February 2010 Filers -- I-129F -- VSC

[dswann 1]

No, you are right. It was 50 percent. I misunderstood it that is all.

David

[Lohninck 2]

I'd love to see your site, UK. Let's go, VSC.. stop making people wait for their NOA2s already, this is starting to feel like torture.

[CF1404 0]

Hehe...I was just going to write the same thing too! It's really exciting to see when people get their NOA2s...but it also makes me jealous and anxious!

[ukprincessemx 0]

Hehe...I was just going to write the same thing too! It's really exciting to see when people get their NOA2s...but it also makes me jealous and anxious!

Yes you guys was before us...so you should have got yours by now...ughhh Im sorry...I hope they arrive soon for you....I will link the site asap once we get it sorted...we are really excited to get it up and running...weve just been selling to friends and family, so also a lickle nervous if Im honest on what people think of the designs and stuff....

Come on VSC...we want more....we want more...we want more

[kharkovpoacher 4]

David said I should post this. It might help some who are still waiting on NOA2s. I did not post this months ago for a reason. There is always some self proclaimed internet genius that will make 80 posts if there is any error in this. First, this is my second rodeo. Wait times between NOAs was about 150 days. Much shorter now. Why are the wait times down. Economy. With the world economic slowdown, fewer people are getting married, even domestically. Okay, this information was given about two years ago from a former adjudicator from the Nebraska service center. I will not write anything except what I am certain he said.

My disclaimer. It was two years ago and I might be wrong with a detail or two, but I am trying to give yall a general overview. I am also sure that I left something out, by mistake.

An application gets sent to VSC. It is received, put in a box with other like applications, gets moved to a location for inbound processing. Within a few days the application is processed. What does that mean. Basically put in a folder, assigned a case number, given a barcode label, and a contractor types your information into a computer and you receive your NOA. Now, your box with others basically is put in a warehouse, collecting dust.

Most adjudicators work remotely from home. Here is what they do. They go to VSC basically once a week. They drop off completed applications and pick up new ones. I will start with the new ones. I am not sure how many boxes they take home at a time or how many applications are in a box. Your box is picked up by the adjudicator. It comes from the wearhouse. A contractor goes back and gets the adjudicator said boxes. They try to pick them up in order, but with a constant flow and things moving around, your box might get passed over a couple of times. It is not a conveyor line where everything is in perfect first come first serve order. Yours is lucky enough to be in a picked box.

Adjudicator takes it home with the other applications. The adjudicator works on all the applications in their boxes. Some approved, some needing an RFE. The next week the adjudicator takes all of the applications with them back to VSC. The ones requiring an RFE are seperated from approved ones. The RFEs are given to a contractor, data about what the RFE is about is entered and the letter is sent out to the petitioner. Now that application is waiting on the evidence to be returned. What I am about to say next I believe is accurate. Once they receive your evidence that is needed, it is put with your petition and it waits for the original adjudicator to pick it up. The original adjudicator works on the RFE case. Another adjudicator does not work on it. Once they are assigned a case, one person works on it from start to finish. Supposedly, when an adjudicator picks up another load of applications, they work on the RFEs first.

Now with the approved petitions. Adjudicator drops them off. Now it is up to contractors to process and do the data entry. Contractors are the ones who do all of the moving around and data entry. Your petition could be in the bottom of a box, another box gets put in front of it, data entry person goes home, your approved application could take a couple of extra days for the information to get entered. Once entered, another contractor takes your box and puts it on a pallet of like applications to be trucked to NVC.

Okay, in initial processing, a bar code is put on your folder. What is supposed to happen always does not. Anytime your application is moved it is suppossed to be scanned. Hence the famous touch. Why are some people approved without ever getting a touch. Shear volume of applications. Adjudicator 1 says they need 3 boxes. Contractor B goes and gets 3 boxes and returns. Contractor B hands over 3 boxes quickly because Adjudicator C who is in a bad mood wants his 3 boxes. Don't want to annoy adjudicator C anymore then needed, get him his boxes and get him gone. No scans, no touches. Why do a lot of people get their touches the day before or the day they receive approval. It actually gets scanned like it is suppossed to. Not all adjudicators work at home, there is some office space at VSC, so some do work there.

Basically, I call it luck of the box. You don't want other boxes put in front of yours, your box goes home with an adjudicator who takes a few days off. Now boxes are marked with dates. They do try to pull boxes in order by date. Like I said, things are always moving and getting shuffled around. Your box is at the mercy of gods.

Some adjudicators are also quicker then others or the adjudicator who has your box also is proficient in other visa applications and gets told by a supervisor, here take these and do them first. Your box is neglected again. Your application will get looked at, but these are some of the explanations that I remember hearing.

