Shout Out Loud Or It Will Get Much WORSE

[Ally & Rach 24]

Fantastic letter.. really well put.. I honestly believe things are gradually getting worse at USCIS and something has to be done.. This pessimistic approach by some claiming it won't change anything is based on what? Can you back that up? If enough people make noise will their voices not eventually be heard?.. good on you all.. keep at em! Only guarantee is that if you stick your head in the sand NOTHIN will happen.. We waited 6 months and 10 days and e-mailing DID work for us.. As for this recurring just be patient advice.. I entirely respect others decision to feel that way. however in my case and im sure in some of yours, if I was able to remain patient over all this time of uncertainty and waiting Id have to wonder how strong my relationship really was.. I needed to be with Rach 6 months and 10 days ago!!

[Palladin 18]

We all need to do this and do it NOW!.

Two months from now, the USCIS Director (you know, the guy who claims there is no backlog) will appear before the House Appropriations Committee with his hat in his hand, looking for money. At that time, our Congress Members need to know the truth about this horrible monster and the lives he is ruining; otherwise he will tell them whatever lie he wants them to hear and have them eating out of his hand.

Palladin, with your permission I would like to revise the letter a bit, making it more forceful and the grammar a little cleaner. I will get to it tonight, as I am on my lunch break right now with limited time.

....

Of course you, and every one else, have my permission to copy my letter and then modify it as you see appropriate, and use it to contact the Congress. We all need to do this. We have to shout out loud before it gets worse. If we keep silent I guarantee you it will get worse.

The Nov., 2010 statistics show the Vermont center completely JUST 20% of cases that they would complete in a regulat month just a few month ago. At this pace the existing backlog will take 12 months. And if this trend continues the monthly finished case number could drop even further.

[James And Oksana 19]

I agree that we need to speak up. I think singling out any 1 service center or putting too much data statistics in an email to a congressman is not going to do much. They need to realize this problem really is systemic, meaning they need to fix it across the board. While CSC is currently faster, it is still processing I-129F's at a slow pace (and statically slower than last years rate) for really what these petitions are and as such singling out the VSC only for poor performance will likely just move the work around instead of fixing the underlying problem, manpower. And as I have been taught in communication to any high level manager person, get to the point...have the data to back up your claims but do not include it unless it is in a pretty picture graph. That is my opinion of course, for what it is worth to those out here.

[LemonMeringue 6]

Wow I really like that letter! Great job and well-said.

[villaspurs 65]

For the OP (and others who are going to send this letter):

A few key points I think you need to address before sending: first, bringing your fiance or spouse to the U.S. is not your right. It is a privilege afforded to citizens/LPRs. Second, to echo what someone else above said, the Haitian applications are considered humanitarian, so I think that undercuts your argument. Finally, you need to seriously proofread and condense that letter. Abundant errors mean the Congressional staffer who reads it (because really, that is who is going to read it first) is going to be much less likely to pass it along. Make it clear, concise, and to the point--and grammatically correct--and you'll have a better shot of it ever being seen by someone who can actually do something about it.

[James_and_JoAnne 7]

He won't be allowed to 'dodge' questions like he did last time either. Many representatives know about the problems going on and they will be doing what they can about it. If this administration (TPS issues were in place due to Hillary and Napolitano) wants to play politics with peoples lives, then I will play 'politics' as well and let the opposite side who controls the house now, deal with this fiasco that they, the current administration created (Note: K-1/CR/IR1 issues began in 2009, right about the time the current administration was sworn in).

Actually looking at the graphs here: http://dashboard.usc...e=6&charttype=1 and here http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=1&office=1&charttype=1 will show you that since Obama took office in January 2009, the number of I-129Fs that are waiting to be processed have been cut by more than 20% and the overall VISA rate for all categories has been reduced by > 33%

Regarding K1's, I am confident that the processing time will be improved back to the 5 month range overall. The K1's are in fact a small fraction of all the VISAs that are processed and they can easily apply more processing power as the needs change. For instance, if they return to the average processing rate that they have done for the last 2 years (~5000 per month), they would quickly reduce the backlog. And in fact, at certain times, they have averaged 8000 per month. We do need to keep in mind that although VJ is an incredibly good resource, it only represents about 4% of the overall K1 VISAs that are applied for.

