How can I let the USCIS know what I think of them

[Minya's wife 25]

$1,000 is not enough to price most people out. Anyone applying for a k1 already makes enough to travel internationally.

Yet there is post after post here from those petitioners who do not meet the financial burden of immigrant sponsorship....

[SupastarsaM 7]

As Loto would say. Patience. I've learned to be very patient and accept things as they are. Our government is not perfect and will never be but the fact that we have the right to go through this process is already more then many governments can say or do. The doors are still open in the United States but there is a process we all have to go through. This isn't the developing nation of the industrial age anymore. Six months is definitely better then a year and a year is better then two years. After the five month date has passed, you do have the option to contact your congressman or women or senator and give them hell about why your case is still not moving. I think the frustration lies in not being able to simply pick up a phone and call to see what's the hold up. The fact that many of us paid a fee to have our petitions considered, reviewed and approved but unable to even know where in line do we stand and how much longer until we get that one piece of paper that makes it all worth the wait until we have to wait again for the NVC to start and then the interview from there. As much as we want time to fly we must learn to have some patience.

I liken it to making an order at Mcdonalds or some other fast food place. We as consumers want our food right after we pay the cashier. When it starts taking more then five minutes I start wondering what the heck is going on back there. Sometimes I ask and sometimes I just tell myself not to go there again. Sometimes they tell me their waiting for my fries which I'm fine with and sometimes it seems like they focus on the drive thru more then the customers inside of the store just to keep it moving.

I've learned to just give the benefit of the doubt. I don't know if that person has had a bad day or what type of stress they might have had recently. I don't really care but I won't complain unless it's something that way totally out of line. I know some people may not have as much patience and that's fine, we're not all the same. In the end I get my food and I book out of that place.

I've read that the wait times used to be much longer then six months. The process used to take over a year. I went through the craziness myself relying too much on the "estimated" approval times. After a while I just said fk it and let the process take it's place. Soon my wife will be here and I won't have to deal with this again. Until then, it's playoff football and work and planning to show my wife sea to shining sea.

Loto said patience.... so patience my friend..

[Nicole-N-Nattoy 24]

I'm sorry you are going through a hard time. I understand how heart wrenching it can be when things are up in limbo. I am thankful that I was ever able to hop on a plane and meet such a wonderful person with just a passport. For some incouragement; If the one you love doesn't end up able to come to the US for whatever reason, know that what you have accomplished wasn't in vain! You have learned so much and was able to share some of yourself with a person you love and loves you in return. Good things that you do will be remembered forever. When you feel like you just can't take it anymore, take some time regroup and know that you can do anything you put your mind 2 with style and grace. If you must speak your mind to them by all means do so. It's freedom of speech and America was also built on that right, but until your journy is over I wouldn't say who you are. They might blacklist ya I hope this has helped you in some way becuase that is what we are supposed to do for one another.

[SupastarsaM 7]

What a great opportunity to say something unpopular!

According to the latest census, there are currently about 310,828,691 people living in the US. Although the Census doesn't tell you how many of those are of Russian descent (if this is what rocks your boat), it's fair to assume that there are more potentially suitable spouses for you than you can possibly check out in your lifetime.

The US Government does not regulate who you can marry, as long as it's a human being (no space robots, no animals) of the opposite gender. What you asked the US Government (not the State) for is to import yet another foreigner from a country that was the US's largest enemy for a very long time, shortly after a Russian Spy ring was exposed.

It is only reasonable for a government, any government, to secure its country's borders and make sure that no unauthorized aliens can enter it or live with it. The US Government takes this mandate very seriously.

I don't think that was a harsh response at all. Bob was simply stating that it was a personal choice to fall in love with someone that lives outside of the United States and therefore have a process that must be taken. Also is correct about the spy's that were living normal lives and embedded themselves in American society. I can understand why the government might want to be extra careful. That cat and mouse game, like it or not will raise an eyebrow from any potential immigrant coming from a country where this has happened.

