USCIS Sending I-129s to Kentucky Consular Center Rather Than to Posts
R 100143Z JUL 04
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS
AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
AMEMBASSY KABUL
AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM
AMEMBASSY BUJUMBURA
AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
UNCLAS STATE 150760
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS, CMGT
SUBJECT: I-129 PETITIONS TO BE ROUTED VIA KENTUCKY
CONSULAR CENTER
1. As of July 6, 2004 the Department of Homeland Security's Citizenship and Immigration Services began sending all approved I-129 petitions (not I-129F petitions) to the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC), rather than sending them directly to the overseas visa processing post. KCC will scan the petition and transmit it electronically to post.
2. DHS and the Department recently agreed to route all approved I-129 petitions to the KCC starting on July 6, 2004. I-129F petitions for fiancis and K-3s will continue to be sent to the National Visa Center (NVC). Initially, KCC will scan and transmit electronically (in the form of an adobe acrobat document) approved petitions. Eventually, I-129 petition information will be made accessible to posts via the Consular Consolidated Database (CCD). Centralizing processing at KCC will bring uniformity and consistency to the process. A Fraud Prevention Unit will start up at KCC in the fall under the direction of an experienced Consular Officer. This unit will identify fraud indicators that posts will be able to investigate further during the visa adjudication process.
3. Posts are encouraged to establish a dedicated e-mail address to receive NIV petitions in order to ensure efficient transmission of data. All posts, whether establishing a dedicated e-mail address or not, are requested to send to KCC an e-mail address where they would like petitions to be sent. Posts can email that contact information to KCC's Julius Isakson, with cc to Tommy Hall.
4. KCC will only transmit approved I-129 petitions. Other documentation associated with the case will be scanned and sent to post on an "as-needed" basis, per request from post. Requests for additional information will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
5. KCC will not be handling public inquiries related to the processing of NIV petition-based cases. Questions about particular cases will continue to be referred to overseas embassies and consulates as they are now.
6. Posts with questions about the new process should contact John Coe, Director of KCC, or Brendan Mullarkey in CA/VO/F/P.
7. Minimize Considered
POWELL