Why is Houston field office so slow??

[JSWH 261]

6 hours ago, Visitor User said:

They can’t ask for more funds through Feds so they can hire more people and expand hours of operation?

 

Didn't you know that USCIS doesn't get money from the federal governmenat and funded solely by the filing fees? So, to me it sounds kind of BS when they say that they underfunded. The more applications they adjudicate the more money they get. 

[Joel&Julia 78]

7 hours ago, Visitor User said:

Someone had InfoPass and they said that the Houston office is interviewing January 2017. 

That might be true.  We also know of March and April 2017 Houston filers who got green cards in early 2018 (possibly without interview).

[darismorre 10]

Filed in Houston, beginning of April 2016.

Change of address to San Antonio about 6 months to a year later. Case stuck in Houston, did not move.

Have gone through 2 and now through the 3rd EAD. 

1 info pass, complete waste of time.

2 case file outside processing time, each time, standard response, pending required security check.

So yes, been waiting since 1st April 2016.

[Joel&Julia 78]

3 hours ago, darismorre said:

Filed in Houston, beginning of April 2016.

Change of address to San Antonio about 6 months to a year later. Case stuck in Houston, did not move.

Have gone through 2 and now through the 3rd EAD. 

1 info pass, complete waste of time.

2 case file outside processing time, each time, standard response, pending required security check.

So yes, been waiting since 1st April 2016.

That’s awful. 

 

So, you’re one of the few people that actually qualify to use the Ombudsman for assistance. Have you tried that route?

 

 

[Visitor User 229]

17 hours ago, Track13 said:

It’s the government. Are you surprised. Are you really surprised? Things get enacted before they can adjust. We just gotta wait it out, y’all. ✌🏼

I think lot of you might get an interview before 2019. 

[Visitor User 229]

11 hours ago, JSWH said:

Didn't you know that USCIS doesn't get money from the federal governmenat and funded solely by the filing fees? So, to me it sounds kind of BS when they say that they underfunded. The more applications they adjudicate the more money they get. 

They should raise the fees.

11 hours ago, Joel&Julia said:

That might be true.  We also know of March and April 2017 Houston filers who got green cards in early 2018 (possibly without interview).

Employment based is moving fast. 

[Visitor User 229]

5 hours ago, darismorre said:

Filed in Houston, beginning of April 2016.

Change of address to San Antonio about 6 months to a year later. Case stuck in Houston, did not move.

Have gone through 2 and now through the 3rd EAD. 

1 info pass, complete waste of time.

2 case file outside processing time, each time, standard response, pending required security check.

So yes, been waiting since 1st April 2016.

You think the change of address made it longer? 

[Joel&Julia 78]

 

23 minutes ago, Visitor User said:

You think the change of address made it longer? 

It’s a gamble. If you move to a a faster city and submit the change of address while your case is still in MSC, it will go faster.  But if the Houston field office has already requested it before you do the change of address, then the new field office will have to request it from Houston, and that request will get stuck in Houston’s backlog.

[Visitor User 229]

2 minutes ago, Joel&Julia said:

 

It’s a gamble. If you move to a a faster city and submit the change of address while your case is still in MSC, it will go faster.  But if the Houston field office has already requested it before you do the change of address, then the new field office will have to request it from Houston, and that request will get stuck in Houston’s backlog.

How can we tell when the case was sent to Houston FO or the anticipated date?

Edited August 12, 2018 by Visitor User

[Joel&Julia 78]

3 minutes ago, Visitor User said:

How can we tell when the case was sent to Houston FO or the anticipated date?

If you call the USCIS help desk, the automated system will tell you where your case is currently located. They won’t give you any dates. Either it’s still in MSC, or its been transferred to Houston. If the online status says something like “we are scheduling your interview” it means that MSC is finished with their processing and it is ready for Houston to request it. But it can sit in MSC with that status for many months before Houston gets around to requesting it.

Edited August 12, 2018 by Joel&Julia

[darismorre 10]

I am adjusting from K-1. I've not used the Ombudsman yet. I will wait a few more months. 

The case never left Houston for whatever reason. They told me it is being processed by the NBC but my case is in Houston, if that makes any sense. Each time I do a case outside processing time, the respond seems to come from Houston field office.

I don't think the change of address had any effect on it, cause the file never moved.

 

[Visitor User 229]

5 hours ago, Joel&Julia said:

If you call the USCIS help desk, the automated system will tell you where your case is currently located. They won’t give you any dates. Either it’s still in MSC, or its been transferred to Houston. If the online status says something like “we are scheduling your interview” it means that MSC is finished with their processing and it is ready for Houston to request it. But it can sit in MSC with that status for many months before Houston gets around to requesting it.

Automated system is same as online information. I-485 says 'Case is ready to be scheduled for an interview' since 7/31/18.

[Joel&Julia 78]

40 minutes ago, Visitor User said:

Automated system is same as online information. I-485 says 'Case is ready to be scheduled for an interview' since 7/31/18.

I don’t think the online system provides information about which city your case is in. When you call in, the IVR will say something like, “your case is currently located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.”

 

 

[Visitor User 229]

27 minutes ago, Joel&Julia said:

I don’t think the online system provides information about which city your case is in. When you call in, the IVR will say something like, “your case is currently located in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.”

 

 

You are right. It does say Lee's Summit, MO so that would change to Houston TX when online says some other status?

Edited August 13, 2018 by Visitor User

[Joel&Julia 78]

10 hours ago, Visitor User said:

You are right. It does say Lee's Summit, MO so that would change to Houston TX when online says some other status?

It will change to Houston TX after the Houston FO requests it. The online status message probably won’t change until it’s something like “your new card is being produced”