JerryShaw

Canada's system is similar the US, and recently they started the expelling process for fraudulent immigrants that number in the thousands. IOW, there is a lot of fraud going on everywhere, so they have to be careful.
That being said, I agree with you, it should not be this difficult in the 21st century.
For example (based on my experience with a CR1 Visa)
You should be able to do most all of this electronically. (I've been a professional computer programmer for over 25 years... this is possible with today's technology)
If I were the fat cat at the top of the US Immigration business (and believe me... it is truly a business) here is what the system would look like:
Phase I
1. An immigration applicant would start off the process by creating an account on the master NVC Webserver selecting the type of Visa you need. It could even make recommendations as to what type may work best for your situation.
2. An NVC Case number is created on the spot, and that along with your user account information, and password will let you continue the process.
3. The I-130 form is filled out on-line, and each of the documents you need to submit are requested and you have to upload them into your case file as PDF files (scanned documents).
4. Once all the documents are submitted, and before they are verified by anyone, the system will present you with all of the bills (invoices).
5. Once you have paid all of them (electronically of course), you can press the Submit for Review button.
6. So far, you could have completed all of this in a few hours. No lock boxes, or mailing, or anything so far.
7. The Website will automatically direct your case to the proper USCIS functional / contracted area for processing, and it will send back RFEs if needed. Note, the documents are NEVER mailed... all is done electronically.
8. Once the USCIS contractor or smart system has authenticated and approved the I-130, your case is directed to the NVC for its double checks. Again the data never moved anywhere... still sitting on the master NVC secured server cloud.
9. Once NVC's staff or smart system approves your data, it is automatically scheduled to the correct Embassy based on that Embassy's allotment criteria.
10. You would be requested to bring all the original material with you to the physical interview.
Phase II
Next I would merge the USCIS and NVC groups and remove the entire redirecting process. A single entity would perform document authentication, approving the I-130, 260, etc all the way to releasing for the automated interview selection.
Phase III - Since I am the fat cat at the top and this is a business , I would work with the international immigration community to require all Passports to become Smartcard capable. The Green card, Work Visa, Student Visa or any other kind of visa would be electronically applied to your passport at the end of the interview (if you passed).
I believe this fictional process would shed 90% of the time and frustration in this process for the client, reduce the staff needed at USCIS and NVC (mail handling, etc), and shed the cost of USCIS bulk mailing tons of paper documents each month. This process would not be any more effective or restrictive in fraud detection than the current process. It would make the Immigration business more profitable, reduce the time to legitimately immigrate, and make its paying customers much happier.
For those of you that argue the current process prevents terrorists and fraud. May I remind you that between 400,000 to 500,000 illegal immigrants enter the US every year. A terrorist isn't going to put him or herself through this process when there are much easier ways to get people and materials into this country. The INS process is not intended to stop terrorists. It does not even do a good job of preventing fraud according to recent statistics that states it is costing the USA $23 million each year due to immigration fraud.
They can and should move the process into the modern era of data processing, and consider that any couple willing to put themselves through all of this hell and frustration must have genuine good intentions.
Sorry for the long commentary to such a simple question

krikit... I don't know if you are a guy or a gal, but I could give you a big hug for that link.
See what I mean about even the BPO and CBP people??. We have been getting different stories from everyone we've talked to
Glad you cleared this up ... thankyou.. thankyou.. thankyou
Jerry

Jason, you are in the right place. There are some really awesome VJ'ers here that will give you the advice you need.
Hang in there...
A little hint: You should fill out your profile information so the VJ'ers will know the type of Visa you have applied for, and where you are in the process. It will help them determine what steps you need to take.

