Writing to Congressman

[Etrnaly 0]

I'm planning to write to my Congressman soon to see if they can help me with my case. My Congressman has a form that I need to fill out before they can help me.

http://www.house.gov/tauscher/services_imhelpform.html

For description of situation, would it be better if I sent them something that's about one full page or just a few sentences to explain my situation?

[reach449 2]

I'm planning to write to my Congressman soon to see if they can help me with my case. My Congressman has a form that I need to fill out before they can help me.

http://www.house.gov/tauscher/services_imhelpform.html

For description of situation, would it be better if I sent them something that's about one full page or just a few sentences to explain my situation?

Hello......What is your situation? Where is your timeline?

[Kevin&Loan 0]

Etrnaly,

First, you fill the form out so they can inquire on your behalf. Then attach a letter explaining your situation. The letter must be clear, straigh to the point try to limit to one page. Please keep in mind 2 things when you seek help from your elected officials:

1. Your Senator/Congressman does not review your case personally. They never will. Their Constitutent Services Office will handle your case.

2. These Senators/Congressmen receive thousands of requests like yours so it is best that you keep a tigh relationship with whoever handle your case. Make them trust you, make them feel for your pain.

Good luck

[Etrnaly 0]

Reach449: My wife had her interview on 02/09/07. Got a blue slip requesting the following:

- A complete listing of all my relatives and Thuy Linh’s relatives in the United States, including their relationship, date of birth, place of birth, current address, Social Security or Alien Registration Number, and method they came to the United States.

- A list of all my addresses in the past 5 years.

- A copy of my 2006 tax return

After she turned those in, she got another blue slip saying they don't believe it's a bona fide spousal relationship. It also requested my parents' and my wife's parents' original birth certificates. In March, along with the birth certificates, we submitted WU receipts (something she didn't get to even show during the interview because it was so short), phone records, letters, a letter I wrote to explain our relationship, notarized affidavits of no relation for my parents and myself, pictures, and more. At the end of May, I went to Viet Nam and tried to request an appointment to speak to the Consulate, but was denied because "the case is still under review." I called the Consulate a few days ago and asked what the time frame is for our case. They told me it could take up to 2 years.

Kevin&Loan: The letter I wrote is 1 page long. It has information like dates, what was submitted/requested, my trip to Viet Nam, etc. Is that good or should it be something more simple?

Thanks

[Ta Ta 1]

The detailed info you wrote is just fine, they need to know that in order

to help you and that all requested items were submitted.

It does not really matter if it is 1 page or 2 pages.

Don't expect too much though, there may not be too much they can do.

I have heard that congress has a bill in progress that will limit AP/AR to 1 year.

Someone in DC is supposed to let me know the number of this bill.

It sounds like you gave the embassy everything they asked for.

Best wishes !

[Kevin&Loan 0]

Etrnaly,

When you write to the congressman, your main objective in the letter is to convience them to beleive you, to beleive in your bona-fide relationship with your spouse. How do you do that? I don't think no one can help you but yourself since you are the one who most know what's up. Of course, including information about your case is important but it should not overwhelme the letter.

[MaryandMian 1]

Etrnaly,

Your case is in AP and a congressman or senator cannot do anything but inquire on the status for you. Once you fill out the release form the embassy/consulate will have all emails and information going to the aide that is helping you with your case. The embassy/consulate will only contact you when they are ready to reinterview, ajudicate or personally give you a decision on your case. I had asked for my congressman to help before I understood the AP process and he denied me, but my senator did allow his aide to write to the embassy. The embassy from that day forward would not answer my emails to them and only when they were ready to talk to my husband again did they send him a letter to come back to Islamabad with his passport for them to ajudicate. Also, when the aide contacts the embassy it is 30 day turn around before they get mailed response back into the states and then a few days later the representative will send you a copy of their reply.

Right now you need to wait out the AP and make sure to continue to gather facts about your marriage and keep ongoing phone records and such if they ask for more evidence. Good luck.

Mary

[Dakine 26]

Maybe different senators have different procedires as I just called his office and explained the situation the first time I was denied.

Didn't do much good other than they found out the exact reason for denial.

[Ta Ta 1]

Etrnaly,

Your case is in AP and a congressman or senator cannot do anything but inquire on the status for you. Once you fill out the release form the embassy/consulate will have all emails and information going to the aide that is helping you with your case. The embassy/consulate will only contact you when they are ready to reinterview, ajudicate or personally give you a decision on your case. I had asked for my congressman to help before I understood the AP process and he denied me, but my senator did allow his aide to write to the embassy. The embassy from that day forward would not answer my emails to them and only when they were ready to talk to my husband again did they send him a letter to come back to Islamabad with his passport for them to ajudicate. Also, when the aide contacts the embassy it is 30 day turn around before they get mailed response back into the states and then a few days later the representative will send you a copy of their reply.

Right now you need to wait out the AP and make sure to continue to gather facts about your marriage and keep ongoing phone records and such if they ask for more evidence. Good luck.

Mary

It seems to depend on the embassy if they will continue to respond to you or only through

the senators aide, I still receive replies directly from our embassy after my routine

emails to them.

[Etrnaly 0]

MaryandMian: I don't think it will be like your situation because

1. They didn't reply to the e-mail I sent them anyway

2. I was denied my request to speak with the Chief of Information Unit when I was in Viet Nam

3. Every time I talked to them so far, the only thing they would tell me is "it's under review" (no duh?).

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I think I have a better idea of what I should write to my Congressman.