Called my Senator's office - Didn't end well.

[Tracey&Greg 35]

conversation with a gentleman about where we were flying to and I told him I was off to see my fiance in the UK and he was on his way to Washington DC. Long story short he gave me his business card and promised he would do anything to help us with our fiance process I thanked his generosity and put his card in my wallet and didn't think much of it. He even walked me to my connection flight since this was the first time I flew by myself out of the country. After our good byes and bidding each other a safe trip to our next destination I looked at his business card and it read "Senator Jeff Sessions" and thought..why would he give me my state senators card..I ended up Googling the name and omg it was the guy who helped me! Doh!!

Sadly I never spoke to him again but I did call his office and they did check on the status of my process and pretty much told me everything I know already which was frustrating. So I feel like every time I feel like there might be some help is another dead end.

But the truth is we all have different senators and people in their offices are willing to be there for us, and some are just butts. In the end we just have to stick together and just hope every day brings us two steps closer to our loves and not ten steps back. Sure its annoying to see someone approved at 3 months and others takes a half of a year. But we will get there in time

Sorry I felt like rambling tonight and had to vent a little too

[nami33 6]

Some time patience is the answer. I know this might not be the aswer you are looking for but stressing your self is not helpful and qill not solve your problem. It might actually creat another .. I applied in feb 2012 and didnt get approved untill appril 2013. That is a year and 2 months. if you are past 6 months then you can call from time to time to check your application. Otherwise, give the guys time to do their job

[Wendy71 26]

Some time patience is the answer. I know this might not be the aswer you are looking for but stressing your self is not helpful and qill not solve your problem. It might actually creat another .. I applied in feb 2012 and didnt get approved untill appril 2013. That is a year and 2 months. if you are past 6 months then you can call from time to time to check your application. Otherwise, give the guys time to do their job

I am doing my best to be patient and you are right it is not helpful to stress over it as it does not make the process go any quicker, my fiancé has been calling some days they are polite others they can be extremely rude. One lady he talked to back in March was the most helpful anyone had been she spoke to him and also sent him a letter stating our RFE could take up to 90 days we are have counted the working days and that will be up June 17th, funny thing is I sent and e-request end of April which I have a feeling is an automated reply saying our file was with a review officer and would have a decision within 60 days. Its a waiting game but a hard one when you see others who are being approved within 5 months. Thank you for sharing your story it has made me feel a little at ease to see yours was a long process like ours

[Wendy71 26]

look on the bright side.. atleast you got an rfe, we received nothing at all

Yes you are right on the RFE funny thing that was received right on the 5th month of processing time, we were told our case would go on hold till the evidence was received then they would proceed from the that date I truly didn't think I would still be sitting in NZ in June that's all

[TBoneTX 45,284]

with the stroke of a pen Obama signed DACA

USCIS was not prepared for the influx of petitions that it was about to receive or the ramifications of what the agency would need to do to take care of it.

This is the heart of the matter. Complicating the situation is that the USCIS has long had the reputation of being "our very worst Federal agency" -- this from a Congressional staffer (2008).

Here's an assumption that's just as valid as others of above: Sen. Cruz's staffer might have contacted USCIS multiple times already during the day or week and been blown off, either rudely or by having hit a brick wall herself.

When I met Sen.-to-be Cruz before his election, I told him my story, in brief: On the advice of a huge law firm "with connections," I called then-Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's chief staffer to try to discuss our immigration challenges. After no luck all day, I finally reached the woman, who cut me off with "The Senator has far more important things to do than to concern herself with one person's K-1 application." I was shocked enough that I could say nothing before I was hung up on.

I asked Sen.-to-be Cruz, "Will you please ensure that your constituent services' representatives tackle issues like tigers on meat?" He soberly looked me in the eye and said "That goes without saying."

I too have an active immigration-related request (sent earlier this month) in with his office. I'll follow up on it and publicize the reaction, to show whether it's (dis)similar to what the OP reports.

