Very IMP - Please Help: I-130 Delays :(

[Jobin 0]

Hello guys,

I really need your help. Any thoughts or guidance would mean a lot.

I am a US citizen and got married in August 2015 in India. My wife resides there. I filed for my wife's I-130 in November 2015 after she updated her Indian passport with my name as her last name. I-130 was originally filed with Nebraska SC. I received the I-797 in January 2016 with my receipt number. Then there was no updates for a while. I called the USCIS numerous times including talking to the officer numerous times requesting a status update since it was outside the processing time. I have not used an attorney for my filing.

Finally in September 2016 I received a letter stating that my I-130 case was being transferred to Vermont SC. Then in late September 2016 USCIS sent me a letter informing me that my case is on hold because of a required security check is pending. It has been 2 months since and there has been no updates.
1) Was my case sent for the security check since my wife changed her last name to my surname?
2) I don't understand why they waited 10 months before sending my case for security check?
3) What can I do to help speed the process.

This is really frustrating and very difficult for us as we have been waiting patiently for over a year. Our case has not even completed the first phase of I-130 approval.

Thanks for your help in advance!

[almost_umrican 54]

Hello guys,

I really need your help. Any thoughts or guidance would mean a lot.

I am a US citizen and got married in August 2015 in India. My wife resides there. I filed for my wife's I-130 in November 2015 after she updated her Indian passport with my name as her last name. I-130 was originally filed with Nebraska SC. I received the I-797 in January 2016 with my receipt number. Then there was no updates for a while. I called the USCIS numerous times including talking to the officer numerous times requesting a status update since it was outside the processing time. I have not used an attorney for my filing.

Finally in September 2016 I received a letter stating that my I-130 case was being transferred to Vermont SC. Then in late September 2016 USCIS sent me a letter informing me that my case is on hold because of a required security check is pending. It has been 2 months since and there has been no updates.

1) Was my case sent for the security check since my wife changed her last name to my surname?

2) I don't understand why they waited 10 months before sending my case for security check?

3) What can I do to help speed the process.

This is really frustrating and very difficult for us as we have been waiting patiently for over a year. Our case has not even completed the first phase of I-130 approval.

Thanks for your help in advance!

i think a mis judgement was made on your guy's part. wife should have her married name on the PP and only than you guys should have filed for I-130. oh well, things happen. if USCIS does not know about the name change, its evident there are going to be delays. i am not sure if you have updated USCIS with this change.if not, i would suggest a INFOPASS, update them with copies of new and old passport of your wife. Handing over a letter of explanation to the officer would not hurt either.in any case, you guys have lost bunch of time already but this will make things clear to the authorities.

[KierenHby 900]

i think a mis judgement was made on your guy's part. wife should have her married name on the PP and only than you guys should have filed for I-130. oh well, things happen.

Umm, the way I read it, i130 was correctly filed after she changed her name on the passport.

OP.. you could contact your congressional office.

Edited November 29, 2016 by KierenHby

[almost_umrican 54]

Umm, the way I read it, i130 was correctly filed after she changed her name on the passport.

OP.. you could contact your congressional office.

i might have misread it. thank you.

[Jobin 0]

Umm, the way I read it, i130 was correctly filed after she changed her name on the passport.

OP.. you could contact your congressional office.

Hi KierenHby,

That is absolutely right. We started the I-130 filing process using her new updated name. I appreciate both your inputs. Is my case one off or does USCIS put a few cases on security check?

Thanks!

[agripa 100]

1) Was my case sent for the security check since my wife changed her last name to my surname?

2) I don't understand why they waited 10 months before sending my case for security check?

3) What can I do to help speed the process.

(1) This seems highly unlikely. Plenty of couples change their last name to their spouses. You can find many such cases here on VJ; it shouldn't impede the process at all.

(2+3) Unfortunately, there are no good answers here. Cases can be held up almost indefinitely if DHS deems it necessary; you have very little recourse. The only recourse you have is to contact your Congressperson or Senator. Just to set your expectations properly, they cannot speed up you case, however, they can inquire about it's status. This might provide you some glimpse of what's going on. I'm sorry, but there's not much else that can be done.

[KierenHby 900]

Having contacted USCIS once, involving your congressional or senatorial liaison might jolt USCIS into reviewing your stuff. If there's a hold.. well there will be a hold until whatever is holding is resolved. You really can't do anything else to speed up the process. The process is what it is.

[MrChamploo 45]

I don't want to be that guy but from what i read cases from India have a good chance delays.

Sadly you can't do much. They have a reason and they do not need to share it with you.

Follow what everyone else said and contact your senator.