Admin Processing (what the heck)

[Queeny 0]

Hello VJ,

it's been a while since I posted but to bring you up to speed we were placed in AP on Jan 12, 2010 at our interview. As many of you know, we started out filing for a finance visa and was placed in AP. The consular sent our application back to USCIS. We were married in June 09 and refiled CR1 and had our interview Jan 12, 2010. AP again and this time it's been over 2 months.

I have mixed emotions and feeling like something has to be done about the broken immigration system. WE NEED REFORM. Not just reform to legalize immigrants currently in the US without documentation, but REFORM of the process in which U.S. citizens apply to bring loved ones to the US to live.

The U.S. Consulates abroad are out of control and seem to write the law as they go along. Laws need to change around admin processing to include the participants in the process rather than exclude us. When I initially wrote my congressmen and senator's office is was only to address my individual concerns about my petition but I'm expanding beyond just my individual concerns to REFORM as a whole.

I am writing my Senator in CA to make suggestions about REFORM. We all need to solicit the assistance of our Senators in this process. I could rant on and on but think I'll stop here for now...

What you all think?

[illnevergetthis 5]

I emailed my congressman a couple of years ago about family immigration reform. I got an email back telling me about everything that she was doing about illegal immigration... I wrote an email back to her about how she obviously didn't read my first email. I did not get another response.

I am aware that she does not read the emails...but what competent office staff she has...

[belinda63 2,981]

Whilst my now husband was in AP I sent out a whole slew of letters and received very few responses. Post 9/11 immigration is a pain with all the security checks and what makes it worse is that they are attacking it the wrong way. Think about it, the supposed 9/11 hijackers came on student visas not immigrant visas. Student visas are tracked by the school not the government, so get a student visa, come to the US, don't go to school and just disappear.

The "underwear bomber" was escorted past the security checkpoints and did not even have a valid passport.

Now that health care has passed Obama is promising to work on immigration reform so maybe a year or so down the road something will happen.

[JustJ 0]

I wrote to my Senator (of Irish descent himself) and his assistant basically told me I shouldn't have married a foreign criminal, soooo.....

[illnevergetthis 5]

I wrote to my Senator (of Irish descent himself) and his assistant basically told me I shouldn't have married a foreign criminal, soooo.....

Are you kidding me? He must not be seeking re-election!

[treehugger 23]

What you all think?

I haven't been in AP that long compared to most here, but what I do find frustrating is the lack of information. Of course, there are times when they need to keep things confidential, but it would be nice to know what's happening. When I found out I was in AP almost three weeks after I'd been approved at the embassy because I hadn't yet got my passport, I called DOS and they wouldn't even confirm that I was in AP, even though I later found out from the embassy I was in mandatory AP, ie at DOS.

A timeframe would also be nice. I sincerely hope that I'm not in AP for three months, or even longer, but having a rough idea as opposed to 'any day' which could be tomorrow or in a year's time is really difficult to deal with.

Also, why don't they use their time more efficiently? After my case, and that of countless others, has been approved by both USCIS and NVC and is waiting for the interview, why don't they do the mandatory name checks then? It's dead time anyway, so why not make use of it?

Edited March 25, 2010 by treehugger

[Queeny 0]

I emailed my congressman a couple of years ago about family immigration reform. I got an email back telling me about everything that she was doing about illegal immigration... I wrote an email back to her about how she obviously didn't read my first email. I did not get another response.

I am aware that she does not read the emails...but what competent office staff she has...

I think sometimes they just don't get it and we have to keep writing, calling, etc. to get their full attention... Don't give up the fight

[Queeny 0]

Whilst my now husband was in AP I sent out a whole slew of letters and received very few responses. Post 9/11 immigration is a pain with all the security checks and what makes it worse is that they are attacking it the wrong way. Think about it, the supposed 9/11 hijackers came on student visas not immigrant visas. Student visas are tracked by the school not the government, so get a student visa, come to the US, don't go to school and just disappear.

The "underwear bomber" was escorted past the security checkpoints and did not even have a valid passport.

Now that health care has passed Obama is promising to work on immigration reform so maybe a year or so down the road something will happen.

yes I agree it may take a year or so, but they certainly need to hear our voice loud and clear. This is particularly important when a politician is up for election or re-election...