The former adjudicator said some other things but it was over 2 years ago, so I can not be accurate with that. I hope this helps some. Just be patient. I know that is hard. I wasn't my first go round, but I understand the process a whole lot better now so I am now. There is a massive volume of petitions that get processed at VSC. I just hope they don't screw mine up.

[ukprincessemx 0]

WOW...you know what Poacher??

That actually makes alot of sense. Thank you for that. It was interesting to read it....so I guess we have just been lucky really then.....I hope your box gets picked up real soon. along with the rest of our "Feb forum friends"

[dswann 1]

Not bad poach For a dumb jarhead redneck like yourself!!!lol I can say that people, we are are same. Great post poach!!!!!

For sure this process could be streamlined. Kirk and I spoke about this and the system they use is quite dated at best. First. You could scan and upload the forms yourslef to USCIS. That would eliminate the "box handling" and allow the adjunctors to access the proper files with out travel time or mis placing the file. I could set this system up in my sleep compared to what i deal with everyday.

I hope we see some more NOA2's.

David

[kharkovpoacher 4]

I'm more than just another pretty face.

I'm still looking for my vavuum cleaner. My midget hid it on me. I gues I'm back to doing it the old fashioned way.

[Lohninck 2]

Very informative indeed. I had a feeling they probably worked from home and/or made their own hours. I'm a government employee and I'm told to do the same. I'm actually told to take the work slowly and take my time and I am forbidden to do over 40 hours a week or else I'll get fired, and I certainly work whenever I feel like it's a good day to work. Granted, my line of work is kind of dependent on the weather because I'm mostly outdoors, but still.

I got a letter from my Congressman today saying he would be happy to work on my issue with USCIS right now. They even already assigned an employee to my case. Might finally get good news soon. I hope the rest of you get it the natural way and don't have to bother with Congress like I am.

[LeslienScott 6]

Thank you for posting that! Very informative indeed!

Still having fun on my pole with my thong in my teeth waiting...come on VSC! Pick my box!!!

[SandT 0]

David said I should post this. It might help some who are still waiting on NOA2s.

It sounds entirely plausible as stated, as well as giving some rhyme or reason to why some people weeks apart see approval sooner or later than each other. There was a sort of ongoing 'interview,' with I believe the head of the VSC somewhere on VJ, but much was not about how they are physically processed, only conditions for approval, RFE, and similar. I definitely recall reading a single adjucator works on a case once it's picked up, I just didn't think it meant 'by the box'

We do all know 'government' and 'efficiency' aren't exactly common in the same sentence, right?

About turnaround time - there is trend data available on the CIS site. I don't know how far back it goes, and of course I can't locate the link now. :-/

I do recall reading that at different times, different petition types were given more priority/staffing, and the trend data seemed to back that one up somewhat.

Anyways, it all sounds pretty plausible overall, thanks for that post, kharkov.

[kharkovpoacher 4]

I will post some more little tidbits later. Currently sitting on a deck at a bar on Lake Norman outside of

Charlotte. Sucking on some beers trying to figure out to how to touch myself. So many options. I was here two weeks ago. Good scenery in a thong kind of way.

Tom, tell me your petition is at least on the way to Kyiv.

For those of you who know, I'm available to call all night. Done with customers. Just beering it.

[SandT 0]

Found the trend chart, here's I129Fs for VSC from April 2008. It may not be immediately obvious how to read it. See second chart.

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=6&office=6&charttype=1

I believe Receipts is the number of petitions received. If so, it's remained surprisingly constant, except you can see what would might make sense for 2008, a 'blip' for spring and summer months being more popular times for many to get together, but 2009 is nearly entirely flat by comparison. It would be nice to see data going back to 2000 or so, but it's all I've found at this point. If you look at the numbers processed, they may be grouped into 3 or 4 month groupings looking at it, which might back up the statement that different things are given different priorities at different times.

[kharkovpoacher 4]

Sand, this is why I did not post this earlier. I know you mean no harm, but twoe years ago things were a lot slower. I don't mind you poking holes in my post. Wait times were a lot longer then. I don't think you meant it as a dig at my post. But like I said, it is what it is and I only posted that to ease some peoples heartache. Ment to be informative, I am not a USCIS employee. Sorry if I jumped on you too fast.

Back to drinking beer at the lake. Taa taa for now.

I told you so David. You know what I mean.

[kharkovpoacher 4]

Sand, sorry. Mis read your post on my phone. I am drinking at the lake. Please accept my apology. I might have had a few.