WAKE UP F2A FELLOW MEMBERS AND SEND THIS DRAFT

[jhp 10]

lets create an account on twitter or facebook , with that we may have more ppl to join us who are into social networking .. Specially twitter if we all follow each other and also follow Obama or any usa dept site... Who knws we could get attention of the media or more support of the ppl by writing on what we r going thru? What u guys think? 0

yep.....we should first use emails to convey our message (bcaz we are getting some response) and in the next stage means after few weeks we should use social networking sites....facebook and twitter as we can be joined by few more f2a....good idea....

[PD is Current. 50]

anyone has any positive results or feedback doing what OP suggests?

[ralph240574 0]

Where did you get these numbers from?

The numbers published here are different:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/statistics/statistics_1476.html

Letter from F2A petitioner (Green card holder/LPR)

SUB :- Huge unissued F2A visa ending in long waiting times

Respected Sir/Madam,

The very important part of family union is being hit for green card spouses with the long waits. The wait time for reunite spouse and child with permanent resident(petitioner) is nearly 4 years. United families with shorter waiting periods will add and increase economic growth, as spouses would be able to work in mental peace and can contribute more in taxes.

I am not demanding anything more. Please check the below data and you will realise NVC is not following immigration act,1990.

Below are the statistics from travel.state.gov that NVC is using only partial quota of total alloted 88000 visas to f2a (under immigration act 1990) and causing agony and a long wait times for green card holders.

Year------------------------2001------2002------2003------2004-------2005------2006------2007------2008------2009

exempted----------------20,661-----14,565----9,343----17,160-----16,770----14,987----14,602----25,798----29,588

per country limit-------16,464-----11,524----8,189-----7,877------9,540----13,101----18,078----19,002----24,687

total---------------------37,125-----26,089---17,532----25,037-----26,310----28,088----32,680----44,800----54,275

visa usage in (%)-------42%----------30%------20%-------28%--------30%-------32%-------37%-------51%-------62%

visa unused in (%)------58%----------70%------80%-------72%--------70%-------68%-------63%-------49%-------38%

I am writing this letter as I believe you are the right person who can take appropriate action on this

Thanking you,

F2A green card holder.

SEND THIS LETTER TO FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESSES.....

Margaret.Gleason@dhs.gov

charles.oppenheim@dhs.gov

AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov

cisombudsman.publicaffairs@dhs.gov

VISABULLETIN@STATE.GOV

listserv@calist.state.gov

nvcinquiry@state.gov

and any other address which can help us....

[jhp 10]

Where did you get these numbers from?

The numbers published here are different:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/statistics/statistics_1476.html

you can also check this link....http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/MultiYearTableII.pdf

it shows the data in the letter and also AOS data never published by DOS and they are always saying that AOS visas are more utilised than visas issued at forign service posts....how can anyone believe this argument???....so f2a visas are not fully utilised in most of the financial years and 30% to 40% visa lapses every year...

anyone has any positive results or feedback doing what OP suggests?

kumbahara has got some response from omdusmen .....and someone get response from nvc that matter will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities...

[PD is Current. 50]

kumbahara has got some response from omdusmen .....and someone get response from nvc that matter will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities...

by the time something do change that reduces/eliminate F2A wait time, our PD would be current already. (yea, even PD in 2011 SEP!)

[jhp 10]

by the time something do change that reduces/eliminate F2A wait time, our PD would be current already. (yea, even PD in 2011 SEP!)

i dont understand what are you trying to tell

[Miami_Boy 9]

Finally, a word from the people who run the visa office - Mr. Charles Oppenheim

Although it helps to hear from Mr.Oppenheim, it seems that visa office /DOS always make excuses with their numbers, especially the numbers stating the requisite demand, however, consulates not issuing visas with reasons of their "qualified F2A applicant" as stated above, leading to overflow to other categories like F1, F3, F4 etc or other countries like mexico or dominican republic.

Still one step forward. Hoping the commuincation to members of congress will yield some results or atleast some positive steps.

Brother,

You already received your answer!!

If Cosulate office is not satisfied on F2A applicant documents at the interview time, so that visa number is going back to state department end of the month. So the applicant who already became current, unfortunately lost their visa number until AP/AR cleared from State Department. and the visa numbers also added in the State Department records!!

So one applicant could receive several visa number according to consulate office matters!!!

[kumbahara 3]

Brother,

You already received your answer!!

If Cosulate office is not satisfied on F2A applicant documents at the interview time, so that visa number is going back to state department end of the month. So the applicant who already became current, unfortunately lost their visa number until AP/AR cleared from State Department. and the visa numbers also added in the State Department records!!

