Congressman

[Boiler 46,974]

We're trying to get my husband back in time so he can see

his daughter graduate high school in May (She's Valedictorian

of her class). He has not seen her since she was 2 years old.

We're disappointed that we won't make it in time for her 18th

birthday.

He can do that on the VWP.

[TraciB 0]

My husband and I contacted our congressman about 2 weeks ago. They been in contact with us twice. The last call was yesterday. They informed us that CSC said our case was not with anyone and had not been pulled as yet :(

Now that I see people with my priority date are now being approved..I am getting worried!!!!!

Keep following up with your Congressman's Immigration Liaison, I stayed in touch with mine about every two weeks, by phone. He was very helpful and very kind. Always better with human contact.

[Chicagoguy 2 27]

I think most congressional offices honestly do try but unless they are on a commitee that controls the purse strings for for that particular department nothing will happen. At least nothing big will happen.

What are there - 435 congressmen? They won't jump for all of them.

[maiortum 6]

Hi All,

We complete six months since our NOA1 in a couple of days, and my husband is looking at getting in touch with his local congressman, Ed Royce. Could you give me some input as to what needs to be mentioned in the letter to the gentleman?

I know you know this: each state has two United States Senators. I am in Nevada. We have two also. One Democrat and one Republican. The request for help for a disabled Vietnam Veteran to expedite his case was sent to both Senators. The Democrat Senator promptly replied and within 5 days CSC confirmed acceptance of my case and we are moving forward.

I believe visiting your elected official's office in person is imperative. Must be a compelling case for expedite. My VA doctor has written a letter for me.

But I also believe that persons who are working in USCIS and NVC are good people who do their jobs diligently but their hands are tied in the fact that they must follow the law and all rules and regulations.

I am offended that some are suggesting that there are unfair methods working.

The case load at USCIS is heavy and none of us want to pay extra taxes or extra fees. I am not in favor of extra fees as that makes the wealthy people gain an unfair advantage.

I believe in God and that is the best friend one can have.

I wish you God speed and Many Blessings.

ps. You will be asked to sign a Release of Confidential information form. Your USCIS case number and some documentation to show compelling need for expedite request. It still does not guarantee that you will be approved.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Hi All,

We complete six months since our NOA1 in a couple of days, and my husband is looking at getting in touch with his local congressman, Ed Royce. Could you give me some input as to what needs to be mentioned in the letter to the gentleman?

Write a letter, stating the facts and avoid all opinions. The facts are that you receive NOA1 on data X, the service center web site lists X months as the target to give a decision for the petition, that target makes the decision to be made on date Z and is now date XX and you have no decision. If you have called the center, provide the info of when and what the result was. You need to provide your case number. Then request congressman to inquiry about your case and that you expect his office will resolve the situation (as probably their web site offers, I'd even copy what they offer verbatim) and to provide an estimate on when decision is to be made.

You need to provide authorization for his/her office to inquiry in your behalf, there usually is a form at the congressman/woman web site.

Nothing might happen, but you never know. Many VJ member have written that a congressman involvement does nothing. I wrote a letter to mine when my petition went past the time it was promised. I did get a reply of the congressman that he was looking into it (form letter, nothing to be excited about), couple of days later I got a another letter with a copy of an e-mail message that indicated my case was in processing; I was ready to send another letter and that same evening I get a message from USCIS that we are approved and NOA2 is to be mailed.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

Keep following up with your Congressman's Immigration Liaison, I stayed in touch with mine about every two weeks, by phone. He was very helpful and very kind. Always better with human contact.

Agree on that. See my original reply above. As others have written, the people at USCIS are probably doing the best they can given their limitations and the volume of cases they have to work on. That is the sad reality of public service: not enough resources while at same time politicians spend large amounts of money to be elected / re-elected.

When you write to your Congressman/woman remember it is your right to have justice expedited (and I don't mean your case to be expedited necessarily). Writing a letter and/or calling makes them pay a bit more attention than if you remain anonymous and don't ask for what is your right.

[JessicaBooth 4]

I wrote a letter/email directly to one of our state senators instead of a congressman, and they got back to me pretty quickly and helped me so much with everything to speed the process along. I ended up working with the head of travel/visas person and she was amazing in getting back to us and calming through the process.

