Please sign my petition/ Unfair Processing

[av8or1 246]

I signed the petition. It's not about the times for different petition types or waiting behind clearances, etc. It's about the unfair times between processing centers for the same petition type, given the same set of circumstances. And right now if anyone was to attempt to tell me that given the same exact identical I-129F petition that the TSC would process it in the same amount of time as the CSC I'd tell 'em to jump off of something very, very high, 'cause it just ain't so. And I don't want to hear anything about how "it happens sometimes" or "deal with it" because it shouldn't and I (and other folk) shouldn't have to. I've been a federal employee and know that change usually only comes with enough public outcry.

I doubt such petitions will do much good in this situation because yes, the USCIS is like the IRS of old ... no accountability. I've written to all three of my federal representatives (local congressman and two senators) and made them aware of the situation. But like signing this petition not much will come of it, unfortunately. But it somehow makes me feel just a little better that I am at least doing SOMETHING rather than simply sitting back and complaining, like most folk do.

Anyway. End of rant. For now. lol

Edited January 1, 2015 by av8or1

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I have been around VJ for a long time now, and the centers will over time change which is faster as will the petition types. People going through it right now bellyache about the right now issues but over time it changes.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I have been around VJ for a long time now, and the centers will over time change which is faster as will the petition types. People going through it right now bellyache about the right now issues but over time it changes.

It is true. They do quite a bit a load leveling. Right now, Nebraska has most of the 130's being processed, California has the least. They will probably send even more of a load to California and other service centers, or even the local offices, which mean California will again seem like nothing has been moving for a while. Historically, things are still moving at a fairly quick pace compared to even a decade ago.

[Honey&Bunny 12]

A petition may or may not due nothing, but heck I figured I would try. Please sign if you agree the way in which they are processing cases is unfair. Here is the link: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/make-processing-uscis-service-centers-more-fair/jq4ZsTW5

During this process it has really bothered my heart how unfair they handle something which is so delicate to us who file. I am not only angry for me, but angry for everyone else, especially those waiting longer than me, only to then see someone approved in less time.

I was just checking your timeline, and OMG! Here I am, going crazy because I felt that my cases are taking forever, but I see yours now, and wow.. Have you try to contact your local senator? Your petition is way due to process. Are you a USC? I wish you luck because wow, it is taking a long time...

[jamyestrella 8]

I was just checking your timeline, and OMG! Here I am, going crazy because I felt that my cases are taking forever, but I see yours now, and wow.. Have you try to contact your local senator? Your petition is way due to process. Are you a USC? I wish you luck because wow, it is taking a long time...

Thanks for the well wishes and yes I'm a citizen. This whole situation is messed up. I have no criminal record. I sent them a thick packet with plenty of evidence. In early December I contacted them and they gave me some generic answer that my case was being worked on. I know for a fact that there's people who's cases would already be done or close to done in the amount of time me and many others have been waiting. I told them that if their website claims they are processing cases from early May, why are they accepting cases from late June, august and what not? I have been considering my options to contact local government leaders and I'm giving them a call again after the holidays.

[av8or1 246]

I have been around VJ for a long time now, and the centers will over time change which is faster as will the petition types. People going through it right now bellyache about the right now issues but over time it changes.

Yeah, and ... ? I've been around VJ for 5 years longer than you. And I'm sure there are folk who've been around longer than me too. I was not "bellyache"-ing about the current processing times only. That's NOT the point.

When I wrote to my federal representatives, I complained about the system AS A WHOLE. I made specific mention that the times fluctuate between centers and THAT RIGHT NOW AT THIS MOMENT, the TSC is slower. I made mention that this phenomenon CHANGES OVER TIME. And I pointed out that this is even further evidence that the process is unfair and not nearly as transparent as it should be. Finally I made it clear to them that not much has changed in the 10 years I've known something about the process. I concluded that this was indeed a horrible result.

Anyway. Ok enough. I'm done with this subject. It doesn't do much good to complain anyway, but what the heck....I don't like folk who do complain but who do nothing so I try not to be one of those folk.

End rant.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Unfortunately no one here has the clout required to get something like this moving, at least not with a petition that has a handful of signatures. In DC money talks, and it's been that way for quite some time, and shows no indication of changing. Immigrants to the US cannot vote for at least three years, sometimes five, and maybe never (if they never file for naturalisation). That kind of delayed quid-pro-quo does not sit well in Washington, where horse-trading and getting this favour for that is commonplace. Going out on a limb (and in this case that means spending more of taxpayers' money) for people from whom you're going to get no immediate recompense is a tough sell from the beginning. Couple that with the fact that immigration is something that the vast majority of Americans do not have to deal with on a daily basis (and for most: never), and you can see why this is not a sexy subject that politicians want to spend money on to improve.

Is it fair? Not alway. Can it be capricious and mind-boggling? Yes, on occasion. Sadly that is not going to change anytime soon. Now, if anyone here has a few million dollars lying around and wants to start up a targetted Super-PAC with the aim of making things better then they should absolutely do so. Short of that, petitions like this do not do nothing, but it's one step above nothing. Not much is going to change because no one here has the resources to be able to effect the desired change.

The one immigration issue I have been only tangentially involved with - the ending of the widow penalty in 2009 - took years and years to change and has only benefitted a very small number of people since it was enacted (myself being one of them). It took a long, long time to get this relatively benign piece of legislation through Congress. Think of how much more difficult it would be if you were asking for more money to be spent (and if you want petitions processed faster then this is ultimately what you will wind up on), as you either need to raise taxes or reduce spending from other areas. Suppose you could make processing 50% faster at the cost of 1% extra income tax across the board. Almost no one would be willing to pay that because the vast majority would see zero benefit from it, despite it making a huge amount of difference to the minority that it would actually affect.

