Vincent & Alejo

I wrote my senator outlining the problems with Nebraska, the lack of accountability, the inability to get a K-3 VISA issued, and the fact that H1-B have premium processing (an answer within 14 days) and that student and other work VISAs have processing deadlines whereas I-130 does not. Apparently whoever answers letters at my senator's office does not know how to read because all I got was a response saying I was in normal processing times when I explicitly did not ask for a case update but for Nebraska to be looked into.

After a very long and painful 289 days my i130 was approved!! I had tears in my eyes when I got the news!! It was the best way to start the Thanksgiving weekend!!
 
We look forward to putting this chapter behind us and moving forward with our lives. Best of luck to those who are still waiting.
 
NOA1 - Feb 08
NOA2 - Nov 22
 

I used a lawyer and the lawyer wanted photos to submit.

Be thankful you're not stuck in Nebraska like many of us are that is taking 10-12 months.

I don't know why but you sounded so fake.

Jake, I can put all the saints upside down, pray to the Virgen de Guadalupe almost to the point of becoming a nun, and none of this would guarantee me an approval.
While staying positive and having a respectful attitude towards the agents is crucial, the rest comes down to honestly, a bit of luck. Just like @acidrain said, we stay proactive. Most of us call on a weekly basis, on top of the emails and tracking, and it just can't happen for everyone due to the backlog. The ''current climate'' that you seem to believe is the reason for the delay, really isn't. Other centers are approving cases in the normal 6 months because they don't have an overwhelming number of cases. You're trying to mansplain, worse, immigrationsplain to all of us how the process works, and although I know you think you're trying to be helpful, you're also assuming we haven't done everything in our power to get our approvals. Let's just agree to disagree on this one. Have a good night. 
 

The response I got back was that my case is within normal processing time. I guess Senator Nelson's office didn't even read what I asked for since I stated I did not want a status update on my case. I have no problem waiting my turn, but I do have a problem with the dysfunction happening at Nebraska. Now to write the local media and see if any of them care. Orlando is a growing immigrant city, and news columnist Scott Maxwell and radio personality Jim Philips love to call out government inefficiencies. 

Nebraska is indeed that far behind.

Senator Nelson, D-FL, responded to my letter and said he is looking into my questions. What I asked him to look into:
Why is Nebraska so far behind Why is Nebraska not being held accountable What is Nebraska doing to clear the backlog Why H1-B VISAs have a premium processing option and spouses do not. Why work and student visas have a defined processing timeline and spouses do not. Why USCIS has systematically made the K-3 VISA obsolete, a VISA congress enacted to avoid the situation us Nebraska folks are in. Propose legislation to give U.S. Citizens an expedited process, same has H1-Bs. Hopefully he'll come back with some sort of answers. I doubt it, but you never know.

Senator Nelson, D-FL, responded to my letter and said he is looking into my questions. What I asked him to look into:
Why is Nebraska so far behind Why is Nebraska not being held accountable What is Nebraska doing to clear the backlog Why H1-B VISAs have a premium processing option and spouses do not. Why work and student visas have a defined processing timeline and spouses do not. Why USCIS has systematically made the K-3 VISA obsolete, a VISA congress enacted to avoid the situation us Nebraska folks are in. Propose legislation to give U.S. Citizens an expedited process, same has H1-Bs. Hopefully he'll come back with some sort of answers. I doubt it, but you never know.

I just realized that an hour ago when my boss pointed out last Monday was Columbus day. Today is Columbus day in Colombia where my spouse is. The joy of having three countries (as my sister lives in Canada) of Holidays on my calendar. 

Well, anyone from November through May is getting screwed by the backlog.
 
What angers me is as of Oct 03, they've reinstated premium processing for H1-B VISAs. That means, for an extra fee, they get their application processed within 14 days. Why don't we have that option?

Well, anyone from November through May is getting screwed by the backlog.
 
What angers me is as of Oct 03, they've reinstated premium processing for H1-B VISAs. That means, for an extra fee, they get their application processed within 14 days. Why don't we have that option?

I didn't write Senator Nelson to intervene or check on my case. I wrote him about the inefficiencies of the Nebraska Service Center and that its processing methodology needs to be looked into. I have no problem waiting my turn, I do however, have a problem with Nebraska turning a 5-6 month process into a process of 10+ months. Congress enacted the K-3 VISA to help over come these long wait times, but as we all know, USCIS has basically nullified this VISA type by not processing those in a timely manner. Congress also needs to look into why H1-B, other work VISAs, and student VISAs have a defined time line when they must be processed, but I-130s do not. Congress also needs to know why, up until this quarter, H1-B VISAs could get premium processing and an answer within 14 days, but our applications are shoved in a box somewhere until an employee decides to select our box to process it.

