jande

I havent contacted a congressman yet, from what I have seen I'm convinced its a waste of time. But I am seriously thinking of writting VSC a letter tonite. Im going to use my hello kitty stationary... trying to make it look extra desperate. And I am pretty sure they approve people who filled more recently because outlying data like the December fillers makes their average look better. I never thought that I would be close to joining the 6 month club.... Looks like there are only 3 active posters from September left. This really sucks. I hope my NOA2 comes after 3 weeks like your's Amber but Tanya's timeline makes me doubt that that is even possible. I have done everything to maintain my sanity and not think about the wait but after nearly 6 months I am almost at my wit's end. Our original plan was for me to move after my graduation ceremony in June. Taking a couple of classes at University helped me keep my mind off of everything, and now those classes are almost over, and it feels like the only thing I have to do is to wait for this to be over. On top of that my consulate, the one in Montreal is taking about 4 months to schedule an interview... And that really sucks. Everyone should have to wait about the same time, and these November fillers have been waiting for 2 less months then the remaining Sept. fillers. UGH IM SOO PISSED OFF!!! Well I think that is all I can rant about for now. I just really hope this week brings approvals for us so this thread can move to a NVC and interview status thread.

Amber, I disagree that congressmen cannot help. If anything, contacting your congressmen won't hurt you, and it may help you. I contacted my congressmen and I believe he was able to help me...within a couple days I had my NOA2 and he knew before I got the noa2 email! He also told me you can use your letter to your congressmen as supplemental evidence as well - it shows intent and that the relationship is still ongoing. Like everything else, I think it depends on your congressmen and which way the wind blows that day, but I would say its worth it to try. It'll make you feel better too!

Hang in there everyone.

i got approved!!!!!!!!!! OMG!!! thank you jesus!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!

Something that some people do not know when contacting their congressman/woman or senator.

You need to authorize the congressman to act on your behalf, by signing some kind of privacy authorization form. It is nothing fancy, you can type one up yourself. But in it, you state that you authorize "John Doe" and his staff to act on your behalf. SIgn it.. and you MAIL it to the congressman.

If you e-mail or call them on the phone, there is very little they can do to help you, since they are not authorized to call the USCIS on your behalf and inquiry about your case or take any other action on your case.

So, the end result is, it is better to actually write your letter and an authorization document and mail it to the senator congressman's office. Maybe make a phone call a week later to verify they received your letter and take it from there.

Nick

How interesting! Thanks for that Nick. But are they not allowed to say that they need an authorisation to act on your behalf in the email? How is one supposed to find that out? Thank goodness for VJ and some very helpful people here

Try to find your congressmen's website. They should have a website that explains the procedure for receiving the immigration assistance. You can usually print the consent form from there and fax it their office or email it. Then you can follow up with the phone call. It may take some follow up work depending on your congressmen. I contacted the state senator and didn't receive much assistance, but my congressmen was very helpful and seemed to move things along, even if it was 5 months from NOA1 to NOA2. Luck of the draw I guess like everything else. Good luck!!!! We feel your pain.

Congratulations!!!!!!!

Thanks to all for your congratulations! All the best to everyone here and wishes for a speedy approval... It will be such a relief when you are approved for the NOA2 - you almost forget how mad and frustrated you are with the process...although we aren't done yet Good luck!!

I just found the website for the Congressman that deals with our part of NC. I emailed him, will this be sufficient? I had to fill out personal details on the screen, like our case no., SS no. etc? I'm totally over dealing with USCIS! I eventually was put through to a supervisor earlier after I had had enough of their parrot like answers from their chart, bollocks to that!! I DON'T EVER WANT TO HEAR THEM SAY APRIL AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So this supervisor, lovely voice, very soothing, absolutely useless He just repeated the same ####### all the others do, so when I asked him to contact Vermont, 'Oh we can't do that.' Why I asked? 'WE have no way of contacting them' Oh I said, how is it that a customer (dis)service department has no way of communicating with the department they are answering questions for? No reply. So, I asked, is it true my case has been assigned to an officer as one of your colleagues told me last week? I have no way of knowing that ma'am, our screens don't show that type of information?' So how was it your colleague said it had been assigned? 'I don't know' he said. So I can only assume she made it up. That has upset me even more. Honestly, I wish we'd just got married and dealt with them after the event, this is utter #######, its discraceful that they are allowed to get away with it.

