RECALLED PETITION - UPDATE

[Rick2000 0]

So...a woman at the VSC told me yesterday that there were about 1000 recalled cases (which we know), but that 300 of them have been MISPLACED and will take longer than the rest. The 700 or so are being sent RFEs and then they're going to work on the rest. Sheesh...

I contacted the embassy to see when and where exactly they sent the petition back to and they said that they were sent back through the APO system to a mailroom in DC where they were to be sorted, sent to NVC, and then on to the service center that handled it in the first place (well, either VT or CA as we know). I'm wondering if other people who are dealing with Thailand are in the same boat...t&s, our petitions probably were returned from BKK at the same time. Ridiculous.

My fiance was at the same point in the process as yours, too - had submitted packet 3 and waiting for packet 4.

AT VSC, did she mean that 300 cases were misplaced at VSC or some other location? Thanks

[amwo 0]

So...a woman at the VSC told me yesterday that there were about 1000 recalled cases (which we know), but that 300 of them have been MISPLACED and will take longer than the rest. The 700 or so are being sent RFEs and then they're going to work on the rest. Sheesh...

I contacted the embassy to see when and where exactly they sent the petition back to and they said that they were sent back through the APO system to a mailroom in DC where they were to be sorted, sent to NVC, and then on to the service center that handled it in the first place (well, either VT or CA as we know). I'm wondering if other people who are dealing with Thailand are in the same boat...t&s, our petitions probably were returned from BKK at the same time. Ridiculous.

My fiance was at the same point in the process as yours, too - had submitted packet 3 and waiting for packet 4.

AT VSC, did she mean that 300 cases were misplaced at VSC or some other location? Thanks

also - were they misplaced before or after they were reopened?

(this is so ridiculous i just want to cry. seriously)

[t&s 0]

So...a woman at the VSC told me yesterday that there were about 1000 recalled cases (which we know), but that 300 of them have been MISPLACED and will take longer than the rest. The 700 or so are being sent RFEs and then they're going to work on the rest. Sheesh...

I contacted the embassy to see when and where exactly they sent the petition back to and they said that they were sent back through the APO system to a mailroom in DC where they were to be sorted, sent to NVC, and then on to the service center that handled it in the first place (well, either VT or CA as we know). I'm wondering if other people who are dealing with Thailand are in the same boat...t&s, our petitions probably were returned from BKK at the same time. Ridiculous.

My fiance was at the same point in the process as yours, too - had submitted packet 3 and waiting for packet 4.

AT VSC, did she mean that 300 cases were misplaced at VSC or some other location? Thanks

also - were they misplaced before or after they were reopened?

(this is so ridiculous i just want to cry. seriously)

I called USCIS today and they told me absolutely nothing. I told her I wanted to know if its been received from overseas. All she could tell me was the information that was on the website "Approved 4/14/2006". Thailand mailed it back on 5/22/2006. I coulda flew to Thailand, picked up the petition and swam back, then walked from Maryland to Vermont.

[Mew 0]

Since we've gotten the RFE update, I only got touched once... and we've already sent the RFE back.

[Rick2000 0]

Since we've gotten the RFE update, I only got touched once... and we've already sent the RFE back.

NEW INFO FROM VSC RE: RECALLED NOA2S THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN RE-OPENED. My congressman's immig. specialist called the VSC today and spoke to the congressional liason there and was told (similar to what other VJs have posted before re: what VSC indicated to them) that before they can re-open the case they have to receive 2 things: 1- the file back from the consulate and 2-the file that was sent to storage at the National Records Center which the immig specialist thought might be in Minnesota (I recall one VJ member indicating her other part was stored she thought in Penn.). The immig specialist told me the liason indicated 1000 cases fell in the category, and he did not get the impresssion that my case was singled out, he thought the liason person had no specifc loyalty to VSC, and the true reason for not re-opened yet and no touches is because one of the files had not arrived there yet. In looking at the data file (good job Mew), it looks like about 10 of 31 are in this status. i.e., not opened yet. Another poster indicated he or she was told apparently by the VSC that about 300 cases were lost? If that is correct then if there were 1000 cases like this, THEN OUR SAMPLE SHOWING ABOUT 30% in not open status would be consistent with the characteristc of the larger population of 1000 with 300 lost, or we have what the Statisticians call valid sampling.

