Disparity Between VSC and CSC and

[rebeccajo 14]

If I had a dollar for every time I have read a "it's not fair, Vermont is so fast" post over the last 3 years, I'd be a rich rich woman!

And they've even reorganized it since then to make it a more equitable distribution of family-based petitions, IIRC. It is also cyclical. VSC slowed down earlier.

CSC hasn't recovered from the backlog yet (I believe they handle more AOS-related stuff than Vermont does, and it was a *huge* hit last August, and people who are here waiting for green cards took priority.)

Interesting. Green card processing does not keep families apart. Neither does AOS as far as i know. I know that employment visas, which keep people from taking a job here, are expedited. Why do marriage visas take the lowest priority, I wonder? Is marriage the #1 immigration fraud that it needs so much scrutiny. I'm starting to feel that the post that someone made once that they want it to take a long time on purpose so that the prospective emigrant will give up, only those that don't give up are real relationships. Cynical? I'll bet that factors into their processing times. I wonders if there is some historical precedent that fraudsters will give up after 6 months??

Oh my goodness.

First of all - greencards are not processed in the Service Centers. Visa petitions are. Greencards are processed in the District Offices.

Second of all - don't you think it's a really good idea that an immigrant receive the paperwork they need to prove they are legally authorized to be in this country?

Uh, my point is that citizens should get better, faster service than non-citizens. Yes, the beneficiary is not a citizen, but the petitioner is. In the Green Card process, the beneficiary is a non-citizen. Immigrants who are waiting for a Green Card are already in this country legally on some other type of visa, so there is usually no rush to get one.

It's like they are saying "Well, its OK we can treat him worse cause he is a citizen"

"Immigrants who are in this country legally" without a greencard but have an expired visa (such as a K1 whose I94 has expired) are actually without status.

When my husband was at the window at the London consulate, the CO looked over at me and said 'make sure you file for his greencard as soon as you marry'. 10 days later when we entered the US, the CBP officer said the same thing.

Filing ASAP for your greencard as soon as possible isn't only something an immigrant needs to do - if they want to remain in this country legally, they have to do it.

You're not comparing apples to apples.

Edited March 4, 2008 by rebeccajo

[Chris Future 0]

If I had a dollar for every time I have read a "it's not fair, Vermont is so fast" post over the last 3 years, I'd be a rich rich woman!

And they've even reorganized it since then to make it a more equitable distribution of family-based petitions, IIRC. It is also cyclical. VSC slowed down earlier.

CSC hasn't recovered from the backlog yet (I believe they handle more AOS-related stuff than Vermont does, and it was a *huge* hit last August, and people who are here waiting for green cards took priority.)

Interesting. Green card processing does not keep families apart. Neither does AOS as far as i know. I know that employment visas, which keep people from taking a job here, are expedited. Why do marriage visas take the lowest priority, I wonder? Is marriage the #1 immigration fraud that it needs so much scrutiny. I'm starting to feel that the post that someone made once that they want it to take a long time on purpose so that the prospective emigrant will give up, only those that don't give up are real relationships. Cynical? I'll bet that factors into their processing times. I wonders if there is some historical precedent that fraudsters will give up after 6 months??

Oh my goodness.

First of all - greencards are not processed in the Service Centers. Visa petitions are. Greencards are processed in the District Offices.

Second of all - don't you think it's a really good idea that an immigrant receive the paperwork they need to prove they are legally authorized to be in this country?

Uh, my point is that citizens should get better, faster service than non-citizens. Yes, the beneficiary is not a citizen, but the petitioner is. In the Green Card process, the beneficiary is a non-citizen. Immigrants who are waiting for a Green Card are already in this country legally on some other type of visa, so there is usually no rush to get one.

It's like they are saying "Well, its OK we can treat him worse cause he is a citizen"

"Immigrants who are in this country legally" without a greencard but have an expired visa (such as a K1 whose I94 has expired) are actually without status.

When my husband was at the window at the London consulate, the CO looked over at me and said 'make sure you file for his greencard as soon as you marry'. 10 days later when we entered the US, the CBP officer said the same thing.

Filing ASAP for your greencard as soon as possible isn't only something an immigrant needs to do - if they want to remain in this country legally, they have to do it.

You're not comparing apples to apples.

Sigh. Yes, some people do need Green Cards to stay in this country legally. Those should get higher priority. However, most people waiting for GCs

are already on some other work visa and can wait a few months for a GC. What I'm saying in the end is that we matter less to the processors than the immigrants do.