So one applicant could receive several visa number according to consulate office matters!!!

Its an open secret what USCIS and DOS does to show they are following the rule to the point, when they openly falsify the supposed "demand". I have seen their reports of year over year the visa issuance and adjustment of status (http://travel.state.gov/visa/statistics/statistics_1476.html) that shows their overflowing the visas to other countries and categories.However, it is our prerogative to bring to attention from the CIS Ombudsman, that was created to hear from stakeholders on their USCIS/DOS functioning. In addition, I have been trying to mail copies of these reports highlighting these numerical discrepancies which DoS calls following numerical limitations to the congress judiciary committee and subcommittee of immigration. While election is near and anti immigrant laws are rampant, and I am not expecting any huge change in the way DoS works, just the fact that many beneficiaries and petitioners are contacting the CIS Ombudsman or congressmen with regards to rampant misrepresentation of visa issuance or demand might as tell a different story to people who make the laws or oversee these agencies. If you are content with remaining on the sidelines hoping and praying, such practice would become the mainstay with no respite ever on the horizon.

[kumbahara 3]

by the time something do change that reduces/eliminate F2A wait time, our PD would be current already. (yea, even PD in 2011 SEP!)

maybe, maybe not, but would you not rather contribute something towards what you know and believe to be flawed rather than take a dig at people who atleast try?

[Miami_Boy 9]

Its an open secret what USCIS and DOS does to show they are following the rule to the point, when they openly falsify the supposed "demand". I have seen their reports of year over year the visa issuance and adjustment of status (http://travel.state.gov/visa/statistics/statistics_1476.html) that shows their overflowing the visas to other countries and categories.However, it is our prerogative to bring to attention from the CIS Ombudsman, that was created to hear from stakeholders on their USCIS/DOS functioning. In addition, I have been trying to mail copies of these reports highlighting these numerical discrepancies which DoS calls following numerical limitations to the congress judiciary committee and subcommittee of immigration. While election is near and anti immigrant laws are rampant, and I am not expecting any huge change in the way DoS works, just the fact that many beneficiaries and petitioners are contacting the CIS Ombudsman or congressmen with regards to rampant misrepresentation of visa issuance or demand might as tell a different story to people who make the laws or oversee these agencies. If you are content with remaining on the sidelines hoping and praying, such practice would become the mainstay with no respite ever on the horizon.

I totally agree. Cis ombudsman cannot do anything with AP. It's a big security issue. Thats main key DoS using to minimize visa issuing in overseas.

You can take an example as my wife who had an AP. I had to called Florida governor through my boss and got her visa issued within 10 days.

Good Luck!!

[jhp 10]

maybe, maybe not, but would you not rather contribute something towards what you know and believe to be flawed rather than take a dig at people who atleast try?

yep...you are absolutely right.....

Its an open secret what USCIS and DOS does to show they are following the rule to the point, when they openly falsify the supposed "demand". I have seen their reports of year over year the visa issuance and adjustment of status (http://travel.state.gov/visa/statistics/statistics_1476.html) that shows their overflowing the visas to other countries and categories.However, it is our prerogative to bring to attention from the CIS Ombudsman, that was created to hear from stakeholders on their USCIS/DOS functioning. In addition, I have been trying to mail copies of these reports highlighting these numerical discrepancies which DoS calls following numerical limitations to the congress judiciary committee and subcommittee of immigration. While election is near and anti immigrant laws are rampant, and I am not expecting any huge change in the way DoS works, just the fact that many beneficiaries and petitioners are contacting the CIS Ombudsman or congressmen with regards to rampant misrepresentation of visa issuance or demand might as tell a different story to people who make the laws or oversee these agencies. If you are content with remaining on the sidelines hoping and praying, such practice would become the mainstay with no respite ever on the horizon.

[kumbahara 3]

well, atleast trying to contact the legislators is having some effect.. if only the members were more active to raise their voices, perhaps something can come to fruition earlier..

Rep. Lofgren Introduces Bill to Fix Visa Backlog

October 7, 2011

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, the ranking member on the House Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, introduced the Protecting American Families and Businesses Act of 2011. This legislation reforms sections of our nation’s byzantine immigration laws that keep families apart and prevent American companies from recruiting the world’s best and brightest. It adjusts per country limits, recaptures previously-issued visas that go unused due to bureaucratic delay, and provides temporary relief for certain individuals caught in green card backlogs. The bill’s provisions include:

* eliminating per country limits on the employment-based side (with a three year phase-in);

* raising the per country limit on the family-based side from 7% to 15%; • expanding “AC-21” protection to also include L and F visa holders, giving them the same protections H-1B visa holders currently have;

* creating a new “W” temporary visa for the spouses and minor children of lawful permanent residents (LPRs) caught in the green card backlogs; and,

* recapturing unused employment-based and family-based green cards to shorten green card backlogs.

