KK and RB

I know your feelings. I chased USCIS again and again and got my visa approved finally!
If it takes so long you should make a query fromfrom the website

Hey Ar&A, did you have any luck?

My wife  is sponsoring her mother (Parent Visa). I-130 was approved, NVC application moved to DQ (Documents Qualified) in late November, 2020, saying this:

"NVC will work with the U.S. Embassy/Consulate General in TOKYO, JPN to schedule an interview appointment for you. Once we have confirmed an interview date, we will send a notice to you, your petitioner and attorney (if applicable)."
 
But so far nothing -- it's been almost 3 months since the DQ and we have yet to be prompted to even schedule an interview. Police certificate will likely expire and she's waiting to do the medical.. 

I tried calling the embassy, and they just forwarded me to the NVC main call center without even letting me finish my sentence... anyone else have to wait 3+ months after DQ to even put an appointment in? Can anyone recommend the best place to call to check on the status of this? It seems to be stuck in between bureaucracies at the moment.

I have heard that this month not many CR1/IR1 were scheduled for interview because embassies started scheduling IR5’s which have been banned from June 2020 until recently. Since I guess IR5 are the same priority as IR1/CR1, embassies might be scheduling mostly the IR5 category until their DQ dates catch up to CR1/IR1.* If that’s the case it could still be a couple more slow months for CR1/IR1 at embassies that were already doing later DQ dates.
 
This is speculation but it made sense when I heard it from someone else. I’m tacking on a couple more months to when I was expecting an interview date anyway. Idk if anyone knows more about this and can speak to it, cause I’m just trying to make sense of it with my limited knowledge.
 
*Not complaining about IR5 that’s great they can finally have some progress. Just making an observation on what might be happening for CR1/IR1 scheduling.

Hello guys new to the forum,
 
Our I-129F petition was approved and supposedly sent to the NVC about 3 months ago. Sent an inquiry and they basically told me to piss off and they’ll send me a notification when they get to it. I realize things have slowed down for covid and I explained that in my request... I really just wanted to know if they had our file but I couldn’t get that information...Just wondering what other people’s processing times have been from time Petition was forwarded to the time you received a case number or welcome letter. It’s advertised as taking 2 weeks and it’s been about 12 for us now. A little worried that maybe the paperwork got lost at this point and frustrating because there’s no way to track anything without a case number being assigned. This has been the most nerve racking part of the process thus far. Thanks in advance.
 

Are the timelines on VJ accurate though? I filed a i-130 for my husband overseas in February 2020. I have an online receipt number (IOE), but when I got into contact with USCIS, they told me it was in Potomac. But when I check the processing time on their website they are still in November 2019.... 
 
Any one have any other updates?

You guys think we can start a petition or something to have cases transferred from Potomac to other processing centers? It seems little unfair that people who ended up in Potomac have to wait for 10+ months, while others who ended up in Texas or Nebraska are getting approved within 4-5 months!

Hi All. Any of the June 2020 I-130 filers have had their case transferred to Vermont? My NOA1 was from Texas but sometime back I inquired and was informed that my case was in Vermont. Anyone had similar experience?

I had the exact same situation! I ended up getting through to a live agent using the bot, 'Emma'. When you start the chat, type in the box "Speak to live agent" and you'll be connected   The person I spoke to confirmed I was still being processed at Texas, even though egov says Nebraska. An administrative error apparently. Who knows, I guess! Next best bet is to give them a call, but be prepared for a long wait time. Good luck!

Which one is the correct service center? At the bottom of the NOA1 (dated 23 Aug), it indicates Texas Service Center. But when I inquired via egov a while ago, it says Nebraska.

Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Hope everybody is in good health. 
 
Just an update (I am not joking this time, 😂) 
a date change on 08/18/2020
 
i filed on 08/06/2020
Assigned Nebraska. 
I was probably transferred..should I ask Emma (live chat) to see what it is? Or let it be? 
How do people find out if they were transferred? My tracker app won’t recognize my receipt #. 

I saw a few people say their online status didn't match their NOA service center.
My online status says this.
 
"It is being processed at our E-Filed Case Processing Section location."

Shows same for me (TX on receipt notice, Nebraska on case status check page), I submitted mine on Aug 18. Also not sure why it shows different with the case status page so early in the cycle.

