I-130 Pertitions – Delayed Immediate Relative Petitions at Texas Service Center

Here is an important update for our readers. Many applicants are reporting sever delays with I-130 applications for Immediate Relative cases.

In November 2010, USCIS transferred approximately 36,000 Immediate Relative petitions from
the California Service Center to the Texas Service Center. They anticipated that this redistribution
of work would result in more timely adjudication of these petitions. Due to a number of unforeseen circumstances at the Texas Service Center, many of these cases have not been processed and are beyond the estimated processing times.

On Feb. 7, 2011, the service implemented a rapid response plan to expedite the adjudication of these petitions. They have transferred a large number of these Immediate Relative petitions back to the California Service Center to take advantage of resources currently available to immediately process these cases. Petitioners will see an action such as an approval, denial or a Request for Evidence (RFE) on their case from the California or Texas Service Centers by the end of February. Additionally, they have briefed the Department of State’s National Visa Center about these cases. We will keep you posted as we receive further updates from the Service.