ATTENTION JULY FILERS!

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

haha, adriano is the same way with eating...he packs it away, and i have no idea what he does with all that food!! good luck with your plans, and im sure you will be a stunning bride

Completely off-topic here, but babybluesusie I just now noticed your avatar...seems to be flossing. I don't know why, but that strikes me as just the coolest avatar ever. I lol'd.

Okay, back to the non-flossing related discussion at hand...

hahahaha, thanks!!

lol youre not the first person to say that, but im actually not flossing in the pic (even though it very much looks like i am)

i was actually out at a bar (nyu to be exact) with some friends, and i was really really bored...the people there were less than interesting...i was sitting there in agony with my friend, staring at the walls, and chewing on a straw...that is the face of someone who is NOT excited lol...so the one hand is holding a straw in my mouth, while the other one just happened to be in perfect flossing position! lol

[Thee_Rak 0]

This will generate a touch on the system.

Doesn't seem to have generated a touch.

Thanks and I do understand what you're telling me. Hey, I am over the 6 month point!!!! I'll try calling tomorrow maybe.

[mox 298]

The phone system "said" that I must send in whatever evidence has been requested. That, to me, sounds like the "system" thinks there's an RFE. After some thought I believe that it's a generic phone message on the system and it's simply telling me that since I've chosen the prompts to get to this spot clearly I must have an RFE and that I should send in what they are asking for.

Yeah, it's a generic message. On the other hand it's a good excuse to use if they give you a hard time for calling. "Well the phone system *said* I had an RFE, maybe I pushed the wrong button?" Acting clueless will oftentimes generate sympathy.

[Jeraly 4]

Crying prolly wouldn't go amiss either

Am also very proud - have converted the October bunch to editgrid to make their own spreadsheet

[bakofoil 27]

This will generate a touch on the system.

Doesn't seem to have generated a touch.

Thanks and I do understand what you're telling me. Hey, I am over the 6 month point!!!! I'll try calling tomorrow maybe.

Well there's just another of USCIS's inconsistencies . We've called twice and each call generated a touch the following day. So I was just 'assuming' it would be the same in all cases. However, we all know just how few assumptions we can make where this visa process is concerned.

Yes, do call tomorrow. I've just got to 181 days today so Jesse is going to call tomorrow for us. I think mox's idea about playing dumb re: the RFE is an excellent one. Also, begging, crying, bribing...anything bar threats might help too

Edited January 23, 2008 by babblesgirl

[Jason-Sasha 1]

I had a friend who worked for a government call center not too long ago. And he said that the most irritating thing they dealt with was crying people. I guess I can understand that. I mean, imagine if you had to listen to people crying and yelling at you all day. Then again, they chose that job, so they should do it efficiently. Well, here's hoping...

[Jeraly 4]

Yeah although when I speak to people in call centres I always try to be polite and nice because generally it isn't their fault - they're just on the front line Of course if they go out of their way to be horrible, unhelpful or downright rude then they deserve everything you can throw at them

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

I'm still waiting. I called using the RFE trick and was told the same tired line you get from any direction. I'm excited to see if I get a touch from the call, though. At least the date will change.

[Thee_Rak 0]

At least the date will change.

I can only hope... I am so tired of seeing that same date!!!!!!

I am ALWAYS kind, sweet, polite with call center folks. As the old saying goes "you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar".

I can not imagine being a call center person at USCIS... I would rather work at Wal-Mart than do that.

[AnewKINDofFEELIN 0]

Yeah. I don't really blame the reps. I'm sure it's the supervisors and directors that are at the heart of the problem. It's a shame you aren't allowed to speak to a supervisor like you can with basically every other organization.

[Thee_Rak 0]

Yes, do call tomorrow. I've just got to 181 days today so Jesse is going to call tomorrow for us. I think mox's idea about playing dumb re: the RFE is an excellent one. Also, begging, crying, bribing...anything bar threats might help too

Ummmm, I got to thinking about this whole 180 days thing and noticed this on the bottom of the status page:

• "If you have a question about case status information provided via this site, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current processing time listed, please contact the USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375 – 5283 or 1-800-767-1833 (TTY)."

So since the "processing timeframe" they are showing on the web-site for I129f is June 18th I don't think we can call yet. I can hear them now. What is the date on your NOA1? Answer: August 22nd. Response: Just be patient love... we'll get to you in due time.

[Jeraly 4]

And wouldn't that want to make you throttle them?!

[mox 298]

Yeah although when I speak to people in call centres I always try to be polite and nice because generally it isn't their fault - they're just on the front line Of course if they go out of their way to be horrible, unhelpful or downright rude then they deserve everything you can throw at them

Yeah, the front line customer support people are only as good as the information they're given and the tools they're provided. They do the best they can (for the most part) but there's no doubt that they are constantly fed incorrect information, and the tools at their disposal seem to be not much better than what we have access to online. I expect that much of the attitude people run into has to do with their frustration at not being able to do their job in a more effective manner.

So I don't repeat myself, more thoughts on customer service here.

[mnieto 2]

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT BUT I FINALLY GOT AN ANSWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :energetic:

*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ***

The last processing action taken on your case

Receipt Number: EACXXXXXXX

Application Type: I129F , PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On January 23, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this

I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the

notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case

status results listed above, or if you have not received a decision from

USCIS within the current processing time listed*, please contact USCIS

Customer Service at (800) 375-5283.

*Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at

www.uscis.gov under Case Status and Processing Dates.

*** Please do not respond to this e-mail message.

Sincerely,

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

[bakofoil 27]

Yes, do call tomorrow. I've just got to 181 days today so Jesse is going to call tomorrow for us. I think mox's idea about playing dumb re: the RFE is an excellent one. Also, begging, crying, bribing...anything bar threats might help too

Ummmm, I got to thinking about this whole 180 days thing and noticed this on the bottom of the status page:

• "If you have a question about case status information provided via this site, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current processing time listed, please contact the USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375 – 5283 or 1-800-767-1833 (TTY)."

So since the "processing timeframe" they are showing on the web-site for I129f is June 18th I don't think we can call yet. I can hear them now. What is the date on your NOA1? Answer: August 22nd. Response: Just be patient love... we'll get to you in due time.

Yes interesting point. I really don't know what to suggest and they will in all likelihood tell you to be patient. The reason I will continue to call is that from a personal perspective I find it an annoyance that USCIS is a single entity, yet if you manage to be lucky enough to be within the remit of VSC then your petition will (in most cases) get approved much faster. I know VSC has had its share of problems this year and that there are a stack of June/July filers who are watching September filers being approved whilst they 'patiently' await approval (so all is not fair there either) but on the whole they do operate a more accelerated processing than CSC offers. When people ask if the fiance visa can be expedited I almost feel like saying 'yes, send it to VSC!' If CSC are struggling with the workload I don't see why VSC isn't assisting rather than racing ahead approving much later petitions. We all pay the same fee and therefore should receive the same standard of service.

I'm frustrated by so many things connected with this process and I know in my heart that calling them may not help speed up my approval but it makes me feel that I have some ownership of my own petition. Sitting around silently and taking it is not helping me cope. We will also be contacting our representative soon outlining some of these points. I understand they were inundated with applications but any idiot would have known that people would rush to beat such an astronomical fee increase.

I don't know. I'm just trying to hang on to some sanity - but no, we won't be crying on the phone to them.

eta: July after seeing flyguy's post

flyguy, that's fantastic news. I really felt for all of you at VSC watching those later filers being approved. Congratulations!

Edited January 23, 2008 by babblesgirl