Lockbox email says file sent to Vermont center (F2a I130 )

[agmehta 1]

Hi All

i recently sent my f2a category i130 form to chicago Lockbox (as i live in NJ) on Dec 28th. I got an email from lockbox that they are transfering the application to Vermont center now. What does this mean ? Also I checked the vermont center processing time for f2a and it says i130 current processing is Sep 2013. What does this mean. Please advise

Thanks

Anand

[Kristen & Ben 1]

It means just that, that Vermont will be processing your application. Chicago lockbox doesn't do the processing, it's only the place where you mail you things to. In terms of the processing times, Vermont is currently working on applications sent to them in September 2013. It would seem that you have about 15 months before getting through the USCIS stage of the process. Visas based on marriage to a permanent resident take a lot longer than ones for US Citizens.

[agmehta 1]

It means just that, that Vermont will be processing your application. Chicago lockbox doesn't do the processing, it's only the place where you mail you things to. In terms of the processing times, Vermont is currently working on applications sent to them in September 2013. It would seem that you have about 15 months before getting through the USCIS stage of the process. Visas based on marriage to a permanent resident take a lot longer than ones for US Citizens.

Thanks Kristen& ben

Few more q

1) So does this mean my spouse has to wait 15months for her greencard ? Will I get atleast her Priority date atleast in upcoming weeks after the review of forms or will i have to wait 15months for the file to be sent to NVC and I will be getting PD in 15months time.

2) My wife has a visitor visa and I plan to call her for 6months till then. She also has a valid H1 approval as she got selected in H1lottery. But she does not have a job yet.

3) Is obamas new immigration reform going to help F2a category ?

4) I dont really understand what is the logic /a differentiation between greencard holders and US citizens filing for the spouse. Somewhere I read that new

immigration reforms that was launched last year for a debate in the parliament had a place holder for US greencard holders filing for spouses geting the same benefits like a US citizen. What is the deadline for them being accepted by congress.

[Kristen & Ben 1]

I don't have answers for most of your questions.

Her priority date should be listed on the NOA1 you should receive any day now since you got an email. Basically it's the date USCIS received your petition. While there's no way to know for sure how long it will take, based on the processing time you memtioned the 15 months are just USCIS. If what you looked at is just for the I-130 then that's USCIS. After that your application goes to NVC then the embassy so she probably wont have her green card for a while.

[agmehta 1]

I don't have answers for most of your questions.

Her priority date should be listed on the NOA1 you should receive any day now since you got an email. Basically it's the date USCIS received your petition. While there's no way to know for sure how long it will take, based on the processing time you memtioned the 15 months are just USCIS. If what you looked at is just for the I-130 then that's USCIS. After that your application goes to NVC then the embassy so she probably wont have her green card for a while.

Thanks KB,

I just checked USCIS processing times and I notice that California processing times are much faster in entire US. Vermont is the worst. So i should contact USCIS and request them to transfer my file to California processing center ASAP in couple of months if they have not already done so. I found out online that USCIS does transfer workload between centers to process the backlogs at Vermont as it cannot handle the application influx.

Anyways I think irrespective of that, I will still need to wait till the PD globally for my country India becomes current. Now waiting for the NOA with her current PD.

Will contact USCIS if I dont get it by next 7days. I will explore all other options like H1 which my wife already has.

[Kristen & Ben 1]

I would assume your NOA would arrive within the next week since you got the email.

As far as I know USCIS will not transfer petitions at your request, only if they get really backlogged and think it's necessary. I know someone who applied for a IR-1/CR-1 years ago when CSC was super backlogged and one day they sent it to Vermont, but it doesn't seem like that is a usual thing. If they let us request our petitions to be sent somewhere faster we'd all be doing it.

[agmehta 1]

I would assume your NOA would arrive within the next week since you got the email.

As far as I know USCIS will not transfer petitions at your request, only if they get really backlogged and think it's necessary. I know someone who applied for a IR-1/CR-1 years ago when CSC was super backlogged and one day they sent it to Vermont, but it doesn't seem like that is a usual thing. If they let us request our petitions to be sent somewhere faster we'd all be doing it.

You may not be aware, but I think its common thing for USCIS to transfer the workload when it feels ncessary. Yes I might not be able to request the file to be transferred to California as of now, but i think there is no harm in trying for it. I have read somewhere on Uscis too about a process where you you can request for a followup with Uscis too.

Also I dont think there would be anyone whose petition is current but the file is still lying with USCIS processing centers like vermont due to backlog and inefficiency at procesing centers.

Edited January 4, 2015 by agmehta