I did write to my Senator about this issue specifically and the backlog in general (along with the lack of accountability and oversight). That was weeks ago and I haven't heard anything back at all, and I'm not expecting to at this point. It sucks, there is no justice in any of it, and there isn't a damn thing anyone can do about it. I've never felt so angry at my country and my government. The only thing that matters to anyone in this system is money. If they wanted it fixed, it would be. Someone (or lots of someones) somewhere are making money and a lot of it, off of the disgusting mess that is US Immigration.
The fact that the I-601a even exists is a complete joke! "Here - you have DELIBERATELY CHOSEN TO VIOLATE IMMIGRATION LAW, lets give you a CHEAPER and FASTER process where YOUR ILLEGAL LIFE is not DISRUPTED in any way, you get to STAY WITH YOUR FAMILY until you have your interview in your own country while those who have adhered to the process and system laws with honor, but made a SINGLE bad choice 10 years ago and have since proven that they have NEVER done it again and they were totally honest about it pay more and wait longer while they are separated from their families and everything about their lives is disrupted for years!"
Reward the wrong, punish the honest and make money hand over fist - go home and kiss their partner, tuck in their children, hell - they can even work from home! It doesn't matter, "normal processing time" is arbitrarily theirs to establish and no one will hold them accountable every time that time frame doubles! and while they're at it - let's raise the fees by 21% and tell the applicant's it's to get more staff to resolve the backlog (and watch the time frame double over the next year instead of getting shorter) - no one who matters will care!
When we filed - we were initially told 4-6 months (hahaha) then we found out it was 8-12, and now it's 14-18....and there's not a damn thing we can do but wait
