Reaching out to congressman

[drussell024 11]

June 8th 2021 filer. Current processing time for the I129-F is 13.5 months with the case inquiry being available at the 15 month mark. Currently we are apart of the less than 15% of cases untouched for June 2021 filers.

 

We submitted a case inquiry this month and got what appeared to be an automated response back via email that our case is being adjudicated and we will receive a response within 45 days. 

 

My question is this - should we reach out to my congressman or wait the full 45 days? If that email actually is just a generic response and there's a chance we won't receive any word back within that time frame then I think we should contact my congressman sooner rather than later instead of waiting until around the 16/17th month mark. 

 

Has anyone gone through this and have any recommendations?

Edited September 23, 2022 by drussell024

[Lynxyonok 316]

15 minutes ago, drussell024 said:

June 8th 2021 filer. Current processing time for the I129-F is 13.5 months with the case inquiry being available at the 15 month mark. Currently we are apart of the less than 15% of cases untouched for June 2021 filers.

 

We submitted a case inquiry this month and got what appeared to be an automated response back via email that our case is being adjudicated and we will receive a response within 45 days. 

 

My question is this - should we reach out to my congressman or wait the full 45 days? If that email actually is just a generic response and there's a chance we won't receive any word back within that time frame then I think we should contact my congressman sooner rather than later instead of waiting until around the 16/17th month mark. 

 

Has anyone gone through this and have any recommendations?

 

I would go ahead and reach out. The current processing times are unacceptable in a world where most transactions take seconds. The more of us speak up to our community leaders to pay attention to their constituents at home rather than someone half a world away, the more likely something positive is to happen.

 

P.S. I've contacted two of my representatives myself. One has ignored the request and the other one provided a rather canned letter. But I'm not giving up.

Edited September 23, 2022 by Lynxyonok

[Boiler 43,564]

What are you looking to happen?

[slavaskii 885]

I would say it's definitely worth it, if anything, to make yourself feel better. I submitted an inquiry to my Senator in February after doing to the same to another Senator in November (the first time we were out of expected processing). We got approved the following Monday.

 

That being said, did my Senator do anything? Probably not - the inquiry might've not even been placed, I think I submitted it Thursday or Friday. But I still feel like it did something, and that alone was a comforting feeling. Again, your representative cannot move your case in any way, but they're allowed to congressionally inquire at any point once you're overdue and will typically get a clearer answer from USCIS. As @Lynxyonok has also said, perhaps someone working for the representative will take note of a flood of I-129F inquiries and incorporate it into their immigration platform. Wishful thinking, perhaps, but this was personally the second time me contacting a political official has had 'mysterious' results and I'm certainly a believer in taking advantage of our democratic processes.

Edited September 23, 2022 by slavaskii

[JeanneAdil 6,218]

here's the 33 page refresher  guide to congress from USCIS on how to submit an inquiry which include topics like

 

• Understand which documents should be sent to support congressional inquiries; and
•  Know how to ensure that your inquiries receive meaningful responses.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/Congressional-Inquiries-Refresher.pdf

Edited September 23, 2022 by JeanneAdil

[JamieCO1 1]

We reached out to our Senator,  his office has been very nice, but no action. We are a 5/18/21 case waiting for NOA2. We've filed inquiries, went past the 30  days waiting for a response,  called and asked our sen to call again. We were told our case is being adjudicated (since July), but clearly it hasnt been touched. It should be a simple case for review if and when they ever decitlde to look at it.  There are about 10 cases around our same date that haven't been worked. The lack of accountability at USCIS is mind boggling. I did just file a complaint with the Ombudsman, but their site makes it.clear thst.you shouldnt expect action. The folks here have been very kind and shared similiar horror stories. We just keep waiting. Hoping you and your f have better luck!

Edited September 24, 2022 by JamieCO1

[SalishSea 16,809]

1 minute ago, JamieCO1 said:

his office has been very nice, but no action.

Not sure what 'action' you're expecting, but your US senator/congressperson cannot impact USCIS/DOS decisions in any way, or speed them up.  They can merely inquire on your behalf.

[JamieCO1 1]

At this point I don't "expect" anything, just trying all available options to get the process moving.

Edited September 24, 2022 by JamieCO1

[drussell024 11]

I really appreciate everyone's input and information, this forum has been invaluable to us. 

 

I ended up reaching out to my congressman. There was a simple privacy release form to fill out and email to their office so it was fairly simple.

 

Will any sort of inquiry from my congressman help us receive a response? Maybe not. But at least I feel like we're doing everything we can and putting our best foot forward. Maybe it will help bring a small additional measure of awareness to the wait times we have all suffered and endured. Maybe it will just give us peace of mind knowing that we are trying everything we can. 

 

Coming up on 16 months waiting for a response is hard. To anyone else in a similar situation, or others in much worse situations, I guess all I can say is that reaching out to my congressman at least made us feel better. If nothing else, I suppose that in of itself is worth it. 

[Palawan 130]

On 9/22/2022 at 9:15 PM, Boiler said:

What are you looking to happen?

My Congressman but forth a bill to stop the K1 visa after the lady came here

 

His name was Sam Johnson from Texas

 

U.S. Visa Process Missed San Bernardino Wife’s Online Zealotry - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

 

He put forth a bill to suspend K1's

 

K-1 Visa Program Suspension Act of 2015

Sam Johnson | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

 

 

 

Edited September 25, 2022 by Palawan

[drussell024 11]

I received a response back from my congressman's office this morning about inquiring, and late afternoon received our NOA2 approval. 

 

This could absolutely be a coincidence since correlation is not necessarily causation. I did have the online inquiry and perhaps we were just at our time? 

 

Either way, those more informed can extrapolate on whether or not this had an effect or was simply a lucky coincidence. 

 

 

Edited September 27, 2022 by drussell024

[Mel.King 23]

1 hour ago, drussell024 said:

I received a response back from my congressman's office this morning about inquiring, and late afternoon received our NOA2 approval. 

 

This could absolutely be a coincidence since correlation is not necessarily causation. I did have the online inquiry and perhaps we were just at our time? 

 

Either way, those more informed can extrapolate on whether or not this had an effect or was simply a lucky coincidence. 

 

 

My husband reached out to his Senator for an interview date as we were past processing times and I know the embassy do very few immigrant visas per month.  I contacted the embassy and they informed me that they are understaffed, and might have more interviews in November.

 

We reached out to the Senator on the Thursday, filled out the forms, and on the Friday their office replied that they will "work tirelessly on our behalf". The Monday we got the interview letter, we were flabbergasted because the email came through on Labor Day (we did not expect anything on a holiday). The interview was scheduled for October! 

 

Another person that was waiting with me also got her interview letter on the same day. So yeah, maybe it was also a "coincidence"  but I like to think the senator had something to do with it. 

[usaman1999 17]

I contacted my congressman and his office was very helpful. they sent a link to a Privacy Act Release for use with USCIS inquiries. I completed that and returned it. They have written to USCIS; we anticipate 4-6 weeks for a reply. It might get them off their duff and have them decide the petition. It is worthwhile. It would also be good if you plan to file in Court for Mandamus against USCIS to show that you have exhausted all other potential remedies. 

[Crazy Cat 39,353]

19 minutes ago, usaman1999 said:

It would also be good if you plan to file in Court for Mandamus against USCIS to show that you have exhausted all other potential remedies. 

A WOM will cost several thousand dollars, and it does not guarantee a positive outcome.  

[usaman1999 17]

A Writ Of Mandamus guarantees that USCIS will have a lawyer respond to the petition. This usually  results in a decision on your petition, not necessarily an approval but at least a decision.