[MaggieT 4]

I wrote a letter/email directly to one of our state senators instead of a congressman, and they got back to me pretty quickly and helped me so much with everything to speed the process along. I ended up working with the head of travel/visas person and she was amazing in getting back to us and calming through the process.

Well I just mailed in my application today and I hope my congressman will be able to help to speed up the process. I guess it depends on the congressman and how much work they have.

I hope it works for you....and I hope it will work for me

Good Luck!!!

[chelsea09 0]

Hi All,

We complete six months since our NOA1 in a couple of days, and my husband is looking at getting in touch with his local congressman, Ed Royce. Could you give me some input as to what needs to be mentioned in the letter to the gentleman?

hi! don't know if this helps...but, we got our noa2 last feb 7 with a noa1 july 20. so it was 6months, 2 weeks, 4 days for us to get the approval.

on feb 6th, our lawyer called the USCIS and was informed that we still had to wait for 30days, i was so crushed, then on february 8th, our lawyer checked the USCIS website and got excited to see that we have been approved on the 7th and decision was mailed too. we just got the hardcopy of the noa2 last february 14th. it was weird that our lawyer was told we had to wait for 30days more, then next day we got the approval. i know a VJ member with the same timeline as ours that she also called USCIS a few days before she got approved and was told she had to wait for 90days!!!

anyway, hope you get yours soon.

[Divs 35]

Hey there,

Well, my husband faxed the privacy act or some such thing form signed as well as a cover letter with the case number yesterday, and later in the afternoon called up the congressman's office, who secretary confirmed receipt of the said fax. Moreover, hubby also received an email confirmation stating that the matter will be looked into over the next few days.

Keeping my fingers crossed and praying hard now.

Hi Divya,

I just sent a message via his website. No response for 2 weeks.

So i sent 2nd message with the issue and said that i'm doing a follow up to my previous msg sent 2 weeks ago.

After about another week, i got reply from his secretary or assistant. They sent me a form to sign. i signed and emailed back.

They opened case with USCIS CSC and they said to wait another 30 days...and to call back if we get any progress bla bla bla

So end of this month will be the 30 days that they mentioned. I hope i get NOA2 before then.

It'll be 6 months waiting for me after a week from now.

I don't know of other options to take, it seems kinda hopeless, i wouldn't know if contacting my congressman helped or not because it has already be over 6 months but i suppose i couldn't hurt so thats why i contacted. sigh....

[Divs 35]

Just to clear the air a bit. We are not looking at expediting our case. We got in touch with the congressman because we're at six months, haven't received any RFEs (touchwood), and the file has been touched just once, around 10 days after filing. I have never ever implied that the employees at USCIS or CSC aren't doing their job. They are as human as any of us, and I do understand they might be pretty backed up. All I'm looking for is some progress, and if getting in touch with the Congressman helps, then so be it. If not, my husband and I will just have to continue with the wait until it gets approved.

I'd appreciate it if others don't jump to conclusions (if you have, that is) here. While we do realize that there are plenty of July filers still waiting, we're just trying to make some headway here. 'Tis all. Thanks and God bless!

[Darnell 8,479]

Hey there,

Well, my husband faxed the privacy act or some such thing form signed as well as a cover letter with the case number yesterday, and later in the afternoon called up the congressman's office, who secretary confirmed receipt of the said fax. Moreover, hubby also received an email confirmation stating that the matter will be looked into over the next few days.

Keeping my fingers crossed and praying hard now.

That's great. Remind yer husband to use the telephone, calling in, getting a human at that office.

[my wife please 0]

Today I sent the form from my Congressman's wep page in as well to release the info to him. I will be following up with phone calls in a few days. I think it can't hurt to try. My lawyer called the CSC on Friday while I was in her office & she was told I-130's were now taking 8 months. Since I have not been on VJ for a long time, when I filed the I-130 I also filed the I-129f for a K-3, the date on that is 8.29, the I-130 is 8.9. She was told that the I-129f will be looked at in 16 days. At this point I am thinking about pulling the I-129f but I'm not sure what to do. I chatted with my wife & she said she would just wait for the I-130...CR1. I think I would rather go the CR1 route because the I-129f has taken so long now........

Edited February 18, 2012 by my wife please

[Adriene H 89]

He can do that on the VWP.

He hasn't been able to afford airfare.

[Boiler 46,974]

I think I would have saved, you made it sound like it was down to the immigration process.