Lets collect some information about IMBRA effects

[Ladylethal 12]

That's great news indeed, and from what that USCIS (I know they are crazy and never give a proper answer) rep told one of our members, that he should sit tight and that very soon he'll be getting something, and even mentioned something this week. June 6th is next week so that would mean we're pretty close. I can live with June 6th.

Let's home that lawyer did his job and really managed to talk to USCIS officials about this matter. I'm now feeling very positive again.

[Aquelunya 0]

So I was trying to find out exactly when did my petition go back to USCIS from the embassy abroad.Since all petitions go through NVC ( I think ) I thought they should have a date. Mind you they called my fiance on the 11th of May and made it sound like they are sending it out ASAP. I never bothered to ask on what date. SO I emailed NVC, and here was my answer:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Your inquiry indicates the petition has been forwarded to the National Visa Center (NVC) for further processing. The NVC has not yet received this petition back from the US Embassy. The NVC will send further instructions upon receipt of the petition. Please contact the US Embassy to verify the status of this petition.

Regards,

National Visa Center

I am flipping out!!!!I have no idea what the $%*& is going on!!! And tomorrow is a holiday in Israel so I doubt I can get a hold of them, plus they are not very forthcoming with information on this topic, as I've realized already

[ccmkoho 0]

Hi All,

I hope you are all hanging in there - oh how I know we all want to be with our loves!

But at the end of the day, IMBRA really is a serious issue. Unfortunately there have have been far too many occurences in this country that necessitate the need for this law. Hopefully the government will sort this out so that IMBRA really does protect people from abuse. So let’s consider ourselves crusaders while we are creating awareness of the negative IMBRA affects. Hopefully the new forms/procedures/checks/??? the government comes up with will take into account those of us who do not use marriage brokers.

And I am willing to wait a few extra months if this really does save any person from any country harm, pain, and/or death (even though my bloody ovaries are kicking and I’m going through fert........ oops....... sorry........ venting!)

Here’s a reminder to the worst case/best case time frame scenario........

Along with the new forms we talk of, we need to add the pamphlet on domestic violence that needs to be written and translated into x number of languages, delivered to every beneficiary. Now doesn’t THAT add some time!!?

Cheers

I Didn't now we were espousing opinions on the justification of IMBRA. I disagree with your claim and will vote to repeal.

http://new.petitiononline.com/imbra05/petition.html

Edited June 1, 2006 by ccmkoho

[aussiewench 9]

I Didn't now we were espousing opinions on the justification of IMBRA. I disagree with your claim and will vote to repeal.

http://new.petitiononline.com/imbra05/petition.html

Go for it no-one is stopping you. I actually thought americanwomans post was reasonably balanced. She mentioned the good and the bad without going into a lot of detail on either side to try and give people a bit of a boost in how everyone is feeling. I wouldnt call it espousing opinions on the justification of IMBRA

[jozlee 0]

Americanwoman, I agree. I did a study of mail-order brides last year and read a lot of studies examining the process, and I personally do not think repealing is the way to go. The IMBRA is the most effective piece of legislation to help mail-order brides who come to the United States and are unaware of any felonies, prior (or current marriages), sexual abuse and the like of their husbands and are just not in the position to acquire that information or enforce their rights thereupon. It puts the burdens on the mail broker agencies and to some extent on the US government, to help hold accountable any mail broker agency that puts brides in a dangerous or compromising position, which is important given that those two agencies and forums have the best access to both that information and the brides themselves. It will take a while for it to become effective, but until now there had been no monitoring of mail-order brides whatsoever, and they had just been entering the US without any active measures to inform them of their rights (translating into a general ineffectiveness in monitoring or ameliorating the situation), particularly in the case of VAWA. Many women did not realize that even if they don't get married they can still seek protection under VAWA for abuse. Red tape bureaucracy being what it is however did not have the kinks ironed out before implementation, and I support the act but am just annoyed that I a lawyer bringing in a Belgian businessman got caught up in the process.

