Expedite Request Based on Family Medical Emergency

[tafeagans 0]

Hello everyone,

Just an update here and perhaps some feedback from anyone who has received a approved expedite request would be helpful.

The USCIS is reviewing my expedite request. They touched it again today. It has taken them a little over month to get the details. Normally I would of not requested it, but my mother is dying from cancer and wants to see my fiancee and I married before she dies. Hope that happens, however, I am assuming we are minimal 2 months to 3 months out even if it goes quickly and mom is starting to show signs that things are rgetting worse. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, unable to opperate and it now has speard to her spine, brain, lung, liver and who knows where else. Looks like it is moving rapidly. Unfortunately she is also the caretaker for my 76 year old father and my 91 year old aunt and without her there, I will have to take care of them to keep them in their home they worked for their whole life for. I am making plans to temporalily reside there, not change address as I have a job where I can work form different places in the US, but to provide them security in their home. Anyway the USCIS requested additional information back on December 20th, which I provided a two page letter from me and the Doctors diagnosis, limited in detail because of Hippa laws.

Anyway, if we are lucky enough to get approved, I am seeking information from anyone who has gone through this process and has received an expedite approval to learn how I might get the rest of the process expeditied, not to cause problems. My hopes are that the expedite approval, if granted, will follow the the papers to the NVC and then to Bangkok Embassy. I have thought about contacting my Congressman and my mothers asking for them to look into this and see if they can help but have not done so as I am afraid my case will all of a sudden get delayed longer. Anyone with experience here please fill me in. I may call my congressman to get advice.

We did have a Budhist ceremony, not an official marriage in the sense of Thiialand or the US unless you file marriage papers in Thailand at the local Government office, which we did not. We did this for her family and it was wonderful. I talk to her twice to her a day in the morning and at night as she is waking up when I am about to go to bed. I have been learning Thai daily and she has been studying English.

Sawadee, waiting and hoping

Edited January 18, 2008 by tafeagans

[kgas 0]

I'm very sorry to hear about your mother's illness. I wish I had more to offer you in terms of advice and experience, but I will just pray that your request goes through and you are able to share your wedding day with your family.

Chohk dee kha!

[tafeagans 0]

Thank you for your response. I see they have touched my file again today. They received it by mailed Sept 14th but did not receipt it until Oct 31, 2007. The mail room their takes 30 days , plus to open mail and distribute it or so they tell me.

Hopefully someone has received an expedite request like mine before.

[chuck_n_rose 0]

Good luck to you. I hope things work out. Let us know how it goes for other people in your situation in the future.

[tafeagans 0]

Hello everyone,

Here is the latest update I received after calling the USCIS and speaking with my Congressman's office. It appears they have steped up and are trying to help me. My mother's condition appears to be getting worse, but she is hanging in there. As a result, she has also contacted her Congressman as well. This is the recent reposnse I received from them shown below. I did censor the name of the contact as I want to protect their identity. I think it is good for others on this board to see in case they have some similiar situtation and/or other.

Response to me below:

Mr. Feagans,

I thought you should be aware that our office has sent an inquiry to the California Service Center regarding the request that your mother’s case receive expedited processing based on her condition. We are waiting to receive a response. Please check back with me on Friday afternoon if you have not heard from me by then. Thank you.

Sincerely,

XXXX XXXXXXXXX

Office of Senator Richard Lugar

1180 Market Tower

10 West Market Street

Indianapolis, IN

Crossing my fingers here. Again, please understand I am not looking to bypass any normal processing procedures but to hopefully provide a way for my family to take part in our marriage ceremony and be there for them. Thanks

[ddartt1 2]

Hi - did you get the expedite? I have a question. I just got expedited approvalof a K1 petition. Is the whole process expedited all the way through NVC and onto the empbassy/consulate overseas? Or does everything at this point go back into the normal flow of things. this is a fiance visa - requiring medical exams, etc. by my fiance.

Thanks.

Doug

Hello everyone,

Just an update here and perhaps some feedback from anyone who has received a approved expedite request would be helpful.

