Senator help?

[Ladylethal 12]

Hello, guys! This is Luis this time.Laura is on a road trip back to Rio.

I wanted to ask you all something, hope you can help. Have you guys had sucess getting your senators offices to help you in the K1 process? Because I called the office of my representant in the the senate and the basically told me they couldn't really push the people at the service center to work faster or to ask them on how is my procces, beacause they wouldn't tell them any thing that they wouldn't tell me. they said one the case is aproved and in the national visa center they could help to move it faster. So again my question, has any of you had succes trying this? I'm really getting fustrated at this process they take forever. Nobody seem to give you any clear answers at those offices. I want to be with Laura already

[no name 1]

Hello, guys! This is Luis this time.Laura is on a road trip back to Rio.

I wanted to ask you all something, hope you can help. Have you guys had sucess getting your senators offices to help you in the K1 process? Because I called the office of my representant in the the senate and the basically told me they couldn't really push the people at the service center to work faster or to ask them on how is my procces, beacause they wouldn't tell them any thing that they wouldn't tell me. they said one the case is aproved and in the national visa center they could help to move it faster. So again my question, has any of you had succes trying this? I'm really getting fustrated at this process they take forever. Nobody seem to give you any clear answers at those offices. I want to be with Laura already

It should help to get you answers at least, definitely. But whether or not they do is another story. 2 people on here had a good time wih IL senators. My Ohio one was good as well, but I had a name to talk to. Good luck.

Edited July 10, 2006 by devilette

[VivaMexico 0]

They are correct that a congressional office can't help move a "normal" process along any faster. The time that it really helps is if you have a problem with your case, or if you are delayed longer than the normal period of time it takes to process a case. FYI - I had given you the info on Puerto Rico's representative before...he is in the HOuse. There are no Senators representing PR.

Good luck!

[irishgirl73 0]

I don't think anyone is going to be able to help you at this point-is your case outside processing times?

when our case was 30 days outside of VSC's processing times-I called my senator. I don't know if it helped or not but I am glad that I did it. You sent your petition in April-right? so according to your timeline you sent back rfe info 6/29????? it hasn't even been two weeks-I am sure you will get your answer soon-it is hard but be patient(that is what everyone told me).

Edited July 10, 2006 by irishgirl73

[lisanne 0]

For what it's worth I had written our Senator and asked if he could look into the situation of IMBRA implementation, if there were now guidelines to implement it, etc. and if they had hired extra staff to handle the backlog at the CSC. In part this is what he replied to me:

"Because your concerns fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government (U.S. Department of Homeland Security), I have forwarded your concern to your federal representative. I hope that you will be hearing from her soon.

Again, thank you for contacting me. If I can be of assistance to you at the state level of government, please feel free to contact me."

So I don't know if he was just passing the buck or our representatives are the ones who handle these kinds of matters. But at least I received a reply.

[Chuckles 0]

My petition had not been touched until I called my congressman and one of his aides contacted the NSC. You can draw your own conclusions from that, but I am glad I called. Be sure your case is outside processing times otherwise your congressional office will really have no reason to help you.

[dwar49 0]

For what it's worth I had written our Senator and asked if he could look into the situation of IMBRA implementation, if there were now guidelines to implement it, etc. and if they had hired extra staff to handle the backlog at the CSC. In part this is what he replied to me:

"Because your concerns fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government (U.S. Department of Homeland Security), I have forwarded your concern to your federal representative. I hope that you will be hearing from her soon.

Again, thank you for contacting me. If I can be of assistance to you at the state level of government, please feel free to contact me."

So I don't know if he was just passing the buck or our representatives are the ones who handle these kinds of matters. But at least I received a reply.

Did you contact your state senator (i.e. from your state assembly) or the senator who represents your state in DC? Sounds like you contacted the wrong senator.

[GaryC 7]

I contacted both of my senators and my congressman. I only got a reply from Senator Durbin. He put me with his immigration aid. While he hasn't been able to speed things up he has been very helpful with information. I get regular emails from him as he gets more information.

[kitkat1 5]

I think it's well worth contacting someone. I tried both senator's offices in illinois - at the first one, the woman was NOT nice and NOT helpful - she was actually downright rude and upset me even more. But the second one has been incredibly nice and helpful. She is the one who responded to my questions about RFE status and told me when to expect it and to call her if I had not received it. Well I still hadn't received it on June 30 when I was leaving on vacation and she left me a voicemail to say she would arrange to get a copy faxed to me when I returned. I just got back last night and FINALLY received my RFE today, July 10, postmarked June 29 (clearly they postmarked before mailing). She told me to call her so she can give me an update on the RFE processing guidelines (which I will do tomorrow) and also offered assistance in dealing with the consulate in Ciudad Juarez while we are going through the waiver process.

So, I think it's worth it to contact someone and try to get some answers - I don't think they can actually push your case through, but I do have the feeling that a congressional inquiry does move your application from the bottom of a pile if it has been waiting for a long time - even if it's not outside of processing guidelines. If nothing else, it's nice to have a real, live person to speak to regarding status etc.

Good luck!

[Bharat 0]

So Kitkat,

Did you ever get your RFE?? I know that you have stated before u left that u have not gotten it..just want to check up on that.

[kitkat1 5]

So Kitkat,

Did you ever get your RFE?? I know that you have stated before u left that u have not gotten it..just want to check up on that.

FINALLY today I got it - July 10. I have no explanation for why it took so long - it was dated June 29 but clearly they did not send it out then. Anyway, thanks for your concern! I'll be reading through how everyone else sent theirs back - It looks like check the box NO and leave the other two blank, sign it, etc and fed ex with the blue sheet on top. Hope that's right. Then tomorrow I'll be talking to the senator's office again to try to find out how much longer I'll be waiting!

[Bharat 0]

So Kitkat,

Did you ever get your RFE?? I know that you have stated before u left that u have not gotten it..just want to check up on that.

FINALLY today I got it - July 10. I have no explanation for why it took so long - it was dated June 29 but clearly they did not send it out then. Anyway, thanks for your concern! I'll be reading through how everyone else sent theirs back - It looks like check the box NO and leave the other two blank, sign it, etc and fed ex with the blue sheet on top. Hope that's right. Then tomorrow I'll be talking to the senator's office again to try to find out how much longer I'll be waiting!

WOW!! that was a long wait. Where did u meet your fiance from?? If you do nto mind me asking...Yeah i think you are right about those. You have to send it with blue paper on top. I do not know how long it would take..But once u find out, will u let me know? I mailed mine out on July 5th..it arrived in California on friday. Still i have not heard from them

[GaryC 7]

Hey KitKat! Good news getting your RFE!!

[BlueSurf 0]

The RFE in our case finally arrived today, also... Now on to the next stage - of waiting.

[kitkat1 5]

WOW!! that was a long wait. Where did u meet your fiance from?? If you do nto mind me asking...Yeah i think you are right about those. You have to send it with blue paper on top. I do not know how long it would take..But once u find out, will u let me know? I mailed mine out on July 5th..it arrived in California on friday. Still i have not heard from them

I don't think the delay in getting the RFE to me had anything to do with where I met my fiance (in Mexico) but instead it was because they randomly grabbed applications and sent RFEs to those in their hand at the moment. Since the postmark said June 29 and I received it July 10, we also know they ran envelopes through the postage meter LONG before they ever dropped them in the mailbox since it doesn't take 11 working days for mail to arrive from CA to IL!!!!

I did not talk to the senator's office today like I thought I would - but if they are able to provide ANY insight into how much longer this will take, I will definitely post it.

Thanks GaryC and Bluesurf I'm glad you got yours too!