Contacted my representative's office about late NOA2

[Ronn63 41]

I'm unsure. For sure the second answer I got was way more detailled and it took me half a day to get it. Maybe because I used my work email which ends with .gov ...

Can I borrow your .gov for a day or 2?

[moondream 36]

Can I borrow your .gov for a day or 2?

Ahah I wish. I hope CSC starts moving and that this long wait is over for all of us.

[Bayareaguy 156]

Well, I called my congressman's office again. I originally wanted to wait for the USCIS time data to come out, but I'm tired of waiting on such incompetence.

So she again started to talk about "countries with a lot of applicants..." BS, so I cut her off right then and told her I know that USCIS does not differentiate in the processing of applications based on country, other than automatic expedite for Hati. So, seeing that she was dealing with a somewhat aware individual, she completely dropped the talk about my fiance's country having anything to do with it.

Then she brought up the old "July 18" line, and said that "they cant do anything if they are not processing applications after that date," again. So then I mentioned that not only is USCIS processing applications after July 18 (which is really only as of Dec 31) at a very slow pace, I know of a few applicants after July 18, and even after my NOA1 date, that have been helped by their congressman's office, by inquiring about their specific case to the USCIS on their behalf.

So, she said she will try to find out what she can do and will call me back.

So, waiting for the call, and getting my blood pressure down from the earlier call.

Edited March 18, 2013 by Bayareaguy

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

** one off topic post belonging in the P/R forum and one quoting removed ****

[pachacuti 154]

Well, I called my congressman's office again. I originally wanted to wait for the USCIS time data to come out, but I'm tired of waiting on such incompetence.

So she again started to talk about "countries with a lot of applicants..." BS, so I cut her off right then and told her I know that USCIS does not differentiate in the processing of applications based on country, other than automatic expedite for Hati. So, seeing that she was dealing with a somewhat aware individual, she completely dropped the talk about my fiance's country having anything to do with it.

Then she brought up the old "July 18" line, and said that "they cant do anything if they are not processing applications after that date," again. So then I mentioned that not only is USCIS processing applications after July 18 (which is really only as of Dec 31) at a very slow pace, I know of a few applicants after July 18, and even after my NOA1 date, that have been helped by their congressman's office, by inquiring about their specific case to the USCIS on their behalf.

So, she said she will try to find out what she can do and will call me back.

So, waiting for the call, and getting my blood pressure down from the earlier call.

Good luck to you. I am sure we will find out here how you fare.

[Bayareaguy 156]

Good luck to you. I am sure we will find out here how you fare.

I will give a full report.

Here is what I want...that they will take my information, have me submit a release to them, and they will make an inquiry to the USCIS about my case on my behalf.

Anything short of this, then I am prepared to read them the riot act.

Edited March 18, 2013 by Bayareaguy

[pachacuti 154]

I will give a full report.

Here is what I want...that they will take my information, have me submit a release to them, and they will make an inquiry to the USCIS about my case on my behalf.

Anything short of this, then I am prepared to read them the riot act.

Looking forward to hearing how you do. Looking more forward to the day I get to tell you congratulations, quite frankly.

[Haribo 16]

I will give a full report.

Here is what I want...that they will take my information, have me submit a release to them, and they will make an inquiry to the USCIS about my case on my behalf.

Anything short of this, then I am prepared to read them the riot act.

I managed to talk my representative (CA - Dem.) into doing that for me last month. Unfortunately, he got the standard runaround from CSC about processing dates, July 18th, and how to file an expedite request. Hopefully you get more/better information, but I don't think a standard inquiry is enough -- your Congressperson needs to make some real effort on your behalf to get the wheels churning.

I'm thinking about pressing further this week, because the lack of movement is getting obscene. I don't understand how it is okay to do virtually no work on an entire class of visa applications for five months.

Edited March 18, 2013 by Haribo

[Bayareaguy 156]

I managed to talk my representative (CA - Dem.) into doing that for me last month. Unfortunately, he got the standard runaround from CSC about processing dates, July 18th, and how to file an expedite request. Hopefully you get more/better information, but I don't think a standard inquiry is enough -- your Congressperson needs to make some real effort on your behalf to get the wheels churning.

I'm thinking about pressing further this week, because the lack of movement is getting obscene. I don't understand how it is okay to do virtually no work on an entire class of visa applications for five months.

No call yet...

But grrrrrrr, that doesn't give me much confidence. They have been dragging their feet already on this, so I highly doubt they would put the extra effort in "going to bat for me", so to speak, that some others seem to get. But it will be worth a try I suppose. Have you tried the senators yet? I'm going the congressman route first, because of the relative numbers of constituents, as well as that if there is a political bent to their willingness to help, I'm assuming our senators would be even worse than my congressman...