Sorry about your experience with USCIS - I didn't even bother contacting them bc I know it will always be the same you can read on the website. I would follow up with the congressmen to make sure he received your email. Usually someone on the staff will follow up on the request, but a phone call wouldn't hurt to their office to make sure. The better they know you and your situation, the more they would probably be willing to help. Good luck!!!

At this point, anything is worth a try.

I was approved today, 5 months after submitting the application. So hang in there, it will happen! I hope for everyone to receive an approval soon.

Don't hesitate to contact your congressmens office. Mine was very responsive. I contacted him on Thursday of last week and he put in a formal inquiry into my case the same day. He called me today to say I was approved, after I got the email; but he definetely was following my case. Coincidence? Possibly. But it definetely did not hurt!

Good luck to all!

Congratulations

Thanks for all the congrats! We are still smiling all day . Hope everyone here gets approved soon!

Congratulations

Thanks for all the congrats! We are still smiling all day . Hope everyone here gets approved soon!

I actually got a phone call from my congressmens office today congratulating us...it seems they definetely were on top of things!

I'm so pleased for you! Its great to see VSC hasn't completely forgotten us September filers! I wonder if it was a coincidence you had just contacted your congressman or it it really did the trick?? I was hoping not to have to contact ours. How did you contact them, did you call or write a letter??

Congrats

I called mine and talked to someone on his staff then filled out a letter he provided giving him permission to check our file. You can find out who your congressmen is by going to the link here and then filling in your zip code.

http://www.house.gov/htbin/zipfind

It sounded to me like your congressmen can potentially help. He's got my vote now! Good luck to you!!!!!! All the best.

Got the email this morning at 6 am from an approval sent yesterday, exactly 5 months after we applied. My fiance called from Brazil when she saw to wake me up - we are so happy!

Also, I don't know if it had anything to do with it, but I did contact my Congressmen on Thursday of last week. He was extremely nice and said that they would do a formal inquiry to check the status and see if they could move things along. That inquiry was placed on Thursday, and today approval!!!! Not sure if its a coincidence but I guess it didn't hurt at all. A main part of their job is to help people with these issues, so don't be afraid to contact them!

Good luck to the rest of the people here. It is a hard long wait, but your approval is coming soon too! Have faith and I hope Vermont keeps working fast!

We can't stop smiling now. Good luck to the rest of everyone here...I don't know how we could have made it without Visa Journey. Now the interview awaits.

Oh i'll be smiling alright when I do finally get approved, like this

Congrats to all the September approvals. It is good to see Vermont back working again. I hope they keep it up. I have an NOA1 date of September 19, 2008 as well. However we have not received any touches or updates at all! Is this normal for those of you that have gotten approval? How is the approval sent? Through the website first or email or the actual letter?

We are so anxious, like everyone else here. Good luck to everyone!!!

Comparison of Service Centers by month and % of petitions approved.

To get a larger version, click on the graph after being directed to imageshack.

Hey, good luck with your process. The good news is Vermont has had their best week in processing since March of 2008 according to Igors list. In talking to the senator's office this week, he said that Vermont was working on "catching up" to California - I am sure everyone's emails, letters, and phone calls helped. My senate office was well aware of the Vermont issues. He explained they were having technical issues with their computer system but it should be resolved now. Let's hope they keep it up and pump out some more NOA2's!

There are too many unknown variables for anyone short of a USCIS employee can justify. Unfortunately, K visa's are not the only visas processed, we do not know VSCs caseload or CSCs to actually make that assumption.

IMO, I think the best response to the frustration is sit and wait, enjoy the time you still have with your friends and family at your current home while you still can. If I spent all my time getting frustrated at VSC (and I have my reasons) or stressing myself out in general, I probably would be to the hospital and back. But for now, I focus on my job, the logisitics of moving, and the life I have here in Canada.

