Considering the Congressman Route

[maggieNomar 0]

I know of women who have tried to get their fiances/husbands here fast because they are pregnant, and even that hasn't worked except where there was some serious and documented complication. Can she wait til summer or fall, or is it start spring or forget school?

[sigmanigma 0]

As for everyone else who posted, I really DO appreciate your frankness and references to the USCIS website. I don't know where I'd be without VJ.com

Hang in there... we've either been where you are, or are there with you (and it doesn't hurt to ask a question)...

Hello, Karin und Otto (I'm not quite sure which of you it is!). I noticed that you replied to another question I had previously posted. Thanks for that. I'll see you around, I suppose. Alles Gute!

[pushbrk 12,898]

The only people i've seen expedited here have been USC with severe illness (2x's) and members of the US military deployed or with deployment orders (several). I do believe there was also one where the beneficiary was in harms way in her own Country... but I think that was a fluke.

However, i've seen MANY try and fail. Sorry.

I appreciate your frankness. Just out of curiosity, is it USCIS or the congressman who decides whether the circumstances warrant getting expedited?

USCIS decides. Please try to understand that if there were a shortcut, everybody would take it, so it wouldn't be shortcut anymore. You'll just need to work within the system.

Everyone would clamor for the opportunity to pay thousands of dollars in tuition?

Anyway, thanks for the reality check. I suppose the only thing left to do is wait or forge some kind of emergency situation. I appreciate all your posts.

You're asking about expediting a fiance visa case, so tuition has nothing to do with it. Forging an emergency is a good way to get your loved one banned from the US for life. No, sir! You really ARE going to have to work within the system. Grow up!

First, the tuition has everything to do with it, considering your argument (that everyone would pursue the shortcut should I get expedited, if my reading comprehension serves me).

Second, are you so afraid that I won't work within the system? What if I didn't? What would that mean to you?

And last -- Forgive me for not using emoticons to express my joking about the forging of an emergency. However, should I forge one, I'll be careful not to get caught

Thanks for your concern.

As for everyone else who posted, I really DO appreciate your frankness and references to the USCIS website. I don't know where I'd be without VJ.com

Your not proposing expediting a student visa. You are proposing expediting a fiance(e) visa. As such, if there were a "shortcut" to a fiance(e) visa, everybody seeking a fiance(e) visa would be using that shortcut.

"What's it to me?" you ask. Policing people who break the law takes valuable time away from adjudicating legitimate cases for my friends here on VJ. Grow up!

FYI, you'll want to check out the sponsorship requirements for a K1 visa. No money, no honey as they say.

[sigmanigma 0]

I know of women who have tried to get their fiances/husbands here fast because they are pregnant, and even that hasn't worked except where there was some serious and documented complication. Can she wait til summer or fall, or is it start spring or forget school?

You know, I don't know about other colleges, but all the ones she's interested in in So. Cal. only accept freshman for the fall. The only objections we'd have to her taking a year off are that she'd be 21 as a freshman (she's the average age in her graduating class: 19) and keeping her productive for the year. Thanks for the pregnant-people insight, though.

[payxibka 10,045]

I know of women who have tried to get their fiances/husbands here fast because they are pregnant, and even that hasn't worked except where there was some serious and documented complication. Can she wait til summer or fall, or is it start spring or forget school?

You know, I don't know about other colleges, but all the ones she's interested in in So. Cal. only accept freshman for the fall. The only objections we'd have to her taking a year off are that she'd be 21 as a freshman (she's the average age in her graduating class: 19) and keeping her productive for the year. Thanks for the pregnant-people insight, though.

my SIL was a 48 year old freshman.... not really a stigma anymore....

[sigmanigma 0]

The only people i've seen expedited here have been USC with severe illness (2x's) and members of the US military deployed or with deployment orders (several). I do believe there was also one where the beneficiary was in harms way in her own Country... but I think that was a fluke.

However, i've seen MANY try and fail. Sorry.

I appreciate your frankness. Just out of curiosity, is it USCIS or the congressman who decides whether the circumstances warrant getting expedited?

USCIS decides. Please try to understand that if there were a shortcut, everybody would take it, so it wouldn't be shortcut anymore. You'll just need to work within the system.

Everyone would clamor for the opportunity to pay thousands of dollars in tuition?

Anyway, thanks for the reality check. I suppose the only thing left to do is wait or forge some kind of emergency situation. I appreciate all your posts.

You're asking about expediting a fiance visa case, so tuition has nothing to do with it. Forging an emergency is a good way to get your loved one banned from the US for life. No, sir! You really ARE going to have to work within the system. Grow up!

