2nd Letter to House Jud Cmte - I-130 delays by USCIS

[Karmalicious 60]

I'm in too.

[naam_2013 72]

I think the processing stats that blueberrypancake found for DACA versus I-130 would be great in here. Also some emphasis in the processing timeframe graphic to call attention to the date for I-130, because it's buried underneath a huge amount of I-129 forms and my eye is drawn naturally to the yellow I-129F lines. It's a lot of graphic for just the one line relevant to us, basically. A footnote list for the sources we're citing is probably a good idea again, even though the letter calls out pages on USCIS itself. Let's keep it consistent and thorough.

The letter ought to be really clear about how it defines the processing time goal, because frankly, I don't know what USCIS itself means by it. Does USCIS' current processing time refer to petitions filed at that time? That is to say, do they mean that petitions filed as of September 30, 2013 will take 7.4 months to adjudicate? If so, demanding a 5 month processing goal isn't the clearest way to help the current backlog, as it would apply to the folks filing after us.

I like calling them out on the inconsistency between their average processing time and their current processing date, but why not give them a specific call to action there? Point out the lack of transparency in the agency and request a reconciliation between their data so that we petitioners can set expectations accordingly. Same thing with the assertion about DACA; the claim is made with no follow-up. In addition to saying "look at this correlation, this is why the backlog exists," perhaps we can make a statement requesting that processing rates be equalized so that USCs and their immediate relatives are no longer suffering disproportionately. That would be a good spot to tie in the stats linked above.

Thoughts? Comments?

Great job naam_2013, thanks for getting this rolling once again and giving us a rallying point!

Thank you for starting this, it's a good effort and I'm definitely up for getting behind this. There are some minor adjustments and additions to the wording to be made but I like the general tone of the letter. I really like the top graph as it shows the relationship between the amount of pending petitions and how it relates to DACA. We have the stat's for how few I-130's were adjudicated and how many DACA applications were rushed through in this period so lets use them along with the graph. It makes for truly shocking reading. I also like the comment about the misleading processing timelines as like most people on here I find it inherently frustrating that USCIS is using them as a get out clause.

I think we should make a point of explaining the pain that we are suffering due to the lack of information given by USCIS. We can make better information one of our requests, it's not like it will cost them anything and it should be the minimum they are prepared to do! Not only are their actions making us wait to be with our families, we can't even plan anything to do with our lives together because USCIS won't keep it's stakeholders up to date.

Thanks for the feedback and joining this campaign.

1. If anyone thinks that the intent of letter is DACA vs. legal immigration - it is not; it is about the policies of the people in Oval office. I am not a gatekeeper of illegals in the US, but if the policies of administration towards the illegals (or towards any other matter) impact me/my family than I am going to voice my concern.

2. I am flexible in tweaking the letter, we just need to keep it focused on 1 issue and keep it short - so please modify the letter as you like and we will all come to an agreement. The 2nd letter should not have the same matter [for the most part] as the 1st one but it should point to the same issue; we are just giving this a different spin.

The Issue: Spouses not able to live together due to delay/backlog of I-130 at USCIS.

Reasons: Administration's policies, administration's lack of interest, administration's lack of planning, etc. The point is that "the blame is on administration".

I want to keep the letter to 1 page, but due to the graphs, it is not possible, and we do not want to put an eye-chart.

So BOS_LHR, Hotter Otter and others, please tweak the letter and let's finalize it by 12/8.

Thanks again for the feedback and getting on board

P.S. I would like the person who sent me the request to get the "edit" rights on the letter on my Google docs, to send me a PM on VJ.

[Lifehastomoveon 37]

I am in too

[palu 23]

And I am in again as well.

I think BOS_LHR has made some good points and I would like him, or her, to make a revision of the letter.

Another point, NPR could care less about us (unless we are illegals). I listen to NPR religiously until they start talking about illegals. Illegals walk on water for NPR.

[naam_2013 72]

I tweaked the letter a bit, and added the email/fax of the POCs on page 3 and 4.

[BOS_LHR 829]

I'm happy to provide some direct edits for discussion if people think my suggestions make sense. Naam, what's the best way for me to get them to you?

