Contacting Congress

[Mike B. 231]

I've decided that I am going to contact my congressional representative to complain about USCIS. I know that a lot of people on here will react by telling my to wait my turn in line like everyone else, but there is no real "line," and if there is one I'm merely complaining that USCIS is taking people who are two months behind me in that line rather than me. I really believe that they deserve to have to field questions from congress about that, especially given the likelihood that they are taking people out of order deliberately to mislead Congress about how fast they are going by the end of the fiscal year.

I have two concerns about getting congressional assistance.

1. The fact that the USCIS webpage puts me a couple of days within the processing timeline might screw me. I'm worried that even if my congressman contacts them one day before they are about to change their timelines to put me solidly outside of the normal time frame, USCIS will write back saying something like "your constituent is a whiner, he's within our timelines." On the other hand, https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/Processtim...eviceCenter=VSC doesn't even work anymore. Does anyone have any experience with this type of thing? Do they just send some standard "tell your constituent to shut up because he's within the time frame" letter until the day that I'm outside of it?

2. I'm actually using a congressman who is not really legally my congressman. For most of my life I lived in the district of a congressman who is well known for his incredible constituent services. He's a Republican an a highly-Democratic district, and that's how he stays in power. My parents still live in his district, so I can use that address on the forms the Congressman will send me. However, that's not the address I put on the I-129F. Why don't I just go through the representative I have now, you ask? Because I recently moved to the District of Columbia and we don't have a real representative in Congress, just a powerless figurehead that we were given to placate the DC Statehood movement. Does anyone think that there is any possibility that USCIS will get at me saying, basically, "the address you put on your I-129F doesn't match up with where your told your congressman you live?" I think that the chances of that are probably minute, but I don't want USCIS thinking that I'm lying about where I live or something. Of course many people maintain residences in more than one state, so I'm thinking it won't be a big deal, but I'd like to hear any thoughts people might have.

Thanks.

[brlukath 1]

I don't discourage you from contacting your or any other representative. And, I don't think your concerns are what are really the problem. What people seem to forget is that this ENTIRE visa process is not a matter of "right" but of "privilege". That is a VERY big difference. Why do you think they can charge us so much? We have no right to bring our foreign family members or SOs to the US. It is nowhere in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights. The laws that make this possible could be repealed at any time. Thus, even though you are a citizen, the government can be seen as doing you a favor by even letting you bring in someone from another country, so there is little sympathy for your cause. It’s just like welfare, social security, or other government services that are with in the government’s option to provide. If you want it, you have to jump through the hoops that I have set up. PERIOD. If you don’t like the hoops, get an American SO (or mother, father, etc.!)

This is also not an issue that will get the broader constituency up in arms. Many people on this site blast illegal immigration and immigration fraud for our situation, but that is an incorrect perception. This is a country of immigrants that hates immigrants—legal or illegal. The laws we have in place are meant to give the perception that the government is protecting Americans by keeping the number of foreigners here at any given time down. So, the only people who hate USCIS as much as you do (or for the reasons that you do) are other people in the process.

That being said, write your representative now AND keep following up. Most people here, write their congressman and once their case is resolved favorably they disappear. If you want to even begin to have a real impact on the institution (and not just your case) you need to organize a critical mass—past and present—to force changes. Good Luck.

[Anh map 2,098]

If you are still a registered voter in your old district I'm sure you will get good follow up. If you're now registered in DC don't be surprised if you don't get as much attention. As Tip O'Neil said: All politics is local.

I don't think that anyone at USCIS would pick your petition out and try to "screw" you for contact a congressperson. There are thousands of congressional inquiries a year. If doing so helps to move your case along, why not do it?

Immigration isn't a first in, first out process. And it's frustrating.

Best of luck to you.

[Justine+David 218]

Why don't I just go through the representative I have now, you ask? Because I recently moved to the District of Columbia and we don't have a real representative in Congress, just a powerless figurehead that we were given to placate the DC Statehood movement.

She's not powerless; here's a link to where Congresswoman Nortan can help you:

http://www.norton.house.gov/index.php?opti...202&Itemid=

Additionally, she's the chair of three committees and can vote there, if not on the floor. You're right in that she doesn't have equal power to vote on the floor, but I guess we upset the NRA too much this year...

Edited September 21, 2009 by Justine+David

[conquest 0]

Complain all you want but it will fall on deaf ears.

You dont think others have complained? I complained every week. Now its your turn has any thing changed for you and your petition process?

When your only choice is to vote some one out( yeah right what crock of BS) that is how change works then you are stuck with that.

The only change that will ever happen in our country is change by the numbers of people revolting. Face it the arent enough peopple revolting and for imigration purposes there just arent enough people in the system to warrant change. The amercian people dont stick together enough to warrant change. There are just too many people that are spineless or lazy or complacent to make things happen. ( especially in immigration)

I dont like to be negative. I wish you all the luck in the world but there are people on VJ that complain to thier congressman every freaking day and it is any more that a flea bite on the #### of the american govenment.

[payxibka 10,045]

" On the other hand, https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/Processtim...eviceCenter=VSC doesn't even work anymore. Does anyone have any experience with this type of thing?

It does not work anymore because they have redesigned it

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard.do

[SuperDuper! 230]

Complain all you want but it will fall on deaf ears.

You dont think others have complained? I complained every week. Now its your turn has any thing changed for you and your petition process?

When your only choice is to vote some one out( yeah right what crock of BS) that is how change works then you are stuck with that.

The only change that will ever happen in our country is change by the numbers of people revolting. Face it the arent enough peopple revolting and for imigration purposes there just arent enough people in the system to warrant change. The amercian people dont stick together enough to warrant change. There are just too many people that are spineless or lazy or complacent to make things happen. ( especially in immigration)

I dont like to be negative. I wish you all the luck in the world but there are people on VJ that complain to thier congressman every freaking day and it is any more that a flea bite on the #### of the american govenment.

Agreed, it does little or no good. We call, email, overnight, telegraph and show up in person to complain, and nothing ever happens. All we can do is pray and wait, and accept the system for what it is. Just remember: Many people have gone thru what you are now experiencing. In America, an old saying calls it, "Paying your dues." Good Luck, and remember, Just a little Patience....

[baron555 934]

Complain all you want but you are just over the 5 month time period which is right in line with their estimates.

My friend had to wait 10 months for their NOA2 and they were worried but in the end they got it.

Be patient; we all had to be.

[Mike B. 231]

Never mind.

"On September 20, 2009, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)."

I didn't know they worked on Sundays.

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

Complain all you want but you are just over the 5 month time period which is right in line with their estimates.

My friend had to wait 10 months for their NOA2 and they were worried but in the end they got it.

Be patient; we all had to be.

Some more so than others.

Your I-129f was approved in 105 days from your NOA1 date.

[Justine+David 218]

Never mind.

"On September 20, 2009, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)."

I didn't know they worked on Sundays.

Seriously though, congrats.