100JH

I think my credit is good, but I happen to have a lot of credit card debt at the moment (around $2000) at the moment. Where can I check what the USCIS will see on my credit?

I do not know what they check for, let me make that clear. My statement was only a guess. But honestly that is not a lot of debt, not at all. My guess is, that if they did do some sort of financial background check, they would look for your ability to support your spouse. Income to debt ratio, things like this. See if you have gone bankrupt recently, any international financial concerns or wierd/wack transactions, etc. If you have a solid income, good earnings history, solid job, and reasonable debt ceiling? You should be good to go and pass with flying colors. Honestly if you only owe 2k?

Personally? I would recommend that you stay on top of your credit rating. Not the free ones. Buy a service every two or three years, from one of the top three firms (i.e Equifax etc) and see what your credit rating is (you can buy one credit service that shows you all three major credit firms). It costs about $35 for a year. Close old accounts (i.e. an old Department Store). Manage your debt (you seem to be on top of that) and your income. If you have a credit score of 600, or 650, or higher? you are good to go. This is my opinion only. My credit varies from 780 to 820 and I think the highest rating is around 850 or 860. That is more just sound financial advice, and none of this is based on any "inside knowledge" or even exterior knowledge of what they are looking for. I am soley basing this on what I have seen from other Federal investigations and background checks.

100JH, I'd just like to point out that no one is blaming IOs here, but USCIS mismanagement.

Have you seen the FOIA findings? http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/464883-i-130-workload-transfer-linked-to-daca-foia-finding/

Yes BB...I have seen this, as well as your point, but it is bigger than most people realize. You are only seeing snippets of a much bigger conversation. Trust me, my points were not just to the case workers. My experience is with Senior Management and Executive level within the Department and the same statement applies to them, even more so.

With all due respect the "letter" played a very important role here. Why else do you think they updated the USCIS processing times? I mean I have been visiting the website since forever and they update it once a month only. The very next day from when the "letters" were sent they changed the processing time from 12 to 7.4 months. Hmmm I wonder why they did that. Also, the "letter" was replied to which honestly to me looks like they knew they were at fault all along and because of that "letter" realized that people wont keep quiet unless the USCIS does something about it.

Have a good day!

If you believe that and it make you happy to believe that? I am happy for you. More power to you!

I am not stating that the letter had, or did not have, an impact. But trust me, it was a lot more than that and was not soley based on what people think. Also, that front end "tool" that shows processing times simply points to a back end database/SQL/excel spreadsheet. It is not "manually changed" but rather does simple addition/division and shows a mean average and outputs it into a bar graph format. It is not a complicated tool, nor is it manipulated as suggested.

Personally, I think your efforts to get answers through your contacts was of benefit to applicants in the same way as the efforts of the US Green Card Petitioners Committee and what is happening today... ie spreading the word about the delays in the I-130 processes. Maybe your contacts have some influence which will only help us all:)

Let's all keep that wheel squeaking!

Thanks for your kind words Lakehouse.

I have continued to talk to people in DC (main Dept and other entities under the Dept. HQ) and trust me the wheels are moving, and not because of the recent "letter". More due to the fact that they knew the overall process was being impacted and they are watching processing times as well as other data points in the end to end chain. Another thing people don't consider is the various background checks that occur. Some come back quick and others take awhile. For example, if you held a clearance of some sort, your background is going to come back real quick. If you have a great credit record, another quick check. If there are issues in your background, this might cause further investigation. i am not saying this is what happens, or does not happen, but I have been through a lot with previous Federal work, and one of the charges of USCIS is to ensure the safety and security of our nation.

I know many here have vented frustration at USCIS and there are a lot of assumptions made (laziness, don't care, just "a file", etc.) but I don't think most people consider is that there really are some good people working there. There are hard working and lazy people in every corporation, and USCIS is no different. Government work is unique and different to other occupations due to specific procedures and processes. But I do know people who work for our government because they do believe that what they do makes a difference, for the US and it's citizens. Some of the statements made here are totally ludicrous and false and are based on I don't know what, but I do know some of the most extreme statements are based on hearsay and internet brouhaha. I think many are emotional and quick to blame, or point fingers, but have never spent a day (or longer) working in a Federal environment and truly don't have a clue about the internal process and procedure required.

I do think that anything more than 5 months is unreasonable (considering the NVC and Embassy times also follow that). I do understand the frustration people have because of the separation. But some of the rocks thrown on this board are undeserved, and a few are just anger issues. No one is perfect. I am sure that if we were under such a big microscope in our professions that others could find room for us to improve, as well as some things we do very well.

People, it will work out. Just try to relax a bit. Obsession can be a good thing, but it also can be harmful as well. Ride a bike. Learn another language. Play an instrument. Spend time with friends and family. Do something constructive to take your mind off of the I-130. Find good things in your life. Know that soon your life will be even better when your spouse arrives. Soon you can share those good things together.

More info...a good read about a bad subject.

http://lawandborder.com/abysmal-uscis-processing-times-130-immediate-relative-immigrant-petitions/

Congrats!

My wife is from Colombia and she just started buying decorations for our first Christmas together a few weeks ago. Since they don't have Thanksgiving there, I guess it is alright? hahahaha They love Halloween and it is more than just one day, people love to party and celebrate in Colombia. They have more holidays than any country I have ever been to, and that is a lot! So? I guess that it is ok to buy Christmas things after Halloween in Colombia.

