Lets collect some information about IMBRA effects

[timesnap 0]

I hope they will start sending out RFEs for K3 soon too....... Looks like K3 are stuck and nobody is getting any RFEs on them......

[Ladylethal 12]

So finally the RFE´s are out. Great!

[top-gorilla 0]

Hi folks. I don't post anymore, I have been married a year now and don't really have the need for VJ anymore, although I do monitor the process for some friends and out of general interest. This is in the New York Times today. If it should be in a more relevant thread, someone please copy it over to it, so people can see this. My personal take on this entire subject, well, I will put it under the story, if anyone is interested.

The New York Times

Printer Friendly Format Sponsored By

June 18, 2006

Change in Visa Paperwork Stalls 10,000 Trips to the Altar

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON, June 17 (AP) — Wedding plans have been delayed for 10,000 American citizens seeking visas for their foreign brides and grooms as the Homeland Security Department works on new paperwork for their applications.

The form change was required as part of a law, enacted in March, to protect foreign mail-order brides from abusive American spouses. But Homeland Security missed a deadline three months ago, putting the visa applications of thousands of law-abiding couples in limbo.

The department said this week that it would send out additional forms to the visa seekers for more information that should satisfy the new law's protections.

But the bureaucratic entanglement has halted wedding plans for many couples.

"We were ready to get married this year, but I can't really make a date until we get the approval," said Bill Hall, 41, a construction foreman from Burlington, Vt. He applied two months ago for a visa for his fiancée, to emigrate from Canada with her two sons.

"We're just kind of here, in limbo," Mr. Hall said. "And it's kind of aggravating — it's a real simple thing they have to do, and they're making more of it than they need to."

He said his application, sent to Homeland Security in April, "never got approved. It's just sitting there."

All sides agree that the new law is a well-intentioned effort to protect women.

Spurred by stories of mail-order brides — largely from Eastern Europe and Asia — being abused by their American husbands, Congress approved new protections for the women in December.

The protections included amending the application form for visas to ask if the romance was arranged by an international marriage broker, and if the American citizen had ever been accused of a violent crime or convicted of three or more alcohol- or drug-related crimes.

President Bush signed the law in January, putting Homeland Security under order to draw up the new paperwork. But the forms were not finished by March 6, when the law took effect, resulting in the department shelving all spousal visa applications written on the old forms that were received after that date.

Chris Bentley, a Homeland Security spokesman, said about 10,000 applications were currently being held because they did not address the criminal or marriage-broker issues.

"They did not have all of the information needed to determine whether someone qualified or not," said Mr. Bentley, who works for the department's Citizenship and Immigration Services.

He added, "It's certainly an inconvenience brought about by the new requirements of the law."

Homeland Security said it would send additional forms to the 10,000 couples to get answers to the new questions.

Senator Maria Cantwell, Democrat of Washington, criticized Homeland Security this week as getting cold feet about quickly processing the new regulations that she helped write.

"Security and safety should be their top consideration, but their long visa process delays are putting a lot of people's lives on hold," Ms. Cantwell said in a statement.

Mr. Hall said he was frustrated with the visa delays for people trying to follow the law at a time when the Bush administration is grappling with giving other benefits to illegal immigrants.

"I thought it was ironic," Mr. Hall said. "And I find it unfair."

END OF STORY.

