MN&UK

People just don't understand unless THEY are directly affected.

way too true.. sad huh? ahhh well .. whats another glass of scotch?

Sure, but I am one loud mouth beeatch and I think we can 'educate' folks enmasse. I can't take stuff sitting down, not my nature.

Hello. I am the one who brought up the march in Washington. It seems like we have a lot of support here to do something, perhaps an online open letter, a petition, pics with a small story of our longing to be reuited with our loves, etc.

We are trying to figure out a way to brainstorm a plan of action. Stay tuned.

I am working on the letter and welcome feedback on that as well. I think if we put our collective minds, contacts, networks and voices, we can make an impact.

I am in too, and I live in DC.

Here is what I think we need to do. This would be better organized through email, since that it can spread better.

I set up an email account to start the chain. visaaction@gmail.com.

Send a note to that account with your email address and we will start an email chain to organize. We can always change it later, but that at least will give an alternative forum to gather interest.

Great - thanks for being proactive. Everyone email visaaction@gmail.com so he/she can start a distro list for us to come up with a plan.

WHo can write a well-written open letter to Senators/media outlets so everyone only has to change the name & fax it?

I don't have the skills some of you do. Then we can send a flurry everywhere!

Someone, perhaps Tigre (??) had well written one that we can adapt. I will be happy to start one (I will wirte it this weekend) and post it here for everyone's critique. Then we can all add our signatures and distribute. I am in PR/Media Relations and have some contacts, but will need to enlist everyone's help in this grassroots, guerilla marketing campaign on behalf of our relationships,

I get that it would be too spendy for us to assemble in Washington as we are all saving money for plane tickets, phone bills, weddings, etc. But we can do something via the www.

Look for something from me soon. I will make a new topic thread.

We need a website. We can then send out press releases to major newspapers/media outlets/senators.

We can put letters & pictures on it.

I'm in for whatever you do.

Cool, let me see what I come up with. It might take a few, but I will investigate.

In prison, at least they get conjugal visits. We are being treated lower than a incarcerated criminal. Guilty before innocent.

A march and continued inquiries to our congressman and senators will have an impact.

I love that! Conjugal visit...I think I will tell me fiance to use that when he arrives at the POE next month. That's perfectly describes it

Well, not only did USCIS update their CSC processing times, I also got touched 5 times today but they were all the same message saying they received my IMBRA RFE and that "although preliminary processing was...Any thoughts?

Did you by any chance sign up for the email alerts several times? Maybe they received multiple requests for the email alerts and have no deduping capability. I get duplicate emails and I think I signed up twice for the email alerts inadvertantly.

Well, we got our RFE two weeks ago but we had some problems with having the chance and the time to mail it and still haven't sent it back! I just want to mail that thing and get it over with..... and then just wait!

Oh well I know i'm just venting here but I needed too. I was wondering how far back I'm gonna be since we're only gonna send it back tomorrow.

2 weeks? is this a joke? you filed in march and have been through all this and you can't find the chance to mail your rfe? oy vay!

Don't judge so fast My fiance was out of town and couldn't come back to sign and mail it... and none of his friends and family could do that for him, of course.

He's back in town and mailing the RFE was the first thing he did. Hope we all have good news soon!!!

Since they state they are taking 30-60 days to even process RFEs I think you will be fine. They are not processing the ones filed by those who hand delivered them ages ago. Don't beat yourself up. I don't think you have done anything to shoot yourself in the foot.

I like the part where they say they handled 5.7 million of the 7 million petitions submitted in 2005. That means that 1.3 million petitions got lost in the black hole last year!

Very good point.

Good point they have photographic evidence ;0

We could certainly do something virtually - a virtual protest. We could do a photo montage of us couples and families with a brief testimonial on our longing to be reunited. Photos can be flanked by a well written open letter to USCIS, stating that we are trying to do the right thing and negotiate our way through the proper immigration channels and we have encountered set backs, lack of timely or accurate information, cryptic emails, snappish customer service and ever increasing timelines. We can talk about the toll it is taking on all of us, our faith in our government and our livlihoods.

Remember the beautiful tributes to the 911 victims that circulated heavily? Perhaps we can create something like that. Something that will garnish a little sympathy and hopefully some action and media attention.