[Rick2000 0]

Since we've gotten the RFE update, I only got touched once... and we've already sent the RFE back.

NEW INFO FROM VSC RE: RECALLED NOA2S THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN RE-OPENED. My congressman's immig. specialist called the VSC today and spoke to the congressional liason there and was told (similar to what other VJs have posted before re: what VSC indicated to them) that before they can re-open the case they have to receive 2 things: 1- the file back from the consulate and 2-the file that was sent to storage at the National Records Center which the immig specialist thought might be in Minnesota (I recall one VJ member indicating her other part was stored she thought in Penn.). The immig specialist told me the liason indicated 1000 cases fell in the category, and he did not get the impresssion that my case was singled out, he thought the liason person had no specifc loyalty to VSC, and the true reason for not re-opened yet and no touches is because one of the files had not arrived there yet. In looking at the data file (good job Mew), it looks like about 10 of 31 are in this status. i.e., not opened yet. Another poster indicated he or she was told apparently by the VSC that about 300 cases were lost? If that is correct then if there were 1000 cases like this, THEN OUR SAMPLE SHOWING ABOUT 30% in not open status would be consistent with the characteristc of the larger population of 1000 with 300 lost, or we have what the Statisticians call valid sampling.

Correction from Rick:bkk-puu-ying above sd 300 cases "misplaced."

[Mew 0]

Since we've gotten the RFE update, I only got touched once... and we've already sent the RFE back.

NEW INFO FROM VSC RE: RECALLED NOA2S THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN RE-OPENED. My congressman's immig. specialist called the VSC today and spoke to the congressional liason there and was told (similar to what other VJs have posted before re: what VSC indicated to them) that before they can re-open the case they have to receive 2 things: 1- the file back from the consulate and 2-the file that was sent to storage at the National Records Center which the immig specialist thought might be in Minnesota (I recall one VJ member indicating her other part was stored she thought in Penn.). The immig specialist told me the liason indicated 1000 cases fell in the category, and he did not get the impresssion that my case was singled out, he thought the liason person had no specifc loyalty to VSC, and the true reason for not re-opened yet and no touches is because one of the files had not arrived there yet. In looking at the data file (good job Mew), it looks like about 10 of 31 are in this status. i.e., not opened yet. Another poster indicated he or she was told apparently by the VSC that about 300 cases were lost? If that is correct then if there were 1000 cases like this, THEN OUR SAMPLE SHOWING ABOUT 30% in not open status would be consistent with the characteristc of the larger population of 1000 with 300 lost, or we have what the Statisticians call valid sampling.

Having a case misplaced is about the worst thing that could happen to anyone. Totally scary s***! If that's really true, I feel for you. Good lord, do I feel for you guys. What's even scarier is that there's no way you can be 100% sure about what's happened to your petition. I truly hope you can find some answers...

As much as we want to collect data from VJ's who have had their petitions recalled due to IMBRA, there's no way to make sure the data is absolutely accurate. Some VJs might have not checked the site in a long time, or might simply have not let us know of any updates...

Edited July 12, 2006 by Mew

[bkk-puu-ying 0]

The rep at VSC wouldn't elaborate - she'd only say that much, that they're missing. I just spoke with a rep at the NVC who said that they had not received it which makes me think that the missing apps (or at least mine) is maybe missing somewhere between the embassy and NVC. Who knows. It doesn't help that I work with a guy who used to work at INS and he's told me horror stories about their legendary inefficiency. grrr...

[Rick2000 0]

Since we've gotten the RFE update, I only got touched once... and we've already sent the RFE back.

