I-129F Filers, March 2015 NOA1 date! TSC only!

[Amhara 460]

You do know that it takes the dhs ombudsman's office 45 days after they receive the release you sign about your petition to even look and decipher if they can help you look further into your case?

It's ridiculous, and the ombuds really doesn't have any power to do anything in your case. They make you wait 60 days after "normal processing times"; whatever that means. They are neutral and can only make recommendations, which USCIS can accept or decline. However, the ombuds does report to congress and reports all the issues that are brought to them. At least with this teleconference, there is a way to communicate this problem without waiting the 45 days.

Who knows if it will make any difference, but letting them know that TSC still has a huge caseload with very few getting approved lately might do something. From reading the issues that people had with TSC who had filed in November onward, I tend to not trust the USCIS. Some of those folks were being told that TSC is not running behind and that CSC is not working their cases faster! Who knows what they may be saying with their internal reports! Even from the numbers that I've been seeing posted here, they just seem inflated. I was reading on the DoS site that NVC receives about 2,700 K-1 cases each month. That seems not to align with the supposedly 20,000 cases TSC handles each month? I don't know, I'm probably reading the data wrong.

[jess100 53]

Can someone tell me where you are finding the statistics on TSC (the number of cases closed) vs CSC (number of cases closed) ?

[jess100 53]

ant330ci,

Tell Senators Inhofe and Lankford that my senator sent his inquiry in the middle of the fourth month, and that his communications over my two months of badgering extended to the TSC and the congressional liaison for the USCIS. When the congressional liaison fed the senator's office misinformation, I called that person on it and suggested to my advocate that perhaps the media should know that the USCIS is providing inaccurate information to the head of the Senate Subcommitee on Immigration and the National Interest. The reply back was along the lines of "maybe I misunderstood. I've emailed them again for clarification."

My senator was told five months was the normal processing window, but I did not wait, because there is on such thing as a number of months the senator waits. I hope you got a name of someone(s) at each office (ask for their email too) and make sure you're speaking to a constituent liaison, not an assistant or a desk person. Ask for guidance on where to find the source for the magic "7 months" because that must be available under the freedom of information act. If they shared it with you on the phone they should direct you to it online. Again tell them that my senator sent the first email in the middle of month 4. Let them know the USCIS hasn't updated its processing dates in almost two months, and that the TSC has basically stopped approving K-1 petitions the last two weeks. Let them know that you are being penalized and prejudiced because you live in the state of Oklahoma. Give them factual information that you can get from this site on how quickly petitions are routing through California. See what other petitioners with partners in Vietnam are fairing time line wise.

Senator's are not bound by anything legal with regards to when they can or cannot email the USCIS. Similarly because the USCIS has no reporting obligation to the senate they can ignore (though they don't) senate email. Whoever you are talking to wants to get you off the phone, and move on to something that doesn't require work. Get their name (so you can get an email). Idon't let them. Get that name and email. Search the internet if needed, but do not let someone brush you off who isn't walking in your shoes.

Sorry if I sound aggressive, but nothing irritates me more than lying and laziness. Keep pushing. Tell the person thank you and that you will be calling again tomorrow. Everyday, until that email from the USCIS arrives.

Squeaky wheel gets the oil. Politely, of course.

Freedom of Information is a joke. We asked for some records several years ago. It took well over a year for the records to be sent (althugh the time limit is supposed to be one or two months) and then they did not send what we asked for. They sent a few papers we already had but blacked out the name of the interviewing officer. We of course already knew his name bc we had the same papers.

[hampguy 9]

Freedom of Information is a joke. We asked for some records several years ago. It took well over a year for the records to be sent (althugh the time limit is supposed to be one or two months) and then they did not send what we asked for. They sent a few papers we already had but blacked out the name of the interviewing officer. We of course already knew his name bc we had the same papers.

When pressing a tier 2 officer about my petition, this is what he came up with. He told me after all is said and done i could do a "FOIA" Another joke. I wish i was not working for the DHS event.

