Can a congressman help expedite the process?

[JM&K 1]

We just began the visa process a month ago and are discouraged by how long it takes! I've read that calling or getting a congressman involved can help speed up the green card process. Does anyone know if this helps with the k-1 visa too?

[baron555 934]

We just began the visa process a month ago and are discouraged by how long it takes! I've read that calling or getting a congressman involved can help speed up the green card process. Does anyone know if this helps with the k-1 visa too?

Nope, you wait like all the others have and do.

[Hypnos 6,578]

It takes as long as it takes.

Asking your congressional representatives to get involved is usually only of use when your case is either outside of normal processing times or has been mishandled in some way (misapplication of the law, sent to the wrong processing centre, etc.).

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

There are certain reason that qualify for expediated processing but everyone else must wait in line, NO your congressman can't make it go faster. If that worked we would all call and the whole line would still be in front of you.

[Anh map 2,098]

We just began the visa process a month ago and are discouraged by how long it takes! I've read that calling or getting a congressman involved can help speed up the green card process. Does anyone know if this helps with the k-1 visa too?

Not really. They can make inquiries, but no effect until after the petition is outside of normal processing time guidelines. Even then, the effect is negligible in most cases. But it does make one feel like they are doing something by "shaking the tree."

For what it's worth, the process coming from France is a cake walk compared to that of many other countries. The wait is still frustrating.

Best of luck.

[Texas22 50]

We had to wait almost 8 months for our NOA2 from Vermont. Might as well settle in and wait like everyone else. We got our congressman's office involved only after they were outside "normal processing times". It did not speed up our process in any way. I am in Canada, also a relatively easy Country... and it looks like it will be about a year before I can POE.

Good Luck to you. Hang in there. Love is worth it!

[Shezi 108]

We just began the visa process a month ago and are discouraged by how long it takes! I've read that calling or getting a congressman involved can help speed up the green card process. Does anyone know if this helps with the k-1 visa too?

We filed at the end of February 2012, I had my interview in London yesterday and was approved for K-1 visa. We received our NOA2 on September 6th, that's the part that takes forever... dragged on and on and very hard to cope with. Since then, it's been pretty quick, 24 hours at NVC, 3 days to get packet 3, medical a couple weeks later, interview scheduled a week after that, 8 days' notice...

It varies from case to case - since we went over the 5 months processing time, we did contact our congressman and got the NOA2 a week later but you know? It may just have been our turn anyway - we'll never know.

A congressman won't look at it though until you are past the 5 months process time from NOA1. If you are discouraged after only a month, you won't fare so well in this process. My advice would be to dig deep into your own resources and try to find ways of distracting yourselves. Nothing is likely to happen for you until at least Feb-March

Good luck

[mik2012 17]

It does not hurt to try. This is the response I got back by USICS through my Senator.

They actually got a different reply back than I got:

Good Afternoon,

Our records reflect that the 1-129f/K1 petition, Receipt Number, EAC-xx-xxx-xxxxx, filed by XXXXX XXXXXXX

was received February 21,2012, and is currently pending active review with an Immigrtion Services Officer (ISO) per the request of the Division Director.

Accordingly, the petitioner should hear from us within 15 days

Sincerely,

Immigration Service Officer/Congressional Unit

USCIS/ Vermont Service Center (802) 527-4972

Then the letter from my Senator asks me to contact them if I do not here anything come Nov 1st.

So I guess it does help to write occasionally..

Edited October 13, 2012 by mik2012

[Texas22 50]

It does not hurt to try. This is the response I got back by USICS through my Senator.

They actually got a different reply back than I got:

Good Afternoon,

Our records reflect that the 1-129f/K1 petition, Receipt Number, EAC-xx-xxx-xxxxx, filed by XXXXX XXXXXXX

was received February 21,2012, and is currently pending active review with an Immigrtion Services Officer (ISO) per the request of the Division Director.

Accordingly, the petitioner should hear from us within 15 days

Sincerely,

Immigration Service Officer/Congressional Unit

USCIS/ Vermont Service Center (802) 527-4972

Then the letter from my Senator asks me to contact them if I do not here anything come Nov 1st.

So I guess it does help to write occasionally..

It is because you are at 7 months... which is outside of processing times. Nothing can be done one month into the process.

[JM&K 1]

Thank you for all the answers! We know it's going to be a long and hard process. It helps having forum to hear everyone's stories and know we are not alone. Just to clarify, we were more curious as to effects of getting a congressman involved if it takes too long. We've seen there are a lot delays right now.

[Texas22 50]

Thank you for all the answers! We know it's going to be a long and hard process. It helps having forum to hear everyone's stories and know we are not alone. Just to clarify, we were more curious as to effects of getting a congressman involved if it takes too long. We've seen there are a lot delays right now.

The Vermont Center is showing avg processing time of 6 months now. Honestly, I would wait and if they get past that time with your case, then call and ask for a service request. When my fiance called and asked for a service request (after our RFE), they processed our NOA2 within 5 days.

[Rosie_Todd 8]

Try to find activities to keep from thinking too much about the process...the wait is brutal enough without pondering it. Who knows...by the time you hit 4 or 5 months, VSC might be processing in normal time frame again.

[ThinhHang12 0]

Good luck to you..

Try to find activities to keep from thinking too much about the process...the wait is brutal enough without pondering it. Who knows...by the time you hit 4 or 5 months, VSC might be processing in normal time frame again.

[Enigma11561 336]

Geez. It's only been ONE month? You have a long way to go yet. You have seen the others processing times. You cannot short circuit yours. It is what it is.

[aaron2020 11,651]

We just began the visa process a month ago and are discouraged by how long it takes! I've read that calling or getting a congressman involved can help speed up the green card process. Does anyone know if this helps with the k-1 visa too?

A Congressman cannot help with only a month of waiting.

USCIS has many K-1 petitions ahead of yours. USCIS tries to process them in 5 months but that is no always possible. After 5 months, a Congressman may be able to help. A Congressman can make an inquiry that gets someone to look at your case, but a Congressman cannot make USCIS expedite or do things faster.

There are lots of people who have been waiting more than 5+ months. Read their posts to learn how to handle the separation.