Lets collect some information about IMBRA effects

[zethris 0]

It is all well and good to post timelines- but it doesn't fix the IMBRA, and bigger picture, USCIS problems.

Please, call your congressmen. Ask to speak to the immigration specialist on staff. If you live reasonably close, go visit them. Express your rage at the entire application process not only being stopped, but REVERSED! (interviews canceled, approvals reversed)

This is insane.

It drives me crazy to read posters say- Just wait. Be patient. Be a quiet sheep. That is #######- our rights as citizens to pursue happiness and love where and how we chose to was trampled by the IMBRA law.

There is no earthly reason a fiancee visa should take more than a couple months from application to approved visa. There is no excuse. People must be held accountable for this not happening.

Today I made my 4th call to my Congressman's office and I will continue to call them until somebody fixes USCIS.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. Don't be a sheep! Make some noise!

I posted this to a different thread but the message needs to be communicated far and wide.

As much as we ALL hate to wait for our loved ones to come, I actually think that the law is a good one. I know that if I was affected by it I would be upset but in the end you will get to be together and I believe that the reason for the wait is ligical and it will help protect many people in the future. I don't think that doing a background check on the USC is a bad idea at all- they do checks on the foreign fiance so why not us as well? Unfortunately it just came along at a bad time for some people here on VJ who are probably going to have to wait a little longer to be with their fiances. They obviously have a reason for making this law and putting it into affect- many women (and maybe men as well) have come to the US for the wrong reasons or have gotten hurt or abused once they get here. Now I am not saying that ANOYONE on this forum is bringing their fiance for the wrong reason I am just making a general comment as to why this law is good in the end. I think it's a good idea to track people who are affected so that others will have some idea as to how it is going to affect them in the future. Waiting is not fun for anyone but ensuring the safety of future immigrants into America is not a bad cause for the wait, I think. I'm sorry this is happening to some people I hope things don't slow down too much.

Sarah

But that doesn't explain why they are backdating so much. They "claim" petitions were filed improperly after the "deadline" but going by everything I have encountered no one at the USCIS even knew about this change until the beginning of MAY!.

What they should have done was inform the USCIS of the change, made the cange to the I-129f forms LAST YEAR, and then set a cutoff date for the changed forms for those that are accepted after a ceartain date. Those that are already in process should be ok.

I am an angered beyond belief with this ordeal. I am going to be contacting who ever insignifigant congress person and representative about this, AND I am going to be ralying up and auditioning some lawfirms who might be willing to take this to a class action against the DHS and the Federal Government. I know of a few that are pretty good.

They have awoken a sleeping giant in me with this one. My fury has no bounds. NO ONE MESSES WITH MY LIFE OR MY FUTURE AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!

[NYC-Tula Connection 0]

As a newbie to this site and forum, I thought I would just add my two cents for whatever it's worth.

I learned on Friday that I was also one of the unfortunate 1100 petitions that was approved erroneously. Since that time, I have spent several hours reading this thread and trying to find as much information as possible about what's going on.

While aggravating and disappointing, IMBRA is here and is now part of our reality. Arguing about whether it's right or wrong, good or bad is really irrelevant. It's here and we have to deal with it. Even if it does get thrown out, it won't happen till long after our fiances have their visas and have joined us in America. At the end of the day, I think we all should just take solace in the fact that all this mess is just delaying the inevitable. I don't think for a minute that a 30, 60 or 90 day delay is going to change how we feel about our loved ones. I am very confident that everything will be resolved soon and in several years it will just be another story that we will share with people about the process we went through to be together with our loved ones.

From what I've seen, unless your a criminal or don't have honest intentions, the new law isn't going to cause anyone to get denied. It's only temporarily slowing down the process and testing our patience.

For whatever it's worth, for those that met through an IMB or dating website or whatever they're calling it these days, I spoke with an immigration attorney who told me that his contacts at the consulates said that those people who met before the new law went into effect won't have any problems. The law only really applies from the date it went into effect and is not retroactive. I believe that everyone that is in the midst of the K-1 process right now met their fiance long before this law went into effect.

Just my opinion and not meant to offend anyone.

Good Luck to everyone and just try to stay positive.

[storyteller 0]

I spoke with an immigration attorney who told me that his contacts at the consulates said that those people who met before the new law went into effect won't have any problems. The law only really applies from the date it went into effect and is not retroactive.

