Crazy Processing Times
 

So upon checking the site now it seems Nebraska are currently processing spousal Visa I-130's from May 10th 2017.

Estimated time range 9 to 11.5 months? These times are just plain crazy.

Does this mean that between Feb and April it could be complete and visa issued or does it mean until they look at the case and then could even say something is not right and delay it even more or is this time frame including medical and interview too.

My application went in on December 1st. I have twins due to be born around June / July and I have my wedding in October so was hoping at the very least I would be able to stay after this and work. We are married but nobody knows so this is our actual wedding to everyone else.

Proving a right pain all the delays and cost of flying backwards and forwards.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

The processing times for the NVC or for a service center are just timelines for that particular portion of the visa abroad process. It is not for the entire process from start to finish at the US Consulate.

Their working on May 2017 might mean that there is one or two cases that they are processing from that period and they might actually be working on November or December 2017.

Honestly, I don't think you will be getting your visa in time for the birth of the twins. You might have it in time for your ceremonial wedding.

Are you still waiting for the approval of the I-130?

PS Just double checked you posted today in another thread that you have had your case sent to the NVC so your I-130 has been approved.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Stu, are you confusing the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) with the National Visa Center (NVC)?

I believe you sent your I-130 to Nebraska. Once that is approved it is forwarded to the NVC. Once the NVC gets finished with the submission of the agent form, the affidavit of support and it is approved they make your Consulate appointment and pass the paperwork to the London US Consulate.

Where are you exactly?

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Hi Rete,

My case was received on December 01st and on 4th December I received my I-797C Notice of Correction on 4th. Not exactly sure what this means as I didn't have to reply to it or do anything other than checked to make sure our details were correct and they were.

Is this approval they accepted the case after looking through all submitted questionnaire and additional paper work / photo's needed? or just receipt of the package but they wont have checked it etc?

Since then I have heard nothing and we setup a login with my wife's details and we input our lin number and her login info to see status of the case but it's just blank. We called up and they just said call back in 6 to 9 months :eek:

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

I am in the UK now after working in the US for 2 years on a work visa. The work in the US ended in December last year my Wife is a US citizen.

The I-797 just said it was received and showed the money order fee was taken and balance was $0.

It just said the I-130 has been received by their office.

I thought it is Nebraska that process it as why else would they publish times on the site. You choose Nebraska and it says they are processing May so are you now saying that it will be at the NVC now? Had no confirmation of this? Is this another place now that will process it and not Nebraska?

We have had no other letter or email since 4th December and nothing asking for the support info / financial stuff or telling us the case has been approved and is in progress etc

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

The I-130 gets sent to the service center which oversees where your wife lives. If that is the Nebraska SC then that is where and why she sent it there. The I-797C is just the received/acceptance receipt. It is not the approval notice.

As for saying the NVC, it is what YOU SAID in the other thread in response to Keoman. That is where my confusion lies.

So your wife's petition for you is still in the hands of the Nebraska Center Service and not at the National Visa Center. So you are still on step 1, awaiting approval of the I-130 which will be forwarded to the NVC for step 2.

Damn shame that you went back to the UK after your visa ran out rather than stay in the US, marry and adjust status which was perfectly legally for you to do. You would have had your employment authorization document and been able to work to support your family. But that is hindsight and was discussed with you last year and I recall that you needed to work immediately to support your wife and then you found out she was pregnant and then later carrying twins.

I'm crossing my fingers for you that you get to and through the step 3 in time for your ceremonial wedding date. And yup, you will be making the airlines richer.

You know, there is something that you wife can try, and it is not unorthodox, and that is to contact her congressional representation, in this case I would recommend a State Senator, and ask their immigration liaison for help in expediting your I-130. Given the impending birth, there is a real need to get things moving more quickly so that you can be here in the US as quickly as possible. Is she willing to do this? I know some USC's are reluctant to involve their government representatives but there is a need here.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Hi Rene,

I received the email below on 4th December. (See at the bottom)

I then received my I-797 letter on 9th December.

So does this mean they have accepted the I-130 and it's been sent on to NVC or could it still be refused etc. I would of thought 4 months in that it would be at stage 2 now at the NVC?

