How can I let the USCIS know what I think of them

[Darnell 8,479]

To complain, contact the OIG and the Ombudsman's office (emphasis on AND here)

and

since things are 'Haitian' - inquire with USCIS about expedite.

[Shenzhen 34]

I was drawn to her and to everything about her. And when we met, I knew this was the woman who would be my wife. I courted her, we fell in love, and then I proposed marriage.

But wait a moment, said the State. We need to check this person out. Before we let you marry her, we need to find some things out. We need to know if she is an enemy of the State. We need to know if she might become an enemy of the State. We need to know if she is healthy and fit enough to contribute to the State. And we need to know if her morals meet the standards set by the State. Until we know these things, we will not let you marry her.

Knowing that there is no way around the power of the State and the stranglehold that the State has on people’s lives, I begrudgingly filled out the mountains of forms the State wants me to complete. Among other things, I had to tell the State about her lineage and the birthplace of her parents, as well as whether she was married in the past and to whom.

When I finally filled out the mountains of the State’s forms, I submitted them to the State along with the huge amount of money the State demanded to provide me with this “service”.

At first, the State acknowledged receiving the forms, but then months and months went by, and I heard nothing. While the State remained silent, my future wife was stranded in the foreign land I found her in, far outside of the lands of the State, as they would not admit her into the State’s lands until she passed their muster.

I tried finding out where the State stood on whether my future wife was good enough for them or not, but the State gave me nothing but silence. So I called on some powerful State officials who inquired for me, only to be told by the State that they will get to it when they get to it, maybe in five months and maybe longer. Between now and the time that the State decides to get to it, my future wife can remain in the foreign land I found her in, we can stay separated, and the State simply does not care. Besides, says the State, I should be grateful that the State is spending 15 minutes of their valuable time on a puny being like me to save me from my own choice of lifetime mates, and I should consider myself lucky if they find those 15 minutes in 5 months and not many months later.

So here I wait, with my life on hold and my future wife uncertain about where she will live and when she will get there. And I wait, and wait, and wait.

Where is this story from?

1. A page from a script of George Orwell’s 1984.

2. A secret diary written in Nazi Germany in 1939.

3. An underground web page from present day North Korea.

4. A private blog from a Saudi prince wanting to marry a commoner.

5. A citizen of the United States of America wanting to marry another consenting adult in his own country.

We all know the correct answer. But how many people not married to or looking for a foreign bride could ever imagine something like this happening in the land of the free?

Why does it take the USCIS five months to do fifteen minutes of work? What business that charges you $455.00 to perform fifteen minutes of work, makes you wait five months for that work to be done, and gives you zero feedback on how that work is progressing would stay in business? Why does a government that is supposed to be the best one in the world work this badly?

And while we are at it, who the hell is the government to stand in judgment over my choice of wife anyway?

I met an Israeli guy marrying a Chinese girl. We started talking we were both at their Marriage office. He asked me how long it would take to get her back home to the USA I said at least a year. He said wow I can bring her back me with me. I know Israel is much smaller, but I was kind of pissed he could do it in a month which he did. Same paper work. But the good old USA takes 1 yr. e

On top of it I was treated like some kind of criminal when I came back to the USA. Then the CBP officer tells me, like I didn't know it already, you haven't broken any laws. I was like wow you are a genius! After 30 minutes of questioning by 3 officers and all bags searched they let me go.

[Shenzhen 34]

Nice general blanket statement there. Considering the fact that some people have to rely on another person's good graces for that plane ticket. (I would know. I haven't purchased a single ticket to travel internationally.)

How do you know that some people might be applying with their parent's money? Or perhaps a friend or coworker bought that plane ticket for them?

Way to assume!

Great assumption seeing how costly it is to drive from NY or Chicago to Canada? Or Texas or Arizona to Mexico. Who said you even need to fly?

[bestofboston 36]

You guys should be thankful because if you were trying to get your spouse here, you would be waiting much longer.

It takes 5 plus months at the USCIS and then another 5 plus months on average to get your spouse scheduled for an interview at the Embassy.

I know it is hard to remain patient but like others have said, keep your mind on the prize.

I started the process in early May 2009 and I am still waiting on hearing from the NVC on my wifes interview date.

It does not look like I will see her until March or April of this year at best.

Not bad, 10 to 11 months since the process began.

[Al422 221]

You guys should be thankful because if you were trying to get your spouse here, you would be waiting much longer.

It takes 5 plus months at the USCIS and then another 5 plus months on average to get your spouse scheduled for an interview at the Embassy.

I know it is hard to remain patient but like others have said, keep your mind on the prize.

I started the process in early May 2009 and I am still waiting on hearing from the NVC on my wifes interview date.