Okay, me again. My knowledge of this deal is that it was done by people who really don't want to see men getting foreign women. They don't think it is fair, they don't like it. So they got it stuck in a law, and tough **** for you guys, you have had it too good for too long. You American women on this site can whine about this, tough for you, you are just collateral damage, they are willing to sacrifice you for the greater good of their principles. They probably think you don't really know what is good for yourself anyway, but it is the men that really **** them off. And what is amazing to me is that we can have some 10 million or god knows how many illegals in this country, and the authorities don't do squat, and yet they find a way to target this small niche of legal citizens who follow a legal process. And what is really funny, there are far more illegal men who bring in illegal women (from their countries of origin) to marry, and then have legal children, which gives them kings x, as our country does not go after the parents of U. S. citizens. Yet they ignore that, because they are illegal already, and as they have shown contempt for the laws, and the system has proven that they will not go after them anyhoo, what would be the point of messing with them? Really, one can see why it would be better just to forget about following the process, and instead just follow the Mexicans They really cannot stop the illegals, and don't even try. In my state, it is actually better to be illegal in some ways, as the system is overwhelmed, and so the authorities just ignore the minor infractions by the illegals. Legals are worth messing with, as they actually have to pay for their crimes. I followed the process, it is a total pain in the rear to go thru it, but looking at it now, I gotta say, it is getting awfully close to being to a point where it is too big a burden. And I think that is the future of this legal process, death by a thousand cuts, at some point, it is just too difficult to do (legally). Every step in the process is a total pain, and now this stupid IMBRA. I am already done, but I have contacted my so called representatives in government, who respond with stupid form letters (if at all) about different issues, as they don't have a stupid form letter for IMBRA. If you want to complain, give them an earful, I did, for you guys who are trying to follow the process now and in the future. My sympathies to you all, our government is ******* pathetic.

[Ladylethal 12]

This article is now flying all around as it seems.

[GaryC 7]

Has anyone noticed that the AILA processing date for Nebraska has moved to 5/29? What is this?? They move our cases to CSC, who's date is still 2/3 and then change the date for Nebraska by months??? I really don't get what they are up to.

[rlt 0]

I think no one is..

not even USCIS itself.

I wonder if they will respect the NOA1 dates.

They are not considering it to send the RFEs, that´s for sure.

[Ladylethal 12]

Indeed, people ahead of us are getting it, as well as people not recalled.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Okay, me again. My knowledge of this deal is that it was done by people who really don't want to see men getting foreign women. They don't think it is fair, they don't like it.

I'll take issue with this. That is simply not accurate. As frustrating as everyone is feeling about the delays, let's be sensible about this. The days may soon be over for Mail-Order Bride services. That doesn't mean if you're an American dating a foreign woman, you can't bring her over. It just means if you bought her out of a catalog, you're going to have some 'splainin' to do to immigration. Illegal immigration is a whole other issue that is being debated and dealt with by politicans right now - let's not try to compare.

[no name 1]

Has anyone noticed that the AILA processing date for Nebraska has moved to 5/29? What is this?? They move our cases to CSC, who's date is still 2/3 and then change the date for Nebraska by months??? I really don't get what they are up to.

But NSC's date of the report is 6/15. CSC & VT are still on the date of 5/22. Soon, it will all become clearer methinks. pLus, as we have heard, NSC isn't doing fiance visas anymore...

[zethris 0]

I think no one is..

not even USCIS itself.

I wonder if they will respect the NOA1 dates.

They are not considering it to send the RFEs, that´s for sure.

Nope, I just found out they aren't. My friend who works at the lawfirm I am using as representation just came over for breakfast and told me that even though they were able to get them to start sending out RFE's sooner than 30 more days, the RFE's they are sending out are the ones they have on hand, and are most recent first which can take a month to get through. Then they will start sending us RFE's and will be processed in the order the RFE's arrive. So it's as if the NOA2 no longer matters. Once it goes back to the embasy, it will be put in the que in the order it was recieved in the very back of the line. So another 2-5 months wait once it arrives at the embasys before we get our interview dates.. So it's almost as if we haven't even applied yet. I expressed my outrage, and he explained that this is the kind of game they try to play. You ask them to do something and they do it half assed IF they even agree to it. So the next thing they are going to do is try to setup some meetings with some key folks (I have no idea who they are) at the DHS and work with them on implementing a true FIFO system to prevent this from happening again when they add other new hairbrained laws.

Okay, me again. My knowledge of this deal is that it was done by people who really don't want to see men getting foreign women. They don't think it is fair, they don't like it.