There is no easy solution, and I am not saying not to try. What I am saying is that petitions like this do not work without a larger movement behind them, and ideally, substantial resources behind that movement. With Washington operating the way it is, and a hardcore anti-immigrant wing running directly through the Republican party (that now control both chambers of Congress), nothing will change anytime soon. It's going to take years and years for the pressure to build before the political will exists to do something about the system. It's not fair, but it is the way things are done here. Almost no legislation to address the raft of mass murders these past few years (Columbine, Sandy Hook, etc.) should be proof positive of that, and arguably that is a bigger problem to most people than immigration is.

Edited January 1, 2015 by Hypnos

[Boiler 45,549]

I do not think it is a money issue, it is a structural issue.

Not a tax matter either, fees pay for it.

[Shenzhen 34]

You can start calling after 7 Months. Other than that you are within the guidelines. 6 Months plus 1.

[Hypnos 6,576]

USCIS isn't completely funded by its fees. They have overhead and fee waivers which they absorb as part of their normal operations. Granted, it is mostly funded by the application fees though. They would still need more taxpayer funds to improve their operations, even if they'd need less than a non-self-funded agency.

Edited January 1, 2015 by Hypnos

[SantyAndAllie 155]

I signed the petition. It's not about the times for different petition types or waiting behind clearances, etc. It's about the unfair times between processing centers for the same petition type, given the same set of circumstances. And right now if anyone was to attempt to tell me that given the same exact identical I-129F petition that the TSC would process it in the same amount of time as the CSC I'd tell 'em to jump off of something very, very high, 'cause it just ain't so. And I don't want to hear anything about how "it happens sometimes" or "deal with it" because it shouldn't and I (and other folk) shouldn't have to. I've been a federal employee and know that change usually only comes with enough public outcry.

Couldn't have said it better myself! Amen to that.

I cannot believe people are complaining about OUR being upset over the unbalance of TSC & CSC. A lot of you are missing the point about 'what the OP is wishing for'. It's not about expedites or waiting behind someone with long background checks. This is about TSC & CSC's total lack of balance. Right now TSC is taking over 6 months to process K-1 visas, while CSC has taken as little as a WEEK. And I cannot even imagine being in the situation of the OP with her CR1 visa. I'm so sorry that you have to wait so much longer than a lot of us. I do feel blessed that it's 6 months rather than much longer, as I'm sure it could be. Either way, it's unfair for everyone.

We have every right to be upset that CSC filers get processed months and months quicker than TSC filers. It's simply not fair. I get that maybe a petition online won't help, but seriously? Telling us not to "belly ache" because some of us have to wait for a longer period of time while others who filed after us get in right away, is just ridiculous and rude. I get that we shouldn't be expecting anything from USCIS. We shouldn't expect to wait less than 6 months or anything like that, but the problem is- is that we get more hurt about the wait while we watch CSC approvals happen so quickly. We wouldn't be upset if there wasnt such a big difference. I've seen that the centers vary in processing time, but TSC, in history, seems to be on the map as the slowest. So why is it fair that what state you live in determines how quickly you get to see your loved one? Not right, in my opinion.

If you have/had the patience and don't/didn't complain about not being with your loved one quickly, then props to you. But those of us literally feeling so much heartache over this aren't just going to 'stop belly aching' because 'this is how it is'. Sure, it's how it is, but we're allowed to think that's not okay and want to do something about it.

I don't have much of an opinion on the petition, but it frustrates me reading posts with people telling us to 'just deal with it'. Of course there's not much we can do about it and generally have to accept it, but we have every right to be upset that it's unfair.

Edited January 1, 2015 by lovecometruex

[Kristen & Ben 1]

Exactly. The majority of America still believes that you marry an American or have a child with them and you get an automatic green card. Some even believe it equals citizenship. Honestly, proper reform won't happen without proper education on the subject.

You couldn't be more right. I have friends and family who wonder where my husband is or why he isn't in the U.S. now because we got married so he must be allowed to live here. Very few people who haven't known someone who has been through the immigration system realize how much time and effort go into it.

[Hotter Otter 1,211]

The amount of Americans who were shocked at my wait speaks volumes; I agree that most people don't know/ care enough about family immigration to make it worth politicians time. CR1/K1 filers are such a mixed bunch too and in small enough numbers that helping us out would not benefit either party so politicians don't care.

No harm in the petition though; when I was waiting it was made a little easier by email campaigns and trying to get media/political attention. It was better than complaining and doing nothing which is bad for ones state of mind.

[cdneh 3,112]

Odd how they go, in swings and roundabouts. When we came through VSC, CSC was moving like a freight train delivering dynamite. VSC was sooooo slow then. Not long after we moved on to NVC (where we also got stuck for AP, for an extra added delay of nearly 2 months) it went the other way around. CSC was slow as molasses, and VSC was zapping them through. It will shift, it always does.

I remember being stunned to read of one couple, who hadn't even met each other until after we had filed, get approval in two months flat, and well before we had a NOA2.

It seemed 'unfair' then I suppose, just as it is perceived to be "unfair" now. But, it is still the only game in town. By all means, send your petition. Also realize little will come of it.

[jamyestrella 8]

I had no idea this post/petition would cause so many passionate responses. I was just sharing something for those who feel the same. If you agree amen, if you don't you don't amen. I honestly thank you all for sharing your thoughts. Props to those who are ok with just waiting and raise no concern over how USCIS does things. I however, like many others out there cannot be simply ok with it. Happy New Year to all of you!