Jeikun

If someone travels for the first time and his documents are in order what makes him a high risk applicant other than the country he lives in ?

How will it be defined ? What makes you a non high risk versus grandma and grandpa from a third world country who wouldn't want to immigrate

anywhere else if their life depended on it ? Are you less brown and have a little more money ? Could that be it ? You are among the brightest and best as defined by .....whom really ?

I immigrated and 10 horses couldn't convince my mother to leave her country permanently. I sure did enjoy her visits though over the years

and without any silly posted bond before she died.

It has nothing to do with "best and brightest". Nor is it post colonialism or rascism. Why is vehicle insurance more expensive when you are under 25 years old? There are plenty of safe 23 year old drivers and plenty of unsafe 27 year old drivers. Why do some people get better interest rates on loans? Statistics. If you are from a country that is rife with visa fraud, you will be scrutinized more. That is the fault of your countrymen who previously abused the system, not for anyone being brown or not. The form that takes is up to the country. If the policy hurts them, they will alter it. I can tell you are personally angered by it, and that is fine. We all get to hold our own opinions. But I honestly believe that you are taking this as far more personal than it truly is.

Any country has the right to set their own immigration policies. If they decide to let no one in at all, it is their right. Venting is one thing, but bringing up past colonialism, morals, and justice, over this is really making a mountain out of a molehill. Requiring a deposit from high risk applicants, is not all that extreme, or unprecidented. It's less stringent than many other countries' policies. I really see nothing to howl about here. I also doubt any dip in tourists from those 6 countires is going to cripple the UK's international trade and tourism industries as some suggest - that's the reason for the proposal. They are comparing numbers to numbers.

Update on this, and sorry if I am late to the party, but you MUST use the new I-864 now. I got an RFE for using the previous version.

My guess is after pushing out Nov and Dec to repair the averages, they will continue processing at a higher rate, but will have some people going forward, and some going into backlog, to eliminate backlog but also reduce it's impact on their average. Within a few months they will be "caught back up" until the next crisis or priority shift comes along.

Got my NOA-2 from CSC. NOA-1 was Dec 7.

Well, it looks like I was one of the December filers who suddenly got NOA-2 from CSC. Got a text Friday evening. I feel kinda bad for getting it while so many from July through November are still waiting, but can't help but feel relieved.

The amount of luck anyone has in changing anything beyond perhaps your own case will be very very limited. K-1 and CR-1 applicants are very small groups compared to other interests. They are also from no single demographic, constituency, or minority groups. They only give a #######, by and large for the 6 to 18 months that make up 99% of the processing times - once they have their visa, they no longer have time to be activists for something that no longer affects their lives. So with no strong advocacy groups, no big purse, and no long-term supporters, these visa types will never be prioritized as a whole except at the pleasure of the USCIS. There is no money, power, or political gain in it for anyone. I hope we all get faster results, and am not suggesting anyone cease advocating for themselves... but never expect the USCIS will finally "get it" and get it fixed long term - cause it just won't happen.

You mean Jesus isn't hand-picking apps and playing favorites?

Well... I can't confirm or deny that. There very well may be a Jesus who works for CSC. I've met a couple of guys named Jesus in California.

Congratulations!

Also, for those who filed earlier feeling skipped, or those who also filed in December feeling hopeful... please don't read too much into it. It IS a sign that CSC is moving (so that at least is good news), but there are always out of sequence approvals here and there. It can be frustrating for those who filed earlier, or give false hope to those who filed at the same time, but it doesn't mean anyone had a particularly good petition, or bad petition, or any sort of divine intervention is at work.

Also, this is the internet. Scolding, slighting, and attacking comes with the territory.

This I agree with. lol and no offense taken. And yes, it IS frustrating that there is nothing a small group like us can do. We are too small and transitory a group of people to make any lasting push for change. People eventually get approved and stop caring. Sadly, the petitions will do little too (there was a petition to build a death star that got enough signatures too as I recall), though I agree at least trying to make a noise they will hear is SOMETHING at least.

I honestly did not know that CSC was tasked since summer/2012 with this extra workload. I thought this Dream Act guidelines was still in the works. I guess not. Has CSC been tasked with all these applicants...Vermont sure seems to be able to process K1 app's weekly....maybe the 821D forms should be spread to other service centers to help spread the wealth around. It sure seems CSC is over tasked right now badly....10K apps each month normally,....to 25K each month...WOW!!!!

