Incompetent USCIS lost our documents?

[Sebas&Lily 3]

Just got our first RFE ever in this entire process...USCIS is a bunch of morons if you ask me, I will never think a milimeter higher of them. They delay us, a normal loving couple, but others who are clearly trying to work the system, get approved faster than anyone else. I don't believe anyone competent works there. I've sent a huge folder of documents they asked for, including financial stuff and more pictures and proof...yet we still receive RFE asking for the exact same things we sent in, including BIRTH CERTIFICATE which I have sent in. I wouldn't be surprised if those incompetent fools lost our documents. Gotta love the USofA.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

...

It sounds like you got a RFE for more evidence of a bona fide marriage for ROC.

The letter that they send for RFE is a boiler plate letter. It just lists all types of evidence. It doesn't mean that they lost your documents. They just copy/paste from a list of evidence types.

[mjaskiew 8]

You might be a victim of the pipe burst at CSC. A lot of files were flooded and damaged back in fall of 2012. I saw a lot of posts here on VJ about it. Maybe your file was damaged and now they are asking for the exact same thing you initially submitted?

[Sebas&Lily 3]

...

It sounds like you got a RFE for more evidence of a bona fide marriage for ROC.

The letter that they send for RFE is a boiler plate letter. It just lists all types of evidence. It doesn't mean that they lost your documents. They just copy/paste from a list of evidence types.

Wouldn't they specify what they need though, like they did in billions of other letters to other users on here?

You might be a victim of the pipe burst at CSC. A lot of files were flooded and damaged back in fall of 2012. I saw a lot of posts here on VJ about it. Maybe your file was damaged and now they are asking for the exact same thing you initially submitted?

I'd love to sue them for what they are doing to us, if that's the case.

[Cherries2013 0]

Hi there,

So we actually just got the boilerplate language asking for the exact same stuff we sent before too...

I'm really at a loss

the only thing we can't send is a birth certificate of a child, since we don't have any children.

I'm hoping they're just using this as a tactic to ease caseload or something, because it's honestly quite ridiculous.

Best of luck!

I'm just sending updates of everything - but this time, explaining everything. So, whereas before I just put our bank statements and let them speak for themselves (they clearly didn't), this time, I'll attach a separate letter saying "see, this means we have joint assets."

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Wouldn't they specify what they need though, like they did in billions of other letters to other users on here?

No, see, that's why I think you are confused.

For ROC you have to prove you have a bona fide marriage. There is not a single item that you MUST supply, rather it is the picture of all of the documents you send. Evidently what you send did not paint a clear enough picture, so they just send you a RFE for "more proof" of a general thing. The list they send is just boilerplate.

For AOS and other things, yes, RFEs are sent for specific missing items, like a medical, or proof of citizenship. But for ROC, that isn't the case.

Imagine if they sent you a RFE for a specific thing, like proof of life insurance over the years of your marriage. Not everyone has that, and it is not required that they do. Make sense?

It's nothing to be outraged over. Lots of people get RFEs and send back some more stuff and it is approved. It's not a big deal.

[Sebas&Lily 3]

Thank you for clearing that up Harpa, it's just really frustrating and it upset my wife, made her depressed, ruined our day off together etc...I'm just venting because we have sent in a ton of USEFUL information, yet still they need more. The only things that changed for us so far: Paid off my car so both of our names are on it now, filed taxes again, more pictures, longer bank statement... Nothing else I can think of. I'm really hoping these extra items are enough because I have nothing else...it just blows my mind that I have sent in such strong supporting documents, and then we get an RFE. I can just picture a USCIS worker not paying attention to our folder, just browing through and deciding "Eh wth, I want to see more"..

[Steve D. 22]

It's a delaying tactics.

I was in the same situation. RFE, longer than a year process, finally I just applied for citizenship (N-400) and got it over with.

Most likely they lost it.

If you are qualified for citizenship, and if it's your ultimate goal, by all means FILE for it. It'll push them morons to force a decision on your I-751.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Thank you for clearing that up Harpa, it's just really frustrating and it upset my wife, made her depressed, ruined our day off together etc...I'm just venting because we have sent in a ton of USEFUL information, yet still they need more. The only things that changed for us so far: Paid off my car so both of our names are on it now, filed taxes again, more pictures, longer bank statement... Nothing else I can think of. I'm really hoping these extra items are enough because I have nothing else...it just blows my mind that I have sent in such strong supporting documents, and then we get an RFE. I can just picture a USCIS worker not paying attention to our folder, just browing through and deciding "Eh wth, I want to see more"..

Did you send monthly bank statements from all the years of marriage?

Without knowing what you sent, we can't say what is missing.

If you put a list here I am sure that people would give suggestions on what else to send.

I don't want to tell you how to feel, but personally I wouldn't let USCIS ruin my day. Plenty of people get RFEs and it's all okay. It's more worth a "bummer" and a shrug than outrage and devastation.

Edited May 8, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[Sebas&Lily 3]

I like how you put it Harpa, I can't let it ruin anything anylonger... We will overcome it.

We didn't send monthly statements, we sent them an actual letter from the bank stating our accounts, our names and the status (when we opened it, if active or not etc)...I thought that would be enough since many others have sent the same exact thing.

I've also sent:

Copies of our driver licenses showing same address

Copies of our insurance cards (vehicle and health)

Pictures

Notarized letters from friends and family

Bank letter

Copy of vehicle registration with both of our names on them

T-Mobile bill with our names

Other required copies, can't think of them now

Steve, yes, our ultimate goal is US Citizenship but don't we have to complete this first before we apply?

[Sebas&Lily 3]

So I printed last 6mos of bank statements, is that enough? Or should I go further back?

[bewildering 9]

Do you have a lease with your names on it? I assume you sent them your taxes filed together. And something like a 401K or life insurance with the other spouse named as beneficiary.

To be honest, you sent

pictures - meaningless (only counted as secondary)

driving license - meaningless (the USCIS know how useless the DMV are!), anyone could get a driving license with an address one week and then move out.

Copies of our insurance cards (vehicle and health) - good evidence

Notarized letters from friends and family - meaningless (like the pictures - easily faked)

Bank letter - doesn't mean too much, the statements will show you actually use the account.

Copy of vehicle registration with both of our names on them - (blah, DMV again)

T-Mobile bill with our names - again, how do they know you didn't just sign the spuse up as a phantom person on your account, T-mobile don't check or care!

All in all, unless you sent something else you have only one strongish bit of evidence, your insurance cards. But could they have been forged? The USCIS won't know.

I think the lease, named beneficiary life insurance or 401K, bank statements and tax transcripts will be good enough

Forget the other stuff

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

So I printed last 6mos of bank statements, is that enough? Or should I go further back?

Go further back. To the beginning of your marriage. They want to see that the account is used, not that it's a dummy account with one penny in it, if you know what I mean? You could do quarterly statements all the way back instead of every month.

And you can apply for citizenship on your normal timeline, even if ROC isn't finished yet.

Edited May 9, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[TBoneTX 45,077]

Great input from HT, as usual.

Do you have Wills, medical powers of attorney, HIPAA releases, etc.? If so, include those.

[bigdog 376]

Time to throw in the kitchen sink and give them everything? On the positive note, at least someone looked at your file. CSC has been very slow.

Edited May 9, 2013 by bigdog