Is this the right time to get a congressman involved?

[El_killer47 22]

It's been about 2 weeks over 5 months since our NOA1 date and I'm beginning to get frustrated now. Especially seeing that a lot of cases from the same NOA1 date have been approved. I keep track of receipt numbers behind and ahead of ours. And yet a lot are still pending from the same NOA1 date. I called USCIS a week before Memorial day to get an update and was told that we are still within normal processing times. How can that be? it's over 5 months and others have received their NOA2 who have had their cases received on the same day as us. About half, I'd say. This is what bothers me esp since we are being processed by Nebraska and though I know Texas is behind in processing, my understanding is that Nebraska was processing November filers last month (April) now it only makes sense that they should be working on december now that May is almost over.

So should I contact my congressman or senator right about now? And can someone provide me a sample letter that they wrote to their representives? What exactly should I ask them? Should I request that they expedite my case as it is outside the given processing times?

[Morganalmonshid94 84]

It won't do anything this early as hard as it is to believe you are technically in the normal processing times, it took me 6 months at Nebraska . Wait it out a couple more weeks (something you don't want to hear I know) they are just estimates remember . A congressman won't help till your at 7+ months in my opinion . And they will not expedite you because you are outside the normal otherwise everyone would get expedited including myself back then .

Edited May 26, 2015 by Morganalmonshid94

[Daveadams903 19]

It's been about 2 weeks over 5 months since our NOA1 date and I'm beginning to get frustrated now. Especially seeing that a lot of cases from the same NOA1 date have been approved. I keep track of receipt numbers behind and ahead of ours. And yet a lot are still pending from the same NOA1 date. I called USCIS a week before Memorial day to get an update and was told that we are still within normal processing times. How can that be? it's over 5 months and others have received their NOA2 who have had their cases received on the same day as us. About half, I'd say. This is what bothers me esp since we are being processed by Nebraska and though I know Texas is behind in processing, my understanding is that Nebraska was processing November filers last month (April) now it only makes sense that they should be working on december now that May is almost over.

So should I contact my congressman or senator right about now? And can someone provide me a sample letter that they wrote to their representives? What exactly should I ask them? Should I request that they expedite my case as it is outside the given processing times?

El_Killer47 our case got approved at 6 months and 2 weeks, so hang in there, Nebraska is not as slow as TSC. By any chance did you also submitted the k3? I am asking you this because we contacted our congressman when we hit the 5 months, when our congressman contacted the USCIS they told him submitting the k3 along witht the i-130 will add 6 weeks to your case. Anyway, contact your congressman, submit online inquires, you won't anybody by trying. Time is too precious & hang in there your approval is coming soon.

[UnaMexicana 153]

You can read all about my frustration in the posts I have made along this road. You are past the 5 months but unfortunately that means nothing even if they post their processing time as 5 months. Not all cases are the same, they say. Ours took over 9 months to be approved because we fell on the "pending background and security checks" limbo.

I suggest you file an eRequest directly on the USCIS site. That should give you an idea of where they are with your process.

We did:

- countless checks via USCIS case status online tool (it NEVER seemed to change, up until 289 days waiting it said "case received" GRRR)

- countless calls to the USCIS conact line (terrible service, wide variety of canned responses, no useful info)

- eRequest (at 6 months - learned about the background checks pending)

- eRequest (at 7 months - same canned response)

- eRequest (at 8 months - same canned response)

- InfoPass appointment (only after 8 months)

- SCOPSSDATA email inquiry (only after 9 months)

Only after this our case was looked at and assigned to an officer for review. I believe our efforts had nothing to do with this. It just happened when it was supposed to happen... as frustrating as it seems.

Sending you strong vibes and wishing you get approved sooner than us.

UnaMexicana

[El_killer47 22]

It won't do anything this early as hard as it is to believe you are technically in the normal processing times, it took me 6 months at Nebraska . Wait it out a couple more weeks (something you don't want to hear I know) they are just estimates remember . A congressman won't help till your at 7+ months in my opinion . And they will not expedite you because you are outside the normal otherwise everyone would get expedited including myself back then .

I see. I believed the estimates.. I didn't realize the wait would be this difficult. It's just all the receipt numbers close to mine are already approved except one other and myself. The other receipt numbers that are also i-130 are about 300 receipt numbers before ours... there's about 14 cases pending. But the 12-14 or so cases that were close to my receipt number are all approved minus 2. For example....

these are all cases from the same NOA-1 date as mine.

Case XYZ1234321 CASE WAS RECEIVED

Case XYZ1234322 CASE WAS RECEIVED

Case XYZ1234323 CASE WAS RECEIVED

Case XYZ1234324 CASE WAS RECEIVED

Case XYZ1234325... AND ABOUT10 MORE

RECEIPT NUMBERS IN BETWEEN ARE FOR OTHER IMMIGRATION ISSUES

SUCH AS 1-131, I-140 etc..

My Case: XYZ1234567 CASE WAS REC'D

Case XYZ 1234569 CASE WAS REC'VD

Case XYZ 1234462 APPROVED

Case XYZ 1234463 APPROVED

Case XYZ 1234464 APPROVED

Case XYZ 1234465 APPROVED

Case XYZ 1234466 APPROVED and about 7 more..

