Jump to content
Tag&Polina

Is California where you want your K1 petition to go?

 Share

32 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Ukraine
Timeline

I just mailed our K1 off to the Texas Lock Box and it arrived on Wednesday. It seems that the California office is processing petitions a lot faster? Is that true? I was reading on one of the posts that if you had sent your petition in before March of 2015 it was still in Texas and could possibly be delayed? My home state is Maryland I was under the impression it would go to Vermont? Or is that incorrect as well? Either way, it's a waiting game now regardless of where it gets sent to.

Tag

Priority Mailed I-129 on 8/10/15

Tracked and Received by Texas Lockbox 8/12/15

N.O.A.1 email/text 08/17/15

N.O.A. 1 hard copy 8/21/15

R.F.E. 09/02/15 ?

N.O.A. 2 email/text 09/24/15

N.O.A. 2 hard copy 09/28/15

N.V.C. Received 10/15/15

N.V.C Case#10/19/15

N.V.C. In Transit 10/20/15

Case Received 10/22/15

Medical 11/17/

Appointment date 11/18/15

Approval 11/18/15!!!!!!!!!!

P.O.E. J.F.K.- 11/27/15 ?????

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just mailed our K1 off to the Texas Lock Box and it arrived on Wednesday. It seems that the California office is processing petitions a lot faster? Is that true? I was reading on one of the posts that if you had sent your petition in before March of 2015 it was still in Texas and could possibly be delayed? My home state is Maryland I was under the impression it would go to Vermont? Or is that incorrect as well? Either way, it's a waiting game now regardless of where it gets sent to.

Tag

Vermont no longer processes K1 petitions.

As of very late March 2015, all newly filed K1 petitions are directed to California Service Center. No further K1 petitions are being handled at Texas Service Center (except for the processing of those they already had at the facility). This will continue for an undetermined time.

Your application will go to California. Congrats! :)

Edited by yuna628

Our Journey Timeline  - Immigration and the Health Exchange Price of Love in the UK Thinking of Returning to UK?

 

First met: 12/31/04 - Engaged: 9/24/09
Filed I-129F: 10/4/14 - Packet received: 10/7/14
NOA 1 email + ARN assigned: 10/10/14 (hard copy 10/17/14)
Touched on website (fixed?): 12/9/14 - Poked USCIS: 4/1/15
NOA 2 email: 5/4/15 (hard copy 5/11/15)
Sent to NVC: 5/8/15 - NVC received + #'s assigned: 5/15/15 (estimated)
NVC sent: 5/19/15 - London received/ready: 5/26/15
Packet 3: 5/28/15 - Medical: 6/16/15
Poked London 7/1/15 - Packet 4: 7/2/15
Interview: 7/30/15 - Approved!
AP + Issued 8/3/15 - Visa in hand (depot): 8/6/15
POE: 8/27/15

Wedding: 9/30/15

Filed I-485, I-131, I-765: 11/7/15

Packet received: 11/9/15

NOA 1 txt/email: 11/15/15 - NOA 1 hardcopy: 11/19/15

Bio: 12/9/15

EAD + AP approved: 1/25/16 - EAD received: 2/1/16

RFE for USCIS inability to read vax instructions: 5/21/16 (no e-notification & not sent from local office!)

RFE response sent: 6/7/16 - RFE response received 6/9/16

AOS approved/card in production: 6/13/16  

NOA 2 hardcopy + card sent 6/17/16

Green Card received: 6/18/16

USCIS 120 day reminder notice: 2/22/18

Filed I-751: 5/2/18 - Packet received: 5/4/18

NOA 1:  5/29/18 (12 mo ext) 8/13/18 (18 mo ext)  - Bio: 6/27/18

Transferred: Potomac Service Center 3/26/19

Approved/New Card Produced status: 4/25/19 - NOA2 hardcopy 4/29/19

10yr Green Card Received: 5/2/19 with error >_<

N400 : 7/16/23 - Oath : 10/19/23

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Colombia
Timeline

All of the processing centers are processing in about the same time.

You will hear on these forums that "X" service center is taking forever. And that may be true for a small percentage of people.....But the people you see here on VJ forums are an extremely small sample size. As an example, I think I read that USCIS processes upwards of 100,000 petition per quarter or per year. The amount of recorded cases here on VJ is about 300-500 per year.

