stef_curls

As frustrating as it is, we are hardly dealing with a grave injustice here. We have legal avenues to get our status sorted. I feel sorry for those who are really up the creek without a paddle, such as the kids who were brought here as kids without their knowledge or consent, spent their life growing up and going ot school, without even possibly knowing their status. Now they are adults they have absolutely zero way to become legal if they are over 30. Now that's an injustice.

We are lucky.

Dude, Obama just created and passed DACA for this exact situation.

"On June 15, 2012, President Obama created a new policy calling for deferred action for certain undocumented young people who came to the U.S. as children. Applications under the program which is called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) began on August 15, 2012.

We put together the following FAQ to help answer questions about what this all means, who is eligible, and what eligible youth can do next."

Please read further:

http://www.immigrationequality.org/get-legal-help/our-legal-resources/path-to-status-in-the-u-s/daca-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals/

I don't disagree with Obama but the workload of TSC has increased dramatically and it's partly due to this.

Also, how is it fair that csc filers get approved in 1,2 months while we wait 8 months to a year? Just because we aren't dying doesn't mean we aren't suffering. I realize there are people that are worse off in the world. That isn't the point here.

April, those links look super helpful, I can't wait to check them out! I've been retweeting you.

I was thinking of trying to see if I could get some exposure on reddit if I could put something together that links people and tells them exactly how they can help and where to go and what to say.

Thoughts are to formulate a post that will hook the reader, get them interested and angry with us. Then provide a list of links and ways they can help and who they can contact. A full list of every state senator and their emails/links to contact, and maybe even highlight those involved in immigration.

I also just found both my state senator and the congressman I contacted earlier in the week and tweeted them. Anything is worth a try at this point.

If a post we make can gain traction on reddit we could get some serious exposure.

Please post your twitter handles so we can follow and retweet each other.

@slg988

My twitter is @slg9888

I've made a few posts to start.

So if they don't care, what's the point?

What's the point? We are being served a grave injustice. Our voices deserve to be heard. You don't get what you don't ask for. Why not try, what have we got to lose?

I contacted the uscis hq and ombudsman, senator, and a congressman on Monday I haven't heard anything.

excited to see what your students come up with, Kristin.

Also, please excuse my typos, I'm mobile right now and my keyboard clearly has a vendetta.

I'm in. I'll make a twitree acct and find you and retweet everything. You have my number. Let's get organized. And maybe create a new thread to rally all the tsc'rs

Hey Kristin,

I was actually thinking about calling too, thanks for letting us know! I haven't heard anything back from anything I sent out Monday... kind of not surprised.

8 months though... that's longer than any of the estimations this far. .

I've already cancelled trying to have any wedding celebration this year. We have too much to worry about and want to get settled asap since now it's going to be the end of the year again before hes here. It was heartbreaking going from thinking I would have someone to go to the beach with all summer and now we will are out to when the leaves will be changing.

I really hope they do a transfer.

Congrats! Your ~5month wait from noa1 to noa2 gives me some hope that Texas can get their act together!

Please keep us updated. Now I'm terrified my fiance won't be here for the birth of our child (due date is 6/27/15). Will he even he able to visit???

Odds are, the way things are going now.. no, he will not have completed the visa process by then.

From your timeline:

"Based on timeline data, your I129f may be adjudicated between May 16, 2015 and June 24, 2015*. "

There is no reason he shouldn't be able to visit here either before you get your NOA2 (or right after..since after NOA2 you still have around 1 month to process at NVC, then another month to transfer to Ireland's embassy.)

As long as he gets a visitor's visa (or a visa waiver... Lewis is from the UK and says is called an Esta. The visa waiver lasts around 2 years so he doesnt have to reapply to come back) and it's approved (unless he already has a waiver) he shouldn't have a problem visiting. He should also be prepared to bring proof with him that he intends and is expected to return home after the visit, and not stay and marry you (which.. I know seems ridiculous since why would you have filed a k-1 and then ruin that by frauding yourself? Alas, the fact that you filed is not proof enough). Proof would be things like a note from his employer.

This thread should be helpful and have more details and experiences/info:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/67796-yes-you-can-visit/

Honestly, I know it's still early for a lot of us taking action and writing letters, but why not do it. What have we got to lose by getting on top of this early? The more of us that write in to all avenues the more likely it is our complaints are heard and taken seriously.

Anytime

Letting everyone know that I received the following:

"Thank you for contacting me about the processing of fiance/e visa applications. I am honored to continue to serve Virginia as your United States Senator. As we work in the Senate to meet the enormous challenges facing this country including the federal deficit, efforts to strengthen our economy, create new jobs, and establish energy independence, your concerns and those of our fellow Virginians are very important to me.

Due to The Privacy Act of 1974, you should first submit a letter to my office. The letter should include your home address, phone number, and email address. The body of the letter should include a description of the problem, all of the action taken to remedy the problem, a description of a favorable outcome for the case, and the role that my office can take to achieve that outcome. Finally, sign and date the letter.

