Where Are New I-130s for IR-5 Visas Being Processed?

[WorldTravelers 5]

I sent in my I-130 petition for my mom, who will be applying for IR-5 overseas, to Chicago lockbox earlier this month. Currently it is still at the National Benefits Center (NBC).

I read somewhere that "some" IR-5 cases filed after August 2012 will be kept at NBC instead of being transferred to Service Centers or District Offices. I wanted to get an estimate of processing times on this website, but don't know which location to choose.

Does anyone who submitted their I-130 for parents after August know where these are being processed now?

[CPBDDO 5]

Our September I-130 was transferred to a district office.

[WorldTravelers 5]

Thanks for the reply.

When was it transferred? Did it go from NBC to district office or was it first at a service center?

The last case processed for both Vermont and Texas Service Centers, which seem to be the only two that process I-130s for parents, is May 21, 2012.

I wonder how they choose the District Office city to which to transfer? On the Processing Times page I couldn't find any city in TX, which is where I live, that handles I-130s.

[CPBDDO 5]

I don't know when it was transferred or if it went from NBC to a service center. My profile is screwed up so I can't show my timeline either (it only lets me put in a K-1 visa info). The district office mine went to was in a neighboring state.

[let-it-be 36]

I sent in my I-130 petition for my mom, who will be applying for IR-5 overseas, to Chicago lockbox earlier this month. Currently it is still at the National Benefits Center (NBC).

I read somewhere that "some" IR-5 cases filed after August 2012 will be kept at NBC instead of being transferred to Service Centers or District Offices. I wanted to get an estimate of processing times on this website, but don't know which location to choose.

Does anyone who submitted their I-130 for parents after August know where these are being processed now?

I filed last Oct 3 and both petitions were transferred to NBC.

Approved in 2+ months (Dec 3 & Dec 14) & forwarded to NVC (Dec 10 & the other one just last week).

Assigned case number Dec 31 & currently waiting for the other one.

[WorldTravelers 5]

Wow, 2+ months, that's really fast!

I am bracing myself for 6 months timeline until I-130 is approved. And I am already getting worried because mom's original birth certificate would be 12 months old (and possibly not valid - if they are strict about it) on June 7th, and that would be 5 1/2 months after they first received our I-130. It is not clear about the 12-months validity of those civil documents, is it at the time we start the process, we send them with DS-230, or time of the interview?

[let-it-be 36]

Wow, 2+ months, that's really fast!

I am bracing myself for 6 months timeline until I-130 is approved. And I am already getting worried because mom's original birth certificate would be 12 months old (and possibly not valid - if they are strict about it) on June 7th, and that would be 5 1/2 months after they first received our I-130. It is not clear about the 12-months validity of those civil documents, is it at the time we start the process, we send them with DS-230, or time of the interview?

I know . I was pleasantly surprised. Right now I'm still waiting for my mom's case number.

Yes, your mom's civil documents like her BC will have to be submitted together with the DS-230 for NVC to schedule an interview appointment.

Edited January 4, 2013 by let-it-be

[kittytv 0]

mine was sent august-13 and now still at NBC, still haven't hear nothing and just wait good news

[kd6673 0]

I hope NBC will have it's own processing time for I-130's especially for those applications who were submitted after August 2012. As of Dec 31 2012 according to USCIS processing time, NBC has not shown any info with regards to which current priority date being process for I-130. There was no row on the table for I 130 applications.

[WorldTravelers 5]

We are at 3 months wait today.

I called USCIS again, talked to Tier 2 officer, to check if our case has been transferred to a local office. It hasn't been. It is still at NBC.

The officer then informed me that they usually transfer to the local office only those cases where they might need to call one of the parties in for an interview, or need more information. He asked if the beneficery is in the country, (she is not), so maybe those cases are that get transferred. If we indicated on I-130 that we'll do consular processing (which we did), then most likely our petition will stay at NBC.

He also said that it should take 5-6 months total until approval, which is different from 7 months information I received when I called 2 months ago. He did say he is not there, at NBC, and it will depend on their workload, but that is the average. So, I guess, he is one of the more hopeful officers.

Edited March 18, 2013 by WorldTravelers

[kd6673 0]

We are at 3 months wait today.

I called USCIS again, talked to Tier 2 officer, to check if our case has been transferred to a local office. It hasn't been. It is still at NBC.

The officer then informed me that they usually transfer to the local office only those cases where they might need to call one of the parties in for an interview, or need more information. He asked if the beneficery is in the country, (she is not), so maybe those cases are that get transferred. If we indicated on I-130 that we'll do consular processing (which we did), then most likely our petition will stay at NBC.

He also said that it should take 5-6 months total until approval, which is different from 7 months information I received when I called 2 months ago. He did say he is not there, at NBC, and it will depend on their workload, but that is the average. So, I guess, he is one of the more hopeful officers.

We almost have the same timeline WorlsTravelers. We've got NOA1 dated Dec 17, 2012. So let's hope that we get decisions in 3 months time.

[bgusgirl 0]

All of you IR5 petitioners, I already sent I-130 for my mom, who is currently in her home country. NOA1 was dated June 17th. I would like to prepare in advance for the next set of documents. I am assuming there is nothing between NOA1 and NOA2. What comes after NOA2? What should I have ready as far as paperwork for the next step?

thank you for your help.