Sending in your petitions by "X" date does not mean that your petition will goto "Y" service center. The petitions are all taking in by a lockbox facility. The lockbox facility will re-route your case to a service center based on load. It is worth noting that there are very few, if any, K1 applications going to Nebraska. And I have not seen many K1's going through Vermont............. Aside from little caveats like that though, your petition will be routed to the service center with the least amount of cases. There are times however, where the dividing the load of cases will still get bottle-necked, and thus leading to a service center getting backed up. In theory though, they avoid this.

Again, just because you live in Maryland does not mean it will goto Vermont.

Lastly, Yes. It will be a waiting game. Nothing can prepare you for the time of NOA2. And even though service centers are "supposed" to adjudicate cases based in the order they are received. This is ideal, but not the case in reality. According to an interview I had read from an officer ( here on VJ ).... As cases are received they are put into 1 big box until that box is filled with like 50-75 cases. Then that box is put on a shelf amongst 30 other boxes......As the officers finish a box they should be grabbing the next-earliest-date , but again this is not always the case.

USCIS time line for Nebraska showed = 5 months

When I called USCIS central office, they said in fact that Nebraska was working on Nov'2014 ..... = 7 months processing time ( at this point in our case )

ACTUAL APPROVAL TIME = 6months 2 days.

Best thing to do is patient wait your 5 months.

For someone who filed August 12th,2015... Your 5 month mark is not until January 2016! You will not be able to ask for an inquiry until February 2016.

And who knows... you might be one of the lucky ones and get an approval in less than 2 months!!! WHO KNOWS? Nobody............. lol

Edited by Karmalious

PETITION I-130

1/2/2015 - Petition sent to Phoenix Lockbox

1/6/2015 - NOA #1 Receipt

7/1/2015 - NOA #2 Approved

7/10/2015 - Email from Nebraska stating sent the case to NVC

NVC

7/16/15 - Case Received by NVC

7/30/15 - Case number assigned

8/3/15 - DS-261 Agent available

8/4/15 - DS-261 Agent completed

8/4/15 - AOS fee available & paid

8/6/15 - Check cleared the bank & bar-code cover sheet now available

8/13/15 - AOS Packet & IV Packet sent to NVC by priority mail

8/15/15 - IV fee available & paid same day

8/17/15 - NVC received package

8/19/15 - Check cleared the bank & DS-260 available & DS-260 completed!!! ALSO, we received email notification from NVC that they received package on 8/17

- Case completed at NVC

- Case sent to Embassy on this date

EMBASSY

- Embassy received packet

- Wife received Packet 3/4 Instructions

- Medical appointment

- Interview

Point of Entry

- Enter Austin, Texas

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Karma: there is no being lucky when it comes to this.

It is a fact that all new filed cases are going to California.

California does NOT have the same processing time as other service centers.

Vermont is NOT handling K1 cases, and has not for some time.

Texas is NOT processing any further newly filed cases.

K1 cases used to be processed based on the state the petitioner lived in. So pre-March, if you filed from an eastern and southern state your case would go to Texas. If you lived in a Midwest and western state, it would go to California.

This changed as of late March.

OP: You can expect your case to be processed in California within a month or two provided there are no issues with your case. Then, if approved, you will have the rest of the process to complete.

Edited by yuna628

Our Journey Timeline  - Immigration and the Health Exchange Price of Love in the UK Thinking of Returning to UK?

 

First met: 12/31/04 - Engaged: 9/24/09
Filed I-129F: 10/4/14 - Packet received: 10/7/14
NOA 1 email + ARN assigned: 10/10/14 (hard copy 10/17/14)
Touched on website (fixed?): 12/9/14 - Poked USCIS: 4/1/15
NOA 2 email: 5/4/15 (hard copy 5/11/15)
Sent to NVC: 5/8/15 - NVC received + #'s assigned: 5/15/15 (estimated)
NVC sent: 5/19/15 - London received/ready: 5/26/15
Packet 3: 5/28/15 - Medical: 6/16/15
Poked London 7/1/15 - Packet 4: 7/2/15
Interview: 7/30/15 - Approved!
AP + Issued 8/3/15 - Visa in hand (depot): 8/6/15
POE: 8/27/15

Wedding: 9/30/15

Filed I-485, I-131, I-765: 11/7/15

Packet received: 11/9/15

NOA 1 txt/email: 11/15/15 - NOA 1 hardcopy: 11/19/15

Bio: 12/9/15

EAD + AP approved: 1/25/16 - EAD received: 2/1/16

RFE for USCIS inability to read vax instructions: 5/21/16 (no e-notification & not sent from local office!)

