UPDATING - 2007 TSC Filing Backlog

[sophisgent 0]

I became friends with a guy named Stephen Palick, back in January 2003, when a number of I-129 F petitions were being held hostage at TSC. After 9-11, processing had stopped on I-129 F petitions at TSC, and the INS was not being truthful to the petitioners or congressional representatives that the applications were being processed. In actuality, the applications had not been processed. A V-Day protest was formed to coincide with Valentine's Day, and strangers assembled to express their grievance to the government at the executive offices of the INS in Dallas, Tx, complete with print media and television coverage. The INS was taken by surprise, and granted relief in response to the bad publicity it was receiving.

Stephen Palick got fired up, and wondered what he to do to make a difference, so he started this website - VISAJOURNEY.

I started this thread in December 2007, wondering how the process was going to work after the USCIS experienced a tremendous glut of applications, and took over 90 days to acknowledge that it received an N-400 Application and cash the check.

On Friday, Sep. 26, 2008, my wife went for her N-400 citizenship interview in Memphis, TN, after having to reschedule from a July 23, 2008 date, due to a lost notice letter, and a conflict with a professional admission exam. Resolution of this was by FedEx letter, 2 days before the July interview date requesting rescheduling, so this experience proves it can be done.

In short, the interview lasted 27 minutes ... start to finish . . . and the interviewer recommended her for citizenship. My wife is an extraordinarily brilliant young woman, who graduated magna cum laude from law school, so answering some questions about the United States, and writing a sentence was no big deal. She didn't tell the interviewer that an ivy league institution had published one of her articles in its law review. She is presently working as a federal judicial law clerk for a judge on a United States appellate circuit court.

Her journey began when she arrived in America on May 2, 2003. She did AOJ in New Orleans on December 15, 2004, and had the conditions on Legal Permanent Residence removed in April 2007, and the N-400 was filed on Sep, 27, 2007,and then adjudicated a year later, after having to reschedule.

The process has been administered by real people from what started as the INS, and then was BCIS, and now the USCIS. It was started not long after 9/11, in November 2002, with an I-129F application. The government personnel dealt with have been uniformly courteous . . . in some instances the information line good, and sometimes, not so good. During the process, it has been necessary to have elected representatives make inquiries. They have been extremely helpful . . . never hesitate to ask them to help you.

The technology and handling of petitions has changed dramatically. When first started the various petitions after I-129 F were kept at the district office in New Orleans.... now there is the central storage in Missouri, and the digital fingerprints, when things started, it was the inkers. The office in Memphis moved from one location to a new up to date building. Things have come a long way in six years.

She still has the oath ceremony and obtaining a U.S. passport to wrap it up, but now, I think the wind is at her back, and the rest is going to go fine.

Thank you for your support, and good luck to you on your journey.

Sincerely,

Archie Wilson

p.s.

It's nice that others on this process have provided timely and helpful information. And goodnight Matt Udall, wherever you are.

[DDL 1]

Many congratulations to you both!

Your post certainly resonated with me. My husband's journey began in London on July 9, 2004 with an I-130. During the past four years we have submitted all the necessary paperwork - and $$$$ - in an organized and timely manner. Never received an RFI on anything. For us, it has simply been a waiting game - but we knew our day would come. And on Saturday, it did. He received his interview notice which is set for November 6.

It's all been a real learning experience for us. Thanks to everyone at Visa Journey for all their support, encouragement, and feedback over the last four years.

Denise and Tony

Edited September 29, 2008 by DDL