100JH

Nope.. has got nothing to do with which state you are in but where the workload is less for USCIS. Which is a totally contradicting statement since they are still sending files to NSC!

B&G....Thanks, wasn't sure...PS - like your sig line...I am copying it!

Nope.. has got nothing to do with which state you are in but where the workload is less for USCIS. Which is a totally contradicting statement since they are still sending files to NSC!

B&G....Thanks, wasn't sure...PS - like your sig line...I am copying it!

Is there a rhyme or reason who goes to which service centers? Is it determined by State that you live in? If so, what states go to which service centers? Any link for that? Thanks...

Maybe not count apps that are "prioritized" either...ie Philippines...even though they may be dwindling down now

It says Local Office in everybody's texts/emails/letters. They are NOT transferring to Local Offices. You file will go to one of the service centers.

D&V thanks....thats what i thought. Just needed some confirmation from others. This is like a street fight....there are no rules. I mean, there are rules, but then they are not.

So many people are getting transferred, or will be very soon. As of now, I don't know where my wife's application is being routed to. I will find out in a few days. My email and text was not specific, it stated:

On March 7, 2014, we transferred this case I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN to another office for processing and sent you a notice explaining this action.

Now does that mean that the transfer is going to one of the four service centers (California, Vermont, Nebraska or Texas) or to a local field office (i.e. in/near my State)? I am thinking to a Service Center, correct?

Included below are the processing times for each Service Center from the USCIS web site (All dates are based on data as of 31 Dec 2013. I thought they updated this data reference monthly, or is it quarterly? The data from Dec 2013 is over 2 months old). For the local field offices, all i could find was volume (Cases in/cases processed. No actual processing times).

National Average: 8.3 months

California: 7.1 months

National Benefits Center: 9.0 months

Nebraska: 9.0 months

Texas: 8.1 months

Vermont: 9.0 months

I believe that the processing times are dropping drastically from what I have been able to read on other timelines, signature lines and data included below. It seems that once a case is transferred that it takes 2 weeks to 2.5 months for a NOA2 to be received. California is a monster, processing them faster than anyone other facility (est. average being 2 to 4 weeks).

General Observations from the accumulated monthly VJ charts:

July...Most were transferred to California and approved within two months or less. 75% approved

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqbNd1-VjCT-dDhTSDFVcGJOSE5tMmR5dkRYUk9mYUE&usp=sharing#gid=0

August...80% were sent to California and the average approval time was 13 days!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AsvZPBxJt8H4dDdiM2tUS0ZsTGhtbGxSN05uUGF5WGc#gid=0

September...Pretty evenly split between service centers, with Calif. getting the lions share (32%). Approvals are just starting to happen. Most of these were transferred at the end of February and the beginning of March ( just the past few weeks, 24Feb to 7 March) and they already have 16% approved!

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0ArFCcHLV9HyydE1UZkNVM0RGY0x1ejRmY1J4TEFLM3c#gid=0

I think that CIS is on a roll...that some pressure has been applied from up above and these things are starting to fly. Honestly? I think we (October filers) start seeing a fair amount of approvals (post transfer) in the next 3 to 6 weeks! (I hope, I hope, I hope).

If anyone can add more data/facts/educated comments, please do!

I called my wife in Colombia last night and woke her up. This morning she was very excited, but also a little scared. She said "A new country. A new language. A new culture" She has never been here. I was telling her I can't wait until she is here so I can make her breakfast. She told me that she has never had pancakes. I can't wait to make her pancakes for breakfast.

So what is the average wait time for NOA2 from the day of transfer?

9 minutes and 37 seconds....I WISH!

Good question. From what I can gather my guesstimate is 1-2 months....more like 6 to 8 weeks? I wish we had some sort of data to reference because I really want to know as well.

A quick congrats to all of the recent transferee's....A HUGE thank you to waiting4i130 for doing a great job on the spreadsheet; being patient and diligent about updating the data. It is greatly appreciated.

Just got the text/email....1135 Friday night...TRANSFERRED....Step Two!

Application Type: I130 , IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN

Your Case Status: Initial Review

On March 7, 2014, we transferred this case I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN to another office for processing and sent you a notice explaining this action. Please follow any instructions provided on the notice. We will notify you by mail when a decision is made. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

NOA1 was 18 October

So, what is the approximate average approval time that we are seeing on VJ once a case is transferred? Two months, if all goes well? I am trying to put together some sort of rough estimated timeline in my head, based on what we are seeing for previous cases/months on this board. Just typical cases, nothing too extraordinary.

My thoughts are:

NOA1.....1 week

NBC.....5 months

Transfer.....

