Are you fed up with USCIS yet?

[rebeccajo 14]

so what action do you advise, Rebeccajo? none, or some? if some, what?

or is this about something else entirely? if so, perhaps a new thread would be in order...?

What do I advise?

Learn. Don't just bellyache and make it about mycase, mycase, mycase. Learn and read about the process - how it works and why. How it is evolving. How is has been influenced by world events. Develop sympathy for others in the process - REAL SYMPATHY - not just pounding on a keyboard or spending 'fifteen minutes' on a letter that your Senator has seen 1000 times before. Give money to groups that matter. Work on reforms.

[Zee Bee 61]

B)-->

QUOTE(Bill B @ Sep 19 2007, 11:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ok, the title of the thread was "Are you fed up with USCIS yet?, Take Action NOW!!!!" It was obviously directed for people who are unhappy with the current service given by USCIS. I considered the people on this site as people who shared a common bond. It is inappropriate to attack someone on the board for trying to lead an effort to get their fiancee or wife with them as soon as possible, or at least help others behind them. The fact is that we are citizens living in a free country where many of our ancestors immigrated to America and now we are trying to follow the current legal processes to get our loved ones here. While we do this in a legal fashion, thousands cross our boarders illegally monthly. They get here and in many cases find ways to spend their whole lives here without waiting, without paying taxes. We are paying USCIS a fee for a service, if it isn't enough of a fee to get faster or priority service, then they should raise the fee or establish an avenue for those willing to pay for expedited service. It seems unfair to me to process a work VISA for someone entering our country faster than a loved one of a US citizen. Sure you can disagree and say something like, "we have critical shortages in nurses" or something along those lines...I still disagree with the premise. Has anyone seen the corruption behind those from poor countries coming to the US on these work VISAs? Phoney agent fees, false college degrees, etc. Anyway I digress, back to the topic, taking action versus sitting idly by. I don't think anybody expected those of you with your loved ones already with you to take action. And nobody surely ever thought you would criticize the effort. I think those writing the letters got the point; you either think it will get no where or you disagree for some other reason. Disagreement is one thing, let's not stoop to attacking each other though on these boards. Processing times at the Service Centers have been rising for some time now. Those that elect to attempt actions to improve the situation should be thanked by those who have a stake in the outcome. Those with no stake in the outcome should simply thank God they already endured the process and are now hopefully enjoying life with their loved ones.

Thanks for that.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

As one of those who was caught up in the long time frames of 3 and 4 years ago (it took 197 days to get our I-129F approved), you have my full sympathies. I remember how helpless we felt - and actually, I belonged to another site prior to this one that involved visa processes at the TSC - the year before a group of irate petitioners had actually physically marched and protested outside of TSC to protest the year and more time frames for getting their petitions processed/approved. Fortunately, the Montreal Consulate was moving quickly back then so I didn't have the current 6 and 7 month waits for the interview after the process. Still, it was 11 months before I was able to move to the US after we filed for the K-1.

Since it also took 22 months to process our AOS (no RFEs, no known delays, no nothing) I fully appreciate the frustrations at all levels of this process. We have been in this process now for going on 4 1/2 years - and I still have 1/2 year to go before I can even apply to remove conditions. How long is that going to take? Who knows!

Yes, there is something consistently and inherently 'broken' with the system currently used by USCIS for family based immigration processes. The recent fee increase was supposed to address the problems of under staffing and long delays - but so far it has only increased them rather substantially.

Send your letters, your faxes, your emails. Whether it accomplishes something or not, still, you are doing something - about the only thing left to you by this system - to forward your case with immigration. If nothing else, it will help you feel better.

I also fully agree that you should - we all should - be able to receive accurate information - even if it is 'there is nothing new on your file' - from the Immigration Call Center/Help line. That is one the biggest problems right there - they should at least ensure that the people who answer the phones know something about immigration rather than just reading a script.

Good luck.

