The National Benefits Center: What It Is and What It Does
We have noticed that there is some confusion out there about what our National Benefits Center (NBC) is and what it does. The NBC serves a unique role within our organization as part of the Field Operations Directorate. The NBC was founded in 2001 in Lee’s Summit, Missouri and was originally called the Missouri Service Center (which is why receipt notices from the NBC will begin with the letters “MSC”).
The NBC’s primary mission is to prepare applications for adjudication that require an interview at a USCIS Field Office. A lot goes into preparing an application including conducting background and security checks and reviewing the evidence an applicant submits to support their eligibility for the benefit.
The NBC’s largest workload is Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. These two applications will reach well over a million cases in Fiscal Year 2012.
In the Form I-485 process, an applicant must provide all initial evidence, before the applicant can be scheduled for interview. If evidence is missing, the NBC will issue a Request for Evidence (RFE). An RFE places a hold on the I-485 application, as well as the associated applications filed with the I-485 application (for example, Form I-130, Form I-765, Form I-131), until the NBC receives the missing initial evidence.
Missing evidence will not delay the processing of an N-400 application at the NBC. However, if the missing evidence is not provided at the time of interview in the Field Office, the adjudication of the application may be delayed or the application may be denied.
Processing times of the Form I-485 and Form N-400 applications are determined by each Field Office, not the NBC, since final adjudication is not conducted at the NBC. Please check our website at www.uscis.gov for the processing times of these applications at your local USCIS Field Office.
If you need to contact the NBC regarding your case, please call our National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283. The representative taking your call will send an electronic message to the NBC that will be answered within 15 days. Expedite requests, for certain applications, are answered within 5 days.
posted by USCIS Blog Team @ 3:11 PM
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20 Comments:
A general question about improving the secondary processing for people entering the country using Advance Parole:
I have been through this process four times(via Houston, TX - IAH) in the last 5 years and almost every time the secondary processing took around two hours. This is really tiring, particularly after travelling for more than 20 hours, waiting in the secondary processing area for almost another two hours with little kids is painful. Would appreciate any steps taken to speed up this process.
Thanks
my wife came here on a k-1 visa. I have all the forms ready to be sent in for adjustment of status. Do I need to file a 130 form with it. I am confused on this, I hear some people say you don't need it, and others say you do. Can somebody help me with this.
Also is there a place where you can get personal help filing the forms with no cost.
If you were the petitioner for your wife's fiancee petition (I-129F), you don't need to file the I-130. You can check the following link for legal assistance at little to no cost:
http://www.justice.gov/eoir/ra.html
What initial evidence does one need in order to file the I-485 Form? Thanks ahead of time.
I moved and changed my address after my file sent to San Antonio FO. Now, I am in Dallas area. Do they call me for interview in San Antonio, TX or Dallas, TX area? If I know in advance I would prepare for my plan. Does this delay my processing time?
N-400 processing at Atlanta District Office was quite fast in the early part of the year but seems to have slowed down to a halt starting in June. Please kindly update processing time for ATL and I would also appreciate some explanation why it is so slow if that is possible.
kind regards,
Hello! I received I-485 RFE from the Nebraska Service Center and asked me to send evidence back with "the enclosed envelope", which is missing from the letter. Can you let me know the return address? Thanks!
I sent in an application for 1 130 but didn't send in anything with it because when I called I was told to send the $420 fee and app only . I received a receipt number 2 1/2 weeks ago and my case status still says it cant be found at this time . I called and was told to email them .I did 2 weeks ago and haven't heard anything yet and I called again and they told me they cold find the receipt # but nothing else so I emailed again and nothing . Does this mean it is denied before they send me a request for more information and do I lose the 450.00 I sent ? thanks
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Edit Chris said...