RFE response sent: 6/7/16 - RFE response received 6/9/16

AOS approved/card in production: 6/13/16  

NOA 2 hardcopy + card sent 6/17/16

Green Card received: 6/18/16

USCIS 120 day reminder notice: 2/22/18

Filed I-751: 5/2/18 - Packet received: 5/4/18

NOA 1:  5/29/18 (12 mo ext) 8/13/18 (18 mo ext)  - Bio: 6/27/18

Transferred: Potomac Service Center 3/26/19

Approved/New Card Produced status: 4/25/19 - NOA2 hardcopy 4/29/19

10yr Green Card Received: 5/2/19 with error >_<

N400 : 7/16/23 - Oath : 10/19/23

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Ukraine
Timeline

Hey thank you all for the responses. I'm sure most will agree, this can be a very grueling experience. I along with my fiance' will definitely try exercise patience in throughout the process.

Tag

Priority Mailed I-129 on 8/10/15

Tracked and Received by Texas Lockbox 8/12/15

N.O.A.1 email/text 08/17/15

N.O.A. 1 hard copy 8/21/15

R.F.E. 09/02/15 ?

N.O.A. 2 email/text 09/24/15

N.O.A. 2 hard copy 09/28/15

N.V.C. Received 10/15/15

N.V.C Case#10/19/15

N.V.C. In Transit 10/20/15

Case Received 10/22/15

Medical 11/17/

Appointment date 11/18/15

Approval 11/18/15!!!!!!!!!!

P.O.E. J.F.K.- 11/27/15 ?????

Link to comment
Share on other sites

All of the processing centers are processing in about the same time.

You will hear on these forums that "X" service center is taking forever. And that may be true for a small percentage of people.....But the people you see here on VJ forums are an extremely small sample size. As an example, I think I read that USCIS processes upwards of 100,000 petition per quarter or per year. The amount of recorded cases here on VJ is about 300-500 per year.

Sending in your petitions by "X" date does not mean that your petition will goto "Y" service center. The petitions are all taking in by a lockbox facility. The lockbox facility will re-route your case to a service center based on load. It is worth noting that there are very few, if any, K1 applications going to Nebraska. And I have not seen many K1's going through Vermont............. Aside from little caveats like that though, your petition will be routed to the service center with the least amount of cases. There are times however, where the dividing the load of cases will still get bottle-necked, and thus leading to a service center getting backed up. In theory though, they avoid this.

Again, just because you live in Maryland does not mean it will goto Vermont.

Lastly, Yes. It will be a waiting game. Nothing can prepare you for the time of NOA2. And even though service centers are "supposed" to adjudicate cases based in the order they are received. This is ideal, but not the case in reality. According to an interview I had read from an officer ( here on VJ ).... As cases are received they are put into 1 big box until that box is filled with like 50-75 cases. Then that box is put on a shelf amongst 30 other boxes......As the officers finish a box they should be grabbing the next-earliest-date , but again this is not always the case.

USCIS time line for Nebraska showed = 5 months

When I called USCIS central office, they said in fact that Nebraska was working on Nov'2014 ..... = 7 months processing time ( at this point in our case )

ACTUAL APPROVAL TIME = 6months 2 days.

Best thing to do is patient wait your 5 months.

For someone who filed August 12th,2015... Your 5 month mark is not until January 2016! You will not be able to ask for an inquiry until February 2016.

