----

Ok.. how frustrated can a person get?

Just got off the phone. The lady who answered my phone call was very polite and after I asked her wether USCIS is ready to send out the new forms or not, she asked me to hold and promised not to transfer me to them.

So, when she came back, she said they have no information saying the Service Centers are sending out new forms. The last information she has is that Consulates are returning these petitions.

So, she couldn´t tell me for sure, but it seems to her that they are still implementing or preparing the new system.

She said they are taking a lot of phone calls about that and they realize how many people are desperate for a solution.

But, when it comes to a "do you t´hink this is gonna take months" kind of question, all the answers are still pretty vague.
All she said was "I certainly hope not".

Could anyone call USCIS and ask the same question, please? It´s not a toll free from outside USA and my phone bill is gonna be huge.

Please.

thanks....my toes and fingers are crossed...

Apologies for not reading aroiund to se if this has been posted, but the immigration attorney who posts to AVUMB posted this yesterday:

HEADS UP -- DHS Error -- Post 3/6/2006 K-1 Petitions Recalled
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=375323

"It seems that approximately 1100 K-1 petitions filed with CIS after March 6, 2006 were mistakenly approved without the necessary background checks ont he petitoners. Those visa petitions are being recalled from the Consulates for proper processing in compliance with the law." (more)

At least we know there is a finite number (are most of them listed here, lol?)
m

How in the world do you get to a human on the USCIS phone?

I think you diall their number and then 1-2-6-1.. smething like this

They will ask for your receipt number (you must press 322 for the EAC letters as well) and then I think you just hold.
I remember sometime they said PRESS 5 to speak to an operator.

It would help a lot to know if they have the new questionnaires or if they´re waiting.
I tink that´s all.

Shouldn´t be that hard for them to answer!!!!!

As we are aware, there are a few cases getting approvals thru Nebraska these last few days. SO have they figured out this new law, and implemented the necessary steps to abide by the new law? IF so we have not heard from any of them saying they received and RFE's, so maybe they are just doing the checks, without any paperwork on our part. I wish some of them would let us know.

I think you will find that those cases have NOA1's before March 6. If you know of one after that PLEASE TELL US!

No, that´s not the case.
All Servic Centers but Vermont are still processing cases dated before March 6th because they do not need to meet the new request.

And the new request is the criminal records of petitioners, so they can look at it and see who meet the new IMBRA law and who doesn´t.

So, they will be sending out new instructions to everyone after March 6h. Or, if we´re lucky they will put this on their website for download.
It´s impossible to get this answered right now, since this new request for criminal records doesn´t seem to be ready yet.

You're right about that and considering that this is worldwide, 1,100 isn't SO many. Honestly, I was imagining more like 5,000+. If the SCs buckle down and work they could get these older petitions reprocessed and approved in a matter of weeks and for people without criminal records/prior petitions, maybe the wait won't be ridiculously long and they can continue where they left off waiting for interviews. AND newer petitions can start being processed.

Good luck to everyone being affected by this new law (and to everyone in general too)! Hopefully, now that they've recognized an exact number (more or less) and have recalled most of them, people who haven't gotten any information about their case in relation to the IMBRA can relax a litle bit and assume they won't be affected.

Sorry not to be as optimistic as you.
What scares me the most is not even the affect that IMBRA will have n petitioner´s criminal records but how long will take to USCIS to start requesting it from them.

It doesn´t look like it´s gonna be tomorrow.......

Not sure how you defined "worldwide" but all 1100 approved petitions are out of Vermont I believe, since it was the only service center issuing NOA2's after March 6th. So it will be an additional workload on one service center.
The number of issued NOA1's with a received date after March 6th is going to be much greater than 1100 and alot of us are in that boat wondering what the next step going to be.

Vermont will be fine.......and they will haul a$$. They have done so in the past and they will now. They are a very well oiled machine compared to other service centers and have good leadership.

aikorob K1 Ukraine TSC 03/31


Can someone tell me if the additional checking being done by USCIS will require any input from us, or is this another internal check by them?

I just pretend like I have a rotary phone, listen to the spanish messages for 10 min, then I get transfered to a spanish speaking operator and tell them I need english and get helped everytime. I gave up trying to figure it out by pressing numbers.

I finally got through. To bad I wasted 30 minutes of my life. The nice lady I talked to didn't seem to know much about it. She went to talk to her supervisor and came back and read something off of a paper to me that had nothing to do with IMBRA. I asked her about wether we would be getting RFE for our criminal backround check or not and she said something about "fingerprinting". I doubt if she really knew what she was talking about.

