dopheretta

Hi all,
 
My spouse and I applied in late October 2020 and we received our NOA1 on the same day with the notice that our case was being processed in Nebraska, with an estimated processing time of 2-7 months.
 
7 months later and we haven't heard a single word back. Today was the date that our case fell outside of the expected processing time, so we tried to request an update using the online form on the USCIS website. The system replied with an automated response that our case was not outside usual processing times, and to try again once we were.
 
At this point we used the live chat service and got hold of an agent, who informed us that our case had in fact been referred to Potomac several days after our NOA1 was sent, meaning our estimated processing time is now 13-17 months, not the 2-7 months we originally expected.
 
The only silver lining is that the case was referred to Potomac mere days after Nebraska received it, so at least our 13-17 month countdown starts from October 2020 still, and not from any time more recent.
 
It's very disheartening that the time scales are so lengthy and the process is so opaque. Planning our lives around a move that we anticipate but cannot predict certainly has its challenges.
 
Hopefully this update can help inform others who may find themselves in a similar position.
 
As an aside, even worse is the fact that we originally had reached out to the US embassy in London, thinking that would be our quickest and most direct route toward getting visas processed. After three months of not hearing back from them, we decided that we were wasting our time and instead filed online. Within 48(!) hours of submitting that application we received a phone call from the embassy telling us our appointment was ready. After informing them that we had just filed online, we were told there was unfortunately no longer anything they could do to help us. An incredibly frustrating experience from start to finish.

I ran into the same deal.  If you wait a day or 2 the system will allow you to file the case inquiry based on Nebraska, however, a week later you'll get an automated reply that the case is within processing time (because it's really in Potomac.)  Mine also said Nebraska for mine but the reply came from Texas where it really is.  I think your best bet to speed things up is to request the I-765 be expedited.  I did that and one week later received a biometrics appointment.  Can't hurt.

The I-765 would not be applicable for anyone filing for a CR-1/IR-1.

We also filed in October 2020 for the I-130 online and our case was placed at the Nebraska Service Center.  Through the USCIS chat and connecting with a live agent, we found out that our case is actually at the Potomac Service Center. 
 
It is disheartening to see the differences in processing times between the two service centers. Until we are approved, we cannot really plan anything and the potential for it to take longer has really made it difficult.
 
I am sorry you are also in the same situation! I will definitely update you here, if we hear anything.

Congrats!! What service center?

Same thing happened to me. Receipt Notice said Nebraska, but upon chatting with a live agent through Ask Emma we found out that it is actually in Potomac. Felt frustrated about that, but I guess all we can do it wait. This is an extremely exhausting process, and when you're still waiting on the first step of things to happen, it feels like an eternity...

Easy enough
 
So I kept my banking, CCs, mobile accounts, car registration, drivers license, 401k’s active and addressed to the same place (parent’s the first time I worked out of the country, brother’s the second time).  
 
Support affidavit ran through on “assets only” however if you work for a US company and are getting transferred home you can qualify on income, last option is joint sponsor.  Foreign income that will not continue after relocation is imputed as (zero) income for immigration purposes.
 
So:  if you are starting with nothing at all, you need to establish an address, start moving assets (money, lots of it) over, and get some sort of ID wherever you plan to relocate to.  Start matching it up to a US physical address.  It really doesn’t matter where, we didnt sign a lease and switch everything over until after the visa was issued and we had a definite travel window but you need to have a plan and a place you can show you are building ties to.  You don’t need a US “domicile”, (your domicile is where you live and sleep and you are currently domiciled outside the US)  BUT You need to take concrete action that demonstrates intent to establish one in the US and you either need to demonstrate that you intend to precede (OR) accompany your spouse to the US after a visa is approved and issued.
 
 

Hi,
 
My wife, USC, and I filed the I-130 on October 28 2020, and haven't heard anything back yet. Our receipt notice says we are at the Nebraska Service Center, but upon seeing a lot of cases on here get transferred, we decided to call and ask if our case was still in Nebraska, and when we could file about our case being outside normal processing times. Mainly, we just wanted to feel proactive after months of wait...
 
When my wife finally got through to a Tier 1 officer, the officer could not find our case through our Receipt Number/IOE number. She then found us by my wife's last name and date of birth, and could see that we filed the I-130. The officer thought this was strange, and was going to put us through to a tier 2 officer. Because we are both living in Austria, my wife was calling via Google Hangouts, and does not have an American phone number that they could her call back on. Given that we can't really afford the call, we had to hang up. The officer told my wife that she could talk to a tier 2 agent via the USCIS website, however when we tried to ask Emma for a representative, we had no luck.
 
Does anyone here have a similar experience? Any idea why our receipt number was not showing up?
 
Thank you for any help!
 

Hi! We filed online on October 28th and immediately received our NOA1 by e-mail. A week later, we also got a physical NOA1 in the mail. Good luck everyone!