Unpleasant Infopass Appointment

[Neonred 3,562]

We filed my wife’s AOS petition in June and have not had any action on this case since September 14 when we received an e-mail saying they received our RFE response and we should receive a decision or update within 60 days. Last month I called USCIS and inquired about this case. The person I spoke with said it was taking about 6 months for processing these cases. She suggested I wait about a month and if I did not hear anything to make an infopass appointment.

We made an infopass appointment for this past Friday. I told them I was inquiring about our AOS as it was taking some time. He looked on the computer and said everything was normal as all cases for green cards are taking 18 to 24 months. I tried to clarify I was talking about the conditional card not the 10 year card. He told me I was not listening, 18 to 24 months. I disagreed and told him I had been following many cases and most seem to be taking from 2 to 6 months. Then the attitude started. He asked me if I thought I knew something about immigration and if I thought I knew more about his job than he did and said no one is getting green cards in less than 18 months. Again I disagreed and he walked away announcing to the entire office “this guy wants a green card right NOW” so I yelled back “No, I just want to know where our case is and if there is a problem” He sent another guy over to tell us that all green cards are taking 18 to 24 months. Then he returns, very agitated and I show him the e-mail about a decision or update in 60 days. He says “I don’t know where you got this but it’s not from our office.” I told him it was e-mailed from USCIS and he says it was from Missouri and told me I will have to speak with them in Missouri. (I don’t know how to contact Missouri, anyone know how?) Then my wife starts asking him questions and he spots me looking at his name tag and then he really goes off. “Go ahead, look at my name tag. What good do you think it will do?”

That’s when I asked to speak to his supervisor. He sends me to the next window and this lady has heard the heated conversation and starts out with the same 18 to 24 months. So I ask her where is our case (ans. Missouri), is there a problem or do they need additional information (ans. I don’t know, it’s in the normal processing time of 18 to 24 months). She suggests we go home and wait for at least a year! I ask why they can’t inquire about the case and she hesitates but finally she says she can send an e-mail but assures me it won’t do any good and I probably won’t hear from them.

I left very angry and feeling rather helpless. I guess I’ll give it a few weeks and then call my senator or congressman for help.

It was probably a bad idea to schedule the last appointment on a Friday.

[Nancy2015 2]

It is outrageous!!! I'm so sorry it happened to you.

I have an impression that some of these Infopass officers are completely clueless about the immigration process and their incompetence is just scary sometimes. When I had an Infopass to inquire about my biometrics, the Infopass guy told me that it takes minimum 120 days to schedule a biometrics appointment!!! Bull We all know it takes a couple of weeks!

Not only didn't you get any help, but they were also extremely rude to you. I think contacting a senator is a good idea if you don't hear from them for a couple more weeks. It really sucks when your case seems to be stuck, and you can't even get any help

I wish you all the best and hope that you'll get approved soon!

[kim&james 0]

Damn... sorry to hear that.

Your a month ahead of me... and one thing I am thinking of is that with the new year, were they going to not set interviews until the FIB checks had been completed? Im stuck with New Orleans office at the moment, they are processing may 05 so Im well inside processing time. We are moving to Alabama within the next few weeks and thats under Atlanta jurisdiction, processing june 06 so getting better for me... will just have to make sure my case gets transferred there.

Your real close to being outside the processing date for Miami so wait until that passes then start on with the congressman and senators..

[snz1802 0]

That is terrible news, I am sorry to hear that. Hopefully something will happen to move things along for you

[raymaga 25]

What you have described is just another reason why you have to take whatever any USCIS employees tell you with a grain of salt. We have been given so much wrong information since our journey began in 2003. I can't imagine how a government agency like USCIS can function with all their mis-informed and incompetent employees.

We were so glad that we double-checked almost everything so that we didn't end up doing something that would have hurt our case or even caused us a denial. I was even able to return to Canada for my brother's wedding, and re-enter the U.S. one week AFTER I officially entered with my K-1 Visa before I got married. The officer at the POE told me that you could leave the U.S. and re-enter with a K-1 Visa as long as you weren't married yet. So, that's what I did. But, after enough people telling me that I was very lucky I was able to re-enter, I called the Blaine (B.C.) border and asked, and they told me something completely different.

Both my daugher (K-2) and I were both able to enter the U.S. and return to Canada several times after our Visas were approved, but we just said we were not activating them yet. I now find out that was not supposed to be allowed either. I would have been furious if our cases had been screwed up in any way because of bad information we were given by the people who are supposed to know.

That's why I still don't trust anything they tell us, and never will. I am going to be glad when I finish the Naturalization process this summer and I'll be done with them for good.

[SoL. 0]

I am speechless!!! I wonder how they can treat people just like that and get away with it...

[Boiler 45,488]

Mine came within the week, you had a RFE which does not help.

Sounds more like a response to how long does it take to get an interview.

[Ladylethal 12]

18 to 24 months to me is unnaceptable no matter how you see it. I think it's an absurd that we may so much in this process to be given misinformed info, rude treatment, etc. I could almost feel embarrassed for USCIS but I get too angry to feel any pity for them.

