Horror Stories

[malika215 3]

I am just new newbie on this forum, just learning about our nightmare immigration jungle. My wife and I were just married, here in the states, a few weeks ago. I am a US citizen, and she is Brazilian. But we have been a couple for all intents and purposes and pretty much inseparable, for more than 2 years now. The only thing that kept us separated for a few months during that time was work, visa limitations, and a few other events. Still we have managed to spend the most of the last 2 years together. I am just getting things together to file our I-130. Your words quoted above are quite profound and moving, and so, so true. We are becoming a nation of sheeple, not people. I do not care what some here say, my wife is my wife and as a citizen of this nation, I believe that I should have a right to be with her and that I should not have to petition a corrupt government that now serves itself and not the people for the priveledge. You are right, and the posters here that are making insensitive remarks to those seeking help and separated from their loved one, are confused. I have already started a life together with my wife, and now we have to put that on hold, and we cannot even know for how long. Maybe if we just did it illegally, we could get rewarded for that. Seems to be lots of support for that, but none for the rights of citizens petitioning legally for their loved ones. We are not a large enough voting block I suppose. To quote one poster I read on this site, 'Where is our dream act?' The US government, in accordance to our constitution, is supposed to serve the people, not the other way around. The sad fact that so many citizens here do not know that is bringing our nation down. Do not worry, all of you who do not want legal immigrants coming here. If we keep going the direction we are going, no one will come anymore. Yes, this is still one of the greatest places on earth to live, in many ways. But I fear for this nation if we continue to let our out of control federal government nightmare spin further out of control of the people. If they try my patience too much with the CR-1 process, I will grudgingly give up my career early(my wife is already retired) and move to her country. I would rather do that than live without her. But what about people who do not have that option? Is there no compassion for them? Better do so quickly I guess if I want to leave, before they build a big fence to keep us all IN, like the former USSR did. We are looking more like them every day.

And yes, misterbigtoe, This is not the America I grew up believing in either.

THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE AMERICA I GREW UP IN AS WELL!!!!! Everytime I go abroad and I return in one or two months, I don't recognize my country. It's amazing. Ask anyone who lives outside the country for a few months---you come back and you say "huh?"

[marjus's girl 6]

THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT THE AMERICA I GREW UP IN AS WELL!!!!! Everytime I go abroad and I return in one or two months, I don't recognize my country. It's amazing. Ask anyone who lives outside the country for a few months---you come back and you say "huh?"

Amen..i agree totally...its getting where USC are going to be moving abroad then the other way around..leaving the country for more jobs and freedoms elsewhere...so sad:(

[malika215 3]

Marjust, I actually told my kids ten years ago that Africans will be moving to America and America will move to Africa and build it into New America. I know I won't live to

see it happen but I really believe Americans will be swarming out of here and let's see how happy other countries are when we arrive in overwhelming numbers North Africa is poised as an emerging market. I also said the N African leaders will be forced into providing a freer society due to a flood of Europeans and Americans. Britian just

has their VAT tax raised to 20%!!! Germany is stealing people's retirement accounts. Since wealth is now being redistributed to the poorer countries, that obviously means

that places like N Africa will be the recipient of this new wealth. So why not go there and enjoy our OWN money????

Marjust, I actually told my kids ten years ago that Africans will be moving to America and America will move to Africa and build it into New America. I know I won't live to

see it happen but I really believe Americans will be swarming out of here and let's see how happy other countries are when we arrive in overwhelming numbers North Africa is poised as an emerging market. I also said the N African leaders will be forced into providing a freer society due to a flood of Europeans and Americans. Britian just

has their VAT tax raised to 20%!!! Germany is stealing people's retirement accounts. Since wealth is now being redistributed to the poorer countries, that obviously means

that places like N Africa will be the recipient of this new wealth. So why not go there and enjoy our OWN money????

[toogroove 3]

[When I was in Georgia the consulate told me 5-7 months maximum and my wife would have her visa.

Now I begin to wonder.........

Let's hope USCIS gets the New Year started in timely fashion................

Hi Dark Dancer,

My (now) husband and I did the fiance visa. Once our paperwork hit the embassy in Tbilisi it went pretty quickly (approximately one month from paperwork received to visa in hand). Also, we had our ducks in a row and his interview was very smooth. So don't let the horror stories from embassy encounters a couple of years ago scare you.

Unfortunately there aren't a lot of Republic of Georgia folks on this site, or any other for that matter.

