YAY!!! Glad tro see someone is awake there even if it has taken til Thursday to see any movement... there is still hope for my sweepstake...

Pathetic isn't it? 9 approvals now in 10 days.

You guys can call in and see us in Eugene, Oregon - when we eventually arrive that is!!!

R

Lol - see - this is why I started the VJ maps!!! would be really cool to plot everyone and then go on a big visiting spree!!

Hmmm, is that 9 approvals of people registered here? (apologies if that's a dumb question) Because if so, it could be they've just hit boxes of people not registered here and are actually working through a lot of cases.

Not sure exactly how things get calculated

Thanks in advance for explaining it to me! ~ Hannah

I have that theory too - we're not too sure how things work all the time either - most of the time we just guestimate

not a dumb question

but yes, we only have stats for people registered here... the only other stats I've heard are VERY rounded numbers and essentially worthless for trying to track day-to-day activities like this

when I first joined people were saying (don't know where they got their stats) that VJ represented 10% of the actual number (suspiciously round figure if you ask ME ); later last year I heard it was more like 2%

in either case, it could well be true that they're approving at a similar rate to usual and just haven't come across many VJers lately... let's hope that means a great splurge of them soon

Correct, it's 9 VJ'ers. In the past VJ members have seemed to make up a decent representative sample such that we'd always see a pretty even flow of approvals. This leads me to believe that we have a pretty average sampling of VJ members vs the rest of the filing population. I can't remember ever seeing a time where it just outright stopped. Even when VSC slowed to a crawl they were still crawling.

I think it's more likely that for whatever reason CSC aren't updating their online case status. Even though we finally saw an update last night (presumably, since Jane & Jeff show a NOA2 date of Jan 9), I'm hoping that this is the case, and as soon as everyone starts getting their hard copies we'll see a huge influx of approvals.

Seems a bit odd that they wouldn't update... but then they say that sometimes they just bulk update every month or something... I read something along those lines somewhere... Oh I can't remember where

Yep - fingers crossed for a huge approval rush in the next few days ... now if only I'd met a nice girl from Vermont ... lol ...

LMAO - yeah... that would be awesome... ah well - could say if only I met a nice guy from the UK!!!

Thanks for clearing that up for me

I wish my sister would meet a nice guy from anywhere... she's been dating blokes here in the UK for the last two years and not managed to stumble across anyone right for her (she seems to attract losers, wasters, posers, and commitment-phobic types). I've never really dated (married my first serious boyfriend very young and then later when I'd given up on relationships as a bad lot I ended up unexpectedly falling for my best friend), so I don't know if she's just extremely unlucky or if it really is very difficult to find someone compatible.

Anyway, hopefully by Monday we'll see a rush of updated timelines and proclaimations from happy VJ members!

Nah - why hope for Monday when you can hope for today!!!!

Hey, how old is your sister? One of my guy friends was just telling me he was getting back into the dating field and wondered about finding a nice English girl. Maybe we could set them up. (She'd be going through CSC, tho . . .)

Well we have an extra 2 today ... well done Fabiola & Rafael and Olga & Wayne. 11 down this year and counting ... counting - very - slowly. Way to go CSC!!!!

Yes, the wheels do seem to at last be turning again. Very...verrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyy...slowwwwwwwly...but turning at least.

Ahhh - but which way?!?

Hey now, none of that!

Haha - yeah well - it is awful at the moment - If I were still waiting for my NOA2 or if I had just filed I would be gutted to be with CSC at the moment they are a disgrace - VSC seems to have got its act together but CSC has practically fallen off the charts!

And ya know, it wasn't that long ago I was thinking "wow, I'm sure glad I didn't file through VSC!" Remember those days? It's a complete reversal.

