Let the ombudsman know your problem

[scotty 0]

Hi, it appears that there is shall we say quite a few people with grievences against the respective local centres regarding the AOS interview and therafter the green card waitng time. Is it not about time you stopped winching and do something about it,each indivual should write a letter of complaint regarding their issues.The more representation that the omnibusman receives highlighting the incompetence and sheer lack

of professionalism from the centres to the FBI the better chance you have of getting him to further investigate your legitimate criticism. So please don't just sit about give yourself a shake and get into gear and start writing.

here is all the info you need-

http://www.dhs.gov/ximgtn/programs/editorial_0731.shtm

I might add for what its worth I would address for his attention

Prakash Khatri

ombudsman

[M. 0]

I'd just like to recommend people wait until they have GC in hand before filing a complaint.

Retail and gov. work have taught me a few things....

[scotty 0]

we will see how you feel after your interview and you have to wait 2 years or more for your g/c

I mean it won't do any harm to highlight whats wrong with the system

Regards Scotty

[CWR 0]

I am thinking alone the same lines as M.

My husband is getting really fed up with the entire process and was talking about writing letters, etc. as well, but I told him he'd better not do that until I have my greencard in hand (or, maybe even better, after I get the citizenship ). After that he's welcome to write a "tell all"-book or do whatever he wants to do

[M. 0]

I am thinking alone the same lines as M.

My husband is getting really fed up with the entire process and was talking about writing letters, etc. as well, but I told him he'd better not do that until I have my greencard in hand (or, maybe even better, after I get the citizenship ). After that he's welcome to write a "tell all"-book or do whatever he wants to do

Exactly! When someone holds your life in their hands, the last thing you want to do is complain until after you're plenty safe and no longer at the mercy of some over-worked, under-paid worker who's already being stereotyped as lazy and retarded by popular knowledge.

For example, rebeccajo should write a book about her and her husband's ordeal with USCIS -- but only *after* they get that long-deserved green card!

[rebeccajo 14]

For example, rebeccajo should write a book about her and her husband's ordeal with USCIS -- but only *after* they get that long-deserved green card!

Actually, before AOS you could have called us the 'poster children' for how this system SHOULD work. It was only 106 days from the day we posted Wes' petition till the day his visa was approved. His AOS receipt date is the 62nd day after his K-1 entry, so we filed well within the 90 day I-94 window. His biometrics appointment was about five weeks after his AOS NOA1 receipt; his EAD and AP came about 4 weeks after that. His interview was less than four months after the AOS NOA1.

Now for some reason we are stuck here. Almost eight months after the interview and no security clearance. No security clearance for a guy who lived in one town his whole life at only two different addresses. He had a prior J1 visa in 1990 - one entry into and one exit out of America on that. No other trips to America other than two visits to me. It makes you feel like you've been sucked into a vortex and there is no way out.

Despite all my verbal and written persuasive skills, I too am afraid to rock the boat. This is way too big of a thing. I'm not usually that way about something. I have been proactive about the filing, but I've done it cautiously and always waited until we were within the customary times wherein they will supposedly 'hear you'. The frustrating part now is the response - there is nothing that can be done - national security will not be compromised. Period.

Edited October 28, 2006 by rebeccajo

[meauxna 15]

Actually, before AOS you could have called us the 'poster children' for how this system SHOULD work.

lol, I was gonna say....

But I son't think you should be "afraid" of calling, r-jo. You're just stuck in one of those black holes. I'm sure if your local office could clear your case they would be happy to do so! But they are waiting on these checks to come back from where ever, and as it's all computer, I don't think a person getting offended that you're pushy (not that *you* are pushy) would affect your outcome.

For your case, speak to as many people as you can. You're polite, I'd listen to you.

But I'm having a laugh about the O-man. In the 2 or 3 years they've had that office, I have never heard of ONE person getting anything more than the 'we hear you ' letter they send out in response.

The only other thing I've heard of him doing is recommending that the Service do away with K-1 work authorization. I guess he doesn't have any little kitties left to torture.

[rebeccajo 14]

Mo, I spoke to our AO about 4 weeks ago via phone. I asked him if they need the info on his prior J1 and he said 'any prior immigration issues would have already been cleared up'.

I still keep wondering if I should Infopass with the old visa and passport in hand. But then again Pittsburgh gives us the phone and e-mail access to keep us out of their office for infopass (that's my belief anyway). I'm sort of afraid of p*ssing off our AO if I show up for infopass with these documents....