Additionally, send all recent correspondence that you have received from the federal agency involved, and a completed Privacy Release Form, which is enclosed. Mail all of these documents to the address below."

There's hope! Gonna keep doing down this route and hope it'll help.

Hmmm.. had your letter not already done what he said?? Tell him they need to transfer cases from TSC to CSC if they are that damn ahead of us that CSC apps from DECEMBER are now being processed. They need to immediately expedite people who have been waiting 5 months or longer, that's totally unacceptable.

My senator had a privacy release form I printed off online and I faxed everything to them... faxing should be enough. Snail mail though

Excited for you that you got a response though! Even if it seems canned. I haven't heard anything back yet.. but it has only been one day since yesterday was a holiday.

Here's the automated message from Ombudsman:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for the recent request for assistance that you submitted to the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman. Your submission is being reviewed to determine how our office may assist. If we are able to help, you will receive correspondence regarding the inquiry from our office within 45 business days. If our office is unable to assist, we will notify you promptly.

You may contact us at 1-855-882-8100 (toll-free), (202) 357-8100 (local) or cisombudsman@hq.dhs.gov. Please reference case number 20150351 if you have any questions or need further assistance.

Sincerely,

Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman

U.S. Department of Homeland Security DB1KM2TD3NC4

Washington, DC 20528-0180

Toll-Free: 1-855-882-8100

Phone: 202-357-8100

Email: cisombudsman@hq.dhs.gov

Web: www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman

Been doing some more looking this morning and found two additional contact points that I couldn't see if anyone else has tried recently.

The first is the USCIS Headquarters Office of Service Center Operations, email: SCOPSSCATA@dhs.gov they seem to say (albeit in a non-clear way) to email the service center first and wait 21 days and then use this email to follow up. Though no harm could be made if we all emailed this address complaining about the poor management of back log and cases at Texas and requesting them to use CSC to clear it.

The second is the ombudsman which seems to have mixed results over the years. http://www.dhs.gov/case-assistance I can't get access to the 7001 form.

Anyone tried these avenues?

Okay! Update! As of 4:46pm today I have sent letters to a senator, congressman, and the Ombudsman - I filled out the form you linked above. USCIS won't let me file a claim because I'm obviously still within their hogwash self-made "processing time" dates. I will yell down EVERY SINGLE avenue until something changes here. We are law abiding, upstanding citizens of the United States of America trying to bring our loved ones here LEGALLY, we do NOT deserve to be treated that way.

edit: I also emailed scopsscata@dhs.gov that you linked above. Haha.. everyone better know my name by the time I'm done here!!!! . .

/end today's political rampage. I feel quite accomplished, if nothing else.

Been doing some more looking this morning and found two additional contact points that I couldn't see if anyone else has tried recently.

The first is the USCIS Headquarters Office of Service Center Operations, email: SCOPSSCATA@dhs.gov they seem to say (albeit in a non-clear way) to email the service center first and wait 21 days and then use this email to follow up. Though no harm could be made if we all emailed this address complaining about the poor management of back log and cases at Texas and requesting them to use CSC to clear it.

The second is the ombudsman which seems to have mixed results over the years. http://www.dhs.gov/case-assistance I can't get access to the 7001 form.

Anyone tried these avenues?

I have not tried these avenues! I just finished faxing the letter to my Senator, I will look into this if nothing comes of what I did today. This looks like a very good idea though, if we all did the same and complained we may be able to make at least a ripple in the waves.

Saw your post on my phone and jumped on the computer. I KNOW how you feel. There is nothing more frustrating. I haven't heard back from either reps, but I did write back on day 28 inquiring, so fingers crossed. You don't need a copy of the I-129, did you get the NOA1? All you need to include is the case number in your inquiry. If you private message me I can forward the letters I wrote to them to you. (Or if you ever need to talk you can email). This sucks, there's no other way to put it. Thankfully John was able to get off of work and come Feb. 13-28, but lets be honest, it's expensive for both of us to keep hopping on planes. It's been nice because some of his friends are here and a few have come in town so at least I get a little bit of Ireland that way, and he normally stays up to skype each night but it's not the same. We're thinking we'll get approval around July (hopefully) then one month for the next step, then 2 more for everything on his end. As soon as we can we're headed to Vegas. But just wanted you to know you're not alone out there.

Hi! Thank you for the reply! At the link above (the guide I reviewed), they had said the rep may request a copy of everything I have filed. I have my paper copy NOA1, yes.

I would love to see your letters, I'll PM you now.

February! Next Month, not so far! But yes $1k is no joke to drop on a flight. I keep searching for flights desperate to just come out even for a weekend, but I can't justify that much money for less than 24 hours with him, that's just crazy! I go there in March, and he's going to officially propose to me in Paris (I think.. hehe). My life has just been so surreal since all this. I got my own place, a new job (I now hold 2 part time jobs instead of 1), and trying to still make it to the gym (something I used to LOVE and now it feels like a chore ).

