Report USCIS to the Consumer Protection Agency

[wshc 46]

What would it be like if complaints could be placed with the Federal Consumer Protection Agency against Government Agencies such as USCIS and the rest? Would it increase the preformance and responsiveness of government agencies?

What if an independent group such as Consumer Reports rated USCIS? What would it say?

Thoughts?

[Staashi 371]

They owe you nothing except a thorough review of your case. If processing is a tad slow it is because these cases take time. Our ROC took 11 months due to a slew of cases being processed with fee changes. Fortunately, our naturalization only took about 4 months. It all balanced out in the end.

[wshc 46]

They owe you nothing except a thorough review of your case. If processing is a tad slow it is because these cases take time. Our ROC took 11 months due to a slew of cases being processed with fee changes. Fortunately, our naturalization only took about 4 months. It all balanced out in the end.

What about cases where USCIS made mistakes in advice or procedure?

Another thought -

what if incidents of poor service by USCIS could be reported to the Better Business Bureau and the head of the USCIS had to answer to Congress about why reported incidents took place? Would something like that in the system help increase processing times by USCIS?

Thoughts?

[Anh map 2,098]

Better Business Bureau is a voluntary organization. It's not a government agency.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Nope.

[wshc 46]

Better Business Bureau is a voluntary organization. It's not a government agency.

Yes I know that. The point is, what if Government agencies were held to the same standards as the private sector? What if Government agencies were subject to sanctions under consumer protection laws when they do wrong things? Of course they can always be sued in Federal Court, but I am thinking about a quicker more open system of accountability. Would it make a difference in their performance?

Of course, if the USCIS had several hundred compalints filed against it with the BBB or the CPA then there is not much you could do. There is no alternative if you need their services, but at least their performance would be a matter of public record and maybe it would get the attention of people that can change the system (politicians).

[Kathryn41 3,205]

The Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman's Office currently maintains an active list of complaints, files regular reports about concerns and issues clients have with USCIS as well as takes on certain advocacy roles on behalf of individuals and agencies dealing with USCIS. The Ombudsman's report is public and is published so members of the Government are aware of the issues raised. Here is a link to the USCIS' response to the 2010 Ombudman's Annual Report about problems and complaints at USCIS: http://docs.google.c...0ibMomYV_N6qZ4A If the whole link doesn't work, you can google it as "USCIS Response to the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman's 2010 Annual Report".

You may find this interesting - from the introduction:

I. INTRODUCTION

Each year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives approximately six

million applications and petitions for legal review and adjudication. In completing this

workload, USCIS carries out its vital mission to ensure the security and integrity of the

immigration system, provide efficient and customer-oriented immigration benefits and

information services, and increase understanding of citizenship and its privileges and

responsibilities.

Six million applications . . . and family based ones apparently are in the minority (from the content of the report).

If you wish to see the case load from 2001 to 2010 - broken down into their different categories and listing countries of origin, you can check this link - it is the annual yearbook. Click on any of the items that interest you to get the details.

http://www.dhs.gov/f...ions/LPR10.shtm

What I am trying to say is the problem with the backlog of workload is a well known one that has been established for a number of years and is being actively worked on. There is more to USCIS than I-130 petitions - in fact they state that as of August 2010 they had reduced the backlog from over 1 million to 350,000- while still processing incoming applications. Their 'goal' is a 4 month turn around time as was promised to Congress. They are not there yet, but the problem is well known. As you can see with the report, they do more than process family based applications - much more.

Edited April 23, 2011 by Kathryn41

[wshc 46]

Excellent Information, thanks.

I just don't think that has the same impact in the general public as a Consumer Reports Headline like this -

"Misinformation by USCIS no-brain robots add several months to separation time of hundreds of cases involving your fellow citizens"

Until the general public is well informed about what is going on nothing is going to change.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

USCIS isn't consumer goods.

[wshc 46]

Products and services are also reviewed by Consumer Reports. Don't take it all so literal. This is an abstract thought being thrown out there. It will never happen in reality anyway.

btw.. I think your two cats are really funny!

Edited April 24, 2011 by wshc