Lets collect some information about IMBRA effects

[Lewis 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.

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!

Hey Cigarovich,

I may possibly send in an expedite request this week. I'm still studying the actual process. Let's keep in touch with this. It does appear that that original memo that was released about the recall was worded in such a way as to not blame the USCIS for the error, although we all know it was. Keep digging yeah~!

I also just sent an email to my rep and I will call them tommorow.

[abdcas 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.

I disagree with your law firm because I don't believe that this law firm has that much power to direct the USCIS. Who paid for the breakfast? Further, the USCIS had the RFE template approved on June 13th, 2006 by the OMB. Following that they will reduce the template into the format required to get the needed information(s) from the specific applicant, then they will mail them out.

In my estimation the 1100 applications will completed soon (starting June 19th, 2006) and will be done in block and sent back to the embassy within two (2) weeks of the receipt of the petitioner's response because most of these people have paid the $100.00 to the respective embassy banks and done their medical which expires in a year.

There seems to be misunderstanding of the intent of IMBRA. The intent of this act is to have your foreign fiancé fully informed of whom you including your criminal background if any. Upon which she has to decide whether or not she wants you no matter how bad or how great you are. That decision is totally hers. So the best medicine is full disclosure before you apply for her.

This is a little daisy for those whose petitioner whose applications have been approved and their fiancé’s invited for an interview. They are forced to disclose these bad records to their fiancé even if they don’t want to because the cat is out of the bag already. I think the RFE meant for these 1100 petitioners must have a place to give these guys a face saving means of backing out because one does not give up his constitutional right to privacy to marry a foreign wife especially without notice. That may be why it taking a little longer to send these ones out.

The best thing is to call your congressman, remember the November election is near and every vote counts. Use your power in the ballot box, call.

[Barry2005 0]

Immediately my @$$!

[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.

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!

oh absolutely! none taken. I understand. I had wished that, that which I have been doing could have had more of an effect, but this is a 6 headed hydra beast and unfortunatly I can seem to only fight 2 heads at a time. At the very least, I could say I helped to hopefully shave of 30 days from their intended time to begin sending RFE's. I just wish we had the foresight to request it was the RFE's that are being sent out now were based on the NOA1 and 2.

They are going to keep trying. I have good friends who are doing this all for free. But tick one more thing on the list of complaints on the class action should there ever be one.

[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.

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!

oh absolutely! none taken. I understand. I had wished that, that which I have been doing could have had more of an effect, but this is a 6 headed hydra beast and unfortunatly I can seem to only fight 2 heads at a time. At the very least, I could say I helped to hopefully shave of 30 days from their intended time to begin sending RFE's. I just wish we had the foresight to request it was the RFE's that are being sent out now were based on the NOA1 and 2.

They are going to keep trying. I have good friends who are doing this all for free. But tick one more thing on the list of complaints on the class action should there ever be one.

You mean the RFEs they are issuing now are not about IMBRA?

[noBS 0]

omg. Tin foil hat much?

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?

If you choose to attempt to "protect" people, and men are just as deserving and in need of protection as women, then anybody entering into a relationship must have a background check and the results disclosed to the potential suitor.

How in the world can it make sense to target only people who are applying for fiancee visa's?

To single out romances than begin via bar meeting, church meeting, email, online chat, marriage brokers, grandma's introduction, it does not matter. This is inarguable: Predators and bad people exist in our midst. They are not exclusive to some ambiguously described "International Marriage Broker". Predators exist in your neighborhood and mine.

The answer is not to make this a society were we may soon be required to "present our papers" in order to exercise our freedom to communicate, associate and god forbid maybe even marry.

The answer is disclosure and education. There are bad people in the world, it is full of risks. We cannot, and will never legislate them all away. Indeed, many foreign countries already have requirements that prospective brides attend mandatory education of the potential risks in regards to their suitor.

The answer is for each of us to exercise due diligence in who we associate with. There will always be men and women that choose to plunge into circumstances that are not good for them. To attempt to target this with broad-brush legislation is to cost all of us yet one more freedom, and burden us with yet more bureaucracy.

