August 15th - Doomsday??!!

[TBoneTX 43,160]

what happens if Obama doesn't get voted back into office? Will Congress attempt to repeal this action? This almost seems like they are giving a lot of a people a lot of wishful thoughts but at the same time not providing them any stable long-term concrete plans with this. Could another Congress/House/President put another action in place nullifying this? If I were an undocumented alien, I would want a lot more answers before I ran to go get this benefit. I mean, what if Mitt Romney wins? Will he cancel all the pending applications for this? I don't see them getting all of these approved before the first of the year. I guess I have a lot of questions and I'm not positive they've thought it all through thoroughly.

Today (technically yesterday), I called my (Republican) Congressman's office to ask about the impact of the illegals' applications on USCIS's processing of traditional "legal" petitions/applications. The two staffers (one local, one in D.C.) didn't know, but the latter one gave me the e-mail address for the immigration liaison (who was out); I expect a reply tomorrow. Let's see if it's meaningful or if he punts. I'll report here.

In answer to my other queries, the D.C. guy did say that (1) it's highly likely that the Republicans, if elected, will rescind the policy as a chief priority; and (2) that constituent feedback about this policy has been quite negative.

[Thomas and Kristi 17]

Today (technically yesterday), I called my (Republican) Congressman's office to ask about the impact of the illegals' applications on USCIS's processing of traditional "legal" petitions/applications. The two staffers (one local, one in D.C.) didn't know, but the latter one gave me the e-mail address for the immigration liaison (who was out); I expect a reply tomorrow. Let's see if it's meaningful or if he punts. I'll report here.

In answer to my other queries, the D.C. guy did say that (1) it's highly likely that the Republicans, if elected, will rescind the policy as a chief priority; and (2) that constituent feedback about this policy has been quite negative.

I think it's horrible to get people's hopes up. I'm definitely interested in hearing how this turns out.

[TBoneTX 43,160]

The Congressional liaison says this:

"Thanks for your email, and you raise a very good question about the staffing levels at the USCIS once the Deferred Action Program begins on August 15. I have put a call into USCIS Legislative Affairs to get more information on this, and I will be sure to follow up with you once I hear back from them."

I hope that his contacts are more responsive with him than the front-line Misinformation Line operators are with us, si man.

I've also just written someone at the largest immigration-law firm in Houston to see if he or his firm has heard anything.

[Thomas and Kristi 17]

The Congressional liaison says this:

"Thanks for your email, and you raise a very good question about the staffing levels at the USCIS once the Deferred Action Program begins on August 15. I have put a call into USCIS Legislative Affairs to get more information on this, and I will be sure to follow up with you once I hear back from them."

I hope that his contacts are more responsive with him than the front-line Misinformation Line operators are with us, si man.

I've also just written someone at the largest immigration-law firm in Houston to see if he or his firm has heard anything.

I think this is the equivalent of the "thank you for your interest. Your opinions are important to us" email we get from USCIS regarding status updates.

[TBoneTX 43,160]

I think this is the equivalent of the "thank you for your interest. Your opinions are important to us" email we get from USCIS regarding status updates.

Hmmm... perhaps, but in the entire context of how I was treated (the first guy in the D.C. office both gave me the liaison's e-ddress AND took my name, so that he could inform the liaison that I had called), I view the e-mailed response as a personal promise.

Of course, realizing that USCIS is one of our very worst Federal agencies, I don't know whether anyone from there will respond to him -- on a timely basis, or at all.

[Thomas and Kristi 17]

Hmmm... perhaps, but in the entire context of how I was treated (the first guy in the D.C. office both gave me the liaison's e-ddress AND took my name, so that he could inform the liaison that I had called), I view the e-mailed response as a personal promise.

Of course, realizing that USCIS is one of our very worst Federal agencies, I don't know whether anyone from there will respond to him -- on a timely basis, or at all.

A complete overhaul is long overdue. I didn't realize how bad it was until we started this process and I must say that I'm appalled. It's evident that they need to make many changes. I see things that irk me and I know there is nothing I can do about it. Their system focuses too much on process and not enough on common sense. Their system leaves a lot of people in the dark with no real indication of whether their claim is lost or if anyone cares. A simple monthly notification to the petitioner by email or something might ease some people's fears of being forgotten. I do applaud them for finally working toward a paperless solution...but I digress.

Yes, I suppose you are right. I wouldn't think they would offer up so much information if they had no intent to actually do anything. I'm still very interested to see how this all plays out in the end.

[Krikit 1,163]

Moving from AOS Process to AOS Progress.

[SaharaSunset 165]

The Congressional liaison says this:

"Thanks for your email, and you raise a very good question about the staffing levels at the USCIS once the Deferred Action Program begins on August 15. I have put a call into USCIS Legislative Affairs to get more information on this, and I will be sure to follow up with you once I hear back from them."

I hope that his contacts are more responsive with him than the front-line Misinformation Line operators are with us, si man.

