Why is Philippines auto expedited

[mallafri76 1,012]

Hi,

Out of curiosity, does anyone know why people from the Philippines get their I-130 petition expedited? Judging from posts and timelines, their petitions are usually approved between two weeks to two months. Just curious!

[Kastrs 723]

Because of the horrible Typhoon a year ago. Did severe damage to the country.

[msbau764 245]

Because of the horrible Typhoon a year ago. Did severe damage to the country.

I think it has been almost 2 years now. FYI it is ridiculous for those from the Phillipines to be expedited, as if EVERYONE is suffering from the typhoon. Regardless, several other countries have had natural disasters, so it seems some politician is pulling favors for allowing this to happen.

[Kastrs 723]

I think it has been almost 2 years now. FYI it is ridiculous for those from the Phillipines to be expedited, as if EVERYONE is suffering from the typhoon. Regardless, several other countries have had natural disasters, so it seems some politician is pulling favors for allowing this to happen.

Actually it was in November 2013, so just over a year. Although I agree, I am frustrated about it as well. There are a lot of people in a lot of countries in not the best circumstances.

[mallafri76 1,012]

msbau764, I totally agree with you there, that there has to be some politician originally from the Philippines or some rich person influencing the immigration process so that Philippinos get auto expedited. Like you say, there are several countries with natural disasters who do not get auto expedited. Not to mention the whole Boko Harem mess in Nigeria, which makes it an extremily dangerous place right now but Nigerians are still not auto expedited, as far as I understand.

I have a colleague from the Philipinnes who just went home last summer with her husband and two little kids and had a wonderful time with sun and sea. She didn't mention anything about any devastation or difficulty travelling around or enjoying family time in the Philipinnes.

Just interesting to see why some nationatlities get auto expedited and others don't. It's a little frustrating when the rest of us have to wait so long to get approved and others get auto expedited for no apparent reason.

[Boiler 43,438]

Big mistake assuming any of this is logical.

It is politics, quite where the money and votes are I do not know but it will be there.

[TBoneTX 43,059]

*** Thread moved from CR-1 Process forum to the USCIS Service Centers forum -- topic involves policies that affect processing. ***

[Janelle2002 3,865]

They've been getting auto expedited for years.

[Ms Hogan 295]

http://www.uscis.gov/news/uscis-extends-relief-measures-filipino-typhoon-victims

And Canada did it back in 2009 for a different Typhoon.

http://www.canadavisa.com/cic-expedite-canadian-immigration-applications-some-applicants-philippines-091001.html

Edited February 11, 2015 by Ms Hogan

[JohnR! 5,495]

The question however is whether this causes backlog and creates a delay situation for other applicants...

http://www.uscis.gov/news/uscis-extends-relief-measures-filipino-typhoon-victims

And Canada did it back in 2009 for a different Typhoon.

http://www.canadavisa.com/cic-expedite-canadian-immigration-applications-some-applicants-philippines-091001.html

[Ms Hogan 295]

The question however is whether this causes backlog and creates a delay situation for other applicants...

I don't think it necessarily causes a backlog, do you? The backlog exists no matter what. It just increases and decreases depending on what suddenly gets added to the mix.

I think it would however push the rest of us further down the pile if they keep pulling the Philippines applications to the top. Same thing with any of the other changes that have happened over the past couple of years.

The entire process is frustrating as hell though for everyone. I think that it has to be done the way it is done and it is vital on the spousal visas to pull out the fraudulent cases HOWEVER there is a major gap in the length of time it takes that just shouldn't be there and the only explanation that makes sense is a lack of manpower to adjudicate.

[sma1488 155]

I'd like to think it was a well-intentioned policy at first, but its execution is definitely flawed. If you read USCIS' description of the measures, they do NOT include I-129F petitions. They also specifically say that expedites will be available UPON REQUEST, but in fact are granted automatically. I've even seen Filipinos residing in and interviewing in other countries be expedited. And all of this pushes the rest of us even further back in line.

Thanks, USCIS.

[Jawaree 717]

Everyone wants to get thru the process like yesterday,They

tend to top the chart at caring and diligent nurses, maybe that's

in their favor too

[emcia_81 43]

I believe it has something to do with politics. The US has a huge military base over there and Philipines was the US teritory in the past.

[raven52 233]

I beg your pardon Janelle2002, as the great country of the Philippines, ""HAS NOT been on expedited for years"" as my wife is from Cebu, and we were 186 days until NOA 2, and from June 22 2012 until April 24 2013 until POE!!!

I DO NOT think that is expedited!

Also, some people do not realize that another Typhoon just a very few months ago, and almost as bad as the one last year did almost as much damage, with a 13 foot storm surge, near Leyete. Many are still missing, just because someone went to a part of the country not effected and had a nice trip, does not mean there is not a """Huge"" devastation in the central part of that country, south of Manila.

Have you been there and seen the people living in "card board boxes," or laying under a bridge, and eating rats? I have!

If these people can qualify on some type of visa, then so be it, though I know, there are many places in dire straits in the world, I have never seen anything like what has happened, to the most populated part of the country.

I wish all people would be expedited but who would process them.

I admit it is a debatable subject, who deserves, who does not, all I can say is what I have seen.