Alternative to i130 expedite

[matlm 1]

I was told my an immigration officer that uscis no longer processes expedite requests for medical reasons and instead does something called a general inquiry. How is this new process any different?

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

Immigration officer told you that??

I don't think it's true... Unless something has changed (unlikely). Perhaps someone more knowledgeable will chime in..

[Boggy1974 124]

If USCIS stopped expediting cases on medical grounds, it must announce it to the general public through a bulletin or something. We would have seen an announcement on its website by now.

I doubt very much that uscis will convey such a major change in policy/regulation through some one-on-one medium from an immigration officer to an individual.

[matlm 1]

This is what went down:

I called the regular customer service number (the one listed on the NOA1) over a month ago to request an expedite. They told me that they could not do this on their own and they had to put in a request with a higher office, and they would be in touch with me.

An officer called my yesterday and told me that they weren't doing expedites per se any longer, which he said took 5 days, but rather something called a "general inquiry," which takes 15 days and I will receive a response in writing.

So this wasn't me asking an immigration officer off hand about the matter, but rather what seems to be an official respone.

[NikLR 13,220]

The call center is known as the "misinformation line" by the board. You didn't really speak to an immigration officer, you spoke to the USCIS call center employee who may have better access to your case but likely has never worked on one.

[matlm 1]

I don't think that this was from the call center though. When I started the process the call center told me that they were unathorized to do this, which is why I had to wait for USCIS to call me (unless there is an intermediary between the call center and USCIS). The person refered to himself as officier so-and-so.

[matlm 1]

One other thing - I've talked to people at the call center about a dozen time. about 90% had southern accents - I believe the call center is in fact located somewhere in the South. The two people I spoke with had thick New York accents. it's annecdotal but suggests my call backs weren't coming from the same place.

[NikLR 13,220]

It could be possible however the USCIS would have made an alert on their news section if that was the case. You're right that I don't see medical on the expedite page though.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=16a6b1be1ce85210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to USCIS Service Centers forum; topic is about USCIS operations that are applicable to multiple processes.