I think it is admirable to voice your opinion to the government, but in fact, they are quite correct that there isn't much of a problem at this point compared to historical norms.

As hard as the wait is, and I have only been waiting 1.5 months, I think there is certainty in the process and it will be over before you know it. My worry is the processing that will be happening for my fiance in China, where unfortunately it seems to be much less structured and potentially arbitrary on who gets approved.

[Gocka 17]

Im on day 136 for my 129-f and looking at the stats there is not way im getting a reply in 2 weeks. Seriously this is pathetic and I agree that we need to do something becasue these are peoples lives your playing with, its very unfair.

[KiwiBird 132]

Can you tell us what is involved? I promise not to tell you that you are wrong; I just want to know what you know that the rest of us are missing.

It is great that you can remain calm and patient, but as you can see, there are others here who, like me, cannot sit idly while our vital interests are being walked all over by an uncaring and unfeeling bureaucracy.

I'd love to. Unfortunately, due to job constraints, I cannot.

I just feel that trying to label portions of 'the government' as 'uncaring and unfeeling' is silly. You cannot take a collective group of people, just following orders and doing their jobs, and claim this is true of every one of them. I can tell you that everyone goes through this process. They don't sit there at the Service Centers and laugh at the public. To think that'they just don't care' is silly. They are human at USCIS and have restrictions on what they can and cannot do.

[Gocka 17]

For the OP (and others who are going to send this letter):

A few key points I think you need to address before sending: first, bringing your fiance or spouse to the U.S. is not your right. It is a privilege afforded to citizens/LPRs. Second, to echo what someone else above said, the Haitian applications are considered humanitarian, so I think that undercuts your argument. Finally, you need to seriously proofread and condense that letter. Abundant errors mean the Congressional staffer who reads it (because really, that is who is going to read it first) is going to be much less likely to pass it along. Make it clear, concise, and to the point--and grammatically correct--and you'll have a better shot of it ever being seen by someone who can actually do something about it.

I disagree with you on many levels.How can you say that it is a privilege? I dont think any institution has he right to bar families from being together. Keep in mind we are citizens not foreign nationals but citizens. I pay taxes, I follow the laws of the land, and if I want to marry someone who is from another country that is my RIGHT not privilege because the government doesnt own this land. The people who live here own it and I am one of those people. This is my land as much as yours and the same way I can not tell you who you can marry nor can you tell me. So the goverment has no right to do this to people. Let not forget the constitution, have you ever seen the word privilege used in it? No, only the word RIGHT is used. That is because as people we have rights n ot privileges. A goverment who only alows privileges is not a democratic government and does not follow the laws of this land. What you are saying is dangerous think about it.

[MarcoGomes 2]

I disagree with you on many levels.How can you say that it is a privilege? I dont think any institution has he right to bar families from being together. Keep in mind we are citizens not foreign nationals but citizens. I pay taxes, I follow the laws of the land, and if I want to marry someone who is from another country that is my RIGHT not privilege because the government doesnt own this land. The people who live here own it and I am one of those people. This is my land as much as yours and the same way I can not tell you who you can marry nor can you tell me. So the goverment has no right to do this to people. Let not forget the constitution, have you ever seen the word privilege used in it? No, only the word RIGHT is used. That is because as people we have rights n ot privileges. A goverment who only alows privileges is not a democratic government and does not follow the laws of this land. What you are saying is dangerous think about it.

Very well said Gocka!!!

[LoveMyMiky 35]

Not only that the K-1 wait time is unbearably long, the newly formed relationships are often times under serious test, because there is always the dreaded prospective that after the long wait, the US overseas consulates frequently find excuses to ultimately deny visa to the alien applicant, crashing the dreams of the couples to ever live together, breaking hearts. One person commented that US consulate in Guangzhou, China loves to give K-1 visa denials like giving out candies! Once a visa is denied and a case is returned to USCIS, because of a loophole, the alien fiancée, haven done nothing wrong, could be permanently banned from ever entering the USA ever! Because of these, our government has effectively gotten into the business of interfering with the basic civil rights of US citizens to freely pursue their happiness and choose their life partner, forcing them to abandon their loved ones. This is so disturbing to the point that recently a class action lawsuit was launched against USCIS. See the following link:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/K1-Fiance-Visa/US-Embassy-Consulate/prweb4157054.htm

It is admirable that you are pounding on the door for others. The above paragraph particularly drew my attention, I am hopeful there is more behind "China loves to give K-1 visa denials like giving out candies!" and it is not truly the case. As another member has pointed out the processing time changes and experiences highs and lows as also indicated by the trend charts. Speculation on where the time could go will hold little water with anyone, as it is not a proven fact supported by evidence.