Canada's system is similar the US, and recently they started the expelling process for fraudulent immigrants that number in the thousands. IOW, there is a lot of fraud going on everywhere, so they have to be careful.
That being said, I agree with you, it should not be this difficult in the 21st century.
For example (based on my experience with a CR1 Visa)
You should be able to do most all of this electronically. (I've been a professional computer programmer for over 25 years... this is possible with today's technology)
If I were the fat cat at the top of the US Immigration business (and believe me... it is truly a business) here is what the system would look like:
Phase I
1. An immigration applicant would start off the process by creating an account on the master NVC Webserver selecting the type of Visa you need. It could even make recommendations as to what type may work best for your situation.
2. An NVC Case number is created on the spot, and that along with your user account information, and password will let you continue the process.
3. The I-130 form is filled out on-line, and each of the documents you need to submit are requested and you have to upload them into your case file as PDF files (scanned documents).
4. Once all the documents are submitted, and before they are verified by anyone, the system will present you with all of the bills (invoices).
5. Once you have paid all of them (electronically of course), you can press the Submit for Review button.
6. So far, you could have completed all of this in a few hours. No lock boxes, or mailing, or anything so far.
7. The Website will automatically direct your case to the proper USCIS functional / contracted area for processing, and it will send back RFEs if needed. Note, the documents are NEVER mailed... all is done electronically.
8. Once the USCIS contractor or smart system has authenticated and approved the I-130, your case is directed to the NVC for its double checks. Again the data never moved anywhere... still sitting on the master NVC secured server cloud.
9. Once NVC's staff or smart system approves your data, it is automatically scheduled to the correct Embassy based on that Embassy's allotment criteria.
10. You would be requested to bring all the original material with you to the physical interview.
Phase II
Next I would merge the USCIS and NVC groups and remove the entire redirecting process. A single entity would perform document authentication, approving the I-130, 260, etc all the way to releasing for the automated interview selection.
Phase III - Since I am the fat cat at the top and this is a business , I would work with the international immigration community to require all Passports to become Smartcard capable. The Green card, Work Visa, Student Visa or any other kind of visa would be electronically applied to your passport at the end of the interview (if you passed).
I believe this fictional process would shed 90% of the time and frustration in this process for the client, reduce the staff needed at USCIS and NVC (mail handling, etc), and shed the cost of USCIS bulk mailing tons of paper documents each month. This process would not be any more effective or restrictive in fraud detection than the current process. It would make the Immigration business more profitable, reduce the time to legitimately immigrate, and make its paying customers much happier.
For those of you that argue the current process prevents terrorists and fraud. May I remind you that between 400,000 to 500,000 illegal immigrants enter the US every year. A terrorist isn't going to put him or herself through this process when there are much easier ways to get people and materials into this country. The INS process is not intended to stop terrorists. It does not even do a good job of preventing fraud according to recent statistics that states it is costing the USA $23 million each year due to immigration fraud.
They can and should move the process into the modern era of data processing, and consider that any couple willing to put themselves through all of this hell and frustration must have genuine good intentions.
Sorry for the long commentary to such a simple question

Canada's system is similar the US, and recently they started the expelling process for fraudulent immigrants that number in the thousands. IOW, there is a lot of fraud going on everywhere, so they have to be careful.
That being said, I agree with you, it should not be this difficult in the 21st century.
For example (based on my experience with a CR1 Visa)
You should be able to do most all of this electronically. (I've been a professional computer programmer for over 25 years... this is possible with today's technology)
If I were the fat cat at the top of the US Immigration business (and believe me... it is truly a business) here is what the system would look like:
Phase I
1. An immigration applicant would start off the process by creating an account on the master NVC Webserver selecting the type of Visa you need. It could even make recommendations as to what type may work best for your situation.
2. An NVC Case number is created on the spot, and that along with your user account information, and password will let you continue the process.
3. The I-130 form is filled out on-line, and each of the documents you need to submit are requested and you have to upload them into your case file as PDF files (scanned documents).
4. Once all the documents are submitted, and before they are verified by anyone, the system will present you with all of the bills (invoices).
5. Once you have paid all of them (electronically of course), you can press the Submit for Review button.
6. So far, you could have completed all of this in a few hours. No lock boxes, or mailing, or anything so far.
7. The Website will automatically direct your case to the proper USCIS functional / contracted area for processing, and it will send back RFEs if needed. Note, the documents are NEVER mailed... all is done electronically.
8. Once the USCIS contractor or smart system has authenticated and approved the I-130, your case is directed to the NVC for its double checks. Again the data never moved anywhere... still sitting on the master NVC secured server cloud.
9. Once NVC's staff or smart system approves your data, it is automatically scheduled to the correct Embassy based on that Embassy's allotment criteria.
10. You would be requested to bring all the original material with you to the physical interview.
Phase II
Next I would merge the USCIS and NVC groups and remove the entire redirecting process. A single entity would perform document authentication, approving the I-130, 260, etc all the way to releasing for the automated interview selection.
Phase III - Since I am the fat cat at the top and this is a business , I would work with the international immigration community to require all Passports to become Smartcard capable. The Green card, Work Visa, Student Visa or any other kind of visa would be electronically applied to your passport at the end of the interview (if you passed).
I believe this fictional process would shed 90% of the time and frustration in this process for the client, reduce the staff needed at USCIS and NVC (mail handling, etc), and shed the cost of USCIS bulk mailing tons of paper documents each month. This process would not be any more effective or restrictive in fraud detection than the current process. It would make the Immigration business more profitable, reduce the time to legitimately immigrate, and make its paying customers much happier.
For those of you that argue the current process prevents terrorists and fraud. May I remind you that between 400,000 to 500,000 illegal immigrants enter the US every year. A terrorist isn't going to put him or herself through this process when there are much easier ways to get people and materials into this country. The INS process is not intended to stop terrorists. It does not even do a good job of preventing fraud according to recent statistics that states it is costing the USA $23 million each year due to immigration fraud.
They can and should move the process into the modern era of data processing, and consider that any couple willing to put themselves through all of this hell and frustration must have genuine good intentions.
Sorry for the long commentary to such a simple question