First, the tuition has everything to do with it, considering your argument (that everyone would pursue the shortcut should I get expedited, if my reading comprehension serves me).

Second, are you so afraid that I won't work within the system? What if I didn't? What would that mean to you?

And last -- Forgive me for not using emoticons to express my joking about the forging of an emergency. However, should I forge one, I'll be careful not to get caught

Thanks for your concern.

As for everyone else who posted, I really DO appreciate your frankness and references to the USCIS website. I don't know where I'd be without VJ.com

Your not proposing expediting a student visa. You are proposing expediting a fiance(e) visa. As such, if there were a "shortcut" to a fiance(e) visa, everybody seeking a fiance(e) visa would be using that shortcut.

"What's it to me?" you ask. Policing people who break the law takes valuable time away from adjudicating legitimate cases for my friends here on VJ. Grow up!

FYI, you'll want to check out the sponsorship requirements for a K1 visa. No money, no honey as they say.

Sir, you're not understanding my reasoning: Even if I did get expedited (which I never claimed I'd attempt), who would enroll his fiancée in college at the cost of thousands of dollars to get her here sooner?

About the policing, I'll remind you that I was jo•king. I want to entertain your suggestions, though... assume for a moment that I did need policing. A guy earlier posted that these cases are decided at the director's discretion, "FYI." Did you honestly think they'd pull Joe up out of the adjudicator's pool to review my request to get expedited?

Believe me when I say that money from this summer on won't be a problem. Before we drop this, though, I'll ask again: Why do you care? Instead of repeating "Grow up" like a plush doll, why don't you take some of your own advice and stop bickering with teenagers on the internet? I consider myself introspective enough to recognize that this could still be expected of me, but what's wrong with you? Why don't you grow up?

I am now done with you, sir; I do not consider this discourse with you worth continuing.

I wish you a merry holiday season and a years' worth of chill pills.

[sigmanigma 0]

I know of women who have tried to get their fiances/husbands here fast because they are pregnant, and even that hasn't worked except where there was some serious and documented complication. Can she wait til summer or fall, or is it start spring or forget school?

You know, I don't know about other colleges, but all the ones she's interested in in So. Cal. only accept freshman for the fall. The only objections we'd have to her taking a year off are that she'd be 21 as a freshman (she's the average age in her graduating class: 19) and keeping her productive for the year. Thanks for the pregnant-people insight, though.

my SIL was a 48 year old freshman.... not really a stigma anymore....

You're kidding! I'll be sure to let my fiancée know when she gets home! Did she go to a school where that was common? Anyway, thanks for your input. Do you think colleges discriminate based on age, or at least some? Isn't there a federal law against that?

[pushbrk 12,898]

The only people i've seen expedited here have been USC with severe illness (2x's) and members of the US military deployed or with deployment orders (several). I do believe there was also one where the beneficiary was in harms way in her own Country... but I think that was a fluke.

However, i've seen MANY try and fail. Sorry.

I appreciate your frankness. Just out of curiosity, is it USCIS or the congressman who decides whether the circumstances warrant getting expedited?

USCIS decides. Please try to understand that if there were a shortcut, everybody would take it, so it wouldn't be shortcut anymore. You'll just need to work within the system.

Everyone would clamor for the opportunity to pay thousands of dollars in tuition?

Anyway, thanks for the reality check. I suppose the only thing left to do is wait or forge some kind of emergency situation. I appreciate all your posts.

You're asking about expediting a fiance visa case, so tuition has nothing to do with it. Forging an emergency is a good way to get your loved one banned from the US for life. No, sir! You really ARE going to have to work within the system. Grow up!

First, the tuition has everything to do with it, considering your argument (that everyone would pursue the shortcut should I get expedited, if my reading comprehension serves me).

Second, are you so afraid that I won't work within the system? What if I didn't? What would that mean to you?

And last -- Forgive me for not using emoticons to express my joking about the forging of an emergency. However, should I forge one, I'll be careful not to get caught

Thanks for your concern.

As for everyone else who posted, I really DO appreciate your frankness and references to the USCIS website. I don't know where I'd be without VJ.com

Your not proposing expediting a student visa. You are proposing expediting a fiance(e) visa. As such, if there were a "shortcut" to a fiance(e) visa, everybody seeking a fiance(e) visa would be using that shortcut.

"What's it to me?" you ask. Policing people who break the law takes valuable time away from adjudicating legitimate cases for my friends here on VJ. Grow up!

