Well, I got a Notice of Withdrawl from USCIS and I DIDN'T withdraw my petition.

My stomach is in knots I and I am so angry right now my bloodpressure must be off the charts!!!

I called the service desk they escalated my call. The next lady told me that I would have to write a letter to CSC and ask about the status. I about lost it right there. Then I calmly asked to speak to someone higher up. She came back on the line and said that a supervisor would call the CSC to determine what had happened. I am hoping that everyone helping is having a good day. She said they would call me back with the results of their investigation.

Worse yet I just realized if they sent me a letter I am wondering what they sent the Moscow Embassy!!!

Anna is so stressed right now I do not want to upset her even more by telling her this but I am afraid they have sent her something.

Paul Misses Anna

Paul,

How did you get the notice of withdrawl? You got a letter in the mail saying that your case it being stopped. Don't you have to stop it yourself in writing? You already have an appointment at the embassy, yet I am not sure what is going on, so please give us details.

Mike.

Yes you do have to submit it in writing and no I did not submit anything in writing that said I was withdrawing the petition.

Yes our case was sent onto Moscow and yes we have an interview date.

The on-line status of my visa on the USCIS is Approved.

The Notice I got looks official and was dated Dec 4th, 2006.

I do not understand it myself and I am going crazy waiting for them to call me back with some information. The WAC number on the notice matches the WAC number in my on-line status.

I don't expect anyone to solve this one I was just venting, this one is out of all of our control!!! I think it came down to a data entry error. I have not had second thoughts about this ever...

There is one other possability but I do not want to think about it until they get back to me to answer a few questions.

I believe either the beneficiary or the petitioner can ask for the case to be withdrawn. Check with your fiancée to make sure she is still on board. Also anyone in your nearest of social circles who knows enough about you can also send a withdrawal notice on your behalf, thus committing mail fraud or some other similar crime, but nevertheless create this problem. Of course the fall back is data entry error.

Yesh, nice thought. Not sure what kind of relationships you have or have had but I trust the woman I am involved with.

I'm happily married for 2 years and not facing any withdrawal notices. But if honesty is important, I think withdrawing before the interview is a whole lot more honest than doing it after AOS. Sorry if you took my post the wrong way, I was just trying to think of some plausible explanations.

Your implication was quite apparent that she might withdraw without so much as saying a word to me. To make that observation you would have to assume that we do not have a relationship built on trust and communication. People make these sorts of observations and assumptions based on their own past experience since there is no way for you to know me or my current relationship or they are extremely cynical. Either way I feel sorry for you.

That stinks Paul. I hope you get it resolved quickly!

This has really made me think. I can not believe they do not require a withdrawl notice to be notorized or at least wittnessed. I mean think about eveything you send in about the relationship and the petition is all verified in the end through interviews, double checked, triple checked, yet anyone could send in a letter with pieces of information while hard to get not impossible.

Even if the case officer who has the case were to make a 2 minute call or send and email to please contact them and validate the withdrawl notice things like this might not happen.

BTW the notice said the petitioner had submitted the request in writing, that would be me and I have done no such thing.

Paul Misses Anna

That must be a mistake on their side. I would be just as pissed off as you are. Working so hard to get this application through so many government beuracratic agencies, finally get the date after which your life changes, and then get hit with this nonsense? This is a really rude mistake on their part, I would wait to hear from them first, and if nothing is resolved, contact my congressman.

I hope everything works out for you, and please keep us posted.

Mike.

I actually made this observation after reading the following thread.
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=37104
It does not concern either one of us, but it was an example of a sudden change of heart. I agree with you about the cynical part, but we do have a few cases of love troubles here on the site. That is where I draw my conclusions from.
As for me, I was only 21 when I met my fiancée, so age wise it was impossible for me to have "many" relationships that went sour. I am also a native speaker and share the same culture so many issues that fellow Russian VJers run into weren't issues for us.
Also my take on the USCIS is that they hardly ever move. So for them to generate a withdrawal notice takes some movement on somebody's part. And they do make a lot of errors, but this is one odd error. Asking your fiancée if she had anything to do with this does not show lack of trust. It is simply going through the processes of elimination as to what triggered the "wrongful" notice.