Canada's system is similar the US, and recently they started the expelling process for fraudulent immigrants that number in the thousands. IOW, there is a lot of fraud going on everywhere, so they have to be careful.
That being said, I agree with you, it should not be this difficult in the 21st century.
For example (based on my experience with a CR1 Visa)
You should be able to do most all of this electronically. (I've been a professional computer programmer for over 25 years... this is possible with today's technology)
If I were the fat cat at the top of the US Immigration business (and believe me... it is truly a business) here is what the system would look like:
Phase I
1. An immigration applicant would start off the process by creating an account on the master NVC Webserver selecting the type of Visa you need. It could even make recommendations as to what type may work best for your situation.
2. An NVC Case number is created on the spot, and that along with your user account information, and password will let you continue the process.
3. The I-130 form is filled out on-line, and each of the documents you need to submit are requested and you have to upload them into your case file as PDF files (scanned documents).
4. Once all the documents are submitted, and before they are verified by anyone, the system will present you with all of the bills (invoices).
5. Once you have paid all of them (electronically of course), you can press the Submit for Review button.
6. So far, you could have completed all of this in a few hours. No lock boxes, or mailing, or anything so far.
7. The Website will automatically direct your case to the proper USCIS functional / contracted area for processing, and it will send back RFEs if needed. Note, the documents are NEVER mailed... all is done electronically.
8. Once the USCIS contractor or smart system has authenticated and approved the I-130, your case is directed to the NVC for its double checks. Again the data never moved anywhere... still sitting on the master NVC secured server cloud.
9. Once NVC's staff or smart system approves your data, it is automatically scheduled to the correct Embassy based on that Embassy's allotment criteria.
10. You would be requested to bring all the original material with you to the physical interview.
Phase II
Next I would merge the USCIS and NVC groups and remove the entire redirecting process. A single entity would perform document authentication, approving the I-130, 260, etc all the way to releasing for the automated interview selection.
Phase III - Since I am the fat cat at the top and this is a business , I would work with the international immigration community to require all Passports to become Smartcard capable. The Green card, Work Visa, Student Visa or any other kind of visa would be electronically applied to your passport at the end of the interview (if you passed).
I believe this fictional process would shed 90% of the time and frustration in this process for the client, reduce the staff needed at USCIS and NVC (mail handling, etc), and shed the cost of USCIS bulk mailing tons of paper documents each month. This process would not be any more effective or restrictive in fraud detection than the current process. It would make the Immigration business more profitable, reduce the time to legitimately immigrate, and make its paying customers much happier.
For those of you that argue the current process prevents terrorists and fraud. May I remind you that between 400,000 to 500,000 illegal immigrants enter the US every year. A terrorist isn't going to put him or herself through this process when there are much easier ways to get people and materials into this country. The INS process is not intended to stop terrorists. It does not even do a good job of preventing fraud according to recent statistics that states it is costing the USA $23 million each year due to immigration fraud.
They can and should move the process into the modern era of data processing, and consider that any couple willing to put themselves through all of this hell and frustration must have genuine good intentions.
Sorry for the long commentary to such a simple question

thank you x