K1 September 2014 Filers (TSC)

[av8or1 246]

And of course they're refusing our request for transfers to the CSC. That his without saying, but I thought I'd be clear.

I guess I half expected this but somewhere somehow I was hoping they'd pony-up and do the right thing.

So much for that notion.

[pfrederiksen 22]

And of course they're refusing our request for transfers to the CSC. That his without saying, but I thought I'd be clear.

I guess I half expected this but somewhere somehow I was hoping they'd pony-up and do the right thing.

So much for that notion.

It's just a job for them. They aren't going to go out of their way for anyone.

"Good enough for govt work"

[msbau764 245]

And of course they're refusing our request for transfers to the CSC. That his without saying, but I thought I'd be clear.

I guess I half expected this but somewhere somehow I was hoping they'd pony-up and do the right thing.

So much for that notion.

I don't want to be transferred to the CSC. My file would probably get lost or something. I can't wait until my fiance hopefully gets that first green card. There would be a 1.5 year period in which I will be immigration free.

[av8or1 246]

I don't want to be transferred to the CSC. My file would probably get lost or something. I can't wait until my fiance hopefully gets that first green card. There would be a 1.5 year period in which I will be immigration free.

Yes, well it was unlikely we'd have been transferred anyway, assuming they offloaded approximately the same number of petitions as last August. The idea was to clear the playing field a bit.

But I digress.

Edited February 4, 2015 by av8or1

[SincerelyMeike 52]

I don't understand how they gave a whole months worth of cases to CSC, and they're slower than before.

[av8or1 246]

I don't understand how they gave a whole months worth of cases to CSC, and they're slower than before.

I suspect the idea behind the transfer wasn't to balance processing times. Rather the TSC knew that they were behind but also knew that their priority scheme wasn't going to change. Which means that they had no intention of decreasing I-129F processing times. Therefore the offload was done simply to "buy time", which is part of the argument we made when requesting another bulk transfer.

[wbeem 568]

I suspect the idea behind the transfer wasn't to balance processing times. Rather the TSC knew that they were behind but also knew that their priority scheme wasn't going to change. Which means that they had no intention of decreasing I-129F processing times. Therefore the offload was done simply to "buy time", which is part of the argument we made when requesting another bulk transfer.

I don't think that they did the transfers last year to help TSC catch up. I thought it was the reason at the time, but not anymore. I suspect that they shifted to some of the workload across to CSC to allow TSC to allocate time to different types of applications, not necessarily I129F's. If anything, we watched the processing times increase steadily from the time of the transfers up until now and they have not shown any sign of improvement.

Batch transfers won't help TSC. They are too deep in backlog now. The only way out of this is when they eventually start to distribute the workload differently from the outset (from the point of sending in the forms). Unfortunately, to see any kind of improvement with a move like that, you have to wait. Those who have already filed won't gain anything from this. Those in the future may; but the backlog will build up again, possibly at a different service center within a year or so after things appear to come right.

[Wooderz 314]

It was always a long shot, but for me it was much more so that I could sleep at night knowing I didn't just roll over. At least we tried.

[wbeem 568]

It was always a long shot, but for me it was much more so that I could sleep at night knowing I didn't just roll over. At least we tried.

April, we were the same in the first four months or so and our reasoning was the same as yours: If you don't try, you only rely on luck. So we tried. Everything we could think of, some of them more than once. We have no regrets. Even if the efforts amount to nil, had there been a slight chance that you may have been successful with anything you attempted, at least you won't have to wonder if you should have tried. No what ifs for people like us. It's a coping strategy. Some cope by shutting it out, others like us cope by doing things. There's no right or wrong. I love your fighting spirit. Don't lose it.

[av8or1 246]

I don't think that they did the transfers last year to help TSC catch up. I thought it was the reason at the time, but not anymore. I suspect that they shifted to some of the workload across to CSC to allow TSC to allocate time to different types of applications, not necessarily I129F's. If anything, we watched the processing times increase steadily from the time of the transfers up until now and they have not shown any sign of improvement.

Batch transfers won't help TSC. They are too deep in backlog now. The only way out of this is when they eventually start to distribute the workload differently from the outset (from the point of sending in the forms). Unfortunately, to see any kind of improvement with a move like that, you have to wait. Those who have already filed won't gain anything from this. Those in the future may; but the backlog will build up again, possibly at a different service center within a year or so after things appear to come right.

We're in complete agreement. Well pretty much. I still think transfers would help, but we're not likely to see them based on the feedback I received today. Edited February 4, 2015 by av8or1

[Mena28 35]

I don't want to be transferred to the CSC. My file would probably get lost or something. I can't wait until my fiance hopefully gets that first green card. There would be a 1.5 year period in which I will be immigration free.

Share the sentiment.

Moot point now :-(

As for the coping mechanisms - my fiance and I differ vastly in that he wants to sit and wait and I want to do something just to not feel so passiv. I handle it by coming onto VJ and then sharing some info with him I think he should know too :-D

Whatever keeps us sane and works is good, right?

[wbeem 568]

Whatever keeps us sane and works is good, right?

Absolutely right. It's about what works for each of you as individuals and for you as a couple. We all find our ways to cope. We have to. I'm just so looking forward to us being able to live, instead of just coping. It's got to be soon now. It has to be.

