Filed Service Request, got a response....not what we wanted to hear

[dmck 80]

We are August CSC filers for the K1. In January, after waiting for 5 months we called the USCIS and spoke with a really nice ISO tier 2. She recommended we file a service request after she reviewed what ever information the ISO is able to see. While she told me we had nothing to worry about and that things were looking good for us, today I received an email from the USCIS in response to our Service request that made my heart sink. Dear so and so, blah blah, we are currently experiencing resource constraints and your application will be processed in the priority date (which I think is not true, but I will elaborate later). We ask that you wait 120d and if we have not finished your application, then start a new service request. This was a very difficult email to read. Since they asked that we not contact them for 4 months, I called my senator instead. No idea if she can help or not, but at least it made me feel better.

I don't believe the priority because there are August filers, that have a priority date after ours, that have been approved in the last 2 weeks. They had to wait 6 months, so clearly they are not military.

[Inky 1,111]

They had to wait 6 months, so clearly they are not military.

What? I know plenty of people who were military and filing for K-1 that took longer than 6 months for approval. Not everyone military gets expedited petitions.

[dmck 80]

interesting, I didn't realize that was the case. I thought they got expedited by default....thanks for letting me know.

[ndu26 114]

expedite request are subject to the discretion of the director as per USCIS website.

[cassecouilles 3]

Actually, my fiance is military so I've done some research on this. I'm pretty sure you can only have it expedited if the military spouse is due to be deployed abroad. For example, my fiance will be stationed in Cali for a year starting May. We're about 4 months into the process. Imagine that they tell him that he will be deployed abroad (say, to the middle east) in June, than we could file an expedite request and the odds are that it would be approved. Why? Because if I only get my visa approved in June, than I can't make it to the US in time for us to get married before the 90 days expire cause he'll be gone. I can't wait in Europe for him to be back from deployment either because my visa would expire. At least, that's how I THINK the thought process goes :-)

Edited February 8, 2013 by cassecouilles

[Darnell 8,478]

dmck - sorry - those Deferred Action casefiles have bogged down CSC a bunch.

[Greg n Veronica 17]

dmck - sorry - those Deferred Action casefiles have bogged down CSC a bunch.

Yeah, look at this article.

Deferred Action

[Inky 1,111]

Actually, my fiance is military so I've done some research on this. I'm pretty sure you can only have it expedited if the military spouse is due to be deployed abroad. For example, my fiance will be stationed in Cali for a year starting May. We're about 4 months into the process. Imagine that they tell him that he will be deployed abroad (say, to the middle east) in June, than we could file an expedite request and the odds are that it would be approved. Why? Because if I only get my visa approved in June, than I can't make it to the US in time for us to get married before the 90 days expire cause he'll be gone. I can't wait in Europe for him to be back from deployment either because my visa would expire. At least, that's how I THINK the thought process goes :-)

I know people who had that situation and were still denied expedite. The spouse had to deploy and the immigration process had to be put on hold. The expedites are not always accepted sadly.

[dmck 80]

Thanks for the article on deferred action, it was a bit shocking that they have processed so many. Considering that they report that they process 350,000 applications per month and that article pointed out that they processed almost 40k cases per month. This represents 10% of their volume. I also noticed that the number of K1's approved has dropped more than 70% in the last few months.........hmmmm

[Arinlars 19]

This is so sad. We are August fillers too and we are going to call them today.. I hope your senator can help you.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

My favorite new tool:

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=6&office=2&charttype=2

It looks like they have a back-up of 9 months for I-129F cases, and the back-up is getting longer.

[cassecouilles 3]

My favorite new tool:

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=6&office=2&charttype=2

It looks like they have a back-up of 9 months for I-129F cases, and the back-up is getting longer.

I try not to let these posts about backlogs get to me but... dammit. This is insane, why can't they hire more people to make up the difference? If more petitions are being filed, more money is coming in, right? Argh! This is frustrating, it throws everything off, like when to cancel your rent, quit your job, ... Okay, end of rant.

[dmck 80]

If our senator is able to help, I will be posting the update for sure!