Hang in there FruitBodyWash, there is a post today about a person who filed on Sept. 6th and just today got NOA1!

New Update

Chicago Lockbox (as of 1/23/08)
Form Number Date Received

I-130 11/26/2007

All Other Forms Current

Don't know what happend to my petition, filed on 7th november still no sign .

I sent my i-130 to the Vermont Service Center which they received on 10/22/07...i still have not received anything yet. I have read some thread that sent their i-130 after my date and already go their NOA1s. I am feeling so frustrated right now. I am going to give them by the end of Jan. before I sent out another form. Who is with me????

hah! you were right! my check cleared WOOT!!!! hehe, but I'm still stick to what I said, I'm glad I sent the second form in, even though thats not the one that went through, and I'll have to cancel payment on that last chick (because I was warned that if I sent a second one that I might be "accidentally" charged twice! *does a little dance* It finally went though!!! so, I guess I should say to all of you who still having got word to be patient, but... I really don't agree with that. Granted, if I had had one more week of patience I wouldn't have had to send my second one, but theres no telling how long it will take them to find the other "straggling" petitions. *sighs* I feel much better now

So that's the key -- send in two forms and the first one, feeling the pressure will get itself noticed!

If there's one thing we've all probably noticed it is that the date you sent something and the date they actually do something with the forms are not necessarily going to line up. So being patient makes the most sense.

The question is, if someone who filed in October did not receive a NOA by the end of January, what do they do? They don't have any real tracking information other than (hopefully) a report from the postal service stating when USCIS received their package. Refiling does make sense. At least that gets you in the queue again.

Hi Jqay80,

We are in the same boat. I sent my I-130 to VSC on 10/16/07, but I haven't got NOA1 yet. I called the USCIS few days ago, and they told me that my petition was not in their system (even after 90 days; was told to wait for another month). Then, I called WesternUnion and found out thay they cashed my MoneyOrder on 1/15/07. I was glad to hear that but still... worrying about my NOA1

Is possible for you to see if Western Union can give you the application receipt number. I was told sometimes they stamp that number on the back of the check. At least your check was cashed so you have some proof that your application was received. I have no idea if my application was received or if it was lost in transit...

If I want to get a photocopy of my Money Order with the receipt number, I have to fill out a form and send it... It may take couple of days... So I think I'll just wait for the NOA1. I just wonder why my petition is not in the USCIS system although they cashed my Money Order.

Did you send your file with a check? Why don't you check with your bank to get your receipt number? ...Oh, may be your check hasn't been cashed.

Your cashed check/money order pretty much IS your NOA1. The fact that they cashed it and didn't return it all to you means that they received and accepted your petition. The NOA1 is just the physical letter sent out to you and that could take time, depending on how they set up getting those printed out. It could be a couple days after your cleared check or a month so no need to worry. If you had a cleared check, you could even get your petition number and enter into the USCIS website. I would date your NOA1 as the day before your check cleared cause for them to cash your check, they have to of given you a petition number which means you are in the queue but they just haven't notified you that you are.

Since they separate the checks from the application I'm not really sure that a cashed check is representative of anything except they cashed the check.

No your cashed check ALWAYS has your WAC or EAC number on it which means it had to go thru a process to get that number. The check has the number on it, and so does the letter of NOA1.....essentially they are the SAME thing. The letter is just the "official' way of letting the filer know that the petition was received. It could take awhile for that letter to get printed and put into the mailroom to head out to your address, that doesn't mean that your petition is not logged already. There are many people who recieved NOA1 after they were already at NVC! Some received NOA2 after they already had the visa in hand and were in the US.

So I am just saying, the physical form of the NOA1 letter....is not as important as having that WAC or EAC number. And if you have a cashed check.....you have that number. Just look on the back of it.

WE filed ours last Sept 28 2007and we got our receipt Jan 17 2008.

I check my bank account basically every single day to see if they cashed my check and no luck...Its been 95 days since I sent my application and no luck. Another bad thing with my file is that I filed my app with a copy of the certified Marriage Register which has only the pastor's signature along with my husband and I and our witnesses. I am pretty sure they are going to send an RFE to send in the Marriage certificate with the government seal, which i have now but not at the time, which is going to cause me more delay. I just want to hear something at this point.

guys i have called USCIS today and they are up to July 20th for 1-130 filers. just an FYI .... they are prioritizing the applications under the received date/time .... Not the receipt date on NOA1

HI friends, I finally got through to the USCIS on the phone.The California center,officials told me they were going through the august filers (1-130). wait and see.