[Haribo 16]

No call yet...

But grrrrrrr, that doesn't give me much confidence. They have been dragging their feet already on this, so I highly doubt they would put the extra effort in "going to bat for me", so to speak, that some others seem to get. But it will be worth a try I suppose. Have you tried the senators yet? I'm going the congressman route first, because of the relative numbers of constituents, as well as that if there is a political bent to their willingness to help, I'm assuming our senators would be even worse than my congressman...

Well, don't give up all hope! You might get lucky Also, you have an earlier NOA1 than me (and are applying a month later), so you might need less of a push than I would have needed.

I tried the senators (mailed/faxed them all out the same day: February 14th). Boxer was totally useless and never responded back; Feinstein responded with a printout of the posted Processing Times (ie: the July 18th date) and a letter that said the following:

Thank you for your letter and enclosures regarding your request to expedite you I-129F petition (NOTE: I did not request to expedite! I requested a service request and any additional assistance they could provide!). I appreciate your taking the time to bring your case to my attention. However, USCIS is unable to process petitions . . . out of chronological order unless an extraordinary humanitarian need is established. [blah blah fair and equitable processing, how to apply for expedited processing] The

CSC

is currently processing these types of petitions received on, or prior to, July 18, 2012. According to the agency, your petition was received on August 31, 2012.

Because the liaison for my congresswoman was nicer and more responsive, I think I will target him later this week. I would love to wait until the new processing times are released, of course, but who knows when that will happen...

[Bayareaguy 156]

Well, don't give up all hope! You might get lucky Also, you have an earlier NOA1 than me (and are applying a month later), so you might need less of a push than I would have needed.

I tried the senators (mailed/faxed them all out the same day: February 14th). Boxer was totally useless and never responded back; Feinstein responded with a printout of the posted Processing Times (ie: the July 18th date) and a letter that said the following:

Thank you for your letter and enclosures regarding your request to expedite you I-129F petition (NOTE: I did not request to expedite! I requested a service request and any additional assistance they could provide!). I appreciate your taking the time to bring your case to my attention. However, USCIS is unable to process petitions . . . out of chronological order unless an extraordinary humanitarian need is established. [blah blah fair and equitable processing, how to apply for expedited processing] The

CSC

is currently processing these types of petitions received on, or prior to, July 18, 2012. According to the agency, your petition was received on August 31, 2012.

Because the liaison for my congresswoman was nicer and more responsive, I think I will target him later this week. I would love to wait until the new processing times are released, of course, but who knows when that will happen...

What a joke! Expedited? We just want our applications processed according to the reasonable 5 month goal. If it is after 5 months, it is not @#$%@ expedited! It's pretty simple and clear.

[coloradical 1]

What a joke! Expedited? We just want our applications processed according to the reasonable 5 month goal. If it is after 5 months, it is not @#$%@ expedited! It's pretty simple and clear.

I sent that exact sentiment to my Congresswoman, with evidence, and she emailed Friday saying she got in touch with USCIS and they expected my petition to be adjudicated within two weeks - we heard back today it was APPROVED! If you want any help with what to say/evidence to provide, I am happy to assist you!

[Bayareaguy 156]

I sent that exact sentiment to my Congresswoman, with evidence, and she emailed Friday saying she got in touch with USCIS and they expected my petition to be adjudicated within two weeks - we heard back today it was APPROVED! If you want any help with what to say/evidence to provide, I am happy to assist you!

Wow, that's great!

What magic words did you use? lol.

[Andreea&Kevin 38]

I sent that exact sentiment to my Congresswoman, with evidence, and she emailed Friday saying she got in touch with USCIS and they expected my petition to be adjudicated within two weeks - we heard back today it was APPROVED! If you want any help with what to say/evidence to provide, I am happy to assist you!

Congrats!!

I think that makes anyone in the past week who got approved or a RFE had some type of contact with a congressman or senator.

[coloradical 1]

Wow, that's great!

What magic words did you use? lol.

There is a larger document I am happy to share, but following the unsuccessful Congressional Inquiry we followed up with a letter asking for "fair and equitable treatment" and provided proof not only that according to USCIS posted timelines the case should have been processed months ago but that people with petition dates after ours were being processed. We then provided proof of Congressional Inquiries made by other Congressman where substantive information was given rather than the "wait 60 days" response. It was far more detailed and specific, but that is the jist of it. I was also very specific in what I wanted them to do for me and the timeframe I expected it to be done in.