Recalled NOA2 people

[elizaxyz 0]

Has anyone who was recalled after getting an NOA2 and being sent on even gotten verification that their file has been returned?

Just spent yet another useless half hour on the phone with USCIS. No record of our petition since we were approved on April 18. They suggested I write to Vermont. I'm drafting a letter to Paul Novak now.

[expatrica 0]

Has anyone who was recalled after getting an NOA2 and being sent on even gotten verification that their file has been returned?

Just spent yet another useless half hour on the phone with USCIS. No record of our petition since we were approved on April 18. They suggested I write to Vermont. I'm drafting a letter to Paul Novak now.

Hi Elizaxyz,

Our petition was sent back from London on May 18th. As of last Friday neither the NVC nor USCIS could confirm that it has been received. I think called the Vermont center directly (method posted earlier in this thread) and was told that they have our petition at the VSC. Bottom line is that NVC and USCIS know nothing. Since both ours came from London, I'd be willing to bet yours is at the VSC too. Other than this confirmation over the phone, I've received no correspondence saying it had been returned.

E

[milestogo 0]

No one here who has a recalled interview with approved NOA2 has yet recieved an RFE, notice of an RFE, or a new interview.

At least one person has reported being told by the NVC that their petition was recieved. Myself and others were told there is no record of it being recieved. Since some of them were mailed a month ago (mine included) so I'm not sure whether our applications were lost, never sent back, or that the NVC simply haven't logged them or informed their systems and operators that they've arrived. Which one is the case is anyone's guess.

What is most troubling is that NONE of us in the recalled status is being given any direction or assurances our cases are being taken care of. That others without approved petitions are receiving RFEs and moving forward in the process when the recalled already approved petitions are stalled is very disturbing. I do not agree with those that say we should not panic and just wait to see. I think this process has gone terribly wrong and that we should begin taking collective action to raise the volume and have our concerns heard.

Lewis, do you have any advice for us on contacting our representative's? Any template letters or proven ways to begin the conversation. I have this fear of walking into her offices and being looked at as an annoyance and a bother. Or of writing an email/letter and having it be ignored.

Contacting Congress:

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

[rlt 0]

Ok. I actually talked with someone from VSC about 40 min. ago.

I think I have a few answers for some of our questions.

She said they are indeed sendind the RFEs regarding IMBRA.

Even though there might not be an order for how they are sending it, she said what metters is the receipt date.

Getting a RFE at this stage doesn´t mean they will be processing our case. So that kind of explain why people with NOA1 from June are getting RFE and we are not.

Not that I agree with that, but she said we will all be getting the RFE soon. It´s just too many for them to send at the same day. But this is what they are doing now. Sending RFEs to all aplicants dated on or after March 6th.

She sounded a little bit surprised that I even considered the fact of people applying now or with pending applications would have their cases processed before the recalled ones.

She also said they can´t send a RFE without having the case phisically there! So your application must be in Vermont so they can send the RFE.

She confirmed that my petition is there, but only got there last week.

And that might be the reason why I haven´t got my RFE yet, but I shouldn´t worry (yeah, right...) about it, because they will send it.

Another thing is that they will update the status online. If they send the RFE it will change from APPROVED to "WE MAILED YOU A RFE..."

As I have a lawyer taking care of my application, my RFE will go to him, which sucks. I can request by mail to remove him from my case but I won´t do that. I wanna avoid any possible complication right now.

So, for those who have your case back in Vermont, this is the best I got.

For those who don´t know where your case is, stop calling regular USCIS phone officer and dial the options to reach Vermont.

I got it from a form called USCIS, a topic named Emailing Vermont, I think.

It really works.

My opinion is that we do have people with NOA2 getting RFE. It´s just that there are less people with NOA2, so we hear more from pending applications.

Probably the recalled people getting RFE aren´t in VJ, and that´s all.

I don´t think there´s a different treatment for us at this moment. It will be when they get the RFE back.

Starting March 6th, as the processing dates state.

I hope she knows what she´s talking about.

[kitkat1 5]

rlt - this sounds great and I'm glad to see you finally got some concrete answers. Hope to see lots of postings from recalled petitioners shortly indicating your RFEs were sent and that you will be processed FIRST

[Lewis 0]

No one here who has a recalled interview with approved NOA2 has yet recieved an RFE, notice of an RFE, or a new interview.

At least one person has reported being told by the NVC that their petition was recieved. Myself and others were told there is no record of it being recieved. Since some of them were mailed a month ago (mine included) so I'm not sure whether our applications were lost, never sent back, or that the NVC simply haven't logged them or informed their systems and operators that they've arrived. Which one is the case is anyone's guess.

What is most troubling is that NONE of us in the recalled status is being given any direction or assurances our cases are being taken care of. That others without approved petitions are receiving RFEs and moving forward in the process when the recalled already approved petitions are stalled is very disturbing. I do not agree with those that say we should not panic and just wait to see. I think this process has gone terribly wrong and that we should begin taking collective action to raise the volume and have our concerns heard.