My work visa was an E2 with the company I work for and the work ended on 15th December and I now work in the UK. My visa is valid for 4 more years but unless I get employed by the company again and sent to the US I can't use it.

I did not want to go through all the messing about with the changing of my visa as I literally only had 3 months after the wedding before I had to leave the US due to my work ending over there.

I still work for the same company as a contractor now but the visa can't be used unless I was employed directly again. I have just had my 2nd year US tax return done now.

I can ask my wife about that and see what she says. We are not far from Chicago so that is the loc box we sent the form to and it was sent to Nebraska by them not us.


Your case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS Nebraska Service Center for processing. Within 7-10 days by standard mail you will receive your official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) with your Receipt Number LIN***********. With the official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) you may visit www.uscis.gov where you can check the status of your case using My Case Status. We suggest you wait until you have received your Form I-797 before checking My Case Status.

This confirmation provides notification of the date USCIS received your case. This notice does NOT grant any immigration status or benefit. You MAY NOT present this notice as evidence that you have been granted any immigration status or benefit. Further, this notice does NOT constitute evidence that your case remains pending with USCIS. The current status of your case must be verified with USCIS.

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

If it's the other thread I'm thinking about then that was StuBear not Stu_Blue that said they were at NVC.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

It would appear that you are still at step 1 ... awaiting approval of the I-130 at the Nebraska Service Center. Next you will receive notification that your I-130 has been approved and forwarded to NVC. Your timeline for the I-130 approval is still what Nebraska dictates.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

You are 100% correct. I have my Stu's mixed up. Stu_Blue is still at Nebraska while StuBear is at NVC.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

That's not good then so it's not even guaranteed to be accepted even.

It sure is stressfull all of this. At least knowing it has been accepted would be nice. Who knows if they find an error in it or a typo they could even refuse it.

That wasn't me Rene that was another member who said they were at NVC. My timeline says i was up to receving the i-797 form only. May of been StuBear as the poster above said.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

I have seen Nebraska NOA2 approvals from September 2017 and a few from October 2017, so you are potentially looking at another 3 months before it gets approved.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Hi Stu,

The notice you received only indicates that USCIS received the I-130 petition. That is all. It is now in line waiting for approval. In the past, that could have happened within 4 months, but for whatever reason, USCIS processing has slowed WAAAAY down, so be prepared for the longest wait possible. You could also receive an RFE if anything is missing from the I-130 packet. Highly unlikely it will be outright denied, so don't worry about that.

You'll just have to use the VWP to come and visit for the birth of your twins.

Don't make any solid wedding ceremony plans until you have your visa IN HAND, because there's no way of knowing how long the whole process will take.

Rene

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

It HAS been accepted, and you have a notice to prove it. Now what you are waiting for is APPROVAL.

It won't be refused over something like that.

That's Rete you are responding to. I'm Rene. :)

Rene

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Our names are too alike, Rene. Just as stu_blue and StuBear got me confused.

Stu-Blue your terminology is what is confusing you, I think. Accepted and approved are to very different things. As Rene and I pointed out, your wife's petition for you has been accepted. It cannot be denied for a typo or an error but if something is missing it can generate a RFE (referral for evidence).

I realize you are anxious and frustrated and confused, but please sit back, relax a little and let the processing continue at whatever pace it is currently at. The time apart is nothing when you think about the next 20, 30, 40 years you will be together.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Hi Rene,

Alologies I got you and Rete mixed up.

The wedding is booked for October in Las Vegas.

All invites sent out. As i say to everyone this is our official wedding and it is to us due to a quick wedding last year. I hate to think of a ceremony. :thumbup:

I will just return after it again to the UK if i have my medical or interview to attend etc. Hopeully it doesn’t clash but if it does will just change the date until i’m back in the UK

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Really they say May they are up to in Nebraska. If it is September and October that is positive that it could be sooner. Fnbers crossed.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Despite my signature line there is one piece of advice that I do not hesitate to give when appropriate - you or your wife should consult with an experienced immigration lawyer, a confidential consultation.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Hi there.

I don’t see how this will speed it up. We can’t afford to pay for something like that as she’s not worked for 12 months and we have twins on the way and a wedding to pay for.