And who knows... you might be one of the lucky ones and get an approval in less than 2 months!!! WHO KNOWS? Nobody............. lol

"All of the processing centers are processing in about the same time". Yeah.....no. That may be true for CR1, but it is demonstrably false for K1. As in, we've got live, daily data from 100% of the applicant population (on a different immigration website) that proves the discrepancy seen here on Visajourney to be true. We also have written confirmation of this discrepancy from a person personally authorized by the President to speak to us about this discrepancy. And then they "fixed" the discrepancy (but USCIS being useless bordering on criminally incompetent, didn't do anything to help the people affected by the discrepancy, but have taken steps to prevent there ever being a TENFOLD difference in processing times between centers).

You just parroted the line we got from USCIS for months, denying a problem, calling us liars etc. And they took it all back once we got the data into the hands of a non-idiot. The absolute truth of the matter is that this winter, CSC was processing in an average of 21 days, and TSC was averaging 210. Nothing to do with us, or our cases. All a matter of there being a longer "line" at TSC for reasons that we can only guess at (my guess is a toxic combination of far fewer staff assigned to K1s at TSC while also the Lockbox was sending a greater portion of overall applicants to TSC).

Also, 100% for sure, for K1s, before March 27, the state that you lived in determined what service center the Lockbox assigned you to. No matter how long the "line" was. Again, this may be how they operate for CR1s, but it is certainly not how they used to operate for K1s. They probably SHOULD have been operating this way, but weren't. This is probably what helped create the giant backlog at TSC in the first place, and was the foundation of the nature of our complaint to USCIS. Then, they announced the workload transfer (see the memo here: http://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/workload-transfer-within-service-center-operations)and the end result o f that is beginning March 27, 100% of new K1 applicants are being sent to California. No one knows if this is a permanent change or not. They may open Texas back up to applications and have the Lockbox sort based on the length of the lines at the service centers. No way of knowing. But, OP, if this does happen, then you *should* still be processed in roughly the same time as CSC filers. The backlog will be gone by then.

What the OP is asking about Vermont because she lives in Maryland is here: https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.type&OfficeLocator.office_type=SCI type in my zip code and it tells me Vermont, too. Except that Vermont doesn't DO K1 applications and hasn't in 2 years (it was Texas and California only, based strictly on the state of residence of the petitioner). But you notice, it didn't ask me what type of visa I was applying for when I type in my zip code, so like basically everything else to do with USCIS, that page is useless at best and misleading at worst.

In terms of what the OP can *actually* expect.... if routed to CSC, I would bet good money that they get NOA2 in under 3 months. It's not lucky there, it's standard.

Marriage/ AOS Timeline:

23 Dec 2015: Legal marriage

23 Jan 2016: Wedding!

23 Jan 2016: "Blizzard of the Century", wedding canceled/rescheduled (thank goodness we were legally married first or we'd have had a big problem!) :sleepy:

24 Jan 2016: Small "civil ceremony" with friends and family who were snowed in with us. December was a bit of a secret and people had traveled internationally and knew we *had* to get married that weekend, and our December legal marriage was nothing but signing a piece of paper at our priest's kitchen table, without any sort of vows etc so this was actually a very special (if not legally significant) day. (L)

16 Apr 2016: Filed for AOS and EAD/AP (We delayed a bit-- no big rush, enjoying the USCIS break)

23 Apr 2016: Wedding! Finally! :luv:

27 Apr 2016: Electronic NOA1 for all 3 :dancing:
29 Apr 2016: NOA1 Hardcopy for all 3
29 Jul 2016: Online service request for late EAD (Day 104)
29 Jul 2016: EAD/AP Approved ~3 hours after online service request
04 Aug 2016: RFE for Green Card (requested medicals/ vaccination record. They already have it). :ranting:
05 Aug 2016: EAD/AP Combo Card arrived! (Day 111)
08 Aug 2016: Congressional constituent request to get guidance on the RFE. Hoping they see they have the form and approve!