Who is going to place a bet that October petitions are going to be approved before June????


10/20/2005 Married in city court
08/12/2006 Married in church
08/27/2006 Left for Russia to fullfill 2 year stay home requirement
10/01/2007 Filed I-130 with NSC
10/05/2007 were asked for additional paperwork
10/15/2007 sent them to NSC
01/22/2008 check cleared

[/quote]
[/quote]

I bet you see some trickle in before May

I bet you see some trickle in before May
[/quote]


Before April, anybody???.... Goes ones, goes twice.............

I wouldnt worry too much, I had 2, both checks cashed the same day but NOA's 2 weeks apart. ???? got me?

hi anish and lijy, actually i wanted to confirm one little thing , when you filed your papers, have you sent your marriage certificates's counter signed copy or just a marrigae cerficate's copy.
As you are in india thats y i am asking .

ROZA,

even I am from india.. and I sent in a copy of my marriage certificate, just the copy..

I APPLIED I-130 ON 11-16-2007 AND I JUST GOT MY NOA1 ON 1-24-08 BUT STILL CAN'T CHECK IT ONLINE I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG ITS GONNA TAKE TO UPDATE IN SYSTEM THANKS AND HAVE A GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CASES BYE

I am in U.S but yea just a copy .... you have to prove your marriage is legit at the embassy in India at the time of interview. When filing taxes add your spouse using the W-7 form; more evidence of legal marriage

Hey fellows, USCIS posted update on processing times. California Service Centers have posted that they have processed I-130 petitions for spouses filed on or before July 15, 2007. Vermont is June 6, 2007.


10/20/2005 Married in city court
08/12/2006 Married in church
08/27/2006 Left for Russia to fullfill 2 year stay home requirement
10/01/2007 Filed I-130 with NSC
10/05/2007 were asked for additional paperwork
10/15/2007 sent them to NSC
01/22/2008 check cleared

[/quote]

[quote name='Evgeniya' date='Jan 28 2008, 08:06 PM' post='1532285']
Hey fellows, USCIS posted update on processing times. California Service Centers have posted that they have processed I-130 petitions for spouses filed on or before July 15, 2007. Vermont is June 6, 2007.


[size=1]10/20/2005 Married in city court
08/12/2006 Married in church
08/27/2006 Left for Russia to fullfill 2 year stay home requirement
10/01/2007 Filed I-130 with NSC
10/05/2007 were asked for additional paperwork
10/15/2007 sent them to NSC
01/22/2008 check cleared


xx E-

Called today and they said they are processing June 2nd - hung up and said pffttttt

xx E-

Called today and they said they are processing June 2nd - hung up and said pffttttt


[/quote]

SusieK, Vermont is a bit slower than California, but considering information on NOA1-NOA2 thread it seems that most folks who filed in June and July either to CSC or VSC are already aproved and even couple August filers. It gives us a bit more confidence that we are next to follow.

Thanks hun, just thinking about it right now and just wondering what happened to our system.....but I did come to the conclusion of this.... I was much more sane when not calling them to inquire about something....so I have deleted them from speed dial

Cheers hun and gl to all on this journey.........


p.s. Next thing you know, they may just get the idea to outsource Customer Service to another country, now this would be interesting.!!!!!!!

... So the date(s) we are seeing on the Web site (i.e CSC processing July 20th) ... that is the date they are at for approvals, NOA2s???
If so, that's encouraging!

Heck yeah they're gonna be approved before June!! I think approvals will be here starting in April!

WooHoo!!!!

Hi Ahmad khan AOA, You seems to be lucky enough.By the way i could not get mine still ,from September 2007 to 28th january 2008.Keep in touch through this forum. Khuda Hafiz

I filed on Nov. 17th, just received NOA1 on Jan 24th.

