How to Shake Your NOA2 Loose from the CSC

[TBoneTX 45,090]

I hope all will continue to progress in a very beautiful way for you and your fiancee. I wish you the best.

What a gracious message, si man! Reliance on my VJ friends has gone a long way to help with survival during this recently tense time. Moral, or object-lesson: During the waiting-period, visit early (earliER) and oftener, si man!

[Andres and Diana 0]

Ok....so here is my question! Does anyone know how to shake your NOA2 out of NVC hell? I guess im going into "further processing" or so the lady at NVC said... It has been there since the 6th. I know it will go through but has anyone heared about Administrative Processing? Im scared with this hiccup it will go through that.

Has anyone else experienced such a wait at NVC before getting forwarded to their embassy? The reason im concerned is that I have a free ticket to fly to colombia...thanks to a horrible experience last year with an airline. It expires in June....and I want to be there for my hubbies interview but im worried we wont be scheduled before June for the interview.

Any one...let me know your experiences or opinions!!

Thanks,

Diana B.

Sorry if this bothers anyone...im just venting.

[rebeccajo 14]

Ok....so here is my question! Does anyone know how to shake your NOA2 out of NVC hell? I guess im going into "further processing" or so the lady at NVC said... It has been there since the 6th. I know it will go through but has anyone heared about Administrative Processing? Im scared with this hiccup it will go through that.

Has anyone else experienced such a wait at NVC before getting forwarded to their embassy? The reason im concerned is that I have a free ticket to fly to colombia...thanks to a horrible experience last year with an airline. It expires in June....and I want to be there for my hubbies interview but im worried we wont be scheduled before June for the interview.

Any one...let me know your experiences or opinions!!

Thanks,

Diana B.

Sorry if this bothers anyone...im just venting.

Administrative Processing is what it is. It's an extra security check on the intending immigrant. It's different than the FBI namecheck done for adjustment of status, but it's done in the name of national security. Some people are 'selected' for this randomly (there is a certain percentage of petitions spot checked for quality control) and some are pulled because of a namehit.

Because it's a security clearance, there's nothing you can do to rush it. After some time has passed (90 days or so) you may be able to seek congressional assistance. But the government doesn't 'rush' security clearance.

TBone was likely able to 'move' his case off the desk of the officer who had it because the clearance was done, but the file was in a pile of others ready to move on. But you can't move the government when it comes to security clearance that is still in progress - I know because my husband was caught in namecheck at the AOS level for 17 months. After his check was done it moved along swiftly because our District Office (Pittsburgh) is very efficient. I've known other individuals who have been told their clearance was complete, but the greencard didn't come along for another two or three months.

Edited March 22, 2008 by rebeccajo

[sara..... 371]

Ok now im really confused lol i thought they did that for k1 application before getting the noa2 does this mean that once our application is processed in that black hole its in at csc we could once again be held up at the next step???

Administrative Processing is what it is. It's an extra security check on the intending immigrant. It's different than the FBI namecheck done for adjustment of status, but it's done in the name of national security. Some people are 'selected' for this randomly (there is a certain percentage of petitions spot checked for quality control) and some are pulled because of a namehit.

Because it's a security clearance, there's nothing you can do to rush it. After some time has passed (90 days or so) you may be able to seek congressional assistance. But the government doesn't 'rush' security clearance.

TBone was likely able to 'move' his case off the desk of the officer who had it because the clearance was done, but the file was in a pile of others ready to move on. But you can't move the government when it comes to security clearance that is still in progress - I know because my husband was caught in namecheck at the AOS level for 17 months. After his check was done it moved along swiftly because our District Office (Pittsburgh) is very efficient. I've known other individuals who have been told their clearance was complete, but the greencard didn't come along for another two or three months.

[TBoneTX 45,090]

Holy mackerel, Diana! Sheesh.