FYI, you'll want to check out the sponsorship requirements for a K1 visa. No money, no honey as they say.

Sir, you're not understanding my reasoning: Even if I did get expedited (which I never claimed I'd attempt), who would enroll his fiancée in college at the cost of thousands of dollars to get her here sooner?

About the policing, I'll remind you that I was jo•king. I want to entertain your suggestions, though... assume for a moment that I did need policing. A guy earlier posted that these cases are decided at the director's discretion, "FYI." Did you honestly think they'd pull Joe up out of the adjudicator's pool to review my request to get expedited?

Believe me when I say that money from this summer on won't be a problem. Before we drop this, though, I'll ask again: Why do you care? Instead of repeating "Grow up" like a plush doll, why don't you take some of your own advice and stop bickering with teenagers on the internet? I consider myself introspective enough to recognize that this could still be expected of me, but what's wrong with you? Why don't you grow up?

I am now done with you, sir; I do not consider this discourse with you worth continuing.

I wish you a merry holiday season and a years' worth of chill pills.

Ah, I see. You seem to be focused on using the need to secure college admission as the grounds for expedite. I'm focused on using the Congressman to assist in expediting and/or other reasons than those listed on the USCIS site as reasons to get a Congressman to help find a "faster way". I'm just saying if there were a faster way, a Congressman could help with, everybody would be using it. There isn't one. You are trying to get around a student visa requirement you can't meet by expediting a fiance visa. You don't have grounds for expedition of a fiance visa. Have you looked into the sponsorship requirements for a fiance(e) visa and determined you can meet them or have a co-sponsor?

The director makes the final decision but you can bet your britches the underlings do the legwork and make a reccomendation. They even have the authority to say no without going to the Director. Did you think all expedite requests went straight to the Director? In nearly all cases, the Director's discretion is a function of having already delegated authority and implemented policies under which the delegated authority is exercised. As such, my reason for caring remains the same.

By the way, if your scenario would work, (using the need for college admission) as a reason to expedite a fiance(e) visa there would be no requirement to actually go to college or pay any tuition.

Edited November 21, 2008 by pushbrk

[cjgator 2]

Fella, here's my advice. Do whatever you think is within your rights, so you can sleep better at night knowing your did everything you did. You never know if something might click, and sitting around and doing nothing drives ya crazy, so, at the end of the day, you, in your individual situation, have to feel like you did all you could to make things happen.

Having said that, the vast majority of the advice you have received is spot-on. On a fiance visa (which is typically the fastest to be processed), you are going to have few arguments that USCIS people are going to look at with a straight face. Your congressman may (and I stress may) be willing to look into your case for you, but federal legislators have little, or no power to expedite the process.

There are many of this in this process who have pretty intense situations who have waited 7, 8, 9 months or more, and who have done all of these things, and who are still waiting for approvals. Every month that I have to wait for an approval (and I am almost at 8 months now, and have tried everything - congressmen, expedite requests, etc), it costs me $1,000. Not enough for USCIS to change the parameters.

But, again, you can always try. Good luck, sport.

The only people i've seen expedited here have been USC with severe illness (2x's) and members of the US military deployed or with deployment orders (several). I do believe there was also one where the beneficiary was in harms way in her own Country... but I think that was a fluke.

However, i've seen MANY try and fail. Sorry.

I appreciate your frankness. Just out of curiosity, is it USCIS or the congressman who decides whether the circumstances warrant getting expedited?

USCIS decides. Please try to understand that if there were a shortcut, everybody would take it, so it wouldn't be shortcut anymore. You'll just need to work within the system.

Everyone would clamor for the opportunity to pay thousands of dollars in tuition?

Anyway, thanks for the reality check. I suppose the only thing left to do is wait or forge some kind of emergency situation. I appreciate all your posts.

You're asking about expediting a fiance visa case, so tuition has nothing to do with it. Forging an emergency is a good way to get your loved one banned from the US for life. No, sir! You really ARE going to have to work within the system. Grow up!

First, the tuition has everything to do with it, considering your argument (that everyone would pursue the shortcut should I get expedited, if my reading comprehension serves me).

Second, are you so afraid that I won't work within the system? What if I didn't? What would that mean to you?

And last -- Forgive me for not using emoticons to express my joking about the forging of an emergency. However, should I forge one, I'll be careful not to get caught

Thanks for your concern.