As a beneficiary, when I went to get my police certificate in Brazil I they got my fingerprints.
Maybe it´s the same in the USA and that´s what she meant.
But I think you´re right. She probably had no idea.

Can I make a really straightforward, bordering on idiotic suggestion?
a ) It seems that the problems are with the VSC (as has been noted)
b ) People are reaching out to their Congesspeople, who have the power to find out info not available to us mortals.

I suggest the following:

By any means necc., find out the name (and email, if possible) of the head honco at VSC, and write him/her via FedEx (and email if possible), voice our concerns and demand (nicely) a response and an open line of communication (at least through one of us, and I nominate Gary) through which we can get real updates and info as comes out of the HH's office. the VSC boss owes us this much, and, if spun correctly, will remind him/her of their ability to be fired through the political pressure we WILL apply if we don't start getting answers.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want another boss at VSC, I just want transparency!!!

I will gladly contribute more than my share to the FedEx fund!!

Who's with me?

I´m with you.
You can count on my contribution as well.

They owe us explanation.

Director of VSC:

Paul Novak

USCIS Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Weldon
St. Albans, VT 08479

Not sure on the spelling of Weldon. I received the info on the phone.

Ok, how are we gonna unite our strenght and contact him???

I just received an email from NVC. I didn´t even remember that I had emailed them on May 19th.
Here´s what they said:

"Dear Sir or Madam, Your inquiry has been received at the National Visa Center (NVC).
The petition has been returned to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS-formerly known as INS). Any further inquiries should be directed to CIS."

So we now have a proof that USCIS has the recalled petitions.

I´m just wondering if there is such place as USCIS... shouldn´t my application have been fwd to Vermont?

For tose who want to email the NVC here´s their contact: NVCInquiry@state.gov

The CIS is in Vermont, so your case should be there.

One thing that I've started to do is request copies of my criminal history from the FBI and any state that I've lived in for over 6 months. I'm hoping that this will not be needed, but just in case it is, it won't hurt.

Some of these reports take many weeks to obtain.

I think it will be needed. In fact, I think that´s exactly what they will be looking for.
If the criminal records procedure for the petitioners is anything like it is for the beneficiary, you might need to wait for the paper that USCIS is gonna send you, requesting those facts.

But as you said, it won´t hurt to start colleting them, if possible.

The CIS is really in Vermont? What about the ones in Texas, California, Nebraska...? Aren´t they called CIS as well?


thanks

[quote name='Karen_L' date='May 15 2006, 10:07 AM' post='196401']
[quote name='Aquelunya' date='May 14 2006, 11:13 PM' post='196006']
[quote name='aussiewench' post='195388' date='May 14 2006, 01:32 PM']
[quote name='michela' post='195360' date='May 15 2006, 03:08 AM']

I am wondering, particularly now, how important it is going to be to write more then a few words when it comes to Q18 on the I-129F as to how one met especially if one has met over the internet. Whilst meeting online itself, in various chat rooms, groups etc do not seem to come under this act.....how are they to know if one leaves too much to the imagination. My advice is to perhaps go into a lot more detail under these circumstances to safeguard against being caught up in it. Any thoughts?????

[/quote]

Maybe you're right about this. But I wonder if there's any pattern thus far connecting how couple met with whether they've been affected by the IMBRA or whether they wrote a lot or a little in Q18.

What I don't get is the people who have NOA1's before March 6th getting their stuff returned -- they're retroactively enforcing a law that wasn't in effect at the time. At least for petitions that got the NOA1 on or after 3/6 they could say it's when the law technically came into effect, but before that ... even if the NOA1 was recorded on March 5th 5 minutes before the SC was closing, the law still wasn't active at the time.

Ahhhghghgh-- no rhyme or reason !
[/quote]

I would like to be added to the list too.

somebody correct me if i'm wrong, but the 4 service centers are all CIS.

something else i read on the uscis website was that on some applications (not I-129 F), they will have you come in to one of their fingerprinting centers for the background check. I have no idea if this will apply here.

I think so too, they are all CIS.
If they sent it to USCIS, there would be in Washington too.

I´m afraid my petition will get lost with all these trips...

dont be silly, as far as I know they do not use regular mail for these documents, they use Fedex or DHL. I think this should be the LAST worry on your mind.

Thank you.

It´s just that I´m worried about everything right now.

But come on.. ALL I129Fs after March 6th are on hold. They gotta be doing something about it, right?