Ok we obviously have differnt points of view. Anna and I email/talk on a regular basis and she has not given me reason to think she has had a change of heart. So to ask her this question in my opinion is to question her honesty with me thus far and something I am not going to do. All of your replies have never even hinted or asked me if I have recogized any signs that she has had a change of heart, you simply suggest I ask, again assuming I would not recognize signs that would percipitate such a situation. This is where you and I differ, I trust people until they give me a reason not to, you appear to want me to question her trust with no provocation. That I will not do. Call me an idealist call me silly but I truly believe you can't build a lasting relationship on doubt and suspision. Lets just agree that we have different approaches in this situation.

And yet you hide this news from her? Sounds like she is the one who may have some misplaced trust.

Yeah, I know you stated your reason....nevertheless, this is a material issue concerning her life and you should tell her ASAP. To do anything less is dishonest, IMHO.

Cheers!
AKDiver

I'm so sorry this happened to you this really does stink. Hang in there.

I see your point but guess what I will tell her when I have information. Where you might be into scaring and stressing out people when all you have is questions I prefer to get all of the information about what has happened before discussing it with Anna. So while you have your point of view I have mine and I believe mine is a bit more practical than just sending an email or calling her and telling her, hey I got a withdraw of application notice. Then when Anna starts asking questions all I can do is say I dont know, I dont know.

You telling me you have never held back something from a loved one until you knew all the facts or had more information?

My life isn't so interesting. There isn't that much to say about it. (:

Cheers!
AKDiver

AKDiver - aren't you the one who made up that whole story about your fiance and how she was a bank robber and was wanted by the FBI??


Did you tell her about that little prank??

If I understand this correctly, you've already been approved and sent to the NVC. If you have a case number from NVC, then I would suggest you write the U.S. embassy visa control section. Explain to them in great detail what you have received in the mail and that it appears to be an error by the USCIS. Tell them you and your fiancee are still intending to marry and that neither of you filed to withdraw. Include the case number in your email.

Don't expect the USCIS 800 number people to get back to you in a timely fashion. You are probably correct in that it was a key punching error. When they finally got around to updating the case file on their web site for my case they listed the wrong date of approval. Remember, the people at USCIS are not highly intelligent people.

I would strongly encourage you to follow up on this in writing. Telephone calls do not leave a paper trail, it would be much better that your inquiry be added to the case.

I would think sending a letter referencing the case to Moscow, stating that you have not withdrawn your petition, would be a good idea. I would also send it to the NVC in NH to be safe as well.

It would also be wise to consult an attorney at this point.

Of course I did, on both counts. Besides, she was sitting right next to me as I typed it.

But nice try. (:

This is all good advice, and I agree. I would also add that you should send an e-mail to the embassy as a start, and let them know what happened, etc. etc. My experience has been they are very quick to answer e-mail, but of course, there is no way of knowing who is actually answering, someone with a clue, or just an email monkey.

Good luck!
AKDiver

Why not just act as if nothing has happened?

Have your fiancee show up to the interview like there was no notice received by you. After all, if you didn't tell her about it.... does she even know?

And if she doesn't know, how the hell is the embassy gonna know?

I'd start by asking her. Then, I'd have her call the embassy to confirm that her interview date is still a go. Then, have her go, get the visa, then start a whole new paperwork nightmare called AOS.

Good luck!

Because while I do not agree with AK on when to tell I agree that she has a right to know. Simple fact is if I act like nothing has happened and it comes back to bite us later she will be very upset that I did not inform her, rightfully so in my opinion.

So I have written up some letters and will send them off to USCIS and NVC, possibly Moscow. Notarized and saying I did not submit such a request and well as another statement of intent to marry Anna within the 90 day K-1 visa period.

Paul Misses Anna

All is well.

Officer Simon is top notch. She explained in detail what happened. She requested California send me another notice saying all is well in visa land. She talked me down from the ledge.

I had not sent the letters yet and she said it was probably better that I didn't cause it might muddy already murky waters.

She cleared up in 5 minutes what 4 other officers could not in 4 days. Persistance pays.

She gave me an email address for complaints. it is uscis-complaint@dhs.gov

I asked her if there were an email for praises so the good ones like her can be rewarded and she said sadly not but gave me the snail mail address.

Paul Misses Anna

This is a great idea, however, I still think it would be stronger if you both submit letters of continued intent to get married and statements that neither of you asked for a withdrawal.

I would agree - at the very least, have these letters at the interview to be safe.

