I-130 Petitioners - Send today!

[BOS_LHR 829]

I did include the ombudsman in my emails but haven't received this response -- curious to see if I will. It's interesting that it contains an invitation for a meeting since that email is presumably going out to a number of people. I wonder if we could get them to hold a video- or teleconference for a group of us.

[Kaylara 814]

Besides, my husband isn't here. My kids expect that I'm working hard to get him here, as does my immediate family. I have a lot of free time on my hands when the kids are in bed, and sitting there and thinking instead of keeping busy will make me lose my mind.

[Kaylara 814]

I did include the ombudsman in my emails but haven't received this response -- curious to see if I will. It's interesting that it contains an invitation for a meeting since that email is presumably going out to a number of people. I wonder if we could get them to hold a video- or teleconference for a group of us.

That would be awesome!

I sent them back this response.

Dear Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman,

Thank you very much for the prompt reply and attention in this matter. That you are taking my information seriously and will discuss it with the USCIS is more of a response than I've gotten from the USCIS in the past 9 months. We really have tried every avenue available to us to bring attention to this problem, and attempt to resolve it. But we have been rebuffed at every turn.

I can't speak for the other people who sent you this letter, but I know that I, personally, only did so as a last resort. I have used every tool currently available to me in an attempt to get an accurate processing time frame for my application, and every contact with the USCIS has resulted in a different answer. I don't want to write letters, send emails and faxes, hound people on social media, or anything of the sort. I don't want to involve the Ombudsman's office, or attempt to engage my Senators and Congressmen to help me resolve this.

I just want to be treated equitably and to have accurate answers to my questions, something that has definitely not happened.

This separation has been extremely difficult because of the lack of accurate time frame. I've been with my husband for 10 years, and married for 8. We have two small daughters. I'm sure that you can understand that my husband being with us here is extremely important to me and my family. The delays that we have experienced have placed an enormous strain on everyone involved. Our lives are on hold, indefinitely, while this problem awaits resolution.

Thank you again for your attention. Have a good day and a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays.

Sincerely,

Kaylara (But actually my real name)

[Lifehastomoveon 37]

I didn't get anything from AILA but I just got this:

Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding this issue with our office. As you may know, the Ombudsman’s Office is independent from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Under the authority of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Ombudsman’s Office works in an impartial manner to assist individuals and employers who experience problems during the USCIS benefits seeking process, largely to identify and formulate recommendations to improve the process. Please be assured that the Ombudsman’s Office treats information received from stakeholders as confidential. Your input has been shared with individuals in our office who are monitoring these types of issues, and it will be considered as we develop recommendations to improve USCIS’ practices and procedures. Furthermore, the Ombudsman’s Office is dedicated to working with USCIS to enhance intra-agency coordination and communication, and improve the immigration process and enhance transparency for customers. Our office hosts regular meetings with USCIS, and will discuss these concerns at the next meeting. We would also welcome the opportunity to meet with you and further discuss this issue if you would like.

Sincerely,

Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman

Sounds like a standard response...

Anything new, guys? I googled around but found nothing.

Good one. Anyway if good will would happen to i130 petitioners, i would be the most happiest person in the world.

[BOS_LHR 829]

Great response Kaylara. Now if only USCIS would respond to our letter campaign as well.

I think if the Ombudsman's office gets around to sending that email to me, I'll respond with something like, "... it has come to my attention that this response, including an invitation for a meeting to further discuss the grievances described in the December 11 letter your office received, has been distributed to a number of individuals. I would request that the Ombudsman's office arranges a teleconference for all concerned parties to participate and discuss these matters further." Seems like the least they could do for us is offer a "town hall" style meeting, rather than some nonsense seminar followed by limited Q&A run by people who've no idea what's actually going on.

[Kaylara 814]

Great response Kaylara. Now if only USCIS would respond to our letter campaign as well.

I think if the Ombudsman's office gets around to sending that email to me, I'll respond with something like, "... it has come to my attention that this response, including an invitation for a meeting to further discuss the grievances described in the December 11 letter your office received, has been distributed to a number of individuals. I would request that the Ombudsman's office arranges a teleconference for all concerned parties to participate and discuss these matters further." Seems like the least they could do for us is offer a "town hall" style meeting, rather than some nonsense seminar followed by limited Q&A run by people who've no idea what's actually going on.

Here's something to see: http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports%20and%20Studies/Immigration%20Forms%20Data/Employment-based/I130_performancedata_fy2013_qtr2.pdf

Also: http://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-studies/immigration-forms-data/family-based-benefit-requests/data-family-based-benefit-requests

Stunning. As of March 2013, there was a backlog of immediate relative applications of 1,062,526. During the time period in question, they received 254,890 cases. They completed: 168,258. If you compare it to the data available from the past few years that we've been very negatively effected.

[bkghosh 121]

Got the following reply from the Ombudsman's office as well. I think this letter writing campaign is working. I am wondering if we should send copies of this letter to some of the online newspapers, TV channels, or other media channels.

Also, maybe we should send another round of letters after the holidays (first part of January).

bkghosh

Thank you for sharing your concerns regarding this issue with our office. As you may know, the Ombudsman’s Office is independent from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Under the authority of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Ombudsman’s Office works in an impartial manner to assist individuals and employers who experience problems during the USCIS benefits seeking process, largely to identify and formulate recommendations to improve the process. Please be assured that the Ombudsman’s Office treats information received from stakeholders as confidential. Your input has been shared with individuals in our office who are monitoring these types of issues, and it will be considered as we develop recommendations to improve USCIS’ practices and procedures. Furthermore, the Ombudsman’s Office is dedicated to working with USCIS to enhance intra-agency coordination and communication, and improve the immigration process and enhance transparency for customers. Our office hosts regular meetings with USCIS, and will discuss these concerns at the next meeting. We would also welcome the opportunity to meet with you and further discuss this issue if you would like.

Sincerely,

Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman

[Blueberry Pancake 311]

Great email, Kaylara!

My husband also emailed them back and asked for a meeting

Love the video/teleconference idea!