Congressional Inquiry

[David & Hristina 2]

YES! GO! GO! GO! I may actually vote for this guy.

Haha!

I love this quote! GO, Dean, Go!!!

[homesick_american 1]

Can I be devil's advocate here for just a minute?

I realize the K1 filings are a total mess right now and folks have been waiting what seems like ages.

Sometimes though I look at timelines and I get confused. I joined VJ almost 2 years ago. Even as late as last summer, a 4 to 8 month processing time for an I-129F approval was not uncommon at all. And that was pre-IMBRA. I know you are going to look at my timeline below and think to yourself 'what does she know' and you'll be exactly right. I was one of the lucky ones. But I had loads of filing buddies that suffered ridiculous waits, especially at Nebraska. Some waited nearly a year just for NOA2.

Before I get flamed - I realize you all have been jerked about horrendously. And I think you have every right to be tense, nervous and upset. I guess all I'm trying to say is that your situations really aren't all that 'new'. Filing for a visa just sucks, period. The really old timers tell me it's actually WAY better than it used to be.

Hang in there folks. I hope it gets better.

Yikes. I gotta say, London has been fairly efficient with processing our visa. Sure, we applied in August 2005 and we're just getting it tomorrow (I hope) but the delays were down to US taking our time, not them being slow. I just want to make that clear.

[Dean iWait 0]

ahh!! whatever KitKat!! so we disagree on a few things!! no big deal!! I still concider you to be of some help and wanted to thank you for your post in my ohter thread. I'm over it!!! how about you!! friends??

Andy, this is the kind of condescending commentary that makes me wonder just how successful you will be, no matter how hard you push the bureaucracy.

And what are you talking about??

I'm talking about what appeared to me at least to be a high-handed personal insult towards kitkat1.

You still consider her to be of some help.

Perhaps I over-read that, but it sounded like you'll take what you can get from her.

Everytime I get that advice it seems to come from someone who's spouse or fiancee has been in the country for months or even years. If you got caught up in this IMBRA mess and want to tell me to have patience fine I'll accept that. If not I won't accept it.

That's unfortunate.

First of all because IMBRA isn't the only immigration 'mess' out there. You act as if you are the only one to have ever had the screws put to you by the system. You aren't.

And secondly because we have experiences you don't have that you may find beneficial later.

"Being together" isn't the end of your SO's immigration journey. There's a long road ahead of you yet. Is it easier to face the rest of that journey once your together? Most days yes. But you haven't yet lived with someone from a different culture and background. There's days when that's not easy either.

It's my belief (based upon experience) that if you don't have the patience for USCIS, you probably don't have the patience for an international relationship.

I act as if I'm the only one who USCIS put the screws to? Hardly! I know someone going through Manila who just finally got their visa after almost 2 years of waiting. So don't accuse me of being ingnorant of other people's situations! And I've got news for you. My finacee and I have already shown patience. And we will certaily wait as long as we need to wait. I don't really care how long we have to wait for her stupid green card because we will be together. Ok? And how do know I haven't lived with someone from a different culture and background? You really assume alot of shite you shouldn't!

[AndyMisiu 0]

I wanted to put an end to the misconception of my mind set. I continually get scrutinized for the way I handle my petition and I think it's a misunderstanding. I took the time to write this in reply to a PM I received from a person who took the time to write something just as long about the process.

I want everyone to understand that there is a difference between being patient and being passive.

I think everyone underestimates my intelligence. I truly do understand that you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar. I know how to get results from people without holding a shotgun to there head. I'm not saying that I can get results from USCIS or DOS or whoever else. I'm not saying I can force my way through the Bureaucracy. All I'm saying is, there's nothing wrong with making an inquiry. The USCIS gave me a window to do what I did. They may say 6 months on there website for processing but on there phone line they say to contact them if a decision has not been made within 60 days of RFE receipt. I simply used that as my reason of contacting the authorities that I have. If they don't want us contacting them after 60 days have past, then they need to change the message.

I called the USCIS and in the nicest way possible explained what the phone line says about the 60 days. The customer service rep agreed and suggested that since I was outside normal processing times, that I request an expedited service. Trust me that I included in my expedite, that I was inquiring under the advice of USCIS.