NEW INFO FROM VSC RE: RECALLED NOA2S THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN RE-OPENED. My congressman's immig. specialist called the VSC today and spoke to the congressional liason there and was told (similar to what other VJs have posted before re: what VSC indicated to them) that before they can re-open the case they have to receive 2 things: 1- the file back from the consulate and 2-the file that was sent to storage at the National Records Center which the immig specialist thought might be in Minnesota (I recall one VJ member indicating her other part was stored she thought in Penn.). The immig specialist told me the liason indicated 1000 cases fell in the category, and he did not get the impresssion that my case was singled out, he thought the liason person had no specifc loyalty to VSC, and the true reason for not re-opened yet and no touches is because one of the files had not arrived there yet. In looking at the data file (good job Mew), it looks like about 10 of 31 are in this status. i.e., not opened yet. Another poster indicated he or she was told apparently by the VSC that about 300 cases were lost? If that is correct then if there were 1000 cases like this, THEN OUR SAMPLE SHOWING ABOUT 30% in not open status would be consistent with the characteristc of the larger population of 1000 with 300 lost, or we have what the Statisticians call valid sampling.

Having a case misplaced is about the worst thing that could happen to anyone. Totally scary s***! If that's really true, I feel for you. Good lord, do I feel for you guys. What's even scarier is that there's no way you can be 100% sure about what's happened to your petition. I truly hope you can find some answers...

As much as we want to collect data from VJ's who have had their petitions recalled due to IMBRA, there's no way to make sure the data is absolutely accurate. Some VJs might have not checked the site in a long time, or might simply have not let us know of any updates...

Good point Mew, no way to know if our small sample is biased or not. Could be a number factors affecting such.

[Cigarovich 1]

Oh my - I'm really befuddled now. Just got off the phone with VSC - they DO NOT have my petition. NVC from yesterday said they DID NOT get my petition back. Ergo, my petition is still at the consulate or explicably still on its way, or, in the worst case, completely lost. So I ask, how can I get in touch with the consulate to find out when the case was sent back without paying $5/minute and getting no answers? Luckily, I'm in Moscow and can go directly to the US Embassy here, but who do I ask for - Head of CIS? I'd like to find out the info from the Embassy side before I contact DoS...

[Rick2000 0]

Since we've gotten the RFE update, I only got touched once... and we've already sent the RFE back.

NEW INFO FROM VSC RE: RECALLED NOA2S THAT HAVE NOT YET BEEN RE-OPENED. My congressman's immig. specialist called the VSC today and spoke to the congressional liason there and was told (similar to what other VJs have posted before re: what VSC indicated to them) that before they can re-open the case they have to receive 2 things: 1- the file back from the consulate and 2-the file that was sent to storage at the National Records Center which the immig specialist thought might be in Minnesota (I recall one VJ member indicating her other part was stored she thought in Penn.). The immig specialist told me the liason indicated 1000 cases fell in the category, and he did not get the impresssion that my case was singled out, he thought the liason person had no specifc loyalty to VSC, and the true reason for not re-opened yet and no touches is because one of the files had not arrived there yet. In looking at the data file (good job Mew), it looks like about 10 of 31 are in this status. i.e., not opened yet. Another poster indicated he or she was told apparently by the VSC that about 300 cases were lost? If that is correct then if there were 1000 cases like this, THEN OUR SAMPLE SHOWING ABOUT 30% in not open status would be consistent with the characteristc of the larger population of 1000 with 300 lost, or we have what the Statisticians call valid sampling.

Having a case misplaced is about the worst thing that could happen to anyone. Totally scary s***! If that's really true, I feel for you. Good lord, do I feel for you guys. What's even scarier is that there's no way you can be 100% sure about what's happened to your petition. I truly hope you can find some answers...

As much as we want to collect data from VJ's who have had their petitions recalled due to IMBRA, there's no way to make sure the data is absolutely accurate. Some VJs might have not checked the site in a long time, or might simply have not let us know of any updates...