I too can't seem to be able to find my case through USCIS, my concern is I need an expedite but so far I'm in the dark. USCIS is very shady about this. Why can't even the USCIS see our case status? I too am waiting for an rfe because I did the same and only sent the form and payment. I received my 797 receipt on October 1st. Here its December and still no leads on my case
For those who cannot find their status on the USCIS Website: You are not alone.
I also filed an I-130 and after receiving the NOA1 or I-797C, was unable to locate file status. However, I did call and when the Tech Difficulty Customer Service Officer also could not find it, I was transfered to somebody who was able to (and no, I am not sure which office as he didn't say).
At any rate, I did speak to an officer who validated our Case Receipt ID. He also let me know as of late Oct 2012 to present (today is Dec 10, 12), that they were having USCIS System problems. He didn't mention when it would be corrected.
So, if you have the I-797C document hardcopy, then they have received your file, even if you cannot see it's USCIS status online. Now all you have to do is wait for the NOA2 unless of course they need more documents from you.
I should let you know there was a very long LONG hold before I spoke to anyone.
Best to all and Happy Holidays.
hello, I filed for my husband on September 2012 and we got the file ref number starting with WAC but after we received another notice mentioned that our application was transferred to NBC. And now on USCIS case status says ""case was transferred and is now being processed at a USCIS office"" according to my research I think NBC itself takes less time to approve i130 petition..
una peticion hecha en nov de 2012 cuanto puede tardar esta ofic en dar respuesta de la aprobacion ? gracias este proceso desespera entristece y daña la unidad de la family Dios nos ayude
Hello I was wondering how long it takes to get the Advanced Parole, it's been 30 days since receipt notice, my parents already got fingerprinted, and still can't check the MSC receipt notice case status online. My parents need to travel asap. Please advice. We called them and they said it could take up to 5 months????
how long it take to process receipt number that start with MSC,is there any specific time frame,i file form I-130
Can I change my local field office to another one in the same state?
wao,U.S.C.I.S,DID NOT ISSUE ME AN EMPLOYMENT AUTHORISATION DOCUMENT AND HENCE COULD NOT WORK OR FEED MY ONLY U.S. CITIZEN CHILD, EVEN WITH THE HUMANITARIAN BASED FORMS AND PETITIONS IT TAKES OVER A YEAR BFORE BEING PROCESSED AND HAS BEEN DENIED 3 TIMES NOW, HUMANITARIAN INDEED, MY CHILD IS REALLY SUFFERRING WITH ME NOW, FOR 6 YEARS NOW, I , A SINGLE PARENT AND THE ONLY FAMILY OF THE CHILD HAVE NOT WORKED, THE CHILD HAS KNOWN ONLY ACUTE POVERTY ALL THROUGH HER 6 YEARS IN LIFE, FROM BIRTH TILL NOW.
My I-485 just got transferred to NBC. How do I check the processing time for my case? I did check it online but it didn't show the form I-485.
I filed I-485 for my mother at the end of Septermber 2012. Application was received on October 1st,2012 and the receipt notice stated that the case was transferred to NBC. My mother had her fingerprinting/biometrics done about one month later but since then there were no more progress on the case. For sbout seven months till now, the case status on the USCIS website is still showing "acceptance". I tried to call the 1-800 number listed on the website a few times to check the status but the agents who recevied the calls didn't not seem to be able to provide me any further information. A few expediting requests were put in for me but so far no response back at all. Does this mean something might have gone wrong with my case? What other options do I have in order to find out what's really going on? I live in San Jose California and the typical processing time for this type of case is 4 month. I also thought about scheduling an appointment with the local immigrant office but INFOPASS told me no such information appointment available for the office in my area. I'm feeling totally in the dark and kind of desperate right now. Appreciate any insights!
approval for i-130that starts with MSC 60 days from date of I797c, noa1
My husband filed i 130 through Chicago Field Office for me, and wondering why is our case(still under initial review) processed at MSC(as shown from the receipt number)? We don't really find MSC process i 130 from uscis.gov's processing time line, but only Texas and Vermont? Thanks!
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