Lewis, do you have any advice for us on contacting our representative's? Any template letters or proven ways to begin the conversation. I have this fear of walking into her offices and being looked at as an annoyance and a bother. Or of writing an email/letter and having it be ignored.

Contacting Congress:

http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

Ok, here's a template of a letter I sent today to my senator. I also included a release form I signed from her website so they have permission to look into my case. I also sent a similar letter through email to my state representative. I would also call their offices. As for panicking, I'm not. Don't rely on the USCIS for giving any information at this point, they are too swamped with this situation. We can put pressure on them through our congresspeople and writing letters to the USCIS itself. As for being an annoyance or bother, it is their job to take care of problems like this for us. Also, the RFEs are coming, I'm only supplying this letter as a way to notify my representative of the horrible customer service of the USCIS.

The letter itself is particular to my situation and should be modified to fit yours.

Final thing, speculation and lack of patience at this time is the worst enemy. Being positive is paramount.

LETTER:

Date

Senators name

Senators Address

Dear Senator xxxx,

My name is xxxx and my fiancée’s name is xxxxx. I am asking your assistance in dealing with our difficulties we have had in dealing with the USCIS in reference to our approved I-129F petition (receipt # xxxxxxx) that was recalled due to IMBRA. Because our petition was already approved, it is obvious that our case should be expedited in comparison to the unapproved cases. My main problem has been with the USCIS, I have found that the NVC and the consulate were very helpful. We actually found out about this situation through the consulate which notified my fiancée by phone. At no time did the USCIS make any effort to notify me or my fiancée about the recall of our petition. I have been diligently calling and I have received no clear answers about this situation. To be honest, as an American citizen, I am extremely shocked and disappointed at the lack of transparency and clarity in dealing with the USCIS. Some of the people I spoke with did not even understand what IMBRA was. Here are my main questions that the USCIS has not answered clearly or at all:

Why did the USCIS not inform me of the recall of our I-129F?

Will my petition be expedited due to the petitions approved status and USCIS error?

Will the petition be processed in order of original receipt date?

Will my petition have a new expiration date?

When will I receive my RFE?

Most of my family and I have lived in xxxx our entire lives and we have contributed positively to the betterment of society in the xxxx, xxxx, xxxxx and xxxxx sectors and we look forward to the marriage of myself and my fiancée. I also appreciate your positive contributions to our welfare and look forward to your assistance on the above issues.

Sincerely,

Name:

Email:

Phone:

[Ladylethal 12]

Rlt, does that mean that all others will sit at the desk if we send our RFEs back first? I mean, they'll wait for EVERY recalled petition to go back to VSC, to send the RFE, to receive the RFE back, to process it again and only after those 1.100 petitions get through they'll work on us again?

I'm glad they're doing the recalled ones first, but shouldn't they at least process the returned RFEs in case there are no recalled petitions to be processed at the moment?

[elizaxyz 0]

Does anyone know if the USCIS people work on saturdays?

I know they don´t take phone calls but I´ve heard of people having updates on their cases on saturdays.

Just to know if I should keep checking.

tks

I was touched on Easter Sunday, so it seems that some sort activity goes on there outside of normal working hours.

Glad to hear that at least on RFE has gone out to someone with an NOA2. I'm feeling much better than I did this morning having heard that.

[Lewis 0]

thanks rlt, that's the kind of news we needed to hear!

HMMMMMMMMM, don't like that lawyer thing though, I used one too and that will slow the process.

[Cigarovich 1]

Well well I finally got through to VSC on my 4th try! And yes my case is back with them, thank goodness. This is good news for the Russia people. She didn't have a timeline for when the RFE's would go out but she DID recommend filing an expedite request. And since we haven't heard anything I'm going to do that at the end of the week if I don't get an email from them and let you know how it goes.

[Lewis 0]

Well well I finally got through to VSC on my 4th try! And yes my case is back with them, thank goodness. This is good news for the Russia people. She didn't have a timeline for when the RFE's would go out but she DID recommend filing an expedite request. And since we haven't heard anything I'm going to do that at the end of the week if I don't get an email from them and let you know how it goes.

I sent one today; here is the template. Also include the State Dept. memo highlighted with the quotes from the letter. You may want to modify it according to your specific case:

Date

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Vermont Service Center

ATTN: Expedite Request

75 Lower Welden Street

St. Albans, VT 05479

To whom it may concern:

My name is xxxxx and my fiancée’s name is xxxxx. The purpose of this letter is to request expedition of our approved I-129F petition (receipt #) due to USCIS error. My fiancée was notified by the xxxxx consulate by phone that our approved petition was being returned for review to the USCIS.

I later discovered an unclassified memo released by the State Department (00077044) that states “Some petitions were approved in error under the old procedures and sent through the National Visa Center to posts for processing.” It logically follows that if the USCIS is responsible for approving I-129F petitions, then the USCIS is in error. The memo also states “The DHS Service Center Operations (SCOPS) Unit of USCIS, Status/Family Branch requested that posts return to NVC all K1 I-129F petitions with priority dates (date received at the DHS office) on or after March 6, 2006” which demonstrates USCIS error.

