VSC Applications

[Lalo & Susana 50]

I was comparing VSC applications to CSC applications and was wondering why so many applications are being sent to VSC? If they are so far behind then why is USCIS bombarding them with more and more applications? Is VSC a lot larger than CSC? Because they are getting more at least 20 more applications per month than CSC. I'm not complaining just wondering why they have more application when they are so far behind. I am hoping they are a lot larger than CSC maybe that would give all of us Vermont filers some hope.

[Natureboy 1]

I have posted the same question twice in the last month since VCS processing times are approaching longer times each week. Something dramatic must have happened in the Vermont Center for the numbers to have become so skewed. I have posted two places but no response. I know they do the best they can with the resources they have so it will do no good for anyone to complain. I noticed a K-1 in the CSC that got their NOA2 in 37 days. So much does not make sense. I think the entire USCIS system is changing from manual type writers and brown envelopes to electronic processing and this may be part of the problem. If you call VSC they do not seem to realize there has been an increase of more than a month of the target processing time for K-1's so I will just be patient and hope I can keep all the paperwork together while they are sorting out their problems. HA!! If they can hold their own at this pace we can expect six to seven months to get NOA2 instead of the five or less. We had planned to be in US by Christmas and that was allowing two additional months but guess I will need to renew Chinese passport for 2013 and we will see what unfolds. You are just starting so take a pill and be patient. VSC is just processing Jan 9, 2012 applications now and has stayed there for several days. Let me know if you get some answers. Cheers and good luck.

[amykathleen2005 441]

VSC and CSC are assigned by the state you live in. Also the timelines you are seeing are not all the applications that they do, just the amount registered on this site.

[Lalo & Susana 50]

I know these aren't the only applications but I highly doubt that the majority of the ppl who aren't on this site are at CSC. I am assuming that this just proves that VSC still has a lot more applications than CSC even beyond this site. I was just wondering if VSC is larger than CSC bc they have a lot more applications even though they are so far behind. It would make sense that VSC has more applications if they are a larger facility but if they aren't then CSC should be receiving some of VSC applications since they are tossing out approvals in less than 90 days while there are some ppl from VSC waiting 7 months.

[amykathleen2005 441]

According to USCIS data, Vermont seems to have 16,000 petitions while Cali has 14,000.

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=6&office=6&charttype=1

[cdneh 3,112]

It goes back and forth. Not that long ago, CSC was slow and VSC was processing quickly. Not long from now it will go back the other way. It always does.

They are slow with allsorts of processing at the moment, I am coming up on ten months after filing for ROC.

[Lalo & Susana 50]

It looks like they just need to hire more ppl to look at all the petitions. In all sections bc I've heard NVC is slow too.

Edited August 6, 2012 by Lalo & Susana

[amykathleen2005 441]

Well slow compared to what? What other place that you know works on federal money processing thousands of petitions every year? I can't really think of any to compare it to except the IRS.

[HK12 273]

I have actually heard that CSC is larger than Vermont. Vermont seems to have around 800 employees, while CSC has approx. 1.100, according to this paper (which is from 2011, so keep in mind that figures might have changed):

http://www.nafsa.org/uploadedFiles/CSC%20Stakeholder%20notes%2001262011.pdf

I assume that Vermont has slowed down because of the Temporary Protected Status cases they have to work on, particularly those for Syrian nationals. Vermont is the only Service Center that works on those TPS cases (with a few exceptions obviously):

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=21&office=6&charttype=1

This is just my personal explanation for their slowdown though; nobody really knows what is going on there. There is no transparency in this process, and that makes it the hardest part.

I guess if they become too backlogged, they will have to send petitions to California in order to get caught up. Transfers like that happen all the time. All we can do is wait. Just hoping the DREAM act petitions that they will start to accept next week won't have too much of a negative impact on the processing times of us legal immigrants.

[Lalo & Susana 50]

I have actually heard that CSC is larger than Vermont. Vermont seems to have around 800 employees, while CSC has approx. 1.100, according to this paper (which is from 2011, so keep in mind that figures might have changed):

http://www.nafsa.org/uploadedFiles/CSC%20Stakeholder%20notes%2001262011.pdf

I assume that Vermont has slowed down because of the Temporary Protected Status cases they have to work on, particularly those for Syrian nationals. Vermont is the only Service Center that works on those TPS cases (with a few exceptions obviously):

http://dashboard.uscis.gov/index.cfm?formtype=21&office=6&charttype=1

This is just my personal explanation for their slowdown though; nobody really knows what is going on there. There is no transparency in this process, and that makes it the hardest part.

I guess if they become too backlogged, they will have to send petitions to California in order to get caught up. Transfers like that happen all the time. All we can do is wait. Just hoping the DREAM act petitions that they will start to accept next week won't have too much of a negative impact on the processing times of us legal immigrants.

I was hoping that Vermont was larger since they tend (according to USCIS and VJ) to have more cases per month than CSC but I guess not. lol I was just curious I find it easier to wait if I understand the process better. At least that is what happens to me personally. I understand that some petitions have priority over our applications but it hard as you know first hand. I just hope everyone gets back on track and we see more applications approved from Vermont.

Thank you so much for your response!