I'll take issue with this. That is simply not accurate. As frustrating as everyone is feeling about the delays, let's be sensible about this. The days may soon be over for Mail-Order Bride services. That doesn't mean if you're an American dating a foreign woman, you can't bring her over. It just means if you bought her out of a catalog, you're going to have some 'splainin' to do to immigration. Illegal immigration is a whole other issue that is being debated and dealt with by politicans right now - let's not try to compare.

No in many ways that statement is accurate. There are many politicians who are exactly that way regardless of mail order or not. They are so xenophobic that they will be making it harder and harder to get anyone here. What StevenJinky said was just one group of the many xenophobe's that are causing such problems for us.

Edited June 18, 2006 by zethris

[Aquelunya 0]

I think no one is..

not even USCIS itself.

I wonder if they will respect the NOA1 dates.

They are not considering it to send the RFEs, that´s for sure.

Nope, I just found out they aren't. My friend who works at the lawfirm I am using as representation just came over for breakfast and told me that even though they were able to get them to start sending out RFE's sooner than 30 more days, the RFE's they are sending out are the ones they have on hand, and are most recent first which can take a month to get through. Then they will start sending us RFE's and will be processed in the order the RFE's arrive. So it's as if the NOA2 no longer matters. Once it goes back to the embasy, it will be put in the que in the order it was recieved in the very back of the line. So another 2-5 months wait once it arrives at the embasys before we get our interview dates.. So it's almost as if we haven't even applied yet. I expressed my outrage, and he explained that this is the kind of game they try to play. You ask them to do something and they do it half assed IF they even agree to it. So the next thing they are going to do is try to setup some meetings with some key folks (I have no idea who they are) at the DHS and work with them on implementing a true FIFO system to prevent this from happening again when they add other new hairbrained laws.

Okay, me again. My knowledge of this deal is that it was done by people who really don't want to see men getting foreign women. They don't think it is fair, they don't like it.

I'll take issue with this. That is simply not accurate. As frustrating as everyone is feeling about the delays, let's be sensible about this. The days may soon be over for Mail-Order Bride services. That doesn't mean if you're an American dating a foreign woman, you can't bring her over. It just means if you bought her out of a catalog, you're going to have some 'splainin' to do to immigration. Illegal immigration is a whole other issue that is being debated and dealt with by politicans right now - let's not try to compare.

No in many ways that statement is accurate. There are many politicians who are exactly that way regardless of mail order or not. They are so xenophobic that they will be making it harder and harder to get anyone here. What StevenJinky said was just one group of the many xenophob's that are causing such problems for us.

this is vey disturbing, I must say I felt the anger rush through my whole being upon reading this post. these half-brained morons

[zethris 0]

I think no one is..

not even USCIS itself.

I wonder if they will respect the NOA1 dates.

They are not considering it to send the RFEs, that´s for sure.

Nope, I just found out they aren't. My friend who works at the lawfirm I am using as representation just came over for breakfast and told me that even though they were able to get them to start sending out RFE's sooner than 30 more days, the RFE's they are sending out are the ones they have on hand, and are most recent first which can take a month to get through. Then they will start sending us RFE's and will be processed in the order the RFE's arrive. So it's as if the NOA2 no longer matters. Once it goes back to the embasy, it will be put in the que in the order it was recieved in the very back of the line. So another 2-5 months wait once it arrives at the embasys before we get our interview dates.. So it's almost as if we haven't even applied yet. I expressed my outrage, and he explained that this is the kind of game they try to play. You ask them to do something and they do it half assed IF they even agree to it. So the next thing they are going to do is try to setup some meetings with some key folks (I have no idea who they are) at the DHS and work with them on implementing a true FIFO system to prevent this from happening again when they add other new hairbrained laws.

Okay, me again. My knowledge of this deal is that it was done by people who really don't want to see men getting foreign women. They don't think it is fair, they don't like it.

