Parents Greencard Process: Location in the US? Transfer to India?

S

SanPi

Registered Users (C)
Background:
My parents are Indian citizens and arrived in the US on a visitor visa in August 7th, 2006. On September 28th, 2006 I mailed their application packets for a Green Card. Each application was mailed to the Chicago Service Center and contained the I-130, I-485, G-325, I-693 and I-864 with all associated documents. The only document I did not provide was birth certificates for each of them as we did not have one. Instead I pointed out their birthdates on the photocopy of their passports. Needless to say, very soon we were asked to send birth certificates which we got from the Indian Consulate in Houston. On October 24th, 2006 they were called to the INS office in San Antonio for fingerprinting. Since then we have not heard back from the INS.

My Questions: :confused:
1) When we were asked to send the birth certificates, we were asked to mail it to the US Department of Homeland Security, PO Box 64064, Lees Summit, MO 64064. When I enter their Receipt number on the INS Case Status Search page (https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/caseStatusSearchDisplay.do), it tells me that their application is at the Missouri Service Center. When I look up the webpage for Case Processing Dates, I don’t see any option for the “Missouri Service Center” nor for “Lees Summit, MO”. I see 2 other cities listed for MO – Kansas City and Saint Louis. How do we find out where exactly in Missouri (or else where) our application is?

2) Due to a few situations that have unexpectedly arisen, my parents may need to travel to India. Is there anyway to expedite their Green Card process?

3) If they need to go to India, could they transfer their Green Card process to the US Consulate in Chennai, India? If yes, what process do I follow to have it transferred?

Thanks! :)
 
SanPi,

1) Missouri Service Center is called 'National Benefits Center'. It's one of the things I wish they would fix on their website, as it is really confusing. I think it's mentioned somewhere but not nearly prominent enough.

2) It depends on how severe the situation is. Officially it has to be a 'life-or-death' kind of thing, but I'm not sure what that means practically. My guess is it depends on whoever receives your motion to expedite.

3) No idea about this.
 
Thanks DcAndreas!!

I checked the webpage for processing dates at the National Benfits Center and I dont see either the I-130 or I-485 (nor any of the other forms I filed for my parents' GC) listed in the table! Is there any particular reason our application went to the NBC and not one of the Service Centers or District Offices?
 
Best way for your parents to be able to travel would be for them to apply for I131 Advanced Parole. It will take about 90 days to come and then they will be able to travel relatively easily in and out of the country while their GCs are being processed.
 
Did the Missouri Sevice center accept the birth certificate from the Indian Consulate ? We are in a similar situation and have heard conflicting reports on acceptance of birth certificate from the Indian Consulate by USCIS.
You could schedule an Infopass to check on the status but I think you have to wait 90 days or 180 days ( not sure)
 
Hi Svjan

I am hoping the Missouri Service Center accepted the birth certificates we got from the Indian consulate. When I enter my mom or dad's receipt numbers on the INS case-status-search site, I see this message "Current Status: Response to request for evidence received, and case processing has resumed."

Thanks!
 
SanPi said:
Hi Svjan

I am hoping the Missouri Service Center accepted the birth certificates we got from the Indian consulate. When I enter my mom or dad's receipt numbers on the INS case-status-search site, I see this message "Current Status: Response to request for evidence received, and case processing has resumed."

Thanks!
Click to expand...
That's great!
It has been almost 4 months you've sent the packages. Your parents will be called for an interview very soon, unless they are approved without an interview. ;)
AP could take 3-4 months. There is practically no way to expedite the process, and I don't think you can change AOS to CP at this point. Your parents may need to wait until they get their green cards.
Good luck!
 
SanPi said:
Background:
My parents are Indian citizens and arrived in the US on a visitor visa in August 7th, 2006. On September 28th, 2006 I mailed their application packets for a Green Card. Each application was mailed to the Chicago Service Center and contained the I-130, I-485, G-325, I-693 and I-864 with all associated documents. The only document I did not provide was birth certificates for each of them as we did not have one. Instead I pointed out their birthdates on the photocopy of their passports. Needless to say, very soon we were asked to send birth certificates which we got from the Indian Consulate in Houston. On October 24th, 2006 they were called to the INS office in San Antonio for fingerprinting. Since then we have not heard back from the INS.

My Questions: :confused:
1) When we were asked to send the birth certificates, we were asked to mail it to the US Department of Homeland Security, PO Box 64064, Lees Summit, MO 64064. When I enter their Receipt number on the INS Case Status Search page (https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/caseStatusSearchDisplay.do), it tells me that their application is at the Missouri Service Center. When I look up the webpage for Case Processing Dates, I don’t see any option for the “Missouri Service Center” nor for “Lees Summit, MO”. I see 2 other cities listed for MO – Kansas City and Saint Louis. How do we find out where exactly in Missouri (or else where) our application is?

2) Due to a few situations that have unexpectedly arisen, my parents may need to travel to India. Is there anyway to expedite their Green Card process?

3) If they need to go to India, could they transfer their Green Card process to the US Consulate in Chennai, India? If yes, what process do I follow to have it transferred?

Thanks! :)
Click to expand...

Hi:

Just a question to satisfy my curiosity. What prompted their change of intent to stay? Arriving August 7, with the intent to visit temporarily, and then filing AOS in September ---- there must be a very good reason for this. I wonder what changed their minds.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice and wishes.
PianoPlayer, to answer your question...my mother's glasses broke over a month ago, and when she went to get a new pair, was given an eye-exam and discovered she had a cataract in one eye. I am trying to convince her to go ahead and get the surgery done here but she wont budge and wants to have it done in India. Hence the question of transferring their Greencard process to India.

Since posting this message I have spoken to the consulate in India and they say that they do receive "transfers" but do not know what I should do to have it transferred. I also met with an INS officer at the San Antonio Service Center and he told me that he had never heard of a transfer and doesnt know how it can be done!

For the moment it looks like we are just going to have to wait this one out.
Thanks everyone!
 
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