[rebeccajo 14]

If I had a dollar for every time I have read a "it's not fair, Vermont is so fast" post over the last 3 years, I'd be a rich rich woman!

And they've even reorganized it since then to make it a more equitable distribution of family-based petitions, IIRC. It is also cyclical. VSC slowed down earlier.

CSC hasn't recovered from the backlog yet (I believe they handle more AOS-related stuff than Vermont does, and it was a *huge* hit last August, and people who are here waiting for green cards took priority.)

Interesting. Green card processing does not keep families apart. Neither does AOS as far as i know. I know that employment visas, which keep people from taking a job here, are expedited. Why do marriage visas take the lowest priority, I wonder? Is marriage the #1 immigration fraud that it needs so much scrutiny. I'm starting to feel that the post that someone made once that they want it to take a long time on purpose so that the prospective emigrant will give up, only those that don't give up are real relationships. Cynical? I'll bet that factors into their processing times. I wonders if there is some historical precedent that fraudsters will give up after 6 months??

Oh my goodness.

First of all - greencards are not processed in the Service Centers. Visa petitions are. Greencards are processed in the District Offices.

Second of all - don't you think it's a really good idea that an immigrant receive the paperwork they need to prove they are legally authorized to be in this country?

Uh, my point is that citizens should get better, faster service than non-citizens. Yes, the beneficiary is not a citizen, but the petitioner is. In the Green Card process, the beneficiary is a non-citizen. Immigrants who are waiting for a Green Card are already in this country legally on some other type of visa, so there is usually no rush to get one.

It's like they are saying "Well, its OK we can treat him worse cause he is a citizen"

"Immigrants who are in this country legally" without a greencard but have an expired visa (such as a K1 whose I94 has expired) are actually without status.

When my husband was at the window at the London consulate, the CO looked over at me and said 'make sure you file for his greencard as soon as you marry'. 10 days later when we entered the US, the CBP officer said the same thing.

Filing ASAP for your greencard as soon as possible isn't only something an immigrant needs to do - if they want to remain in this country legally, they have to do it.

You're not comparing apples to apples.

Sigh. Yes, some people do need Green Cards to stay in this country legally. Those should get higher priority. However, most people waiting for GCs

are already on some other work visa and can wait a few months for a GC. What I'm saying in the end is that we matter less to the processors than the immigrants do.

Aren't you filing a petition for an immigrant to come here?

[Chris Future 0]

If I had a dollar for every time I have read a "it's not fair, Vermont is so fast" post over the last 3 years, I'd be a rich rich woman!

And they've even reorganized it since then to make it a more equitable distribution of family-based petitions, IIRC. It is also cyclical. VSC slowed down earlier.

CSC hasn't recovered from the backlog yet (I believe they handle more AOS-related stuff than Vermont does, and it was a *huge* hit last August, and people who are here waiting for green cards took priority.)

Interesting. Green card processing does not keep families apart. Neither does AOS as far as i know. I know that employment visas, which keep people from taking a job here, are expedited. Why do marriage visas take the lowest priority, I wonder? Is marriage the #1 immigration fraud that it needs so much scrutiny. I'm starting to feel that the post that someone made once that they want it to take a long time on purpose so that the prospective emigrant will give up, only those that don't give up are real relationships. Cynical? I'll bet that factors into their processing times. I wonders if there is some historical precedent that fraudsters will give up after 6 months??

Oh my goodness.

First of all - greencards are not processed in the Service Centers. Visa petitions are. Greencards are processed in the District Offices.

Second of all - don't you think it's a really good idea that an immigrant receive the paperwork they need to prove they are legally authorized to be in this country?

Uh, my point is that citizens should get better, faster service than non-citizens. Yes, the beneficiary is not a citizen, but the petitioner is. In the Green Card process, the beneficiary is a non-citizen. Immigrants who are waiting for a Green Card are already in this country legally on some other type of visa, so there is usually no rush to get one.

It's like they are saying "Well, its OK we can treat him worse cause he is a citizen"

"Immigrants who are in this country legally" without a greencard but have an expired visa (such as a K1 whose I94 has expired) are actually without status.

When my husband was at the window at the London consulate, the CO looked over at me and said 'make sure you file for his greencard as soon as you marry'. 10 days later when we entered the US, the CBP officer said the same thing.

Filing ASAP for your greencard as soon as possible isn't only something an immigrant needs to do - if they want to remain in this country legally, they have to do it.

You're not comparing apples to apples.

Sigh. Yes, some people do need Green Cards to stay in this country legally. Those should get higher priority. However, most people waiting for GCs

are already on some other work visa and can wait a few months for a GC. What I'm saying in the end is that we matter less to the processors than the immigrants do.

