AUGUST 2014 K-1 FILERS (TSC)

[av8or1 246]

I was introduced to a man yesterday who works in congress and in the White House. He was told about my visa journey and asked me how it was going. When he heard my fiancé hadn't seen his son in 10 months, how the system wasn't productive or honestly doesn't make sense...he was upset. He took my information and talked to me not only about my journey but other stories on here that I related. He called me today and wants to meet more to discuss this. I doubt it will help any of us, but it could help others in the future. I'm making a list of common complaints because the system is so ineffective.

Hi-

Good luck with this. I'm interested to hear what comes of it, if anything. Please see my post from earlier today in the September thread. It might give you some useful information in your discussion.

Sorry to hear about your situation with your fiancé not seeing y'alls son. I'm likely to face the same situation; and I'm not looking forward to it.

[wbeem 568]

I was introduced to a man yesterday who works in congress and in the White House. He was told about my visa journey and asked me how it was going. When he heard my fiancé hadn't seen his son in 10 months, how the system wasn't productive or honestly doesn't make sense...he was upset. He took my information and talked to me not only about my journey but other stories on here that I related. He called me today and wants to meet more to discuss this. I doubt it will help any of us, but it could help others in the future. I'm making a list of common complaints because the system is so ineffective.

I just got off the phone with Tier 2 and heard the usual lies from an obviously bitter woman who works there. She either cannot or will not answer the most basic questions. When I asked about the discrepancy between TSC and CSC, she said that's the way it is.

When I inquired about workload transfers from TSC to CSC, she said that it would put you at the back of the line at CSC. We know this isn't true from the transfers that happened earlier this year.

Her answer to almost everything is to go make an InfoPass appointment and speak with someone locally. No guarantee that person will have any more information.

As usual, all they do is tell you things designed to get you to hang up the phone. Either they stonewall you or they sweet talk you. It varies from one agent to the next. The only thing that doesn't vary is that not a single one of them will provide a direct answer to a question about your status beyond what's on the web page.

[dizzdemey 31]

Hi-

Good luck with this. I'm interested to hear what comes of it, if anything. Please see my post from earlier today in the September thread. It might give you some useful information in your discussion.

Sorry to hear about your situation with your fiancé not seeing y'alls son. I'm likely to face the same situation; and I'm not looking forward to it.

Not seeing your child is gut wrenching. My fiancé sobbed uncontrollably last night. . I'll update once I speak to this man more. He just helped a local person with his immigration issues which is how I was introduced. However he was unaware of all the inconsistencies.

[dizzdemey 31]

I just got off the phone with Tier 2 and heard the usual lies from an obviously bitter woman who works there. She either cannot or will not answer the most basic questions. When I asked about the discrepancy between TSC and CSC, she said that's the way it is.

When I inquired about workload transfers from TSC to CSC, she said that it would put you at the back of the line at CSC. We know this isn't true from the transfers that happened earlier this year.

Her answer to almost everything is to go make an InfoPass appointment and speak with someone locally. No guarantee that person will have any more information.

As usual, all they do is tell you things designed to get you to hang up the phone. Either they stonewall you or they sweet talk you. It varies from one agent to the next. The only thing that doesn't vary is that not a single one of them will provide a direct answer to a question about your status beyond what's on the web page.

That is beyond frustrating. Ugh.

[wbeem 568]

However he was unaware of all the inconsistencies.

Well, he's in for quite an experience if he truly investigates. It's shameful. We spend the same amount of money as anyone else at CSC or those who are expedited, but we're treated like second class citizens.

[dizzdemey 31]

Well, he's in for quite an experience if he truly investigates. It's shameful. We spend the same amount of money as anyone else at CSC or those who are expedited, but we're treated like second class citizens.

He's going to have his eyes opened. I just hope I'm not wasting my time or breath.

[Ashley&Yuki 0]

Well, he's in for quite an experience if he truly investigates. It's shameful. We spend the same amount of money as anyone else at CSC or those who are expedited, but we're treated like second class citizens.

I feel the exact same way. It's ridiculous...

I thought we would have NOA2 by now... :'(

[dizzdemey 31]

I'm reading about police certificates. Can our fiances go ahead and get this awhile?

[Andie 147]

Well, he's in for quite an experience if he truly investigates. It's shameful. We spend the same amount of money as anyone else at CSC or those who are expedited, but we're treated like second class citizens.

Yes.. it is shameful. I could go on, but don't get me started on the sacrifices and wasted days, months, years.... If this isn't evidence of our true love then I don't know what is. Let's hope things continue to move and hopefully faster.

[av8or1 246]

He's going to have his eyes opened. I just hope I'm not wasting my time or breath.

Hi-

Don't know if you've taken a look at my post from yesterday, but I thought I'd post it here because it has pertinent information that might help you in your discussion with this guy...FWIW. Thanks

UPDATE FROM CONGRESSMAN JOHN CARTER'S OFFICE:

Interesting news from the lady in my local congressman's office today. Sit back (or scoot to the front of your chair, your choice) and get ready for this one. First I must confess that it was a surprise that she actually got back with me like she said she would, but to her credit she did everything she told me she would do. Whaddaya know. Anyway.