There is a guy on this forum who goes by "amerikelibob". Bob went through the same process as you are to bring his Georgian wife to the US. I believe her visa was approved late last year. He had a few snafoos with what paperwork is required and forms but he made it.

Good luck.

[Eric and Nino 0]

Don't worry friend! I petitioned my wife in Georgia in September. She has the Interview date for 3/2/2011. 133 days since NOA1...so it's not so bad.

Just make sure you have everything!

Don't give up. I know it's tough. Last time I saw my wife was X-Mas/New Year and it feels like forever.

We see each other for hours on skype everyday but it's not the same.

Good luck!

[Brusik 11]

Don't worry friend! I petitioned my wife in Georgia in September. She has the Interview date for 3/2/2011. 133 days since NOA1...so it's not so bad.

Just make sure you have everything!

Don't give up. I know it's tough. Last time I saw my wife was X-Mas/New Year and it feels like forever.

We see each other for hours on skype everyday but it's not the same.

Good luck!

I wish was 133 days but the way things are going I think it will be longer... But for me I think no news is good news at this stage

[Darnell 8,479]

interesting topic, darkdancer.

When I first had some interest to learn about this process, I stumbled across the queue.

Then I learned about the queue.

Once I learned about 'the queue' I became complacent for the waiting game, but still paid attention to the queue.

[NaCl 2]

My 2c on the matter if I may. I agree that I knew what I signed up for when I got married. I have had my petition handled expeditiously so and have no cause for complaint. I can see, however, why some people are hopping mad with USCIS.

It seems to me that the frustration and anger directed at USCIS by some doesn't have to do so much with the wait itself as USCIS's inability to respond to mistakes. It seems that the organization is good at making errors on top of errors. The TSC fiasco was a huge mess. Fine, that does not make USCIS evil. Their slow response to the situation as well as their inability to provide people with information (providing misinformation instead in some cases), is what seems to really be setting people off.

Its like imagine that youre sitting in a restaurant and your food takes an hour longer than everyone elses. You're sitting there watching people that sat down 1/2 an hour after you arrived get their meals before you. A good restaurant would pre-empt your anger by coming out, apologizing and seeing if there's anything that they can do to make your wait more enjoyable. A bad restaurant will ignore you when you try and catch someone's attention tell you it will just be 5 minutes when it really is another 1/2 hour and then bring out your meal without so much as I'm sorry for the inconvenience. The latter seems to be the approach that USCIS takes. In the private sector if you get bad service you can always go to a competitor or decide that you can do without the service or product altogether. Because of this, businesses that provide horrible service tend to go out of business. With immigration and other government services we have no such choice. Even worse we often have little or no means of redress to grievances against such agencies and are made to feel powerless and helpless.

I'm not sure what the answer is. Do you just accept that government services will be the way they are and that there's little you can do to change them? Does anyone think that our voting really affects little things like how efficient USCIS or the post office is? Should the heads of such agencies be held more accountable to user/voter satisfaction? I'm also getting business surveys, "Please fill out this quick survey regarding your recent purchase/visit to our office/talk with our representative." Should we demand this of government services as well?

(Long post summary: People mad because USCIS doesn't handle mistakes well. What to do?)

[Eric and Nino 0]

I wish was 133 days but the way things are going I think it will be longer... But for me I think no news is good news at this stage

not at all! it took me about 3 months to go from noa1 to noa 2! it's only been about 2 1/2 months so far.

you'll get it!

make sure you have all the docs though.

original birth certificate with translation and notarization

original marriage certificate w/ the same

original police clearance w/ the same

copy of the passport's biographic page

I don't remember what else...but those I know you definitely need and you should get them as soon as possible!

[calibob 73]

Here's my 1c.....not worth 2c!! I know I didn't suffer as others have but........if there is a 800 lb. gorilla in the room (USCIS) and you wish to get his attention, whisper, or maybe even poke him with a sharp stick........but for goodness sake don't smash him over the head with the plank!! (calling press conferences...ect!!) I think some just PO'd the employees at USCIS and they may not have the incentive to give their best. Look from their perspective. The boss's boss screwed up, their boss is on their case to hurry and cover the bosses boss' mistake while at the same time they're getting poked by VJ'ers and having something they identify with (the jobs the work in and hopefully take pride in) be drug through the mud.