Aren't you filing a petition for an immigrant to come here?

OK: With ALL other types of immigrant visas, the only people affected are non-citizens. With family visas, there must be at least one citizen who does the sponsoring. Therefore with family visas, the "customer" is a citizen and a non-citizen. With all other visas, the "customer" is a non-citizen. You would think that having a citizen as a "customer" makes a difference.

Either way, the only way we can change this for the better is find someone who matters and have them champion the cause. Will President Obama bring us what we need??

[rebeccajo 14]

OK: With ALL other types of immigrant visas, the only people affected are non-citizens. With family visas, there must be at least one citizen who does the sponsoring. Therefore with family visas, the "customer" is a citizen and a non-citizen. With all other visas, the "customer" is a non-citizen. You would think that having a citizen as a "customer" makes a difference.

Either way, the only way we can change this for the better is find someone who matters and have them champion the cause. Will President Obama bring us what we need??

When my husband filed for his greencard, I, a USC was affected. I am his wife and I was his original USC petitioner.

At what point do you suggest the line be drawn so your case can get pushed ahead of others who aren't as entitled to service for a fee paid as you are?

[Chris Future 0]

OK: With ALL other types of immigrant visas, the only people affected are non-citizens. With family visas, there must be at least one citizen who does the sponsoring. Therefore with family visas, the "customer" is a citizen and a non-citizen. With all other visas, the "customer" is a non-citizen. You would think that having a citizen as a "customer" makes a difference.

Either way, the only way we can change this for the better is find someone who matters and have them champion the cause. Will President Obama bring us what we need??

When my husband filed for his greencard, I, a USC was affected. I am his wife and I was his original USC petitioner.

At what point do you suggest the line be drawn so your case can get pushed ahead of others who aren't as entitled to service for a fee paid as you are?

The line should be drawn at citizenship. In your case, its an expedited case as its a marriage GC to a citizen. Those GCs should take priority as a US citizen is affected. A non-citizen on an employment visa waiting for a Green Card should take a regular process. I'm not saying that a regular process should take 6 months. We shoudl be staffed to 30 days for "citizen" service and 60 days for "regular" service.

BTW: This weeks score so far: VSC: 6, CSC, 1

Nice, eh?

[rebeccajo 14]

OK: With ALL other types of immigrant visas, the only people affected are non-citizens. With family visas, there must be at least one citizen who does the sponsoring. Therefore with family visas, the "customer" is a citizen and a non-citizen. With all other visas, the "customer" is a non-citizen. You would think that having a citizen as a "customer" makes a difference.

Either way, the only way we can change this for the better is find someone who matters and have them champion the cause. Will President Obama bring us what we need??

When my husband filed for his greencard, I, a USC was affected. I am his wife and I was his original USC petitioner.

At what point do you suggest the line be drawn so your case can get pushed ahead of others who aren't as entitled to service for a fee paid as you are?

The line should be drawn at citizenship. In your case, its an expedited case as its a marriage GC to a citizen. Those GCs should take priority as a US citizen is affected. A non-citizen on an employment visa waiting for a Green Card should take a regular process. I'm not saying that a regular process should take 6 months. We shoudl be staffed to 30 days for "citizen" service and 60 days for "regular" service.

BTW: This weeks score so far: VSC: 6, CSC, 1

Nice, eh?

That just doesn't seem logical to me. Every greencard application involves an immigrant. All pay the same fee.

Persons who arrive as relatives of US citizens have already received preference. They did not have to wait for an immigrant visa number. Persons who apply for a greencard as the relative of a US citizen also receive special 'forgiveness' for behavior that other immigrants would be deported for - unauthorized work, visa overstays, etc.

It seems to me the law has already provided ample preference for USC's and their immigrant relatives.

Insofar as VSC speed and CSC sloth - that's just the way it is. It's always been that way and it's not likely to change. If you wish to promote controversy and create a 'divide' within the community, continue to wail away. It's no more a Vermont petitioner's 'fault' they get a fast approval (based on where they live) than it is your fault that your approval takes more time.

Thems just the breaks.

Edited March 5, 2008 by rebeccajo

[ChrisB0707 4]

I know how all the CSC filers feel. We just got our approval at the CSC after such a long wait.

[Chris Future 0]

Insofar as VSC speed and CSC sloth - that's just the way it is. It's always been that way and it's not likely to change. If you wish to promote controversy and create a 'divide' within the community, continue to wail away. It's no more a Vermont petitioner's 'fault' they get a fast approval (based on where they live) than it is your fault that your approval takes more time.

