Are they listening?

[Ilya R. 0]

this is what I wrote,

P.S. Its not polite!

I think most people arent really concerned about increased fees, but alot are concerned not knowning anything about their case once its in hands of service centers. I work with goverment as well, I work in Medicare program, but I've never encountered problems like I have with immigration system. Lets take I-130 for a example a wife visa, why is excisting family member treated like a 2nd rate citizen? Why do fiance visa get accepted 8 months faster? Or how come People filing at same time are never approved in similar timeline. I've seen I-130 filers get aproved withing 15 days without expedite, and filers waiting for 2 years just to have I-130 approved. Too add on top of that if you cant see your loved one while I-130 is being aproved you cant bring her here on visitors visa because it automatically gets rejected. It makes very clear that American "VALUES" are not the same in immigration. "FAMILY" does not come first. Ever since the start of my case everything has been a horrible experience. USCIS customer care is absolutely useless, the time frame is unjustified and with system that only frustrates everyone. Out of millions of filers, only handful are happy. USCIS forces people to use illeagal ways to bring their family over, because of how broken the system is. It punishes law abiding citizens and lets others get away with breaking the law. It has been a disgrace going through immigration, I hope you understand that this is in need of fixing, families shouldnt suffer like this. Something has to be DONE!

[HOHOHO 0]

I'd rather they do actual work instead of reading message board comments.

[Catt 6]

Hi everyone,

This is the letter of the USCIS director:

"We're Listening

Last month, former U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Emilio Gonzalez discussed an editorial printed in the New York Times about USCIS’ recent application backlog--and it generated more interest from readers than any other Leadership Journal entry to date, both in terms of the numbers of readers and posted comments.

I am not surprised. We all appreciate that immigration benefits granted by USCIS, including citizenship, employment authorization, and permanent residency for immigrants and their families, are incredibly important to you--our customers and stakeholders--and our nation. We also know that our business processes are not always transparent or easily understood—they are admittedly complex. In this Journal entry, I’ll try to address some of your comments.

Many comments dealt with the surge in applications that took place after USCIS announced its new fees. After a long, in-depth review of our financial situation, we increased our fees last summer. We had to. USCIS is almost completely funded by fees, and the agency was not meeting its obligations or operating costs under the old fee structure.

To meet those obligations, we needed to invest in new facilities and technology and build our staff to improve the service our customers deserve, knowing it would take some time to accomplish. These things do. We needed to ensure funds were actually coming in the door before hiring thousands of new employees or making investments in technology.

We expected an increase in filings prior to the fee increase, but not nearly the volume of filings we received. We did not foresee the impact of the national discussion on immigration reform, or gauge the impact of an overwhelmingly effective drive by community-based organizations to encourage immigrants to file for citizenship.

Now that the fee increase is generating needed revenue, we’re hiring and training 1,334 new adjudications officers and 521 new support staff – totaling 1,855 new USCIS employees, many of whom are already on board. We’ve shifted existing employees where that made sense, moved work where capacity was available. We are rehiring retired, experienced employees, and are developing new facilities to better serve customers. We’re even conducting interviews, where needed, on Saturdays, Sundays and after normal business hours.

At the same time, we’ve embarked on a joint plan with the FBI to eliminate the name check backlog. By providing additional funds to increase the FBI’s capacity to conduct name checks, we’ll eliminate the name check backlog by the end of next summer.

As a result of these combined efforts, we are now naturalizing new citizens at record levels. But just as important as what we are doing to address the surge in naturalization applications is what we are not doing: we are not compromising the quality or national security in processing these increased applications.

Again, thank you for reading and responding to USCIS’ previous Leadership Journal entry, and for reading this one. I look forward to reading your comments. This Journal is an excellent way to communicate with our stakeholders, and one that we intend to continue.

Jonathan “Jock” Scharfen

Acting Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services "

Please take some time to respond on the USCIS website, if you can. There have already been some excellent responses.

It cannot hurt, as 000 said, to send your feedback, and who knows some attention is actually paid to them.

[shrewdgal 0]

I'd rather they do actual work instead of reading message board comments.

i know...but... get em where ya can...

[cuppa 0]

I think it's a good idea. I've just posted. The more angry and disgruntled spouses they hear from, perhaps the sooner they will get the message to change their priorities.

[000 0]

Well if anything, we got to say the things that are important to us. If they read it they do, if they dont they dont. I only hope that they will wake up and do something.

[Catt 6]

Well if anything, we got to say the things that are important to us. If they read it they do, if they dont they dont. I only hope that they will wake up and do something.

Exactly.

It definitely cannot hurt i'd say.

[NicoleX08 1]

I'd rather they do actual work instead of reading message board comments.

They are not doing much anyways, and if they can read these posts and other people have access to view them, it may spark attention to the subject. Who knows it could go either way. I just pray that someone important is paying attention...

[Ilya R. 0]

bump.

[HOHOHO 0]

I'd rather they do actual work instead of reading message board comments.

They are not doing much anyways, and if they can read these posts and other people have access to view them, it may spark attention to the subject. Who knows it could go either way. I just pray that someone important is paying attention...

I don't think there IS anyone important there.

No one gives a damn. As long as less dang feriners (that's presidential lingo) enter the country 99.9% of the population feels safer.

This isn't a random or a backlog of cases anymore.

Its a systematic attempt to end legal immigration. But those in our unaccountable shadow government.