[Kaylara 814]

Ok, question. What exactly is intended by the sentence "equalize processing rates among petition types"? I think that this is confusing.

Other than that, this is a good letter. If possible, I would like to point out the obvious lie that was being given out for months by the USCIS (Oct. 1, 2012), that working at all and manipulating the dates is not the same as 'working diligently'. The Friday before we sent out our emails and faxes, the priority dates for the service centers except Vermont and the NBC (if I remember correctly) disappeared. The NBC was updated to say Oct. 2, 2012 which is absolutely absurd and means that they had expected that we would accept that they had managed to progress 1 day in over a month. I am certain that they only reason they updated their system to say Feb. 12, 2013 was because we emailed and faxed like we did. Otherwise, they would have happily left it as it was, with missing information and a ridiculous date. But as they changed it the day after our email/faxing thingie, I do think we should mention their obvious date tampering. I believe there are screen caps in the Service centers forum. (And I will look for them shortly.)

And I'd also like to point out that this is not the first time that they have done something similar to this (ie. putting family petitions at the back of the line) since the LIFE act was passed. Nor are we the only Immediate relative class that has had this happen to them. This is a behavioral pattern of the USCIS that needs to be stopped. The lack of transparency and lying to customers needs to be fixed.

It's all well and good that we put pressure on them to get our petitions moved through faster. (I mean, we've been waiting more than long enough.) But if something isn't done, they're just going to do this again in a few years, and I find that prospect unacceptable. (Not that I will be worrying about it at that point, but I know how much this sucks, and if I can act to prevent someone else from having to go through this in the future, then I think I should.) But perhaps that is a better subject for the letter after this one.

[Salo&Romashka 83]

The second letter is looking good. A few suggestions:

1) Is there any chance we can use a screenshot of current I-130 Immediate Relative processing volumes instead of the graphic from Immigration Road? It would include a few more months of data and would be from USCIS itself.

2) Consider using the wording of this letter to DHS as it voiced the very concerns we now have about DACA implementation. Look at the first, sixth, and final paragraphs:

http://judiciary.house.gov/news/pdfs/Smith-Grassley%20letter%20to%20Secretary%20Napolitano.pdf

Edited December 3, 2013 by Salo&Romashka

[Kaylara 814]

Salo, you are awesome! Good find!

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

I really like the edited version from BOS_LHR. The only small thing I would add (because some of the recipients won't know this) is a little bit about our wait. Something like "US citizens who filed for their spouse/ families and have already been waiting 10 months for approval still have to go through the NVC and embassy stage after approval which will add around another six months to the wait. Therefore the current USCIS delays mean that citizens will be apart from their spouses for considerably over a year, with the extended wait causing emotional and financial suffering to many."

Are people okay with that? I think it's important to make a small but concise point about our wait and pain, as it gives the letter more of a human feel and gives some sort of context to what we are going through. The USCIS executive won't care but it might increase our chance of being listened to by the other recipients.

[BOS_LHR 829]

Ok, question. What exactly is intended by the sentence "equalize processing rates among petition types"? I think that this is confusing.

My goal was to provide an actionable request to tie back to the second paragraph, but I agree it needs work. I was trying for a polite way of saying "stop screwing us" without throwing anyone else under the bus.

[BOS_LHR 829]

2) Consider using the wording of this letter to DHS as it voiced the very concerns we now have about DACA implementation. Look at the first, sixth, and final paragraphs:

http://judiciary.house.gov/news/pdfs/Smith-Grassley%20letter%20to%20Secretary%20Napolitano.pdf

This letter is great proof that USCIS should absolutely have known the consequences of their actions, since everyone else did, and therefore willfully allowed the current backlog to happen. Any idea whether a response to that letter was ever issued?

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

You guys are just awesome.. Let's keep fighting!

[NoelAnne 62]

Great work you guys. Thank you for doing this, thank God for VJ and thank God my husband arrived in Ireland this morning for a whole month!

[Kaylara 814]

Question, are we also going to be emailing this to: OLUInquiries@dhs.gov ?