Should I try to write to my congressman

[belinda63 3,053]

Why should u be special? What reason would you give your representative for wanting him to spend time writing letters on your behalf for a case that has only begun and is sitting in a box on a shelf somewhere waiting it's turn in line to be processed?

You will have to learn to wait just like all the rest of us, sorry but that is the way it is. Even if your congressman did take some action it would result in nothing since you are still withing the processing time frame.

We waited a year after the initial interview, that is the interview which was 9 months after the petition was submitted, before contacting my representative. That means it was 20 months after the petition was received before we contacted him.

My now husband spent 17 months in AP and i managed, albeit not happily, to survive. Why should you be any more special or important than me?

To answer your question.........NO you should not contact your representative at this stage, only if your case goes outside the normal processing times should you then consider it.

[morocco4ever 63]

Not only would you risk pissing off the USCIS, but you might piss off your representative. Not wise, you might REALLY need their help someday.

[V-G-1 1]

ok..ok...ok....calm down folks.....i was just inquiring hehehehe--- i know i have to wait........

[al-Hubb jameel 0]

Yes, very good point, I agree. Something else to feel productive and moving towards the goal. Besides letter writing, preparing everything I could for the next 2 stages of our journey has helped me in the very loooooong (less than a) month since I filed. It's just impossible for me to sit and wait and do nothing. Next week I will start cleanng out the closets so there is room for his clothes! And I'm going to Jordan in 28 days to see him so hopefully that will calm me down as well. Otherwise, this is going to be the most productive 6+ or - months of my life!!!

Thats exactly what Ive been doing .... Ive slowly started sorting out my apartment and finding new homes for belongings ... Im down to basics now and have already packed my suitcase with the winter stuff I also have a box of maybes and every couple days I sort thru it to see if I really cant live with a certain item... When the time comes and I return from my interview it will only take me a few hours to finish packing and a few hours off cleaning and Ill be all done.... Mind you Im going nutz waiting for my interview date at the moment but thems the breaks...

You must have been raised with that same Puritan work ethic as me!! Don't know whether it's a curse or a blessing, but sitting and doing nothing is never an option! Or maybe I just need to be on meds. Anyway, best of luck with your interview and preparing for your new life!!!!!

[AnnexoxShay 1]

Yes, very good point, I agree. Something else to feel productive and moving towards the goal. Besides letter writing, preparing everything I could for the next 2 stages of our journey has helped me in the very loooooong (less than a) month since I filed. It's just impossible for me to sit and wait and do nothing. Next week I will start cleanng out the closets so there is room for his clothes! And I'm going to Jordan in 28 days to see him so hopefully that will calm me down as well. Otherwise, this is going to be the most productive 6+ or - months of my life!!!

Thats exactly what Ive been doing .... Ive slowly started sorting out my apartment and finding new homes for belongings ... Im down to basics now and have already packed my suitcase with the winter stuff I also have a box of maybes and every couple days I sort thru it to see if I really cant live with a certain item... When the time comes and I return from my interview it will only take me a few hours to finish packing and a few hours off cleaning and Ill be all done.... Mind you Im going nutz waiting for my interview date at the moment but thems the breaks...

You must have been raised with that same Puritan work ethic as me!! Don't know whether it's a curse or a blessing, but sitting and doing nothing is never an option! Or maybe I just need to be on meds. Anyway, best of luck with your interview and preparing for your new life!!!!!

I think its a curse! The process would be so much simpler if I/we were oblivious to what was going on around us, dont you think? Ohhh they offered me the meds but after careful consideration I figured a cup of coffee would prob settle me down just the same without all the crazy side effects! JK I think

Thank you and all the best to you, I hope everything comes thru speedily for you and your fiance ... {{HUGZ}}

[Minya's wife 25]

But...but that would mean actually being pro-active and doing something other that bitchin n moaning to get special treatment.

yeah but you know what, all the bitchin and moaning gets you as as far as it got the rest of us ... full circle back to the start and waiting, waiting, waiting and waiting some more

Gives new meaning to the old adage "Good things come to those who wait" doesn't it?

[al-Hubb jameel 0]

Yes, very good point, I agree. Something else to feel productive and moving towards the goal. Besides letter writing, preparing everything I could for the next 2 stages of our journey has helped me in the very loooooong (less than a) month since I filed. It's just impossible for me to sit and wait and do nothing. Next week I will start cleanng out the closets so there is room for his clothes! And I'm going to Jordan in 28 days to see him so hopefully that will calm me down as well. Otherwise, this is going to be the most productive 6+ or - months of my life!!!

Thats exactly what Ive been doing .... Ive slowly started sorting out my apartment and finding new homes for belongings ... Im down to basics now and have already packed my suitcase with the winter stuff I also have a box of maybes and every couple days I sort thru it to see if I really cant live with a certain item... When the time comes and I return from my interview it will only take me a few hours to finish packing and a few hours off cleaning and Ill be all done.... Mind you Im going nutz waiting for my interview date at the moment but thems the breaks...

