Naito

Similar petitions received at the Vermont service center in January, February and perhaps even March of 2009 have already been processed and approved. The unwillingness of the VSC to process and approve my petition is unconscionable.

Hey dkolb85,

This looks like a really well thought-out letter. Just an FYI there isn't a single person from March 2009 at the VSC that has posted an NOA2, just those odd-ball May dates that look like an expedited petition. Only half of February has gotten theirs, too. Not sure if you want to change this line in your letter or not. Good luck on getting a response! Let us know what response you get please!

Ok, I went to the whitehouse.gov site where President Obama posted his "immigration principles" and decided to express myself. I sent something via the contact us button. I do NOT expect anything except an automated response (if that). Here is what I wrote:

"I am contacting you to express my frustration with the USCIS and my support of the guiding principles stated by President Obama. I am a US citizen currently suffering (yes, that is an appropriate term) through the process of applying for a fiancee (K1) visa. We are now 4 months into the process with no action, and no information available from the USCIS. I will spare the details as there are frankly thousands or 10's of thousands that in myriad situations for which there is no information, let alone recourse.

I know that the pricnciple of enabling families to stay together is important to this administration, but the USCIS as an agency and a bureaucracy has and is utterly failing this. This is frankly not due to political issues, but due to a failure as an organization. There are many who would provide comment on how the existing process has failed them (including myself).

I would urge the President to take action to correct this as soon as possible. Some basic first steps to consider:

- Provide an ability to get the current, detailed status of a pending application (case)

- Provide an updated , accurate estimate of processing time (or in lieu of this, an count of cases "ahead in the queue" on a weekly basis, or average time-frame of cases being adjudicated - NOT oldest cases being adjudicated)

- Provide an ability to correct any issue identified by the filer while the case is in the queue (sitting in a box waiting)

- Provide the ability to escalate an issue with fair adjudication to address exceptional extreme situations (ex. a child being deported even though both parents are legal residents and/or citizens).

- Provide a guarantee for a level of service - if an application is not adjudicated by the expressly targeted time frame, refund the application fee (currently $455 just for this step of the visa process).

Please note, that I do not believe that *ANY* of the items I have suggested could not be implemented almost immediately, or require significant cost. Please consider some or all of these. Simply implementing these would not only help those of us waiting to be reunited with your loved ones, but also lighten the burden of other government agencies and offices as many who apply ultimately turn to our Congressmen or Senator for help, or to the NVC to try to get information on our cases - inquiries that should not be necessary, let alone inquiries that we need to resort to other government offices to handle.

Thank you for your time and attention,

David" ...

Thanks a lot, David! I doubt this will affect our applications, but hopefully you just improved the waiting times for all of the future people trying to get their true loves into the US. You're really thoughtful to do this.

Did you see the guy who posted that they were approved by the VSC in 22 days? Apparantly not an expedite situation either - that is #######! SHAME on the VSC and USCIS for this. Awesome for the lucky, lucky filers!

I want their receipt number so I can write Michale Aytes to demand an answer to why they can "adjudicate in order" and one filer can be approved in 22 days and the rest of us are not even able to get ANY accurate information on our petitions, let ALONE any approval.

Maybe they knew "the right people"? Talk about lucky!!

You guys notice this? In the last two weeks, only seven people have received their NOA2's. Seven. That's one every other day. I wonder if they are working on other visas right now...especially when you look at the dates of the NOA1's being so random.

1 Jason and Fernanda 2009-01-22 2009-06-18

2 Amanda and Mikkel 2009-02-11 2009-06-15

3 Bryan and Annabelle 2009-02-17 2009-06-15

4 Cory and Kumi 2009-02-08 2009-06-12

5 Davicho and Katy 2009-02-11 2009-06-12

6 AN and AK 2009-02-11 2009-06-12

7 Christina and Todd 2009-01-13 2009-06-11

I think it's a good sign though...any day the flood gates are gonna open and we'll all get our petitions processed! Any day now!

I'm a little confused guys. Why did the VSC estimated processing date suddenly jump up to Feb 21st, 2009? I don't see any new approvals on Igor's List past the 17th of Feb. I would expect Igor's list to jump up a few days when there has been a new, more recent approval.