Existing laws, when enforced, deal perfectly well with actual crimes. To attempt to act presumptively, with no proof that is even possible in the case of IMBRA, enters us into a "Minority Report" type world. Prevent the crime before it happens, because we can see that it will happen. That is total BS in the case of the IMBRA law. There is no proof the law will prevent anything except preventing people in love from being together.

There is no basis in fact, nor precedent, that what IMBRA requires will have any beneficial effects for the people it purports to help.

Enforce existing law, don't enact new law.

[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 You misunderstand a bit with your statement about somehow directing the USCIS. 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.

I disagree with your law firm because I don't believe that this law firm has that much power to direct the USCIS. Who paid for the breakfast? Further, the USCIS had the RFE template approved on June 13th, 2006 by the OMB. Following that they will reduce the template into the format required to get the needed information(s) from the specific applicant, then they will mail them out.

In my estimation the 1100 applications will completed soon (starting June 19th, 2006) and will be done in block and sent back to the embassy within two (2) weeks of the receipt of the petitioner's response because most of these people have paid the $100.00 to the respective embassy banks and done their medical which expires in a year.

There seems to be misunderstanding of the intent of IMBRA. The intent of this act is to have your foreign fiancé fully informed of whom you including your criminal background if any. Upon which she has to decide whether or not she wants you no matter how bad or how great you are. That decision is totally hers. So the best medicine is full disclosure before you apply for her.

This is a little daisy for those whose petitioner whose applications have been approved and their fiancé’s invited for an interview. They are forced to disclose these bad records to their fiancé even if they don’t want to because the cat is out of the bag already. I think the RFE meant for these 1100 petitioners must have a place to give these guys a face saving means of backing out because one does not give up his constitutional right to privacy to marry a foreign wife especially without notice. That may be why it taking a little longer to send these ones out.

The best thing is to call your congressman, remember the November election is near and every vote counts. Use your power in the ballot box, call.

Welcome to visajourney.

This law firm is over 180 years old, and does have quite a few people in political positions of power. Regardless of that, you seem to have the wrong impression of what their "clout" is doing. It's not directing the USCIS. I made the breakfast. This lawfirm is working WITH the USCIS through political means and pressures well played short of outright lawsuits. Yet.

Just because the template was approved on June 13th, doesn't mean it wont take the beureuacratic 30-60 days to become "official". Then another 30 days to sit on it before sending it out.

Your estimation is actually 9000 applications too low. over 10,000 are currently effected. If left to their own devices, we would not see any RFE's until mid July or beginning of August. However, that has been changed due to the leveraging that my friends, and many of you have been able to accomplish by contacting your congressmen and key officials in the DHS, and USCIS directly. (eg. your calls helped them to have an open ear to the right people, which is hard to do.)

With some of the red tape cut, and seemingly about to getout of this tunnel once the RFE's were sent, many of us were hopefull that we would see them next week or so. Instead, people have been noticing those with NOA1's and 2's much later than theirs getting notifications of RFE's. While many of us who were closer to the Marth 6th deadline haven't even heard word that we have been "officially effected" yet. (Such as myself)

Fast foward to today, reality strikes, and the real reason why those of us who have May and some April NOA's are getting RFE's sooner than those of us who have been in the process for 4 months to a year or more comes out. Thats not to say we should give up, or that I will have my "hounds" back off. Quite the contrary. If we can keep calling to keep the walls soft against the words spoken by them and those they can get to talk to the powers that be at the USCIS, they may see a way to make it fair for all. Or at least implement a new system of cataloging for future use so future petitioners don't have to suffer like this with future changes.

The complaint is not against IMBRA itself, it has it's usefullness. But it also has it's flaws in terms of the obvious political agenda it's writers and passers have. So the misunderstanding about the law doesn't exist. What was said is true. Just as much as the good parts of it that will help protect incoming fiances in the future. The major problem with it, is not the law itself, but how it is being implemented. The way they are doing it is reprehensable.

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!

oh absolutely! none taken. I understand. I had wished that, that which I have been doing could have had more of an effect, but this is a 6 headed hydra beast and unfortunatly I can seem to only fight 2 heads at a time. At the very least, I could say I helped to hopefully shave of 30 days from their intended time to begin sending RFE's. I just wish we had the foresight to request it was the RFE's that are being sent out now were based on the NOA1 and 2.