I understand, I'm trying to just stay positive. it really doesnt help if you start to fall apart now. You need to try and be strong for each other. I am convinced that Vermont is working on the recalled petitions, why else would they switch the date back to March 6? The point is, dont let it get you down and continue to push on, we'll all get there eventually

Thank you all for replying to my question about Rosana and Lais coming at the same time. It was helpful and appreciated.

Now if we all just get through this USCIS crap. I find it to be a violation of our rights and do not see how they can get away with this. Since when to you have to have a background check to have an engagement or get married even it that engagement is with someone in another country.

This is not right and it has affected many lives.

Thanks
Luke and Rosana

Ok folks,

The below is an email I sent to the NVC email that was posted here a couple of hours ago. I suggest sending the same or similar letter by FedEx to the boss at VSC if we don't get info soon. Please feel free to critique my plea as it's 5am here...

Dear Sirs:

Please forward this to the attention of Mr. Paul Novak or current director:

Dear Mr. Novak:

I am one of many individuals that has recently learned of the IMBRA compliance error from the VSC. I have found these brave souls through the internet. The bond the dozens of us share is that we are current K1 petitioners who are either in limbo about IMBRA compliance procedures for the future, or much worse, suffered the emotional stress of hearing from a loved one that the petition was returned, their interview canceled, or even worse, as recipients of the news firsthand.

Among our number are the pregnant, the ones who left their jobs after being approved on the consular interview only to be tripped up the following day with the new requirement, and all whose plan to join their loved one and begin a happily married life in the US has been thown into purgatory.

Our group has contacted their congresspeople, spent countless hours on hold to governmental agencies at home and abroad, with no clear idea of progress on the current situation or what will be required from us to re-process our petitions as quickly as possible.

We don't ask much, Mr. Novak, other than an open channel of communication during what is for us a very difficult period. We ask for a level of transparency in a gesture of goodwill in recognition of the countless lost hours of time and sleep we have swallowed in the last 2 weeks without information.

We certainly don't hold any individual responsible for the errors that have occurred, but the greater mistake would be if we can't begin to restore faith in your offices at this crucial time. I ask you to contact me or post an update to the website below as soon as possible.

We look foward to hearing from you personally,

Sincerely,

Steve Shaw
EAC-06-117-50418

Please find here the post viewed by nearly 10,000 so far

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13584

PERFECT!!!! You have my blessing!
We should send this letter!

The question is, do you wanna sign it yourself or should we all sign for it with our case numbers?

Great job.

Thats a good email but it was sent to the wrong place. The NVC has nothing to do with all this. They just are a go between for the embassies and the USCIS. That email should be directed at the uscis or the DHS.

I think his intention is to send this as a letter to the Vermont Service Center, isn´t it?
If that´s the case, I think it´s a great idea.

That letter must be sent to VSC through regular mail, I´ll see that my fiance sends a copy.

Well it was the NVC he said he had emailed it to via the email addy that was posted, which was the NVC email address. So unfortunately it will get nowhere as they are two completely seperate entities.

Gary is correct.....NVC has absolutely nothing to do with this other than the petitions being sent back via them just as they had originally gone through there on route to the embassies........and they will not know any answers to anyones questions, nor would they IMO forward an email sent to them to a CIS service center.
As I said in another post.....USCIS sent a directive to NVC to have certain petitions returned to them as USCIS does not have the jurisdiction to contact consulates themselves.....this is the role of the NVC (Department of State).

Lorelle

I'm going to fax a letter to my congressman tomorrow. My petition is not through VSC and has not been recalled but I would like someone with a brain to answer some of our questions about when they are going to send questionnaires and how long this process is going to delay us. I know no one will answer these things specifically but I'm hoping the congressman's office can at least dig into it.

Has anyone already done this in the same situation - not VSC and not recalled? If so, it would be great if you could post your letter. If I get any information I will post it immediately.

TO ALL:

I have been in contact with our Senators, Congressmen, NVC, VSC etc...

We have sent letters to the Ombudsman, requested our case be expedited all to no avail.

I have a fax from the VSC director Paul Novack dening our expedite request.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let us all contact our local NEWS media explain the situation and see how much attention that gets!!!!

I live in New Jersey and will be contacting Channel 2, 5, 7, 9 and 11 news networks.

I bet that we will get some attention or at least some answers then!!!!!!

Sheldon,
On behalf of my love Wendy

We have try this and have got the response being denial for expedite by VSC director Paul Novack.

General Expedite Procedures By Fax
The VSC has always been strict with respect to approving requests for special processing. Individuals who are seeking expeditious handling can FAX the Center at (802) 527-4816 to request an expedite.

The fax line is available 24 hours a day. Expedite requests are reviewed Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 4:00 PM.