Now I am not exactly sure how to go out the next step, technologically, but we can start by forming a committee to see what we can pull together and enlist help from others. I am sure if we all put our minds and hearts into something, our vast network of contacts and talent will produce something amazing.

How do we start a list for folks to sign up for a steering committee to come up with a plan? Thoughts? Brainstorm.

I don't have the details but about 3 or 4 years ago there was a similar process outside of the Texas Service Center by K-1 visa applicants protesting the extremely long processing times. The times were in the same vicinity as they are now - and apparently it was somewhat successful as the center did speed up, and surprisingly, some of those protesting received their visas in a very short time after the protest. Wish I had the details but maybe a google search might show something - it was reported in the newspapers.

Thanks for the tip. I will do some research. I think it gives us something to focus on - perhaps making a positive change rather than falling into helplessness.

also I don't mean to be diheartening but once the approvals to our petitions get through there will only be more backlog .. at the embassies.. trying to schedule all our interviews.. I didn't want to be the person to say it but someone had to.

Been thinking it, my friend, been thinking it. Oi and it does not sit well. Time to save some pennies for some winter flights.

In another thread a woman made me sad to think that we might not even get to spend the holidays with our loved ones due to the slow aftermath of IMBRA. When once we were imagining spending summer walks with our sweeties, now we are merely hoping to not let this whole year slip away.

I think we should seriously assemble on the mall in DC in solidarity to bring awareness of the incompetence of this process. Even 5,000 folks, some in wedding gowns, some in tuxes holding cardboard cut outs of their spouses symbolizing the wedding that never was, or put on hold, or cancelled or marriages spent apart would be impactful. That would be a powerful image and I know it would get a lot of media attention, which is what we want.

I am serious - we should pick a date and go for it - sometime weeks before the election heats up or weeks after. Even if some of us actually get approved, we can still march to show support for future or current petitioners stuck in the cog.

It will be peaceful, but impactful. The undocumented workers protested and look what that did.

My 3-4 month hope for being with my husband again has cruelly become my "maybe before Christmas" hope.....

Gosh, I sure hope not T/L! Here's hoping you will have a happy holiday.

Is it really come to this? A hopeful, happy summer has passed us all by and now we are looking to perhaps, maybe, kinda, sorta get to at least salvage the holidays before 2006 is a total wash. Someone should seriously pay for this anquish.

Hmm I keep refreshing mine and I dont see anything updated.. since July 11th.. weird.

I know that happens. Now I went back and it was on July 11. Yet another mystery, inconsistency and subliminal message from USCIS. They are probably flashing other messages like, 'give up on this fruitless exercise and go marry an American, 'outsourcing is good', and 'support big oil and big tobacco.'

where should I be looking? Been on the USCIS website and also VJ processing times area and I can't find any change, unless VSC has not updated theirs

It will update, but just for your state of mind, VSC was on April 4 or close to it for 129Fs.

you see them updated on the 19th?

Yep. I-129Fs jumped from March 3 to a whopping, March 6. Heck of a jump!

I do not know why I even check the processing dates anymore, because even if they are updated, there is never any significant progress. It is like viewing a car accident scene - not good for your state of mind, but you are powerless to turn away.

This is not a healthy excercise. Does anyone have a processing date checking cessation patch that I can put on my arm?

What a joke. That 'celebration memo' reminds me of Bush congratulating his cronies on the great job they did in New Orleans after Katrina.

Or his speech touting victory in Iraq. It all starts at the top...

Hehehe... You mean, 'Mission Accomplished!' ??? Don't get me started....

To anyone offended... Don't take it the wrong way. The US sure isn't perfect but it's still my country and I love it here!

Yes, let's not start a politically charged debate . You and I were merely submitting into eveidence two other recent examples of our beloved government's record of issuing fluff and pulling PR stunts that are not founded on reality.

(And for the record I am a veteran who served my country honorably and I love it here enough to subject the love of my life to it in the near future. )

What a joke. That 'celebration memo' reminds me of Bush congratulating his cronies on the great job they did in New Orleans after Katrina.

Or his speech touting victory in Iraq. It all starts at the top...

Small victories...here's to them. Every little bit helps. Cheers!

First, I apologize for the sarcasm that I am about to emote. I mask my pain in low-ball humor at anonlymous others' expense. Some people drink heavily, some journal, I diss. (It is my thing, let it go.)