It does not look like I will see her until March or April of this year at best.

Not bad, 10 to 11 months since the process began.

So I should be thankful that I only got screwed a little whereas you got screwed a lot?

How about none of us getting screwed and everyone getting their NOA2 in 30 days or less? That would be something to be thankful for.

[Blob18 111]

You guys should be thankful because if you were trying to get your spouse here, you would be waiting much longer.

It takes 5 plus months at the USCIS and then another 5 plus months on average to get your spouse scheduled for an interview at the Embassy.

I know it is hard to remain patient but like others have said, keep your mind on the prize.

I started the process in early May 2009 and I am still waiting on hearing from the NVC on my wifes interview date.

It does not look like I will see her until March or April of this year at best.

Not bad, 10 to 11 months since the process began.

Yes, however, you're a CR1/IR1, most of us are K-1s. CRs take longer than K-1s.

Also, i know for me, the Rio Embassy usually schedules appointments 30-50 days from the time they contact you (about 1-2 weeks after they get your package), though you can contact them and request a "sooner" date, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Not all embassy's take 5 months to schedule an appointment.

[CVB 18]

Absolutely agree with you 100% Carla1.. That was harsh Bob.. The guy is in pain like the rest of us and put his point across really well..

Come on guys.... cut out the BS. You know the rules when you want to marry somebody from another country. You have to go trough immigration. When you think it's so much easier somewhere else... be my guest and go live there. I'm not a big fan of the way the USCIS handles certain things either but they have a lot of work... a lot. And as always, the good people have to pay the price for the bad behavior of those trying to shortcut the system. Bob wasn't harsh, he was sarcastic. An American that goes into a relationship with a foreigner knows there will be problems. The more unfriendly the country is towards the USA the more problems you will have. You know that. Don't blame the system... or as we say it... stay out of the kitchen when you can't stand the heat.

[Ally & Rach 24]

Come on guys.... cut out the BS. You know the rules when you want to marry somebody from another country. You have to go trough immigration. When you think it's so much easier somewhere else... be my guest and go live there. I'm not a big fan of the way the USCIS handles certain things either but they have a lot of work... a lot. And as always, the good people have to pay the price for the bad behavior of those trying to shortcut the system. Bob wasn't harsh, he was sarcastic. An American that goes into a relationship with a foreigner knows there will be problems. The more unfriendly the country is towards the USA the more problems you will have. You know that. Don't blame the system... or as we say it... stay out of the kitchen when you can't stand the heat.

Nonsense.. no one has a problem going through immigration.. its the fact the whole system is broken and needs fixed.. As ive said before if I pay $455 I don't think its unreasonable to expect a response in a timely manner.. When we've called USCIS we have been downright lied to on many occasions.. please don't be patronising about your suggestion to "be my guest and go live there". Im sure you are aware your country is built on "immigrants". This whole thread is getting ridiculous.. For me VJ as a place for support not to start some political debate.. I hope everyone of us gets everything resolved soon..

[Penny Lane 8,159]

How about none of us getting screwed and everyone getting their NOA2 in 30 days or less? That would be something to be thankful for.

It would also be impossible.

[Blob18 111]

It would also be impossible.

Actually it is quite feasible. First off, they would need to get a compitant director or whatever the top bosses title is called who notices problems and doesn't sit around letting it get worse, which is the case now with USCIS.

Second they would need to implement a plan on how to deal with visas of what type, depending on the time of year and actually USE all FOUR of their service centers, not two. Also spread them out instead of overloading 1 service center (Vermont) with all the work visas and TPS visas, for example.

Once that is done, they would need to see how many more employees they would need to hire to achieve this, get the budget for it (this is one area where I think the budget should be increased, not decreased in regards to US spending). Once they have the budget, hire and train the employees and enact the plan.

I can tell you this, background checks do not take 5 months to do at all, they take several minutes at most. With complications, it could take a week or so depending on what the issue is. I just went through an extensive background check for my job which they said would take 3-6 months to complete, it in fact took 1 1/2 months as the person doing the background check didn't screw around like many govt. employees do and did their job.

I can also say that if the government was allowed to get rid of all the non-productive employees who are not held accountable and replaced them with people who would be willing to do their job and do it right, things would go a hell of a lot quicker.

Edited January 4, 2011 by Blob18

[CVB 18]

Nonsense.. no one has a problem going through immigration.. its the fact the whole system is broken and needs fixed.. As ive said before if I pay $455 I don't think its unreasonable to expect a response in a timely manner.. When we've called USCIS we have been downright lied to on many occasions.. please don't be patronising about your suggestion to "be my guest and go live there". Im sure you are aware your country is built on "immigrants". This whole thread is getting ridiculous.. For me VJ as a place for support not to start some political debate.. I hope everyone of us gets everything resolved soon..