Edited June 13, 2013 by TBoneTX

[nami33 6]

I am doing my best to be patient and you are right it is not helpful to stress over it as it does not make the process go any quicker, my fiancé has been calling some days they are polite others they can be extremely rude. One lady he talked to back in March was the most helpful anyone had been she spoke to him and also sent him a letter stating our RFE could take up to 90 days we are have counted the working days and that will be up June 17th, funny thing is I sent and e-request end of April which I have a feeling is an automated reply saying our file was with a review officer and would have a decision within 60 days. Its a waiting game but a hard one when you see others who are being approved within 5 months. Thank you for sharing your story it has made me feel a little at ease to see yours was a long process like ours

Wendy71, i am happy i was able to help. They had all my documents (NO RFE was sent) still they took so long just to review them. I waited untill i just gave up calling untill one day, i open my email and voila! they sent an email saying they have approved it. Now the waiting game at NVC is going on

[rlogan3030 6]

First let me begin by saying I understand all of your frustrations, as it took 308 days to bring my husband home. I also included my Senator with amazing results ( had a response in 48 hours and approval 4 business days later). But as it has been said nobody can do anything UNLESS you are outside of the stated processing times. Also it helps if you have already submitted a service request and it has been at least 14 days without resolution, THEN your representative can and will inquire for you. I realize some are more helpful than others but if you have gone through the steps PRIOR to contacting them they will be more enthusiastic about looking into the situation. So unfortunately you will have to keep an eye on processing times and then after your petition is beyond that date submit a service request and if nothing comes out of that then contact your representative. If they looked into every case it would not be of benefit to anybody. Now please understand there are certain circumstances others get approved faster, ie: Military personnel, country of beneficiary origin and paperwork processing times being faster than others. Track your box on USCIS and play with the last 3 numbers and you will know when your box has been pulled and petitions are being processed. Keep in mind the average runs 6-10 months. EVERYONE wants their loved ones here as fast as possible but it is called a PROCESS for a reason. It will happen, everyone has to wait their turn. There are some people who have been waiting years. Also the centers work in waves, 1 will always be slower than the others but it is what it is. Good luck to all.

[Chicagoguy 2 27]

I understand this post is not helpful but I have been on this forum for about 5 years and we always have the same conversation. It seems to me that Immigration will mostly do what they want to do and we just have to wait. Unless there is a big problem it will happen sooner or later and if there is a big problem you might need a competent lawyer.

There have been times when someone who works there is on forum and they reply that everyone there is working hard but they have their own priorities - not ours. But whatever they are seems to be a secret

Also. I heard one time that they sometimes read posts here.

[moemac59 192]

For the record Harsh, I'm the lady in this couple. But you're right, I am within processing times. My problem didn't come from her saying there wasn't anything they could do, I fully anticipated that. The issue was with how poorly she handled the situation, and brushed the issue aside. For me to ask why there is such a delay and her to tell me she wasn't going to find out was unacceptable.

Spareows, welcome to the waiting game of USCIS and US Gov't. Everytime I would call USCIS and speak to a Tier 2 agent regarding my AOS application it was a different answer from the that I got before. I learned that I had to develop a really thick skin when dealing with these people. Some where rude and some were not. Just luck of the draw of who I spoke to on the phone.

[spareows 7]

Spareows, welcome to the waiting game of USCIS and US Gov't. Everytime I would call USCIS and speak to a Tier 2 agent regarding my AOS application it was a different answer from the that I got before. I learned that I had to develop a really thick skin when dealing with these people. Some where rude and some were not. Just luck of the draw of who I spoke to on the phone.

Yep. It's a shame that people can be so rude. I'm tempted to just call and bug her once a week from now on, just cos. Haha.

[St&Sv 33]

From your timeline it seems you are right at the point of 6 months which an average is given few weeks here or there.

No senator or congressman is going to touch a case if it is within the average time frame.

Each case is different and some do get approved faster and some does take little extra time nor they would go by anything on VJ.

I wouldn't be so quick to lump all Senators and Congressmen together. I think it really comes down to the person and their staff. I'm still within the normal processing time and Senator Toomey's office still took my call, and looked into my case for me.

