California Service Center Mailing Address for Expedite Request

[haek8793 0]

Hello everyone,

 

I'd like to send an expedite request letter (and evidence) via mail to the California Service Center in support of my I-129F. I believe that I can demonstrate my request meets two of the criteria. I called the USCIS Contact Center to make the request but the call was disconnected in the middle of the discussion. When I called back to restart the process of submitting the request, the USCIS agent notified me that a service request had already been submitted on my behalf (the agent whom I was disconnected from went ahead and submitted the request after we got disconnected). Although I'm sure she was well intended, she only documented and submitted half of my request and with the stakes being so high, I don't think it's fair to make such a submission without confirming all the information is accurate.

 

I asked if the request could be modified or cancelled and was informed that it couldn't. As a result, I'd like to send a letter and evidence directly to the service center.

 

Does anyone have any idea what the correct address would be for something like this? Finding an address online has been difficult because the California Service Center has a few different mailing addresses.

 

Thanks!

 

 

[geowrian 22,335]

The address I had for an RFE from CSC was:

USCIS - CALIFORNIA SERVICE CENTER

P.O. BOX 10590

LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA 92607-0590

 

That said, I don't think they take in expedite requests that way. Nor would they be able to request a new expedite while you already have one in the system.

Typically they will ask for evidence in a few days, usually to be sent via fax.

[haek8793 0]

Thank you for the quick response. 

 

The USCIS website says you can send by mail, "Customers may also visit a local office by scheduling an InfoPass appointment or writing a letter to the field office or service center.", here but they don't indicate where it can be sent in writing. The only reason I'm considering mailing them is because the initial request was mishandled, as I noted above, and I want to make sure my case gets fair consideration based on the facts which I wasn't able to communicate in the initial request.

 

A string of questions (bear with me): Would they completely ignore my letter since I already have a request in? Would you advise that I just wait and explain once they contact me? What if they don't contact me? Can a denial be appealed? And, finally, how long before I can make another expedite request?

 

Thanks again.

Edited October 7, 2018 by haek8793

[geowrian 22,335]

Looks like you can request it via mail, too.

 

Yes, they can ignore the letter since it is part of a new expedite request, which they cannot accept while one is still pending.

It is possible they don't contact you, but usually they do attempt to do so.

A denial cannot be appealed, but a new expedite request can be submitted. I'm unaware of a strict requirement for a delay in doing so, but I believe others have been told to wait 30 days.

[haek8793 0]

Ok - thanks so much for the feedback. I’m so appreciative.

 

Is there any course of action I can take to correct to incomplete submission?

 

I’ve also read that writing to your senator can help. Is that something you recommend in general as something to accompany an expedite request?

[geowrian 22,335]

19 hours ago, haek8793 said:

Ok - thanks so much for the feedback. I’m so appreciative.

 

Is there any course of action I can take to correct to incomplete submission?

 

I’ve also read that writing to your senator can help. Is that something you recommend in general as something to accompany an expedite request?

First would be to see if they request evidence. If so, you can add everything in there. Usually it's within ~5 business days. Note that Monday is a federal holiday.

 

You can contact a senator to make a request on your behalf. But as noted, with an existing request, it wouldn't change things. It is a path for any re-request, though. They can make the request for an expedite or a case inquiry on your behalf...they are barred from influencing the decision or timeline.

Edited October 8, 2018 by geowrian

[haek8793 0]

Got it. Thank you @geowrian!

[haek8793 0]

On 10/8/2018 at 1:20 AM, geowrian said:

First would be to see if they request evidence. If so, you can add everything in there. Usually it's within ~5 business days. Note that Monday is a federal holiday.

 

You can contact a senator to make a request on your behalf. But as noted, with an existing request, it wouldn't change things. It is a path for any re-request, though. They can make the request for an expedite or a case inquiry on your behalf...they are barred from influencing the decision or timeline.

@geowrian Thanks for the tips on this. They did indeed come back very quickly and ask for evidence which I have gathered and provided via fax. Are you aware of the process thereafter or either denial or approval? Will they inform me and how will they do so? Are you aware of rough timelines around this stuff?

