Contacting Senators and Congress representatives about a case

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

Hi guys, Amy here! Victor and I decided that I should contact my representatives to look into our case for us. Thing is, I've heard different things. I've heard that I should contact a senator, and I've heard I should contact a congressman/woman from my district. Also, my state has 2 senators. Should I just contact everyone I can, or should I contact just one person? I understand I have to print, sign, and send in a privacy authorization form. But having 2 senators as well as a congressman to choose from, who would be better to contact? Thanks for any tips you may have! I'm hoping that this will help us!

[Oksana & Max 94]

If you would want to contact someone it would be a congressman/woman. But why would you want to do that based on your timeline you are still within reasonable amount of time from your NOA-1.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

Well, I contacted my congressman today via mail, and also called the USCIS customer service number, just in case, and the guy on the phone tonight actually put in a service request for us! Most of the reps on the phone answer that they *can't* do it at all for various reasons (I swear almost every day it was a different answer), but this guy did it for me! Now they have 15 days to respond to this request and get some kind of answer to me. What do you think, VJers...I should likely contact my congressman's office tomorrow and let them know about this service request and to hold off on contacting USCIS on my behalf, correct? I honestly wasn't expecting this development, because every agent on the phone at USCIS hasn't put in a service request, but this guy did...anyway, the mere fact that this agent was willing/able to do it for me this evening is a very pleasant surprise for sure!

Amy

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

If you would want to contact someone it would be a congressman/woman. But why would you want to do that based on your timeline you are still within reasonable amount of time from your NOA-1.

The reason I wanted to have someone intervene on our behalf is because a lot of petitioners who filed after us have already received their NOA2, and we have not. Furthermore, we are beyond the 5-month processing time with no NOA2, no RFE, no contact whatsoever from USCIS (aside from my change of address when I moved to a new apartment). For us, it's reasonable to start asking, "Why no response by now?" Also, I'd been getting the run-around on the phone, receiving a different answer from USCIS agents every time I called. I don't think it was unreasonable for me to want to contact a representative. I got lucky tonight, however, when a USCIS agent was able to put in a service request for our case (something that all agents hadn't been able, or had refused to do, until tonight, for some reason). I'm hoping this service request will yield something positive!

I also learned with some further research that you can contact your congressperson for your district, or a senator. Both officials can look into immigration and visa cases. I chose to contact my local representative, because his district of constituents is local, so much less of a workload than a senator. I'm just putting this info out there for anyone in the future who may be wondering.

[az110965 252]

If you would want to contact someone it would be a congressman/woman. But why would you want to do that based on your timeline you are still within reasonable amount of time from your NOA-1.

Because he is not as fortunate as you were to receive his NOA-2 in only 4 months...

[az110965 252]

The reason I wanted to have someone intervene on our behalf is because a lot of petitioners who filed after us have already received their NOA2, and we have not. Furthermore, we are beyond the 5-month processing time with no NOA2, no RFE, no contact whatsoever from USCIS (aside from my change of address when I moved to a new apartment). For us, it's reasonable to start asking, "Why no response by now?" Also, I'd been getting the run-around on the phone, receiving a different answer from USCIS agents every time I called. I don't think it was unreasonable for me to want to contact a representative. I got lucky tonight, however, when a USCIS agent was able to put in a service request for our case (something that all agents hadn't been able, or had refused to do, until tonight, for some reason). I'm hoping this service request will yield something positive!

I also learned with some further research that you can contact your congressperson for your district, or a senator. Both officials can look into immigration and visa cases. I chose to contact my local representative, because his district of constituents is local, so much less of a workload than a senator. I'm just putting this info out there for anyone in the future who may be wondering.

I understand your pain, and even though I'm definitely not angry at petitioners who filed after me who've already received their NOA-2, I'm still pissed at the system.

You have every right to contact your Congressman. I hope he/she is able to make some difference and get your petition touched. You have waited long enough!

Best of luck.

P.S. Tell your Congressman to ask about my petition also!!

