InfoPass today @ San Bernardino

[Christi and Ian 24]

After checking the clock, realizing I should have left the house a 1/2 prior, and running in a mad-dash around the bedroom, desperately trying to gather the last of the information I wanted to bring to the Infopass meeting, and practically severing my ankle on the foot of the bed, I finally made it out of the house.

An hour and a half later, I was at the Immigration office in San Bernardino, with one other couple trying to remember what the hell I wanted to ask.

By 12:45 they had called my number, because, you know, me, and the couple that were already there needed to keep straight who was first...

The woman at the counter is English. Thank heaven, perhaps I'll get a teensy weensy bit of empathy? Fact is, she was fantastic - so nice, empathetic, friendly, curious to hear how the hell someone else from England managed to find the Inland Empire, "Did he get lost?"

And the best part, the first words out of her mouth are, "This should have been approved by now."

YES! THANK YOU!

So, she takes a look at the case to find out what's been going on. Apparently, our case was transferred to what she called the "Western Processing Center"....see? See how they hide these centers so the public can't know how they're supposed to get in touch with the people actually looking at their case?

Well...this "Western Processing Center" is the place where they ACTUALLY process K-3 visas - 'cause sending it to the right place at the beginning is FAR too efficient for the U.S. government. How then could they keep up the reputation for the red tape?

Well, our case is there, and as of TODAY, it's started processing. Today. Sent in October. STARTED processing today. As in, PAST the normal processing time, they STARTED processing it.

The super-nice English lady then told me it would be about 30 more days at the most, but that at least she could tell us that our case has started processing. Not her fault...can't yell at her...she's been nothing but nice.

Alright - got home, checked the USCIS "Check Your Processing Time" website AND....(drum roll please)...........no change. Nothing. It still says "Last Updated 10/26/09".

C R U D ! !

Alright, people get approved all of the time without actually having their case ever be updated through the website - perhaps we're one of those. We'd better be one of those...or maybe it'll update sometime tonight. I don't think their website is real-time.

She also told me that calling the USCIS Customer Service line is a waste of time. Apparently, they're private contractors, who are given a script, and can only read from that script (that explains why I could read right along with them every time I called). If you have a question they are unable to answer, they escalate the call to a supervisor AKA: Someone with the private contractor that has slightly more authority, but still almost no information about your case. The most the supervisor can do is alert the Service Center that you're inquiring on your case.

Here's hoping! Everyone keep your fingers, toes and eyes crossed for us, please!!!

xxx

-The American Half

[John and Camie 39]

Wow.

Fingers crossed for you, toes and eyes, too!

[Christi and Ian 24]

Thank you for your well wishes - the support of the other members here is the only thing keeping me from pulling my hair out. Even the simplest of comments really does help to calm my anxiety. Thank you all.

I just got a letter from my Congresswoman's office.

"I have made it a priority to assist you in any way possible within the jurisdiction of this office."

Cool.

They contacted CSC within 24 hours of my fax to them...and now they're waiting to hear back themselves...the letter does state that it could take as long as 6 weeks to get a response...so, we'll see...

I'm currently feeling much more warm & fuzzy than I was just a few hours ago!!

[Justine+David 218]

Ugh, what a mess

From what I've read, if your congressman really does get on the case, it doesn't take very long after that to get your petition approved. Here's to your petition being approved by the end of this month!

[Christi and Ian 24]

My Representatives office called me this morning to say that CSC called and we should have a decision in 30 days...

And...I checked their website and...

WE'VE BEEN TOUCHED!!

I feel warm and tingly all over!! Hooray!

[Darnell 8,478]

Still a K-3 ? Not the I-130?

Wow - yer lucky that there is some movement on it.

If a K-3 gets into NVC with the approved I-130 (at same time) , past the 1st of February, though - it'll be 'administratively closed'.

Hopefully - your I-130 will be approved at USCIS at the same time .

have a read?

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/ty...types_2993.html

Good Luck !

[dbarker2 1]

I am sure you will get approved soon! So far it sounds about like what happened to mine once the senator's office contacted them. That night I was "touched" two days later it was approved. Crossing my fingers for you! It'll happen soon. I'm sorry you have had to wait so long, it really doesn't seem fair. Hopefully we will get our interview date soon too, its taking so long. Good luck!

[Christi and Ian 24]

Still a K-3 ? Not the I-130?

Wow - yer lucky that there is some movement on it.

If a K-3 gets into NVC with the approved I-130 (at same time) , past the 1st of February, though - it'll be 'administratively closed'.

Hopefully - your I-130 will be approved at USCIS at the same time .

have a read?

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/ty...types_2993.html

Good Luck !

Oh yeah - still K-3 until it gets to NVC & they send it back to be closed. Anxiously awaiting getting there so I can change our thing to say CR-1 rather than K-3!

Oh, and for all of you who admonished me for going K-3 so many months ago...you'll be happy to hear that the nice English woman @ Immigration also admonished me for going K-3...

I'm getting it from all sides here. Not my attorney anymore though - fired her on Monday...I think my ability to read and follow directions means that I am more qualified than she is...

[pushbrk 12,568]

FYI, the "Western Processing Center" is what we call CSC. Back when there were only two, that's what it was called. Vermont case numbers begin EAC and California WAC. The E and W mean East and West. USCIS doesn't process visas. They process petitions. Visas applications are processed by Consulates. In case you haven't yet concluded this, your infopass appointment was a complete waste of time.

[Christi and Ian 24]

FYI, the "Western Processing Center" is what we call CSC. Back when there were only two, that's what it was called. Vermont case numbers begin EAC and California WAC. The E and W mean East and West. USCIS doesn't process visas. They process petitions. Visas applications are processed by Consulates. In case you haven't yet concluded this, your infopass appointment was a complete waste of time.

Haha - yes, concluded. I also figured out, eventually, when the adrenaline wore off, that WAC=CSC...but in the interest of everyone who may read this in the future, I'm glad you clarified!