I-130 Petitioners - Send today!

[BOS_LHR 829]

I didn't see a new thread for this started yet, so here goes. Let's make the front page again, since we're no longer allowed to make direct pleas in the monthly threads.

This letter is a request for action to the USCIS in bringing I-130 processing times back to reality. Everyone who was involved in our previous letter sending campaign knows it was a success in that we got a response from USCIS addressing our concerns the very next day. But it's not enough. A new letter has been drafted, and today is delivery day. Please review this thread for background on our second effort.

Today we're sending this letter via fax to the following contacts:

• 1.The Honorable Bob Goodlatte - Chairman House Judiciary Committee
  Fax 202-225-9681
• 2. Director USCIS: Alejandro Mayorkas
  Fax: 202-272-8118
• 3. Deputy Director USCIS: Lori Scialabba
  Fax: 202-272-8118
• 4. Maria M. Odom - Ombudsman USCIS
  Fax: 202-357-0042
• 5. Brandi Blackburn, Assistant Center Director for NBC Division 8 in Overland Park, KS
  Fax: 816-350-5785
• 6. Director: Nancy W. Guilliams - Office of Administration-USCIS
  Fax: 202-272-1553
• 7. Secretary DHS: Mr. Rand Beers
  Fax: 202-282-8420
• 8. Senator John Cornyn - Ranking Member U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
  Fax: 202-228-2281 (committee office) OR 202-228-2856 (direct office)
• 9. Senator Chuck Schumer - Chairman U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
  Fax: 202-228-2281 (committee office) OR 202-228-3027 (direct office)

If you don't have access to a fax machine, use a free online service such as: myfax.com/free, gotfreefax.com, and faxzero.com.

Send it by email, too:

alejandro.mayorkas@dhs.gov; alejandro.mayorkas@hq.dhs.gov; uscisfrcomments@dhs.gov; Lori.Scialabba@dhs.gov; Lori.Scialabba@hq.dhs.gov; cisombudsman@dhs.gov; maria.m.odom@dhs.gov; maria.m.odom@hq.dhs.gov; brandi.blackburn@uscis.dhs.gov; rand.beers@hq.dhs.gov; letters@washpost.com; executive@aila.org; newsroom@aila.org

Please comment if you participate!

Edited December 11, 2013 by BOS_LHR

[Kaylara 814]

I'm attempting to send this via email, but the pictures are not showing up in the email. Anyone have an idea of how to solve this?

[BOS_LHR 829]

When I did a straight copy/paste of the whole letter into Gmail the images didn't show at first, there were just blank placeholders. Pasting them individually did the trick.

[Kaylara 814]

Hmmm, Trying that.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

All you I-130 filers stuck in the USCIS CR1/IR1 backlog of doom lets get behind this. If both the petitioner and beneficiary send even better, the more emails they receive the more likely they are to pay attention to us.

[Kaylara 814]

Ok, I had to reinsert the pictures after I saved them to my desk top, but it looks like we're all good now.

I also added "et al" after the honorable chairman's name.

I'm also getting my family and friends to send it out. They all miss my husband as well and think this is craziness.

[Kaylara 814]

Ok, everyone of those email addresses just bounced my email. Ideas?

I know that via email it will have much less impact not having the pictures, but do you think that we could possibly upload them somewhere and link them in the document to make it less heavy? I'm thinking that the large number of images is what's making it bounce.

[BOS_LHR 829]

Ok, everyone of those email addresses just bounced my email. Ideas?

Did you insert the pictures as saved objects? It might be that they automatically reject attachments from any unknown senders.

[Kaylara 814]

I inserted them directly into the document, not attached at the end, as I thought that would be too confusing and people were not about to open attachments from a disgruntled USCIS customer.

[Kaylara 814]

I inserted them directly into the document, not attached at the end, as I thought that would be too confusing and people were not about to open attachments from a disgruntled USCIS customer.