[KarenCee 3]

Mine came within the week, you had a RFE which does not help.

Sounds more like a response to how long does it take to get an interview.

We had an RFE too, and our case was transferred to CSC *after* the RFE was satisfied.

How does having an RFE *not* help his case? Several of us on here have received RFE's and several have received their GC soon after being transferred to CSC with apparently no problems.

To the OP: I hope this gets resolved soon. With as much misinformation floating around those offices, I would take what they say with a grain of salt. Hang in there...the rest of us are hanging in there right beside ya.

[KiminON 0]

so sorry to hear about your bad experience. me thinks he was prolly hungover in addition to incompetent.

if the government here is anything like it is in Canada, it is incredibly difficult to fire an employee and of course, they all know this and some will use that to their full advantage. sounds like this fellow knows how to work the system.

fingers crossed that your case is resolved sooner rather than later.

k

[TracyLuis 0]

They are instructed to give those "canned" remarks, so don't get too concerned about the 18-24 months thing. But it is abhorrent that you or anyone should be treated so disrepectfully by a government employee.

I wouldn't worry with them again.

[giraffemd 0]

Jeez-Louise...sounds like someone needs some *customer-service* training...how these people get away with how they act at work is beyond me...after all who is paying their salary?..isn't that what where our fees go????? I'd like to see them work just one day in retail.....they would be hooped.....hope you get it all sorted out, and remember one day this will all be done.

[rebeccajo 14]

......and one thing I am thinking of is that with the new year, were they going to not set interviews until the FIB checks had been completed?

Yes. Unless you transfer to CSC expect this to happen.

[rebeccajo 14]

18 to 24 months to me is unnaceptable no matter how you see it.

There are over 400,000 greencard applicants who have been waiting well beyond that time for their cards. Some 4 years or longer. The only resolution is Writ of Mandamus.

We filed my wife’s AOS petition in June and have not had any action on this case since September 14 when we received an e-mail saying they received our RFE response and we should receive a decision or update within 60 days. Last month I called USCIS and inquired about this case. The person I spoke with said it was taking about 6 months for processing these cases. She suggested I wait about a month and if I did not hear anything to make an infopass appointment.

We made an infopass appointment for this past Friday. I told them I was inquiring about our AOS as it was taking some time. He looked on the computer and said everything was normal as all cases for green cards are taking 18 to 24 months. I tried to clarify I was talking about the conditional card not the 10 year card. He told me I was not listening, 18 to 24 months. I disagreed and told him I had been following many cases and most seem to be taking from 2 to 6 months. Then the attitude started. He asked me if I thought I knew something about immigration and if I thought I knew more about his job than he did and said no one is getting green cards in less than 18 months. Again I disagreed and he walked away announcing to the entire office “this guy wants a green card right NOW” so I yelled back “No, I just want to know where our case is and if there is a problem” He sent another guy over to tell us that all green cards are taking 18 to 24 months. Then he returns, very agitated and I show him the e-mail about a decision or update in 60 days. He says “I don’t know where you got this but it’s not from our office.” I told him it was e-mailed from USCIS and he says it was from Missouri and told me I will have to speak with them in Missouri. (I don’t know how to contact Missouri, anyone know how?) Then my wife starts asking him questions and he spots me looking at his name tag and then he really goes off. “Go ahead, look at my name tag. What good do you think it will do?”

That’s when I asked to speak to his supervisor. He sends me to the next window and this lady has heard the heated conversation and starts out with the same 18 to 24 months. So I ask her where is our case (ans. Missouri), is there a problem or do they need additional information (ans. I don’t know, it’s in the normal processing time of 18 to 24 months). She suggests we go home and wait for at least a year! I ask why they can’t inquire about the case and she hesitates but finally she says she can send an e-mail but assures me it won’t do any good and I probably won’t hear from them.

I left very angry and feeling rather helpless. I guess I’ll give it a few weeks and then call my senator or congressman for help.

It was probably a bad idea to schedule the last appointment on a Friday.

You encountred three rude and inept individuals in one office, including a supervisor. Unacceptable. Write to the Director of your district office (the office that approved your K1) - do not email - and include the names of the parties involved . Do not back down.

Edited January 7, 2007 by rebeccajo

[jsnearline 2]

Unfortunately, there's not much you can do until the case is outside the posted normal processing times for your local office. Here's the link for Miami's processing dates.

https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/offi...lectedOffice=46

They are currently processing cases from June 2006. USCIS only accepts a complaint if your case is over 30 days past the posted processing dates. I've give it another month or two and then make another InfoPass. Take a printout of the latest processing dates with you and challenge them on it. If they still claim it takes 34 months then respectfully ask them why they are not reporting accurate processing dates.

My wife and I had to wait a year for her green card after we filed. It was frustrating reading posts from other people who had gotten their green cards before us, even though they had filed after us. The thing was that they didn't have the same local office that we had, and our office was either exceptionally busy or exceptionally slow. It sucks, but that's the way the system is.