She called and spoke with both service centers. Believe it or not - and this took me by ABSOLUTE surprise - both service centers appeared to own up to the time difference! Wha-???! I figured they'd vehemently deny it, but according to her not so much. Well, actually what appeared to happen was that CSC admitted to very fast processing times for the I-129F (roughly 1 month) while TSC admitted that they are behind at 7-8 months. She also confirmed the transfer of "about 3000 fiancee visa petitions) in early August 2014 from TSC to CSC. I asked if that was the number she was given and she confirmed that it was, FWIW. I don't recall reading anything about how many were transferred in other threads, though I could have easily missed it. She claims the number to be 3000. Hmmmmmmm.......

Based on the results from her research/fact finding endeavor, she told me that she agreed with my assertion/complaint regarding the approximate 8-to-1 processing time difference between the two service centers. Therefore she has spoken with what sounded like top folk in the Congressman's office (but don't quote me on that), and they decided to write an official letter with the full authority of the Congressman to the USCIS. The purpose of the letter will be to formally request another batch transfer of I-129F petitions to the CSC. She told me that this is the only relief that we TSC folk can reasonably expect. When I asked why she said that, she confirmed another assertion of mine (ours really - the VJ assertion) that the August offload did little to balance out the workload. She added that the TSC is likely only to get worse in the coming year, not better. Yup, get that! The TSC is likely to NOT BECOME ANY BETTER during the coming year. I found this personally disturbing, and so I couldn't resist asking "why?" again ... her reply is that the TSC has received an incredibly large number of I-485s that were based on folk who had/have entered the country on a work visa. I thought I heard her say that the TSC handles the majority of such petitions, though I can't recall now if she said that for certain. Regardless, this is the reason that the TSC is behind. And the reason that things are not likely to get any better for us I-129F types in the TSC is because this work-visa-to-I-485 phenomenon will persist throughout the coming year. If anything, that problem will only intensify, which is to say that the number of these petitions will only increase, not decrease.

I then asked why petitions from CURRENT USCs don't have priority over these work-visa-to-I-485s and of course she didn't have an answer for that, which I expected. How could she? She couldn't. But the frustration in me had to ask anyway, so I did. Sigh.

So there you go. When I asked, she confirmed that writing this letter has no guarantee of getting any transfers done. Of course it's obvious that there wouldn't be any control over whose petitions would be sent and whose wouldn't. However she also confirmed that it was our only hope of seeing any change anytime soon. And with that, I thanked her for her time, her effort and her expertise in the matter. I asked her to please keep me apprised of the results of the letter, as this issue is of monumental importance to me. She replied that she would.

Don't know if it helps you, but somehow getting more information helped me. Not really, but somehow. Dunno how, but somehow. I think. Anyway, I'll only post in the September thread with this news, so feel free to pass it on to other TSC filers in threads from other months. I hope it helps you too, if only a little bit.

Thanks

[TabeaK 517]

av8or1: Thanks for sharing this! Maybe the letter is a little positive at least. And I really hope TSC processing will not slip behind even further, though it looks like it might... I can barely stand waiting another 7 months as it is...

The work-visa to I-485 is interesting. I thought this wasn't possible unless you were in specific visa categories (EB...) and then that were only few such visa. I am guessing these must be under a lot of scrutiny. What I do not undertand is why TSC has no ability to either shift these cases or the I-129Fs or I-130 or whatever to CSC to balance the load as CSC is apparently on tip of cases right now.

[jonilui 9]

I had a dream I was at the TSC and somehow ended up doing a favour for one of the guys and he bumped me ahead and approved my NOA2. There was this one guy whose job was just to randomly pick whoever they wanted to process, and I yelled at him and told him it wasn't fair to do that.

Then I woke up. I still don't have my NOA2.

[Ashley&Yuki 0]

I had a dream I was at the TSC and somehow ended up doing a favour for one of the guys and he bumped me ahead and approved my NOA2. There was this one guy whose job was just to randomly pick whoever they wanted to process, and I yelled at him and told him it wasn't fair to do that.

Then I woke up. I still don't have my NOA2.

Iv'e had a similar dream before. I really felt like I had my NOA2 for a minute or two after I woke up

[Amachuma 17]

I had a dream I was at the TSC and somehow ended up doing a favour for one of the guys and he bumped me ahead and approved my NOA2. There was this one guy whose job was just to randomly pick whoever they wanted to process, and I yelled at him and told him it wasn't fair to do that.

Then I woke up. I still don't have my NOA2.

In my dream I skipped the NOA2 part and went straight to the consulate for the interview as the petitioner and not beneficiary? and was approved. Wow! Wow! Lol..

[kromero2 1]

Hey All,

I've been 'lurking' on these forums since we submitted out application for the K-1 in December and even more so since we were assigned to TSC. I just wanted to tell you that seeing these initiatives like the change.org petition and writing your congressmen and women are so extremely inspiring. Since seeing the last update on the possible transfers, I'm moved to join these actions because it seems they can make a difference. I'll be writing my New York representatives to support John Carter's office's initiative.

I just wanted to say that even though not everyone posts on these forums, I think there is a huge population of people who come here for passive support and encouragement by reading others who understand the pain and frustration of this process. I know I signed the change.org petition and have badgered all of my friends and family to sign without ever posting on VJ. I think it speaks volumes that the petition has reached 250 supporters in just several days, I have no doubt we will reach the 1000 mark by the end of the month. Just know there is more support out there than you realize, and never stop fighting for change because you have an army behind you that you can't see.

-Kristine