[Natureboy 1]

Today CSC moved ahead another four days from March 27 to March 31 and VSC stayed at Feb. 12. Does anyone have a phone number that one could call and get some answers. Many of us are not rich and have purchased expensive plane tickets to be in the country of the beneficiary when the packets should have been received 30 days plus or minus to help get these processed and sent in a timely fashion to embassy. If this trend continues those of us who have scheduled time off from work and cost of lodging and airfare will be lost. The USCIS depends on each applicant to respond or complete an AOS in a window of time but it seems they do not hold the same standards for themselves. I am sure with technology available Vermont knew several months ago this situation was developing. Transparency would be a welcome relationship with those of us they are serving and paying their salaries. Always worked in the business world and never for the government. No wonder we had a crash in 2008. Communication in todays competitive environment with both customer and employees is the key to the success of all business. Someone mentioned earlier the DREAM act and I have suspected from the time of the announcement it would effect those of us who can already vote. Maybe none of this is effecting the processing times and the storms have just knocked the power off and someone has forgotten to turn the switch back on. It is not the increase in time but rather the USCIS site continues to give current processing trends as 5 months for our K-1's and this at the least is a 25% deviation from reality. The bright side of the coin is that NVC will be getting fewer approved petitions and will be looking for work and when we finally do get there should go quickly. Same for the US Embassy in the beneficiaries country. So let's all just think of the good and hope to live past this with fewer expectations from our government. They really have bigger fish to fry than a few couples wanting to immigrate and get married. Cheers to all and keep the faith.

[Nick + Elizabeth 54]

We are getting really frustrated as well. We're at 185 days today. Last night I wrote our senator asking for help since that puts us 3 days over the 6 month mark. It's infuriating that it's moving so slow and some people at CSC now are only waiting 3 months. I hear it most likely has a lot to do with the Dream Act and what's going on in Syria. I can't really say anything about Syria but it makes me mad that people who came here illegal are slowing down the works (to a near standstill) for those of us who have chosen to use the proper channels. I guess sneaking over the boarder gives you precedence over taxing paying American citizens and their loved ones, or at least that's what it's starting to feel like to me. Sorry if that sounds not so nice, but I am tired of waiting for my husband to be. I miss him to the point that it just makes me ill anymore when I think about it. The last time our visa was even 'touched' was marked as Feb 11th. We got our NOA1 approval Feb 6th. That's where I started counting from for the 185 days. If I counted from when we sent in, it would be nearing 200 days.

[TheWickerMan 5]

I agree with you. It is really furious to let VSC petitioners waiting and waiting for over six months, some even seven months while CSC only takes 3 months. We paid the SAME FEE!!!! At least get us back on track.

We also already tried congressman and senator, but it seems not working at all at VSC at this point. Shall we pressure VSC in another ways - media, contact USCIS director. If emailing Obama would work, I'd love to do that to end this endless waiting!

God bless all of our VSC applicants!!!!

Edited August 8, 2012 by TheWickerMan

[Nick + Elizabeth 54]

It's just really unfair. Back in the beginning before we filed I was told that it would be six months till he was 'IN' the country with me. Now it seems like if I'm lucky maybe we'll get to spend Christmas together. We had even planned to have our wedding in October and had to push it back till next spring. Thankfully, we hadn't put any money down yet on a reservation for a place (as I was worried just this sort of thing would happen). It's starting to feel like he will never get here. Excuse me for venting but I just have to get this off my chest. I got so fed up last night I was sitting in my bed crying at 2am out of sheer frustration. I think that's the first time I have really broken down since this whole process began. I feel like a child wanting to throw a tantrum at this point. Argh! And I don't think Obama will help because I think it's partly his fault we are stuck over at VSC with the dream act. They are talking about it on the News even as I write this. I'm so.... exasperated!

[Natureboy 1]

I agree with you. It is really furious to let VSC petitioners waiting and waiting for over six months, some even seven months while CSC only takes 3 months. We paid the SAME FEE!!!! At least get us back on track.

We also already tried congressman and senator, but it seems not working at all at VSC at this point. Shall we pressure VSC in another ways - media, contact USCIS director. If emailing Obama would work, I'd love to do that to end this endless waiting!

God bless all of our VSC applicants!!!!

I am also the petitioner of a lady from China. She and I are both older so yes these months are without value. Since I was there last in Feb. her father died. The employees in the VSC are just like you and all the rest of us. They have bills to pay and need to keep their job and I have never thought that the VCS employees are doing anything intentionally to delay the process of bringing us together with those we love. They NEED our help. Someone who is better organized than I am needs to compile a list of addresses of the DNC and since it is election year the Democratic committee should hear from many of us applying legally and paying with dollars earned in US and taxes paid in US that an unfair burden is being placed on the Vermont center and that this form of politics will not be accepted when it comes time to vote. We have spent money or should I say wasted money making plans on processing dates that continue to be given by USCIS in Vermont. Because we do not know for a fact what is causing the skew in processing times the only way to know how to help is to have knowledge that is based on fact and not hear say. If there is anyone reading this that has access to someone that can share factual information why Vermont is under so much pressure and not California then I will compile contacts with media, Democratic National Committee, USCIS director to let that person know we are in their court and wish to help not just criticize. I have not been able to get the directors name or mailing address for Vermont USCIS. We live in a country that is run by the people and not politicians. This is our right as a citizen and if we do nothing but SOH "sit on hands" then we do not deserve these rights. This can be fixed at least for those that come after us. Let us exercise our rights in a democratic fashion and together we can get names and addresses to contact.