Having a VOICE

[RachaelP 3]

I have contacted my congresswoman's office, and a district aide there has reviewed my letter and plans to contact CSC on my behalf today. While I want to be optimistic, I can't help but notice how dispassionate my congresswoman's aides are because they don't grasp the severity of things at CSC. When talking to my representatives' office personnel, I have found that any evidence from VJ is received skeptically. They seem to only consider data received directly from the USCIS website as valid. They say, "Where did you get this data? Not from the USCIS website, right?" I even had one office liaison say,"DACA has a separate department working on it, so they would not slow down other petitions. I am sure the USCIS has never said that DACA has affected K1 petitions." I was careful to show support for the EXISTENCE of DACA, while questioning the handling of these applications. However, reps seem to be unwilling to consider anything other than what USCIS directly puts out there.

It is so frustrating to have such bright minds here on VJ working to expose the problem at CSC, yet the representatives office only want to recognize data from the USCIS. If the USCIS was transparent in their work, then this would be fine. But they are anything BUT transparent! We NEED the intelligent people here on VJ that determine and share accurate data. But how do we give them a voice that representatives are wiling to hear?

[Darnell 8,478]

a funded PAC. <EOM>

[2far 185]

The timing of this post is perfect for me. I just got off the phone with the rep for my Senator's office. I was completely dumbfounded by her ability to not only restate all of the USCIS stock responses, but to allude that there is nothing wrong with the USCIS stating the same processing date for 3 months straight when they have a national goal of 5 months. she couldn't have cared less. Completely helpless.

[Andreea&Kevin 38]

The data provided by most of the people from VJ is right from the USCIS website. For example http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/421247-i-129f-delay-at-the-csc-a-comprehensive-analysis-of-the-data/

It's just rearranged and put on different graphs. The real problem is the data coming from USCIS is at least 2 months behind. I think for those of you with difficult congressional staffers your argument will get much stronger with the next USCIS update. Both of these should be updated within the next 2 weeks.

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=6&office=2&charttype=1

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1b52d725f5501310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=1b52d725f5501310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

[Bayareaguy 156]

We can manually mine some data off of the USCIS website via the receipt numbers. In fact, I was just trying to find the late november-december numbers now, but cant find them.

It would be nice if people could post # near theirs, so we can look some up, get data directly from USCIS, and shove that in the face of the lazy congressmen personnel.

In fact, I'll start right here: For CSC NOA1 around the second week of August, look for numbers WAC1290469XXX (fill in numbers for XXX)

Could other people do this please?

Thanks.

[moondream 36]

We can manually mine some data off of the USCIS website via the receipt numbers. In fact, I was just trying to find the late november-december numbers now, but cant find them.

It would be nice if people could post # near theirs, so we can look some up, get data directly from USCIS, and shove that in the face of the lazy congressmen personnel.

In fact, I'll start right here: For CSC NOA1 around the second week of August, look for numbers WAC1290469XXX (fill in numbers for XXX)

Could other people do this please?

Thanks.

Around July 17 try around wac1290432XXX. I check 15 daily around our case # everyday none have change,

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I have contacted my congresswoman's office, and a district aide there has reviewed my letter and plans to contact CSC on my behalf today. While I want to be optimistic, I can't help but notice how dispassionate my congresswoman's aides are because they don't grasp the severity of things at CSC. When talking to my representatives' office personnel, I have found that any evidence from VJ is received skeptically. They seem to only consider data received directly from the USCIS website as valid. They say, "Where did you get this data? Not from the USCIS website, right?" I even had one office liaison say,"DACA has a separate department working on it, so they would not slow down other petitions. I am sure the USCIS has never said that DACA has affected K1 petitions." I was careful to show support for the EXISTENCE of DACA, while questioning the handling of these applications. However, reps seem to be unwilling to consider anything other than what USCIS directly puts out there.

It is so frustrating to have such bright minds here on VJ working to expose the problem at CSC, yet the representatives office only want to recognize data from the USCIS. If the USCIS was transparent in their work, then this would be fine. But they are anything BUT transparent! We NEED the intelligent people here on VJ that determine and share accurate data. But how do we give them a voice that representatives are wiling to hear?

I'm sorry, all of the super sleuths on this website are working on rumor and paranoia. Plenty of others have argues against DACA slowing things down (because their notice says they will hire more people), or have argued that influx of applications happens from time to time, or have tried to explain how the centers readjust their workload, but some people in these progress report subforums just want to blame it on someone. Two years ago everyone was blaming Haitians for having an earthquake and messing up their immigration. Before that it was someone else, and before that, someone else.

If you can't understand how a self-reporting website can be prone to error and mob mentality, then I don't know what to say.

[Bayareaguy 156]

My concern is the posted BS July date, when they are clearly working on newer dates, and that the USCIS call centers and even Congressional liaisons are regurgitating this, and using it to keep from having to do anything.

Whether it's DACA, the wine in France, your 5th cousin, or the polar bears causing the delay in processing is irrelevant to me.

[2far 185]

Agreed, I don't care what the reason is, the delays are unacceptable. Late July filers are looking at close to nine months now. I'm complaining because they will never get to mine if they don't get through July first.

Edited April 10, 2013 by 2far

[MaryRyan 5]

Agreed, I don't care what the reason is, the delays are unacceptable. Late July filers are looking at close to nine months now. I'm complaining because they will never get to mine if they don't get through July first.

Sad part is, when they get to someone after you. Two people after you. Three. Four. Five. and so on. The system is a wreck. It has no organization and their priorities aren't in place. I couldn't be happier for those who were approved, but I blame USCIS for the unfair treatment. Oh, and what happened to Obama's speech about Legal immigration being priority? Seems like it would have been better for my fiance to have swam here a couple years ago instead of paying fees and filing documents.

