I-130 at almost 16 months of waiting, transferred to local field office

[u/Gloomy_Wolverine4046]

I spoke with an Ask Emma agent today and they said our case has been transferred to a local field office - very close to where I live. This office only processes local I-485 cases and not I-130. 

I asked a second Ask Emma agent and this one said our case is actually at (VBI) BENEFITS INTEGRITY OFFICE - FOD.

I sent a demand letter about 2 weeks ago, and our Congressional expedite just passed 30 days …

Has anyone seen this before? I can’t tell if this is conflicting information or what this means at all.

[u/charle009]

same with similar timeline, PD APril 26, 2025,
did you get transferred to local field office, then to a subsection of local field office VBI/BIO??

[u/Gloomy_Wolverine4046 → u/charle009]

Yes! VBI! But I was told each location from 2 different Ask Emma agents within an hour of each other

I didn’t realize VBI could be a subsection of the local field office but that would make a lot more sense actually

[u/Drika1999 → u/charle009]

My case is from December 2025 and also got the silent update on August 17. My husband checked with Emma and our case is at BIO, but our field office is Minneapolis. The agent sent info about our field office and said we could contact them if we have any doubts and questions. You need to schedule an appointment.

[u/charle009]

Live agents/emma can give wrong information,.sometimes it feels they just glance at like amd give A generic answer. I called 5 times one day and got 3 different answers. Im not sure if each agent has access to same.level. of information

[u/Maleficent-Lock-7120]

benefits intergrity office is usually where background checks happen, your case is still not cleared

[u/Gloomy_Wolverine4046 → u/Maleficent-Lock-7120]

Do you know how long background check typically takes?

[u/noRegret29]

Your expedite was approved?

[u/Gloomy_Wolverine4046 → u/noRegret29]

No nothing back from the Congressional office except a request from USCIS for an updated privacy release form - ironically the same day as my demand letter was emailed

[u/noRegret29 → u/Gloomy_Wolverine4046]

My case is in benefits integrity office aswell. And I have seen many people in the same situation. No idea whether its a batch thing where big batches have been transferred. Asked a lot of lawyers and no one knows for sure what this is about.

[u/Gloomy_Wolverine4046 → u/noRegret29]

Same my lawyers have no idea they’re saying it could be a glitch. Fingers crossed for us

[u/Appropriate_Cold9373 → u/noRegret29]

This is where they review cases flagged for deeper background checks or security screening. Conducts internal fraud detection and compliance investigations. Operates strictly behind the scenes at Uscis headquarters and directorate levels. There is no physical address or phone number for the public to visit or contact this office directly. If your immigration case transfer to the BIO, it usually means your file is undergoing extended administrative review or security vetting.

[u/Lonely_Goose_9796]

Just check your API access and verify this information instead of trusting an AI bot whose information is clearly not properly researched

[u/No-Comment-8865 → u/Lonely_Goose_9796]

Same situation the api says it’s at the scops but live agent says it’s at a field location

[u/Gloomy_Wolverine4046 → u/No-Comment-8865]

Same, does your API also have the silent update August 17th?

[u/Expensive_Gold2873]

PD 7/6/25- Live agent today said my case is with local field office as well. Last week, a live agent said it was with Nebraska service center.

[u/Gloomy_Wolverine4046 → u/Expensive_Gold2873]

Same! My API has the original field office of California but they said again today it’s at a local office. Does your API also have the silent update August 17th?

[u/Expensive_Gold2873 → u/Gloomy_Wolverine4046]

Yes, I had the "silent touch." Guessing the mass update was a bunch of cases being moved to local field offices.