I agree with what you've said. But I also don't beleive that it would have a negative effect even on people who used MB after 03/06. That is, except for this slowdown. All they are asked on interview is whether broker did provide all required information. But even if he didn't, I don't see why that should affect the interview or petition in a negative way, since obviously neither petitioner, nor beneficiary are responsible for MB's actions. As far as I understand, this information is gathered as a part of evidence on brokers, but not their clients.

Edited June 5, 2006 by storyteller

[KaiserD 12]

Has anyone who had their petitions recalled had any news yet? There were different messages, some saying they were going back to the service centres and some (almost) saying that the petitions were practically void.

There's definatly not excuse for that, it's not the petitioners fault some idiots approved petitions before they should have why should they be punished for it

[AndyMisiu 0]

I agree with the fact that we need to just deal with it!! IMBRA is here for us to deal with. We should becareful not to get confused again or to run in circles. If you read this thread you will see us running in circles. The fact is, there's is a draft, USCIS is working on things, and there's nothing we can do about it. I do however think that we have been making a positive effect on our situation by causing a stir at USCIS. I think all of our inquires, phone calls, e-mails, and congress help has pushed the USCIS to move faster. So, keep up the good work!!! One way or another, the process will move forward.

And in my own personal opinion, however small it is, we will have answers soon!!!!!!!!!

Good luck to everyone!!!!!!

[kitkat1 5]

But that doesn't explain why they are backdating so much. They "claim" petitions were filed improperly after the "deadline" but going by everything I have encountered no one at the USCIS even knew about this change until the beginning of MAY!.

What they should have done was inform the USCIS of the change, made the cange to the I-129f forms LAST YEAR, and then set a cutoff date for the changed forms for those that are accepted after a ceartain date. Those that are already in process should be ok.

I am an angered beyond belief with this ordeal. I am going to be contacting who ever insignifigant congress person and representative about this, AND I am going to be ralying up and auditioning some lawfirms who might be willing to take this to a class action against the DHS and the Federal Government. I know of a few that are pretty good.

They have awoken a sleeping giant in me with this one. My fury has no bounds. NO ONE MESSES WITH MY LIFE OR MY FUTURE AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!

OH you are right where most of us were a few weeks ago when we first heard about this. I feel 100% the same you do. The worst part is the they haven't even notified us yet. The law went into effect 3 months ago and they haven't sent anything to petitioners who filed after that date and whose petitions are not being processed.

So make your phone calls and do what you can. I will join any class action against DHS! Then try to focus on that this is coming to an end shortly and the new forms should be out within the next few weeks. It's almost over.

[rlt 0]

Has anyone who had their petitions recalled had any news yet? There were different messages, some saying they were going back to the service centres and some (almost) saying that the petitions were practically void.

I had my petition recalled and have no news about it yet. Only that it´s been sent from NVC to USCIS.

That´s all.

No update on their website, no contact at all.

[Aquelunya 0]

Has anyone who had their petitions recalled had any news yet? There were different messages, some saying they were going back to the service centres and some (almost) saying that the petitions were practically void.

I had my petition recalled and have no news about it yet. Only that it´s been sent from NVC to USCIS.

That´s all.

No update on their website, no contact at all.

Did NVC confirm that for you? My embassy abroad claims to have mailed our petition back on the 11 of May via "diplomatic Mail" whatever that is. As of last Thursday NVC replied to my email and said that they did not receive my petition as of yet. ITS BEEN 3 WEEKS

How long did yours take? I'm trying to keep calm, but I think someone here is lying!!!!

[zethris 0]

But that doesn't explain why they are backdating so much. They "claim" petitions were filed improperly after the "deadline" but going by everything I have encountered no one at the USCIS even knew about this change until the beginning of MAY!.

What they should have done was inform the USCIS of the change, made the cange to the I-129f forms LAST YEAR, and then set a cutoff date for the changed forms for those that are accepted after a ceartain date. Those that are already in process should be ok.

I am an angered beyond belief with this ordeal. I am going to be contacting who ever insignifigant congress person and representative about this, AND I am going to be ralying up and auditioning some lawfirms who might be willing to take this to a class action against the DHS and the Federal Government. I know of a few that are pretty good.