Edited September 19, 2007 by Kathryn41

[john_and_marlene 162]

Learn. Don't just bellyache and make it about mycase, mycase, mycase. Learn and read about the process - how it works and why. How it is evolving. How is has been influenced by world events.

I would recommend reviewing the Ombudsman's reports and recommendations. These will show the problems that have already been identified and the plans for addressing those problems. Most will find that the complaints they have are currently well known and being addressed and tracked.

[Sinergy 3]

No one told you not to send letters, we just dont care if you do or not, dont post these things if you dont want other ppls responces. unless you expecting everyone to jump for joy and call you wonderful

You do seem to care whether we do or not. Otherwise why post your opinion that it's useless? What is the point?

Oh i dont have to care in order to post anything

[rae_and_scott 1]

Don't just bellyache and make it about mycase, mycase, mycase.

Did you even read the letter? I don't think it's saying mycase mycase mycase. It's asking for information to be given in general.

If you all want to write letters, that's great. But before you do, I'd suggest you research immigration a bit more and discover some of the TRUE hardships out there caused by the process.

There will always be a worse case, something more tragic, more horrible. You don't have to ignore them, but you also don't have to start working on things from the top. I don't think there's anything wrong with attempting to fix smaller problems. If there is starvation on one continent or homeless people in one country due to a tsunami or what have you, it doesn't mean that I shouldn't try to do something for abused women in my community or whatever local problems are there.

[Sinergy 3]

If you all want to write letters, that's great. But before you do, I'd suggest you research immigration a bit more and discover some of the TRUE hardships out there caused by the process.

Like people waiting five years or more for citizenship. Or K2 age-outs. Or parents and loved ones dying before an immigrant visa number is available for them.

There are things more hurtful than not having your NOA1. After you understand this, then do something more than write letters. Give money to immigrant lobby groups who can make a true difference on the Hill. Or better yet, travel to the Hill with a group of concerned citizens.

dont waste your time becca, they are newbies and they know better than anyone who has already been thru the process.

[deadbird 2]

Do I hate misinformation and inaccuracies? Yes. But USCIS is only the beginning, NVC and DOS are not much better. What about the embassies? Why are some more difficult to get through than others? Shouldn't everyone be treated the same at the embassies? It just doesn't happen. Why can't any of these agencies have any sort of accountability?

As someone who kind of expected a less-than-30 day wait for NOA2 from VSC and got it at 94 days (I realize this is far less than most VJers who filed from April till now), being apart from your loved one hurts more and more every day. The helpless thought of not being able to do anything about it hurts. Not knowing what's going on or receiving wrong information about your case hurts. Being approved for your visa, and not having it in your hands and not knowing when you're going to get it sucks. Granted, my fiance and I have only been waiting for the visa for a week so far, but how quickly that week will turn into a month, and that month will turn into 2....etc. We've all been there and we're all still there. For those of you waiting since April, May for your NOA2---don't you feel the same as those of us who have it? I haven't seen my fiance in almost 6 months and the pain felt the same whether we had NOA1, 2, packet 3, whatever.

Unfortunately, it's going to take a lot more than letters to get government officials to notice. Even mass letters. Maybe mass suicide might turn some heads, but would it get anything done? Probably not much more than distracting our congressmen and senators during their lunch breaks.

Large marches and protests? I'd be all for it. Let's go block off a street in St. Albans and get arrested...and risk our petitions because of a police record.... At least then we could annoy some people like they annoy us. Or just prevent adjucators from getting to work on time. Let's block off a street in DC. NYC. Boston. Have protests done anything lately? This administration's made it pretty clear they will do what they want, when they want, and we'd better bend over and take it.

Come to think of it, mass suicide would work if more than 1000 of us did it (which is what, 1% of petitioners per year?). But none of us are willing to go that far because it just defeats the purpose of being with our loved ones.

Sorry to be all doom and gloom. Best of luck to you. And if someone organizes a march in NYC I'll probably be there.