[ccmkoho 0]

I Didn't now we were espousing opinions on the justification of IMBRA. I disagree with your claim and will vote to repeal.

http://new.petitiononline.com/imbra05/petition.html

Go for it no-one is stopping you. I actually thought americanwomans post was reasonably balanced. She mentioned the good and the bad without going into a lot of detail on either side to try and give people a bit of a boost in how everyone is feeling. I wouldnt call it espousing opinions on the justification of IMBRA

Well, to me, it sure reads like an opinion that is trying to justify IMBRA. I'm not sure what you're reading. How is post "balanced"? Do you really consider the only negative aspect of this law is the delay in processing petitions?

[pax 0]

I'm not really sure what the other negative effects are going to be. Note that, for example, if a petitioner does have a black mark or two in his past, it does not mean that the petition will be denied, only that the beneficiary must be informed.

A great example might be a middle-aged gentleman who was involved in a bar brawl as a careless youth. If he was charged with assault, that doesn't mean he's a violent, horrible, potential abuser who should never have a chance to bring his fiancee to the States—it means that she will be apprised of the situation and she can decide whether or not her fiance is a reformed man. If she is comfortable with his past, she is free to decide to go forth with the process, fully aware of who her partner is and what her rights are if things turn sour.

Note too that Americans are required to submit to background checks for many, if not most, jobs; for federal student aid; for mortgages; etc. etc. etc. No one here is suggesting that if a certain job required a background check, he or she would refuse to submit to it. IMBRA, at the end of the day, is designed to make sure that foreign partners, primarily women I suspect, know what they're getting themselves into. No one's hand is being forced and no one's privacy is being invaded.

[Ladylethal 12]

I don't think IMBRA is wrong, just not very well written.

And btw, Aussie's comments have nothing to do with waiting since she wasn't affected.

[ladygatsby 0]

Okay, interesting development, at least on my part. I have called the USCIS numerous times for information, and am always stonewalled. I called yesterday and talked to a very nice lady...ended up chatting with her for quite awhile. Anyway, this morning I have this message about my case status:

Application Type: I129F, PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status:

On May 31, 2006, we responded to your request for more information concerning your case. If you have not received our response within 30 days from this date, please call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

I also got a letter from my senate asking for more specifics regarding the case and that they will get ahold of the California Service Center "immediately".

I was just surprised to have ANY sort of response from the service center.

[Ladylethal 12]

Were you given any sure info on the status of processing being halted?

[ladygatsby 0]

Surprisingly, no. The woman I spoke to got her manager and they both spoke to me and said they had no knowledge of processing being halted. While I know they may just be 'out of the loop', I believe both were telling me the truth.

By the end of the conversation, they were telling me about their kids and had called several places to find out if anyone knew anything else that could help me out.

It's odd, as I know interviews have been cancelled (even one of my lawyer's other clients had his cancelled), but the service center claims processing hasn't stopped.

Leaves me just as confused as I was at the beginning.

[Ladylethal 12]

Ok, it seems they were being nice but still clueless as opposed to rude and clueless. The Department of State is the one so far that has admitted the process halt and recalled petitions and that it will take a month to fix things.

[ladygatsby 0]

I think I needed the nice and clueless compared to the other. :-)

So, is the department of State the level at which processing has been halted or the CSC? What i mean is...could I still go on and be approved at the CSC but then just halted in line at the Department of State?

Argh. I need a nap or something. How about someone just slap me around with a hammer? It'd make more sense and be less painful than all of this, eh?

Too bad I'm not much of a drinker...this would be a perfect time for it. :-)

[Ladylethal 12]

No, the DOS just handles the laws and regulations, USCIS needs to wait for procedures from Washington.

Your process won't go to the DOS at all.

Edited June 1, 2006 by Luis&Laura

[rachelw610 0]

Here's something only mildly interesting.

I checked my status online on the USCIS website. It is now saying

Your I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E) was received on March 13, 2006. We will mail you a decision as soon as processing is complete. You can use our processing dates to estimate when this case will be done. Follow the the link below for current processing dates.

Before it said between 80 and 110 days to process (this is NVC).

When I first got the NOA1, it said between 60 and 90 days to process. When they changed it to 80-110 days, it gave my case a "last updated" date of 3/24/06. Now that they have changed it to "use our processing dates to estimate when this case will be done", my last updated didn't change.

This really isn't a big deal at all... funny though, when you watch all of this like a hawk, waiting for new information, the smallest change gets you all worked up!!

I wonder if they have changed this so people can't complain when the 110 days are up... hmm...

Anyone else seeing this change too?