I just wrote to one of my Senators, Bill Nelson. As my PD is May 26, I did not ask for assistance, but urged him to look into what is going on at the Nebraska Service Center.
 
Senator Nelson,
I legally married my spouse in April, and the day after he had to return to his home country. We immediately filed the I-130 and we are currently in the legal process for obtaining the CR/IR-1 VISA. I'm not writing regarding the process, but the amount of time that it is taking.
The Nebraska Service Center is still processing I-130 cases from December 2016, while the other service centers are already on April of this year. How is it fair that my spouse and I must spend an undetermined amount of time apart? How is it fair that we are unable to plan our future together due to not knowing when we can finally be together? Not only is this causing undue financial stress but undue emotional stress that no married couple should ever have to experience. 
Senator Nelson, I know illegal immigration is at the forefront of this administration's agenda, but no one ever speaks of those going through the legal process. Work VISAS and Student VISAS have a time line which they must be processed. However, the process for married couples has no time line and is processed at the service center's leisure. How is this fair to any American, or to your constituents? 
As much as my spouse and I cannot wait to be together, we understand there is a legal process we need to go through. We absolutely have no problem waiting our turn. However, the problem lies with the Nebraska Service Center. A process which used to take 5 to 6 months is now at 10 months. The only thing I am asking for is the same right as every other American, to be with my spouse and to be able to plan our future together. On behalf of all Americans, please find out why the Nebraska Service Center is working at a snail's pace and why workload is not being distributed equally among the various service centers. 

I just wrote to one of my Senators, Bill Nelson. As my PD is May 26, I did not ask for assistance, but urged him to look into what is going on at the Nebraska Service Center.
 
Senator Nelson,
I legally married my spouse in April, and the day after he had to return to his home country. We immediately filed the I-130 and we are currently in the legal process for obtaining the CR/IR-1 VISA. I'm not writing regarding the process, but the amount of time that it is taking.
The Nebraska Service Center is still processing I-130 cases from December 2016, while the other service centers are already on April of this year. How is it fair that my spouse and I must spend an undetermined amount of time apart? How is it fair that we are unable to plan our future together due to not knowing when we can finally be together? Not only is this causing undue financial stress but undue emotional stress that no married couple should ever have to experience. 
Senator Nelson, I know illegal immigration is at the forefront of this administration's agenda, but no one ever speaks of those going through the legal process. Work VISAS and Student VISAS have a time line which they must be processed. However, the process for married couples has no time line and is processed at the service center's leisure. How is this fair to any American, or to your constituents? 
As much as my spouse and I cannot wait to be together, we understand there is a legal process we need to go through. We absolutely have no problem waiting our turn. However, the problem lies with the Nebraska Service Center. A process which used to take 5 to 6 months is now at 10 months. The only thing I am asking for is the same right as every other American, to be with my spouse and to be able to plan our future together. On behalf of all Americans, please find out why the Nebraska Service Center is working at a snail's pace and why workload is not being distributed equally among the various service centers. 

I just wrote to one of my Senators, Bill Nelson. As my PD is May 26, I did not ask for assistance, but urged him to look into what is going on at the Nebraska Service Center.
 
Senator Nelson,
I legally married my spouse in April, and the day after he had to return to his home country. We immediately filed the I-130 and we are currently in the legal process for obtaining the CR/IR-1 VISA. I'm not writing regarding the process, but the amount of time that it is taking.
The Nebraska Service Center is still processing I-130 cases from December 2016, while the other service centers are already on April of this year. How is it fair that my spouse and I must spend an undetermined amount of time apart? How is it fair that we are unable to plan our future together due to not knowing when we can finally be together? Not only is this causing undue financial stress but undue emotional stress that no married couple should ever have to experience. 
Senator Nelson, I know illegal immigration is at the forefront of this administration's agenda, but no one ever speaks of those going through the legal process. Work VISAS and Student VISAS have a time line which they must be processed. However, the process for married couples has no time line and is processed at the service center's leisure. How is this fair to any American, or to your constituents? 
As much as my spouse and I cannot wait to be together, we understand there is a legal process we need to go through. We absolutely have no problem waiting our turn. However, the problem lies with the Nebraska Service Center. A process which used to take 5 to 6 months is now at 10 months. The only thing I am asking for is the same right as every other American, to be with my spouse and to be able to plan our future together. On behalf of all Americans, please find out why the Nebraska Service Center is working at a snail's pace and why workload is not being distributed equally among the various service centers. 

Unfortunately there's been no news from Nebraska. My PD is May 26 with Nebraska. I recommend reading through the Nebraska group as some members are trying to make the backlog and inefficiencies of the Nebraska Service Center known.

Unfortunately there's been no news from Nebraska. My PD is May 26 with Nebraska. I recommend reading through the Nebraska group as some members are trying to make the backlog and inefficiencies of the Nebraska Service Center known.