You must have been raised with that same Puritan work ethic as me!! Don't know whether it's a curse or a blessing, but sitting and doing nothing is never an option! Or maybe I just need to be on meds. Anyway, best of luck with your interview and preparing for your new life!!!!!

I think its a curse! The process would be so much simpler if I/we were oblivious to what was going on around us, dont you think? Ohhh they offered me the meds but after careful consideration I figured a cup of coffee would prob settle me down just the same without all the crazy side effects! JK I think

Thank you and all the best to you, I hope everything comes thru speedily for you and your fiance ... {{HUGZ}}

I think we were twins separated at birth. And thank you very much for wishing us well. If you get the urge to compare checklists or go over mondane details because it helps the wait, feel free to PM me!! Beth

[AnnexoxShay 1]

But...but that would mean actually being pro-active and doing something other that bitchin n moaning to get special treatment.

yeah but you know what, all the bitchin and moaning gets you as as far as it got the rest of us ... full circle back to the start and waiting, waiting, waiting and waiting some more

Gives new meaning to the old adage "Good things come to those who wait" doesn't it?

Right On

I think we were twins separated at birth. And thank you very much for wishing us well. If you get the urge to compare checklists or go over mondane details because it helps the wait, feel free to PM me!! Beth

Same goes my friend ...

[Staashi 371]

Not to rain on your parade or anything, but since your fiance is from a MENA country, you're not only facing a typically long wait for regular approval, but you're also going to have a 9 out of 10 chance of experiencing the wonderful world of Administrative Processing aka AP. That means that once they approve his visa that they'll still have to run extensive background checks with the FBI, Interpol, and any other databases that they choose to make sure he's not on a terrorist watch list or anything like that. If he has a name like Assan Mohammed or something common you're in for a long azz wait. People can hang in AP for years.

Good luck! You're gonna need it.

[almaty 19]

ok..ok...ok....calm down folks.....i was just inquiring hehehehe--- i know i have to wait........

besides,,,Lebanon..you be lucky to get an the visa by 2012 ..save your letter..for the future...

[V-G-1 1]

Nope--its a girl--fiancee, and not a muslim name, but a christian--Half of Lebanon is Christian

[ya falaha! 0]

Oh you have got to be sh*ttin' me. Obama??? Do you have the attention spam of a fruit fly or something?

I waited like the rest/best of them and got the battle scars to prove it. Get to the back of the line!

Does this actually work?

Or will it just pi$% them off and make them want to put my folder to the back of the line?

I know exactly how you feel...you just want to do SOMETHING, even though you just recently filed. (me too!) I wrote a letter to Obama. I know that nohing will happen, but at least I feel like I did SOMETHING!! I didn't write to my congressman for that very reason- that I figured if I actually have a problem later and I need him, he might remember me as being that annoying person who asked for help when it's only been a month since filing. I also have been racking my brain trying to think of anyone else I could write to. It just somehow makes me feel better, like I am doing something...and even if it doesn't help speed things up, at least I know I tried.....Good luck to you! Things seem to be moving alot quicker then they were a few months ago!!!!!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Not to rain on your parade or anything, but since your fiance is from a MENA country, you're not only facing a typically long wait for regular approval, but you're also going to have a 9 out of 10 chance of experiencing the wonderful world of Administrative Processing aka AP. That means that once they approve his visa that they'll still have to run extensive background checks with the FBI, Interpol, and any other databases that they choose to make sure he's not on a terrorist watch list or anything like that. If he has a name like Assan Mohammed or something common you're in for a long azz wait. People can hang in AP for years.

Good luck! You're gonna need it.

Exactly my thoughts. Even if she is a woman.

[Hell0W0rld 10]

Does this actually work?

Or will it just pi$% them off and make them want to put my folder to the back of the line?

I know exactly how you feel...you just want to do SOMETHING, even though you just recently filed. (me too!) I wrote a letter to Obama. I know that nohing will happen, but at least I feel like I did SOMETHING!! I didn't write to my congressman for that very reason- that I figured if I actually have a problem later and I need him, he might remember me as being that annoying person who asked for help when it's only been a month since filing. I also have been racking my brain trying to think of anyone else I could write to. It just somehow makes me feel better, like I am doing something...and even if it doesn't help speed things up, at least I know I tried.....Good luck to you! Things seem to be moving alot quicker then they were a few months ago!!!!!

I think Obama has bigger issues to deal with for example, the failing economy... so your best bet is to contact your congressman or senator because they are the people that will represent you as an individual to the different government agency not the President of the United States...

[morocco4ever 63]

Actually her best bet is to take the time it takes to approve her petition to study and learn how to prepare the best possible file. It isn't that it is a bad idea to contact her representative, but it would be better served to introduce yourself, and let them know about your case, and ask them if she can request their assist if they should run into any problems in the future. Just don't try to abuse it by requesting special treatment over and above any of the other filers.