As for everyone else who posted, I really DO appreciate your frankness and references to the USCIS website. I don't know where I'd be without VJ.com

[Old Dominion 26]

Some members of Congress are very successful in pursuing cases that are hung up in the system. Others simply send a courtesy letter to the Department of State or Department of Homeland Security, and get a courtesy response. Because of the sensitive nature of the immigration issue, they are quite frankly unwilling and unable to pull any weight with USCIS in a case that is being processed according to the procedures in place.

Your best bet would be to proceed as you are, and once your fiancee arrives here (if she's granted the K-1 and assuming she is 18 years old), enroll her in the university of choice. You'll still be required to show that you can support her above the poverty level, before she's granted the visa.

How to pay the tuition and fees? You and your family would need to figure that out anyway. Many universities have specially designated funds to help students from developing countries, i.e., the third world, but not from the affluent countries like Germany.

[cjgator 2]

I am curious, and I am not saying this as a skeptical response. Which congressmen are you aware of that have been able to actually "get action" done on a case? I'm sitting over with a group of about 20+ K-3'ers at VSC, from every corner of this country, all who have contacted their congressmen, including myself, and as of this point, exactly 0 of us have been able to get our congressmen to actually "move" a stuck and way overdue (based on USCIS processing times) petition. All of us are approaching or beyond 8 months. They are good at getting information on case status, but, beyond that, I have yet to see a single case where it has been shown that congressional action got a stalled petition processed.

I appreciate your feedback.

Some members of Congress are very successful in pursuing cases that are hung up in the system. Others simply send a courtesy letter to the Department of State or Department of Homeland Security, and get a courtesy response. Because of the sensitive nature of the immigration issue, they are quite frankly unwilling and unable to pull any weight with USCIS in a case that is being processed according to the procedures in place.

Your best bet would be to proceed as you are, and once your fiancee arrives here (if she's granted the K-1 and assuming she is 18 years old), enroll her in the university of choice. You'll still be required to show that you can support her above the poverty level, before she's granted the visa.

How to pay the tuition and fees? You and your family would need to figure that out anyway. Many universities have specially designated funds to help students from developing countries, i.e., the third world, but not from the affluent countries like Germany.

[Old Dominion 26]

I am curious, and I am not saying this as a skeptical response. Which congressmen are you aware of that have been able to actually "get action" done on a case? I'm sitting over with a group of about 20+ K-3'ers at VSC, from every corner of this country, all who have contacted their congressmen, including myself, and as of this point, exactly 0 of us have been able to get our congressmen to actually "move" a stuck and way overdue (based on USCIS processing times) petition. All of us are approaching or beyond 8 months. They are good at getting information on case status, but, beyond that, I have yet to see a single case where it has been shown that congressional action got a stalled petition processed.

I appreciate your feedback.

Some members of Congress are very successful in pursuing cases that are hung up in the system. Others simply send a courtesy letter to the Department of State or Department of Homeland Security, and get a courtesy response. Because of the sensitive nature of the immigration issue, they are quite frankly unwilling and unable to pull any weight with USCIS in a case that is being processed according to the procedures in place.

Your best bet would be to proceed as you are, and once your fiancee arrives here (if she's granted the K-1 and assuming she is 18 years old), enroll her in the university of choice. You'll still be required to show that you can support her above the poverty level, before she's granted the visa.

How to pay the tuition and fees? You and your family would need to figure that out anyway. Many universities have specially designated funds to help students from developing countries, i.e., the third world, but not from the affluent countries like Germany.

The one who seems most effective is Sen. Robert Byrd of W.Va., at least with the Department of State. His point man with immigration is very effective. Who is the senior Senator from Florida? Try that office.

[pushbrk 12,898]

I am curious, and I am not saying this as a skeptical response. Which congressmen are you aware of that have been able to actually "get action" done on a case? I'm sitting over with a group of about 20+ K-3'ers at VSC, from every corner of this country, all who have contacted their congressmen, including myself, and as of this point, exactly 0 of us have been able to get our congressmen to actually "move" a stuck and way overdue (based on USCIS processing times) petition. All of us are approaching or beyond 8 months. They are good at getting information on case status, but, beyond that, I have yet to see a single case where it has been shown that congressional action got a stalled petition processed.

I appreciate your feedback.

Some members of Congress are very successful in pursuing cases that are hung up in the system. Others simply send a courtesy letter to the Department of State or Department of Homeland Security, and get a courtesy response. Because of the sensitive nature of the immigration issue, they are quite frankly unwilling and unable to pull any weight with USCIS in a case that is being processed according to the procedures in place.

Your best bet would be to proceed as you are, and once your fiancee arrives here (if she's granted the K-1 and assuming she is 18 years old), enroll her in the university of choice. You'll still be required to show that you can support her above the poverty level, before she's granted the visa.

