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Abby&Mario

Do all I-130s filed from abroad go to CSC now?

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I have a theory that may or may not be complete BS. Based on several cases I've seen around the forum, it seems they are sending I-130s filed from abroad to the California Service Center. Is this a trend? Does it mean anything? Am I reading too much into a very small sample? Is there anyone out there who filed an I-130 from abroad recently that was NOT transferred to the CSC? A couple years back, cases filed from abroad were "auto-expedited" (see: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/357465-usc-petitioner-living-abroad/) after they took DCF away from most of the world, but that died down pretty quickly.

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or observations on this. It would be cool if they were sending us all to the CSC in an effort to speed things up again, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

USCIS (Priority date April 1, Approval April 17, no RFEs)

March 28, 2014: I-130 sent via FedEx from Bogotá to Chicago Lockbox

April 1, 2014: Delivered to Chicago Lockbox at 10:29 a.m. according to FedEx tracking; signed for by J. CHYBA (date confirmed by My Case Status)

April 4, 2014: NOA1 e-mail received at 12:17 a.m.; case accepted and routed to CSC for processing. Check cashed.

April 17, 2014: Changed mailing address with USCIS Tier 2 representative. He also confirmed that our case had arrived to the CSC and that our NOA1 date is April 3.

April 18, 2014: NOA2 e-mail received at 12:30 a.m. Case status online changed to post-decision activity; date of "last updated" changed to April 17. Change of address e-mail received at 3 a.m. Status changed back to initial review on e-mail and online. Date of "last updated" now April 18. Called and spoke to two Tier 2 reps; both were useless.

April 21, 2014: Approval confirmed verbally by Tier 2 rep. Order put in to send second NOA2 hard copy to new address. Instructed to ignore online case status.

April 25 or 26, 2014: NOA1 hard copy arrives to old apartment in Bogotá. Priority date actually April 1. (April 3 was the notice date.)

May 16: USCIS change of address e-mail received

May 19: USCIS e-mail received saying a duplicate notice was mailed on this date. Case status now set to "Acceptance."

May 22: NOA2 duplicate hard copy arrives to U.S. address

NVC

April 29, 2014: Case received

​May 22, 2014: Case number and IIN assigned. Asked operator about our move from Colombia to Argentina and received instructions.

May 24, 2014: E-mails about embassy change/address change sent to nvcinquiry@state.gov at 4:36 p.m. NVC time

​June 3, 2014: Payment portal message "This case is in the process of termination" appears. DS-261 appears, submitted. E-mails received from NVC concerning case number and AOS bill.

June 4, 2014: AOS payment invoiced, paid; DS-261 received by NVC

June 6, 2014: AOS payment shows as PAID in payment portal

June 17, 2014: Response received from nvcinquiry@state.gov. "The correspondence submitted is currently under review. An appropriate action will be taken once this review is completed."

June 24, 2014: AOS package sent via FedEx overnight shipping from Houston to NVC

June 25, 2014: AOS package delivered at 9:43 a.m. according to FedEx tracking; signed for by F.FNU

July 1, 2014: AOS package scanned

July 18, 2014: Checked payment portal and saw: "CASE NUMBER CHANGE: The applicant's case number, [bGT#], has been changed to [bNS#]." Called and confirmed. Also said today marked 30 business days since NVC received DS-261; operator said she would have that reviewed and make IV payment available ASAP.

August 5: E-mail sent to nvcinquiry@state.gov concerning changing our embassy BACK to Bogotá at 6:41 p.m. NVC time

August 6: IV invoice e-mail FINALLY received at 2:13 a.m. NVC time

August 7: IV payment made available on payment portal; paid

August 8: IV payment shows as PAID in payment portal; DS-260 becomes available

August 14: Checklist received; errors on sponsor's I-864 form and on joint sponsor's I-864A

August 15: DS-260 submitted

August 29: Checklist response and IV package sent via FedEx ground from Houston to NVC

September 4: Checklist response and IV package delivered at 11:21 a.m. according to FedEx tracking; signed for by GPETERS

September 8: Checklist response and IV package scanned

September 10: DS-260 accepted; false checklist received

September 17: E-mail response received from asknvc@state.gov (30 business days/43 calendar days later): Correspondence under review

September 26: Embassy change approved; new case number assigned

October 30: CASE COMPLETE

Embassy

Interview scheduled: Nov. 10 -- Medical: Nov. 25 -- Interview: Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m. APPROVED! -- Visa in hand: Dec. 5 -- POE: Dec. 29 in Houston

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My petition, and several others I've had direct knowledge of, stayed at the National Benefits Center in Missouri throughout 2013. For almost all of 2013, as far as I can tell from VJ posts, almost all non-direct overseas filed petitions stayed at the NBC. It does seem that things get switched up quite a bit though. I think it is all part of their smoke and mirrors processing time manipulation strategy.