The USCIS is reviewing my expedite request. They touched it again today. It has taken them a little over month to get the details. Normally I would of not requested it, but my mother is dying from cancer and wants to see my fiancee and I married before she dies. Hope that happens, however, I am assuming we are minimal 2 months to 3 months out even if it goes quickly and mom is starting to show signs that things are rgetting worse. She was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, unable to opperate and it now has speard to her spine, brain, lung, liver and who knows where else. Looks like it is moving rapidly. Unfortunately she is also the caretaker for my 76 year old father and my 91 year old aunt and without her there, I will have to take care of them to keep them in their home they worked for their whole life for. I am making plans to temporalily reside there, not change address as I have a job where I can work form different places in the US, but to provide them security in their home. Anyway the USCIS requested additional information back on December 20th, which I provided a two page letter from me and the Doctors diagnosis, limited in detail because of Hippa laws.

Anyway, if we are lucky enough to get approved, I am seeking information from anyone who has gone through this process and has received an expedite approval to learn how I might get the rest of the process expeditied, not to cause problems. My hopes are that the expedite approval, if granted, will follow the the papers to the NVC and then to Bangkok Embassy. I have thought about contacting my Congressman and my mothers asking for them to look into this and see if they can help but have not done so as I am afraid my case will all of a sudden get delayed longer. Anyone with experience here please fill me in. I may call my congressman to get advice.

We did have a Budhist ceremony, not an official marriage in the sense of Thiialand or the US unless you file marriage papers in Thailand at the local Government office, which we did not. We did this for her family and it was wonderful. I talk to her twice to her a day in the morning and at night as she is waking up when I am about to go to bed. I have been learning Thai daily and she has been studying English.

Sawadee, waiting and hoping

[Jesse and Hema 2]

In case the expedite doesn't go through... The fiancée of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident may, be classified as a B-2 Visa visitor if the fiancée intends to return to a foreign residence soon after the marriage. Think your fiancée might be able to get a B-2 if necessary? It would delay the total time to being together permanently, but it might be worth it to fulfill your mother's request..

I hope the best for you.

[tafeagans 0]

I just received the best news I could ask for today. After engaging my Senator and the help of this forum it appears my request for an expedite is being approved. My Senator has committed to seeing the expedite through the US embassy in Bangkok. I just got off the phone with my Mother and I am able to tell her the good news. I am hoping she is able to hang on. I am speechless and thankful but still have a ways to go.

[rebeccajo 14]

Good Luck!

The service isn't entirely heartless, no matter what folks like to think!

[mox 298]

This is wonderful news, many congratulations and the best of luck to you both.

[tafeagans 0]

Regarding the questions sorrounding "Does the expedite follow it all the way through the embassy?" unfortunately, you have to start it all again, there is no measures or expedite jacket that will follow the approval. Seesm like they should have some thing, but not. The course of action is for me to continue to request support from my Congressman for help. This is what the USCIS, California Service Center told me. I am again stunned the right hand nver talks to the left, seems logical but it is not. However, I am going to continue to pray my congressman will help me get this done.

[Kang Lang 7]

i am so glad to hear that your expedite request was granted. fingers crossed you can get some additional help to push through and unite your family.

GOOD LUCK!

[rebeccajo 14]

Regarding the questions sorrounding "Does the expedite follow it all the way through the embassy?" unfortunately, you have to start it all again, there is no measures or expedite jacket that will follow the approval. Seesm like they should have some thing, but not. The course of action is for me to continue to request support from my Congressman for help. This is what the USCIS, California Service Center told me. I am again stunned the right hand nver talks to the left, seems logical but it is not. However, I am going to continue to pray my congressman will help me get this done.

That's because they aren't really left and right hands at all.

The State Department is a separate branch of the government entirely from the Department of Homeland Security. USCIS (who approved your I129F) is under the juris of Homeland Security. They now hand off your petition to the State Department, who will handle what is really a new case - a visa application. Your stateside petition was a request to Homeland Security that an immigrant be allowed to file a visa application with the State Department.

Silly, isn't it?

[mox 298]

Silly, isn't it?

In general I'm actually glad our governments hands don't communicate well. It's a nuisance right now, imagine if it started coordinating with itself?

But yeah...would it kill them to add a cover sheet that just says "expedite?"

*adjusts tinfoil hat*

[rebeccajo 14]

Silly, isn't it?

In general I'm actually glad our governments hands don't communicate well. It's a nuisance right now, imagine if it started coordinating with itself?

But yeah...would it kill them to add a cover sheet that just says "expedite?"

*adjusts tinfoil hat*

They aren't supposed to be easily communicating. It's done on purpose and it's called 'checks and balances'.

You know - three branches of government - the Constitution - all that jazz.

So yeah, a cover sheet WOULDN'T make the founding fathers roll over in their graves.