Its time for a mass congressional inquiry?

[ShanghaiSurfer 135]

18 hours ago, Mollie09 said:

 

I traveled internationally a lot while my ROC was pending and they don't allow you to go through the kiosk at all with an expired green card. You have to wait in line.

It’s not just immigrants under more scrutiny. I’m a USC. I lost more passport in London 20 years ago, yes 20 years ago. That passport would have long expired. For 19 years going through immigration was fine. Suddenly last year I now have to go to secondary EVERY time. Explained I will for the rest of my life and getting global entry won’t help. Meanwhile visitors get whisked in. 

[CEE53147 559]

The way to reduce delays is to increase the number of people processing petitions.  The only reasonable way to do this is to increase processing fees to cover the additional costs of salaries and benefits. The beneficiaries of the process should pay for it.

[mindthegap 2,550]

56 minutes ago, Hamilton said:

Do drivers licenses issued to GC holders STILL say "temporary visitor/immigrant" on them?! I thought I would get rid of that once I finally get my GC!

Depends on the state.

NY, you will have an extra line with 'temp visitor' line and an expiry date of your current proof of status document. This is different from the license expiry date.

This will be the case for your 2yr GC, and during removal of conditions.

 

[Hamilton 511]

Just now, mindthegap said:

Depends on the state.

NY, you will have an extra line with 'temp visitor' line and an expiry date of your current proof of status document. This is different from the license expiry date.

This will be the case for your 2yr GC, and during removal of conditions.

 

Ugh, too bad! I already have "temp visitor" on my NYS drivers license based on my non-immigrant visa. I guess that's not going away any time soon then. 

 

Not a huge deal I guess. I've had one liquor store guy be kind of a racist jerk about it. 

[mrs thb 331]

1 hour ago, Hamilton said:

Do drivers licenses issued to GC holders STILL say "temporary visitor/immigrant" on them?! I thought I would get rid of that once I finally get my GC!

 

Depends on the state.  Some grant you a temporary drivers license, some give a permanent DL with a short expiry date, some don't care and give you the full term.

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

1 hour ago, Hamilton said:

Do drivers licenses issued to GC holders STILL say "temporary visitor/immigrant" on them?! I thought I would get rid of that once I finally get my GC!

 

My husbands never said that, maybe it is state specific?

[mrs thb 331]

7 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

My husbands never said that, maybe it is state specific?

Yes, it is state specific.  If his not stamped, he's fine.  Check his expiry date.  

[geowrian 22,336]

While ROC is severely backlogged right now, most are taking a little over a year or so. I have no idea where the 2 or 4 years is coming from. I mean...some take that long, but that's by far an exception to the rule, not the norm.

 

I'm doubtful there's much political support to speed things up with any part of immigration at this time. Not that they could easily do so...USCIS is backlogged across the board. Even if they hired a slew of people Monday, it would be quite some time before they would be able to make any dent on the backlog. By then, the backlog could change considerably, too...processing timelines are an ebb and flow.  I'm not saying they shouldn't address the backlogs, but there's not a short term fix. Any long term fix likely requires a change in laws IMO.

 

There is some harm in not having ROC granted, but to put it bluntly, there are others being hurt much more due to separation, removals, etc. Any kind of movement that is seeking change shouldn't be limited to just people filing for ROC.

 

There's a considerable difference between a DACA recipient and an LPR with an I-551 stamp or extension letter.

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

It's a me me me world out there. Everyone wants whats good for me me me right now!!

 

There are other categories of applicants that could use a change; ROCs are way down on the priority list. There is no fraud or willful mismanagement (that we know of) in the ROC process, so no impetus for any taxpayer-funded hearings. 

Edited March 4, 2018 by WeGuyGal

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

I do wake up wanting good for others, as many here as well. And I unselfishly wait for my turn, as do most others here. 

 

But I wouldn't call for congressional hearings when others are far more deserving of prioritization, a la DACA recipients. 

Edited March 4, 2018 by WeGuyGal

[Dashinka 23,398]

15 hours ago, geowrian said:

While ROC is severely backlogged right now, most are taking a little over a year or so. I have no idea where the 2 or 4 years is coming from. I mean...some take that long, but that's by far an exception to the rule, not the norm.