When I contacted my Senators I told them that it was probably too early to be calling but I was worried. I was worried because I felt outside of what was the majority of cases being approved in a certain timeframe. I again explained that a false IMBRA RFE was sent to me when I used the new forms in the first place and that I was now outside the 60 day RFE processing time requested by USCIS. I mentioned the amount of VJ members that were approved ahead of me and thought that I was stuck or lost. My caseworkers for my Senators are both very, very nice and more than willing to make an inquire.

There is nothing wrong with inquiring about your case. If there was, than the recourses of a customer service line and congressional inquires wouldn't be there. It's actually up to the Senators discretion in determining whether or not an inquire is made. The USCIS is not going to hold the petitioner responsible for that. I hardly think were dealing with a communist party. Although others might disagree (Hornet)

If you know how to ask people for things than you know how to get the answers or response you want. I personally know how to put my hand next to a fire without getting burnt.

I don't know how I come across on VJ; I think everyone really gets the wrong idea. It's not like I'm banging the door down at USCIS and demanding that I be approved or that she get the visa. I simply follow the rules. That's why I waited until 60 days were up. But if things are outside the norm, than there's nothing wrong with nicely requesting to know what's going on. That's what I did and that's what I'll do. Take what they give you.

Good luck to everyone!!! And I hope you all get the results your looking for.

Edited October 6, 2006 by AndyMisiu

[rebeccajo 14]

ahh!! whatever KitKat!! so we disagree on a few things!! no big deal!! I still concider you to be of some help and wanted to thank you for your post in my ohter thread. I'm over it!!! how about you!! friends??

Andy, this is the kind of condescending commentary that makes me wonder just how successful you will be, no matter how hard you push the bureaucracy.

And what are you talking about??

I'm talking about what appeared to me at least to be a high-handed personal insult towards kitkat1.

You still consider her to be of some help.

Perhaps I over-read that, but it sounded like you'll take what you can get from her.

Everytime I get that advice it seems to come from someone who's spouse or fiancee has been in the country for months or even years. If you got caught up in this IMBRA mess and want to tell me to have patience fine I'll accept that. If not I won't accept it.

That's unfortunate.

First of all because IMBRA isn't the only immigration 'mess' out there. You act as if you are the only one to have ever had the screws put to you by the system. You aren't.

And secondly because we have experiences you don't have that you may find beneficial later.

"Being together" isn't the end of your SO's immigration journey. There's a long road ahead of you yet. Is it easier to face the rest of that journey once your together? Most days yes. But you haven't yet lived with someone from a different culture and background. There's days when that's not easy either.

It's my belief (based upon experience) that if you don't have the patience for USCIS, you probably don't have the patience for an international relationship.

I act as if I'm the only one who USCIS put the screws to? Hardly! I know someone going through Manila who just finally got their visa after almost 2 years of waiting. So don't accuse me of being ingnorant of other people's situations! And I've got news for you. My finacee and I have already shown patience. And we will certaily wait as long as we need to wait. I don't really care how long we have to wait for her stupid green card because we will be together. Ok? And how do know I haven't lived with someone from a different culture and background? You really assume alot of shite you shouldn't!

Apologize if I have assumed incorrectly.

Maybe the greencard won't be as big of a deal for your wife as it for my husband. He actually needs it to sort of be able to function as a normal man in America. It might not be as important for a woman if she's not feeling the need to establish credit, work or further her education.

[Dean iWait 0]

Hi Rebeccajo,

No apology necessary. I think you are trying to be constructive in your advice here. I just want to clarify what I'm trying to say. I'm not directing what I'm about to say at you specifically. Just lately I've noticed some people on VJ get on and for the most part simply tell someone "You need to be more patient" or "You'll just have to wait for your time to come just like the rest of us". But this really rings hollow when I look at some of these peoples timelines and they got their NOA2 in 30 days or less, had visa in hand, fiancee in the U.S., got married or had at least started making plans for their wedding. All this done within the amount of time my finacee and I have been waiting for our NOA2. I just don't see those type of statements as being helpful or constructive advice.