They have awoken a sleeping giant in me with this one. My fury has no bounds. NO ONE MESSES WITH MY LIFE OR MY FUTURE AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!

OH you are right where most of us were a few weeks ago when we first heard about this. I feel 100% the same you do. The worst part is the they haven't even notified us yet. The law went into effect 3 months ago and they haven't sent anything to petitioners who filed after that date and whose petitions are not being processed.

So make your phone calls and do what you can. I will join any class action against DHS! Then try to focus on that this is coming to an end shortly and the new forms should be out within the next few weeks. It's almost over.

I have a meeting today in New York with a lawfirm at 11am. Just so you all know, this class action will not be to get rid of IMBRA, it's needed. It is to make known, and make them accountable for the loss this is causing us, as well as the undue grief and stress for the negligence of how they implemented this "law".

It's not IMBRA, it's how they came to ratify it that is the problem.

[kitkat1 5]

Just so you all know, this class action will not be to get rid of IMBRA, it's needed. It is to make known, and make them accountable for the loss this is causing us, as well as the undue grief and stress for the negligence of how they implemented this "law".

THAT SOUNDS GREAT. I think in the end most of us understand the law and why they felt it had to be enacted, even if it doesn't affect us. It's the fact that they have not even had the courtesy to contact petitioners to let them know what is happening or provide any direction on what will happen next. That's why we are all going crazy - with no information comes complete uncertainty and their incompetence has affected our lives. I liken to to if you went to the DMV to renew your driver's license and they told you that there is a new written driving test but they haven't created it yet and they don't know when they will. So in the meantime, even though you maybe committed to a cross country drive and you are leaving on Friday, you cannot drive and they cannot tell you when you will be able to. (Of course in that situation, at least you would have the option to drive without a license - we have no options).

So please post anything you find out in your attorney meeting. Maybe they know more than the Senator's offices who don't seem to be able to provide anything concrete either.

[rlt 0]

Did NVC confirm that for you? My embassy abroad claims to have mailed our petition back on the 11 of May via "diplomatic Mail" whatever that is. As of last Thursday NVC replied to my email and said that they did not receive my petition as of yet. ITS BEEN 3 WEEKS

How long did yours take? I'm trying to keep calm, but I think someone here is lying!!!!

Yes. My Consulate told me they mailed it by FedEx on My18th to the NVC. I called both NVC and USCIS.

NVC said they wouldn´t keep any record of it. USCIS knew nothing about recalled petitions.

Then I emailed NVC and CSC, even though my case is from Vermont.

They both said NVC had returned my petition to USCIS, but nothing else.

So that means they have it. I just wish they would update my information on their website.

It kills me to read "approved on April 17th"

But something is telling me that this is the week, guys.

[pax 0]

I liken to to if you went to the DMV to renew your driver's license and they told you that there is a new written driving test but they haven't created it yet and they don't know when they will. So in the meantime, even though you maybe committed to a cross country drive and you are leaving on Friday, you cannot drive and they cannot tell you when you will be able to...

Which begs the question of why one planned a cross-country drive without a driver's license.

[elizaxyz 0]

Has anyone who had their petitions recalled had any news yet? There were different messages, some saying they were going back to the service centres and some (almost) saying that the petitions were practically void.

I had my petition recalled and have no news about it yet. Only that it´s been sent from NVC to USCIS.

That´s all.

No update on their website, no contact at all.

Did NVC confirm that for you? My embassy abroad claims to have mailed our petition back on the 11 of May via "diplomatic Mail" whatever that is. As of last Thursday NVC replied to my email and said that they did not receive my petition as of yet. ITS BEEN 3 WEEKS

How long did yours take? I'm trying to keep calm, but I think someone here is lying!!!!

Yeah, we're in the same boat. I was eventually transferred to an immigration officer who advised me to call every week to see if it had arrived, as they couldn't tell me anything until they had the file. She was very nice, but not particularly helpful, as I was doing that anyway.

[Cigarovich 1]

Count me in on the class action. If this doesn't get resolved in time to get my fiance her interview by the beginning of August, we will have to reschedule our Labor Day weekend beach wedding party and she won't be able to start university in the fall. And I will definitely want to sue someone if that happens!

[Ladylethal 12]

Actually, they do say it takes a while and that you shouldn´t make plans until you have your visa, not sure how you´d sue for that bit.