Thems just the breaks.

One of the things that drew me to the US was the prevailing attitude that when there ARE injustices, Americans stand up and do something about it. In Canada, we just grumble. I was trying to also see if we could enlist someone in the media to help us champion our cause, and actually do something to try and effect changes. Was thinking Lou Dobbs or John Stossel. Has anyone on here have some contacts we could possibly leverage?

BTW, I don't blame the VSC petitioner getting fast approval - I blame the government for not providing speedy service to everyone. I'm also not trying to create a divide - the VSCers are doing that on their own by announcing their wonderful "jackpots" - I think everyone on the CSC list heart sinks when we see those. On the one hand, I'm happy for them but on the other hand they might be a bit more sensitive to the rest of us as well. We are all here to support each other, at least thats what I thought these boards were for.

[rebeccajo 14]

Chris -

I was a Vermont petitioner. At the time I filed my husband's petition, there were four service centers. VSC was the fastest; Nebraska was the slowest.

I announced our very speedy approval with the same glee posters do now. After all - it WAS my approval.

However, I tried to walk a very fine line in my communications on the board at that time. I really didn't want to have people hating me. Sometimes I felt like I was unnecessarily sucking up.

BUT....I did it because I knew there were other people waiting sooooooooo long. I announced my approval - I was happy and so I felt I was entitled to celebrate - but I tried to be gracious.

There is occasional media contact made by VJ members and other people traversing USCIS. But the media is more interested in a different aspect of immigration right now. Americans by and large are also not as sympathetic to your case as you would like to think they are. Some are only interested in any plan the government has for dealing with illegal entrants; some would only be interested in a government plan to stop ALL immigration. The rest of America - well - they just really don't care. Immigration isn't like taxes - it doesn't effect everybody. So while you and I might see some 'injustices' in the present system, don't expect a huge public outcry by taking your case to the press. It's just a big yawn for most of America because it doesn't affect them.

[KimandRuss 0]

I think the Vermont filers have every right to be excited about their approvals! They are not being disrespectful or uncaring and I certainly think they sympathize with the CSC filers. Turning it into a "jackpot" is just a game... a way for them to pass the time just like you are. It's not a go at the CSC filers.

You don't know their personal stories or the struggles they may have had to endure to get to even this point. They should be excited! For all the same reasons you will be when it's your turn. Do you know that their are consulates who will put you in administrative processing and keep loving couples apart for years even after approval??? Did you know that their are parents who have never even seen or touched their child??? None of this is easy... for any of us. It is what it is. Historically VSC has always been the fastest office.

I understand this is frustrating. We all do. But what you're doing with comments like that IS causing divide. All of this is hard enough.

Put that energy you have into something productive and positive...like contacting people...anyone who will listen.

[Chris Future 0]

Chris -

I was a Vermont petitioner. At the time I filed my husband's petition, there were four service centers. VSC was the fastest; Nebraska was the slowest.

I announced our very speedy approval with the same glee posters do now. After all - it WAS my approval.

However, I tried to walk a very fine line in my communications on the board at that time. I really didn't want to have people hating me. Sometimes I felt like I was unnecessarily sucking up.

BUT....I did it because I knew there were other people waiting sooooooooo long. I announced my approval - I was happy and so I felt I was entitled to celebrate - but I tried to be gracious.

There is occasional media contact made by VJ members and other people traversing USCIS. But the media is more interested in a different aspect of immigration right now. Americans by and large are also not as sympathetic to your case as you would like to think they are. Some are only interested in any plan the government has for dealing with illegal entrants; some would only be interested in a government plan to stop ALL immigration. The rest of America - well - they just really don't care. Immigration isn't like taxes - it doesn't effect everybody. So while you and I might see some 'injustices' in the present system, don't expect a huge public outcry by taking your case to the press. It's just a big yawn for most of America because it doesn't affect them.

Yes, I agree. Graciousness is what you will get from us as well when we are approved, not outright expressions of glee, or comparing things to a "jackpot" Jackpots allude to winners and losers, and I don't want to brand anyone here "a loser". Most of the people on this forum are waiting for their approvals as well. So I will be sensitive in my communications too.

I guess you are right. Its part of the culture of America right now. People have forgotten our founding principals, and that the government was designed to serve the people and not the other way around. Now we serve the government, and most people are just happy to bop along through life just like that.

[Chris Future 0]

I'm also not trying to create a divide - the VSCers are doing that on their own by announcing their wonderful "jackpots" - I think everyone on the CSC list heart sinks when we see those. On the one hand, I'm happy for them but on the other hand they might be a bit more sensitive to the rest of us as well. We are all here to support each other, at least thats what I thought these boards were for.

