September Filers!

[Rinso 0]

Thanks for the welcome! I would like to add that given where I am currently located, mail generally takes about 7-10 days to get just about anywhere else. I should have the little green return receipt card sometime soon as well.

[EricC 0]

Just checked the update...

As of October 5, 2007, USCIS has completed initial data entry and issued receipt notices for applications and petitions received on or before the dates indicated:

California Service Center

Form Number Date Received

I-130 8/30/2007

N-400 7/31/2007

All Other Forms 7/30/2007

Looks like we went backwards 2 weeks!

Edited October 7, 2007 by EricC

[Frank+Jocelyn 1]

We filed in September. See my signature for details. Now the wait...

[waiting9 0]

Feel free to modify this letter and email/mail to your Senator/Congressman.... I already have gotten initial responses.

Its reasonable, rationale, and makes a case, without whining....

YOUR NAME

ADDRESS

October 5, 2007

Dear Senator <<NAME>,

I am one of a countless number of United States Citizens who has applied for an I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé, for my fiancé who is at this time a citizen of <<COUNTRY>>. I filed this petition on her behalf on <DATE>, and the petition was received by the Vermont Service Center on the <<DATE>>.

I have seen press releases regarding how backlogs were supposed to be cleared by certain dates, and thus the processing of these petitions should return to more desirable waiting times. However, it appears that with each passing day, the waiting gets longer and longer.

• Net/Net: If I was on a H1B work visa, and got married, the visa processing would take 24 hours. However, as a US Citizen, I have to wait for almost 8 months to 10 months to get my wife/fiancé to the U.S. Where is the justice here???

The crux of the issue is far less about processing times, but about the lack of transparency that is being displayed by United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS). At one point, the web site for USCIS displayed receipt dates that had been processed, but at this time simply displays a blanket date of “6 months.”

I wish to share some specific concerns with you so as to offer insight into how the petition process is currently affecting citizens.

• Net/Net: If I was on a H1B work visa, and got married, the visa processing would take 24 hours. However, as a US Citizen, I have to wait for almost 8 months to 10 months to get my wife/fiancé to the U.S. Where is the justice here???

• Significant delays in the processing of petitions. Many of us who filed

in May through the date of this letter are noticing that an extremely small

number of petitions have been processed/approved.

• A strong opinion that the prioritization of visas from applicants to work is inappropriate compared to the processing of family and marriage based immigration.

• A lack of accountability on the part of USCIS. No matter who we speak to, no matter what we are told, it seems impossible to gain any true information.

• Extremely poor customer service. Petitioners often get the run around from those working USCIS call centers or service centers, and are often read form statements that only regurgitate the blanket information on processing times from the various web sites of USCIS. One member has had a representative tell him his case was with an officer and was to be adjudicated within a short time frame, only to still be left in the dark two weeks later.

• Continued press releases from USCIS stressing the “importance” of processing employment-based Visas, or the Adjustment of Status petitions from others who already have their visas, yet leaving any K1 or K3 petitioners in the dark on their status.

I recognize that immigration benefits for my spouses is a privilege and not a right, however, being a United States Citizen, feel I deserve accurate information and the opportunity to have my concern addressed by knowledgeable officials who can give me facts (not inaccurate time estimates and scripted misinformation designed to appease nervous and sad callers). I also understand the need for security checks, as I am aware of our national security issues, but I do not believe this is the source of the most recent delays. Only the truth and some swift action on the part of USCIS can alleviate some of the stress associated with this process. My life, along with my loved ones abroad, are on hold and we have no idea when this first part of the immigration process will conclude. It is difficult to plan weddings, coordinate other family members, or plan essentially anything until this process resolves itself.

The wait for a petition to reach National Visa Center, then the appropriate Embassy and, finally, the attendance of the beneficiary at scheduled interview can add an additional 3 – 12 months to an already excruciatingly slow process. The USCIS needs to set a reasonable goal of 90 days and/or have expedited processing available for K1/K3 VISA applicants. Currently, we are completely and utterly at the mercy of the system.

I am not trying to make ‘demands’ as such. I am beyond frustrated with the process and feel that the process should be better run, and information should be much easier to come by. As a Citizen of the country, I feel that my requests for information and action are not unreasonable. I am simply devoted Americans lost in a sea of bureaucracy and red tape. While this is a generally accepted part of American life, these petitions and visas are dealing with our hearts and souls in our significant others. I love my country, and only want to share that dream with those that we love as soon as possible.

As a citizen, I am writing to you on behalf of myself because I feel that I am at wit’s end. We want information, we want answers, and the government is failing to give us any. We are requesting that you use your connections and power to help us make this issue known. It is slowly reaching a crisis status for all of us who are awaiting these visas to be approved. Our hearts are heavy, and breaking, because we cannot do anything within the letter of the law to speed the process along and bring our loved ones into our arms. We are not asking for special treatment, we are simply asking for transparency and for answers. We hope that with your help, we can get the government to give us some answers, and maybe the situation may become more bearable.

I respectfully request a response to this letter, so that I may know that my concerns have been heard. Even if it is not feasible for something to be done immediately or at all, the knowledge that someone else knows about my personal plight and the plight of thousands of other Americans will help put my mind at ease, even if only slightly.