The letter was not a request to expedite my case, but a letter to show the congressman the difficulties that some of you guys have been having and hopefully on the 6 month review the congressman can ask some important questions to the Attorney General. The new administration is advocating transparency in government and so I would like to see USCIS also provide us with more information, including EXACTLY what are the issues with processing times at ANY of the service centers(including VSC, to get back onto topic here) and why the fiance visa is considered secondary to worker visa's?

Ken is right. Even if it has no impact on our current cases, it may, at the very least, improve the process for future applicants.

when I filed my I129F I made copies of EVERYTHING. 5 copies in total! I sent the ENTIRE packet plus a copy of the NOA1 and some references to VJ for some unofficial time-line estimates and a reference to the USCIS processing times page. I basically told them it was an injustice to those starting new families to be separated for several months to even a couple of years. Here's a copy of the letter I sent my congressman:

Dear Congressman Norm Dicks,

On November 14th, 2008 I got down on one knee and proposed to my soon to be wife, Isabella Peldszus(Isa), who is a German citizen. We began the long process of filing for a special visa, called a fiance visa, in order for us to get married legally in the United States. I researched extensively how to go about doing this and we prepared our I129F forms and mailed them out December 4th, 2008. We then waited for the USCIS to send us some confirmation that they have moved the letter on to the Department of Homeland Security for final review, and we began planning our wedding. We waited very patiently as their website advertised that the process should only take 6 months. Isa flew back to Germany on November 18th, 2 days after I proposed to her. We have been separated ever since waiting to hear when her interview with the American Consulate in Germany is going to be. It's been over two months since we have last seen each other and still no word from USCIS.

It has come to my attention that many people filing for a K1(fiance) visa have had long wait times and, in several cases, were unjustly accused of trying to commit fraud to the system when all the wanted to do was just be together and enjoy their lives together. It is my belief that the government should focus on families and fostering relationships rather then the needs of corporations and businesses who have the ability to expedite their applications, but there is no process to expedite the simple act of getting married(unless we circumvent immigration law, which could cause her to be deported). In many cases it makes it impossible to plan a wedding because of the uncertainty of the application process and the long wait times.

I understand that it is under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General to grant approval for the initial phase of the immigration process, and I would like you to tell congress that his handling of the simple act of getting married is overly complicated and that the wait times and the uncertainty is costing people their jobs, their relationships, their health in some cases all because the USCIS is forced to expedite certain cases over others and has little time for us little people trying to start our lives together.

Furthermore, it is my opinion that it should be easier for people to apply for a fiance visa then to simply get married and rush into things(thus circumventing immigration law), but it turns out that is not the case here. Instead we are met with piles of unnecessary paperwork and confusing piles of information to read through only to be met with long delays and uncertainty.

Thank you,

Kenneth Noland

I hope this helps!!!

You really should write your own and read carefully through your congressman's website regarding his assistance towards others. Norm #######'s wanted me to sign a release form authorizing him to speak on my behalf to the Attorney General, and asked me to send any supporting documents to my case. This letter was sent 4 days ago and still no response(but it's only been 4 days).

-Ken

Nicely done! Ken for president. Ha.

Yes Everyone who is in let's go write the congressmen! I got my form today! Let's do this and actually do it! See how much we can annoy them, we have to do something about this. It isn't right!

Gethere is right. The only thing we can do is write our congressman and senators. My senator actually did file an inquiry into the issue of vermont delays last week...he has not heard back yet (of course). If enough states push them, maybe they will actually have to respond and start working again instead of whatever they are doing now. I'd contact both your senators and your congressman.

Anyone live near Vermont? Ha.

I can fly there and making a skiing trip - it's cheap from where I live. But I don't want to kiss the lock if no one is allowed to talk to anyone.

I called the Senator's office again...everyone should contact their Senator or Congressman. His staff told me that they had 30 days to respond to them as well. The Senator's staff did know about Visa Journey though and actually checks the site!

I just emailed my Congressmen's office the graph. Let's see.

I thought we would see some improvement in January...and then again for sure this week. Only one approval this week? What is going on???? At this rate, it will be 12 months before we get our NOA2's. Argh...just to vent!

wonder if you could actually walk into to the VSC? Anyone knows?

Anyone live near Vermont? Ha.