I haven't been a member very long, so this might happen all the time, I just don't know about it. Could you all enlighten me please?

They seem to be for the most part pretty accurate. I am now within the timeframe for mine and I am expecting any day now. Obviously they are not entirely perfect, but for the vast majority of people they have been spot on.

I was within the timeframe for mine last week, and then this weekend I wasn't, and now I am again. I'm hoping now that it doesn't change again and that it's accurate! If so, I could have it within the next week. I really thought it would come last week when my SO was visiting, but hey, I guess managed expectations are better when dealing with this stuff.

Yeah Chelartie...I feel your pain (same NOA1 as you). It's been like WOOHOO then ####### then WOOHOO! VSC = emotional roller coaster

We should be soon.

You're probably right Maire. Mine is only a one day problem yours will be much longer. Why don't you like the other therapists?

first of all ####### 3 people inside an office???####### is that?????what is gonna happen when we have clients coming over??

i have fought with the 2 of them...one because she once told me I was going to hell just cus I have tattoos, a nose piercing and dont go to church..she is one of those people that God this and God that...and her actions tells u otherwise...and the other I fought with her too cus she has tried to get me in trouble multiple times....iam stuck..completely stuck...

Awww...that's no fun! I've never liked working with difficult people. I understand everyone needs to feel important, but I hate it when they do it by trying to make others around them feel bad...power struggles suck. Hang in there Maire!!!

Good afternoon everyone!

~Steve

Absolutely normal! My NOA1 was Feb 18th, and last touch was Feb 23rd. Not a ripple in the pond since then. Watch your placement on the Igor List for a better idea on when you should be hearing something.

That's just terrific news. Congrats!

Hey Ladies and Gents,

Anyone have any NOA2 hardcopies waiting in their mailboxes tonight? Nothing waiting for me v_____v Hopefully someone was lucky?!

I must say i wished I were one of the February filers. Many of them have July interview dates! uscis, please work faster!!

I filed in Feb. I am not the lucky one in this post, I recieved my NOA2 on 5/31/09

Consider yourself a little lucky. Several February people have yet to receive anything!

Here's a question for you. For those of you planning on doing more traditional church weddings (man, I'd love to do the boat thing!!), are any of you getting married in the Catholic church?

Am trying to navigate that now, but apparently most churches don't seem to want to bend their "must be a member for 6 months - year" rule for immigrant fiances that have to get married within 90 days. Also partly my fault as when I moved to NYC a few years ago I didn't formally register with a church. Just curious about everyone else's experiences.

I live in Dallas and had the same problem b/c we would go to the church that was closest to us. sometimes we were in Ft Worth or Coppell etc. When I called the church to set up an appointment, they told me that b/c they hadn't rec'd an envelope from us in a while we couldn't get married there. I told her that sometimes we forget the envelope or sometimes we are in a different city. It didn't seem to matter to them so I wrote a letter to the diocese. Lucky they directed me to a deacon that was very helpful and allowed us to take the classes and test. We got married by the church in Mexico. The priest in Mexico was even nice about it once my mother in law explained our situation to him.

It sounds to me the church is just a big business...but I might be wrong....

Yeah it sounds that way a little bit. I'm always surprised with all of the rules Catholics must follow. I'm glad my fiancee and I will be getting married in a Methodist church! No rules to contend with...well not too many strict rules at least.

I am hoping for a nice chain of approvals today and that you are a recipient as well Dave.

Amen to that! It feels like we're due for a massive update of NOA2 approvals! B)

hi everyone.. we didnt submit G-325 i just found out we need to submit it together with form I-129. do i need to wait for their advise or i can send G-325 now? thanks and god bless

Wait for them to contact you with an RFE. If you check Igor's List under the Immigration Timeline section on this website, you'll see that RFE's usually add a little time to the processing (sometimes about three weeks, but other times up to a few months). It's not the end of the world, but be sure to have everything ready ahead of time so you can respond ASAP when the RFE does arrive. That'll speed up the RFE process for you.

