Contacting Senator or Congressman??? Why do we do this?

[MouadsWife 161]

I see alot of time people say "contact your congressman or senator". And I am curious as to what exactly they would do and more importantly 'why' they would even do it. Just on the funny side of things... I can just hear myself..."Oh senator they are holding my husband hostage and wont give him to meeeee, plz call there and make them give me my husband!!!!"

I have seen that statement alot and have just wondered why we exactly call them. It just seems to me like they would not help because maybe they dont have time to help, and have other senator things to do. But Im sure someone knows something I dont know so thats why Im asking...lol lol

[doodlebugg 10]

I see alot of time people say "contact your congressman or senator". And I am curious as to what exactly they would do and more importantly 'why' they would even do it. Just on the funny side of things... I can just hear myself..."Oh senator they are holding my husband hostage and wont give him to meeeee, plz call there and make them give me my husband!!!!"

I have seen that statement alot and have just wondered why we exactly call them. It just seems to me like they would not help because maybe they dont have time to help, and have other senator things to do. But Im sure someone knows something I dont know so thats why Im asking...lol lol

In my case I did both. We were in AP hell with no end in sight. I contacted Sen Kennedy and Congressman Tierney. Not sure if they even helped at all though since it was still about 4 months after contacting them till he finally got the visa in hand. One thing though, make sure if you do contact them send a thank you card! I was very stressed with softball season for the girls and his coming here and not knowing what to do, etc. etc. that it completely slipped my mind. Well wouldn't you know Tierney's assistant (not sure of her real title) actually called me up and laid a big ole guilt trip on me!!! I felt soooo bad so don't forget to say thank you.

[Olive♥ 2]

I think because as a tax paying US Citizen we are entitled to representation or intervention (if possible) by our state Representatives whom having more power (in certain situations) than we little peoples Can sometimes ruffle some feathers and get attention of foreign consulates (sometimes). At least thats the intention. I contacted several state reps and after spending way too long jumping thru all of their red tape and hoops (I was in a hurry to see action) faxing forms and sending signed documents allowing them to act in my behalf (good lord!) I bugged the consulate with so much gusto that by the time my state representatives office sent me their letter saying: " Dear madam, your spouses visa application is being returned to the USA and we recommend that you start a brand new petition to save time". I was able to get the my husband a second interview and his visa on my own. IMO there isn'e much they can do that you won't get on your own. Had I waited for the senator/congressman to act my husband would be still in morocco and I would be starting over. whew.........glad thats off my chest LOL

I see alot of time people say "contact your congressman or senator". And I am curious as to what exactly they would do and more importantly 'why' they would even do it. Just on the funny side of things... I can just hear myself..."Oh senator they are holding my husband hostage and wont give him to meeeee, plz call there and make them give me my husband!!!!"

I have seen that statement alot and have just wondered why we exactly call them. It just seems to me like they would not help because maybe they dont have time to help, and have other senator things to do. But Im sure someone knows something I dont know so thats why Im asking...lol lol

Edited August 20, 2009 by Olive♥

[~Jackie~ 30]

Your Senators office and also your Congrespersons office will have an employee with the title, 'Immigration Liason'. This is the person that can contact USCIS on your behalf.

They usually will get involved if a petition is out of the normal timeframe of current cases.

Jackie

[smurfs 0]

oh i was wondering the same thing. lol...

but now i'm enlightened.

[Cheryl & Medo 3]

I contacted senator Obama Who at the time was running for the presedent. And I tell you His staff was on it. They even sent me a letter That Cario sent them. And we were also in AP Hell for over a year 1/2 . Three mo later Medo had his visa in hand. So I have to say if you have a good senator it dose help.

[Jenn! 918]

Well wouldn't you know Tierney's assistant (not sure of her real title) actually called me up and laid a big ole guilt trip on me!!! I felt soooo bad so don't forget to say thank you.

Wha!? Hounding someone about not sending a thank you card is 10x worse than not sending the card in the first place!

I contacted my congressman when it had been several weeks since our NOA2 and we had not heard anything from the consulate about an interview. At that time, it was well outside the normal amount of time that should have passed. They called me a few days later to tell me the interview date. The congressman's office had an immigration casework division dedicated to this sort of thing.