As for legal and illegal immigrants, I think that's a whole different issue with plenty of fuel for the fire on both sides. While i see the argument that people are coming illegally to make a better life. I also see myself paying more for taxes that I know a percentage goes to public programs intended to help families that needs it. But when I'm at a supermarket and see whomever with a bunch of kids and two carts of groceries paying with food stamps then seeing them hop into a nice Escalade and my monkey a$$ paying cash for everything thinking it would be nice if I can just milk it. My mind is ####### and why? But that's a whole nother argument to deal with...

[Vuvu zela 9]

It's one thing to come on forums like this and complain a bit about the length of the process.

(It's only human. The wait is unbearable sometimes, and we all want this journey to be over in a second!)

It's quite another to write a letter to USCIS to vent your frustration without providing any solutions to improve the system.

I'm 100% for improving a process, but venting without providing appropriate solutions to solve the problem is a little too dry for my taste!

Edited January 4, 2011 by Vuvu zela

[Mike and Minchian 3]

I did a bit of reading before I filed and it looked like it would take 3 months or so to get an NOA2. Hasn't quite worked out that way. The uncertainty is worse than the waiting. I'd gladly pay for some certainty.

If someone is applying for a k visa with their parents or co-workers money...well, glad I'm not them. How do you support him or her once he/she gets here? Presumably if s/he doesn't provide airfare, the foreign fiance is not particularly rich. I am fortunate to have generous parents but no way in hell they are going to support my fiance/wife. Sorry, not going to get any sympathy from me. I'm selling my boat (which I love and put a lot of work into) just in case I don't have enough saved. Such is life. If you are borrowing money from co-workers and friends you shouldn't be moving towards supporting someone. While many immigrants find jobs it's not that easy and takes a while in this economy.

[KiwiBird 132]

Yes, because only those who have the ability to support someone completely should be able to fall in love, get married, and be with the person they love. Right? (That is sarcasm.)

Some people that go this route are students. I guess students shouldn't ever get married either?

Sorry, but I really have to disagree. Its great you aren't in that situation and its great you wouldn't want to be. However, not everyone is as lucky as you. Being a student and needing a sponsor is not a shameful thing at all. Its unfortunate that you disagree.

[KiwiBird 132]

And for the record, I do make enough to support myself. I will not need a sponsor. However, my budget is extremely tight and I cannot "afford to travel internationally. "

[Al422 221]

I'm 100% for improving a process, but venting without providing appropriate solutions to solve the problem is a little too dry for my taste!

Well, no I don't know how to improve the system without throwing tons of money on it.

But then, I am not there on the inside to see what our $1,820.00 an hour gets wasted on. If I could see where it gets wasted, I could cut out all the waste and fraud that is going on and redirect the money to the quality service we deserve.

And also, I earn but a small fraction of the money of the guy who is running the show. If I could run it better than he could, I should be getting more money than he is getting, not less.

For the amount of money he is getting, I certainly do expect him to do a better job.

[Al422 221]

Want a constructive suggestion? Here is one:

Let the IRS process these petitions instead of USCIS.

Sound crazy? Look at it this way: The IRS processes over 100 million tax returns in 3 1/2 months. Each one gets processed in under 5 weeks, less than 1/4 of the time it takes USCIS to process an I129f, despite the IRS having over 50 times as many filings to process as does USCIS.

AND the IRS does not require the $1,820.00 per hour the USCIS claims to need to break even. The IRS works for free.

Less than 1/4 of the processing time despite over 50 times the workload and no fees to pay for any of it! Hats off to the fine work at the Internal Revenue Service!

So what was that I read about how USCIS is government and that';s the way government is, so deal with it?

Edited January 4, 2011 by Al422

[Barbara J 115]

Other than the VJ website where we filers share our thoughts during this journey. I really have some things on my chest that I would like to share with geniuses that run the USCIS. Apparently, they don't care to accept our evaluations and I feel that they already know what we think of them.

