Venting: The Molasses Immigration Process

[Looking4Wife 0]

Is it just me, or is it that all immigration procedures are being skillfully crafted in the Department of Redundancy Department, or is it just me

Just a few items to wit:

1. The USCIS requires you to send your info to one service center, while all the while they intend, secretly or not-so secretly, to RESEND it to another service center in another state... that just so happens to be running 7 months behind already... yeah, that's efficient...

2. Many of the questions on the forms are duplicated and/or similar (address of past 5 years on one form, 10 years on another form, etc.) as if they expect you to "trip people up" who might put down different information... and of course the "Left Hand" of the Dept. of Redundancy Dept. (DRD) is incapable of passing any useful information on to the "Right Hand" of the DRD, to minimize duplication of info...

3. The questions at the end of DS-230 Part 2, are "ingeniously" crafted to uncover potential international criminals by asking them point blank if they have or are currently involved in criminal activity... why stop there, why don't they just ask people if they've seen or talked with Bin Laden recently...?

Things that make you go hmmmmm...

[aussiewench 9]

1. The USCIS requires you to send your info to one service center, while all the while they intend, secretly or not-so secretly, to RESEND it to another service center in another state... that just so happens to be running 7 months behind already... yeah, that's efficient...

Forwarding various petitions to other service centers is something that occurs periodically. Ultimately though they are processed in their designated center. As for 7 months behind.....The service centers process more then just I-129F's and I-130's. If a service center is behind or backlogged in other processes they will transfer other petitions so as they can deal with the others. Its not all just about us, even though understandably that is all we think it is.

2. Many of the questions on the forms are duplicated and/or similar (address of past 5 years on one form, 10 years on another form, etc.) as if they expect you to "trip people up" who might put down different information... and of course the "Left Hand" of the Dept. of Redundancy Dept. (DRD) is incapable of passing any useful information on to the "Right Hand" of the DRD, to minimize duplication of info...

For starters the I-129F and I-130 are two different petitions processed at two seperate locations. The pages of the G-325A's are sent to various agencies. And lastly the DS-230 is an application not a petition, dealt with by a completely different body (DOS). I dont see the problem here.

3. The questions at the end of DS-230 Part 2, are "ingeniously" crafted to uncover potential international criminals by asking them point blank if they have or are currently involved in criminal activity... why stop there, why don't they just ask people if they've seen or talked with Bin Laden recently...?

A good way for them too I guess to catch people out who have lied on the DS-230 if information shows up in any checks. For many (not all) waivers may be granted.....but lie and you can kiss the visa goodbye. Be granted the visa and get caught out in the lie later and their case is strengthened against you.

I must admit though, it gives me a chuckle too. As if a terrorist is going to be honest

Edited July 11, 2006 by aussiewench

[Jaylen Brit 0]

Its very inefficient - but that's governement departments for you - I worked in one (albeit not a US one) so I know!

The staff usually feel as frustrated as the applicants if thats any consolation (probably not, lol), cos usually as SOON as they get a handle on procedure, it changes (these changes are usually made by people who have never worked on the 'ground floor' of the department their changes affect, and have no real idea how it will affect working practices).

I can't imagine how soul destroying it must be to work for USCIS at times; they seem massively understaffed for the volume of work they get, and I'd bet money that it doesn't pay that well either. They are at the mercy of several other departments (waiting for replies to queries from people like DHS and FBI) who are also probably understaffed for the parts that intersect on immigration.

Sometimes it seems that things are duplicated (several people getting multiple NOA2's for K visas and AOS), and sometimes not done at all ('lost' paperwork or no replies for MONTHS with no explanation) - all this tells me is they likely trying to swim uphill with no coach.

If USCIS visa section was a business it'd have gone bust by now - same goes for many govt departments (I won't say 'all' cos I'm hoping there must be SOME out there that run right).

As for the terrorist catching thing - yeah Aussie is right - like a terrorist would be honest and truthful in the first place.

[incanada1234 0]

As for the terrorist catching thing - yeah Aussie is right - like a terrorist would be honest and truthful in the first place.

Uh oh, am I the only one that checked 'yes' on that question?

[CarolineM 0]

Is it just me, or is it that all immigration procedures are being skillfully crafted in the Department of Redundancy Department, or is it just me

I think the process is making you redundant as well (jk)

I've never filled out the same info more times in my life then when we went through allt hose forms.

[Looking4Wife 0]

Is it just me, or is it that all immigration procedures are being skillfully crafted in the Department of Redundancy Department, or is it just me

I think the process is making you redundant as well (jk)

Exactly... you get my point!