I PM'd Cap't. Ewok, who had promised to consult his sources regarding the method for calling that had been initially suggested in this thread. He replied thus:

"You can pass on that the person I spoke to told me that it is up to the Officer on the phone to determine what actions are appropriate and in line with a person's case (and proper procedures). They also told me that they prefer people to follow the posted procedures and phone numbers since their manpower is limited. They did not specifically say it was against any rules to do what you were saying. In general, they have "pre-screening," so to speak, to get to immigration officers. That way, easy questions can be answered and reduce the load on the high-up USCIS people."

So, this makes sense -- if your question is easily answered, call the regular line and talk to a front-line screener. If the information given is dissatisfactory, or if the processing of your case is unusually delayed, get through to an Officer. I place little faith in the USCIS "processing dates," and I still consider it ultimately frustrating and useless to wait on hold 30 to 40 minutes just to hear information that is nothing more than we already know, but use of the "method to bypass the screeners" is not against any rules, and it can prove useful and enlightening if it is not abused. The key is to use OUR heads, acting judiciously and only after objective consideration of how crucial our contemplated call really is. Similarly, the Officers on the other end are paid for their judgment -- they will evaluate the proper action (if any) to take on our behalf, and their responses and reactions to us will serve as feedback to indicate to us when -- or whether -- we should inquire in this way again.

In summary, it seems reasonable to me that we should [1] use our heads, [2] call only when other information is lacking after (let's say) 4 months at minimum, and [3] listen to HOW the Officers respond to us as well as what they actually tell us. Si, man?

[TBoneTX 45,090]

[...] TBone was likely able to 'move' his case off the desk of the officer who had it because the clearance was done, but the file was in a pile of others ready to move on. [...]

Completely agreed!

Edited March 22, 2008 by TBoneTX

[rebeccajo 14]

Holy mackerel, Diana! Sheesh.

I PM'd Cap't. Ewok, who had promised to consult his sources regarding the method for calling that had been initially suggested in this thread. He replied thus:

"You can pass on that the person I spoke to told me that it is up to the Officer on the phone to determine what actions are appropriate and in line with a person's case (and proper procedures). They also told me that they prefer people to follow the posted procedures and phone numbers since their manpower is limited. They did not specifically say it was against any rules to do what you were saying. In general, they have "pre-screening," so to speak, to get to immigration officers. That way, easy questions can be answered and reduce the load on the high-up USCIS people."

So, this makes sense -- if your question is easily answered, call the regular line and talk to a front-line screener. If the information given is dissatisfactory, or if the processing of your case is unusually delayed, get through to an Officer. I place little faith in the USCIS "processing dates," and I still consider it ultimately frustrating and useless to wait on hold 30 to 40 minutes just to hear information that is nothing more than we already know, but use of the "method to bypass the screeners" is not against any rules, and it can prove useful and enlightening if it is not abused. The key is to use OUR heads, acting judiciously and only after objective consideration of how crucial our contemplated call really is. Similarly, the Officers on the other end are paid for their judgment -- they will evaluate the proper action (if any) to take on our behalf, and their responses and reactions to us will serve as feedback to indicate to us when -- or whether -- we should inquire in this way again.

In summary, it seems reasonable to me that we should [1] use our heads, [2] call only when other information is lacking after (let's say) 4 months at minimum, and [3] listen to HOW the Officers respond to us as well as what they actually tell us. Si, man?

TBone - If I understand what 'passing along information means' it means passing along EXACTLY what Captain said.

Not your embellisments of it.

The purpose of this thread was to share 'the method' (which you defend again in your summation), and also to collect anecdotal accounts of those who have used it.

I'd like to point out some evidence we can see from your thread.

Two of the individuals who have used your method now find themselves in Administrative Processing.

Coincidence?

Edited March 22, 2008 by rebeccajo

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

I should also clarify (and should have posted earlier regarding this). The USCIS stated that "they prefer people to follow the posted procedures and phone numbers since their manpower is limited." I agree with this and would endorse only that people follow the posted procedures.

