Senator/ congressman contact question

[pigtails86 0]

Hey guys,

Question about when should I have a congressman/senator's office call the USCIS for me to check on my I-129F?

Do they have to wait til the wait time (5 months) is expired as well, or can they inquire now??

I just feel like I have been totally skipped over since almost everyone else in March is getting their approvals and we havent even been touched or anything!!

I appreciate the info

Meggie

[john & jean 37]

Hey guys,

Question about when should I have a congressman/senator's office call the USCIS for me to check on my I-129F?

Do they have to wait til the wait time (5 months) is expired as well, or can they inquire now??

I just feel like I have been totally skipped over since almost everyone else in March is getting their approvals and we havent even been touched or anything!!

I appreciate the info

Meggie

NOT MUCH THEY CAN/WILL DO UNTIL SIX MONTHS....

[Kathryn41 3,205]

If it helps to reassure you, sometimes files will never be touched on the online update and the person then gets a notice of approval while it still reads that their case is pending. So, not getting touched doesn't necessarily mean that your file is not being looked at - it just means that they aren't updating your information. I hope you hear something soon.

[tlara01 0]

I had contacted my local Congress man's office in the past about an issue for a B-2 Visa for my fiancee and spoke to a gentleman that handles all issues with USCIS. Although he was not able to help me with the B2 Visa he did tell me to contact him at anytime during the process when applying for the K1 visa. He told me upfront that a simple request for a status from his office on the petition will most certainly light a fire under their butts. I have yet to take him up on his offer, having filed recently (NOA1 - July 1st). I figured I'd wait to cash my favor in until absolutely necessary.

I would assume that it just depends on who you talk to and how willing they are to help out.

Although tempted to call him directly to "help me out" I have refrained so that I can wait my turn.

If you are outside the normal processing times listed on the USCIS website, why not make a simple phone call to ask for help? If still within the posted time frame you may want to reserve contacting them for when you have a real issue of concern.

Good luck on your journey.....

[missing_ron 3]

I had contacted my local Congress man's office in the past about an issue for a B-2 Visa for my fiancee and spoke to a gentleman that handles all issues with USCIS. Although he was not able to help me with the B2 Visa he did tell me to contact him at anytime during the process when applying for the K1 visa. He told me upfront that a simple request for a status from his office on the petition will most certainly light a fire under their butts. I have yet to take him up on his offer, having filed recently (NOA1 - July 1st). I figured I'd wait to cash my favor in until absolutely necessary.

I would assume that it just depends on who you talk to and how willing they are to help out.

Although tempted to call him directly to "help me out" I have refrained so that I can wait my turn.

If you are outside the normal processing times listed on the USCIS website, why not make a simple phone call to ask for help? If still within the posted time frame you may want to reserve contacting them for when you have a real issue of concern.

Good luck on your journey.....

The biggest confusion for me is WHEN you can consider your file to be outside of normal processing times since the USCIS website is six weeks behind reality. So even though I'm now past 5 months without a touch or RFE, when I call I am told I am within normal times because the website says the end of December is still being processed. Which it clearly is not! Any thoughts?

[tlara01 0]

My logic is what will it hurt to call the person within your congress man's office that handles immigration issues and have them make an inquiry?

I'm sure it is just a standard letter sent to the USCIS. It is my understanding that once the USCIS receives a congressional inquiry the USCIS must respond within a short timeframe as to the status of the petition.

It is one way to get their attention quickly.

The willingness to help I would assume just depends on the individual you are talking to.

If they are willing to help and make contact with the USCIS chances are the petition will start being processed...

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

My logic is what will it hurt to call the person within your congress man's office that handles immigration issues and have them make an inquiry?

I'm sure it is just a standard letter sent to the USCIS. It is my understanding that once the USCIS receives a congressional inquiry the USCIS must respond within a short timeframe as to the status of the petition.

It is one way to get their attention quickly.

The willingness to help I would assume just depends on the individual you are talking to.

If they are willing to help and make contact with the USCIS chances are the petition will start being processed...

Not so much.

First of all, you can't just call. They have to have a signed release form from you before they can start making any inquiries.

