How does Service Center processing work?

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

As the topic says, I'm curious how USCIS service centers process i-751 cases? Once we mail ROC packages,

 

Where do they end up for months until assigned to an officer for review?

Are they all scanned, and reviewed on a screen?

Or does an officer review the physical file? 

And when/if a case is transferred, is the physical package shipped to a different service center and thrown in a warehouse until assigned for review?

 

If anyone is aware of their MO, please help us understand. Thanks. 

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

Ok, so this is a helpful read..

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/656883-i-751-january-2018/?page=142&tab=comments#comment-9552260

 

[MohU3 57]

I don't know of course how does it work and I don't think anybody does, but from what I heard that 751's are not priority to adjudicate, because the applicant is already a permanent resident. They'd rather adjudicate more 485's and N400's. I think that's why the 751 takes long time and they transfer it around.

[*Snowdrop* 603]

This is a useful read too: https://www.visajourney.com/content/adjudicator-q-and-a/

[xillini 71]

There are some useful info (ie how CSC is composed of per each branch, and how many IOs were working under each branch), but it is not clear in this presentation about which Branch I 751 case department belonged to, and it is from 2017, so it can be changed today. I would assume it is Family branch, and one or two section, for which it is not even clear how many IOs are assigned to I 751 section (in 2015 Open House hosted at CSC, it says Family Branch). However, it is still not sure about how many sections are composed of per each branch when 2017 presentation clearly shows there are 2 branches per employment branch. 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Outreach/Notes%20from%20Previous%20Engagements/PED_CSC_OpenHousePresentation08302017.pdf

 

According to VSC, it says there are 17 officers focusing on reducing backlog (that was 6 months of processing time in 2009). I am not sure this means to be additional 17 IOs, or 17 IOs total as a team or section to work on entire I 751 filed toward at VSC, and even if I am sure about it, it is different matter since that data is almost 10 years ago. 

 

So yes, when USCIS says "I 751 is not in priority" when questioned why 6 months of processing time is delayed to now at least 12 months for sure, I get it that it is absolutely true, but this is quite misleading. Comparing statistics from 2009 to 2018, the numbers of international marriage between USC and a foreign national does not significantly increase, and total I 751 filling cases are similiarly saturated around 40,000 to 45,000 per each quarter (= 3 months). Although the increasing number of immigration benefit applications should be taken into account (it used to be 6 million cases in 2016 filed to all USCIS service centers including national benefit center, and 8.5 million cases in 2018), it should be taken into account, to be fair, number of USCIS employees increased as well. 

 

To answer your question, the best way I would recommend to understand USCIS service center specifically operates would be to contact your congressman or congresswoman, and go from there. During congressional reports, USCIS director often has to be present and your congressman or woman can ask USCIS specific data as long as it is not covered in security clerance. The files that can be accessbile from google may not be accurate and often outdated, so it gives you vague ideas, but it doesn't give specific ideas.