I'm not the type of person that either frequents internet forums or likes to share details of personal matter, however I now that many present in this forum are vastly interested in current processing times, that's why I decided to sign up to VJ to post the following info:
 
I'm overseas, filed I-130 online in early Jannuary 2020, received confirmation from Nebraska (NSC) so I wasn't expecting approval for a total of 12-16 months.
 
I just checked on my case status and it turns out I got approved a few days ago, after only 5,5 months. Approval comes from California.
 
At first I thought it must have been some system error. First it was assigned to NSC and I'm unaware of any trasfers. Second, when looking at USCiS webpage, processing times at California were not that fast anyways. However looking at some replies in this and other threads, I see that there are number of online filed cases that had been quickly approved recently despite being assigned (at first) to Nebraska. So those of you that worry NSC is the worst possible outcome, you should not. Approval might come sooner that you think.
 
For what it is worth: my USCIS file is rather "thick" (without elaborating further), I have no idea when my case was transfered or if/how many times my case was "touched" since I had no idea how to look for it, all I was doing was refreshing my iPad's app from time to time (not expecting to see anything of interest for another 6-12 months anyways).
 
It's great to know this part of process is complete and now waiting for a transfer to NVC, however I'm inadmissable till early 2021 so I will have to stall my embassy interview till then (which is not a problem as I have talked to embassy about it before my i-130 was filed). While I wish to come to US asap, I can't over come grounds of inadmissabilty. Besides, by postponing my entry until spring 2021, I would benefit from entering as IR-1, as opposed to CR-1 if done at any earlier date. 
 
Nevertheless, this fast approval of my i-130 is a welcome one and allows me to have everything ligned up and waiting for when I'm ready to complete the case (given the circustances). Most importantly, barring anything extraoridary, it allows me to plan exactly when I might be entering back US. 
 
I wish you all the best and more importantly fast approvals!
 
 

I was curious to know if my case had been transferred from Texas (where it originally went to). I logged into My USCIS portal and sent a message (instead of an inquiry). I got a response back (within an hour) with an automated response. The instructions directed me to check for Vermont Service Center times on the USCIS website. So I assume my case was transferred to Vermont. If this message is based on where your case is now, it's a pretty efficient way to learn if your case was transferred without having to call them.

Where did it say what service centre on your 'Receipt Action'. I'm so confused where to find my service centre..

I received NOA1 and it said California...

Well mine supposedly is being processed in their "integrated operating environment":
 
"On September 27, 2019, we received your Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, Receipt Number IOE#, and mailed you a receipt notice. It is being processed at our Integrated Operating Env location. The notice describes how we will process your case. Please follow the instructions in the notice. 
 
But the NOA1 notice was sent from Nebraska... I did submit paper forms.

FWIW, I messaged them through the online portal about where the online I-130 applications will be processed and they responded that "All applications submitted into the [Integrated Operating Environment (IOE) system] are processed out of our Potomac Service Center."

Hi, I wanted to start a new topic for those of us who applied using the new online application given that little is known about how this process will work. For those who are debating, the online process was super simple. You fill out an online form that basically auto-populates the I-130 PDF form that we all are familiar with and you get a download-able PDF version all filled out at the end. You are allowed to upload all you evidence as pdf or jpeg files. I did pdfs. I didn't have an issue with page/file limits as some others are mentioning but my longest file (relationship timeline) was only 9 pages long. We had the paper application all ready to go but I liked the idea of security in knowing that all the materials that were sent had arrived and I wouldn't have to stress about that.
 
We filed and received an IOE number and notification that our case had be accepted for review the very next day. On the case status, it says that our case is "being processed at our Integrated Operating Env location". Not sure what this means but have reached out for clarification. Will let you know what I hear.

Adjusting status is not an option for you.  It is illegal to enter the US via ESTA with the intent to stay and adjust status.  You can, however, visit during the spousal visa process.  Quitting your job would be a big red flag if you are questioned when attempting to enter the US for a visit.  When a case is transferred, you don't automatically go to the back of the queue.  Our case was transferred from Nebraska to Texas a few years ago.  It didn't seem to delay our case.  Unfortunately, as @geowrian has said, USCIS is like a large grocery store.  Some lines are just faster than others.  The virus has certainly dealt a blow to the entire immigration system.  Hopefully, your case will proceed soon.