark is hit, I'll be contacting my Senators and I would recommend the same for you. They have to at least let us know what the hold up is.

Do you all think that maybe if you also filed a K-3 that they put your I-130 at the bottom of the priority listing?

No, actually I think the opposite. It just so happened that there were several members who filed both I-130 and I-129F around the same times that we all did (and some even later, into November I think) who had both petitions approved on the same day. I think that actually serves to speed up the process. If we could get any benefit out of it, I would file the I-129F to force them to speed up, but since we have a ban anyway, I would much rather Javier come in on an IR-1 than an K-3...

Hi!! Which part of MD are you from? I also filed the I-129F and VSC doesnt have a list of processing dates for that as it was transferred there. The lady from the customer service said to visit the local office for processing date. The hubby just got back from visiting me here in Australia a couple of days ago, so hopefully he can follow that up soon.

What kind of ban do you have?

Goodluck with your journey!

I was getting lonely being surrounded by red in that I-130 thread tracking approvals lol.

I am from Laurel, MD. It's a little bit closer to DC than to Bmore. We have a 3 year ban that we didn't earn. Basically, when Javier went for his medical for the K-1, the physicians were (and actually still are) zealously seeking to apply the title of drug addict to everyone who comes into the office. So we got it for him having experimented in his teenage years (which was almost 10 years ago) and for an incident a few months before the interview when he stuck his finger in a baggie of cocaine and tasted it (it's a long story, but his purpose was to identify it, and to keep the guys who might have attempted to solicit his younger siblings off the property). The law says you have to be free from any drug use for 3 years, which we clearly are, but they decided to consider the tasting incident a usage. Our ban is up in August, 2008. In the meantime, he has to undergo re-hab for a drug problem that he doesn't have in order for them to be satisfied.

Thanks a lot, i had not my papers with me!

We have been waiting since 9/11 too on our I-130 in VSC. I'm here in Maryland too. Glad at least to see I'm not alone in a stagnant state. Hopefully they will pull their heads out soon and get back to work.

Good gracious, aren't we I-130 Marylanders a popular little bunch...LOL

I live in NY and I'm also waiting on VSC for my I-130 with NOA1 date of 8/29/06 Seems they've forgotten about cases in those two weeks. I have not had a touch since 9/9/06

All I can say to everyone is wait until it's been 180 days out from your last touch (we're getting real close) and contact your Senator. Maybe if they get enough inquiries they'll start moving their hynies...at any rate, with that long of a time frame out they at least owe us an explanation.

Heina, good idea. I'll do it immideatly. I can't wait any more. I don't think that Senators will answer so fast, so it's time to do it. Good luck to all of us.

You may be surprised. Even though I haven't always had the best luck getting GOOD info from the Senators (all the times I've contacted them so far have been for really complicated issues), they have always been rather prompt, relatively speaking. What will hold them up is getting a response from USCIS.

Yay! a 4th one who has been touched the 9th...Nice you meet you lol

We are the forgottens lol

Hope we all get something this month!!

I still didn't receive any mail or email about me giving more evidence so I called an immigration officer not a CUSTOMER SERVICE REP and he kind of help me and the officer send a request to push the process faster and resend those mails......

how that? maybe we all should call now!

but seriously there must be something really wrong, if we are already so many touched the same day and since then never again! did that person fall asleep on the desk and still is? it is getting really frustrating.

maybe they're just snowed under? i hope thats all it is. i intend to call the uscis on monday and find out the score.

Yeah, we are the orphans! lol...i remember a poster mentionning got the info from Vermont saying they were overloaded..

Did he say why vermont is so slow?...also which number you called for an Imm. officer?...thanks for your post

I know since we're all in the middle of a seemingly never-ending process right now, the tendency is to think that they are going "so slow" but here's some food for thought...I was told last week by our attorney that just a few years ago, a couple filing an I-130 could expect to wait up to 3 years for it to be adjudicated. Just recently have processing times for I-130's gotten much shorter, and I can even remember when I was new to this site (in 2005) people would wait 6-12 months and that was considered normal.

Called USCIS this evening from the UK. The 'expert' told me that my case had been received!! Also that they have up to 180 days to process ...and maybe sometimes a little longer depending on how many cases are being processed.

All in all, waste of time calling! Hopefully VT will get moving soon...

my 180 days are almost up...16 more to go. but what then? will they tell me that they have so many cases? but if so why do other cases with NOA1 after august are getting approved while mine all the time seems to be put back under the stack of files?

They will tell you that each case is processed differently.

Meauxna has written in detail somewhere how they proceede once they receive the petition...i don't remember where that thread is on VJ...Also, Capt Ewok, has refered a thread of comparing the Timelines..in my other thread on here...that gives a good idea...usually around 5-6 months for NOA2 for the longest time waiting...


Heina, i have never read on here of I-130 been approved in 3 years...maybe in exceptional situations...can you tell more about that couple? what was their case? Thanks...

I have a touch... first one in about 5 months. I sure hope this is getting done with soon

That sounds like GREAT things are coming...

OOOH... I hope you can do the happy soon!!