I'll take issue with this. That is simply not accurate. As frustrating as everyone is feeling about the delays, let's be sensible about this. The days may soon be over for Mail-Order Bride services. That doesn't mean if you're an American dating a foreign woman, you can't bring her over. It just means if you bought her out of a catalog, you're going to have some 'splainin' to do to immigration. Illegal immigration is a whole other issue that is being debated and dealt with by politicans right now - let's not try to compare.

No in many ways that statement is accurate. There are many politicians who are exactly that way regardless of mail order or not. They are so xenophobic that they will be making it harder and harder to get anyone here. What StevenJinky said was just one group of the many xenophob's that are causing such problems for us.

this is vey disturbing, I must say I felt the anger rush through my whole being upon reading this post. these half-brained morons

Yeah, my fury kind of shows with the bad writing I typed. Maybe when I calm down i'll edit it and type it out a bit better. But I don't see that happening any time soon.

[noBS 0]

And I think that is the future of this legal process, death by a thousand cuts, at some point, it is just too difficult to do (legally). Every step in the process is a total pain, and now this stupid IMBRA. My sympathies to you all, our government is ******* pathetic.

Hi Top-Gorilla, You certainly covered all the bases and I could not agree more. IMBRA has nothing to do with protecting women, and everything thing to do with social engineeering in an attempt to block men from marrying non-US women. You are right, women petitioners caught in this toxic legislation are considered by IMBRA backers to be collateral damage.

The law is targeted to a tiny, sub-set, niche corner of marriages. The true evil of this law is found when one looks at who is exempted from compliance:

"The Non-Profit": a traditional matchmaking organization of a cultural or religious nature which offers its services on a non-profit basis under law". There is not one shred of evidence that these organizations have a lower rate of spousal abuse cases than couples that met through any other circumstances! This special-interest exemption is pure social engineering, and has no basis in reality.

What really pains me is that I, as a man, have always identified as a feminist. Indeed, I put myself in harms way in Mobile, Alabama, Pensacola FL, and Jackson MS back in 1993-94 as a regular volunteer clinic escort for the women trying to enter the besieged womens clinics. Remember the murders of Dr. Patterson? Dr. Gunn? Dr. Britton? This law, IMBRA, has flipped me 180 degrees, and I feel like I have been stabbed in the back by the feminist movement. I never have felt driven to use words like that before.

The backers of IMBRA are trying to murder our right to marry who we choose. The migration of the human race over the face of the earth, and to inter-marry with other tribes and cultures is as old as the human race. Were it not for inter-marriage none of us would be here today. It is an evolutionary truth and a basic human right.

If the IMBRA backers REALLY wanted to help women, they would have worked to change conditions in the very countries that have an atrocious record of womens rights. Not target a tiny group of people willing to endure months and sometimes years of DHS and USCIS's convoluted and broken fiancee visa process. Some of our fiancee's are at risk every minute because of the countries that they live in - the IMBRA backers admitted as much!

Yes, IMBRA drew its support from those that believed the "Mail-Order Bride" fantasy to be true. We here on VisaJourney, know the "Mail-Order Bride" does not exist. And we know that to be a derogatory, ugly description. Comparable to any racial epithet.

Thanks for your post Top-Gorilla, I think there are a lot of people that feel like you. And as more innocent visa applicants get caught in IMBRA's deadly undertow, action will be taken to strike this terrible legislation.

[Cigarovich 1]

I think no one is..

not even USCIS itself.

I wonder if they will respect the NOA1 dates.

They are not considering it to send the RFEs, that´s for sure.

Nope, I just found out they aren't. My friend who works at the lawfirm I am using as representation just came over for breakfast and told me that even though they were able to get them to start sending out RFE's sooner than 30 more days, the RFE's they are sending out are the ones they have on hand, and are most recent first which can take a month to get through. Then they will start sending us RFE's and will be processed in the order the RFE's arrive. So it's as if the NOA2 no longer matters. Once it goes back to the embasy, it will be put in the que in the order it was recieved in the very back of the line. So another 2-5 months wait once it arrives at the embasys before we get our interview dates.. So it's almost as if we haven't even applied yet. I expressed my outrage, and he explained that this is the kind of game they try to play. You ask them to do something and they do it half assed IF they even agree to it. So the next thing they are going to do is try to setup some meetings with some key folks (I have no idea who they are) at the DHS and work with them on implementing a true FIFO system to prevent this from happening again when they add other new hairbrained laws.

