Expedite and Congressional assistance

[lucky Jimmy 7]

What is the difference between an expedite and congressional assistance? Can a petition be expedited if it is beyond the normal processing time?

My petition will be 5 months old since NOA1 on November 2.Then it will be beyond the normal processing time. What options will I have then?

[CanadianRedneck 8]

Call USCIS and ask them what's up...wait a week, if no reply, then you contact the local congressman for the US citizen petitioner, tell them the situation and then the congressman will hopefully look into it for you.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

First, understand that nothing is carved in stone and USCSI si not obligated to do anything in particular. They did not paint themselves in a corner when they made the regulations.

They publish "guidelines" for processing petitions of different types and the guidelines can change, and do and have changed. USCIS is a part od the Department of Homeland Security and reports to the President Obama through the DHS Secretary, Janet Napolitano. They are not under the control or regulation of the US Congress and the constitution's separation of powers absoultely prevents any congress member from having direct control over USCIS operations.

That said...Congress DOES comtrol the purse strings and CAN inquire as to petitions. They can do so AT ANY TIME. Typically they will not unless the petition has gone beyond the normal processing times. So after 5 months (but maybe right now) your congressman MAY make an inquiry into the petition. Each service center has a congressional liason that the congress people have direct access to. They can call and say "hey, what's up?" Such a call often gets the liason to jerk a knot in someone and get your case pulled off the bottom of the pile. The response to the congress person will usually be..."We will check on it and get back to you within 30 days" And then your petition gets approved or you get an RFE or SOMETHING.

K-1s are not eligible for an expedite. Expedite is an actual PAID service which is available for some types of visas and petitions. SOME K-1s have been expedited but not through the normal expedite process. Generally this is ONLY done for US Servcie members about to be deployed to combat areas. At any rate, you are 5 months along and way too late to be "expedited" anyway.

Best way to contact your congressman or Senator is to go to their local office and knock on the door. Bring a copy of everything you sent to USCIS with you and be prepared to leave it with them. always keep a copy for yourself, of course.

[lucky Jimmy 7]

First, understand that nothing is carved in stone and USCSI si not obligated to do anything in particular. They did not paint themselves in a corner when they made the regulations.

They publish "guidelines" for processing petitions of different types and the guidelines can change, and do and have changed. USCIS is a part od the Department of Homeland Security and reports to the President Obama through the DHS Secretary, Janet Napolitano. They are not under the control or regulation of the US Congress and the constitution's separation of powers absoultely prevents any congress member from having direct control over USCIS operations.

That said...Congress DOES comtrol the purse strings and CAN inquire as to petitions. They can do so AT ANY TIME. Typically they will not unless the petition has gone beyond the normal processing times. So after 5 months (but maybe right now) your congressman MAY make an inquiry into the petition. Each service center has a congressional liason that the congress people have direct access to. They can call and say "hey, what's up?" Such a call often gets the liason to jerk a knot in someone and get your case pulled off the bottom of the pile. The response to the congress person will usually be..."We will check on it and get back to you within 30 days" And then your petition gets approved or you get an RFE or SOMETHING.

K-1s are not eligible for an expedite. Expedite is an actual PAID service which is available for some types of visas and petitions. SOME K-1s have been expedited but not through the normal expedite process. Generally this is ONLY done for US Servcie members about to be deployed to combat areas. At any rate, you are 5 months along and way too late to be "expedited" anyway.

Best way to contact your congressman or Senator is to go to their local office and knock on the door. Bring a copy of everything you sent to USCIS with you and be prepared to leave it with them. always keep a copy for yourself, of course.

I filed for an IR1/CR1. About 3 weeks ago (that would be at the 4 month mark), my congressman checked on my petition and got a reply that the petition was within normal processing limits. The congressman said we could check again after 5 months and that the CIS was only obligated to begin working on the petition within 5 months. I may have basis to ask for an expedited processing due to severe financial loss. I have been anticipating some movement on my petition but nothing has happened and I am 3 weeks away from the 5 month mark. If my congressman cant do anything except check on my petition, then it seems to me that I should get my evidence together and request expedited processing to avoid delays past the 5 months normal processing time. Unless someone has a better idea or there is something I have forgotten about.

[RichiJenny 14]

Ask an immigration specialist!

[CanadianRedneck 8]

Ya, go talk to Loto!

[RichiJenny 14]

or go to ohrid travel in NJ, give him a few quid, tell him to do what the f--- he likes whenever he likes and then go home and wait for it to all go tits up!

[lucky Jimmy 7]

Ask an immigration specialist!

it is better to ask my chickens than a self proclaimed immigration specialist!

or go to ohrid travel in NJ, give him a few quid, tell him to do what the f--- he likes whenever he likes and then go home and wait for it to all go tits up!

Can i put it on your account?

Ya, go talk to Loto!

Loto isnt a specialist, he is a Guru!!!! I have been waiting for his reply. He always knows something worthwhile.

[LotofPatience 65]

Lucky Jimmy,

You can contact the congressperson once you cross 5 months mark to check the "exact status" again. They cannot expedite this USCIS process. But there is a good chance to get the file pulled out of the dust after this timeframe.

Expedite will be granted only for specific reasons.

Loto

[RichiJenny 14]

it is better to ask my chickens than a self proclaimed immigration specialist!

Can i put it on your account?

Loto isnt a specialist, he is a Guru!!!! I have been waiting for his reply. He always knows something worthwhile.

of course you can, my first name is borat, and you can make payment in dollars or chickens!

[newbie_00 0]

I have done everything in my possession to find out about my case but not going anywhere.. i have crossed 6 months mark and never been touched,i sent email to representative, called USCIS many time with no luck or definite answer. I have no other option but to wait...This SUCKS!

[milimelo 4,514]

I have done everything in my possession to find out about my case but not going anywhere.. i have crossed 6 months mark and never been touched,i sent email to representative, called USCIS many time with no luck or definite answer. I have no other option but to wait...This SUCKS!

If representative is not helping, contact senator. Just email is sometimes not enough - there's a local office in your area so go there in person with all documents/notices you have received so far (copies, leave originals and another set of copies for yourself).

[newbie_00 0]

If representative is not helping, contact senator. Just email is sometimes not enough - there's a local office in your area so go there in person with all documents/notices you have received so far (copies, leave originals and another set of copies for yourself).

I just sent another email, hopefully they will take some kind of action, i will give them few days and if i don't hear anything i will move ahead with contacting the senator... thanks!

[lucky Jimmy 7]

I dont believe a congressman or senator can do anything more than check on your case. I never really got any solid help from them in any situation, immigration or other.

[Ning 619]

I dont believe a congressman or senator can do anything more than check on your case. I never really got any solid help from them in any situation, immigration or other.

Your case situation is no different than thousands of others & thats the real problem. USCIS has something like 2.5 million cases. It is thought VJ represents 2% of those.

You are correct about the political people? helping. I tried & found it to be a total waste of time. My? Senator has a staff worker with 20 years experiance. It took several months to get any info out of her & when she did get it she sent it to the wrong address. By the time they sent it to me again it was out of date & useless. What I ended up with was an apology from them. Useless as well.

I am sorry to say you will simply have to wait this out. My case took 408 days. I hope yours is less.

For first hand info make an INFO PASS appointment & go see USCIS yourself. They will tell you to wait for notification.

Maybe you will get " Lucky "!