NOA2.....2 months post transfer

NVC/Interviews, etc.....2 months

So a rough guesstimate of about 9 months, end to end? Is that we are kinda aiming for? Give or take? If so, we are looking at July/August...ish?

Anybody that can add some meat to this SWAG theory? Or add some more info? Or am I just whacked out hopeful and we all really know that there is no sort of predictability, reliability model or sane way of estimating USCIS? Hahahahaha

I just saw Sep 2013 filers are starting to get transfers to service centers.

Well, I started searching random case numbers before mine....-500, -450, -400, -350 and -300 cases before are all out of "initial review" and have a decision, or other status, showing it is out of NOA1. None were pending RFE. Kind of a little hope there. +/- 300 cases to go before mine pops up! That might be logical thinking, but who knows? Sometimes a little progress is all we need to see. Heck they are processing 300 cases a week, right?!!!!? Hahahahahaha

Thanks V&J! We can see the wave coming....I hope it builds up speed and momentum!

Hi Everyone,

I need a little help, this process is so confusing.

I have been following the August and September 2013 filers to get an idea of how it works but my case seems to be a little different.

My PD is 10/31/2013

The email notification I received said " your case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS Vermont Service Center for processing".

Does this mean my I-130 was already transferred? Or will it likely be transferred again?

Thank you!

I am not sure, but I doubt you will be transferred again. Actually I think you are lucky because Vermont processes quickly (or so I hear).

I am seeing Sep filers getting transferred now, then it takes about two months once transferred? From what I can read/gather? That would also align with a May-ish time frame? Who knows.

I have a magic 8 ball and some ruby slippers...maybe if I go downtown to USCIS I might have some luck?

ME (reading the sign on the door): Bell out of order, please knock. (I knock at the USCIS door)

GUARDIAN OF USCIS: Well, that's more like it! Now, state your business!
ME: I want to see the Wizard!
GUARDIAN OF USCIS: [gasps] The Wizard? But nobody can see the Great Oz! Nobody's ever seen the Great Oz! Even I've never seen him!
ME: Well, then how do you know there is one?
GUARDIAN OF USCIS:: Oh, you're wasting my time!
ME: Oh, please! Please, sir! I've got to see the Wizard! The Good Witch of the North sent me!
GUARDIAN OF USCIS: Prove it!
SOMEONE ELSE IN LINE: He's wearing the ruby slippers she gave him.
GUARDIAN OF USCIS: Oh, so he is! Well, bust my buttons! Why didn't you say that in the first place? That's a horse of a different color! Come on in!

Do you think that might work? I'm 6'3" and 250 pounds, I would look a little funny with my unshaved legs and ruby slippers on! hahahahaha

Not based on anything concrete, solely speculation, but I am thinking that there is a real push to get the cases closer to the goal of 5 months. If it is 9 months based on the info provided to you, which is based over the past two to three months, i think they are going to get it down to 7 months fairly quickly. It is ironic how quickly things get done once some political pressure is applied. I have seen that from experience. My guess is we will start seeing Oct NOA1's starting to pop around mid to late May. Positive thinking!

What I also think would be beneficial to everyone on this site is to have a Master Document. In Excel you can have multiple tabs (i.e Jan 2013, Feb 2013, etc.) and than have a "Master Tab" where the data from each sub-tab is rolled up and averaged. Why do this?

We could see the following (to keep it simple):

Jan 2013; 100 applications, 80 approved, 80% received NOA2's

Feb 2013; 100 applications, 70 approved, 70% received NOA2's

Mar 2013; 100 applications, 60 approved, 60% received NOA2's

or something like that....we would kind of be able to see our wave coming. From there, a simple bar graph could also be depicted. Easy enough to manipulate and show some data and provide visual outputs as well. I could do it easy enough, but would need access to each spreadsheets data. I would somehow want it automated so i did not have to manually update each months tab, every month. They enter the data, and then the Master Tab rolls it up automatically as well as provides the output of applications/approved/NOA2's and the bar graph as well.

Good idea i think and not that hard to accomplish

EDIT: I just saw some of the outputs clicking on the links provided! NICE, did not know....but still would like to see a Master for all I-130s, at least since Jan 2013. That would really provide some historical context and good data to compare to. GREAT JOB TO ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WORKING AND MAINTAINING THIS (shows you how old I am with the Excel spreadsheet approach! hahahaha)

I often-times just sit and wonder how people can behave like this and feel that it is perfectly acceptable. I think they bring great shame upon their country and fellow men.

I agree. I do not like it either. She is not weak or docile and she does not tolerate it, but in Colombia? It is quite common. Sexism is still very alive. It is difficult to be beautiful and female in Colombia, many see you in the wrong light. I try to give her hope and know that in the US she will have her own car. That if she needs to ride the bus or metro that she does not to have to worry so much about these things. They still happen, just much less.