OMG!!...I sent my I-130 since October 22, 2007 to the VSC and still didn't get my NOA1....What is going on here!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi guys,


I got my NOA1 now a question arises that i filed my petition to NSC but I got my receipt from CSC.

Can anybody tell what is the reason behind this.

Nebraska doesn't process I-130 applications, only CSC and VSC do.

Ok. Please let me know if there are any other Oct filers still waiting for a NOA1???...I still didn't get mine and my check has not been cashed...I am about to send my application again but to the Chicago lockbox what do think??...I need some advice...Bad thing too I didn't make a copy of my check so I am not sure how I can cancel it in case they do end up finding it...

jgay80,

I really am not sire what to tell you. The issuing of NOA1's has been unpredictable since August of last year, so it could be very well that they have your application, its just that they haven't gotten to sending NOA1. I am not sure if you should send another form or not, cause if you do, you will have to cancel your first check which then move you to be over 90 days later than you started. The USCIS is honoring the receivec date, not the NOA1 date, so if you start over....say today...and it gets to them tomorrow, you will now be a Jan/Feb filer. There were many people on VJ that didnt get an NOA1 until 5 months after they sent it, yet they were still honored in the queue of getting their NOA2 by the received date. I would look at the VSC timelines under immigration timelines and see just how many VSC filers are still waiting for NOA1's before you cancel that check. Also if you remember your check number you should be able to cancel it. you should have made at least 1 additional copy of your entire I130 package per the instructions.

New Update

Chicago Lockbox (as of 1/29/08)
Form Number Date Received

I-130 12/14/2007

All Other Forms Current

I hope I go home today and see my NOA1...Question: Do they usually cash the check first or do you receive the NOA1 first?

I received my NOA1 first but a lot of people have seen the check cashed before they rec'd their NOA so either/or.

i am in the same boat is you.I have yet to recieve a NOA1,i sent my application in onSeptember 24th,I am also torn what to do,should i send in another form,it is strange,many from November are now getting their NOA1.
today i called USCIS they they are only on Septembers forms not DECEMBERS,and i asked her,then why does the lockbox say they are on december,and why are there people in November getting thier NOA1....no answer from her....just the same ol".......WAIT !!!!!!

I spoke with someone today at USCIS and they told me the way it works is that Service Centers are just piling I-130s in a box and sending them off to the Chicago Lockbox. There is no order whatsoever. He even told me when it reaches the Chicago lockbox they are just picking up boxes as they come not looking to see which box has an earlier receive date compared to the others and since vermont and california are both sending their I-130s to Chicago lockbox they don't really have the time to look for dates; they are just trying to get rid of them as soon as possible. He said they just pick up the box that is closest to them. I think this is the first legit answer I got from USCIS because it total put things in perspective. It makes more sense why some people in November got theres and some people in Sept didn't. Its not fair though. He told me to just imagine working a mailroom full of envelopes; are you A)going to take your time to sort them in order or B)put everything in a box to cut time. He said majority of the workers are going to do B. Sad but try I'll probably do B too. So I guess just sit tight and wait and hopefully they get done with all application by mid Feb. like I heard they probably do. So I guess I am also saying it doesn't really make sense to send in another app just yet.

Wohoooooooooooooooooooooooo
Received My NOA1 Today
Now for NOA2 Boat!
Thank God!

Congratulations...was your check cashed first or did you get the NOA1 first...I am so jealous now...it is so unfair...but congratulations...

I sent Money Order, im waiting for the USPS to send copy of money order cashed!

jgay, just hang in there. If it comforts you a little bit. Our check was cashed by CSC on January 21st but we still have not recieved NOA1. I guess it doesn't really matter, and you are right there is just a mess with these reciepts that we just can hope that they will deal with all these boxes as soon as possible so that things get somewhat more organized.

My whole thing at least you know they received your package because your check has been cashed. I haven't have a clue with mine. They haven't cash my check, nothing, and that was since Oct. 2007. But I will sit tight a little while longer and see. I told myself I will give up until the third week of February. If my check is not yet cash and I don't receive a NOA1 by then I will just send in a new app.

yes,this does make sense,and this is probably the truth !!! so,we sit and wait some more.Yeah i guess i will hold off sending in a new app also.

good luck
and a prayer !!!!
jim