The infamous "auto-expedite" was never really confirmed. I think it was more of an urban legend, stemming from so many overseas petitions getting processed so quickly. There were many petitions processed very quickly back in those days, but that was also prior to DACA, so the entire system wasn't nearly as bogged down as it is today. It really could have just come down to more efficient and motivated workers at the NBC.

The good news is that the CSC is currently showing five (5) months for an I-130, which appears to be much faster than the NBC's August 21, 2013 processing date - don't get me wrong though, I believe five (5) months is still an unreasonable amount of time for the process. The goal in my mind should be 30-45 days at the USCIS, anything longer than that is ridiculous. The processing time or date is the "normal" wait, but hopefully you can get through faster than that.

 

 

Click Spoiler for signature timeline.

 

3/10/2013 - Married

Green Card Process Summary
3/25/2013 - Submitted I-130's
01/13/2014 - Embassy Interview - Approved!
05/28/2014 - POE (U.S. Customs and Immigration Overseas Preclearance Facility - Abu Dhabi)
08/20/2014 - Green Card received.

Naturalization Process

01/20/2015 - Submitted N-400 for immediate naturalization under INA 319b.

02/10/2015 - Check cashed.

02/14/2015 - NOA

04/07/2015 - Case shipped to local field office.

04/08/2015 - Interview scheduled for July 6, 2015.

04/08/2015 - Wifey better be studying her butt off for the citizenship test!

07/08/2015 - Wifey was studying her butt off and passed the test easily. Oath ceremony completed on same day! We are done with our journey!

 

 

 

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I filed from abroad and my case was transferred to the CSC. So in my case your theory is correct.

USCIS

03/28/2014 - I-130 mailed to Chicago Lockbox

04/07/2014 - USCIS Received I-130 form

04/08/2014 - I-130 NOA1 and transferred to California Service Center (email) (11 days)

04/17/2014 - Received NOA1 in the mail from California Service Center (hardcopy) (8 days)

04/24/2014 - I-130 Approved NOA2 (case number updated on the website 4:50pm) (17 days)

05/20/2014 - Received NOA2 in the mail from California Service Center (hardcopy) (27 days)

NVC

06/09/2014 - Case number, INN, BNN Received (21 days)

06/09/2014 - DS-261 available and completed (21 days)

06/09/2014 - AOS fee invoice and paid (21 days)

08/13/2014 - IV fee invoice and paid (65 days)

08/28/2014 - AOS Package sent to NVC

09/03/2014 - DS-260 online form completed

09/08/2014 - AOS Package delivered to NVC

09/08/2014 - AOS Package Scanned

09/10/2014 - IV Package sent to NVC

09/15/2014 - IV Package Scanned

11/17/2014 - Called NVC was told a supervisor is reviewing my case and it could take up to 42 days :(

11/19/2014 - Called NVC and was informed that expedite request was approved. Waiting for NVC to review and send paperwork to Sydney.

11/20/2014 - Website shows AOS N/A N/A which means it's possibly accepted. (Unconfirmed)

11/20/2014 - Called NVC and was informed of Case Complete!!

Medical - Scheduled for Dec 16th 2014

Interview

12/3/2014 - Email received with interview appointment for December 9th 2014

12/9/2014 - Interview went well but not approved because of birth certificate name change. Approval after fingerprint police form.

12/30/2014 - Medical and police check sent to embassy

Visa issued Jan 5th 2015 :D

5.5 months in NVC

8.5 months total

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
Timeline

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Progress Reports to USCIS Service Centers forum; topic is about USCIS operations.

Our journey:

Spoiler

September 2007: Met online via social networking site (MySpace); began exchanging messages.
March 26, 2009: We become a couple!
September 10, 2009: Arrived for first meeting in-person!
June 17, 2010: Arrived for second in-person meeting and start of travel together to other areas of China!
June 21, 2010: Engaged!!!
September 1, 2010: Switched course from K1 to CR-1
December 8, 2010: Wedding date set; it will be on February 18, 2011!
February 9, 2011: Depart for China
February 11, 2011: Registered for marriage in Wuhan, officially married!!!
February 18, 2011: Wedding ceremony in Shiyan!!!
April 22, 2011: Mailed I-130 to Chicago
April 28, 2011: Received NOA1 via text/email, file routed to CSC (priority date April 25th)
April 29, 2011: Updated
May 3, 2011: Received NOA1 hardcopy in mail
July 26, 2011: Received NOA2 via text/email!!!
July 30, 2011: Received NOA2 hardcopy in mail
August 8, 2011: NVC received file
September 1, 2011: NVC case number assigned
September 2, 2011: AOS invoice received, OPTIN email for EP sent
September 7, 2011: Paid AOS bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 9, 2011)
September 8, 2011: OPTIN email accepted, GZO number assigned
September 10, 2011: Emailed AOS package
September 12, 2011: IV bill invoiced
September 13, 2011: Paid IV bill (payment portal showed PAID on September 14, 2011)
September 14, 2011: Emailed IV package
October 3, 2011: Emailed checklist response (checklist generated due to typo on Form DS-230)
October 6, 2011: Case complete at NVC
November 10, 2011: Interview - APPROVED!!!
December 7, 2011: POE - Sea-Tac Airport

