Senator or Congress Person?

[Burebista 3]

I've read here sometimes that it's kosher to contact a senator or congress person whenever your petition reaches the 5 month mark, and in a couple of days, I'm ready to start making annoying noises.

1) Is five months when this can/should be done?

2) Has anybody had success with this tactic?

3) Who better to contact? Senator or Congress Person?

[ceciliaottawa 0]

I've read here sometimes that it's kosher to contact a senator or congress person whenever your petition reaches the 5 month mark, and in a couple of days, I'm ready to start making annoying noises.

1) Is five months when this can/should be done?

2) Has anybody had success with this tactic?

3) Who better to contact? Senator or Congress Person?

I would say go for it as soon as possible. I contacted my congressman after 6 months and 2 weeks later my 1-130 was approved. I also heard of similar cases... I suggest not to wait and start making noise. Maybe you cannot place a ticket at the USCIS yet because its only 5 months. I think its the congressman... You look for the one serving your area (google it). If you contact the wrong one they will tell you who is the right one depending on where you live. They have a set form for you to fill and its all free and takes only 10 min. by phone..

[Inky 1,110]

It depends on your senator / congress person, if they have good contacts then they can do something. If they don't have good contacts then you will hear the same thing "wait another 60 days".

[Burebista 3]

I would say go for it as soon as possible. I contacted my congressman after 6 months and 2 weeks later my 1-130 was approved. I also heard of similar cases... I suggest not to wait and start making noise. Maybe you cannot place a ticket at the USCIS yet because its only 5 months. I think its the congressman... You look for the one serving your area (google it). If you contact the wrong one they will tell you who is the right one depending on where you live. They have a set form for you to fill and its all free and takes only 10 min. by phone..

Thanks. I'm not going to wait more than 24 hours past that 5 month mark. I voted for a reason.

[Iraqvet 68]

I wish you luck with it. Right now the normal processing times are 5 months, however USCIS will not consider a service request until thirty days past your 5 month mark, but it does happen before that. Call whoever you have to. If chuckie cheese can get them to move their asses then do it for sure.

[Burebista 3]

I wish you luck with it. Right now the normal processing times are 5 months, however USCIS will not consider a service request until thirty days past your 5 month mark, but it does happen before that. Call whoever you have to. If chuckie cheese can get them to move their asses then do it for sure.

Right on, Iraqvet No skin off my back, and it gives me a channel to vent my frustration with yet-another-government-redtape-nightmare.

[Burebista 3]

Today I emailed my Congressman from his website.

Dear Congressman XXXXXXX,

I am writing you today in regards to my petition for my wife's immigration to the United States, and to ask for your assistance. On November 7, 2010, the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services received our I130 IMMIGRANT PETITION FOR RELATIVE, FIANCE(E), OR ORPHAN, to be processed at the California Service Center. Per USCIS guidelines, an I-130 is expected to take five months for a decision. My wife and I are now past this five month wait.

It is also recommended that once this five month period has passed, without decision from USCIS, that a petitioner contact his or her Member of Congress for assistance in getting results. And so, as your constituent, I am writing you for some kind of positive regard in this matter.

Our petition at the California Service Center is for My Name, "petitioner", and Her Name, "beneficiary". My wife currently lives in Bucharest, Romania.

Our I-130 number is WAC##########

Please let me know if you require additional information. I look very much forward to your reply, as you have always been very prompt in thoroughly answering my questions in the past.

Fond Regards,

My Name

[Done--Really 331]

That's a great letter--hope I don't have to use it in the future !!!

Edited April 10, 2011 by magical

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I've read here sometimes that it's kosher to contact a senator or congress person whenever your petition reaches the 5 month mark, and in a couple of days, I'm ready to start making annoying noises.

1) Is five months when this can/should be done?

2) Has anybody had success with this tactic?

3) Who better to contact? Senator or Congress Person?

1. You can contact a Senator or Congressperson anytime you want about anything you want

2. If the cause is normal processing delays there is nothing they can do. They can ask and they have a special liason at each service center to ask. Sometimes a petition gets approved shortly thereafter and the people, naturally, give the congress person all the credit. And, naturally, they will take all the credit (and your vote, thank you) but in reality it probably was about due to happen anyway.

3. Depends, in my state with TWO Senators and ONE representative I would go to one of the Senators. Were I in a state with TWO Senators and MANY representatives, I would probably go to my representative.

[pushbrk 12,910]

1. You can contact a Senator or Congressperson anytime you want about anything you want

2. If the cause is normal processing delays there is nothing they can do. They can ask and they have a special liason at each service center to ask. Sometimes a petition gets approved shortly thereafter and the people, naturally, give the congress person all the credit. And, naturally, they will take all the credit (and your vote, thank you) but in reality it probably was about due to happen anyway.

3. Depends, in my state with TWO Senators and ONE representative I would go to one of the Senators. Were I in a state with TWO Senators and MANY representatives, I would probably go to my representative.

In most cases the senior US Senator in the State will have the most experienced staff, with the best contacts and most stroke.

[Burebista 3]

In most cases the senior US Senator in the State will have the most experienced staff, with the best contacts and most stroke.

Thanks. My plan is to escalate to senatorial level should I not hear back from my Member of Congress within a week.

[pushbrk 12,910]

Thanks. My plan is to escalate to senatorial level should I not hear back from my Member of Congress within a week.

That's a good idea because at just over five months you won't be hearing back anything you don't already know from a Congressperson or Senator. Cases are tending to take five to six months right now from NOA1 to approval. You may get an approval notice before you get any information at all back as a result of your inquiry.

[Burebista 3]

That's a good idea because at just over five months you won't be hearing back anything you don't already know from a Congressperson or Senator. Cases are tending to take five to six months right now from NOA1 to approval. You may get an approval notice before you get any information at all back as a result of your inquiry.

It'll give me something to do other than bonking heads.

[Burebista 3]

The Community Affairs Liaison for my congressman responded very promptly to my email and has already sent an inquiry to the USCIS.

[TSC Blackhole 11]

I've read here sometimes that it's kosher to contact a senator or congress person whenever your petition reaches the 5 month mark, and in a couple of days, I'm ready to start making annoying noises.

1) Is five months when this can/should be done?

2) Has anybody had success with this tactic?

3) Who better to contact? Senator or Congress Person?

I would urge you to contact the Senate office for your area. I contacted my senate office when my application was around 5 months. The aide said she wished I would have called sooner to get the clock ticking faster. Once they make an inquiry to USCIS, USCIS has a certain amount of time to respond to the inquiry. Thus contacting your senate office now may get the ball rolling quicker. Before I left USCIS I had an "expedite" on my case and it went to NVC a lot faster than if it hadn't.

All of that being said, my time at NVC has been a nightmare. I opted for electronic processing and NVC is saying I never emailed them my documents I sent in February which is a complete lie, I even have receipts from them. I contacted the aide that helped us before, and she said the same thing, she wished I would have contacted her sooner. The NVC went as far to say that I mailed them physical documents(which I never did) and say that I never emailed them. I sent all of my "proof" to the aide and apparently NVC, or whoever let the ball drop on my case is going to be in a bit of trouble because they totally screwed up. I know for a fact that the senator himself will be sending a not-so-nice letter to NVC. All I know is that it really helps having someone from your senator's office going to bat for you.

I'm not sure if this will get me an "Expedite" at NVC, I think you have to be on your death-bed for that, but maybe it will get me an interview sooner.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease. I would start contacting people now!