Expedite Request Denied

[Greg L. 1]

I just recently kicked off my journey of getting my fiancé to the US. She is from Donetsk, Ukraine and anyone who has seen the news in the last several months has probably read about Donetsk. Her and her son have essentially relocated to Kiev because of the violence and have had to get an apartment, buy new clothes, toys, pretty much everything because of the life-threatening conditions of returning to Donetsk.

I recently submitted my I-129f and after receipt of the NOA1 I called to request an expedited review. I chose the "severe financial loss" because of the fact that she has had to get a new apartment, and has lost all her clientele from her photography business in Donetsk. Maybe I should have picked another reason??

Anyway, today I received the email stating that while our situation was serious, there was not enough evidence of "an extreme emergent need".

I suppose expedited reviews are extremely hard to come by??? Even though there is officially a "cease fire" in Donetsk it is a very unstable area, and there is a definitely a big financial loss (not sure what else needs to be provided to show "severe").

I've read that it is possible to submit another request for an expedited review but I'm thinking it may just be best to ride it out and hope for a quick approval.

Any suggestions or similar stories?

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

They don't care about the immigrants issues for most expedite requests it is the impact to the USC. They figure all people from that area are coping so the foreign citizen knows how to cope and they are living like their neighbors. If there was a group targeting something specific to your fiancé and they were active right where she was then that counts.

[Pianist27 31]

Isn't there also a "humanitarian" option? Perhaps that would be more effective? In any event, best of luck.

[anikkandtim 15]

I just recently kicked off my journey of getting my fiancé to the US. She is from Donetsk, Ukraine and anyone who has seen the news in the last several months has probably read about Donetsk. Her and her son have essentially relocated to Kiev because of the violence and have had to get an apartment, buy new clothes, toys, pretty much everything because of the life-threatening conditions of returning to Donetsk.

I recently submitted my I-129f and after receipt of the NOA1 I called to request an expedited review. I chose the "severe financial loss" because of the fact that she has had to get a new apartment, and has lost all her clientele from her photography business in Donetsk. Maybe I should have picked another reason??

Anyway, today I received the email stating that while our situation was serious, there was not enough evidence of "an extreme emergent need".

I suppose expedited reviews are extremely hard to come by??? Even though there is officially a "cease fire" in Donetsk it is a very unstable area, and there is a definitely a big financial loss (not sure what else needs to be provided to show "severe").

I've read that it is possible to submit another request for an expedited review but I'm thinking it may just be best to ride it out and hope for a quick approval.

Any suggestions or similar stories?

my husband submitted an expedite request before in VSC. first it was denied. (we requested under humanitarian reason due to typhoon) then he tried again. what he did was...he sent a letter (snail mail) to VSC. the our lawyer got a letter that the request was denied. then after 2 days when i check the status...our petition is under Post Decision Activity and it was approved. we requested again to be expedited in NVC but it was denied...however, 2 weeks ago, my husband received a letter from USCIS. it was the same letter he sent including the evidences (news clips). USCIS was asking him to mail it to NVC for them to expedite our petition too. My husband called NVC last night and they said they're reviewing the letter.

Edited October 1, 2014 by anikkandtim

[Al&Da 5]

Greg,

I am currently living in Donetsk, so I know very well what you talking about. For 3.5 months already I have heavy artillery fire going on 24/7 right behind my window, every day there are victims among civilians, we have water problems, regularly out of electricity, no means of providing for ourselves but what we managed to save before as there basically no jobs left, etc. You would think it's no worse reason for the Expedite than Philippines hurricane from YEAR ago. My fiance filed I don't know how many expedites since we started this process, lots. Finally we got granted one, yet it took CSC where we got transferred with a bunch of people from TSC over a month to look at our papers. You are at Cali originally, so unless you're extremely unlucky, you'll get your NOA 2 very soon, your loved one is safe in Kiev, for now, anyhow.

Regardless, if you decide to file again - godspeed!

[Greg L. 1]

Thanks all for the replies. I believe the problem was that I requested an expedited based on "severe financial loss". They rejected saying that there was insufficient evidence. However, because of the financial loss she's now facing returning to Donetsk. I am filling again on Tuesday (must wait 5 days) under humanitarian reasons. Even the Red Cross, who lost a person just this past week called it a "violating of international humanitarian law". There are shells hitting residential areas, nearly unlivable conditions in many areas due to electricity and water. Discriminating practices....my fiancee had trouble even finding temporary living in Kiev because she was from Donetsk! If this isn't an "extreme emergent need" or humanitarian crisis then what is!? Oh, and I've written letters to my Senator and Congressman too. Lets see if it helps.

[abella 13]

If you call the USCIS ombudsman they will most likely help. That's what I did and went to the next step. My fiance is from Belarus and the conflict is not affecting her as it is your fiance, although the entire region is not a place I want to visit these days.

[Greg L. 1]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Because the situation in Donetsk is extremely fragile and unpredictable and after many letters to Senators, Congressmen, along with another expedited request...it was finally approved. The expedited request that is! The letter said to expect a response to the petition within 10 days!!! woohoo!!!

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to K1 Progress Forum~

[Al&Da 5]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Because the situation in Donetsk is extremely fragile and unpredictable and after many letters to Senators, Congressmen, along with another expedited request...it was finally approved. The expedited request that is! The letter said to expect a response to the petition within 10 days!!! woohoo!!!

That what ours said back then 08/08/14, however, we got our RFE on 09/19/14 (40 days after). Hope it'll work better for you, guys, good luck!

[belandnyc 10]

My fiance is from Belarus as well and I cited instability in the region. Expedite was approved in 3 days or so and the rest of the process was super fast.

[Andrew303 0]

I don't know what it takes anymore. I am a deployed and I was denied even though according to their service representatives I "more than qualify" for the expedite prosses and provide them with everything they asked but later said that it wasn't an "extreme emergency" and ended the letter with a sentence that sounded like it said sucks to be you. Seeing that I am on a combat mission and don't always have access to any form of connection to the outside world