So if you are an USCIS enabler, who makes apologies for their incompetence and complete disregard for customer service, you will not appreciate this, so spare the suffering you are about to experience and please go find another topic to read.

For the other 99.9% of us , who are fed up, you will love this press release just issued by USCIS, honoring the 25th annivesary of the service centers.

http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffair...iv_071406PR.pdf

They are so incompetent that they can't even upload the full release.

What a gem!

I especially love the opening paragraph that states, "...USCIS efficiently and securly provides immigration benefits..."

EFFICIENTLY???? Um....I disrespectfully disagree.

Also, it states that they have 5,000 staff working 'around the clock.' Factoring 40+ days of vacation, 4 - 45 minute breaks, lunch hours, meetings and 100 sundry manditory trainings, like, 'How to Show Those in Crazy International Romances Who's Boss'; 'How to Write Cryptic Email Responses,' "Evasion Techniques When Talking to Congressional Case Workers amd 'Get Back to Us in 30 Days - The Immigration Workers' Guide to Career Advancement,' I wonder how many hours said workers are actually spending issuing immigtation benefits - 30 mintues/day tops?

Argh to the A-R-G-H!

Honestly, I have been increasingly thinking that this might be a story for the news to cover. We need something to get a buzz in the community or the powers that be engaged in the inefficiencies at the CSC location because right now they are like a deer in headlights.

Does anyone have any contacts at the Washington Post or New York Times so we can pitch a story? One well placed article can spur a lot of reaction and folks jumping to attention. Many o' government agencies have had to change their tune after a media spotlight was put on them.

Also, with this being an election year, politicos would jump on the outrage wagon if there were enough sob stories.

I hope you're kidding!

You are certainly can contact your Senator, but perhaps saving that until you actually need to leverage the contact, might be a better strategy. Don't waste their time as your case is still very new.

The wait is hard. Many of us have been there and some. Find a way to help you cope and to pass the time. Read a good book, redecorate a room, exercise obsessively, so you are in great shape for your love, etc..

I have paint on my hands as I have spent the weekend painting .

I am also in the process of contacting my representative from my area. Thanks for the info though

Thanks for the post. Let us know what you find out. We have the same NOA1 and our fiances are in the UK, looks like we are in the same raft.

I am contacting my Senators next week. Sen. Coleman's office has been very responsive and the staff even called me from Washington and said they were taking my concerns straight to the Sen., who serves on the Homeland Security committee. They stated he will be very interested to hear of the problems his constituents were having with USCIS.

I will update as well if I find out anything.

I just got back from a wonderful 12 day vacation in Norfolk, VA with my fiance , at which time we were gonna file all the K-1 paperwork (we were planning on getting married next summer in the US when he gets back from deployment). Now, all of a sudden, seems like my fiancee may get posted overseas for 2 years, and of course, I plan on going with him!!! We've decided that if this is indeed what is going to happen, we'll get married here in Canada while he is on leave at Xmas before he goes on 6 months deployment overseas.

My 2 questions are 1) I'll need to drive down to the US first with my stuff and leave from there, will they let me through at the border since I don't plan on immigrating and will be on military orders with my hubby for abroad? (I'll kind of be "in transit") and 2) Will I need to come back to Canada for my K-3 interview when we file from abroad? We'll obviously have to file before being posted back to the US. Or can I just go through the process at the American Embassy in whichever country we are living in (a good chance it may be Germany).

I just realized that perhaps I should be posting this question on the K-3 board, anyone have any feedback for me?

Tanya

I would have him inquire with his JAG office on this, he will know what that is. I am not an expert, but depending on where he is stationed/living, you will be on US property, therefore techinically in the US and will need an ID and such. The military also has restrictions on being married to a foreign national, especially if your fiance is involved in security sensitive operations. As they think he will fall under influence and jeopardize security. You will probably also have to get a visa to visit the country of his new duty station, whereever that is.

Good luck!!

I think we need to compile a list of cryptic, bizarre and less than helpful emails that folks have been receiving, like this one and the one that references 'dates listed below' without any dates 'listed below' and send them to our Congressional delegations as further evidence of the incompetence of USCIS. If an agency cannot put out something simple like an email communication, is evidence of systematic incompetence. Why bother with the work of sending a correspondance if it does not communicate anything?

It is astounding how no one can properly interpret these communications.