I'm in a boat in the same storm and agree that making congresspeople aware of our personal stories is one thing we can and should do. We don't need to debate the myriad of reasons why the immigration process canNOT go more smoothly, because we're powerless to change it ourselves and it's pointless to speculate the why's and wherefores. We can report our experiences and let our representatives investigate the issues, and maybe one day the process will be improved for others down the road. I'm not naive enough to think it will change for me right now. I was naive enough to believe my wife would be here with me in under a year when we got married a year and a half ago. During this last trip of the Earth around the sun my wife lost her mother to covid and I couldn't be there to comfort her. Six months passed before I could even attend her virtual funeral. My wife hoped to have her first baby with me, but just turned 44 a few days ago and I don't have the heart to tell her that it may be another six months to a year before we can be together and that the odds of conceiving at our age is not on our side. Each of us has heartbreaking stories to tell about our long distance relationship and the frustrations of not being together due to so many things outside of our control. We came close to separating out of the sheer stress and frustration of the new normal and the insane immigration process and the inability to comfort each other and communicate in ways that married couples should be able to. We pushed through it and dedicated ourselves to our marriage no matter how long it takes to be together. Let the powers that be know how this complex and lengthy process affects your life and how it became even more frustrating during covid times due to lack of communication around when IR1/CR1 processing will begin again in earnest in the countries where it is still halted. Change can only happen after those in charge are made aware of the many problems and how they impact citizens and non-citizens. If we don't speak up then nothing changes.
I'll add that since October I was under the impression that my DQ case was in line at the embassy in Peru just waiting for them to start processing, only to recently find out from that embassy they don't have the case and it is still sitting at the NVC. So a week ago I sent a message to the NVC asking them to explain what the next step is to transmit our case and when that would happen, since there's absolutely no communication, and I'm still awaiting a reply. If you think I plan to just sit here and patiently wait, you're dead wrong.

21 hours ago, Marthaeu said:

Reunite US citizens and permanent residents with our families . www.change.org

I had signed this petition out of frustration for our situation, but later researched the statement in the petition that "Forbes reports the previous administration reduced *LEGAL* immigration by over 50% over the past 5 years". Not only is that factually not true as supported by the yearbooks on DHS, but I found the Forbes article and it clearly states that immigration was reduced between 2016 and 2018 by 7.3%, and reduced for IRs by 15.5 %. Regardless of my frustration I refuse to put my name to something that's not factually accurate even if the sentiment is very true. I unsigned this petition by clicking the link at the bottom of the email "Didn’t sign this petition? Remove your signature."
If whomever created this petition wants me to sign, they can correct the statement and I'll gladly sign it. Don't get me wrong, I despise that man with every bone in my body, but I do have standards.

Long time reader, first time poster. A lot of people are in pain from being apart from their loved ones thru this complex process, lengthened even more than usual by covid. There's no need for rudeness when people are expressing their frustrations. Sometimes we are the only ones we have to discuss this topic with. Peru is also not doing CR1 interviews, I have reason to believe the few done in December were emergency only. Lima is back in lockdown this month. Our DQ was Oct 2020. I think most of us are understanding of the difficulties embassies face with covid, just like everyone is facing. But they've done little in the way of providing visibility into our position in the queue, criteria to be met for when interviews may begin again, and any prediction of timing for our interview to be scheduled after interviews do begin. Hearing someone here say that we may be waiting a year for an interview after we've been apart for so long as a married couple is very difficult news to swallow, especially on Valentine's Day. A little compassion from everyone goes a long way. An email from the NVC or embassy explaining that they understand we're frustrated during this difficult time and giving some helpful info would be better than the black hole we currently have. I am happy to learn of the small blessing that my wife may get an IR1 instead of CR1, but extremely sad if we have to wait the 6 more months when that eligibility would happen. Best of luck to all.