Timeframe Comment

[Casprd 167]

it takes CSC up to two months to announce their decision,meaning THAT is how long approving,denying or RFEing a petition would and should take

No where does it say that it takes them 5 months of working on the case to make a decision, but that it takes 5 months for them to have the decision. It is similar to going through any process, be it getting a drivers license to going to a specialist doctor. It may only take them 15 minutes to give me the diagnosis or the license, but I still have to wait in line at the DMV or wait for weeks or months to get in to see the doctor. Granted the process could be more efficient, but where my concern comes in is not the efficiency, but the arbitrariness. Too many people I know have gone through the entire process only to be denied by the VO at the consulate. I understand that they are in theory trying to prevent fraud, but given the number of posts I have read about the SO coming here only to leave the spouse after a week to live with her relatives or became a stripper or whatever else, they seem to be denying the wrong people.

As someone once pointed out, while our indidividual petition may be the most important thing in the world to each of us, the people at USCIS have no emotional attachment to the process and every case they see is important to someone. I just look at the process as a test of our commitment to each other. If we can stay strong and positive and see each other through the immigration mess then it bodes well for how we can cope with the other problems life will throw at us through the years.

Of course, at 5 months and 1 day I'll be on the phone to USCIS yelling for a decision also

[Henykat 16]

I understand that they are in theory trying to prevent fraud, but given the number of posts I have read about the SO coming here only to leave the spouse after a week to live with her relatives or became a stripper or whatever else, they seem to be denying the wrong people.

Or they are not denying enough of them.

[Lisamarie 79]

What exactly do they do in the first step of the process before you get your NOA2 approved? We have been waiting over six months and I'm curious to know what all is involved. I thought it was just looking through the file, reading it, and making sure everything is in order.

ygr - I have to comment on this part of your post. Most of us USC's that put money and/or time into making this country what it is do not expect any rights. I gave this country twenty years of my life in service. Yes, I was paid, but not much and the cost was horrific. I was fortunate. I was not in combat and only got close to it one time. But,I lost many things during those years and my life is not the better for it in any way. Had I known the price, I would have changed things so that it was not so costly. I would do it again and still not expect any particular rights.

I do expect some small gesture of respect. I am reasonably intelligent. I can decide with whom I would like to share my life. I would not choose a possible terrorist or gold digger or any other category that USCIS might be trying to weed out. I do not need to be monitored by a government agency to make sure I do not harm my country. I have been fortunate to meet a warm loving woman who shares my life views. She does not need to be monitored either, though I can see that it is reasonable for the government to require some information. I do not think the government should just sign off on any and every petition. The application forms are reasonable.

What is not reasonable, and we all know this, is the delay. If it took five months of investigation to process a petition, then I would have no complaint. Instead, it takes five months of a file sitting on a shelf and then a few minutes work to process the petition. USCIS adjudicators probably work their tails off trying to accomplish given tasks. USCIS managers probably wonder how they will ever get the process under control. USCIS administrators probably have no concept of the lives that are in their hands and how their inability to make the process work in a reasonable time (and five months is not reasonable)affects us.

Sorry, this turned into a tirade and I am not sure it adds anything to our collective knowledge. Perhaps I should just make Mondays my day to vent.

[Henykat 16]

What exactly do they do in the first step of the process before you get your NOA2 approved? We have been waiting over six months and I'm curious to know what all is involved. I thought it was just looking through the file, reading it, and making sure everything is in order.

"During this step, USCIS initiates the background checks of the applicant/petitioner and identifies issues that may need to be addressed either during an interview or by asking the applicant/petitioner to submit additional information or documentation. USCIS reviews the applicant's/petitioner's criminal history, determines if there are national security concerns that need to be addressed, and reviews the application/petition for fraud indicators"

[Lisamarie 79]

Ok. Well I don't have a criminal history, not even a traffic ticket, and I really front-loaded our petition. I don't know what else they could possibly want. So what is taking so long...................