They are going to keep trying. I have good friends who are doing this all for free. But tick one more thing on the list of complaints on the class action should there ever be one.

You mean the RFEs they are issuing now are not about IMBRA?

Yes they are, except for the normal RFE's that come about when they do regular RFE's during a petitions process. (Need more pictures/evidence, missing information, request for originals etc.) But the majority of the RFE's logicaly would be from the IMBRA effects. However, becauswe normal RFE's are also being processed, there may be some of us who get one not related to IMBRA (but might later).

[Ladylethal 12]

Honestly, I doubt USCIS would do that after stating they will expedite the recalled petitions, I think the reason people that aren´t recalled ones got RFE e-mails first is ´cus we must remember there are many people working on these files, and maybe someone started faster, that´s why the RFEs aren´t coming in an especific order. At this point when they used the word immediatly I trully believe they´ll work faster.

I think this upcoming week we´ll hear good news to the recalled petitioners and to the rest of us as well, there will be RFEs rolling out.

[maria_b84 0]

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

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.

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.

Someone stated this earlier - it's not just that you want to marry someone, but you want to bring them into the U.S., and that is an immigration issue, and to a larger extent, a social issue. If requiring you to disclose how you met your fiancee is social engineering then so is any rule or regulation established in deciding what immigrants we let into our country. Secondly, Mail-Order Bride services do in fact exist and anyone who doesn't believe that is simply in denial. The law hasn't made that illegal since it is difficult to clearly define just how much a marriage broker is marketing foreign women to American men. It's just requiring petitioners to state whether they used one or not. How is that harmful to anyone who sincerely wants to marry someone out of love?

[zethris 0]

Er.. just got a phone call. Apparently I wasn't supposed to say what I heard because it's not yet officialy documented. Just something he found out on Friday during a confrence call before going home. LOL oh well. I felt you all should know anyways becauce technicaly everything we say here is hearsay anyways.

Honestly, I doubt USCIS would do that after stating they will expedite the recalled petitions, I think the reason people that aren´t recalled ones got RFE e-mails first is ´cus we must remember there are many people working on these files, and maybe someone started faster, that´s why the RFEs aren´t coming in an especific order. At this point when they used the word immediatly I trully believe they´ll work faster.

I think this upcoming week we´ll hear good news to the recalled petitioners and to the rest of us as well, there will be RFEs rolling out.

I hope you are right, but with the news to the contrary, I gather they don't care about order anymore. Everything is a big semi ordered pile right now to prevent as much loss of records as possible. They never had anything like this happen before at this scale. So they don't have measures of order implemented for such a recall to keep everything like this in the exact same line as it was before the recall. They are processing what they have closest to hand right now and it just so happens to be the most recent applicants and NOA's

Some of our cases haven't even arrived yet (Such as mine, it's still apparently waiting at the embassy to be sent to the NVC) It is their hope that once it gets back tot he embasies, that maybe they could sort through the hundreds, rather than the thousands to bring back some order to the que. But unfortunatly, unless they halt the entire process in the mean time, there will be many who get processed before us that had a later noa date due to the fact of the time it will take for our cases to finally get back to the embasy with the requested evidence.

A straight line is always the shortest and quickest path. So it is for those with later NOA's it seems.

By the way, the expidite service could be an idea. But technicaly they arent' admitting an error (even though the memo said they were in error) so we may not be elegible for it. Worth a shot though.

Edited June 18, 2006 by zethris

[Ladylethal 12]

Of course things like that will happen, but once they get an RFE from a recalled petition I am sure they´ll expedite the cases they recognized as one that had been previously approved.

[Mike n Huong 1]

So basically, we would be better off starting from scratch with the new I-129F.

[Ladylethal 12]

I doubt that, Mike, I am still betting you guys will be expedited.

[hafiz 1]

what i want to know is why are the k3's being dragged into this. I hope they dont send any RFE's for k3. I mean k3's are already married and plus they are not even going through USCIS(the four agencies). they are goign directly through NBC, NVC

And arent these cases processed by different people. LIke departments, or are they all mixed into a bunch.