I know this is a futile observation, but here goes:
1. Congratulations on having resolved this issue on your own. This is good news.
2. You solicited this board's advice. Nobody forced it on you. Nobody made derogatory remarks about you or your fiance. Biting at the free and LOGICAL advice offered is poor form. If you don't want to hear plausible alternatives that do not happen to coincide with what you want to hear, it is insulting to those that take time to think about your problem sincerely and answer. I have tremendous respect for all who particpate on this board, and would not think of jumping on somebody, putting their opinion down, and acting superior -- especially when the person is just trying to help.

2 cents of thought that are spent just to help you continue to get good help. Rather than reacting negatively to this constructively-meant criticism, I encourage you to take it to heart. You will get better help by not bashing your helpers.

Your right it was futile observation. Why? Because I do feel it is an insult for someone to suggest that I question my fiancee. If there is one thing I have learned about ANNA (notice I said Anna not RW) is that she is very forthright and honest. All too often I have run across people bitter about this or bitter about that and they use that to formulate responses to other people, and I am sympathetic to this in people. Not sure when sympathy or feeling sorry for someone became and insult and I can't control how someone is going read or interpret my post. My suggestion, don't like me, don't like my posts dont read or respond to them.

Also I think these guys have been around long enough to set me straight if I piss them off not sure they want or need you trying to be their knight in shinning armor but hey do if it makes you happy. Consider this dragon dead. I won't continue this topic after this post.

BTW I was venting I didnt actually soliciate advice, you can argue that is implied and I would agree but there is nothing that says when someone writes something I find disrespectful that I can't voice my opinion. I dont think I am any better or worse than any one here.

Take me as I am or put me on ignore, you have the power.

That's great news - congrats on getting it straightened out. BTW, who is Officer Simon and how did you find her? That email address for complaints is great.

I want to add my voice to those who are saying to continue the process as if this never happened. Look into it of course, but don't make too many waves as it is harder for them to take away the visa once issued.

Luck of the call queue. I have become very familar with the USCIS help line as of late. Here is how it works per my experience.

You call the 1800375... and get the first line of support. Once you prove they cannot help you they transfer you to a pool of second teir support, message say be prepared to wait 25 to 30 min but of the 4 times I had this happen each time was 60 to 70 min. My guess is the second teir are more in line with case workers and actually refer to themselves as officers. Implies to me that they have case work experience and in the end officer simon proved to me that she had computer access to my case. Now, when I was working with officer Viscarra (cali office) she took 4 days called me once with no real progress and never once left a way for me to contact her. My guess is officer simon would have been more ambitious to call me back but probably would not have been allowed to give me any direct contact information.

I had called the USCIS every night for 3 nights after waiting to hear back from officer Vizcarra, she said she would call me that night or the next day and neither happened. Since I had no direct way to talk to the person who was working on my problem I got a different officer each night, one officer actually said he talked to officer Vizcarra but she was in a meeting and she would call me back after the meeting. I told him I would be leaving from work and give me 30 min to get home before she called. I got home there was an annoymous call on my Caller ID (no message) time stamped 5 minutes after I left work. Got into work the next day and had a voice mail time stamped 2 mintues after my caller id entry at home from officer Vizcarra, make of it what you will.

Some observations, you can uniquely identify anyone in teir 1 support by the id number they give you. This is not the case when you are transfered to teir 2, you just get officer <last name> and believe even if you think that is unique enough it isnt. The fact that you have a specific problem that you are working on with a specific officer yet you have no way to contact them seems odd to me.

This thread proves that even though we're all going through the same Journey... each individual case is different. Each person involved is different, and there is going to be a little head-butting along the way. That said, I think this forum is pretty good about "Oh yeah, we'll #@*& you!..... OK, we can be friends again." Try that over in the Off Topic forum.

Even though people are going to post responses based on being bitter over this or that, I believe it's not illogical for anyone in this forum to say "hey, maybe your fiancee/wife is like that." It's not a personal shot, it's just that given the track record of the thousands and thousands of scammers out there, sometimes it is necessary for someone on this forum to say "hey dude, make sure you're not getting scammed here."

It's nothing personal, and looking back through this thread especially, it doesn't look like anyone's implying anything, just a friendly reminder, "hey, sometimes these girls change their mind.... check with her first before you go jumping on USCIS." (And subsequently wasting several hours on hold just to find out it was her that submitted it in the first place.)

Good luck to all of you, and come on guys... CALM DOWN!!!! We're all on here to get some help with this crazy process, and this Russia Forum is a refuge from all the he said/she said BS in the other forums. Let's keep it that way. (Now don't get that twisted... I still like some good "debate" here and there too!)