"During this step, USCIS initiates the background checks of the applicant/petitioner and identifies issues that may need to be addressed either during an interview or by asking the applicant/petitioner to submit additional information or documentation. USCIS reviews the applicant's/petitioner's criminal history, determines if there are national security concerns that need to be addressed, and reviews the application/petition for fraud indicators"

[Henykat 16]

Ok. Well I don't have a criminal history, not even a traffic ticket, and I really front-loaded our petition. I don't know what else they could possibly want. So what is taking so long...................

But nobody knows that until they look. There isn't a separate box for the clean petitioners.

Edited November 1, 2010 by Henykat

[Lisamarie 79]

Yeah, true. "sigh".....just tired of waiting. It's been a long time now with not even a touch on the USCIS site since 6 days after our NOA1.

But nobody knows that until they look. There isn't a separate box for the clean petitioners.

[LotofPatience 65]

What exactly do they do in the first step of the process before you get your NOA2 approved? We have been waiting over six months and I'm curious to know what all is involved. I thought it was just looking through the file, reading it, and making sure everything is in order.

The below guide explains what USCIS does in the I-130 process - http://www.uscis.gov...190aRCRD&CH=afm

Loto

Edited November 1, 2010 by LotOfPatience

[Lisamarie 79]

Thank you:)

The below guide explains what USCIS does in the I-130 process - http://www.uscis.gov...190aRCRD&CH=afm

Loto

[Wayne and Claudia 40]

Pfft. I grew up with the internet. I want things instantly. The fact that USCIS/NVC makes us type things and then print and then use snail mail is appalling and insulting to my intellect. Everything should be computerized rapidly rather then slowly and eventually. It will save State Department and Homeland Security Department millions of dollars. It will create more high-tech jobs, jobs that cannot be easily shifted to China or god-knows-what-else-tiny-island-country in middle of nowhere. I want instant gratification and I'm not ashamed for it.

stated perfectly. ^^

[Henykat 16]

Yeah, true. "sigh".....just tired of waiting. It's been a long time now with not even a touch on the USCIS site since 6 days after our NOA1.

I understand. I'm not really enjoying it myself either, but it will end. If it was a month wait, I don't think the feeling would be much different.

[Hicham♥Sara 15]

Yeah, true. "sigh".....just tired of waiting. It's been a long time now with not even a touch on the USCIS site since 6 days after our NOA1.

I am sorry to hear that it is taking so long. Maybe a reasonable request, instead of wanting petitions to be processed faster , is better communication while the process is going on. Maybe that would not be unreasonable. Hope you hear from them soon LisaMarie

[HannahP 119]

Not too long ago it took up to two years for the proces from application to interview, and before that you have to have been married ( In spousal case) for at least two years before applying to prove that you have a bonafide relationship. No matter all the pictures and chat logs, you had to have been married on paper for at least two years!!

Kind of interested in what the time frame for "not too long ago" is. I can definitely tell you that this wasn't the case four-five years ago when we sent in our application. Processing was actually faster back then -- although it seems to be picking up again? And re. being married for two years, sounds like he's either confusing the meeting within two years requirement or the fact that you get a ten year greencard if you enter the US after being married for two years.

[Hicham♥Sara 15]

The below guide explains what USCIS does in the I-130 process - http://www.uscis.gov...190aRCRD&CH=afm

Loto

Oh My Goodness that is a lot to read!!

[Lisamarie 79]

It would be different for me. The first five months I had all the patience in the world because I knew that was the average processing time, and it was just a matter of waiting. But now that we've passed that and I see so many people getting approved that filed after us (don't get me wrong, I am very happy for them) I'm feeling very frustrated that nothing is happening. Not even a touch, not even anything since I called USCIS and they put in a service request.

I understand. I'm not really enjoying it myself either, but it will end. If it was a month wait, I don't think the feeling would be much different.

I agree, and thank you. Not hearing anything for so many months makes me feel like our file is on a shelf collecting dust somewhere.

I am sorry to hear that it is taking so long. Maybe a reasonable request, instead of wanting petitions to be processed faster , is better communication while the process is going on. Maybe that would not be unreasonable. Hope you hear from them soon LisaMarie