I made a text only copy with the references removed for use on the senators websites. I will be faxing a copy of the full document with all the bells and whistles to their offices. The text can be found below:

Subject: DACA applications are getting priority at the expense of I-130 petitions of US Citizens – Processing of I-130 applications of US spouses beyond 5 months

Date: December 11, 2013

Mr. Insert name:

I appreciate that the House Judiciary Committee took swift action on my letter, sent on 11/19, regarding the needless backlog of pending I-130 Immediate Relative petitions. The USCIS issued a response to the stakeholders of I-130 petitions within 24 hours of my letter to you because your committee took keen interest in reuniting me with my spouse.

In their response, USCIS acknowledged the “…extended processing times for Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, filed by U.S. citizens for their eligible immediate relatives”. Unfortunately, their claim that “…USCIS has been focused on addressing delays in the processing of these Forms I-130 for several months” has no weight. The existing backlog began when USCIS shifted their focus to process Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) requests in August of 2012. A letter from the Committee on the Judiciary dated August 7, 2012 identified the risks inherent in USCIS’ approach to handling DACA requests, with specific emphasis on the harm it may cause for US citizens petitioning for immediate relatives. This confirms that USCIS was aware of the damage its actions would cause and chose not to take preemptive action that would have mitigated the current backlog.

During the 12 month period, from August 2012-July 2013; USCIS received 573,404 DACA requests and processed 430,236: a rate of 75%. By comparison, in the first two quarters of Fiscal Year 2013, USCIS

received 254,890 I-130 petitions at the National Benefits Center but processed only 2,755: a rate of only

1%. Ineffective balancing of workload among service centers and clear prioritization for other case types

resulted in the massive backlog in I-130s that USCIS is now acknowledging. I believe that reallocation of resources to more fairly balance priorities within USCIS would be of enormous benefit to I-130 petitioners and beneficiaries.

1http://judiciary.house.gov/news/pdfs/Smith-Grassley%20letter%20to%20Secretary%20Napolitano.pdf

Furthermore, the USCIS claims that petitions are currently being adjudicated in an average of 7.4 months at each service center; however, another USCIS processing table shows that applications from February 2013 are being adjudicated.

The USCIS has blatantly manipulated its “Processing Timeframe” dates to avoid accountability. If the 7.4 month processing time in Figure-2 is accurate, the field office processing time in Figure-3 should reflect an April date rather than February. Due to this inconsistency in data from USCIS, it is unclear what qualifies as being outside of processing time, and petitioners from March and April of 2013 are unable to open inquiries on their cases. It should also be noted that the current processing figures were altered immediately after my previous letter, sent to you on November 19. The processing times as of September 30 originally were stated as 13 months and October 2, 2012, respectively, and altered to the above with the delivery of USCIS’ letter to stakeholders on November 20 – please see figure-4 on page-3. This demonstrates USCIS’ undeniable disregard towards the citizen of the US; it is nothing short of an insult to both their customers and to the elected representatives who should be overseeing their operation.

I deserve honesty and accountability, and seek to ensure that the I-130 petition of my spouse will not be further delayed due to the DACA (I-821D) plan. I request that processing data be evaluated and brought into alignment across USCIS so that my family may set expectations accordingly. In addition, I request that the House Judiciary Committee compels the USCIS to bring the processing timeline to 5 months or less by February 1, 2014; given that extended wait times at USCIS are only the beginning of a longer process which will keep families apart for substantially over a year. To meet the administration's goal of humanely reuniting families, these delays must be viewed in context of the broader visa application process, and the USCIS must be held accountable for its role in providing efficient, humane service for citizens and their immediate relatives.

Sincerely,

Name Name

[naam_2013 72]

I emailed and faxed my letters - thanks to everyone for this joint effort.

[Kaylara 814]

I emailed and faxed my letters - thanks to everyone for this joint effort.

I emailed and will be faxing shortly. My husband will be sending them out. Shared with friends and family members to send out as well.

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

Emailed and faxed!

[B & G 200]

Done too.. emails sent!

[thedude6752000 360]

About to go on my lunch break. Can't wait to send 'em all out!