[Oregon Bound 30]

I'm sorry, all of the super sleuths on this website are working on rumor and paranoia. Plenty of others have argues against DACA slowing things down (because their notice says they will hire more people), or have argued that influx of applications happens from time to time, or have tried to explain how the centers readjust their workload, but some people in these progress report subforums just want to blame it on someone. Two years ago everyone was blaming Haitians for having an earthquake and messing up their immigration. Before that it was someone else, and before that, someone else.

If you can't understand how a self-reporting website can be prone to error and mob mentality, then I don't know what to say.

Oh my! I find it hard to understand how you can dismiss the many hours some VJ members have put in to analyzing data from various sources, looking at trends on both here and the USCIS website as well as reading many, many posts from other members with their experiences of contacting congressmen, senators and USCIS directly.

What I see from what I have looked at and what other members have stated AND what is available on the USCIS website is that my assumption that they are processing later dates to bring down the average processing time at the CSC is correct. I have seen nothing that indicates otherwise.

I have stated this a number of times in the hope that others will look at the data and see for themselves. They don't always so I keep repeating what I found out. It's of little comfort to most July/August filers because it does look like we will have a wait of almost a year from our NOA1 to our NOA2. They will back track to us once they have got to about the National Goal. Indeed I have seen it come down from over 10 months average to 7.2 months avereage very recently.

I worked in an accounts center for many years. I juggled figures, read charts, interpreted data on a daily basis. I know about meeting targets and how to do it!

Paranoia? I don't think so!

Edited April 11, 2013 by Oregon Bound

[Greenshoots 2]

I know many feel differently, but I do not think bring DACA into the discussion is effective. I wrote a letter to Senator. Using USCIS data, I wrote that the CSC output of I129 is lowest in two years reported. Also, it is easy to see that the output is creating a 1000 deficit each month. My senator's office agreed to contact CSC on my behalf and I am waiting to hear the result of this- it has been 3 days.

[F&N 7]

I have contacted my congresswoman's office, and a district aide there has reviewed my letter and plans to contact CSC on my behalf today. While I want to be optimistic, I can't help but notice how dispassionate my congresswoman's aides are because they don't grasp the severity of things at CSC. When talking to my representatives' office personnel, I have found that any evidence from VJ is received skeptically. They seem to only consider data received directly from the USCIS website as valid. They say, "Where did you get this data? Not from the USCIS website, right?" I even had one office liaison say,"DACA has a separate department working on it, so they would not slow down other petitions. I am sure the USCIS has never said that DACA has affected K1 petitions." I was careful to show support for the EXISTENCE of DACA, while questioning the handling of these applications. However, reps seem to be unwilling to consider anything other than what USCIS directly puts out there.

It is so frustrating to have such bright minds here on VJ working to expose the problem at CSC, yet the representatives office only want to recognize data from the USCIS. If the USCIS was transparent in their work, then this would be fine. But they are anything BUT transparent! We NEED the intelligent people here on VJ that determine and share accurate data. But how do we give them a voice that representatives are wiling to hear?

I hope you have better luck with your Rep than us. I met with my Congresswoman's Representative in person. Brought with me the privacy release form, wrote a letter explaining our situation, and attached a copy of our NOA1. She acted as she was absolutely going to help us but stated that could take USCIS up to 45 days to get back to her. I called on Tuesday (two weeks since I met her), she said she put in a request and has not heard back and that SHE WOULD CALL ME when she did. Some people have had better luck and within even just a week their rep has a response or they even get their NOA2 a week after their met with their rep. We are still waiting to hear back.

[bingowashisnameoh 17]

I'm sorry, all of the super sleuths on this website are working on rumor and paranoia. Plenty of others have argues against DACA slowing things down (because their notice says they will hire more people), or have argued that influx of applications happens from time to time, or have tried to explain how the centers readjust their workload, but some people in these progress report subforums just want to blame it on someone. Two years ago everyone was blaming Haitians for having an earthquake and messing up their immigration. Before that it was someone else, and before that, someone else.

If you can't understand how a self-reporting website can be prone to error and mob mentality, then I don't know what to say.

and if you don't understand how paying to submit a petition to a government entity (an organization funded with taxpayers money) that is supposed to represent and work for its people; or understand that simply demanding efficiency and consistency is absolutely within reason...then i have nothing to say to you either. To even suggest that people should tolerate this level of incompetence and what appears to be an arrogant and 'we don't care' attitude is absolutely absurd. I can't believe i had to actually explain this to someone..unbelievable... I have a suggestion for USCIS.....start doing their job and try to do it well, be transparent and communicate and it will be amazing how quickly these annoying little complaints that cause them to 'have a rough day' will subside. It's peoples lives they are handling...if the employees don't like their jobs or if it's too much for them to handle...QUIT...so they can at least hire someone who actually does care and has compassion for the people they really are working for...The American People.

[Jeikun 65]

The amount of luck anyone has in changing anything beyond perhaps your own case will be very very limited. K-1 and CR-1 applicants are very small groups compared to other interests. They are also from no single demographic, constituency, or minority groups. They only give a #######, by and large for the 6 to 18 months that make up 99% of the processing times - once they have their visa, they no longer have time to be activists for something that no longer affects their lives. So with no strong advocacy groups, no big purse, and no long-term supporters, these visa types will never be prioritized as a whole except at the pleasure of the USCIS. There is no money, power, or political gain in it for anyone. I hope we all get faster results, and am not suggesting anyone cease advocating for themselves... but never expect the USCIS will finally "get it" and get it fixed long term - cause it just won't happen.