Required Documents for Muslim Divorce?

[Boiler 45,314]

What is the big gun?

[Hank_ 9,174]

Rather large Filipino with attitude and a broken nose....

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Boiler, on 19 Jul 2014 - 1:55 PM, said:

What is the big gun?

Both what Hank said and his Senator (the OP stated that in one of his post's about the Senator).

[Boiler 45,314]

He knows the issue, getting it from a Senators intern is not going to change it.

[marlowecollins 5]

You think it's time to pull the trigger on your big gun?

I think it's best to wait until whatever it is that's happening plays out. If they've approved it, the issue is resolved. If they haven't, I'll need the most current status before I complain anyway. I did some searching, and the case creation date apparently changes to the status updated date on CEAC frequently in "Ready" status. I can't find anything about the passport status disappearing from USTraveldocs though. I'm just not getting the good vibes that I had when the status initially changed.

He knows the issue, getting it from a Senators intern is not going to change it.

Who is "he?"

[Boiler 45,314]

OP

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Boiler, on 19 Jul 2014 - 2:34 PM, said:

He knows the issue, getting it from a Senators intern is not going to change it.

Yes the OP knows the issues. He is well informed and has done his due diligence. The reference to his Senator is that with as much time that has passed the problems he has encountered in securing his visa he may need his Senator's assistance. Don't think the Senator is going to pick up the phone but I am sure he/she will enlist one of the interns to research and construct a letter to USCIS/USEM on the Senator's behalf, as to what the problem is and why the OP's documents are not coming to a finality with a visa issued.

This is a Muslim divorce, they are rare in the Philippines (ours was one but we took a different path then the OP took; neither one is better than the other), CO may not understand what should be done. Instead the OP is getting a lot of smoke screens thrown in his face. Frustrating at best, I'm sure.

Boiler, I hope this brings you up to date.

marlowecollins jump in if I have misrepresented your thoughts.

[Boiler 45,314]

That sounds more like a task for the OP's Lawyer, I forget the correct name but the Lawyer can put together a submission on a point of law.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Boiler, on 19 Jul 2014 - 9:34 PM, said:

That sounds more like a task for the OP's Lawyer, I forget the correct name but the Lawyer can put together a submission on a point of law.

The Lawyer will not have any more access to USEM then the OP. Senators carry a big Stick and at times it's needed. Knowing when the best time is to use the Senator is what the OP is wrestling with now.

[Boiler 45,314]

Lawyers do have access beyond the public.

Senator's office does not have a big stick.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Boiler, on 19 Jul 2014 - 10:11 PM, said:

Lawyers do have access beyond the public.

Senator's office does not have a big stick.

Ok if you say so, but I don't agree with you.

[Boiler 45,314]

Let us see what happens.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

Boiler, on 19 Jul 2014 - 10:40 PM, said:

Let us see what happens.

[marlowecollins 5]

marlowecollins jump in if I have misrepresented your thoughts.

You're pretty much spot on.

Lawyers do have access beyond the public.

Senator's office does not have a big stick.

I work for the federal government and have responded to congressional inquiries before. While they don't always get the answer the constituent wants, they do get answered, and quickly. I am familiar with the process, so this might help other readers here that are considering a similar route:

What will happen is someone in the senator's office will take the constituent's complaint and attach a cover letter that basically asks for the appropriate agency to review the complaint and explain "their side of the story" to the senator. If you are complaining, the clarity of your complaint, and the clarity of your desired resolution is pretty important, because the responding agency will end up essentially responding to exactly what you wrote. Incomplete, vague, or factually inaccurate complaints make it very easy for the responding agency to dodge out of dealing with the issues.

Assuming the process is similar to how we do it in my agency, a congressional inquiry will go to the State Department in DC, who will then assign it to the Embassy in Manila to draft an answer. We always have to route our answers back through DC so that they can track the response, and if someone recycles their complaint with another elected official, the agency can re-use the response we gave the first time. We have received phone calls from congressional staff if we don't respond fast enough, and sometimes we have to ask the congressman to go back to the complaining constituent for more information before we answer.

The advantages of a congressional complaint are that the agency will answer every question or issue you raise, and quickly. Even if they won't agree to your requested resolution, you now have in writing exactly what their issue is, which is my main problem- no one from the embassy will speak to us. On the other hand, If I were to get a call from an attorney regarding a complaint with my agency, I would simply transfer him to the legal department who would probably stonewall him, but if an elected representative's office calls, I have to get some senior management involved, and they will at least do everything possible to appear cooperative with a legislator. Finally, it is free- lawyers are not.

There have been other members here that have had success with congressional complaints. Even if it's not successful, a congressional complaint will give you valuable intelligence on the embassy's position that you could give to an attorney if you do want to litigate later. At this point, I'm hoping we got lucky and the visa started on the final approval on Friday. If not, I already had the letter mostly written.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

I think Boiler and I can glean some advise from your explanation. Thank you for sharing, for me it's a learning process.