Our wait of 5 months was frustrating and disturbing at best, can't imagine those from VSC still waiting after 7 months! You are right...it just isn't right for the many reason you pointed out in your letter. If I could recommend shortening your future letters to one page, use bullets where possible, and attachments if needed. It will have a far better chance of gaining attention, getting fully read, passed on to others, and hopefully gaining action! It is great that you have taken the initiative to write your congressman and encouraging others to do the same.

[Blob18 111]

I disagree with you on many levels.How can you say that it is a privilege? I dont think any institution has he right to bar families from being together. Keep in mind we are citizens not foreign nationals but citizens. I pay taxes, I follow the laws of the land, and if I want to marry someone who is from another country that is my RIGHT not privilege because the government doesnt own this land. The people who live here own it and I am one of those people. This is my land as much as yours and the same way I can not tell you who you can marry nor can you tell me. So the goverment has no right to do this to people. Let not forget the constitution, have you ever seen the word privilege used in it? No, only the word RIGHT is used. That is because as people we have rights n ot privileges. A goverment who only alows privileges is not a democratic government and does not follow the laws of this land. What you are saying is dangerous think about it.

Very well said. Most people here would benefit from actually A) Reading the Constitution and B) Actually being able to understand just what it implies.

NO ONE PERSON OWNS THIS LAND. NO ONE PERSON CAN TELL ANOTHER WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN NOT DO. End of story.

"This land was made by the people, FOR the people and OF the people." Abraham Lincoln. Seems numerous people here forgot that little fact.

[Gocka 17]

Very well said. Most people here would benefit from actually A) Reading the Constitution and B) Actually being able to understand just what it implies.

NO ONE PERSON OWNS THIS LAND. NO ONE PERSON CAN TELL ANOTHER WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN NOT DO. End of story.

"This land was made by the people, FOR the people and OF the people." Abraham Lincoln. Seems numerous people here forgot that little fact.

Thank you very much, also very well said. The word privilege simply gets under my skin, its line saying I am under the control of (who ever) and they are permiting me to do ( what ever) I have very democratic views in general but when it comes to rights and the constitution there is no question for me what is right and wrong. Denying peolpe the right to wed? No, that is on every level WRONG!

[yohino 22]

I disagree with you on many levels.How can you say that it is a privilege? I dont think any institution has he right to bar families from being together. Keep in mind we are citizens not foreign nationals but citizens. I pay taxes, I follow the laws of the land, and if I want to marry someone who is from another country that is my RIGHT not privilege because the government doesnt own this land. The people who live here own it and I am one of those people. This is my land as much as yours and the same way I can not tell you who you can marry nor can you tell me. So the goverment has no right to do this to people. Let not forget the constitution, have you ever seen the word privilege used in it? No, only the word RIGHT is used. That is because as people we have rights n ot privileges. A goverment who only alows privileges is not a democratic government and does not follow the laws of this land. What you are saying is dangerous think about it.

The poster you replied to didn't say it wasn't your RIGHT to marry who ever you choose to, cause it is.

It's the part of immigrating your spouse to the US that is considered a privilege.

[JudyKCski 12]

Very well said. Most people here would benefit from actually A) Reading the Constitution and B) Actually being able to understand just what it implies.

NO ONE PERSON OWNS THIS LAND. NO ONE PERSON CAN TELL ANOTHER WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN NOT DO. End of story.

"This land was made by the people, FOR the people and OF the people." Abraham Lincoln. Seems numerous people here forgot that little fact.

VERY well said!

It seems that our government has forgotten and 'some' politians seem to think they know what is best for you and me it ires me to distraction to have a few deem they know what is best for me ... I am my own person and desire to make my own mistakes or decisions.

Edited January 21, 2011 by JudyKCski