I-130's service center processing time

[Blackfield 1]

Hello,

I filled I-130 to Phoenix, AZ lockbox for my spouse last month.

After one week, I received NOA-1 from California Service Center.

I live in Texas.

Is it normal that California Service Center was the one that sent the NOA-1 for our case instead of Texas Service Center?

Comparing the CSC vs. TSC I-130 processing time from USCIS website, CSC is still processing Sept 2011 while TSC processing time frame is 5 month.

Should we ask USCIS to move our application to TSC since the processing timeframe is shorter at this time?

Regards,

Blackfield

[rsosa72 0]

Blackfield,

It all depends on the amount of applications being processed by each service center on where your I130 is sent to. I asked this same question when mine went to the California Service Center and I submitted mine at the Chicago Lockbox. I called and inquired and that is what they told me. You are more than welcome to call the USCIS and inquire because I know I sure did. All people you speak too may not be helpful but at least you will get some answers to your questions. Good luck...

Hello,

I filled I-130 to Phoenix, AZ lockbox for my spouse last month.

After one week, I received NOA-1 from California Service Center.

I live in Texas.

Is it normal that California Service Center was the one that sent the NOA-1 for our case instead of Texas Service Center?

Comparing the CSC vs. TSC I-130 processing time from USCIS website, CSC is still processing Sept 2011 while TSC processing time frame is 5 month.

Should we ask USCIS to move our application to TSC since the processing timeframe is shorter at this time?

Regards,

Blackfield

Edited March 17, 2013 by rsosa72

[Blackfield 1]

Blackfield,

It all depends on the amount of applications being processed by each service center on where your I130 is sent to. I asked this same question when mine went to the California Service Center and I submitted mine at the Chicago Lockbox. I called and inquired and that is what they told me. You are more than welcome to call the USCIS and inquire because I know I sure did. All people you speak too may not be helpful but at least you will get some answers to your questions. Good luck...

Hi Rsosa72,

Thanks.

If I don't mind me asking, what happen with your I-130 after you called? Did you stay with California Service Center?

I notice from your timeline, it took more than 5 months until you got NOA-2 early this year.

I am confused with the processing time frame that California Service Center posted on USCIS website as they stated they are still processing Sept 2011.

I am not a US citizen yet (will apply for citizenship in August) so I am fine if the I-130 processing takes 5 months.

However, if the I-130 processing with CSC takes longer than 5 months, it could become an issue later down the road.

Edited March 17, 2013 by Blackfield

[rsosa72 0]

My I130 for my wife stayed at the California Service Center until it was approved. Now there is a possibility that it can get reassigned to another Service Center and that will depend on how backed up your current service center is. This was told to me by a USCIS representative one of the times that I called. Yes the I130 processing times are averaging 4-6 months depending on service center. You can call the USCIS and give them your file number that you received on your NOA1. Ask them what dates they are currently processing. Look at your date on your NOA1, you should have a priority date on it. This will give you an estimate on when you can see your I130 being processed. Go onto the USCIS website and get their phone number. I was calling about 2 times a month. Hope this helps...

Once you get your NOA2 (with the NVC) they are more friendly there and more willing to help. Just be patient for this process takes time.

Hi Rsosa72,

Thanks.

If I don't mind me asking, what happen with your I-130 after you called? Did you stay with California Service Center?

I notice from your timeline, it took more than 5 months until you got NOA-2 early this year.

I am confused with the processing time frame that California Service Center posted on USCIS website as they stated they are still processing Sept 2011.

I am not a US citizen yet (will apply for citizenship in August) so I am fine if the I-130 processing takes 5 months.

However, if the I-130 processing with CSC takes longer than 5 months, it could become an issue later down the road.

[Blackfield 1]

My I130 for my wife stayed at the California Service Center until it was approved. Now there is a possibility that it can get reassigned to another Service Center and that will depend on how backed up your current service center is. This was told to me by a USCIS representative one of the times that I called. Yes the I130 processing times are averaging 4-6 months depending on service center. You can call the USCIS and give them your file number that you received on your NOA1. Ask them what dates they are currently processing. Look at your date on your NOA1, you should have a priority date on it. This will give you an estimate on when you can see your I130 being processed. Go onto the USCIS website and get their phone number. I was calling about 2 times a month. Hope this helps...

Once you get your NOA2 (with the NVC) they are more friendly there and more willing to help. Just be patient for this process takes time.

Our I-130 priority date is February 13th, 2013, so we are probably looking July-August 2013 before we get NOA-2 and being transferred to NVC.

It sounds that it is better to let California Service Center to process our I-130 and wait.

Thank you again Rsosa72.

[Athena June 37]

Petitions from permanent residents for their spouses are processed either at the California Service Center or the Vermont Service Center. There is nothing you can do to get your petition transferred to Texas.