Good point Mew, no way to know if our small sample is biased or not. Could be a number factors affecting such.

Also, I think it may help us figure out what is going on with the Not re-opened NOA2s if when you call the VSC, asked them which file(s) have arrive there and which file(s) have not arrived there, i.e., the recalled file from the consulate or the file from storage? Thanks, Rick

The rep at VSC wouldn't elaborate - she'd only say that much, that they're missing. I just spoke with a rep at the NVC who said that they had not received it which makes me think that the missing apps (or at least mine) is maybe missing somewhere between the embassy and NVC. Who knows. It doesn't help that I work with a guy who used to work at INS and he's told me horror stories about their legendary inefficiency. grrr...

Could the VSC spokesperson have been indicating re: the 300 cases/files they are still missing (one of the two required files) as in they have not arrived there yet, or as in they are missing from where they thought they were located? Thanks

[dowd001 0]

Oh my - I'm really befuddled now. Just got off the phone with VSC - they DO NOT have my petition. NVC from yesterday said they DID NOT get my petition back. Ergo, my petition is still at the consulate or explicably still on its way, or, in the worst case, completely lost. So I ask, how can I get in touch with the consulate to find out when the case was sent back without paying $5/minute and getting no answers? Luckily, I'm in Moscow and can go directly to the US Embassy here, but who do I ask for - Head of CIS? I'd like to find out the info from the Embassy side before I contact DoS...

Cigarovich,

Last week, I was in the same boat as you, my petition having been lost somewhere between Moscow and Vermont. It had been mailed from the Embassy in late May and by the first week in July it was still not at the NVC. It took some time, but here is how I found it.

First, I called the Moscow embassy phone number and gave them my MOS#. I asked them if my petition had been sent back to the NVC yet. They responded that it had been sent.

Second, I sent an inquiry to state via email. nvcinquiry@state.gov. Give them your Receipt Number from the service center and ask them flat out: "Have you received my petition back from the Embassy yet?" Also ask them in the alternative if they sent it to the Service Center yet. They will respond in about 3 business days.

Third, call the state department. They have a visa inquiry phone number posted on their website. 202-663-1225. Go buy a phone card on the street for 10 cents a minute. Worked for me when I lived in the 'Scow.

These things are not "lost" as you and I know it. They are just "in transit" as the government knows it. That means that they are often sitting somewhere, waiting for someone to process the paperwork to move it from A to B. Eventually, they get where they are supposed to go, but the process is long and arbitrary.

I know you probably know all of this. But I was able to locate mine by using that process. Not so sure that it moved any faster, but it did put my mind at ease a bit.

[bkk-puu-ying 0]

sorry for any confusion - in my original post I said "misplaced" and in the next one I said "missing." I've checked my notes and she did say "misplaced" - NOT missing.

cigarovitch, it sounds like you're in the same limbo a few of us are also in, too. When the VSC, NVC, and CIS said that they didn't have it, I emailed the embassy to find out exactly where they sent it too and they said that it was to the APO mail distribution center....maybe that's where some of these were misplaced...?

For a normally rational person, I'm continually astounded at how easily I've taken to grabbing at straws and believing all kinds of theories that are just that...theories. Right now I'll believe anything if it sounds good!

[t&s 0]

The rep at VSC wouldn't elaborate - she'd only say that much, that they're missing. I just spoke with a rep at the NVC who said that they had not received it which makes me think that the missing apps (or at least mine) is maybe missing somewhere between the embassy and NVC. Who knows. It doesn't help that I work with a guy who used to work at INS and he's told me horror stories about their legendary inefficiency. grrr...

I got tired of it. I emailed my congressman. Hopefully he will email me something. I also emailed nvcinquiry@state.gov on 7/10/2006, still no reply on anything yet.

[Mew 0]

Since we've gotten the RFE update, I only got touched once... and we've already sent the RFE back.

Okay. This just in: they've just updated the status of my case to let me know they have the RFE back at VSC.