Can I use Texas Center instead of California?

[JLT 0]

I live in Nevada, so theoretically, the California Service Center (CSC) is where I should file. However, nearly everyone says to file at TSC (Texas). The TXT has much shorter wait times and I see many people who DID apply originally to California have had their cases transferred to Texas -- causing significant delays. It doesn't seem likely, therefore, that Texas wouldtransfer me to the CSC. Has anyone applied to the TSC that technically lived in another area? Does it even matter? Please let me know.

Thanks!

Joseph

[amykathleen2005 441]

You file to the Texas Lockbox, everyone does, as it states in the directions. USCIS then forwards you position to the appropriate center for where you live. You have no choice.

[JLT 0]

Aaargh! Thanks. Anyone have an address in Texas where I can move for the next 5 or six months until this is approved??? (kidding) Who knows, if the CSC is so backlogged, maybe they'll just keep it in Texas to begin with. I can dream, anyway.

[amykathleen2005 441]

Urgh why can't I type today. I meant YOUR PETITION obv., lol.

Wish you a speedy process. Things will probably pick up soon, they always do eventually.

[payxibka 10,044]

Aaargh! Thanks. Anyone have an address in Texas where I can move for the next 5 or six months until this is approved??? (kidding) Who knows, if the CSC is so backlogged, maybe they'll just keep it in Texas to begin with. I can dream, anyway.

Texas Service Center does NOT process the I-129F petitions...

[SqdnGuns 21]

Texas Service Center does NOT process the I-129F petitions...

Correct............they are only setup up to process Citizenship BUT they were slammed by a higher power to take on 35,000 I-130's from CSC. See signature for the fiasco that ensued.

[payxibka 10,044]

Correct............they are only setup up to process Citizenship BUT they were slammed by a higher power to take on 35,000 I-130's from CSC. See signature for the fiasco that ensued.

Since this was posted in the K-1 forum... I-130's and the problems TSC has been saddled with, are of no concern here....

[Caroline + Angelo 20]

Aaargh! Thanks. Anyone have an address in Texas where I can move for the next 5 or six months until this is approved??? (kidding) Who knows, if the CSC is so backlogged, maybe they'll just keep it in Texas to begin with. I can dream, anyway.

The Dallas Lockbox does not equal TSC. As people before me said TSC does not process I-129F petitions anymore, so you will get redirected to either VSC or CSC for sure

[katie & sifa 25]

Aaargh! Thanks. Anyone have an address in Texas where I can move for the next 5 or six months until this is approved??? (kidding) Who knows, if the CSC is so backlogged, maybe they'll just keep it in Texas to begin with. I can dream, anyway.

I know you're kidding, but FYI, petitions from Texas are adjudicated at Vermont Service Center, not in Texas even if that is where they are originally mailed now.

[TwoCats 55]

I think this does confuse a lot of people.

Your petition is filed at the Texas Lockbox. NOT the Texas Service Center.

The Texas Lockbox forwards your petition either to California, or Vermont depending on where you live.

The only reason you see Texas Service Center showing up on timelines is because people have either been confused by the above, or haven't bothered updating their timelines to show their correct service center. Sometimes it makes me wish people really would pay attention to their timelines and update them correctly.

There are NO I-129Fs being processed at the Texas Service Center.

They are either processed at California Service Center, or Vermont Service Center.

[WARREN-IRINA 1]

If you send your petition to a service center it will just be returned to you with a note telling you to send it to the Texas Lockbox. This is from the USCIS web site dated 6/14/10. The lockbox will enter it into the system forward it to the proper service center where you will recieve your NOA1 when they recieve it from the lockbox.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=091a904c2593a210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=c94e6d26d17df110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

Change of Filing Location for Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced a change in filing location instructions and addresses for the Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) (Form I-129F). The new instructions, dated 6/14/10, are part of an overall effort to transition the intake of forms from Service Centers to USCIS Lockbox facilities. Centralizing form and fee intake to a Lockbox environment allows USCIS to provide customers with more efficient and effective initial processing of applications/petitions and fees.

Beginning Aug. 3, 2010 all Form I-129F petitions being filed by a U.S. citizen on behalf of a fiancé(e) or spouse must be submitted to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox facility.

For U.S. Postal Service:

USCIS

PO Box 660151

Dallas, TX 75266

For Express mail and courier deliveries:

USCIS

Attn: I-129F

2501 South State Highway 121 Business

Suite 400

Lewisville, TX 75067

Detailed guidance can be found in the updated Form I-129F instructions online at www.uscis.gov (click on the Forms tab).

The Vermont and California Service Centers will forward incorrectly filed petitions to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox for a period of 45 days until Sept. 17, 2010. After Sept. 17, 2010, petitions and fees submitted at the Service Centers will be returned to the applicant, with a note advising them of the correct filing location.Applicants filing a form at a USCIS Lockbox facility may elect to receive an e-mail and/or text message notifying them that their petition has been accepted by completing Form G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, and attaching it to the first page of their application.

For more information on USCIS programs, visit www.uscis.gov or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.[/color]

[Channah&Aaron 51]

Aaargh! Thanks. Anyone have an address in Texas where I can move for the next 5 or six months until this is approved??? (kidding) Who knows, if the CSC is so backlogged, maybe they'll just keep it in Texas to begin with. I can dream, anyway.

; CSC so backlogged? Where do you get that idea from? Based on the VJ approvals, CSC is approving mid-September filers, while Vermont is working on 3rd week of August. So, y'all are not as backlogged as you might think CS is.

Join the -waiting- club and "enjoy" the bumpy ride

[On the Road Again 2]

Aaargh! Thanks. Anyone have an address in Texas where I can move for the next 5 or six months until this is approved??? (kidding) Who knows, if the CSC is so backlogged, maybe they'll just keep it in Texas to begin with. I can dream, anyway.

California and Vermont are currently the only service centers processing K-1's at the moment both are taking 5-6 months

Edited February 8, 2011 by On the Road Again

[Blob18 111]

Yea, I'd say CSC has slowed down considerably, but it isn't backlogged (to our knowledge)

One always slows down when the other speeds up. Why? Many can speculate but only those working there know.

Edited February 8, 2011 by Blob18

[jennie ann 15]

I think this does confuse a lot of people.

Your petition is filed at the Texas Lockbox. NOT the Texas Service Center.

The Texas Lockbox forwards your petition either to California, or Vermont depending on where you live.

The only reason you see Texas Service Center showing up on timelines is because people have either been confused by the above, or haven't bothered updating their timelines to show their correct service center. Sometimes it makes me wish people really would pay attention to their timelines and update them correctly.

There are NO I-129Fs being processed at the Texas Service Center.

They are either processed at California Service Center, or Vermont Service Center.

The reason you see Texas Service Center on timelines now is NOT that people are confused but that 35,000 petitions were transferred from California Service Center to Texas Service Center last November because CSC was so backlogged. Here is the thread for all of us unfortunate victims of the fiasco that has ensued (TSC was not prepared to deal with this as you are right, they don't usually process I-129s and I-130s, and many people have been waiting 7 months or more for their NOA2):

CSC to TSC transfers

; CSC so backlogged? Where do you get that idea from? Based on the VJ approvals, CSC is approving mid-September filers, while Vermont is working on 3rd week of August. So, y'all are not as backlogged as you might think CS is.

Join the -waiting- club and "enjoy" the bumpy ride

Again, the only reason CSC is in such good shape now is that they were able to clear their backlog last November by dumping 35,000 petitions onto TSC (see above link).

Edited February 8, 2011 by jennie ann