Senator or Representative?

[Pryceless 0]

Is it better to contact a senator or a representative for an immigration issue?

[unlockingsky 94]

both,

[babygirl1 0]

Is it better to contact a senator or a representative for an immigration issue?

I just sent a fax to my State Senator. On his website, he mentions sending a request to him for federal matters (on the list he had immigration as an option).

[Ning 619]

Is it better to contact a senator or a representative for an immigration issue?

Doesnt make much difference. There is little they can do. Find yours on their web site. You will find a form to fill out and send in. Within a month or so you will get a responce. They will tell you they will do what they can. They will contact you to tell you USCIS reports your case is in progress.

You will be asked if you contacted another politician. If so one will not deal with your situation. Decide on one. These are many of the same people that have avoided immigration issues so dont expect much. None of them has any real power over USCIS anyway.

Edited June 15, 2012 by Ning

[babygirl1 0]

Doesnt make much difference. There is little they can do. Find yours on their web site. You will find a form to fill out and send in. Within a month or so you will get a responce. They will tell you they will do what they can. They will contact you to tell you USCIS reports your case is in progress.

You will be asked if you contacted another politician. If so one will not deal with your situation. Decide on one. These are many of the same people that have avoided immigration issues so dont expect much. None of them has any real power over USCIS anyway.

That sucks! I basically wasted an hour of my day filling out forms, writing out a letter and printing pages to fax off.

[Christi and Ian 24]

Is it better to contact a senator or a representative for an immigration issue?

I contacted both of my Senators and my Representative...I received letters from my Sentators saying that they would get on the case, 2 months after my Representative resolved the issue for me...

[Ning 619]

That sucks! I basically wasted an hour of my day filling out forms, writing out a letter and printing pages to fax off.

Not really. There are people that feel they were helped by these politicians. I know of one case where it is actualy true that one helped. It helps you too because you feel you did all you can do. You alone will know the results of your efforts.

In my own case my husband tried. The result was a total waste of time. When they did have info they sent it to the wrong address. The info they had was useless anyway. There is a reason they all have staff trained to placate the public. Try calling your rep and speking directly to them. Ask them what the last action they took was in regard to immigration reform. Ask why the laws havent changed for 60 years. This is a subject they want nothing to do with.

Post your results for others to see & learn from. Hopefully it will help in your case.

[Big Baby 11]

Agree with Ning. I contacted my Senator. He inquired. The Chief Consular officer at Guangzhou wrote a very polite letter back that said absolutely nothing. Neither Senators nor Congressmen have any jurisdiction over Department of State. Most people think we have three forms of checks and balances in our Constitution: executive, legislative, and judicial. DOS likes to think they are immune from all three. They repeat the mantrum, "matter of national security" and the other three branches just hush up. Why I did it anyway is to go on record. If this case drags on and/or requires further intervention in the future, I can reference my letter to my Senator & the official response back from GUZ. Also, it is comforting to my fiancee to see that I am actively trying to do something to help her - no matter the result.

[kkramps79 0]

It does not always take long. I contacted both of my senators. One took almost a month to email me back with useless info. My other senator their office phoned me the day I submitted info to them on their website letting me know they wasnt much they could do right then (I was contacting about the possibility of my hubby needing a waiver) they told me after his interview if he is required to need a waiver they could contact embassy and possibly direct me to legal help.

So it all depends on where you live and who your senator is. Some will help and some will be quick to respond.

[Noah Lot 391]

Agree with Ning. I contacted my Senator. He inquired. The Chief Consular officer at Guangzhou wrote a very polite letter back that said absolutely nothing. Neither Senators nor Congressmen have any jurisdiction over Department of State. Most people think we have three forms of checks and balances in our Constitution: executive, legislative, and judicial. DOS likes to think they are immune from all three. They repeat the mantrum, "matter of national security" and the other three branches just hush up. Why I did it anyway is to go on record. If this case drags on and/or requires further intervention in the future, I can reference my letter to my Senator & the official response back from GUZ. Also, it is comforting to my fiancee to see that I am actively trying to do something to help her - no matter the result.

Hello....anybody home? the cornerstone of our government is the division of power...DoS is in the executive branch, Congress the legislative...which means no one from one group has authority over the other ... period. Congress cannot order State to issue a visa to the very special person you think is so special...nor does State have to tell you why a visa was denied...that information is protected by current US law (INA 222f)...and that's the way it is, like it or not.

[PMartin37 161]

Babygirl...you should try your U.S. senators and/or U.S. reps. If in the future it comes down to it and I'm in the same situation, I'll be sending everyone including Santa Claus faxes and letters.

Edited June 16, 2012 by PMartin37

[Noah Lot 391]

OP...you mentioned your STATE senator. You don't want to contact them, you want your U.S. Senators and/or U.S. reps that can help you with immigration issues.

all they can do is make inquiries...they are NOT empowered to change decisions.

[PMartin37 161]

all they can do is make inquiries...they are NOT empowered to change decisions.

Yes I get that. I wouldn't be interested in a change, an inquiry could be better than nothing IMO. Personally, I would give it a shot rather than sit on my laurels.

[Christi and Ian 24]

I guess it depends on your Senator/Rep. The staff for my Rep, Mary Bono Mack, called me within 24 hours of my sending them a request for assistance. Our app had been stalled for 6 months. After giving them as much detail as I could, they contacted the California Service Center and sent me a letter explaining their inquiry and request for expedition. Two days after receiving that letter, we were approved.

Two months after that, I got general purpose form letters from my Senators requesting more information.

[Shiobhan 235]

Can Govenors be contacted ......like Coumo