Professionalism, in my book, is another way of using the word 'Honor'. without honor, we the human kind have no responsibility to strive for anything good. A man with no honor will say something today and forgets before sun goes down, simply because he does not have will to keep his word. Same for a Company or an Institution of some kind that should run by a team of professionals. Usually their goal is to maintain a certain level of professionalism in order to achieve a good reputation.

The problem with the USCSI is that it runs below the standards of professionalism, therefore we can not expect real solutions. We just pay the big bucks-and I mean some of us have overpaid and go wait for God knows how long.

There should be no reason for any of us to have to wait 1 day more than what was posted 5months/150days. The extention was already overbearing.

I really don't find this amusing anymore!!

Even when we get the visa, It won't be the same anymore, It's been a real turn off!!

We know it takes a long time for all this to process but it's not like going to the local shop for a loaf of bread is it? We pay lots of money and damm I know that for sure but you just can't expect to fill in a form and be allowed to enter a country without some restrictions and formality and regulations. Goodness we started in February and I did not get here till September so I know the pain of waiting and being apart.But this country has to have rules and regulations, and there has to be questions answered as to who the intending immigrant is. They just can't allow any Tom , ####### or Harry in. Imagine what it would be like if it was easy as that, heavens there would be all sorts of people living here and in other countries, criminal, con artists, murderers and so on. Someone told me while I was waiting to come here that there is no victory without the fight.

I know it is a long process but so worth it in the end, all the tears have dried now and am happy as pigs in mud. Be patient and all will happen and remember also you are dealing with a government department and nothing happens quickly and that applies to most countries trust me.

[Al422 221]

We know it takes a long time for all this to process but it's not like going to the local shop for a loaf of bread is it? We pay lots of money and damm I know that for sure but you just can't expect to fill in a form and be allowed to enter a country without some restrictions and formality and regulations. Goodness we started in February and I did not get here till September so I know the pain of waiting and being apart.But this country has to have rules and regulations, and there has to be questions answered as to who the intending immigrant is. They just can't allow any Tom , ####### or Harry in. Imagine what it would be like if it was easy as that, heavens there would be all sorts of people living here and in other countries, criminal, con artists, murderers and so on. Someone told me while I was waiting to come here that there is no victory without the fight.

I know it is a long process but so worth it in the end, all the tears have dried now and am happy as pigs in mud. Be patient and all will happen and remember also you are dealing with a government department and nothing happens quickly and that applies to most countries trust me.

This is a very nice theory, but in case you haven't noticed, 30 million Toms, DIcks and Harrys have already snuck across the border. And for them, it was as easy as that.

For a system to work, people must have confidence that it will work for them. Thirty million Latinos already decided that the system would not work for them, and I am wondering why we are putting up with this so called system when those 30 million took their shortcut, and the shortcut worked for them, just like that. No rules, no regulations, no questions answered. Just like that.

[sara..... 371]

truthfully this complete system was a failure for me and many others that waited years to get just thru the service center then when the embassy could not find a legal reason to deny the visa just sat back and waited for the date to expire and sent the petition back as expired petition having that much power in some strangers hands is criminal i believe but until there is a realistic way to fix it that's what we are stuck with......

just my opinion

sara

[Bob g 11]

Yea, our government has been sooooo good at doing that. Hell, they told ICE to stop deporting illegals at one point who got arrested by county/state police...The government causes more problems when it comes to immigration than it helps. Our borders right now are as porous as a sponge.

"Our borders-porous as a sponge". That would make a great bumper sticker..

[Bob g 11]

So since you can afford to pay more you are somehow more deserving? Sounds a little elitist to me.

John

An extra $1000 is a very small amount to pay to not go through alot of months of waiting. Read recently that outside the China Consulate for $5000 you could get your Visa Petion approved, "guaranteed". I would gladly pay an extra $5000 to not go this process for as long as my girl and I have done. $5000 would be a small amount compare to another trip to China, and running two households instead of one, for the past year, since our denial in dec 09....