Eh, that's kind of you to suggest but I haven't had any luck trying to interest her in moving abroad under any circumstances thus far, and believe me I've suggested it in the past as an option because she lived in Amsterdam for a year in the past. She's 3 1/2 years older than me (makes her almost 33) with two children and is exceptionally pretty, slender, very outgoing, and bright... but she does have vivid red hair, several pretty tattoos, and a full-on personality (and wants to have another baby), which seems to scare some men off! Not really sure what she's looking for in a man, except that she can't stand ugly feet or smoking... *shrugs* ~ Hannah

On a more topic-related note, is there any way of finding out approximately how many cases in total that CSC processes per standard week on average? As in, do they have this information and will they disclose it if asked? I just thought that under the current circumstances of very few VJ members being dealt with so far this year, it might give us a better idea of likely timescales.

"is there any way of finding out approximately how many cases in total that CSC processes per standard week on average? As in, do they have this information and will they disclose it if asked?"

You know, I've wondered that myself ... what I can tell you is that Anouar & Lorraine - who got their NOA1 on Aug 22nd - got their NOA2 today - 20 days early. Well done you guys!!!

CSC. Are. Moving. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Very. Slowly. Along. Now.

Haha - thanks for keeping on top of this for us - you should consider joining the CSC sweepstake thread which needs bumping - think StillThePrettiest has been busy since Christmas so it has kinda fallen off the charts... Really wanted that talking dog as well...

Who would have thought that a CSC Sweepstakes guess in the single digits this time around would have won?

Yeah well... STP normally calls it Monday evening GMT... of course it hasn't been updated really in ages so...

wot you talkin about? I updated it this week

I'll call it on Monday as usual... can't see there being a winner though

Yeah - I just haven't seen it very active recently... not sure what has happened - maybe people are a) pissed off with CSC or still recovering from Christmas

Moxie and I are in my chatroom if you fancy joining us

With so little movement at CSC, probably a).

yeah; I have this half-guilty feeling of having slid under the closing door, like Indiana Jones, right before the slow-down

Hmmm I don't know - mine took long enough that I am glad I got in but at the same time I don't wish the delays on anyone

Ohhh come on - join me and moxie!!! Seems I got home late then everyone went early!! I'll get paranoid!!

Don't feel guilty, it's just the way of things. I will admit to being a little sad right now when I see approvals out of VSC for filers who submitted around or after me, but I'm also very happy for them.

Yeah - and the stats that someone (oh my memory is terrible) did up that said 6 Sept filers had INTERVIEWS?!?! Part of me (the mean side) wants to puke!!

Saying that I feel that the long wait has been fantastic in my development as a person - I kinda feel a bit sorry for some of the people who barely get a chance to understand the process before they are approved you know?

but that's the nature of all this, isn't it; I don't feel guilty as if I, personally, had done something wrong, but there's that 'survivor guilt' you hear about from accidents - since none of this whole damn process is fair, it's equally unfair that you AREN'T approved, and I AM

Yeah, I know what you mean. Well...actually I don't know what you mean quite yet, but I'm hoping to know what you mean ANY DAY NOW!

Actually I can't tell you how cool it is that you and others who have been approved stick around and keep our spirits up. That really says volumes and I truly appreciate it.

Awww - it's cause we have nothing better to do Or because I like to waste time in work... but also I have made som great friends on here and I really like to see how people are going. Even though we are "hanging back" I see it as valuable because I am seeing people moving forward and seeing how they are and how they are coping with things helps me see how things will work out as well - even if I am feeling low or nervous

Hanging around therefore also serves a purpose when Aug/Sept/Oct filers etc see that actually, it did take me 152 days to get my NOA2 but I still got it and I am still here and alive

Never feel guilty about getting something you deserve. We're all in the same boat one way or another. I agree with mox - I'm very grateful to those who have stuck around and keep encouraging those of us still waiting.

I think my touch was a result of the stupid phone call. I find it really hard hearing that September filers are being approved. I don't say that in a mean way at all. I'm glad that people are being approved that fast. I just hoped that after that awful start with USCIS this part would have gone more smoothly for us. Oh well. Not much we can do about it. Ho hum.