Next, when the congressman's office inquires, USCIS tells them that they need up to 120 days to respond to any inquiry.

Best of all, if your petition is still within USCIS's "current processing times" (i.e., the time posted on their website that's updated once a month and already 45 days out of date at the time of posting), they won't do a blessed thing. Your file won't even get a touch.

Been there, done that. Unless you have a very good congressman, it's most likely wasted effort.

[tlara01 0]

That’s a pretty cynical outlook there.

Yes you do need to sign a release. And there may quite possibly be congressional offices that have a better rapport with the USCIS than others.

All anyone can ever say is “no” so there’s never any harm in trying.

Sometimes you have to be a squeaky wheel for anything to happen.

Personally I think everyone should bombard their elected officials for help, and maybe they might end up reforming the process.

Edited August 7, 2009 by T Diddy

[TucsonBill 0]

You say "almost everyone else in March is getting their approvals" and I notice you filed yours the END of March. I'd give it more time. If you start bugging your congressman now, they might get annoyed in the event you REALLY need them for something. This process takes a lot if time and you have to learn to be patient, otherwise, you are just going to drive yourself crazy.

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

You say cynical, I say realistic. My comments above are based on my experience.

I found my congressman's immigration caseworker and district director to be very pleasant, helpful, and competent.... and ultimately useless, because USCIS won't even pull your file to check on it unless you're outside of the "current processing times. " When they get the inquiry from the congressional office, they check the database first, and if your application is still considered current, that's where it ends. The information provided to my congressman's office was no different than what I could have gotten from the USCIS website.

I'm not trying to discourage people from writing. I think they should. I think our elected representatives need to know what a train wreck is USCIS in general and family-based petitions in particular. I just want people to be realistic about any concrete results they're going to see from their efforts.

[Dakine 26]

I've called my senator for help 2 times and his immigration specialist came thru BIGTIME in both incidents.

Never had to sign anything.

She took care of both problems within one week of my calls.

Friend of mine had a immuigration problem also and had the same positive results.

Edited August 7, 2009 by Haole

[TucsonBill 0]

I've called my senator for help 2 times and his immigration specialist came thru BIGTIME in both incidents.

Never had to sign anything.

She took care of both problems within one week of my calls.

Friend of mine had a immuigration problem also and had the same positive results.

Sounds like you got a great Senator. From reading posts in this and other forums, results vary widely.

I also am going to be trying to adopt my step-daughter. I've called a few attorneys and have not been able to get my questions answered, maybe you can give me some insight. My stepdaugher's natural father is a citizen of Singapore that was living in Thailand, and disappeared shortly after her birth and has not seen her since. Before I can try to adopt her, we have to terminate his parental rights. Would the US courts have jurisdiction in this or do we have to get something from Thailand?

[ddartt1 2]

If it helps to reassure you, sometimes files will never be touched on the online update and the person then gets a notice of approval while it still reads that their case is pending. So, not getting touched doesn't necessarily mean that your file is not being looked at - it just means that they aren't updating your information. I hope you hear something soon.

[Kimbear 53]

at 4.5 months we contacted our congressman..within 3 days they pulled our file and started work on it and got the fbi check rolling on the usc. we went to his website and d/l the authorizaton form and faxed it in. 3 days to finally get info on our case was awesome. we were also told fbi checks were backlogging a few cases. our congressman told us with the first letter that uscis had one week to get back to him..and he sure came through. today we got another touch. however the congressman also told us he can't do more until 5 months has passed..then he can really push uscis. this is pertaining to CSC in particular.

it does not hurt to try. and many ppl have gotten a response and an update on their case this way.

[pigtails86 0]

You say "almost everyone else in March is getting their approvals" and I notice you filed yours the END of March. I'd give it more time. If you start bugging your congressman now, they might get annoyed in the event you REALLY need them for something. This process takes a lot if time and you have to learn to be patient, otherwise, you are just going to drive yourself crazy.

True. But with CSC currently processing those who filed at the end of April now, it just makes me a bit nervous. Well.. good news being that in about 3 weeks we will have hit the 5 month point, which is the current processing time for CSC on their website so we can actually start inquiring then anyway