Cannot see case status on USCIS website

[h45549 18]

I filed for my wife's I-130 recently (Nov 26). I have a few questions:

1. I recieved the receipt for my petition with a receipt number starting with MSC, which when I enter at USCIS website to check my case status, I get the following message

Your case can not be found at this time in My Case Status. Please check your receipt number and try again. If you need further assistance, please call the National Customer Service Center at 1.800.375.5283.

2. I did not enter an email address on my application, how can I add an email address to my case now to receieve email alerts of any updates.

3. When my case is transfered from NBC to a local facility, will they send me a letter to inform of this?

4. I checked online and normal time to get NOA2 seems to be 5 months and I see some people who received it in lesser time as well, my lawyer told me to expect 6-8 months processing delay, what is the current avergae processing time.

thanks!

[NikLR 13,220]

1. Most people with an MSC# (including me) cannot see their case status online. It wasn't reliable to begin with so don't worry too much. The USC can always check it by calling.

2. Yes you can add your email address. That doesn't guarantee they will send you an email, but you can try.

3. No they will not. It states directly on the USCIS website they will not. Some people have had luck by calling to find out where their case is exactly but there is no official notification IF the NBC sends it to a local office.

4. Average is 5 months. Some are slower. Some are faster. As of yet we do not know exactly how long the MSC cases will be taking except that there have been few (about 10) who have been very fast.

EDIT: and this please:

Edited December 4, 2012 by NikiR

[Ryan H 3,791]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

**Organizer hat off**

The purpose of this is semantics and it's for the benefit of others who may read this.

I filed for my wife's I-130

An I-130 is a petition form that you filed, it's your petition, not your wife's (she is the beneficiary of the petition).