How to pay the tuition and fees? You and your family would need to figure that out anyway. Many universities have specially designated funds to help students from developing countries, i.e., the third world, but not from the affluent countries like Germany.

The one who seems most effective is Sen. Robert Byrd of W.Va., at least with the Department of State. His point man with immigration is very effective. Who is the senior Senator from Florida? Try that office.

Actual Congresspersons or Senators very rarely get personally involved with immigration cases. Since it's their staff that does the work, it stands to reason the more senior people have the most experienced staff.

[cjgator 2]

Your insight is appreciated. I will pass the information along to my friends. Sounds like Senators may be the preferred route. Have a nice weekend.

I am curious, and I am not saying this as a skeptical response. Which congressmen are you aware of that have been able to actually "get action" done on a case? I'm sitting over with a group of about 20+ K-3'ers at VSC, from every corner of this country, all who have contacted their congressmen, including myself, and as of this point, exactly 0 of us have been able to get our congressmen to actually "move" a stuck and way overdue (based on USCIS processing times) petition. All of us are approaching or beyond 8 months. They are good at getting information on case status, but, beyond that, I have yet to see a single case where it has been shown that congressional action got a stalled petition processed.

I appreciate your feedback.

Some members of Congress are very successful in pursuing cases that are hung up in the system. Others simply send a courtesy letter to the Department of State or Department of Homeland Security, and get a courtesy response. Because of the sensitive nature of the immigration issue, they are quite frankly unwilling and unable to pull any weight with USCIS in a case that is being processed according to the procedures in place.

Your best bet would be to proceed as you are, and once your fiancee arrives here (if she's granted the K-1 and assuming she is 18 years old), enroll her in the university of choice. You'll still be required to show that you can support her above the poverty level, before she's granted the visa.

How to pay the tuition and fees? You and your family would need to figure that out anyway. Many universities have specially designated funds to help students from developing countries, i.e., the third world, but not from the affluent countries like Germany.

The one who seems most effective is Sen. Robert Byrd of W.Va., at least with the Department of State. His point man with immigration is very effective. Who is the senior Senator from Florida? Try that office.

[cjgator 2]

Push, my group knows the reps themselves don't do much, if anything, it's their aides that make the movements. All of us are dealing with staffers. It stands to reason that the more senior the rep, the more pull, and the more connections. We should all be dealing with the haviest hitters available, if we choose to go that way.

My point was just to make to the kid, don't think that an elected rep is a way to circumnavigate the system. I didn't want to see him get a false sense of hope that it would. He hasn't paid the due in terms of time that you, me, or so many of us have. I know you know this - everyone's situation is an urgent situation. And that is meant with complete sincerity.

By the way, in case you don't hear it enough, I (and many, many of us on here) appreciate what you do. You give good, and to the letter advice. And, you don't have to do it. You have made it. That's why I appreciate the time you give this site all that much more.

I am curious, and I am not saying this as a skeptical response. Which congressmen are you aware of that have been able to actually "get action" done on a case? I'm sitting over with a group of about 20+ K-3'ers at VSC, from every corner of this country, all who have contacted their congressmen, including myself, and as of this point, exactly 0 of us have been able to get our congressmen to actually "move" a stuck and way overdue (based on USCIS processing times) petition. All of us are approaching or beyond 8 months. They are good at getting information on case status, but, beyond that, I have yet to see a single case where it has been shown that congressional action got a stalled petition processed.

I appreciate your feedback.

Some members of Congress are very successful in pursuing cases that are hung up in the system. Others simply send a courtesy letter to the Department of State or Department of Homeland Security, and get a courtesy response. Because of the sensitive nature of the immigration issue, they are quite frankly unwilling and unable to pull any weight with USCIS in a case that is being processed according to the procedures in place.

Your best bet would be to proceed as you are, and once your fiancee arrives here (if she's granted the K-1 and assuming she is 18 years old), enroll her in the university of choice. You'll still be required to show that you can support her above the poverty level, before she's granted the visa.

How to pay the tuition and fees? You and your family would need to figure that out anyway. Many universities have specially designated funds to help students from developing countries, i.e., the third world, but not from the affluent countries like Germany.

The one who seems most effective is Sen. Robert Byrd of W.Va., at least with the Department of State. His point man with immigration is very effective. Who is the senior Senator from Florida? Try that office.

Actual Congresspersons or Senators very rarely get personally involved with immigration cases. Since it's their staff that does the work, it stands to reason the more senior people have the most experienced staff.