“Our nation gains nothing from keeping families separated and blocking companies from hiring the world’s brightest innovators,” said Rep Zoe Lofgren. “Keeping fathers and mothers separated from their families, is not the American way. This legislation reforms our current anti-family visa system, keeping spouses and children together.”

http://lofgren.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=653&Itemid=125

Can someone from D.C. take some initiative to meet with congresswoman Lofgren in person?

[kumbahara 3]

Also a response from Mr.Legomsky, the newly appointed Legal Counsel to USCIS

Thanks very much for your words of congratulation. I’m excited about the job.

Thank you also for sharing this information on the processing of 2A petitions. I am not yet on the job, but I’m looking forward to learning more about the internal procedures for processing these and other petitions and will think carefully about the points you have raised in your letter.

Best wishes,

Steve Legomsky

Respected Dr.Legomsky

At the outset, I would like to congratulate you on the appointment as legal counsel to the USCIS. I seriously believe having someone with a good background on immigration policy research might help eventually petitioner and beneficiaries alike. I am writing this mail as one of the many people whose lives have been affected by USCIS policies. One such aspect relates to visa retrogression and the implementation of the 7% quota for each country per INA laws, especially for visa category (Spouse and children under 21 of Legal Permanent Resident)

While I or any other petitioner or beneficiary are not questioning the INA laws and the agencies following it in its adjudication procedure, certain mysteries and inconsistencies relating to USCIS/DOS policies certainly affect a large portion of legal immigrant population - more so on the release of visa bulletin by Department of State.

DOS releases the visa bulletin, adding cutoff dates for its adjudication of different category of immigrant visas. My concern over the past year, that I have noted is its restrictive policy on non transparency surrounding the family based F2A visa category. While a citizen's spouse is considered a immediate relative and have no numerical restriction on the visa number, the lesser mortals (LPR) have to wait for I130 petition to be approved, transferred to NVC (National Visa Center) and complete its process, wait for the priority date of the application to be current and further more the consular posts to schedule an interview, let alone any administrative processing or movement in cutoff date delay issuance of an F2A visa.

While year over year 88000 visas are added in a FY beginning Oct of each year, the DOS released visa bulletins show hardly any improvement from a regressed state of 2.5 to 3 yrs on an average. The CIS Ombudsman reported in its annual report in 2010 of DOS/consulates wasting their visa counts year over year ( http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/cisomb_2010_annual_report_to_congress.pdf ) and this helped movement of priority date till Dec 2010. Since then it has regressed back to its initial state of cutoff dates back to 2008 and with a new FY starting in Oct, inching to early 2009.

As a prominent figure in charge of USCIS policies, I can only request you, on the behalf of many families of LPR that are separated for years to

1. Institute some transparency like the demand statistics and visa issuance, in USCIS (through Adjustment of Status) or consular posts abroad for family based visas (F2A), much like it is currently done for Employment based categories (EB). Since these demand data are being proclaimed as the basis on which the visa bulletins are released, I would think it wont be a difficult task to be made public

2. Enable the current beneficiaries of F2A in the United States on different visas to be able to apply for Adjustment of Status (I-485), while they wait for their priority date to be current for adjudication. It is imperative, since unlike EB based applicants, who are allowed to stay with their family using dependent visas like H4, LPR have no such visas to enable family unity.

If the policy is towards focusing on building a strong community whose backbone is family unity, I ask why such segregation for legal permanent residents? Are they not a part of the community committed to building stronger America? With a divided congress and spurs of anti immigrant efforts against the undocumented, the LEGAL immigrant community has no policies that even provide basic support of a family while I believe every legal alien should be entitled to.

My grievance to CIS Ombudsman on this issue is either met with a canned documentation of what is attached below or just mere silence and inaction. Would there be at least a different policy approach towards bringing more transparency and an immigrant friendly policy?

I wish you all the best on your endeavors.

Thanks for your action.

A backlogged petitioner

[jhp 10]

Also a response from Mr.Legomsky, the newly appointed Legal Counsel to USCIS

GREAT WORK FRIEND...AND WE ARE GETTING FEW POSITIVE RESPONSES......

[Chittagong 11]

Also a response from Mr.Legomsky, the newly appointed Legal Counsel to USCIS

Nice job. I'm hoping we will see some positive movement on next VB.

Really appreciated your efforts.

May God bless you.

Edited October 7, 2011 by Chittagong