USCIS assigns an INS A-number after I-130

[justcheckin 0]

I filed an I-130 petition for my infant daughter and it's been approved by the USCIS. I have been waiting for NVC to receive the case but 2 weeks had passed and they still had no record on it. Since the case was supposed to go through consular processing in Montreal, the USCIS should have forwarded this approved case to NVC. I called USCIS today to find out if they have done that.

A USCIS rep told me that they had not sent it to NVC but assigned an A-number instead. I don't know what that means but I was under the impression that you only get an A number if you're registered as a resident alien in the US (or maybe once you get an immigrant visa). They said they will look into the issue but I'm a bit worried that it will delay the processing of my daughter's case.

Anybody had a similar experience?

[imaisha 1]

Are you sure the operator said "instead?" Everyone gets an A-number, it can be found on the NOA2 for your petitions, even non-immigrant ones like the I-129f, so there's nothing wrong there. I know there have been some delays recently in sending petitions off to NVC but two weeks seems excessive. Sorry, not sure why they're still holding on to it though...

[TayRivers 4]

Are you sure the operator said "instead?" Everyone gets an A-number, it can be found on the NOA2 for your petitions, even non-immigrant ones like the I-129f, so there's nothing wrong there. I know there have been some delays recently in sending petitions off to NVC but two weeks seems excessive. Sorry, not sure why they're still holding on to it though...

It is not unusual for it to take longer than 2 weeks for a case to get to NVC and be input into their system. Have you called NVC and spoken to a officer? They will be the best people to contact. The 1-800 USCIS helpline is a call center and the staff are not employed by USCIS and they are not immigration officers, they can only give you very limited info about your case and most of the time the information they give is wrong.

To talk to an officer at NVC call 1-603-334-0700 then press 1 and then 5 to speak to a officer.

[justcheckin 0]

Are you sure the operator said "instead?" Everyone gets an A-number, it can be found on the NOA2 for your petitions, even non-immigrant ones like the I-129f, so there's nothing wrong there. I know there have been some delays recently in sending petitions off to NVC but two weeks seems excessive. Sorry, not sure why they're still holding on to it though...

Thanks for your reply. I called the USCIS again. It turns out the person I had spoken too before didn't know what she was talking about. The other rep said that the case had already been sent to NVC. It was approved in California on 8/3/09 and supposedly sent to NVC the following week. That means it's been only a week since they sent it. He also said that it may take up to 30 days to have an approved I-130 entered into the NVC system.

[robotica97 0]

Are you sure the operator said "instead?" Everyone gets an A-number, it can be found on the NOA2 for your petitions, even non-immigrant ones like the I-129f, so there's nothing wrong there. I know there have been some delays recently in sending petitions off to NVC but two weeks seems excessive. Sorry, not sure why they're still holding on to it though...

Thanks for your reply. I called the USCIS again. It turns out the person I had spoken too before didn't know what she was talking about. The other rep said that the case had already been sent to NVC. It was approved in California on 8/3/09 and supposedly sent to NVC the following week. That means it's been only a week since they sent it. He also said that it may take up to 30 days to have an approved I-130 entered into the NVC system.

Hi I have a case just like yours, I'd filed for my 14 months daughter, am a USC too. Could you please tell me how long did it took the approval of your child I-130, a month ago I received the 1st NOA and I am waiting for the aproval. Thanks for your help. Sorry for my English...

[Mononoke28 135]

Thanks for your reply. I called the USCIS again. It turns out the person I had spoken too before didn't know what she was talking about. The other rep said that the case had already been sent to NVC. It was approved in California on 8/3/09 and supposedly sent to NVC the following week. That means it's been only a week since they sent it. He also said that it may take up to 30 days to have an approved I-130 entered into the NVC system.

I've actually seen cases where it took almost 12 weeks for their approved petitions to reach the NVC, so it's not unheard of. Keep calling the NVC on a weekly basis, you can even find out if they received by using the automated phone system.

Diana

[robotica97 0]

Thanks for your reply. I called the USCIS again. It turns out the person I had spoken too before didn't know what she was talking about. The other rep said that the case had already been sent to NVC. It was approved in California on 8/3/09 and supposedly sent to NVC the following week. That means it's been only a week since they sent it. He also said that it may take up to 30 days to have an approved I-130 entered into the NVC system.

I've actually seen cases where it took almost 12 weeks for their approved petitions to reach the NVC, so it's not unheard of. Keep calling the NVC on a weekly basis, you can even find out if they received by using the automated phone system.

Diana

Thank you Diana for taking the time to answer my question, I hope things can go faster for my baby...