I called the Senator's office again...everyone should contact their Senator or Congressman. His staff told me that they had 30 days to respond to them as well. The Senator's staff did know about Visa Journey though and actually checks the site!

I doubt it, as why would it only affect VSC and not CSC?

CSC did not have any new NOA2 approved yesterday either based on Igors list. This was why I was curious as this is abnormal for CSC lately. VSC we know it is normal - ha.

I meant with weekly approvals. Unless people were watching the inaugeration on tv. I doubt it would affect it though.

Yeah, I agree. It shouldn't have an impact, but was just curious as we have not seen a transistion for 8 years and how this would affect the agencies, if at all. I hope we see a flood of new noa2 approvals the next couple of weeks from vsc...no more excuses...holidays are done, inaugration is done...time to get back to work!

I doubt it, as why would it only affect VSC and not CSC?

CSC did not have any new NOA2 approved yesterday either based on Igors list. This was why I was curious as this is abnormal for CSC lately. VSC we know it is normal - ha.

its a government agency, they never know what is going on, especially the people at the Tier 1 level, you are only going to get partial straight answers from tier 2 where they actually have that information. do not put any stock into what they say when that first person answers that phone, a trained chimp could do their job blind folded, they are just following scripts they are given and have no actual information other than what we see when we log onto the web. just keep hoping and believe that every day someone might get off their duff and approve your papers, that is the only thing i can think of to keep me going.. is that one of these days i will be able to call my SO and tell her the papers have finally been approved..

This may be a silly question, but would the presidential transistion have any impact on the processing of the applications. I noticed that there has only been one new noa2 given yesterday before Obama was officially inaugrated. I also saw where Barack put an order to suspend all new federal regulations pending his administrations further review. I assume that the immigration offices would not be affected by this and they would carry on with business as usual, but we haven't had a presidential transition in 8 years? Does anyone know if there is any impact on the agencies?

moved from K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures General Discussion to K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

I had a dream the other night that the end of this week and next week were very good for Vermont and they got back on track. It was a great dream. Haha. We are at 120 days as well... still waiting.

So could we see a change with VSC?????? I HOPE AND PRAY WE DO!

No one knows if anything will change, but its worth contacting your senators and congressman and seeing if they can inquire into getting Vermont back on track again. They seem to be the only ones with any influence over the USCIS.

I hope and pray we see some change as well! Best wishes everyone.

Well back to the long wait. We are all in similar boats waiting for acceptance of what to me is a basic human right. Which I believe is in the US constitution.... something about the pursuit of happiness being an inalienable right. Hmmm does this apply to us aliens..... which I believe to be such a derogatory expression to call what is in all regards potential US citizens. Perhaps we could be referred to as citizens from across the pond...whatever pond you may choose Ha!

Best wishes to all

Arthur and Roberta

Immigration is a privilage and not a right.

Who said it wasnt? But for California to be processing November applications already and Vermont to be in August and not moving is the problem. That is an inefficient process currently and should be resolved.

Vermont is moving, abite very slowly. Not long ago CSC was the slow centre, they seem to swap and change.

Yes, sometimes when one gets backed up (now is Vermont), they ship a bunch of files to the other center. The senator said they shifted too many to Vermont last time this happened to California...now they need to shift them back! Haha.

Immigration is a privilage and not a right.

Who said it wasnt? But for California to be processing November applications already and Vermont to be in August and not moving is the problem. That is an inefficient process currently and should be resolved.

Hi,

I know we have already talked about Vermont being at a virtual standstill in processing now. However, I did talk to the senators office yesterday regarding this matter. The Senator's office said they have had many complaints regarding Vermont recently. His main concern was- he's not seeing any improvements (nor are we). In fact, I mentioned to him visa journey and he said he was well aware of the website.

He mentioned that this happened to California last year, there was a public outcry, they shifted resources to California, and now Vermont is having the issues (typical government response).

I would encourage people to contact their congressmen and senator's and see if we can get them to highlight the delayed situation at Vermont. Of course, there is nothing they can really do to speed up your individual process unless it is outside of the processing time (which is still at March) from the USCIS website. But, it couldn't hurt.