get in touch with Emma via the chat function on the USCIS website. I applied two weeks before you and got immediate active processing. Turns out they transferred my case to Texas.

I used it actually. What did you ask her exactly because she wasnt helping me much. haha

you have to sort of trick the system to get through to a real person. try at 8am Monday (east coast time). i think you can request a lost receipt and just keep saying “live agent”

Oh ok. My original receipt said Nabraska. Was it similar for you?

yeah, same thing 😞 unfortunately Texas takes twice as long.

Dear lord, haha alright! Thank you!

we also applied for the k3 visa which allegedly speeds up the process in random cases. look it up… otherwise a lot of patience! 😢

That is awesome! We are actually together in Japan, so a little different I guess?

I’m also with my husband in Chile! For k3 the spouse has to be abroad but it doesn’t matter if the sponsor is there or in the US.

Interesting! And it speeds up the processing?

Eh, it’s hit or miss. there are cases that get approved in 2-4 months (k3 denied, I-130 approved). For others, it makes no difference. The only con is paying for the postage to get the form to Texas. Otherwise there’s no risk or extra cost…. at least from my non-expert analysis haha

I am not in a huge rush. It will come eventually! The thing for me is the currency. The yen lost a ton of value in the last few months.

we filed on 06/2021 and our I-130 was approved 07/2022. no RFEs or anything. we filed from abroad and it was at nebraska service center. now we go to consular processing for the final steps. good luck. we’ve been married for 13 years.

That is great! Congrats!

@Todd g, Filing K3 doesn’t make your I-130 approved/faster, they are 2 separate application. Only that one-K3 is faster than the other-I130. But since you said you are not in a rush, just wait for the I-130 to get approved. Call the 1-800 USCIS number and say info-pass, within 5 minutes, you’ll be connected to an agent who would tell you where your case is presently and if you are within normal processing times or not. They are like zombies though, they read what they see from the computer and can’t push or help investigate anything.

Thank you! I will just wait patiently!

my case was assigned to Nebraska and on the 6th month they requested an RFE and then asked me to send the response to Vermont. I didn’t know they’ll be treating my case over there in Vermont, until I waited about 6 months after which I found out what was going on from Emma and was told my case has been transferred to Vermont. Vermont SC is the slowest of all, 15months. Now, last month is my 15th month and still nothing yet… so it all depends on what they decide.

I see what you're saying! I hope it works out for you soon!

🤞🙏

Nebraska service center processing time now is 10.5 months 🥺

yep. it's a long haul

I filed oct19 2021 and was approved sept 22 2022. now it is sent to nvc. let’s see how long this takes

cogratulations! We are 3 months in now!

hopefully welcome letter will come soon. we are in HK and looking forward Ro finally being able to travel to Japan :-)