All I did was call his office and talk to the girl who works immigration, and I explained to her our situation. I boiled it down to i'm without an official processing time with no idea what is going on, and I would like it if you could help. After 3 days of mailing out the privacy release form she responded with a timeframe, this to me is all I wanted. Now if it runs over I know my Senator's office will help me and already know about me.

Sometimes you need to kill people with kindness, they are not the enemy but an ally that you need on your side. So butter them up, and try to take down their walls, and you will get what you want out of them (within reason).

Edited June 13, 2013 by St&Sv

[joevegas 67]

I called Texas Senator Ted Cruz's office and spoke to Melissa Miller today regarding the backlog at Vermont. She was very short and rude. On top of saying "Looks like you'll just have to wait" she told me that she "wouldn't be reaching out to them (Vermont) again" because she already called for another gentleman. When I pointed out that many people were being approved from months all out of whack she brushed it off and basically called VJ contributors liars. When I told her that the recent timelines showed approvals from July - February she scoffed and told me that she wouldn't look at anything unless my case was filed before October 15, 2012.

Really frustrated with the conversation I just had.

You know I just don't get it,wait..wait your turn..if it takes a year..wait..it's not a right to be in this country,it's a privilege...all these people that I read about that after 3 or 4 months are up in arms about having to still have to wait,and the immigration system is evil because they are keeping you from your loved one is ridiculous..Find a lover from your own country,no waiting simple...I waited a year..and then like 9 months for my removing of conditions,and i had a AOS interview,not once did I consider calling my senator..A petition is rediculous,they process hundred of thousands aplications a year...I understand certain cases require some help,but the majority of cases here are relatively new...Stop whining and just relax and your time will come.

[spareows 7]

You know I just don't get it,wait..wait your turn..if it takes a year..wait..it's not a right to be in this country,it's a privilege...all these people that I read about that after 3 or 4 months are up in arms about having to still have to wait,and the immigration system is evil because they are keeping you from your loved one is ridiculous..Find a lover from your own country,no waiting simple...I waited a year..and then like 9 months for my removing of conditions,and i had a AOS interview,not once did I consider calling my senator..A petition is rediculous,they process hundred of thousands aplications a year...I understand certain cases require some help,but the majority of cases here are relatively new...Stop whining and just relax and your time will come.

If you're happy to wait a year then by all means go for it. I find that if you've waited that long without contacting someone then it's really your own fault nothing got done sooner. Still, I don't feel bad about contacting people elected to help me and represent me. I'm an American citizen, I vote, I get to bug them. That's their job, it's what they're there for. Calling to check on why there is a huge backlog isn't something that is going to put a stand still on their day. Like I said before, I wasn't asking for any type of special treatment, I was calling to figure out if they had any idea why the VSC files were being so delayed. Just because people have waited that long doesn't make it right. Just because this is the system doesn't mean it's not broken. I'd rather be proactive then wait a year with nothing to show for it.

[joevegas 67]

If you're happy to wait a year then by all means go for it. I find that if you've waited that long without contacting someone then it's really your own fault nothing got done sooner. Still, I don't feel bad about contacting people elected to help me and represent me. I'm an American citizen, I vote, I get to bug them. That's their job, it's what they're there for. Calling to check on why there is a huge backlog isn't something that is going to put a stand still on their day. Like I said before, I wasn't asking for any type of special treatment, I was calling to figure out if they had any idea why the VSC files were being so delayed. Just because people have waited that long doesn't make it right. Just because this is the system doesn't mean it's not broken. I'd rather be proactive then wait a year with nothing to show for it.

Most systems are broken,this one is not an exception,it's not perfect,but it is what it is,and you have every right to complain about it,thats what makes democratic countries so great,you have waited 4 months or so,that's nothing,chill,relax it will come...I'm just venting about people that think they deserve some special treatment after a few months of waiting...

[Penny Lane 8,159]

U just picked on one post and not reading the complete thread.

Point being made was there was no additional resources added when they knew it would be hundreds of thousands of application.

Things like DACA would slow down the process for rest of the ppl.

I read the entire thread.

What about my post implied that I didn't?

So many people blame DACA for this process being stupidly slow, when in reality, it was like this before DACA existed.