Edited September 19, 2007 by the sparrow

[Sinergy 3]

Id love to know where the USCIS is misinforming ppl. Not to mention there are GUIDES on this site to READ for information. if more ppl read the GUIDES, there would be less misunderstandings on alot of things.

[ramos96 1]

I have to say this since no one else has!!!

Cant we all just get along..... Rodney King

To the newbies: You all are going to have to wait like the rest of us did, so unless you are an congressman/woman with direct oversight of the funding for the USCIS, sit yer azz down in the bus like the rest of us and enjoy your ride.

To the Old folks like me WHO have been thru some of the process:

Lord forgive them all for they know not what they do - Jesus of Nazereth

We need to be a little more patient and guide them to things like the FREAKIN TIMELINES so they get it thru THEIR Thick SKULL, "WoW im gonna have to wait, im not special, im just an american"

Humbly,

Ramos

Edited September 19, 2007 by ramos96

[deadbird 2]

btw...

[Sinergy 3]

I have to say this since no one else has!!!

Cant we all just get along..... Rodney King

To the newbies: You all are going to have to wait like the rest of us did, so unless you are an congressman/woman with direct oversight of the funding for the USCIS, sit yer azz down in the bus like the rest of us and enjoy your ride.

To the Old folks like me WHO have been thru some of the process:

Lord forgive them all for they know not what they do - Jesus of Nazereth

We need to be a little more patient and guide them to things like the FREAKIN TIMELINES so they get it thru THEIR Thick SKULL, "WoW im gonna have to wait, im not special, im just an american"

Humbly,

Ramos

i agree, the part that annoys me is when we try to help, or give advice, we are attacked. no matter what we say to a new member, unless its what they want to hear, we will get attacked.

[ramos96 1]

Agreed Iones,

People who are new to the process NEED to read the guides and LISTEN to people who have been thru the process. ONCE you as someone who is NEW has been thru a particular section of the process then you should provide that experience to others, examples: ADDing to the guides, providing advice to OTHER NEW people, like MOST of us do.

U.S. Wendy your hope is admirable you are NOT to be faulted, but YOU need to be realistic, I'm sorry but life is like that, learn that now or you will have other problems in your life, people BEFORE you have had to wait and now you will also have to wait. Im sorry you dont like the process, suck it up the rest of us did.

Humbly,

Ramos

p.s. Letters will do nothing but KILL more trees, that the world already needs for oxygen and I'm not even a naturalist and I understand that. As an American, I intend to do what will matter, listen to the candidates and see which is lying the least and CAST my VOTE for HOPEFULLY someone that might change things a LITTLE bit. I urge everyone else if they can VOTE, please do so.

Edited September 19, 2007 by ramos96

[eric_and_teresa 10]

Agreed Iones,

People who are new to the process NEED to read the guides and LISTEN to people who have been thru the process. ONCE you as someone who is NEW has been thru a particular section of the process then you should provide that experience to others, examples: ADDing to the guides, providing advice to OTHER NEW people, like MOST of us do.

U.S. Wendy your hope is admirable you are NOT to be faulted, but YOU need to be realistic, I'm sorry but life is like that, learn that now or you will have other problems in your life, people BEFORE you have had to wait and now you will also have to wait. Im sorry you dont like the process, suck it up the rest of us did.

Humbly,

Ramos

p.s. Letters will do nothing but KILL more trees, that the world already needs for oxygen and I'm not even a naturalist and I understand that. As an American, I intend to do what will matter, listen to the candidates and see which is lying the least and CAST my VOTE for HOPEFULLY someone that might change things a LITTLE bit. I urge everyone else if they can VOTE, please do so.

[Rob & Jin 0]

I think the current timelines and delays are acceptable considering the massive and daunting task facing the USCIS, DOS, DHS, and FBI. I hope few people will fight to lower overall security and soverignty for a one-time temporal gain.

Good to know someone that received their NOA2 in 36 days can call this "current timeline" acceptable.

haha,