I'm afraid I have to disappoint you... no, my country isn't and never was built on immigrants. On top of that, I'm not impressed by the USA that much. My wife had kids and I didn't, so I took my responsibility and moved here. It took me 3,5 years to become a citizen and only 4 months for the naturalization. Which is not bad. I don't see what is so political in this debate. Bob was trying to explain, in his own style, why it takes longer for some people to get through immigration. No reason to call him harsh. I know reality sucks sometimes, but it still is reality.

Edited January 4, 2011 by CVB

[Blob18 111]

I'm afraid I have to disappoint you... no, my country isn't and never was built on immigrants. On top of that, I'm not impressed by the USA that much. My wife had kids and I didn't, so I took my responsibility and moved here. It took me 3,5 years to become a citizen and only 4 months for the naturalization. Which is not bad. I don't see what is so political in this debate. Bob was trying to explain, in his own style, why it takes longer for some people to get through immigration. No reason to call him harsh. I know reality sucks sometimes, but it still is reality.

Your country is the USA right now. Did you become a U.S. citizen? Do you live here right now? Then my point stands. Your home country and birth country are Belgium. If I moved to Brazil and became a citizen, then my country would be Brazil.

Also by 'Your' he implied the USA and the USA was in fact built by immigrants.

Furthermore, the whole USCIS thing is run by politics, it is a government agency and whatever the current administration finds more important (TPS, Work Visa, K-1s etc) is what gets done asap with the rest on the back burner. USCIS falls under DHS (Dept. Homeland Security), so if Napolitano wants TPS visas done asap and extended, then that is what shall take priority over anything else.

Edited January 4, 2011 by Blob18

[Mike and Minchian 3]

Yes, because only those who have the ability to support someone completely should be able to fall in love, get married, and be with the person they love. Right? (That is sarcasm.)

Some people that go this route are students. I guess students shouldn't ever get married either?

Sorry, but I really have to disagree. Its great you aren't in that situation and its great you wouldn't want to be. However, not everyone is as lucky as you. Being a student and needing a sponsor is not a shameful thing at all. Its unfortunate that you disagree.

Absolutely. Students who cannot support someone else should not be looking to marry someone from another country who will have to depend on them for support. Passion does not conquer all. Marriage is a practical establishment.

I'm not lucky. I didn't date much in college or graduate school because I was doing mostly volunteer work and was moving all over the country in pursuit of a better education and job. We met over the internet when I was in graduate school. I saved up money to go meet her over spring break but got in a very bad car accident that used up all my savings. It caused us to drift apart but thankfully we re-connected later. So I know first hand that money and stability is pretty important to this process.

I suppose we should just have kids whenever too, right? Don't worry about finances, just pop them out and hope things work out? If we can't afford to raise them just send them to mom and dad?

Having dependents is a large burden and shouldn't be taken so lightly.

[Ally & Rach 24]

I'm afraid I have to disappoint you... no, my country isn't and never was built on immigrants. On top of that, I'm not impressed by the USA that much. My wife had kids and I didn't, so I took my responsibility and moved here. It took me 3,5 years to become a citizen and only 4 months for the naturalization. Which is not bad. I don't see what is so political in this debate. Bob was trying to explain, in his own style, why it takes longer for some people to get through immigration. No reason to call him harsh. I know reality sucks sometimes, but it still is reality.

Eh? Its not your country but you took citizenship and naturalization? thats a bit contradictory is it not? I really don't see calling someone harsh as being a problem.. I felt it was clear the person he was referring to is suffering right now..

So because this is reality right now we just accept it? So nothing can be improved on the whole system? Things can always be improved.. In saying that I hope your move works out for you..

[CVB 18]

Eh? Its not your country but you took citizenship and naturalization? thats a bit contradictory is it not?

Of course I became a citizen. Is this my country. NO.... I don't feel it that way. Never will. My mother was Dutch. Do I feel Dutch? The hell NO... not even close.

Why did I become citizen? Because I'm realistic enough to see the difference between being immigrant and being citizen. I love my freedom. This country is not a bright example of expressing this. When you can't beat them, you join them, as simple as that. Would it have been more difficult if I would have been a communist? Sure it would. Is it wrong to be a communist? No... but in this country, they clearly ask you this when you file for citizenship, between questions about your criminal record, so yes... I guess it is kind of a problem and it will slow down the process when you are a communist. That's normal. Of course you can always try to beat the system. Good luck with that though. It's almost the same as trying to convince the Saoudi's to allow alcohol in public. What's wrong with a glass of beer right? Well... tell them.