If you find yourself getting down by reading other people's approvals, and/or if you start to think that people announcing their approvals is insensitive, it's time to stay away from the "case filings and reports" section for awhile. I'm not trying to be snarky or mean by saying that. There were days when I couldn't be in that forum, it was just too depressing to see how many VSC approvals were screaming by, while CSC went for weeks with only a couple. The "case filings and reports" sub-forum was created exactly for that reason. To give people who are having a hard time dealing with the disparity an opportunity to stay away from it, and still be able to participate in VJ.

Of course you are right. Like I like to tell my kids when one teases the other - you are both wrong - one for teasing and the other for not having a thicker skin. I can choose not to view their expressions of unadulterated glee at begin winners of a jackpot, thus implicitly labeling the rest of us losers, and they can choose to be more selective in their terminology.

[BlakeandOlha 0]

BTW, I don't blame the VSC petitioner getting fast approval - I blame the government for not providing speedy service to everyone. I'm also not trying to create a divide - the VSCers are doing that on their own by announcing their wonderful "jackpots" - I think everyone on the CSC list heart sinks when we see those. On the one hand, I'm happy for them but on the other hand they might be a bit more sensitive to the rest of us as well. We are all here to support each other, at least thats what I thought these boards were for.

Chris, I understand the feeling of "relative" unfairness between the two processing centers. But it's only relative to other people's good fortune. I was also getting a bit frustrated that some were getting approved that had filed around my time already. But I asked myself, would I be happier if VSC filers were approved in the same slow time frame as me? Of course not. I also would not expect someone who does get approved to be silent on the subject out of fear of offending someone waiting at another processing center. You and I are both January CSC filers, and there are a bunch of us. I know my first reaction to January VSC approvals was frustration (Mox can attest to that rant), but I also realized that the VSC filers recognize and appreciate their good fortune at where they filed - hence the "jackpot" reference. I don't think VSC filers are being devisive - just providing a thread where they can express their excitment without stepping on the toes of us other poor slobs.

I actually started a thread first - as a support for January CSC filers to try and help each other during the long wait - come over there and vent. So, if anyone was devisive, I guess you can say it was me first.

[Chris Future 0]

I think the Vermont filers have every right to be excited about their approvals! They are not being disrespectful or uncaring and I certainly think they sympathize with the CSC filers. Turning it into a "jackpot" is just a game... a way for them to pass the time just like you are. It's not a go at the CSC filers.

You don't know their personal stories or the struggles they may have had to endure to get to even this point. They should be excited! For all the same reasons you will be when it's your turn. Do you know that their are consulates who will put you in administrative processing and keep loving couples apart for years even after approval??? Did you know that their are parents who have never even seen or touched their child??? None of this is easy... for any of us. It is what it is. Historically VSC has always been the fastest office.

I understand this is frustrating. We all do. But what you're doing with comments like that IS causing divide. All of this is hard enough.

Put that energy you have into something productive and positive...like contacting people...anyone who will listen.

Sorry, but I'm tired of people who always want to hear the positive side of things. I prefer to be more realistic and open, understanding that there are two sides. If you only want to hear sweetness and light from me and then I can shut up and not post anything until sometime later this year when our approval appears out of the abyss. I'm happy to do just that and save the ranting for my radio show.

As I said at the beginning of this thread, its a discussion of the frustration I have of the disparity between VSC and CSC, and a general rant about the idiocy of the whole process and about how long it takes. I'm sure that there are many of you out there feeling the frustration and depression of seeing all these cases whip by while we sit and sit and sit with no action, peering into an inscrutable black hole just hoping that someday we will see some light at the end of this tunnel. I understand that there are probably a lot of people out there who agree with me and this thread but may be afraid to post lest they be branded troublemakers and kicked off.

If you guys don't want to read/hear about my frustrations, then fine, I'll stop posting and find another venue. In any support group I've been in, you get both the good and the bad, and you get negativity and frustration as well and positivity and sunlight. For some reason, online groups seem to prefer the latter. I prefer a balance.

Anyways, never mind. This thread can end now if you like.

Let me leave you with one thing.

I just found a song by Simple Plan which encapsulates how Susan and I we feel about each other and this wait and I thought I'd share it with you:

Its called I Can Wait Forever

Listen here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=p94_b0dCCEI

Lyrics: http://music.yahoo.com/Simple-Plan/I-Can-W...lyrics/57125211

Thanks...Chris