bdrew612

USCIS are the masters of creative statistics. The Idea is still active on the Idea Community site (ranked #3 with 119 votes), I wonder if it will get pulled now that the numbers are posted....

I live in Hennepin County

My husband and I got married in Sioux Falls, SD. It's a nice 4 hour drive, but there's no waiting period. We got our license ($40) at 10am, got married at 12pm ($50 - our officiant was amazing and I'd be happy to recommend her!), received a copy of our certificate (they only charge $7.50) at 1pm and were on our way back to Minnesota at 3pm!

For USCIS purposes, I just sent in a photo-copy of it. You should be fine, I think...

If their processing times are any date beyond February 14, I will be shocked. I doubt we'll get the faux numbers until later this week.

Should the infographic also run a comparison with the Deferred Action petitions? I think the media would jump on that since illegal immigration is such a hot topic. Our stories are a volcano and it's time to erupt, in my opinion. Figuratively speaking, of course

I fully support re-posting. Hell, should we spam the page and have everyone post the idea? (I'm sure this is not the best idea, but we're not exactly working with competent adults).

I do think we should include USCIS' responses to us in our letter to the media. Maybe it will make the letter too long, but at least let them know we've TRIED to talk with USCIS but we get nowhere.

I think with media pressure, it will help get the attention of Congress. I think this letter should be sent to legislators and the media. The more the merrier!

Yea... I just got off the phone with H&R Block and the lady explained that you need to file as married and it is your choice to either file sep or jointly. The only info they will need is name, date of birth, and their social #... I am probably going to just suck up the $$ and get it done by a professional because there is no sense in trying to "figure it out" and dont want to mess it up with such a crucial year on our hands with everything.

I'm in the same boat with you! I don't think I have the stamina to deal with both USCIS and the IRS.

I shared the link yesterday and a few people voted. My husband's shared it today. It's still climbing... we keep making noise and someone has to pay attention to us eventually. Shame we even have to go to these links, really.

I don't think that's correct, USanCANlove. I was on the phone with the IRS earlier today (yes, it was as exciting as it sounds) and I was told I have to file married (I married in August, the beneficiary is in England and has always been in England). The choice is whether or not to file seperately or jointly.

What I can't seem to get a clear answer on is what does my husband need to do if I file as married seperate. Does he still need an ITIN? Do I need to include a statement or documentation that my husband is a non-resident and does not contribute 50%+ of his earnings to my household?

I might just have to pay someone this year. Yaaaaaay.

It's climbing in the rankings. I'm not sure if that number really means anything. If it becomes the #1 ranked idea, does this mean USCIS is going to address it?

Sorry if I'm asking you a question you've probably already answered 8 billion times (it annoys me to no end), but did you schedule an InfoPass at the local office? And if so, you didn't get anywhere?

I don't know how helpful it will be at this point to lawyer up, but my heart goes out to you - I would be ripping my hair out!

Does anyone know if it's been announced when President Obama is going to announce his nomination for the new Director of USCIS? I doubt the lack of Director at the moment has any direct bearing on the amount of I-130s they're NOT processing (although, let's be real, it's the perfect excuse).

I've read reports that Leon Rodriguez is the favorite, but I doubt there's anything productive that will come of contacting him at this point - unless there's a way to get him publicly on board? I know I'm really stretching, but I miss my husband and I'm desperate!

I don't have much to chip in to this conversation in terms of content of the next letter, and the letters we've sent out thus far have been great - I particularly like the tone and language used. We mean business. Maybe with this letter, we should all also reach out to our local Congressperson/Senator? For those of us who live in districts with politicians who are sound-bite divas, we can invite them to make noise and get some airtime

I'm a January 2013 filer STILL waiting for NOA2. You will learn some semblance of patience (or perhaps it's insanity) from this process.

Good luck.

Given that you are out of the processing time frame, I think you can contact the Ombudsman or the petitioner's congressperson. USCIS says they're adjudicating from I-130s from February 13, 2013. If your NOA-1 is prior to that, I think you have USCIS' permission to make noise.

I hope you get your NOA2 soon!!!!

I voted! It's currently ranked as #43.

CONGRATS!!!!! What a way to start the new year!

If you're getting nowhere with USCIS, maybe it's time to contact your Congressperson. I'm by no means the expert on this matter, so I'm sure someone else will have some advice for you!

So, even though your NOA1 is dated in January (which is outside their processing time line), they still couldn't - wouldn't help? :-(

Wait, the guy who oversaw the massive delays in processing I-130s and did barely anything about it for months has been promoted?

Gotta love government.

I already have it. Follow me on Twitter, and you'll see it. I'll follow you as well.