Any opinion on that?

And yeah, from what I've been told about the O-man, it's pretty much all gloss....

Edited October 28, 2006 by rebeccajo

[Donna A 4]

AOS

01/04/05--Lawyer sends in AOS package

01/10/05--NOA (120-180 days to process)

02/01/05--Biometrics apt.

02/10/05--Email stating they recieved the fingerprint results.

02/14/05--Touched

06/04/05--NOA for interview

08/18/05--AOS Interview (10:45 am) cancelled

10/24/05--Infopass appointment..new interview in January.

01/09/06--AOS Interview rescheduled (8:00 am)waiting on fbi

01/24/06--Sent for EAD renewal.

why is rebeccajo's case so terrible? it took us a year to get an interview and we are coming up on another year after the interview. we have had to renew the EAD and drivers liscence once already and coming up soon in haveing to renew again. had to pay for advance parole and soon will have to again if this damn green card dont hurry up. biometrics has be expired since may and never got anything to get another set again...so that tells me noone is even looking at the case or they would have realized they were expired. cost around 400 dollars a year to keep him legally working, driving and traveling.

trust me there are alot more of us with worse conditions then rebeccajo's.

[rebeccajo 14]

trust me there are alot more of us with worse conditions then rebeccajo's.

Of course there are. And I hope you get some resolution on yours soon. Truly.

I think one reason our case gets frequently referenced here is because we have been given an open line of communication with our district office. Unfortunately most people (probably including yourself) don't have that. You know how it's always recommended to call, write letters, Infopass, etc.? I think our case is showing that this doesn't necessarily work and so it mystifies people.

[Donna A 4]

weve talked to the congressmans assistent and the first time he said...well it seams u had a name hit. im sure it will be resolved sooner then later. if u dont hear from them in another 30 days call us back. 90 days later called back...theres nothing u can do but wait. there are thousands of people inquiring every day and ur case is newer then theirs. some people wait 2 years but if its any consolation to u...ive never seen one denied. oh that really makes me feel alot better as im dishing out more and more money to keep him legal.

weve made info pass appointments...just have to wait thats all u can do.

have talked to our attorney...just have to wait.

so basically the only answer is....JUST WAIT!!! how i hate those words.

[meauxna 15]

Mo, I spoke to our AO about 4 weeks ago via phone. I asked him if they need the info on his prior J1 and he said 'any prior immigration issues would have already been cleared up'.

I still keep wondering if I should Infopass with the old visa and passport in hand. But then again Pittsburgh gives us the phone and e-mail access to keep us out of their office for infopass (that's my belief anyway). I'm sort of afraid of p*ssing off our AO if I show up for infopass with these documents....

Any opinion on that?

And yeah, from what I've been told about the O-man, it's pretty much all gloss....

It's so hard to say what one would do in any given situation. I was thinking about you last night and I don't want to sound all full of bluster and like I would just march in there and get the stamp.

But I would not be averse to making an appointment and going in. Trust me, you are not the most obnoxious person they have to deal with! I would continue to ask the question "Is there anything we (collective we) can do to move this case forward?"

My experiences with our office have been *so* good. People are willing to go look things up, ask someone else, make a call, get some action. But, we have a really good boss here too--maybe his influence makes the staff what they are (he is a really good people manager). My office is also about 10 minutes from my house, with traffic lights -- going there is not a big deal for me.

I think the truth is, when these namecheck things get rolling, there is nothing that 'they' can really do; they are waiting on someone else to clear the file. I don't know how we find out where these namechecks are or who is doing them; CIS keeps things close to the vest. Lawyers don't seem to have an inroad. The only possibility is an elected rep, and then it's luck of the draw for how much interest your people have in helping with this sort of thing. In our immigrant-heavy but small population, the reps are pretty good.

Reading over at BE, I know that there are lots of people in your shoes and worse; like donnaal & worse. I had never thought about it in the terms that donnaal put it in---costing $400 a year to keep your alien legal when it should be done and dusted.

Other than writing to your District Director and having the patience of a saint, I don't know what is left to you other than calling on them in person. I know my approach would be totally geared toward getting my result and not in being 'right' or righteous. I think you know what I mean by that.

(gobs of honey & humility rather than piss & vinegar)

PS: I do not think there are individual, personal reprecussions for asking repeatedly about your case. If you ever saw how many files they have in the back, holy crow, be lucky if they remember their OWN names let alone yours.

Edited October 28, 2006 by meauxna