Given the current CSC processing times for F2A cases, you will not get your NOA2 any time soon. It will definitely be longer than five months. However, once you have naturalized, you can upgrade your petition from F2A category to IR and start hoping for a faster processing of your case.

Good luck!

[Blackfield 1]

Petitions from permanent residents for their spouses are processed either at the California Service Center or the Vermont Service Center. There is nothing you can do to get your petition transferred to Texas.

Given the current CSC processing times for F2A cases, you will not get your NOA2 any time soon. It will definitely be longer than five months. However, once you have naturalized, you can upgrade your petition from F2A category to IR and start hoping for a faster processing of your case.

Good luck!

It makes sense now, thanks Athena June.

Does anyone know the I-130 processing time for a PR?

Just curious since I will become US citizen by the end of 2013 and if I will have to upgrade my I-130 petition then or we can expect that our I-130 petition will be completed and transferred to NVC by then.

We filled I-130 while I am still a PR knowing that we can upgrade to IR.

However, I read (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/360086-filling-i-130-as-lpr-vs-usc-case-will-be-upgrade-but/) conflicting experiences whether the upgrade would restart our Priority date. Can anyone share their experience with their I-130 and upgrade?

[Athena June 37]

It makes sense now, thanks Athena June.

Does anyone know the I-130 processing time for a PR?

Just curious since I will become US citizen by the end of 2013 and if I will have to upgrade my I-130 petition then or we can expect that our I-130 petition will be completed and transferred to NVC by then.

We filled I-130 while I am still a PR knowing that we can upgrade to IR.

However, I read (http://www.visajourn...be-upgrade-but/) conflicting experiences whether the upgrade would restart our Priority date. Can anyone share their experience with their I-130 and upgrade?

Well, the CSC processing time has been stuck at September 2011 for quite a while now. The VSC is even worse, their processing stopped at January 2011 over a year ago. We all hope that both service centers will soon start processing F2A cases again, but there is just no way of knowing when that might happen.

I also read the thread you posted. This is worrying, although it is the first and only time I have ever heard of priority date changing when upgrading to IR. I wouldn't be surprised if an USCIS employee made a mistake with the priority date change. I hope someone else will come along and share their experience - I am interested in this too as my husband will have his citizenship interview soon, and we are more than eager to upgrade our case and finish the visa process.

[Blackfield 1]

Well, the CSC processing time has been stuck at September 2011 for quite a while now. The VSC is even worse, their processing stopped at January 2011 over a year ago. We all hope that both service centers will soon start processing F2A cases again, but there is just no way of knowing when that might happen.

I also read the thread you posted. This is worrying, although it is the first and only time I have ever heard of priority date changing when upgrading to IR. I wouldn't be surprised if an USCIS employee made a mistake with the priority date change. I hope someone else will come along and share their experience - I am interested in this too as my husband will have his citizenship interview soon, and we are more than eager to upgrade our case and finish the visa process.

Thanks again, Athena June for sharing.

I did not realize that the petition could get stuck in I-130 stage for that long.

My wife and I wish you and your husband all the best and please hanging in there.

I know it is not much of a consolation, the good news is you are close to the finish line (yet, it must feel like eternity).

We definitely will watch your progress with great interest. I hope you don't mind if we check back with you from time to time or you can update this thread with your progress.

[Athena June 37]

Thanks again, Athena June for sharing.

I did not realize that the petition could get stuck in I-130 stage for that long.

My wife and I wish you and your husband all the best and please hanging in there.

I know it is not much of a consolation, the good news is you are close to the finish line (yet, it must feel like eternity).

We definitely will watch your progress with great interest. I hope you don't mind if we check back with you from time to time or you can update this thread with your progress.

I know, we also didn't expect it to take so long to get NOA2. Our original plan was to have a completed case by the time my husband naturalizes so that the only thing left would have been my interview. Now it looks like we'll still have to get USCIS to upgrade and approve our case and then go through NVC. We are feeling quite positive though and hope that my visajourney will come to an end before the end of the year.

Best of luck to you and your wife too. It's great that your citizenship is so close, it will make your wait significantly shorter. And you are very welcome to follow our timeline if it helps!

[michey8988 2]

Hi blackfield I just want to ask when you filed for your spouse. Did you check your case status online? I filed for my husband May 09 I received a receipt notice from the mail is says Initial Review. My question is how long exactly did you wait to get a decision?

[Blackfield 1]

Hi blackfield I just want to ask when you filed for your spouse. Did you check your case status online? I filed for my husband May 09 I received a receipt notice from the mail is says Initial Review. My question is how long exactly did you wait to get a decision?

Hi,

Sorry, I only saw your question today.

I submitted the I-130 on 2013-02-13, got the NOA1 a week later.

However, since then, the case has not been touched at all.

If you submitted yours on May 09, you probably want to check with Athena_June's timeline (see above) since she submitted hers on 2011 and already got hers approved.