Fantastic!!!

I'm not tech savvy and I'm wondering if there's a way to link that letter and post it to Twitter? Twitter is the only way I can get my Congressman to respond (insert eye roll).

Mine went through this morning. I wonder if they turned it off after they got a couple dozen faxes?

It really wouldn't surprise me. But someone else commented that the fax went through on the third try. I'm wondering if this means the fax machine is getting jammed with so many faxes!!!

Not at all, the more the merrier. Doesn't even have to be a petitioner or beneficiary sending, lots of us are getting friends and family involved. Strength in numbers is the name of the game.

Give it a shot and let us know if it works!

It did not work :/

For anyone who missed the stats updated on uscis.gov yesterday, it wasn't good news. They've increased the average I-130 processing time from 7.4 to 8.7 months, and advanced the current processing date by ONE DAY from Feb 12 to Feb 13. After promising stakeholders in November that they've been focused on reducing the I-130 backlog for "several months," this update is unacceptable, and we're going to make sure USCIS knows it.

Today we're sending this email as the latest in our letter sending campaign. This is a swift reaction to yesterday's updates to show USCIS that we hold them accountable for keeping their promises to stakeholders and humanely reuniting families per the administration's directive. Background for this effort is in this thread.

The email should go to the following recipients:

Bob Goodlatte (Use address 1 Main Street, Roanoke VA 24015 when you fill in the web form)

alejandro.mayorkas@dhs.gov; alejandro.mayorkas@hq.dhs.gov; uscisfrcomments@dhs.gov; Lori.Scialabba@dhs.gov; Lori.Scialabba@hq.dhs.gov; cisombudsman@dhs.gov; maria.m.odom@dhs.gov; maria.m.odom@hq.dhs.gov; brandi.blackburn@uscis.dhs.gov; rand.beers@hq.dhs.gov; letters@washpost.com; executive@aila.org; newsroom@aila.org; Public.Engagement@uscis.dhs.gov

Please remember to insert your name at the end of the letter and include a subject line for your email. Fax it, too, if you can:

• 1.The Honorable Bob Goodlatte - Chairman House Judiciary Committee

  Fax 202-225-9681

• 2. Director USCIS: Alejandro Mayorkas

  Fax: 202-272-8118

• 3. Deputy Director USCIS: Lori Scialabba

  Fax: 202-272-8118

• 4. Maria M. Odom - Ombudsman USCIS

  Fax: 202-357-0042

• 5. Brandi Blackburn, Assistant Center Director for NBC Division 8 in Overland Park, KS

  Fax: 816-350-5785

• 6. Director: Nancy W. Guilliams - Office of Administration-USCIS

  Fax: 202-272-1553

• 7. Secretary DHS: Mr. Rand Beers

  Fax: 202-282-8420

• 8. Senator John Cornyn - Ranking Member U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

  Fax: 202-228-2281 (committee office) OR 202-228-2856 (direct office)

• 9. Senator Chuck Schumer - Chairman U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee

  Fax: 202-228-2281 (committee office) OR 202-228-3027 (direct office)

If you don't have access to a fax machine, use a free online service such as: myfax.com/free, gotfreefax.com, and faxzero.com.

Let's keep the pressure on!

I tried faxing to Alejandro Mayorkas, but it failed. I located this fax number for Alejandro Mayorkas 202-272-1134, too. Should we try that?

I can't help but wonder if Mr Mayorkas' fax line is out on purpose....

Sent! Let's make some noise!!!!!

In a nutshell, I-130s were left on a shelf while USCIS prioritized DACA requests. Instead of hiring more staff to deal with the influx of paperwork, they simply reallocated existing staff away from our petitions and left essentially no one working on them.

Glad you want to get involved! Tomorrow we will be sending this letter to the following contacts:

Bob Goodlatte

alejandro.mayorkas@dhs.gov; alejandro.mayorkas@hq.dhs.gov; uscisfrcomments@dhs.gov; Lori.Scialabba@dhs.gov; Lori.Scialabba@hq.dhs.gov; cisombudsman@dhs.gov; maria.m.odom@dhs.gov; maria.m.odom@hq.dhs.gov; brandi.blackburn@uscis.dhs.gov; rand.beers@hq.dhs.gov; letters@washpost.com; executive@aila.org; newsroom@aila.org; Public.Engagement@uscis.dhs.gov

This is the third in a series of letters that members of this community are sending to the above contacts. The previous letters can also be found on VJ if you're interested in seeing what we've been doing. Join us in sending tomorrow, and keep your eye out for the next letter, which will be sent 3-4 weeks from now.

Is the attachment the final draft? I'm getting ready to this to all my friends and family now.