Our petition was one of the petitions that was caught up in this error. I have included all relevant documents to this matter in this mailing which include a copy of the approved I-797C, a copy of the notice of approval from the NVC, and a copy of the letter from the Ciudad Juarez consulate informing us that our case was ready to process. At no time was I or my fiancée informed by the USCIS that this recall process had begun. We had to find out through press releases and a phone call from the consulate. Therefore, I request an expedition of my petition due to USCIS error.

I would appreciate your consideration, thoroughness and fairness in this matter,

Sincerely,

Name

phone

email

[rlt 0]

Rlt, does that mean that all others will sit at the desk if we send our RFEs back first? I mean, they'll wait for EVERY recalled petition to go back to VSC, to send the RFE, to receive the RFE back, to process it again and only after those 1.100 petitions get through they'll work on us again?

I'm glad they're doing the recalled ones first, but shouldn't they at least process the returned RFEs in case there are no recalled petitions to be processed at the moment?

I don´t know what they will do.

That´s why it would make more sense to send the RFEs to the recalled cases first.

She said they don´t even have all the recalled cases back yet.

I don´t know how they are gonna work.. that´s what she told me.

[WheresTheVisa 0]

NOA-1 March 9th

NOA-2 May 10th

I wouldn't know anything about IMBRA if I hadn't worried that I didn't hear anything from NVC and started calling. Last week I found out that NVC didn't have my petition and sent it back to USCIS, USCIS said they didn't have it and don't know anything, so I should just wait 90 days before calling. Right.

This morning I spent more than an hour on hold ( once with USCIS, and then they forwarded me to... I don't even know, but I think an immigration officer/VSC) who could check on my specific application and said they didn't receive my petition yet.

For the less discouraging news - he said that the RFE's will be specific to the case (I asked if I could do anything now, like get a criminal check started - though I don't have anything to do with any IMB... we're US/Can for funk's sake). Also, I asked if this means I go through the whole approval process again - No, they only collect this additional information and send it along with a brochure to the consulate, if you're already approved.

So I guess, as soon as my application is Found, I will be sent a little form and probably some glossy pamphlets about all the horrible things I shouldn't do to my canadian citizen, where I will check off a little box next to "No, didn't meet through IMB" and mail it back and again it will wind it's way through whatever Bizzarro-Mail service they use that takes 2 months.

Does anyone ask about/check criminal history when people marry inside the country? I haven't seen all the numbers, but is it so much more likely to come to a bad end then when 2 citizens marry? And as long as we're singling out a group why not say minorities? poor inner city black folk? heartland rednecks? rich wall-street playboys? Presidents and legislators? Supreme court justices? Come On!

[rlt 0]

NOA-1 March 9th

NOA-2 May 10th

I wouldn't know anything about IMBRA if I hadn't worried that I didn't hear anything from NVC and started calling. Last week I found out that NVC didn't have my petition and sent it back to USCIS, USCIS said they didn't have it and don't know anything, so I should just wait 90 days before calling. Right.

This morning I spent more than an hour on hold ( once with USCIS, and then they forwarded me to... I don't even know, but I think an immigration officer/VSC) who could check on my specific application and said they didn't receive my petition yet.

For the less discouraging news - he said that the RFE's will be specific to the case (I asked if I could do anything now, like get a criminal check started - though I don't have anything to do with any IMB... we're US/Can for funk's sake). Also, I asked if this means I go through the whole approval process again - No, they only collect this additional information and send it along with a brochure to the consulate, if you're already approved.

So I guess, as soon as my application is Found, I will be sent a little form and probably some glossy pamphlets about all the horrible things I shouldn't do to my canadian citizen, where I will check off a little box next to "No, didn't meet through IMB" and mail it back and again it will wind it's way through whatever Bizzarro-Mail service they use that takes 2 months.

Does anyone ask about/check criminal history when people marry inside the country? I haven't seen all the numbers, but is it so much more likely to come to a bad end then when 2 citizens marry? And as long as we're singling out a group why not say minorities? poor inner city black folk? heartland rednecks? rich wall-street playboys? Presidents and legislators? Supreme court justices? Come On!

Don´t count on that.

I called them today. They do have my petition back and I haven´t got an email saying a RFE has been sent to me.

I just checked the big IMBRA thread and they have send a RFE to someone with a NOA1 from June 12th. A week ago.

What can we do?

It´s ridiculous.

She said everything I wanted to hear. That my case was there, that I will get a RFE, that shouldn´t take long after I submit the RFE back, but she can´t send me a RFE, because she doesn´t have the power to do so.

So I just have to wait while it seems like everyone is getting it but me.

[milestogo 0]

If anyone has it, could they repost the method for calling Vermont Directly? Much appreciated!