It also gives me another perspective when I travel overseas, or spend time in her neighborhood in Bogota. It reminds me how lucky and fortunate we are. We do not have to work 12 to 16 hour days, 6 days a week just to earn enough to pay for the common things like rent, food, cable tv and internet. That we have so much which so many here take for granted. Many people complain about a lot of things, but do not realize this. Hell, just to have heat, air conditioning and hot running water is a luxury compared to some places in the world.

But I have also learned that we work too hard and obsess too much. We should dance more. Celebrate the little things in life. Enjoy what we have and who we are with. In my many travels (5 continents) I have learned much from others as well. Take the time to enjoy a cup of coffee with a friend and not order our express cappuccinos to go. Sit down. Breathe. See the beauty around us, smell the roses and not drive by them in a flash in our Lexus.

So I have to wait a few more months for her Visa? It could be a lot worse.

Don't know why but I am in a great mood today. I am getting a strong feeling, and hoping, that many of us Oct. filers start to get good news in the next two to three months.

My wife is in her 5th month of school learning English and loving it. She never misses a day, even if she is sick. She ride a bus for an hour and a half, one way, has 4 hours of school and then rides the bus back. On the bus she has men grabbing her butt, has had people try to steal her purse and her phone. She gets upset at these people, her own people, but it never changes her attitude about going to school or our future. I am fortunate she is so positive and diligent. She does her written and internet homework religiously, goes to the gym daily and has a small internship. She is doing great and we are making plans for our future as well as hers, upon her arrival. A very beautiful woman, always smiling, happy, patient and positive (almost). I am blessed.

I live alone. I work at home. Kind of makes me a little stir crazy at times. I get out daily, spend time with my son a few times a week, go to movies, exercise, talk with friends at Starbucks, study, read books, walks in the freezing cold, travel for work a few times a month, play Call of Duty every night with my Clan, talk to her every night on Facebook and in general? Try to stay busy! Thank God for WhatsApp and Facebook/Skype! I am glad we have technology! Can you imagine doing this 30 years ago with very expensive overseas phone calls and traditional written mail? We are lucky! I am also fortunate that I can travel to see her every 6 to 8 weeks (DC to Bogota...next trip is in 24 days). Also that I have a very good paying job and am financially stable. She does not have to work and is able to use this time to prepare for her large transition. I am doing everything I can to prepare for her arrival.

I try not to write too much on this board because of a number of comments i have received on my posts. I see craziness on this board sometimes and just wanted to share some positive vibes. Keep our chins up, as well as maintain a positive outlook, Oct. filers...our time is coming.

PS...do we have some sort of excel spreadsheet, graph, or other way of seeing who has been approved on this board in the past? for example; regarding NOA2's received... July filers 50%, August filers 40%, September filers 30%, to use as a general tracking guide or estimate?

Congratulations...in Bogota now until 7 Jan. We can give her a big sendoff at the airport! jajajajjaja

I am in Colombia now for 6 weeks with my wife. I usually fly Copa from DC (through Panama) to Bogota. Usually the pricing is competitive. Highly recommend, it is a good airline.

I cant edit my post, but if I could, I would add this in...

"During this step, USCIS initiates the background checks of the applicant/petitioner and identifies issues that may need to be addressed either during an interview or by asking the applicant/petitioner to submit additional information or documentation. USCIS reviews the applicant's/petitioner's criminal history, determines if there are national security concerns that need to be addressed, and reviews the application/petition for fraud indicators."

So I didn't say it word for word, I thought that "reading between the lines" was feasible, but I am almost positive that they check for the following at a minimum: State and Federal records, tax history, credit history, etc. It is not "supposition" as you implied. This is basic criteria for a federal background check. Its not just the petitioner they are looking at.

And the NSA does not tap phones either...

They got all your info, and access if they need it. You know CIS is part of DHS right? Believe what you want kind sir.

I am just a French model you met on the internet. Bonjour.

WOW....

Congrats McCaw! It doesn't matter how it get approved, or why it got approved, it got approved. I am happy for you.

I had two trips scheduled for Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Years to go see my wife. I was going for Thanksgiving, coming back for two weeks, and then going back for three weeks over Christmas and New Years. I work at home most of the time and my boss said "why don't you just stay with your wife until after New Years?" I leave for Bogota this Wednesday and return 6 weeks later. Our first Christmas together and she has already decorated the house! I think I spent too much money this weekend; Nordstroms, Michael Kors, Victorias Secret, Macy's are all laughing their way to the bank this morning!