[at long last 58]

I understand VERY well your frustration. Take a look at our timeline and the process we have gone through.

Terri

good luck

[az110965 252]

I understand VERY well your frustration. Take a look at our timeline and the process we have gone through.

Terri

good luck

Terri,

I can't believe you STILL haven't your NOA-2. This is absolutely ridiculous and USCIS owes you an explanation!

Anyone who believes the USCIS ####### that they process petitions in the order received needs to have their head examined.

I am praying for your NOA-2. You deserve it.

Best of luck.

[Liz Alvarado 3]

I also USCIS forwards a service request by our case, my boyfriend called on Monday and an officer asked the number of our status of the case, and answered not understand that this case is not resolved if you time it approves each service Center USCIS sent the SR and in two weeks you will have answer to my fiance on the progress of our case, given a case number to tell my boyfriend to call when someone USC knows this, which means that number who provided him??

[kev_n_jena 89]

I understand everyones frustration with this process. We got lucky when we went through it. My personal opinion is that the federal government should concentrate their resources on tasks like visa processing and others that they are constitutionally responsible for and spend less time telling me I can't talk on my phone in my car, buy an incandescent light bulb, or hauling baseball players before congress. Good luck with the bureaucracy.

[edwardteresa4ever 18]

I understand everyones frustration with this process. We got lucky when we went through it. My personal opinion is that the federal government should concentrate their resources on tasks like visa processing and others that they are constitutionally responsible for and spend less time telling me I can't talk on my phone in my car, buy an incandescent light bulb, or hauling baseball players before congress. Good luck with the bureaucracy.

Congresperson is a good start, but even then you have to be a constant pest, U.S. Senate if their is a problem that can not be resolved, either way your dealing with a pretty ineffecient system,almost better off hanging a calender on your wall and throwing darts at it to see where they land. Vote for Ron Paul he wants to tighten our borders and streamline legal immigration to a 30 day process, hes got my vote while we patiently go on month six next week with still no NOA2, Good luck to us all.

[az110965 252]

It's just laughable that even TODAY on the USCIS site, CSC is still showing 5 month processing times for I-129F's. One poster called USCIS and they were told CSC is currently processing petitions dated June 16.

####### is the purpose of posting guidelines, only to find out that USCIS doesn't keep their word? They take longer then their own stated timeframe and when a petitioner (CUSTOMER) calls, they are told "tough luck, we'll process it when we feel like it". What total BS.

So many poor standards of service in place at USCIS. If they were a private company they would have gone out of business a long time ago. Yes, the occassional petitioner gets lucky and receives their NOA-2 in a timely basis - they are the exception rather than the rule...

All of this wonderful assistance from a government agency for the low, low fee of only $340.

I have half a mind to call my Congresman daily just to ###### about the process - not to ask for his assistance. Maybe if EVERY Congressman's office was receiving 100 phone calls a day about the same thing they would look into the problems at USCIS.

Edited December 15, 2011 by az110965

[TBoneTX 48,958]

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) is mercifully not running for re-election, but someone I know well tried to contact her chief aide in the Dallas office for help. After a full day of doing nothing but trying to get through, the constituent finally reached the aide and was immediately told (with contemptuous disdain), "The Senator has far better things to do than to concern herself with one person's K-1 petition."

I personally hope that Ted Cruz wins her open seat.

[az110965 252]

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (Texas) is mercifully not running for re-election, but someone I know well tried to contact her chief aide in the Dallas office for help. After a full day of doing nothing but trying to get through, the constituent finally reached the aide and was immediately told (with contemptuous disdain), "The Senator has far better things to do than to concern herself with one person's K-1 petition."

I personally hope that Ted Cruz wins her open seat.

Hey Bone - Hi Man!

True words from the Senator's aide...Why would they help one of their voters when they are:

1) Meeting with lobbyists

2) Cashing PAC checks

3) Arguing across the aisle and accomplishing nothing

4) Campaigning for the last full year of their term

5) Taking 4 months of vacations

6) Attending "Fact finding" trips to Hawaii

God bless the public servants!