I am looking forward to my two trips in the next two months. Going to Bogota to be with her for 6 days over the Thanksgiving weekend (I already know we are going to be shopping for Christmas decorations). But the BIG news? My boss told me "Go spend a few weeks with your wife over Christmas break". I booked a 3 week trip, and he approved! "You can work remotely" he said (wink wink). I wont be burning vacation time. So I go down for 6 days, come back to DC for two weeks and then go back to Bogota for three weeks over Christmas and New Years!

I am sure I will contributing to the US, Colombian and Global Christmas economies.

i wish i could delete that statement. Some evidently did not understand that i was seeking additional information as to what the real deal is opposed to hearsay, conjecture and emotional tirades. Sorry if i caused any confusion. It was not about pulling strings for myself, it was more to find out exactly what is going on to the best of my ability using a large network of people i have built over the past twenty years of working in and around DC. Maybe I did contract work for a certain department for five years and dealt with all of these entities on a daily basis and know people (fed and/or contractors) that work there, or have worked there.

I wish everyone the best of luck. I am no more special or deserving than any other USC and did not mean to portray that. Sorry my post caused such resentment or ill will. Last post on the subject, and probably here for awhile. Chao...

CONGRATS!!

People on this board crack me up. I made a few initial calls, talked to a few people and am waiting to hear back from a few more. As well as the fact that I have still have more people to call. I live about 30 miles from DC and spend a hell of a lot of time dealing with many of these entities downtown, especially after 9/11 taking care of a new Department. That's all I can say. I'll leverage my contacts and shut my mouth. Have a nice day. Sheesh.

I have made a few calls to some people I know in DC, I really can't go into any details, but the general consensus is....we are screwed (for now).

For the most part, what I heard from more than one person was:

1. They are well funded and have a large budget, in addition to the fees we have paid.

2. In the past they have hired contractors to assist in specific functions which helps in bringing the processing times down and get the workload more manageable for FTE's.

3. That they are redistributing cases to centers with lesser loads in an attempt to leverage current experienced staff.

4. That there is quite a rumbling going on (evidently many are calling and complaining). People are very dissatisfied and are expressing their dissatisfaction.

5. Some of the backlog is due to the recent immigration law changes and they were ill prepared to handle the drastically increased applications.

But as of right now, unless focus is brought directly on processing I-130's? It will be at least 9 to 12 months for NOA2/adjudication.

I will post more as I get more info...

It's as I said before, most like they diverted resources to process the backlog of K-1s, and next they'll do the same now that they have a backlog of something else.

It'd be just ducky if they processed everything at the same rate, but it's just not how it seems to work with them, it's in swings and cycles. Just gotta wait your turn on the wheel.

This..."the push" is coming, trust me on that.

Not sure there is such a thing as contacts that can speed up anything when it comes to USCIS.

Understood. I have also seen that. Still believe it is an abnormality, not an average. We'll see I guess. It's embarrassing to see such a backlog.

Like I said, I am already making calls to contacts. Very familiar with Federal red tape.

no bashing....basing....have the foundation for (something); use as a point from which (something) can develop. I was not bashing you. I have seen a wide range of dates, based on a wide range of various circumstances.

Well I think 11 to 16 months for a NOA2 is insane and I hope you are wrong. I am finding this hard to believe. After 6 months I am pulling out all stops. I am already calling contacts as it is now.

They are probably expedite or DCF cases. All other normal cases are given 11-16 months processing time as per USCIS.

What are you basing that on? I have not seen that at all except in cases where there were issues (paperwork, background issues, etc.)

I called the NBC yesterday and spoke to a first tier person (ha! that was funny. $8 an hour? and relatively clueless) who said that the backlog for CR1's is 13 months (which you can read on the USCIS site). I think a small portion of that is relevant to the shutdown, but most of it is probably due to being understaffed and focusing on other non CR1 cases. IMO the excess CR1 backlog will cause someone to focus on getting that up to a more reasonable time frame, but how long will it take for them actually decrease the backlog? I also believe that the focus from the Administration on Immigration Reform (naturalizing illegal citizens) is also occupying CIS cycles, and pushing back the time frame for the people who are trying to comply with the law and bring their spouses/relatives here legally.

It better not be 10 months for a NOA2, thats insane. I am seeing people getting NOA2 4 months after getting NOA1 (not all, a few). I was hoping for 4 to 6 months.

October 2013 filer here....

I think this is relevant to us, our NOA1 says in the bottom left hand corner: "USCIS Office....Overland Park, KS". Don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but I'm subscribing to this thread. NOA1 date is Oct. 18, 2013.

I had 500 pages of texts/calls, facebook and email messages (international phone via work, not a problem) over a 10 month period. What I did was give them a 10% sample (first page, every 10th page, and last page). 50 pages. Something like that. This way it showed continuity over time. My lawyer said it was more than adequate. Just got our NOA1 so I dont know if they will want more. If they want data I can bury them in data. 10 trips to Colombia in a year and over 1000 photos together, plus videos, etc. Proof of our relationship is not an issue!

Just my two cents!