(i made up the case numbers for illustration purposes, of course. these aren't someone or mine actual case numbers)

I feel like my case is in the cluster that it's in, it should have been approved by now. That's what's making me anxious.

El_Killer47 our case got approved at 6 months and 2 weeks, so hang in there, Nebraska is not as slow as TSC. By any chance did you also submitted the k3? I am asking you this because we contacted our congressman when we hit the 5 months, when our congressman contacted the USCIS they told him submitting the k3 along witht the i-130 will add 6 weeks to your case. Anyway, contact your congressman, submit online inquires, you won't anybody by trying. Time is too precious & hang in there your approval is coming soon.

No k-3, as I didn't want to have to do the adjustment of status separately after visa. Perhaps, I made a mistake. I had varying opinions from lawyers. Some said k3 is pointless now since it isn't really serving it's purpose of expediting the process like it was when it was first introduced... how are you finding the k3 process? is it going relatively fast for you?

[El_killer47 22]

You can read all about my frustration in the posts I have made along this road. You are past the 5 months but unfortunately that means nothing even if they post their processing time as 5 months. Not all cases are the same, they say. Ours took over 9 months to be approved because we fell on the "pending background and security checks" limbo.

I suggest you file an eRequest directly on the USCIS site. That should give you an idea of where they are with your process.

We did:

- countless checks via USCIS case status online tool (it NEVER seemed to change, up until 289 days waiting it said "case received" GRRR)

- countless calls to the USCIS conact line (terrible service, wide variety of canned responses, no useful info)

- eRequest (at 6 months - learned about the background checks pending)

- eRequest (at 7 months - same canned response)

- eRequest (at 8 months - same canned response)

- InfoPass appointment (only after 8 months)

- SCOPSSDATA email inquiry (only after 9 months)

Only after this our case was looked at and assigned to an officer for review. I believe our efforts had nothing to do with this. It just happened when it was supposed to happen... as frustrating as it seems.

Sending you strong vibes and wishing you get approved sooner than us.

UnaMexicana

Thanks for the well wishes. It means a lot. Best wishes with your immigration journey as well. Hope the rest of the process goes smoothly for you. Best of luck.

[UnaMexicana 153]

That's what we are here for... If it weren't for all my dear friends at VisaJourney I would have driven my husband CRAZY... hehe

All will be good in the end. Best wishes!

UnaMexicana

[Daveadams903 19]

I see. I believed the estimates.. I didn't realize the wait would be this difficult. It's just all the receipt numbers close to mine are already approved except one other and myself. The other receipt numbers that are also i-130 are about 300 receipt numbers before ours... there's about 14 cases pending. But the 12-14 or so cases that were close to my receipt number are all approved minus 2. For example....

these are all cases from the same NOA-1 date as mine.

Case XYZ1234321 CASE WAS RECEIVED

Case XYZ1234322 CASE WAS RECEIVED

Case XYZ1234323 CASE WAS RECEIVED

Case XYZ1234324 CASE WAS RECEIVED

Case XYZ1234325... AND ABOUT10 MORE

RECEIPT NUMBERS IN BETWEEN ARE FOR OTHER IMMIGRATION ISSUES

SUCH AS 1-131, I-140 etc..

My Case: XYZ1234567 CASE WAS REC'D

Case XYZ 1234569 CASE WAS REC'VD

Case XYZ 1234462 APPROVED

Case XYZ 1234463 APPROVED

Case XYZ 1234464 APPROVED

Case XYZ 1234465 APPROVED

Case XYZ 1234466 APPROVED and about 7 more..

(i made up the case numbers for illustration purposes, of course. these aren't someone or mine actual case numbers)

I feel like my case is in the cluster that it's in, it should have been approved by now. That's what's making me anxious.

No k-3, as I didn't want to have to do the adjustment of status separately after visa. Perhaps, I made a mistake. I had varying opinions from lawyers. Some said k3 is pointless now since it isn't really serving it's purpose of expediting the process like it was when it was first introduced... how are you finding the k3 process? is it going relatively fast for you?

The k3 is no longer being processed is just a waste of time and added extra 6 more weeks to the wait, wish I would've known that back then thats why I was asking. Our Cr-1 got approved first so we are going along with that process. There was this time my hubby asked USCIS why some cases get approved faster than other ones and the guy told him that sometimes the background checks takes longer to get back for some people. I know exactly what it feels to be in your place and trust me it does not get any better with the NVC, so stay possitive and strong you just gotta hang in there your approval will come soon. Get your congressman involved, they are really helpful. Good luck.

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to USCIS Service Centers forum.

[Morganalmonshid94 84]

Trust me I swear I did the same exact thing with case numbers close to mine would see approvals or rfes and mine nothing it was making me angry heartbroken everything . It will come soon I went a day without checking once and that's when it came for me right on the dot of 6 months .

[Gorkhali 213]

Nebraska is slow.. same was ours.. we used to see people with dates later than us being approved and no news about our.. feels restless and heartbroken.

trust me no congressman will do anything if its within 6 months time and also you cannot generate e request at USCIS if within 6 months

Nebraska is slow but its take 6 months plus to clear out in general.

good luck with process