[KHPerfectMatch 1]

Our Congressman's Immigration Liason was a LIFE SAVER. After my husband arrived and we filed for AOS our case went into limbo because they didn't send him an appointment for biometrics. From the time he called USCIS on our behalf until he had his appointment was about 3 days. He actually called me at noon and asked if we could be to the office for the appt. at 3:00 the same day! We had it all done before we ever got the letter.. This loosened the log jam and he had his work permit within about 3 weeks. And his green card about 1 week after our interview...

My Congressman is from an Immigrant family and he gives a HUGE amount of support to his constituents in situations like ours...

[Y's_habibitk 2]

My congressman's immi rep was SO helpful to us during our long wait. What can they do? They can get actualy information from whatever dept you are asking them to deal with. Example: I call USCIS and say "im calling for case#______, what is the status please?" Their answer: "its pending". My liason calls the congressman liason for USCIS and asks the same question... they get "well, currently it is in the que and scheduled to be with an officer within 30 days". Can they "move" your petition or make your AP any shorter? No, but they CAN give you REAL details on the status of your case AND, the dept then knows that a congressman/senators office is holding them accountable.

thats the benefit of contacting your reps. Now, some are utterly useless and Ive read those stories too.

I called ours after Y got his approval to thank her and she said "let me know when the interview is and I will shoot Amman an email and tell them that we have been following the case ...yada yada" she actually did that for us! I Brooke Pardue in Yarmuth's office lol I thanked her again, and Y called from JO to thank her...which she thought was totally sweet

Edited August 21, 2009 by Y's_habibitk

[MrsAmera 41]

Too busy? That's their job! You elect representatives to serve the constituents! As others have said they have dedicated staff for this sort of thing. When we got stuck waiting for an interview in Casa I contacted Feingold's office, and within a few days someone was on the case. Within a week my husband had an interview - he went, got his visa the NEXT day. I don't know if they helped when it came to the time it took but definetely they helped get our paperwork out and an interview scheduled!

[anitacastillo 0]

My congressman's immi rep was SO helpful to us during our long wait. What can they do? They can get actualy information from whatever dept you are asking them to deal with. Example: I call USCIS and say "im calling for case#______, what is the status please?" Their answer: "its pending". My liason calls the congressman liason for USCIS and asks the same question... they get "well, currently it is in the que and scheduled to be with an officer within 30 days". Can they "move" your petition or make your AP any shorter? No, but they CAN give you REAL details on the status of your case AND, the dept then knows that a congressman/senators office is holding them accountable.

thats the benefit of contacting your reps. Now, some are utterly useless and Ive read those stories too.

I was dealing with a consulate that does not talk to the USC or the foreign spouse - but would respond to congressional liason email inquiries. Still had AP of 11 months, but at least we knew what was happening --- waiting for name clearance.

[Ihavequestions 419]

I believe there's much more value in a Senate office. It's the Senate that controls the purse strings, meaning the budgets for various governmental offices, including Embassies. Because if this, Senators have much more power than Representatives.

Either government is serving the constituancy like they're supposed to, or they're not. If they're not, they can explain themselves to the people that give them their money. They know this.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

My congressman's immi rep was SO helpful to us during our long wait. What can they do? They can get actualy information from whatever dept you are asking them to deal with. Example: I call USCIS and say "im calling for case#______, what is the status please?" Their answer: "its pending". My liason calls the congressman liason for USCIS and asks the same question... they get "well, currently it is in the que and scheduled to be with an officer within 30 days". Can they "move" your petition or make your AP any shorter? No, but they CAN give you REAL details on the status of your case AND, the dept then knows that a congressman/senators office is holding them accountable.

thats the benefit of contacting your reps. Now, some are utterly useless and Ive read those stories too.

I was dealing with a consulate that does not talk to the USC or the foreign spouse - but would respond to congressional liason email inquiries. Still had AP of 11 months, but at least we knew what was happening --- waiting for name clearance.

and even when you are powerless, there is a little comfort in being informed.

p.s- im sorry your AP was so excruciatingly long.

[Olive♥ 2]

I contacted senator Obama Who at the time was running for the presedent. And I tell you His staff was on it. They even sent me a letter That Cario sent them. And we were also in AP Hell for over a year 1/2 . Three mo later Medo had his visa in hand. So I have to say if you have a good senator it dose help.

Thats Awesome!!!!!! Obama does seem to be very active as a rep. of the people