Link might help:
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices...ont/aboutus.htm

Wendy

USCIS Expedite Criteria

All expedite requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and are granted at the discretion of the Service Center Director. The criteria are as follows:

- Severe financial loss to company or individual.

- Extreme emergent situation.

- Humanitarian situation.

- Nonprofit status of requesting organization in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States.

- Department of Defense or National Interest Situation (Note: Request must come from official United States Government entity and state that delay will be detrimental to our Government.)

- USCIS error.

- Compelling interest of USCIS.

If a response to the expedite request is not received within 72 hours, the request is denied. The application or petition will then undergo normal processing


Please do share with us if any of your case get accepted due to IMBRA for expedite... Thanks

hi gary, just wanted to add us to the list.

CSC received our petition 3-10-06
NOA1 date 3-16

so far no NOA2 yet.

[
There lisaf, your on the list. Welcome to immigration hell!
[/quote]

thankyou GaryC

Oops. Well as I said I wrote it at 5 am, so I'm not surprised I sent a letter for the VSC director to NVC. Well, maybe they'll foward it on. Maybe not but I will let you know.

Anyway the reason I'm responding here is that I DON'T want it sent my regular mail. I want this letter FedEx'ed and "signed" with the real names and case numbers of people who have been affected by the VSC. A letter might get lost. FedEx won't. We're trying to get contributions toward that end and rtl and I have already agreed to contribute. Do you have a PayPal account? We can send donations to you.

Also I slept on the press idea. I agree. Anyone know what the biggest newspaper in Vermont is? Seeing how the story is both local and international, human interest as well as newsworthy, we should be able to find an investigative reporter who will tackle the story if they are internet saavy and isn't afraid of the bureaucracy.

OK. Found out the biggest newspaper in VT is the Burlington Free Press. I just sent an email to their Metro section and will let you know how it goes.

I´ll ask my fiance to send it FEDEX.

i;m with you as well....lets do it


Aquelunya is correct in my mind...why would they have put the date back? its gotto mean something..

Can we get a chief here?

There is so much info, both correct and incorrect. If we are not organized we get no where.

I think Aussie Wench (hehe- i love that) and Gary are the most informed and correct. Is there any way of starting a new thread by one of you with specifics for the topic? With a link with all necessary info to avoid misinformation getting in here, required to be read by all? Maybe with a list of instructions as to who is who and who to contact in what order with letters, emails, faxes, etc?

Or am I dreaming?

Thanks!

Kim and Cyril

PS and Gary, add us to your list!

PSS I also suggest sending letters individually in adddition to a petition-like letter. Another expence but worth it. The more we bother them and disrupt their day, the quicker they will respond.

And I'm adding this as a possible news item for local, state & federal media, if you so choose to contact them.


"IF THE US GOVERMENT CAN'T HANDLE 1100 CASES, HOW CAN IT HANDLE 12 MILLION???"


any other suggestions?

I'm not sure if we can ask the white house about IMBRA?
http://www.whitehouse.gov/interactive/interact_1.html

Does anyone try this yet?

Yes, we can ask.
If we´ll be answered is whole other thing....

Nothing new from today yet?

Just that NVC repplied to my e-mail saying they need my EAC number even if I didn´t ask anything about my case in particular. Meaning I´ll get the same thing you did. NOTHING.

In your particular case, you won´t get anything from NVC, since your NOA2 wasn´t issued yet (correct?)
Even though it´s being imposible to get an answer from them, USCIS is dealing with the processes at this stage.

---

I believe I have some news and that can be taken as the status of ALL RECALLED PETITIONS.
At least it makes sense.

Just to brief you all, because I don´t remember if I posted in this thread or another one:

I received an email from NVC saying they had my recalled case there and they returned it to the USCIS.

I had also emailed the California Service Center, even though my case is from Vermont. That was the only email contact I could find.
After 5 emails strugling for an answer, I got this from them:

"You should phone the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 and inform them of your inquiry. They will either answer your question or send it to Vermont Service Center to answer. I phoned National Visa Center (NVC) today and they did return the petition to that Vermont location. Essentially the petition has completed processing. It was approved by USCIS, Vermont Service Center who sent it to the NVC who referred it to the Consulate for interview. The Visa was not issued by the Consulate and was returned to USCIS for revocation on our system."

I know it doesn´t answer what will happen now. But I believe that´s what happening to all recalled petition.

I am not an english native speaker, so I have no idea of what REVOCATION ON OUR SYSTEM means.
Can anyone tell me the exact meaning of that?

As soon as I understand that I will call USCIS and if they don´t hang up on me I will demand an information further than what I have.