Awsome!, something is budging...let's keep this thread alive, many on here have give and take few days same date of appliying!...and touches...

hi, I was just reading this, and to me it seems so ridiculous. I mean, having done drugs is not a crime, only being caught while doing them or possessing them is, otherwise police would be able to bust Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Anyways, good luck with your visa...

Hey everyone...

I just got Approved today after 5.5 months of waiting.

I hope all of you waiting will hear back soon as well.

Hi, NY_IZMIR! My congratulations!
I can't wait any more.

WOOO HOOOO!!! CONGRATS!!!

May we all get touched and approved soon!

CMON VERMONT!

Things were much slower years ago, our I-130 took 15 months. Though processing time estimates 4 months into the process did show it would take 2 years. The wait can be unnerving, but have some patience it will come.

I've just been looking through this thread and I can't believe what I'm seeing. My 130 has sat at VSC since July 12, 2006 with no movement at all and people with dates in August, September and October have approvals?? I'm glad for them but this is getting a bit ridiculous. And what's this about calling USCIS after 6 months have passed? I reread my paperwork and it only refers to them having to complete it in the processing time posted on the web which still sits in March 2006. My wife called the info line and they said the same thing. Am I missing something?

Tom

Hey Tom! This is where it gets a little iffy...technically, we should defer to the processing date that they post on the website HOWEVER sometimes you'll get one of them on the phone who will actually tell you, it normally takes 180 days to process an I-130. It's sort of an unspoken guideline that 180 days is how long you should wait before doing any inquiry whatsoever, and I don't recommend continuing to try and do it yourself-you'll only keep getting the same answers and not much info. Your Senator can get much better info for you-I would recommend requesting an inquiry with them asap.

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Hey Tom! This is where it gets a little iffy...technically, we should defer to the processing date that they post on the website HOWEVER sometimes you'll get one of them on the phone who will actually tell you, it normally takes 180 days to process an I-130. It's sort of an unspoken guideline that 180 days is how long you should wait before doing any inquiry whatsoever, and I don't recommend continuing to try and do it yourself-you'll only keep getting the same answers and not much info. Your Senator can get much better info for you-I would recommend requesting an inquiry with them asap.
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Thanks Heina, maybe I better try that and see what happens.
Tom

Hi Tom, welcome to the support group lol...or agonizing group, depending of the mood we are into...I try to be objective...each case is different...If i go to the sources of the infos they give in instructions or general (info)...if the background of the person is bigger than others, i.e., divorce-s, etc, origins, well, we can expect to be longer...
Reading you, i have a question: did you get touched? and how many times...usually after 2 touches approx, people get approved...I'm sorry you waited longer than us on here....so, therefore i believe you might get approved soon!...and good luck to all of us!!!

Hi Knowledge. Our 130 was received on July 7th and touched on July 12th, but nothing since then. When my wife called the info line they said there was no flag on the file, they simply hadn't gotten to it yet. When she told the operator that other people were getting approved who had filed months after us, they said there was nothing they could do until the processing dates have passed. My wife downloaded the form to apply for help from our senator and we plan to draft a letter this weekend to see if he can help.

Tom

Hi Tom,

I hope you get your petition to NOA2 once and for all. Thats ridiculous to be waiting from mid last year. Where can you get the form to apply for help from a senator? Goodluck with that! I just read a post where someone was approved like a month later - and thats really great news but for people like yourself and the rest who have been waiting a unusually long time in comparison to the recent approval times - I wish they would "get to it" already.

Knowledge is right -- we are a moody bunch lol. But definitely supportive!

Hi, friends! How are you? We have 6 of us (plus my baby). Hmm, I think we should do something, but what?

Hi Elle,

We got our form from the Senators personal website. He had a link for asking him for help which included the form with the pertinent details of the USC, and then we included a letter briefly explaining the circumstances and what we wanted.

Tom

When I filed at VSC it took almost 6 months for the 2nd NOA and then after that another 6 months to complete the medical and visa interview. The whole process took a year. VSC can be slow. I wrote the congresswoman Thelma Blaire. They contacted the VSC for me and updated me with in depth information about what was happening. I also was in contact with someone who formerly worked there who said it takes lots of times to document all the information on paper into the computers. They kinda sit there for awhile, in boxes until they can be entered into the computer. But overall, itll happen.

Rete, who moderates Britishexpats also suggested using the House Representative first when looking for information. Perhaps I should go that route instead of John Warner, although as long as I get an answer...:-)

Tom

I applied on September of last year and I got the K-3 interview set for March 22 for my spouse and the CR1 is completed. If it takes them a long time to complete your paper, it is simply because the papers weren't filled out correctly, or papers are missing or not enough information given.

If you were married outside the US, I would recommend in case you didn't do so, to make sure your marriage certificate and birth certificate of your wife is taken to the "Minister of External Relations" of her/his country to get an an stamp that authenticates all the signatures in your certificates. And then once that's done get a translator. I have a scanner and I sent the translator a PDF of my flies to get translated, it took them 1 week to get them from them. There are agencies that will translate and notarize the papers for you.

And this is extremely important, ALWAYS SAY THE TRUTH in your forms. Regardless of your situation.

How do you know that for sure?? Personally I think thats rubbish. Possibly in SOME CASES, but not EVERYONES - applicants have sent perfectly filled in forms, and more than enough info......and can still wait a long time.