I'd darn sure dig in my heels where I could. It's human nature to get chaffed when you get called names, get yelled at from all sides. Most of the front line employees don't have a clue as to the status' of what's up and after taking abuse I'm not sure they'd tell anyone anything since it may end up on the news. We're told not to answer anything other than a canned response to the public, to prevent "gotcha reporters" from twisting reality to sell news.

This mistake was a major one CSC-TSC-CSC. I'm sure everyone in USCIS is paying for the boss' mistakes. Loto was right, just have patience and please......please be kind and patient with NVC.....

Bob

Edited February 14, 2011 by calibob

[Brusik 11]

not at all! it took me about 3 months to go from noa1 to noa 2! it's only been about 2 1/2 months so far.

you'll get it!

make sure you have all the docs though.

original birth certificate with translation and notarization

original marriage certificate w/ the same

original police clearance w/ the same

copy of the passport's biographic page

I don't remember what else...but those I know you definitely need and you should get them as soon as possible!

My wife has all the documents prepared. Everything is translated and apostled. We just waiting for the NOA2 then i'll have her get police report. Speaking of police report there police department said report good for 2 months and embassy in Tbilisi said it's good for 6 months. I'm not sure when she should get it........

[Brusik 11]

Here's my 1c.....not worth 2c!! I know I didn't suffer as others have but........if there is a 800 lb. gorilla in the room (USCIS) and you wish to get his attention, whisper, or maybe even poke him with a sharp stick........but for goodness sake don't smash him over the head with the plank!! (calling press conferences...ect!!) I think some just PO'd the employees at USCIS and they may not have the incentive to give their best. Look from their perspective. The boss's boss screwed up, their boss is on their case to hurry and cover the bosses boss' mistake while at the same time they're getting poked by VJ'ers and having something they identify with (the jobs the work in and hopefully take pride in) be drug through the mud.

I'd darn sure dig in my heels where I could. It's human nature to get chaffed when you get called names, get yelled at from all sides. Most of the front line employees don't have a clue as to the status' of what's up and after taking abuse I'm not sure they'd tell anyone anything since it may end up on the news. We're told not to answer anything other than a canned response to the public, to prevent "gotcha reporters" from twisting reality to sell news.

This mistake was a major one CSC-TSC-CSC. I'm sure everyone in USCIS is paying for the boss' mistakes. Loto was right, just have patience and please......please be kind and patient with NVC.....

Bob

LOL I will never burn a bridge with USCIS or NVC... At this moment they have the control and the power.................

[malika215 3]

They may have the control and the power, but does that make it right? I'm a woman of principals. Aren't they supposed to be principaled as well? Or are they above the law? Sorry, they are PUBLIC SERVANTS and they are not some elite gods. They either behave appropriately as OUR public servants, whose salaries we are paying, or they should be brought to task for their unprofessional, humiliating behavior. As an American, I KNOW what is right and wrong in this country, and this system is archaic and littered with crooniness or corruption or both. Believe me, if there were another privately operated USCIS, this government one would be out of business and these high-faluting servants would be posting their resumes all over the USA just like many Americans are today. In my opinion, they would be non-hirable.

[Brusik 11]

They may have the control and the power, but does that make it right? I'm a woman of principals. Aren't they supposed to be principaled as well? Or are they above the law? Sorry, they are PUBLIC SERVANTS and they are not some elite gods. They either behave appropriately as OUR public servants, whose salaries we are paying, or they should be brought to task for their unprofessional, humiliating behavior. As an American, I KNOW what is right and wrong in this country, and this system is archaic and littered with crooniness or corruption or both. Believe me, if there were another privately operated USCIS, this government one would be out of business and these high-faluting servants would be posting their resumes all over the USA just like many Americans are today. In my opinion, they would be non-hirable.

They are not above the law but as a petitioner I don't think it helps to rant and rave. How hard would it be for them to slide your petition under the table or actually to misplace it. I do feel ignorance plays a big part in the system but most government agencies are plagued with this..

I just believe the whole process needs an overhaul.. Realistically speaking why do they not touch a document for 3-4 months and then decide to do an RFE.. This just seems out of touch with couples tha are waiting to unite..

When I was in Georgia the consulate told me 5-7 months for wife to obtain her visa but from what I read it takes 7 months to clear USCIS...

The whole process is frustrating and I can only hope things get better but...........

[SqdnGuns 21]

LOL I will never burn a bridge with USCIS or NVC... At this moment they have the control and the power.................

But they MUST be held accountable.......