It's not the REAL Dream Act, but rather a temporary fix - a renewable promise to not deport and an EAD until a real fix is come up with, basically. That's the problem. CSC wasn't tasked with all by any means, but as California had the largest population applying for the benefit, it seems to have been affected the most. CSC did send the DACA apps to another center to balance the load, but it seems to only now, about 3 weeks later, be bearing any fruit, and there is a lot of catch-up to be done.

Tell me where exactly in my post did I say "suck it up"? Christ you folks are gonna get aneurysms if you keep this up. I am merely trying to get people to keep a little perspective. And I am also waiting for my NOA2 so I have every right to post on these threads. I have also been in a long distance relationship for 2 years in which time I have only seen my fiance for a grand TOTAL of 2 months. So don't think I don't know what you are going through. Spare ME from the lack of reading comprehension.

I will tell you that, if you tell me where in my post I specifically referenced, quoted, or mentioned you. I am referring to a general mentality among several responders, to this and other similarly themed threads. I'm a long way from an aneurysm, and have plenty of perspective. I've followed these trends for years. I do concede that some people are panicking a bit, but I also can't really blame them. And I certainly sympathize with those who are annoyed at the way the government has handled things. The visa experience is very personal. People don't care what the trend is, they care when THEIR petition will be processed, when THEIR visa will be issued, and when THEIR fiancee or spouse will be with them. Commiseration is beneficial. Discussion of issues is beneficial. Perceived scolding, slighting, and attacking one another (not pointing the finger here) is harmful.

I agree. A HUGE difference

Ditto. Can the know-it-alls PLEASE spare us? Popping into a thread and devaluing someone's genuine emotional distress and telling them to "suck it up" serves no purpose. If they think they are giving a "tough love" pep talk... trust me... they are WRONG. So let people who are actually in the situation of being separated from their loved ones complain to one another without having to butt in and tut-tut, and scold them. Jeez.

It's not necessarily a bad sign... as blindly optimistic as this may sound. It took them a LONG time to update last time, and this time it was only a few weeks later. We all knew the wait times were crazy long and not being reflected properly. Now they have owned up to it. If what some members have been reporting from emails received from the ombudsman is true, then CSC is preparing to place emphasis on I-129f again. In the past (much of last year), CSC has shown that they CAN crank these applications out pretty fast. The glass half full hope is that now they are ready to hit the backlog, have updated the averages, and will proceed to get them down as much as possible.

Is that too optimistic? maybe. maybe not.

Your resilience and ability to seek out effective solutions is inspiring. Unfortunately, cornflakes are pretty lacking in the nutrient department.

I still stand by my statement's accuracy though. Even if I could trade 12 of those bowls of cornflakes for one bowl of Total®

I'm writing to Obama, seriously.

And I will eat a bowl of cornflakes. Just as effective, but with more of your daily supply of vitamins and minerals.

Just to let you know that I got in successfully at Chicago O'Hare. Really long queue for passport control and took about 75 minutes to get to the head of it (my fiancé was going spare and my US mobile couldn't get a signal).

Was asked why I was coming to the US - I said vacation. I was asked who I was staying with - I said 'fiancé'. She asked when we were getting married and I said 'Once all the paperwork is finished and I got back for the medical and interview'. She mentioned that I had stayed the whole 90 days last time. I said I knew but I had a ticket for two weeks this time. She asked to see my return ticket and then stamped my passport to leave by 1 July anyway - so still the 90 days.

Sounds not bad at all! Enjoy!

Hello everyone!

I've read all the information on this topic, but couldn't find the answer to my question, so I really need your advice

Here's my situation:

We mailed the 129-f a month ago , so now we are waiting for NOA2.

Also I have a tourist b2 visa, which I obtained before I met my fiance.

So I've been to USA 2 times as a tourist (it was before I met my love).

And now I want to come to USA on my tourist visa while we are waiting for our noa2.

So the question is : is it better to be completely honest at the POE and say that I am visiting my fiance or just say that I am going to vacation?

Oh, and I will be entering the USA with my mom or dad, so we will have the hotel reservation confirmation

I am so afraid that officers at the POE won't let me in:(

Any advice from you would be appreciated!

When asked why you are visiting, it is perfectly ok to say "vacation", or "visiting". If they ask WHO are you visiting/staying with, or other such questions, then you answer them honestly. The key is to never lie, but to never offer extra information unless asked for it. The more variables are introduced, the greater the chance for confusion, and the more the IO's subjective opinions come into play. Be prepared to show ties to your home country, I-129F receipt, etc. but chances are you won't even need to. Entering with your mom and dad with valid tourist visas and a hotel reservation and return ticket is happening thousands of times a day at any POE, and they just don't have the time to get their hackles up for it. IF you are questioned and they want to do additional interviewing, THEN offer them all your evidence. You'll be fine.