[av8or1 246]

I've had a request to post this, so here it is in all of its ... I dunno, bewildering confounding arrogance/defiance/ignorance/disinterested/unimportance/undervalued/deprioritized/just-suck-on-it splendor:

From: uscis.gov
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2015 11:21 AM
To: Browne, Yovanna
Subject: General Inquiry - Form I-129F Processing Times Texas and California Service Centers CRM:0288044

Good Afternoon Yovanna,

Thank you for your e-mail inquiry dated January 26, 2015 on behalf Representative Carter’s constituents regarding the processing times for Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiance(e), filed at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) California Service Center and Texas Service Center.

Our office contacted USCIS Service Center Directorate and was informed that the Form I-129F are being adjudicated within approximately 5 months at all USCIS Service Centers. USCIS is committed to adjudicating immigration benefits in a timely and efficient manner while also ensuring public safety, national security and compliance with all relevant directives. Appreciating that extraordinary delays may profoundly impact the families of U.S. citizens, USCIS works diligently to balance competing priorities and monitor workflow within each of its offices to ensure that processing goals are met.

When USCIS determines that the backlog in processing of a certain form type needs to be addressed, USCIS identifies offices that has the capacity to assist in adjudicating cases more quickly while maintaining the integrity of the process and transfers certain cases to another office. USCIS has been actively addressing the backlog and remains on track to bring all filings by U.S. citizens to a processing time of approximately 5 months. Please note that the processing time information on the “USCIS Processing Time Information” page on the website generally posts the processing time of two months prior. For example, the Processing Time Information currently posted on the USCIS website is the processing time as of November 30, 2014.

We hope the information provided is helpful. If we may be of further assistance, please let us know.

Best regards,

Congressional Liaison Specialist

USCIS Office of Legislative

20 Massachusetts Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20529

I should add that this was an email reply, not an actual letter. FWIW. FYI.

And so not being the type to just sit around, even if what I'm doing has little likelihood of success, I have informed April, Kristin and Stef that I intend to continue with our plan. I'll keep the thread updated as that progresses.

[CZAmerican 1]

I've had a request to post this, so here it is in all of its ... I dunno, bewildering confounding arrogance/defiance/ignorance/disinterested/unimportance/undervalued/deprioritized/just-suck-on-it splendor:

From: uscis.gov

Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2015 11:21 AM

To: Browne, Yovanna

Subject: General Inquiry - Form I-129F Processing Times Texas and California Service Centers CRM:0288044

Good Afternoon Yovanna,

Thank you for your e-mail inquiry dated January 26, 2015 on behalf Representative Carter’s constituents regarding the processing times for Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiance(e), filed at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) California Service Center and Texas Service Center.

Our office contacted USCIS Service Center Directorate and was informed that the Form I-129F are being adjudicated within approximately 5 months at all USCIS Service Centers. USCIS is committed to adjudicating immigration benefits in a timely and efficient manner while also ensuring public safety, national security and compliance with all relevant directives. Appreciating that extraordinary delays may profoundly impact the families of U.S. citizens, USCIS works diligently to balance competing priorities and monitor workflow within each of its offices to ensure that processing goals are met.

When USCIS determines that the backlog in processing of a certain form type needs to be addressed, USCIS identifies offices that has the capacity to assist in adjudicating cases more quickly while maintaining the integrity of the process and transfers certain cases to another office. USCIS has been actively addressing the backlog and remains on track to bring all filings by U.S. citizens to a processing time of approximately 5 months. Please note that the processing time information on the “USCIS Processing Time Information” page on the website generally posts the processing time of two months prior. For example, the Processing Time Information currently posted on the USCIS website is the processing time as of November 30, 2014.

We hope the information provided is helpful. If we may be of further assistance, please let us know.

Best regards,

Congressional Liaison Specialist

USCIS Office of Legislative

20 Massachusetts Ave., NW

Washington, DC 20529

I should add that this was an email reply, not an actual letter. FWIW. FYI.

And so not being the type to just sit around, even if what I'm doing has little likelihood of success, I have informed April, Kristin and Stef that I intend to continue with our plan. I'll keep the thread updated as that progresses.

So are they saying that we should receive our NOA2s within 5 months of the NOA1, because if thats the case no one at TSC is getting that.

Can't we start a petition or something? I want someone to care about this besides us in the process.

[av8or1 246]

So are they saying that we should receive our NOA2s within 5 months of the NOA1, because if thats the case no one at TSC is getting that.

Can't we start a petition or something? I want someone to care about this besides us in the process.

Yeah Kristin started a petition on change.org, don't have the link handy but I'm sure she'll chime in at some point or you can search for it. It had around 500 signatures at last check. Stef had a link to a website that allowed you to "send a letter" to capitol hill/the white house on any one of a number of issues. One of which was/is the entire notion of how DACA will have a considerable impact on those of us who are trying to follow the LEGAL immigration process. Here is that link:

http://www.petition2congress.com/17276/give-us-citizen-spouse-petitionsaos-priority-before-daca-expansio/

And another:

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/dont-punish-us-citizens?source=c.fwd&r_by=12419924

Wait, I found Kristin's petition:

https://www.change.org/p/uscis-distribute-the-current-caseload-between-tsc-csc-vsc-and-nsc

A few of us are working on a packet to send to a few contacts outside of the USCIS, for what good it will/would do. I hope to have something complete by next week. Working on my tax return for the next couple of nights though. That has priority. :D

Thanks