I've also just written someone at the largest immigration-law firm in Houston to see if he or his firm has heard anything.

Hmmm, very interesting....and lame that there is not real answer. 3 days left.

[TBoneTX 43,160]

Boy, THIS thread sure got buried...

See this on the USCIS site:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

At least it will NOT be a cakewalk for these illegals; they'll have to suffer through the paperwork process as we have.

I STILL haven't gotten an answer about processing times. At least we now know that all four USCIS "service" centers will be handling these DAP applications. I've shot another e-mail to the Congressional aide; if I don't hear from him by Friday, I'll phone again.

[Thomas and Kristi 17]

Boy, THIS thread sure got buried...

See this on the USCIS site:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f2ef2f19470f7310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

At least it will NOT be a cakewalk for these illegals; they'll have to suffer through the paperwork process as we have.

I STILL haven't gotten an answer about processing times. At least we now know that all four USCIS "service" centers will be handling these DAP applications. I've shot another e-mail to the Congressional aide; if I don't hear from him by Friday, I'll phone again.

I can just see the USCIS workers cursing this new workload. I mean, if my boss pulled that #######, I'd say "SEE YA".

[TBoneTX 43,160]

I can just see the USCIS workers cursing this new workload. I mean, if my boss pulled that #######, I'd say "SEE YA".

Si, man (sigh, man). Dig this for the impact on our legal petitions/applications (excerpt from a mainstream-media newspaper):

No new workers have been hired to review the school records, sworn affidavits and other documentation each applicant is required to file. And no funds have been appropriated to pay added processing costs. Officials said the initial budget would be covered by the $465-per-application fee, and as more fees are collected, new staff will be hired.

An application for an undocumented farmworker to apply for legal amnesty under a program signed by President Reagan in 1986 cost the immigration agency $1,130 to process, two members of Congress wrote in an Aug. 7 letter to Janet Napolitano, secretary of Homeland Security.

In the past, not charging enough to review applications has "resulted in an enormous backlog of legal immigration benefits applications and very long processing wait times for legal immigrants and aspiring U.S. citizens," wrote Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa).

On Tuesday, Smith denounced the deferral program as a "magnet for fraud and abuse" designed to shore up Latino support for Obama. "There seems to be little if any mechanism in place for vetting fraudulent applications and documentation submitted by illegal immigrants," Smith said in a statement.

Applicants must mail completed forms and documentation to one of four immigration service centers: in Laguna Niguel; Dallas; Burlington, Vt.; or Lincoln, Neb.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-immigrant-kids-20120815,0,2097285.story

Two of the service centers are, of course, the CSC & the VSC, sigh man.

[TBoneTX 43,160]

Update as of August 28: My Congressman's immigration liaison replied with this:

"T-B.,

I got your voicemail this morning. I received an answer from USCIS yesterday, but it was very unsatisfactory. All they said was:

"We will work to monitor processing volumes and times closely to mitigate potential impacts."

I responded by saying that this question doesn't even begin to answer my question, and I asked some more specifics. As you pointed out in one of your earlier emails, USCIS is probably not very excited about explaining themselves to congressional staffers. I will keep pressing them, however, and I will look into the possibility of doing an official congressional letter led by Rep. _____, which should put some more pressure on them and will require an official answer, not a brushoff from legislative affairs. I will keep you posted."

[tempa 1]

Update as of August 28: My Congressman's immigration liaison replied with this:

"T-B.,

I got your voicemail this morning. I received an answer from USCIS yesterday, but it was very unsatisfactory. All they said was:

"We will work to monitor processing volumes and times closely to mitigate potential impacts."

I responded by saying that this question doesn't even begin to answer my question, and I asked some more specifics. As you pointed out in one of your earlier emails, USCIS is probably not very excited about explaining themselves to congressional staffers. I will keep pressing them, however, and I will look into the possibility of doing an official congressional letter led by Rep. _____, which should put some more pressure on them and will require an official answer, not a brushoff from legislative affairs. I will keep you posted."

and still waiting. thanks TBone for doing this.

[TBoneTX 43,160]

and still waiting. thanks TBone for doing this.

Si, man. I plan to attend a function this weekend where my Congressman will be, and I'll stick a pin into him to write that official letter.

---

UPDATE, 9-9-12

In less-than-ideal conditions, I got to speak personally with the Congressman. He said that it takes nothing to write an official Congressional letter, but that they can be ignored -- he cited U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's ignoring of the "Fast & Furious" inquiry letter. However, he is returning to D.C. tomorrow (Mon., Sept. 10) and will take the matter up with his staffer.

I've written the staffer to let him know that I caucused with the Congressman and to urge him to stick a pin in the situation.

These are the results that I had expected.

Edited September 10, 2012 by TBoneTX

[TBoneTX 43,160]

Whoops, man -- the edit of the message just above didn't bump the thread as this post will.