His second thing he is talking about is a path for illegal immigrants not specifying all illegal immigrants or the Dream/Deca to go to the back of the line behind everybody doing it the legal way. Thats only fair right?

His third thing he is talking about is not taking not taking years for legally for your family to join you in America. Not sure if he is talking about spouses, parents, siblings, or other family members. Not sure if he is considering a fiance/fiancee a family member or not since they are not married yet.

He is also talking about immigration reform he wants to do that is not law yet. I wish there was better transparency with what the President wants and what is happening at the service centers. I hope everybody going through this process a much more speedier process then what is going on.

You're incorrect on a few assumptions, though.

First: "Back of the line" is misleading. If an illegal immigrant is already in the USA and given a work permit and permission to stay while his greencard is pending... even if it takes 10 years - meanwhile a legal family member is waiting ONLY (lol) 6 years OUTSIDE of the USA for their greencard... who is REALLY "at the back of the line"?

Second: The "years wait" he is talking about is the automatic ban for previous illegal stay, or being in the country illegally already. The idea is the waiver will be sped up, and if still in country, the waiver can be applied for without first exiting the USA. No promise to speed up people doing it TOTALLY legally, just to again make previous illegal activity hurt less moving forward.

Reform needs to be done, but don't think it can be done without in effect leapfrogging illegals ahead of everyone else. It just HAS to be (cause they are ALREADY in country).

Oh SOME,?? I thought all..

I have thoughts on my mind, if DACA are illegal who wants to be legal living in US and some says that obama approved that for his candidacy last NOV (that worked, bcoz he won)

How can illegal can vote if they are illegal??

I don't know what to say, last year csc is faster than vsc now is vsc year?? ugh...

Illegal aliens can't vote, but immigration reform is a major political issue for many Hispanic voters. The battle for that voting block's "hearts and minds", was swung even more into the "D" camp by the president creating DACA after the Dream Act was shot down by congress.

I am sickened by it as well. But regardless of your opinion on the legalization of illegal immigrants, anger against them is misplaced. They aren't screwing this up. Our government is screwing it up. If the USCIS decided to rapidly approve all pending visitor, student, and business visas and devote all their manpower to it and put K-1 and CR-1 on the back burner, it wouldn't be visitors and students and job applicants spitting in your face... it would be the government's fault for gross mismanagement of resources. This is the case here as well. The issue of illegal immigration is a hot button here, since we are all waiting our turn in line and doing things legally. But DACA IS legal. It was their choice to prioritize it for political reasons to our detriment that should have been illegal.

My fiancee made it. But she was taken to the interview room for over an hour. Turns out though, it was because the computer didn't show she had renewed her ESTA when she went to the counter. So they took her aside to verify it, and while they were at it asked her questions about her student visa, and her fiancee visa, length of stay, etc. The only document she ended up showing was the NOA-1, and they never asked to inspect her bags. They were friendly and never made her nervous, just kind of bored and tired. All told, she ended up exiting customs 3 hours after the plane landed.

I have absolutely nothing against DACA petitioners. They are taking advantage of something offered to them that will better their lives. Who the hell wouldn't? I DO think that the petitions were mishandled. They were rammed through at an alarming rate, much faster than the stated timeframe, and before any of the money collected form them could have any effect on the USCIS's available resources. It is my (unproven) gut feeling that this was done so during election season it would be shown that the current administration was doing what they promised.

I think tut-tutting people upset by their wait being lengthened is kind of snide and pointless. Let people vent. I do agree if someone is actually blaming the DACA applicants, that's misplaced anger. But being upset with the process and the bureaucracy and venting to like minded folks on a web forum is good therapy. Let them have it without the guilt trip.

Also, if you enter I-129-F, K-1/K-2, and VSC it shows the national average as 10.2 months and VSC's average as 5. So if CSC is 6.6 and VSC is 5, then where is this other magical, top-secret, super-slow service center dragging the national average down to 10.2? Or is that page just completely broken? Never mind, I already know the answer to that. lol

Misa is heading to the airport in less than 2 hours to come see me for almost 3 weeks!! I won't have the entire time off from work, but it will be really nice to spend this time together not knowing how much longer before NOA-2.