Yeah I know how you feel - VSC seems to be so much further ahead now that it must be awful seeing people who filed months later being approved. I know it was bad enough while I was waiting but then VSC and CSC weren't *too* far apart then... now it is just dire... it can only get better though!!

I mentioned yesterday that I had called CSC to find out why petitions had suddenly stopped being processed. I was told that petitions were being processed, that they were at full staffing, and that there were no problems at all. In short, I was blown off.

Wondering if any other CSC filers wouldn't mind using the RFE trick to call and see if they can find anything out. I know they tend to lie to us, but I figure if we can get a bunch of filers to call them, maybe we can at least get one customer support rep to give us the truth.

CSC is open for another almost 2 hours. Anyone want to give it a try?

What number did you call out of interest? I wasn't sure whether the number I gave Jesse got through to CSC or to some call centre. Anyway, he was brushed off too. But, if he gets home in time I will ask him to call.

I wonder though whether we are just diverting their attention not to mention p*ssing them off. I laughed when Jesse told me he'd said to the guy 'don't be mad with us, we're just worried!'

1-800-375-5283.

And for reference to anyone that wants to try, the RFE trick is 1, 2, 2, 4, 2, 1, case number, 1, 1. If you're not connected to the California Service Center, hang up and try again. Sometimes it takes a few tries.


Heh. I don't think we're pissing them off, but even if we are it's not the people answering the phones that work on our case files. I would encourage everyone to be polite with them though. Customer service is a crappy job, and setting a positive tone from the outset makes them much more willing and sympathetic to your cause.

Thanks for posting the trick again - saves me doing the forum search .

I have a policy. No good being shirty with people until they personally give you reason to be. These guys are the front line, it can be a tough job and putting their backs up will not get you what you need. They must get sick of people calling before the six months is up though

My advice is to play dumb. There's a pamphlet you can download somewhere on the USCIS site that says to call after 3 months, and one of the phone prompts also still has the 3 month message. So whenever I've called (this was only the second time), I play dumb. "The pamphlet says to call after 3 months, and I was wondering..." Feel free to use this one even if you don't have the pamphlet.

Thanks! I'll use that one to keep Jesse calling He doesn't like hassling people.

Hey PPL where is the new CSC list?! I thougt it was gonna come out Friday? I know we haven't gone up much but hey it's still nice to see yourself going up at least a little.
CSC is pissing me off too.
Why is it that Vermont is that fast again while CSC is sound asleep!?
Oh well we just gotta deal with it.
It's just that my better half has now been switched to Day Shifts and that makes it really hard to talk during the week cause he gets up when I have to leave to get my son from Day Care and when I get up he's in bed already.......ya missing my man!

Ack - yeah - the time difference can really suck - luckily Jeremy works evenings so we can get a fair amount of time together if we aren't busy

I think StP posts those on Monday, doesn't she?

I know what ya mean. 11 hour time difference with my sweetie. There's a narrow window of opportunity for calling each other, and if we miss it then we have to wait until the next day.

Mox, did you try the RFE trick yesterday? If so, how did you get on? Jesse is going to call on Monday.

I tried to post a news article on another thread earlier about the backlogs (it's subject to moderation so I'll post the link here) but it seems that CSC claiming there are 'no problems' is utter bullocks. According to USCIS they need a further 2500 people to deal with backlogs in immigration petitions.

I did the RFE trick on Thursday (or Wednesday? Can't remember, long week...). I don't want to make the call twice in the same week, so hoping others will call in and see if we can catch a glimmer of the real story.

When he said they were at "full staff," I get the impression he meant that most everyone who currently worked there was at their desks processing petitions. Of course I don't know how a front-line customer support person would know that, but there ya go.

Fair enough. I will let you know how we get on with our call next week.

Cool! I hope you can get some answers I didn't!

if there's ever been any pattern to the lists, it's accidental... I just post them when there's been a bit of movement, and this week there hasn't been much so I was going to leave it for a little longer

however, if people are desperate for one, I may get on with it shortly