[Queeny 0]

Are you kidding me? He must not be seeking re-election!

WHAT I wonder who that is? These politician must know they work for WE THE PEOPLE and represent our interest. We must use our political POWER...

[Queeny 0]

I haven't been in AP that long compared to most here, but what I do find frustrating is the lack of information. Of course, there are times when they need to keep things confidential, but it would be nice to know what's happening. When I found out I was in AP almost three weeks after I'd been approved at the embassy because I hadn't yet got my passport, I called DOS and they wouldn't even confirm that I was in AP, even though I later found out from the embassy I was in mandatory AP, ie at DOS.

A timeframe would also be nice. I sincerely hope that I'm not in AP for three months, or even longer, but having a rough idea as opposed to 'any day' which could be tomorrow or in a year's time is really difficult to deal with.

Also, why don't they use their time more efficiently? After my case, and that of countless others, has been approved by both USCIS and NVC and is waiting for the interview, why don't they do the mandatory name checks then? It's dead time anyway, so why not make use of it?

I think these are the kinds of things that need to change. We should be privy to the timeframes and information they are seeking. I was told by the embassy that they could not give us any information about the AP because it was "illegal" and "confidential". After reviewing the law, the confidence is based on the parties involved and that would be me the petitioner and my husband the beneficiary. So whoes confidence are they keeping? ours? or who? Certainly when its a matter of "national security" I can understand information being withheld, but when the information being obtained is about either me or my husband we should have the right to know... Please write your sentor about this. I hear that the sentor in CA sits on a committee close to this issue.

[Pman's Wife 0]

Reform is a long and arduous battle-- one that is definitely needed. The immigration offices have apparently gone feral. I guess a start would be to support those individuals and organizations already taking on the challenge. Here's an interesting article by David Bennion highlighting USCIS abuses and the consequences of too little oversight:

You can really see why due process guarantees matter after witnessing firsthand the myriad ways USCIS officers get it wrong when they act as the sole prosecutor, judge, and jury and proceed under the presumption that the person in front of them is lying.

http://www.citizenorange.com/orange/2008/03/uscis-in-urgent-need-of-reform.html

[illnevergetthis 5]

I think sometimes they just don't get it and we have to keep writing, calling, etc. to get their full attention... Don't give up the fight

thank you! I won't give up the fight...my husband is worth fighting for.

The US embassy in Jordan doesn't accept calls in the immigration division, so I email them frequently.

These embassies need to be consistent. If one of them takes calls, they all should take calls. I want the same privilages as others. I want yo be able to speak to a CO without having to fly to Jordan.

[Used to be broken 143]

I wrote to my Senator (of Irish descent himself) and his assistant basically told me I shouldn't have married a foreign criminal, soooo.....

Many Congress and Senators are unsympathetic. You should take it to the next level and ask for a "face time" in-district visit. The only way we will see Immigration Reform is if we get face-to-face and show them how much pain we are in because of these laws.

The information you gave on out-dated form is very helpful to those filing I601's. Could save us all time and avoid delay in packets by filing with fresh bio forms.

[treehugger 23]

thank you! I won't give up the fight...my husband is worth fighting for.

The US embassy in Jordan doesn't accept calls in the immigration division, so I email them frequently.

These embassies need to be consistent. If one of them takes calls, they all should take calls. I want the same privilages as others. I want yo be able to speak to a CO without having to fly to Jordan.

Hey, at the London embassy no calls and no emails!! The only information I get is from the DOS or from the courier...yet some embassies, I think UAE is one, they actually have a link on their site where you can input your case number and see its status...so, I agree, all embassies should have the same level of service, after all we/our spouses have all paid the same fees!!

[Queeny 0]

Hey, at the London embassy no calls and no emails!! The only information I get is from the DOS or from the courier...yet some embassies, I think UAE is one, they actually have a link on their site where you can input your case number and see its status...so, I agree, all embassies should have the same level of service, after all we/our spouses have all paid the same fees!!

The embassy in Dakar will only communicate via email. They usually respond timely by the next day but the information is sparse.

Looks like immigration reform might be one of those hot topics in the upcoming election terms. Obama is talking about it...