The guides on this website really break it down into feasible steps. It's a daunting task you are undertaking, but the guides here are your insider information. Use it as much as you can!

My case was touched again today! That's twice in 3 days.

Things are really looking up for you!! Seems like it's almost here! Good luck this week. Gold star for you

Still no touches/status updates for me. Anyone had any developments over the weekend?

Keep your spirits up. If you look at last week most people got their approvals on Monday. The USCIS website sucks in terms of updating, but we just have to have a little faith. Plus everyone here will be here to lean on for support.

Spirits are up. Don't worry, I can handle having to be patient. Just curious if anyone had gotten any news since Friday. There's a CSC person that just had theirs updated today (Sunday). Keeping my fingers crossed for a midnight update from the USCIS

Would be lovely if the estimate approval length start moving prospectively instead of retrospectively!

That's fantastic news! I just checked mine hoping there was a Sunday update, but, alas, no changes. Hopefully, this week be our special time. Congrats to you and your fiancee!

Still no touches/status updates for me. Anyone had any developments over the weekend?

I must say i wished I were one of the February filers. Many of them have July interview dates! uscis, please work faster!!

On the bright side, you're at the Cali Service Center. Looks like you'll save almost three weeks. Be happy you're not in Vermont! It's a sweet little bonus advantage. Vermont says November 28th, 2008, right now, while Cali says 5 months on the USCIS site. So chin up and hang in there!

Hi! good afternoon... Can u help me to understand that about Vermont says November 28th, 2008, right now, cuz i dont get it, what the hell uscis means with that Im so scared cuz my papers are in vermont my boyfriend sent the papaers 2nd march 2009, ge got our noa1 and the last touch was in 10 march 2009 and we dont have any other new.....help!!!!!

Thanks and hace a great saturday!

That date is the USCIS estimate of the petitions they are currently processing. Keep in mind that that was as of April 30. It's almost 2 months since that estimate was made. They put out those numbers to give a general expectation of when you petition should be reviewed. I'm not a big fan of the estimates on that site because they are out of date and nonspecific. What I recommend is go into Igor's List, select to view all petitions (it defaults just unapproved petitions), and see how close the NOA2 dates are getting to your entry.

With an NOA1 of March 6th, you still have a little time to wait. I'm in the middle of February, and they are just nearing my NOA1 right now. However, it seems to have stalled this last week. My fiancee and I were so excited seeing the dates come nearer and nearer, but nothing as of now. Patience is a virtue you must use a lot!

I just graduated back in May, and I'm wondering about meeting the poverty requirements for sponsoring my fiancee. I will be starting my first job on July 6th, and I will be above the poverty requirement by the time my fiancee has her interview (around late Sept. of this year). However, on all of my previous tax returns, I was claimed as a dependent by my dad, because I was still a student at that time.

Has anyone had this same experience? Should I have my dad file as a co-sponsor? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Do it yourself, this way, you are in the drivers seat.

Definitely I agree. Remove the middle man, and talk directly with the government.

November 28, 2008 AS OF April 30th....not as of today.

True LiLMermaid. But look at the date graphs. If anything the process has increased in time since April based on the VJ data. My point was that there is a noticeably longer time period for people currently being approved at the Vermont center vs. Cali. Haven't you noticed that?

Exactly. Touched = When last updated date changes

Wonderful. Many thanks!!

I just checked the USCIS website, as I do everyday before and after work, and...... I WAS TOUCHED!!!!!! :dance:

I then clicked the thing to see status. No change.

But I'm hopeful!! A touch today, hopefully an NOA2 tomorrow/Monday. B)

That's wonderful news. Hopefully, your prolonged patience will finally pay off in the next few days!

Do you know it was touched by the "last updated" section on the USCIS website saying a new date? I'm still a little confused about how you know you've been touched. Thanks!

Vacationing in Vermont?

What's been going on these last 10 days? VSC was working pretty well in the first 10 days of June at filing our Feb 09 petitions. But in these last 10 days only 3 people have posted a reply. Cali's almost completely finished with Feb 09'ers. What's going on at VSC? Are they vacationing?