NVC Filers - March 2012

[shaka 11]

It is time to call NVC! Anyone want to take bets on whether we have an interview date set? Will they tell me "April is full, no interview for you!"? In mere minutes (or so) we'll know!

let`s see!I am thinking they are not ready to spit it out for us today...make a call!

Edited March 13, 2012 by shaka

[Matt & Rocio 28]

That's the general sentiment everyone feels about it...

Perhaps, I'll work for USCIS and NVC and re-haul everything to make it more automatic, thus speeding up the process for everyone

If the USCIS doesn't already have an electronic processing system in development the head of USCIS should be fired immediately. The current system is broken and unfair and the only way to fix it is to switch to an electronic processing system.

Instead of filling out an I-130 petition and sending it along with the required supporting documentation via snail mail a petitioner could fill out the I-130 petition online and then attach scanned copies of the required documentation. You would not be able to submit the application until all required documentation has been attached and all required fields in the form have been filled out. This would eliminate the need for the lockbox which would save both time and money. If an RFE is necessary the communication would be done via e-mail rather than snail mail which would reduce the amount of time they would have to wait for an RFE reply.

Here's where an EP process levels the playing field. Instead of having a physical queue of petitions that due to their sheer numbers get routed to multiple physical locations you would have a virtual queue that could be worked by a USCIS officer regardless of his or her location. This way petitions would be worked in the order in which they were received. Of course there would still be multiple queues due to expedites or other factors.

One more thing that would make this process more transparent would be to have a website that it is updated on a daily basis that shows the current receipt date that they are processing.

[Saylin 1,605]

It is time to call NVC! Anyone want to take bets on whether we have an interview date set? Will they tell me "April is full, no interview for you!"? In mere minutes (or so) we'll know!

I'm thinking they'll give you the garbage line about April being full. I'm betting you'll get your interview date set this Thursday

[foobaz123 39]

I'm thinking they'll give you the garbage line about April being full. I'm betting you'll get your interview date set this Thursday

Okay, Saylin is in for 10 on the BS bet... any other takers? (I'm still on hold....)

[shaka 11]

I'm thinking they'll give you the garbage line about April being full. I'm betting you'll get your interview date set this Thursday

Yeah,I myself was thinking Thursday-Friday! We` ll see(hopefully)

Edited March 13, 2012 by shaka

[Saylin 1,605]

If the USCIS doesn't already have an electronic processing system in development the head of USCIS should be fired immediately. The current system is broken and unfair and the only way to fix it is to switch to an electronic processing system.

Instead of filling out an I-130 petition and sending it along with the required supporting documentation via snail mail a petitioner could fill out the I-130 petition online and then attach scanned copies of the required documentation. You would not be able to submit the application until all required documentation has been attached and all required fields in the form have been filled out. This would eliminate the need for the lockbox which would save both time and money. If an RFE is necessary the communication would be done via e-mail rather than snail mail which would reduce the amount of time they would have to wait for an RFE reply.

Here's where an EP process levels the playing field. Instead of having a physical queue of petitions that due to their sheer numbers get routed to multiple physical locations you would have a virtual queue that could be worked by a USCIS officer regardless of his or her location. This way petitions would be worked in the order in which they were received. Of course there would still be multiple queues due to expedites or other factors.

One more thing that would make this process more transparent would be to have a website that it is updated on a daily basis that shows the current receipt date that they are processing.

That's pretty much how the system should be at USCIS for petitions. But, alas, even though we have that kind of technology, they're not implementing it.

The good news is that NVC is starting to roll out EP and online forms to more and more countries. When I was at NVC last year, only two or three countries were eligible. Now the list has grown to about 10 countries or so. Within just one year. I'm sure NVC still has a ways to go to implement both EP and online forms to ALL countries, but it's getting there, albeit slowly.

Hopefully, USCIS will see how effective the EP and online forms are and will then start rolling it out on their end, most likely slowly as well.

I'm sure (hopefully) in a decade or so, this whole immigration process will be as automated as it can be, or at least more so than it is now.

[foobaz123 39]

That's pretty much how the system should be at USCIS for petitions. But, alas, even though we have that kind of technology, they're not implementing it.

The good news is that NVC is starting to roll out EP and online forms to more and more countries. When I was at NVC last year, only two or three countries were eligible. Now the list has grown to about 10 countries or so. Within just one year. I'm sure NVC still has a ways to go to implement both EP and online forms to ALL countries, but it's getting there, albeit slowly.

Hopefully, USCIS will see how effective the EP and online forms are and will then start rolling it out on their end, most likely slowly as well.

I'm sure (hopefully) in a decade or so, this whole immigration process will be as automated as it can be, or at least more so than it is now.

Don't forget... USCIS is part of the same Department that gave birth to the TSA.....

[Saylin 1,605]

Don't forget... USCIS is part of the same Department that gave birth to the TSA.....

Oh, #######, really?! Never mind, I recant my statement. It'll probably be a century before USCIS gets everything automated, and error-free

[shaka 11]

Okay, Saylin is in for 10 on the BS bet... any other takers? (I'm still on hold....)

Still enjoying the music or no music hold?

[foobaz123 39]

Oh, #######, really?! Never mind, I recant my statement. It'll probably be a century before USCIS gets everything automated, and error-free

Yep... part of the Department of Homeland Security (a name that has always bothered me.. sounds far too much like something else).

We're lucky that TSA feelups aren't required just to get the visa... though, it does kill me that I'm going to have to apologize to Sue for the TSA when she comes here..

Just got off hold... no date scheduled, but also no "We're done with April" nonsense either.

I guess I'll just call back this evening and see if anything has changed by then...

And tomorrow...

And the next day....

[shaka 11]

Yep... part of the Department of Homeland Security (a name that has always bothered me.. sounds far too much like something else).

We're lucky that TSA feelups aren't required just to get the visa... though, it does kill me that I'm going to have to apologize to Sue for the TSA when she comes here..

Just got off hold... no date scheduled, but also no "We're done with April" nonsense either.

I guess I'll just call back this evening and see if anything has changed by then...

And tomorrow...

And the next day....

I have the same plans as you...tomorrow...the day after...and hoping that would be it!

[foobaz123 39]

I wonder if DoS might give me a different answer....

[VisaJourney2011 14]

Have you guys continued, compiling more "EVIDENCE" after I-130 was submitted?

(such as more skype logs, phone records, email etc etc...after I-130 was submitted?)

Wondering if we need or its a good idea to have MORE evidence for the Interview?

or do we just take duplicate of what we sent to USCIS when I-130 was submitted?

Edited March 13, 2012 by VisaJourney2011

[shaka 11]

Have you guys continued, compiling more "EVIDENCE" after I-130 was submitted?

(such as more skype logs, phone records, email etc etc...after I-130 was submitted?)

Wondering if we need it for the Interview? or do we just take duplicate of what we sent to USCIS when I-130 was submitted?

We sure have-more pictures,few more vacations,tickets,and visas...I think it will be helpfull in case the CO does want to take a look (lately they do not even care...but with our luck we want to be as ready as we can be)

[foobaz123 39]

Have you guys continued, compiling more "EVIDENCE" after I-130 was submitted?

(such as more skype logs, phone records, email etc etc...after I-130 was submitted?)

Wondering if we need or its a good idea to have MORE evidence for the Interview?

or do we just take duplicate of what we sent to USCIS when I-130 was submitted?

If the question is: "How much evidence is enough?"

The answer is: "More"