Received NOA1 Today

[BLG 0]

I received my NOA1 in the mail today. Now, I have a couple of questions:

I've heard people talking about tracking their cases on the USCIS website and make mention of "Touches" and other things. Well, I registered on their site today and entered my case number and I see no mention of anything of the sort. It only says my status is Initial Review. I've attached a screen shot of what I am seeing. Is there another place on the site where I can get more detailed information?

Second question: On the same page underneath this case status part, there is a place that shows "Processing Times." I've attached a screen shot of that too (I like screen shots ) It shows for the Vermont Service Center that the processing time is 5 months. I'm curious how accurate this is. Is there any weight to this or is it just another generic number they use? Also, what the heck is that USCIS National Average?! 17.6 months?! What all service centers are included in that number?!

Thanks for any info!

[Lohninck 2]

Hiya, enjoy the journey you and your fiancee are about to embark on.. buckle up, it can be a bumpy ride at times but it will be totally worth it!

"Touch" just means the last time a case has been updated, but it can mean nothing. Supposedly it means whenever an employee picks up the case and works on it (hardly ever, the lazy bums) and the barcode must be scanned, and this is reflected on the Last Updated section of the website. For me, our case was only touched in the beginning, then for the RFE (grr), then when they mailed it, received it, a random touch in May, and finally when we received our NOA2, the best touch of em all.

As you'll see once you register and log in to the website, you can add your receipt number to your "portfolio" and then check on the last updated date. Anytime it's updated, it's a touch, and everyone gets happy.

No idea with the processing times bit - mine took 126 days from NOA1 to NOA2, and there are still some January filers who have not yet received their NOA2. It's just a bit of a luck of the draw. Let's hope you're not one of the unluckier ones!

Edited June 5, 2010 by Lohninck

[MalaysianGirl 26]

(hardly ever, the lazy bums)

SO true!

[BLG 0]

Hiya, enjoy the journey you and your fiancee are about to embark on.. buckle up, it can be a bumpy ride at times but it will be totally worth it!

"Touch" just means the last time a case has been updated, but it can mean nothing. Supposedly it means whenever an employee picks up the case and works on it (hardly ever, the lazy bums) and the barcode must be scanned, and this is reflected on the Last Updated section of the website. For me, our case was only touched in the beginning, then for the RFE (grr), then when they mailed it, received it, a random touch in May, and finally when we received our NOA2, the best touch of em all.

As you'll see once you register and log in to the website, you can add your receipt number to your "portfolio" and then check on the last updated date. Anytime it's updated, it's a touch, and everyone gets happy.

No idea with the processing times bit - mine took 126 days from NOA1 to NOA2, and there are still some January filers who have not yet received their NOA2. It's just a bit of a luck of the draw. Let's hope you're not one of the unluckier ones!

Hi, thank you for the explanation. If i understand correctly, there is no place that actually says "Touched" but rather when we see the Last Updated date change, it means that our case has been "touched" is that correct? So since they received my case on June 2, but it was last updated on June 4th, that means someone touched my case on June 4?

By the way, congratulations on your NOA2! I can only imagine how excited you must be!

[Lohninck 2]

Hi, thank you for the explanation. If i understand correctly, there is no place that actually says "Touched" but rather when we see the Last Updated date change, it means that our case has been "touched" is that correct? So since they received my case on June 2, but it was last updated on June 4th, that means someone touched my case on June 4?

By the way, congratulations on your NOA2! I can only imagine how excited you must be!

Yeah, touched is kind of a VJ word, I believe. I hadn't heard of it until I joined anyway. So that's correct, it was last touched on June 4th, and may many touches come your way.

Thank you! It was a nice early 5 year anniversary present for my fiance and I. It's a huge relief to see the light at the end of our long distance relationship tunnel.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hiya, enjoy the journey you and your fiancee are about to embark on.. buckle up, it can be a bumpy ride at times but it will be totally worth it!

"Touch" just means the last time a case has been updated, but it can mean nothing. Supposedly it means whenever an employee picks up the case and works on it (hardly ever, the lazy bums) and the barcode must be scanned, and this is reflected on the Last Updated section of the website. For me, our case was only touched in the beginning, then for the RFE (grr), then when they mailed it, received it, a random touch in May, and finally when we received our NOA2, the best touch of em all.

As you'll see once you register and log in to the website, you can add your receipt number to your "portfolio" and then check on the last updated date. Anytime it's updated, it's a touch, and everyone gets happy.

No idea with the processing times bit - mine took 126 days from NOA1 to NOA2, and there are still some January filers who have not yet received their NOA2. It's just a bit of a luck of the draw. Let's hope you're not one of the unluckier ones!