September 17, 2013: Mailed I-751 to CSC

September 23, 2013: Received NOA1 in mail (receipt date September 19th)

October 16, 2013: Biometrics Appointment

January 28, 2014: Production of new Green Card ordered

February 3, 2014: New Green Card received; done with USCIS until fall of 2023*

December 18, 2023:  Filed I-90 to renew Green Card

December 21, 2023:  Production of new Green Card ordered - will be seeing USCIS again every 10 years for renewal

 

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Chile
Timeline

Filed from Chile, also to California.

Spoiler

 

19 Jan 2014 Married

USCIS

11 Apr 2014 I-130 Sent

17 Apr 2014 NOA1

02 May 2014 NOA2

NVC

21 May 2014 NVC Received

06 June 2014 Case Number, INI, and BIN generated

06 June 2014 AOS bill / DS-261 generated

03 July 2014 Paid AOS bill

03 July 2014 DS-261 completed and sent electronically

07 Aug 2014 AOS package sent

12 Aug 2014 AOS Package received by NVC (scan)

20 Aug 2014 DS-261 accepted

20 Aug 2014 IV invoice generated

20 Aug 2014 IV invoice paid/printed cover sheet

21 Aug 2014 DS-260 completed and sent electronically

22 Aug 2014 IV package of supporting documents sent

27 Aug 2014 IV package received by NVC (scan)

07 Sep 2014 Realize error on AOS (AGI vs. Total Income)

09 Sep 2014 AOS I-864s (joint sponsors) resubmitted

11 Sep 2014 AOS Re-submit received by NVC (scan)

16 Sep 2014 60-day notice received (note: this is the first 60-day notice I have ever received)

20 Oct 2014 CASE COMPLETE! (AOS and IV)

Embassy

08 Dec 2014 Medical Appointment

22 Dec 2014 Interview and APPROVAL!

27 Dec 2014 Receive passport and paperwork from the embassy

POE/Post Entry

23 Feb 2015 POE at Houston - No problems on entry

01 Mar 2015 Received SSN via USPS

02 Apr 2015 Received physical green card

ROC

19 Dec 2016 Sent I-751 Packet

26 Dec 2016 NOA1 Received

12 Jan 2017 Biometrics Appointment

14 Feb 2018 Infopass Appointment (LA) for ADIT Stamp

15 May 2018 ROC APPROVED! (I-797 NOA received 5/21/18 - GC in production!)

 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

I know you want to know who filed abroad and went somewhere other than the CSC , unfortunately I cannot comment on that. However, I can support your theory and even add to it that those filing abroad where the USC is also abroad get routed to the CSC, because that is my case. Now waiting on the expedition part :-)

USCIS 04-26-2014: Filed I-130

04-29-2014: NOA1 re-routed to CSC

05-14-2014: RFE

05-30 2014: RFE response sent

05-30-2014: RFE RESPONSE RECEIVED

06-04-2014: NOA2 I-130 Approved!

NVC

06-13-2014: Arrived at NVC

06-30-2014: Case # and IIN assigned

07-18-2014: D-261 sub mitted

07-18-2014: AOS fee invoiced

07-19-2014: AOS fee paid

07-25-2014: AOS package sent

07-28-2014 NVC received AOS

07-29-2014 NVC Scanned AOS

08-14-2014: resubmitted AOS

08-21-2014: NVC scanned AOS

09-02-2014: DS-261 reviewed and ACCEPTED! Woot!

10-03-2014: DS-260 completed

09-08-2014: IV fee invoiced

09-09-2014: IV fee paid

09-23-2014: AOS Checklist

10-08-2014: IV package scan date

10-10-2014: AOS Checklist scan date

10-23-1014: checklist scan date

12-05-2014: Case Complete

12-12-2014: Interview date scheduled

xx-xx-2014: Sent to embassy in Montreal

01-23-2015: Interview APPROVED!!

xx-xx-2014: Visa Received

xx-xx-2014: POE

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