That's lovely that you've been able to visit with some of his friends! I don't live near any family and am not the best at making friends because Im shy and now always in a bad mood/depressed. It's a vicious cycle. Some good friends of ours are also filing for a fiance visa (She lives in PA,USA and he lives in Scotland)- but they seem very lax about the whole process and the info surrounding it, "It happens when it happens." :/

So you're going ahead and counting on being approved at the end of your estimated window? Ugh. July. That means he won't be here until October or so? That's 11 months?! UGHHH I am getting mad all over again oh my goodness. I've been on the computer all day consuming myself with this stuff.

Vegas sounds perfect. I honestly just want to grab some witnesses and go to our state courthouse and do it. I've never been a "let's plan a wedding and spend $$$" white-dress kind of girl. However, his family wants to come and so does mine so I'm sort of being forced into at least planning a small party for everyone to meet and greet. I can't even begin to worry about that right now. Sigh.

I hope you have a good night and I'll be in touch via PM.

Just want to say I watched all the episodes of 90 Day Fiance, wow and wow. What a hot mess.

Also if it makes you feel better (like it did me) I contacted both my senators on the unfair comparison in time frames. Both wrote back and one specifically said he submitted an inquiry on my behalf for my fiance. It says he will have an answer in 25-30 days. I'm sure it will lead to nowhere but it does make me feel better.

Read your response after I wrote mine! PLEASE keep us updated as to what he comes back to tell you! I will be writing mine ASAP, as soon as I get a copy of my i-129 from our lawyer and contact the senator's office.

Hello all! I've been SCOURING the forums for information this last week, and just created a profile. I was unaware of the actual timeframe and how far behind TSC is right now and I was EXTREMELY disheartened to find out it will probably be at least April or May before we get our NOA2. We had been planning on having him HERE by then. Now I see how we also have to allow for a month for transfer to NVC, then another month for it to reach the embassy, a month for medical, and another month or two for the interview. And we are sitting around wasting time waiting for just the approval, while other cases are pushed in front of ours for unfair reasons. We have already begun gathering info for the next steps, such as getting his police record, getting any and all vaccinations and medical records he can from his NHS provider, and me filling out and gathering evidence for the affidavit of support, and I will have him print off the DS-160 soon.

To see our light at the end of the tunnel visibly get dimmer was extremely crushing for us both, I have never cried more in my life since this whole process started. (YES it's worth it but I am prone to depression and that's whats happening). We work the same shift, but with the time difference he's usually sleeping by the time I get out of work, and we only really get to catch up once a week during skype. We are both grinding really hard to save up as much money as we can for the fees and flights yet to come and so we can live a comfortable life.

I cannot express how grateful I am to have found this website and people in the same boat as me to lean on for support. I filed with a lawyer, who literally only filled the form out for us.. I don't regret spending the money but seeing now that it would not have been impossible to do myself I almost wish I had.. and done it sooner. C'est la vie.

I have seen the other thread with mostly CSC people who have filed around the time we have already get approvals.. some within DAYS.

I am EXTREMELY fired up about this issue, and although I am only 2 months out from NOA1 I am gathering information and will begin writing the first draft of my letter I will send to a state senator and my representative if necessary.

I am using this guide http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/421608-a-guide-to-writing-your-elected-representatives-about-the-i-129f-slowdown-at-the-csc/)to write my letter. Ironic how this guide was made for those dealing with delays at CSC just last year and now the tables have turned.

I've done my research on who is best to contact within my state (Rhode Island), I am going to start with a Senator who has been in office since 1997 and has dealt with immigration issues himself. I am going to call his office this week and see if I can get the name of a staff member who works specifically with Immigration/USCIS issues. I also needed to contact my lawyer for a copy of our I-129F to forward to them with their privacy release. Why would he not have given me a copy of this when we filed! Why didn't I ask? So much has been learned these past few weeks...

I'm blown away at how archaic this system is, and to think I would have been none the wiser about it if my future husband didn't live outside of this country. I knew the U.S. had its corrupt and outdated policies, but never in my wildest dreams could I have seen myself in this absurd situation and feeling so helpless. I refuse to sit around and wait, and I am taking action. I will keep you all updated and even post what I come up with if anyone else would like to use it as a guide.

Even if it doesn't speed of the process of my own application, our voices need to be heard, and a change needs to happen so future applicants don't have to go through these extreme hardships of heartache and economic woes (we are considering buying another round trip ticket for him to visit in May for 2 weeks before NOA2 because the thought of being apart for more than 3-4 months is too much to bear.) Even if we get the NOA2 the day before he comes out, we still have to wait for NVC and then to fwd to the embassy.

Anyone with me here?

Thanks for reading!

-Stefanie

edits: grammar/formatting/spelling

Also, since Marisol is from the Philipines, you should expect a much faster approval (time between noa1, initial filing),and noa2(approval). Its been looking like 2 months.

For some reason unbeknownst to me, Philipines cases get expedited in front of everyone else.

Also, someone correct me if this is wrong.. I've been scouring these forums for days now but this is my first post.

Congrats to you and finding your love.