At the top of the K-1 forum is a pinned topic explaining the process of petition adjudication. If you are lucky you will receive no "updates" or touches. Your case will be picked up, adjudicated in aboout 15 minutes and approved. The rest of the time it is sitting there waiting.

I suggest you read the inside scoop on this. While USCIS has its issues, to be sure, I do not consider the people working there to be lazy.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi, thank you for the explanation. If i understand correctly, there is no place that actually says "Touched" but rather when we see the Last Updated date change, it means that our case has been "touched" is that correct? So since they received my case on June 2, but it was last updated on June 4th, that means someone touched my case on June 4?

By the way, congratulations on your NOA2! I can only imagine how excited you must be!

I will tell you what happened to your case. It was received June 2nd. It sat there unopened until June 4th. (did you use Fedex to get it there overnight?) On June 4th the file was opened, sorted into one of their folders (anything you did to prepare the file was taken apart and tossed in the recycle bin) they checked to make sure you signed the check, that the check was the right amount and that you signed the forms. That is all. Your case is now on a shelf in a USCIS binder waiting for assignment to an adjudicator. With any luck an adjudicator will pick it up in the next 2-6 months, review it and approve it about 15 minutes later. There will be no further "updates" until it is approved if that is the case.

[BLG 0]

I will tell you what happened to your case. It was received June 2nd. It sat there unopened until June 4th. (did you use Fedex to get it there overnight?) On June 4th the file was opened, sorted into one of their folders (anything you did to prepare the file was taken apart and tossed in the recycle bin) they checked to make sure you signed the check, that the check was the right amount and that you signed the forms. That is all. Your case is now on a shelf in a USCIS binder waiting for assignment to an adjudicator. With any luck an adjudicator will pick it up in the next 2-6 months, review it and approve it about 15 minutes later. There will be no further "updates" until it is approved if that is the case.

Actually I wrote that wrong. They received it on May 28, the NOA1 was dated June 2 and then the case was updated June 4. I was thinking the touch had something to do with them mailing it back to Vermont or something since from what I understand, they forwarded my petition to Lewisville, TX. What do you think?

Thanks for the reply!

[Lohninck 2]

At the top of the K-1 forum is a pinned topic explaining the process of petition adjudication. If you are lucky you will receive no "updates" or touches. Your case will be picked up, adjudicated in aboout 15 minutes and approved. The rest of the time it is sitting there waiting.

I suggest you read the inside scoop on this. While USCIS has its issues, to be sure, I do not consider the people working there to be lazy.

Yeah, I've read it before. It was a joke. I know they've got a lot to do just like everyone else.

[O & C 3]

I received my NOA1 in the mail today. Now, I have a couple of questions:

I've heard people talking about tracking their cases on the USCIS website and make mention of "Touches" and other things. Well, I registered on their site today and entered my case number and I see no mention of anything of the sort. It only says my status is Initial Review. I've attached a screen shot of what I am seeing. Is there another place on the site where I can get more detailed information?

Second question: On the same page underneath this case status part, there is a place that shows "Processing Times." I've attached a screen shot of that too (I like screen shots ) It shows for the Vermont Service Center that the processing time is 5 months. I'm curious how accurate this is. Is there any weight to this or is it just another generic number they use? Also, what the heck is that USCIS National Average?! 17.6 months?! What all service centers are included in that number?!

Thanks for any info!

All I can say is that I wish you the best on this journey!!!

[amuna0526 11]

hi

I waited 4 1/2 months until the case got transferred to NVC.

[BLG 0]

All I can say is that I wish you the best on this journey!!!

Hi, thank you, I appreciate the kind words! I wish you all the best as well!

hi

I waited 4 1/2 months until the case got transferred to NVC.

4 to 5 months is kind of what I am hoping for to be honest. Anything shorter would be great, but that timeframe is where my expectations are right now.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi, thank you, I appreciate the kind words! I wish you all the best as well!

4 to 5 months is kind of what I am hoping for to be honest. Anything shorter would be great, but that timeframe is where my expectations are right now.

That person had a CR-1 which is processed differently than a K-1, though they both eventually go to the NVC but for entirely different purposes.

I will not try to speculate what an update within the first 2 days of arrival means. Nothing really. It may have been them sending it to Texas or not, it may have been its receipt in Texas. It is on a shelf now, in Vermont or Texas or Nebraska or California and it is waiting for an adjudicator to review it. When they do, if everything is there and in order, it will be approved. If not you may see another update as they work through something, then you may get an approval or you may get an RFE. With any luck, like the vast majority of cases, there will be no update until it is approved.

[Melgar 0]

Congrats BLG! I wish you the best of luck! I am on a similar timeline as you. Hopefully getting forwarded to Texas is a good thing. I'm not sure, though!