Edited October 6, 2006 by Dean iWait

[no name 1]

Hi Rebeccajo,

No apology necessary. I think you are trying to be constructive in your advice here. I just want to clarify what I'm trying to say. I'm not directing what I'm about to say at you specifically. Just lately I've noticed some people on VJ get on and for the most part simply tell someone "You need to be more patient" or "You'll just have to wait for your time to come just like the rest of us". But this really rings hollow when I look at some of these peoples timelines and they got their NOA2 in 30 days or less, had visa in hand, fiancee in the U.S., got married or had at least started making plans for their wedding. All this done within the amount of time my finacee and I have been waiting for our NOA2. I just don't see those type of statements as being helpful or constructive advice.

Hey, I'm sorry you're still waiting! We have the same NOA1 date-ish.

Rebeccajo has always been very helpful to many people.

I think this thread got out of control because of recent posts Andy has made. It shouldn't have hijacked your thread - contradicting his most recent post in here, I might add.

Best of luck.

Edited October 6, 2006 by devilette

[Dean iWait 0]

Hi Rebeccajo,

No apology necessary. I think you are trying to be constructive in your advice here. I just want to clarify what I'm trying to say. I'm not directing what I'm about to say at you specifically. Just lately I've noticed some people on VJ get on and for the most part simply tell someone "You need to be more patient" or "You'll just have to wait for your time to come just like the rest of us". But this really rings hollow when I look at some of these peoples timelines and they got their NOA2 in 30 days or less, had visa in hand, fiancee in the U.S., got married or had at least started making plans for their wedding. All this done within the amount of time my finacee and I have been waiting for our NOA2. I just don't see those type of statements as being helpful or constructive advice.

Hey, I'm sorry you're still waiting! We have the same NOA1 date-ish.

Rebeccajo has always been very helpful to many people.

I think this thread got out of control because of recent posts Andy has made. It shouldn't have hijacked your thread - contradicting his most recent post in here, I might add.

Best of luck.

Thanks Dev. It's all good. Congrats on your finace getting his visa! That's awesome. Good luck with with your new life together.

[no name 1]

Thanks Dev. It's all good. Congrats on your finace getting his visa! That's awesome. Good luck with with your new life together.

Right on Dean.

Thank you - we are very excited & mostly RELIEVED. Hopefully yours will be swift!

[Caladan 19]

I think Andy in his other thread said that his Senator told them they wouldn't inquire if a Congressman was already inquiring, as there's no need to double the workload for the exact same information; I was surprised to see him advocating Dean to contact another Senator.

Dean, I'm glad your Congressman is on the ball and knows what a form response looks like! I hope you have some good news soon.

[E&K 0]

Good luck Dean! They seem to have found some old stacks of files recently at CSC, so maybe yours is there and you'll get your approval soon!

[japau 1]

Don't give yourself a stroke Dean Dude. Your biggest problem is that you were in the Nebraska Service Center to start rather than Vermont or Cali. However, you're doing pretty well for having started over there from your timeline. Also, this new IMBR is a clusterf**k of major proportions so some of my lawyer friends tell me. A little pushing never hurt, so go for it. Just don't go overboard. It only takes one a**hole to spill a cup of coffee all over your file and/or for it to end up in the shredder, so my advice is be sweet as pie to these morons on the phone, then go bang your head on the wall to get the aggression out (or do it before the call, actually, that's better to put you on an even playing field with these schmucks)...anyway, stay cool...you'll get there eventually...

Edited October 6, 2006 by japau

[AndyMisiu 0]

I think Andy in his other thread said that his Senator told them they wouldn't inquire if a Congressman was already inquiring, as there's no need to double the workload for the exact same information; I was surprised to see him advocating Dean to contact another Senator.

Dean, I'm glad your Congressman is on the ball and knows what a form response looks like! I hope you have some good news soon.

It wasn't that the USCIS would have a problem with it. It was just that the caseworker said she had many inquiries and cases to handle. She said she didn't want to double efforts. But, since I asked her in the manor that I did, she proceeded anyway.

[Dean iWait 0]

Good luck Dean! They seem to have found some old stacks of files recently at CSC, so maybe yours is there and you'll get your approval soon!

Hey congrats on your approval E&K. It's about time. Good luck with the next next step. Mexico is the only embassy in the world that is busier than Manila. So more hurry up and wait after NOA2.

[AndyMisiu 0]

Just go and read this:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=35883

Then talk to me.

Hope I can help someone