K-1 Visa Timeline:

PLEASE NOTE. This timeline was during the period of time when TSC was working on I-129fs and had a huge backlog. The average processing time was 210+ days. This is in no way predictive of your own timeline if you filed during or after April 2015, unless CSC develops a backlog. A backlog is anything above the 5-month goal time listed on USCIS's site

14 Feb 2015: Mailed I-129f to Dallas Lockbox. (L) (Most expensive Valentine's card I've ever sent!)

17 Feb 2015: NOA1 "Received Date"
19 Feb 2015: NOA1 Notice Date
08 Aug 2015: NOA2 email! :luv: (173 days from NOA1)

17 Aug 2015: Sent to NVC

?? Aug 2015: Arrived at NVC

25 Aug 2015: NVC Case # Assigned

31 Aug 2015: Left NVC for Consulate in San Jose

09 Sep 2015: Consulate received :dancing: (32 days from NOA2)

11 Sep 2015: Packet 3 emailed from embassy to me, the petitioner (34 days from NOA2).

18 Sep 2015: Medicals complete

21 Sep 2015: Packet 3 complete, my boss puts a temporary moratorium on all time off due to work emergency :clock:

02 Oct 2015: Work emergency clears up, interview scheduled (soonest available was 5 business days away--Columbus Day was in there)

13 Oct 2015: Interview

13 Oct 2015: VISA APPROVED :thumbs: (236 days from NOA1)

19 Oct 2015: Visa-in-hand

24 Oct 2015: POE !

15 Dec 2015: Fiance's mother's B-2 visa interview: APPROVED! So happy she will be at the wedding! :thumbs:

!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Mexico
Timeline

Currently all the petitions are being sent to the CSC due to the backlog at the TSC. This is a temporary thing and no one knows when that will change, but for the moment, you will be sent to the CSC and I see people getting approved in 2-3 months.

There is no luck involved here, and if the service centers processed at the same speeds, then there would not always be slowness and backlog for at least one of them, and they would not have started sending all the newly filed petitions to the CSC only. No need to even bring Nebraska into this. I-129F petitions are not adjudicated in Nebraska. They have not been adjudicated at Vermont since July 2013 either.

OP> Even though all the petitions are being routed to the CSC right now, see this post for how the process works with sending your I-129F to the Dallas lockbox facility > http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/538432-process-for-the-mailing-and-receiving-of-i-129f-petitions/

Link to K-1 instructions for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico > https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/K1/CDJ_Ciudad-Juarez-2-22-2021.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
Timeline

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the USCIS Service Centers forum -- topic involves locales of processing. ***

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
Timeline

Hi There

Just wanted to say that our visa started off in Texas and has now been moved to Vermont to help speed the process up....I cant remember the exact wording but it was words to that effect..

Now Im concerned that if Vermont isnt meant to be dealing with them then why is it there :(

I suppose being super patient is required right now

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Mexico
Timeline

Hi There

Just wanted to say that our visa started off in Texas and has now been moved to Vermont to help speed the process up....I cant remember the exact wording but it was words to that effect..

Now Im concerned that if Vermont isnt meant to be dealing with them then why is it there :(

I suppose being super patient is required right now

When did you file? Your petition was routed to the TSC from the Dallas lockbox and then you received a transfer notice telling you that your petition was transferred from the TSC to the VSC? What 3 letters does your receipt# start with? WAC, EAC or SRC?

Link to K-1 instructions for Ciudad Juarez, Mexico > https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/K1/CDJ_Ciudad-Juarez-2-22-2021.pdf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Karma: there is no being lucky when it comes to this.

Karma, I also vehemently disagree with your post. I have not seen any comments on this site that would support anything that you stated, except that the VJ community is only a small part of the total petitions that USCIS gets each month. But the other stuff.....NOPE!



Signature coming soon...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Ukraine
Timeline

Wow Rush Hour, really sorry to hear your visa is taking so long. There seems to be a consensus that visa petitions that were applied in that March time frame ran into delays. I hope they get off their asses and get you guys your visa.

Priority Mailed I-129 on 8/10/15

Tracked and Received by Texas Lockbox 8/12/15

N.O.A.1 email/text 08/17/15

N.O.A. 1 hard copy 8/21/15

R.F.E. 09/02/15 ?

N.O.A. 2 email/text 09/24/15

N.O.A. 2 hard copy 09/28/15

N.V.C. Received 10/15/15

N.V.C Case#10/19/15

N.V.C. In Transit 10/20/15

Case Received 10/22/15

Medical 11/17/

Appointment date 11/18/15

Approval 11/18/15!!!!!!!!!!

P.O.E. J.F.K.- 11/27/15 ?????

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...