• Net/Net: If I was on a H1B work visa, and got married, the visa processing would take 24 hours. However, as a US Citizen, I have to wait for almost 8 months to 10 months to get my wife/fiancé to the U.S. Where is the justice here???

Respectfully,

<<NAME>>

United States Citizen

[Bobalouie 0]

Net/Net: If I was on a H1B work visa, and got married, the visa processing would take 24 hours. However, as a US Citizen, I have to wait for almost 8 months to 10 months to get my wife/fiancé to the U.S. Where is the justice here???

Not to be a wet blanket, but I feel it's a bit early for September filers to start contacting their representatives. Putting myself in the shoes of my representative, I'd be a little annoyed if someone who'd only filed in September was "beyond frustrated." Don't get me wrong, I'm all about pulling out the big guns when they're needed, but as a September filer...well, there's a lot of people in front of me who deserve my representative's time more than I do right now. I'd only be clogging up a pipeline that should be kept open for those who need it the most.

Also, regarding the quoted passage, which is mentioned 3 times in the letter: "Where is the justice?" seems a little strange to me. "Justice" implies criminal or civil wrongs. I don't see that as pertinent. It's also rhetorical, which is a poor way to strengthen an argument.

That would be your choice, but you dont need a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing, and right now, it is going to be a long long long time before we see any movement. Your representative does not need to know that you are a Sept filer. Your rep should know that you are part of the process. This letter does not mention that the writer wants specific info about their case (or if I missed it, it shouldnt) only that the lack of transparency from USCIS. That is the problem here. Right now, with the way things are going, it will be a little over two years before you see your NOA2 based on the backlog and the amount of thruput. Granted, its not going to take that long, but it wouldnt surprise me to see the USCIS change the 6 month timeline to 8 months or 10 months before my petition is approved. If you are prepared to wait that long, more power to you, but I am not. This process is already very expensive and very long and heartbreaking. If I can get some help from my reps, simply because they are making a few calls to find out what the deal is, and that prompts USCIS to start working on all the people ahead of me, it only means I move up the list.

Edited to add:

We all know how the government works, and if you dont start talking to people before you need help, by the time you need help it is too late to get any help. It is unfortunate that this is the way that it works and everybody is slow, but if you dont start now, it will be too late.

Edited October 8, 2007 by Bobalouie

[TheATeam 0]

Anyone have any speculation as to why NOA1's are being issued so much faster through VSC as opposed to CSC? Shouldn't they be roughly the same? One would think so.

[TheATeam 0]

Oh boy! 44 days is NOT what I wanted to hear, or even think about but I guess we do what we have to don't we?

I wouldn't say you have too much time on your hands mox! I think that you're like the rest of us, waiting. At least you're productive and I appreciate it! Thanks. It helps to at least see the numbers and know roughly what to expect. That way I know that I don't need to freak out, YET!

[visceral image 0]

HI folks; I hope this is good news for those of us at Vermont. I just received my NOA1, my packet was received on Oct 2 and my NOA1 is dated October 3. I hope this indicates a staff increase at VSC and faster processing for all of us.

[John and Luda 0]

HI folks; I hope this is good news for those of us at Vermont. I just received my NOA1, my packet was received on Oct 2 and my NOA1 is dated October 3. I hope this indicates a staff increase at VSC and faster processing for all of us.

Good for you! Did you get it via email or snail mail?

[visceral image 0]

HI folks; I hope this is good news for those of us at Vermont. I just received my NOA1, my packet was received on Oct 2 and my NOA1 is dated October 3. I hope this indicates a staff increase at VSC and faster processing for all of us.

Good for you! Did you get it via email or snail mail?

snail mail because my check has not been cashed so did not know my number

[visceral image 0]

I just signed up for email notifications and noticed I was "touched" on October 7; most likely this is because of my request for waiver for filing a second K1 Visa application; whatever the reason, I am excited.

[chuck_n_rose 0]

We sent ours on Sept. 26, received by CSC on Sept. 28. Still waiting on check to be cashed and NO1A. Seems like there is a long wait recently for those 2 things to happen. I suppose everything is a long wait. Good Luck to all.

Visit My Website

[Mo_Mati 2]

33 days and still waiting for any sign of movement from CSC....I never thought that my biggest wish for my birthday would be that the government would deposit a check worth $455....and yet that is how I spent most of the day! Who would have thunk it? wanting the government to take money from me.....what a silly worl we live in!

Good luck to everyone! Much love

[mike67 0]

I submitted my petition and my check was cashed in a matter of days and my paper noa1 was in my mailbox in about a week. But I don't think the check cashing and noa1 are big factors. This is a long wait, no matter what way u look at it.However, i know its difficult just to see them take so long to cash the check and do the initial data entry. I am surprised they don't at least cash the checks a lot sooner...

[TheATeam 0]

If you notice, you had your check cashed and your NOA1 four days after you filed. That's because Vermont is SO much faster than California. The average wait time for an NOA1 from California is 33 days. Craziness I tell you! I know that the whole process is a long wait, but if I at least had my NOA1 then I think I'd feel a bit better knowing that I was waiting for a good reason! Does that make sense? I guess I just won't feel like we've actually started without at least having the check cashed.