Is their a reason you think it would benefit us? Most just do what we do and submit and wait.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

You've filed the petition, so there is little a lawyer could do until:

You're either way out (years and years) of processing times and you can sue the USCIS to force a decision;

You get an RFE/RFIE.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Thanks but I have no intention of paying anyone. The prices a lawyer would charge too.

It would not make them process me any faster and all the paper work has been done now to start off the process.

This post is just about my application and it's at very early stages yet.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

I agree.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

On current timelines and assuming your wife is a USC then you should be looking at next February, so an October date would be fine.

Any reason you did not stay and adjust?

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

I had believed that OP was interested in being with his wife when she gave birth. In my experience, people place a high value on that. OP is adamantly opposed to paying even a consultation fee.

One has to make their judgements. OP is free to do that.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

I will be there when she gives birth and yes you can’t place value on that.

That has nothing to do with me not paying a consultation fee. Why would I pay a fee when the I-130 and I-131a have been sent off and I am 4 months in to the process. Line the pockets of a lawyer to do nothing when that money could be spent towards flights or on my family.

You make all the judgments you like. Please keep pointless sarcastic comments to yourself and stop judging people you don’t know.

Thank you to Rene and Rete for the help and useful information.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

My wife is a USC. Feb until it's all approved and I move over or just to get the the NVC stage? I can only hope i'll be over well before Feb :fingerscrossed:

Yes I was working on an E2 and the job in the US was coming to an end and ended 3 months after we got married after having been there for 2 years.

Seen as work paid for my Visa and also for my US tax returns I did not want to go down the line of an adjustment of status and involve them in all of this. The work ended anyway and I now working in the UK for the same company until I get notified my visa is approved and I am ready to leave.

It's hard but I recently flew over to see her for a few weeks and will be over again soon when the twins are born and then back over in October and for xmas so at least I can see her and the kids a few times between now and me moving there.

I would rather that money be spent on my wife and kids instead of making the airlines richer but hey ho.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

February to get a visa is as good an estimate as any.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

I percived from your posts that you are not really satisfied with the current state of affairs. I also perceived that confidential professional advice may be of assistance in formulating a strategy to handle matters. Sometimes, there are issues best discussed in a confidential manner and not in a public forum.

Please note that your comments directed to me have been in a public forum and not as private messages. I have no way of keeping them to myself.

Good luck to you and your family.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Why on earth did you not AOS? It would have solved this mess.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Because my work in the US was for initially 1 year and then was extended and I got told it would be end around December.

We got married in September so this would not of worked as my job then required me to go back to the UK to carry on working doing the same job.

I also have things to do and sort out in the UK so could not have stayed Without coming back to sort things out.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

Of course I’m not happy nobody who has done or is doing this process will be but their is nothing any of us can do to speed it up.

I did not like your reply which to me was pretty much you saying I did not place importance on my wife giving birth just because I talked about money and am not prepared to pay for a lawyer.

You had no reason to make this comment.

Nothing you or a lawyer can do will magically make me be a visa holder in the next 6 weeks when she gives birth.

just because I said in a previous post that the cost of flights was a lot does not mean I don’t place a high value on my wife giving birth. Merely stating the cost of all these flights is a lot Of money is the same as anyone would say unless of course Money is no object or they’re rich etc!!

You say paying a consultation fee as if it’s nothing. Lawyers are expensive and In this instance can not offer a magical solution to speed up my visa process. That money can be spent towards my flights to see my wife and children.

Re: Crazy Processing Times
 

<sigh>

Based upon your posts, I easily sense several possible stratagies to allow you to file for adjustment of status and obtain an expedited grant of advance parole.

Based upon experience, corporate immigration counsel often are not well versed on the family side of the shop. There were many times corporate counsel and I would team up due to our different skill sets.

I sense that you have an extremely inflated idea of what family based practitioners charge. Let me say that the family based practitioners are often envious of what corporate immigration practitioners charge.

I also wonder if your employer has a particularly rigid HR department.

I have never said lawyers can work "magic." But our job is to find the way to "yes" without the help of magic. You have concluded the answer is "no" and there is nothing to be done.

I will say that your own postings here have me thinking there is a way handle matters and it may not be all that expensive.

(BTW I often got to see client's tax returns and most were not "rich." )

"Good night and good luck" Edward R. Murrow.