Well zethris (and everyone else who got recalled) I urge you to take my advice and apply for an Expedite Request when you send in, or even before you send in your RFE. (see my post: Lost Link) If we get denied it will be more fuel for your class action lawsuit fire.

However, there is so much conflicting information out there please don't take offense if I take your breakfast conversation with a large grain of salt. But by all means keep digging!

[meauxna 15]

And I think that is the future of this legal process, death by a thousand cuts, at some point, it is just too difficult to do (legally). Every step in the process is a total pain, and now this stupid IMBRA. My sympathies to you all, our government is ******* pathetic.

Hi Top-Gorilla, You certainly covered all the bases and I could not agree more. IMBRA has nothing to do with protecting women, and everything thing to do with social engineeering in an attempt to block men from marrying non-US women. You are right, women petitioners caught in this toxic legislation are considered by IMBRA backers to be collateral damage.

The law is targeted to a tiny, sub-set, niche corner of marriages. The true evil of this law is found when one looks at who is exempted from compliance:

"The Non-Profit": a traditional matchmaking organization of a cultural or religious nature which offers its services on a non-profit basis under law". There is not one shred of evidence that these organizations have a lower rate of spousal abuse cases than couples that met through any other circumstances! This special-interest exemption is pure social engineering, and has no basis in reality.

What really pains me is that I, as a man, have always identified as a feminist. Indeed, I put myself in harms way in Mobile, Alabama, Pensacola FL, and Jackson MS back in 1993-94 as a regular volunteer clinic escort for the women trying to enter the besieged womens clinics. Remember the murders of Dr. Patterson? Dr. Gunn? Dr. Britton? This law, IMBRA, has flipped me 180 degrees, and I feel like I have been stabbed in the back by the feminist movement. I never have felt driven to use words like that before.

The backers of IMBRA are trying to murder our right to marry who we choose. The migration of the human race over the face of the earth, and to inter-marry with other tribes and cultures is as old as the human race. Were it not for inter-marriage none of us would be here today. It is an evolutionary truth and a basic human right.

If the IMBRA backers REALLY wanted to help women, they would have worked to change conditions in the very countries that have an atrocious record of womens rights. Not target a tiny group of people willing to endure months and sometimes years of DHS and USCIS's convoluted and broken fiancee visa process. Some of our fiancee's are at risk every minute because of the countries that they live in - the IMBRA backers admitted as much!

Yes, IMBRA drew its support from those that believed the "Mail-Order Bride" fantasy to be true. We here on VisaJourney, know the "Mail-Order Bride" does not exist. And we know that to be a derogatory, ugly description. Comparable to any racial epithet.

Thanks for your post Top-Gorilla, I think there are a lot of people that feel like you. And as more innocent visa applicants get caught in IMBRA's deadly undertow, action will be taken to strike this terrible legislation.

omg. Tin foil hat much?

We live in a bubble here at VJ. Just because the vast majority of poster here are legit, there are no abuses? No mail order brides? How will innocents be 'caught in IMBRA's deadly undertow'? (you're a great writer btw!). If innocent, nothing to worry about.

This small group of 1100 (have some perspective) have been temporarily burned, but future filers? The immigration agency has a long history of hiccoughs like this---one of them launched this website as a matter of fact (google TSC prisoners).

I really think that the social engineering theory is paranoia. Sorry to disagree so firmly, but using that argument, how could you call for US legislators to re-engineer the economies and culture of multiple countries around the world instead of doing what IS in their own power---making a US law that affects specifically the people it is intended for?