 

I'm doubtful there's much political support to speed things up with any part of immigration at this time. Not that they could easily do so...USCIS is backlogged across the board. Even if they hired a slew of people Monday, it would be quite some time before they would be able to make any dent on the backlog. By then, the backlog could change considerably, too...processing timelines are an ebb and flow.  I'm not saying they shouldn't address the backlogs, but there's not a short term fix. Any long term fix likely requires a change in laws IMO.

 

There is some harm in not having ROC granted, but to put it bluntly, there are others being hurt much more due to separation, removals, etc. Any kind of movement that is seeking change shouldn't be limited to just people filing for ROC.

 

There's a considerable difference between a DACA recipient and an LPR with an I-551 stamp or extension letter.

It is interesting you mentioned the I-551 stamp.  I (USC) am applying for a homestay visa for Russia to visit my family there, and they would not recognize the I-551 stamp as valid proof of LPR status for my wife, they requested a copy of the expired GC, extension letter and marriage certificate in order to process my application.  This was somewhat difficult as USCIS took the expired GC when my wife got her stamp, but luckily we had taken a photo of it for the N400 application, so I was able to dig something up.

 

Regardless, I agree with your assessment for the ROC, yes, it is a pain having to get a stamp, it can be a pain trying to explain the validity of the stamp to anyone, but in the big picture view, not as big of a deal as someone waiting for a fiancé, or spousal visa, etc.

[WeGuyGal 1,052]

5 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

It is interesting you mentioned the I-551 stamp.  I (USC) am applying for a homestay visa for Russia to visit my family there, and they would not recognize the I-551 stamp as valid proof of LPR status for my wife, they requested a copy of the expired GC, extension letter and marriage certificate in order to process my application.  This was somewhat difficult as USCIS took the expired GC when my wife got her stamp, but luckily we had taken a photo of it for the N400 application, so I was able to dig something up.

 

Regardless, I agree with your assessment for the ROC, yes, it is a pain having to get a stamp, it can be a pain trying to explain the validity of the stamp to anyone, but in the big picture view, not as big of a deal as someone waiting for a fiancé, or spousal visa, etc.

Several countries have differing criteria for what they deem acceptable as US residency. Mexico, Costa Rica for example also do not recognize extension letters; stated so on their website that a visa is explicitly required. 

 

But hard as it may be, i551 waits are not at the level of congress wasting my tax money on hearings. Fee-funded USCIS services may very well be outside of Congress' direct oversight.  Besides, don't our Reps have more important things to do, like run for reelection? I can wait a bit..

[solus 19]

On 3/4/2018 at 12:20 PM, mindthegap said:

Depends on the state.

NY, you will have an extra line with 'temp visitor' line and an expiry date of your current proof of status document. This is different from the license expiry date.

This will be the case for your 2yr GC, and during removal of conditions.

 

 

On 3/4/2018 at 12:23 PM, Hamilton said:

Ugh, too bad! I already have "temp visitor" on my NYS drivers license based on my non-immigrant visa. I guess that's not going away any time soon then. 

 

Not a huge deal I guess. I've had one liquor store guy be kind of a racist jerk about it. 

 

That's really odd.  We're also in NY.  I just checked my husband's because I had never noticed a line like that before and he doesn't have one.  It was issued 14 days after we received his 2 year GC and is valid for the full term.

[Hamilton 511]

4 minutes ago, solus said:

 

 

That's really odd.  We're also in NY.  I just checked my husband's because I had never noticed a line like that before and he doesn't have one.  It was issued 14 days after we received his 2 year GC and is valid for the full term.

Oh cool. Once I finally get my 2 year GC, I might go down to the DMV and ask about it, then. 

[mindthegap 2,550]

21 minutes ago, solus said:

 

 

That's really odd.  We're also in NY.  I just checked my husband's because I had never noticed a line like that before and he doesn't have one.  It was issued 14 days after we received his 2 year GC and is valid for the full term.

Maybe not the case for the 2yr GC then (I was in a different state then which did have it, and assumed NY would be the same), but definitely the case for ROC on a NY license...or maybe you got lucky!

Edited March 14, 2018 by mindthegap