After taking the time to read a few more pages of this thread a few people seem to be calling the phone number to social engineer out answers. Please do not do this -- being polite and honest will get you as far if not farther. While again there is no official rule that you can not talk to an officer please remember that doing so for purposes to expedite your case (and if successful) may indeed actually delay other people's cases (if you are moved ahead of them). Also remember that cases are processed generally in order by the way that they are assigned to officers which can make them days or a week slightly out of order (versus other adjudicators). Additionally some cases require extra processinig to approve which can delay them. We are not told about these internal details but they do exist.

I can understand the urge to want to be approved but also remember that times in the past "have been worse" for people and the USCIS is not out to get you. Not a long time ago on average people were waiting 8-9 months to be approved (so people filing in July last year were being approved as an example on average).

What you decide to do is your own decision, however I would suggest that people wait until their case is actually out of status per the posted processing and/or clearly behind by more than statistical noise (a week or two behind others is probably within the noise of the USCIS system). If there are problems beyond what the USCIS seems able to resolve when you speak to them then you should contact your congressmans office who has staff able to make a congressional inquery on your behalf to determine your cases status and/or unstick it. The proper method to escalate your call (if you call the USCIS hotline and are dissatisfied with the contracted operators that answer) is to ask your call to be escalated and to speak to an immigration officer. They should be able to then escalate the call and you can talk to someone that knows the system a bit more. If your case is actually out of status they do have the ability to track it and find out why (your case is scanned in electronically every time it is moved). They can quickly determine the cause and if possible fix it. In cases where it is delayed for security checks and similar items there may be no way to unstick it but you can then at least find out the reason and make your plans accordingly (to the anticipated delay). Congressional inqueries (again) can also unstick the bound gears in cases where nothing else can help -- however they will not be effective unless your case is out of status per the USCIS processing times.

[mox 298]

Captain, I wonder if you could make a new post and sticky what you just said. I wish I'd this post 6 months ago.

[rebeccajo 14]

Captain, I wonder if you could make a new post and sticky what you just said. I wish I'd this post 6 months ago.

Yeah, especially since somebody is quoting you in another thread as being an advocate for the RFE trick.

[Jeraly 4]

I don't know if it helps but I know that when the July craziness was going on (and in some cases I am sure still is), weedebz created a spreadsheet (check my sig) to follow the progress of the active (at the time) July filers.

Not only did it give us a sense of camaraderie but it also allowed us to monitor "normal" progress - it became very obvious when there were people who needed to contact CSC/VSC (CBR and a-jeanne spring to mind) because there were so many of us after them getting their NOA2s.

Of course it has it's downside as well - sitting back and trying to be happy for your friends when you are lagging behind can be very frustrating!! But it is something I can recommend anyway. I am not entirely sure how the VJ projected date stats work but if they take into consideration all data over the years then you may also find that monitoring the progress of people who filed at the same time to be more accurate

All is needed is a bit of organisation

As for calling - I know that T-Bone had a lot of issues in that there were many July filers being approved while he (who filed in June) was still nowhere near getting a NOA2. Every time he called he would get someone telling him they were processing in order received and generally fob him off so he generated a strategy (here) that enabled him to get some answers. I don't think he is endorsing the harassment of USCIS employees as soon as people have been waiting 1/2/3 months - just that if they appear to have been waiting an abnormally long time then there are ways and means of speaking to someone who may be a little better informed

Oh and apologies T-Bone - I know you are more than capable of speaking for yourself But you know me - I like to stick my nose in

[rebeccajo 14]

Oh and apologies T-Bone - I know you are more than capable of speaking for yourself But you know me - I like to stick my nose in

Seems to be more than one person in this thread who is attempting to speak for others.

[TBoneTX 45,090]

Seems to be more than one person in this thread who is attempting to speak for others.

Change the part after the Captain's quoted section to read "So, to me, this makes sense:" and it clears up rj's misinterpretation of what the paragraph was intended to say.

[TBoneTX 45,090]

[...] I'd like to point out some evidence we can see from your thread.

Two of the individuals who have used your method now find themselves in Administrative Processing.

Coincidence?

Call USCIS and find out, rj. They will probably not respond to you with bellicose speculation.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Guys I see some personal jabs startng. Lets keep them out of this thread please.