 

Thanks very much.

[geowrian 22,335]

1 minute ago, haek8793 said:

@geowrian Thanks for the tips on this. They did indeed come back very quickly and ask for evidence which I have gathered and provided via fax. Are you aware of the process thereafter or either denial or approval? Will they inform me and how will they do so? Are you aware of rough timelines around this stuff?

Cool...looks like everything is in motion then.

They will assign the expedite to an officer for review, then review the petition, then either RFE, approve, or deny (or NOID) it.

There are no firm timelines, but usually we hear from people about approvals within days to a couple weeks. Denials tend to take longer from what I've noticed, but nothing firm.

 

Once approved, the case gets sent to NVC, then the embassy. ETA: ~1 month from NOA2 to embassy received.

You need to request an expedite with the embassy if you want one there. No point expediting at NVC..the case will likely only be with them a few days to a week anyway. The expedite is likely to take longer than normal processing.

[haek8793 0]

6 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Cool...looks like everything is in motion then.

They will assign the expedite to an officer for review, then review the petition, then either RFE, approve, or deny (or NOID) it.

There are no firm timelines, but usually we hear from people about approvals within days to a couple weeks. Denials tend to take longer from what I've noticed, but nothing firm.

 

Once approved, the case gets sent to NVC, then the embassy. ETA: ~1 month from NOA2 to embassy received.

You need to request an expedite with the embassy if you want one there. No point expediting at NVC..the case will likely only be with them a few days to a week anyway. The expedite is likely to take longer than normal processing.

Thanks for the quick response and for providing such thorough information.

 

Apologies for drilling down to the details but I'm going to ask for a bit of clarification. It's been a long and exhausting couple of weeks so my brain is a little fizzy.

 

Ok, so if I understand correctly, now that I've faxed over the information they requested in order to determine whether or not my request meets the expeditious processing guidelines, they will review that and then... let me know if the expedite has been approved or assign it to an officer for review and then that officer will let me know if it is approved or denied? Or does the approval just get grouped into the expeditious processing of the petition itself and then I get notified of the I-129F approval, RFE, or denial? 

 

Basically, what I'm trying to understand where and if the distinction is drawn - when/how I'm notified on the decision about the expedite vs. when / how i'm notified about the decision about the case. The latter is clear but the former is still a bit confusing.

 

Thanks again.

[geowrian 22,335]

The expedite approval and the adjudication of the petition are separate items. They may or may not assign both the the same IO so they can do both at about the same time, but it's totally possible to have an expedite approved followed by a denial or RFE, if the conditions merit either of those.

[haek8793 0]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

The expedite approval and the adjudication of the petition are separate items. They may or may not assign both the the same IO so they can do both at about the same time, but it's totally possible to have an expedite approved followed by a denial or RFE, if the conditions merit either of those.

Great - thanks for clarifying.

[haek8793 0]

On 10/10/2018 at 9:56 PM, geowrian said:

The expedite approval and the adjudication of the petition are separate items. They may or may not assign both the the same IO so they can do both at about the same time, but it's totally possible to have an expedite approved followed by a denial or RFE, if the conditions merit either of those.

Sadly, my request was denied a week after I sent my requested evidence. I don’t take the request for exceptional expedited processing lightly and don’t think my case is more important than anyone else’s but I am truly in an emergent situation. I’ve read that some requests get denied and then with some persistence eventually do get consideration. 

 

Would it make sense to contact my representative as a next step? How does one go about that. 

 

Or does it make sense to just try again? 

 

Feeling deflated and looking for guidance. Thanks so much. 

 

[geowrian 22,335]

Sorry to hear about the denial.

 

The process to request again via a representative is to contact the representative about it. Usually your state’s senior senator is best suited for this (as they likely have been around the longest to establish protocols for the process). You will need to submit a document granting them permission to contact USCIS on your behalf. Explain the situation and that you are requesting an expedite.