can I-140 be processed at Local office ? Pending for 16 months ?

[Fromhyd]

can I-140 be processed at Local office ? Pending for 16 months ? - Help
EB3 sub labor PD Nov 2000
140/485 RD at Texas - June 2004
140/485 Transferred to Philadelphia local office - July 2004
Interviewed (self and spouse) on Jan 11th 2005 at Philli office but were told that Visa numbers are not available and have to come back once they are available.

But for the Visa number the I-140 has to be approved and then the application has to be sent to NVC for a visa number right ?. I also heard that I-140 cannot be approved at a Local office, am I right ?

I am not much worried about the 485 but my concern is about the 140 as I ran out of 6 yrs on H1B and made an inquiry with the local congressman and this is the response I got back from Philli office to the congressman.

----------------------
Both the I-140 visa petition and the I-485 adjustment application are
pending here at PHI. The file is currently charged to Awaiting visa
Number.
It is normal for both the visa petition and the adjustment to be
processed
together at the same interview when they are filed together as a
package.
Case will be scheduled for interview when the visa number becomes
available.
-----------------------

If this is the case then I will have to wait for atleast 3 to 4 years for my I-140 approval.
Can someone please provide any suggestions/answers ?

 

[gctarget06]

I am in a similar boat. I wonder why did they call you for interview though ? was that for I140 ? could you please clarify ?? Thanks.

 

[Fromhyd]

I was called for an interview for 485. 140 is stuck in the local office and they are thinking that it has to be approved along with the 485. Ultimately I am becoming a victim of the error that Texas has made in sending 140 to the local office.