[hampguy 9]

When pressing a tier 2 officer about my petition, this is what he came up with. He told me after all is said and done i could do a "FOIA" Another joke. I wish i was not working for the DHS event.

Day 200 and nothing. Bravo TSC.

[dsldesch 27]

Amhara, it is so nice to cross paths again! Thank you for joining our thread and offering your support to each of us.

To everyone here:

Please try to make time to join the DHS ombudsman public teleconference on Tuesday, September 29, 2015; 2:00 - 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time. HOWEVER Please RSVP by Friday, September 25, 2015 to CISOmbudsman.PublicAffairs@hq.dhs.gov.

I'm sorry for the short notice, I just saw this today.

http://www.dhs.gov/ombudsmans-public-teleconference-series

http://www.dhs.gov/case-assistance

Unfortunately, my work schedule will prevent me from attending, but I hope there are others here who can step forward, advocate on behalf of us stuck at TSC, and then report back. I know I would be immeasurably grateful to anyone who does this.

It's ridiculous, and the ombuds really doesn't have any power to do anything in your case. They make you wait 60 days after "normal processing times"; whatever that means. They are neutral and can only make recommendations, which USCIS can accept or decline. However, the ombuds does report to congress and reports all the issues that are brought to them. At least with this teleconference, there is a way to communicate this problem without waiting the 45 days.

Who knows if it will make any difference, but letting them know that TSC still has a huge caseload with very few getting approved lately might do something. From reading the issues that people had with TSC who had filed in November onward, I tend to not trust the USCIS. Some of those folks were being told that TSC is not running behind and that CSC is not working their cases faster! Who knows what they may be saying with their internal reports! Even from the numbers that I've been seeing posted here, they just seem inflated. I was reading on the DoS site that NVC receives about 2,700 K-1 cases each month. That seems not to align with the supposedly 20,000 cases TSC handles each month? I don't know, I'm probably reading the data wrong.

This sadly does not surprise me. I've realized that TSC has a way of changing its "normal processing times" to keep up with their delay, but this effectively gives the impression that they're running on schedule. In speaking with one of my rep's offices, I pointed this out, and they promptly stopped replying to my emails--I honestly can't say whether they just stopped talking to me because I said something they couldn't shut down or if they've decided to investigate, but if I don't hear back within a week, they will surely hear back from me.

Back when I filed (when we all filed), normal processing times was listed as five months; then, when I wrote my reps in June, they told me it was suddenly six months; and now that six months have passed, normal processing time is any petition with a filing date on or before January 19, 2015--which it's been all week, with no change (granted, this may have more to do with their page update schedule, but the point remains--I don't know what they're doing, but it's not effective)--and I honestly can't even say if there still are petitions with that filing date. Who knows, maybe they're just saying that to make us think they're working when they've stopped entirely? In any case, my representative's office told me to wait until the listed processing date passes our filing date before submitting an inquiry; however, since these "normal processing times" are clearly being retrofitted to TSC's poor management and progress, waiting that long is effectively just giving up on due process.

It's frustrating, and with these kinds of underhanded practices, we as petitioners have little recourse to defend ourselves.

[Steve and Ash 0]

So I just sent an email and I got an auto reply with no information about the teleconference. Did anyone else get the information?

[Sendjudah 1]

So I just sent an email and I got an auto reply with no information about the teleconference. Did anyone else get the information?

So I just sent an email and I got an auto reply with no information about the teleconference. Did anyone else get the information?

[Sendjudah 1]

Dear Stakeholder,

Thank you for registering. Call-in information is listed below:

Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman USCUS Forms Teleconference

September 29, 2015

2:00 3:00 pm Eastern Time

Dial-In: 888-469-0648

Conference Pin: 7659660

If you need further assistance, please email cisombudsman.publicaffairs@dhs.gov.

[ant330ci 8]

Dear Stakeholder,

Thank you for registering. Call-in information is listed below:

Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman USCUS Forms Teleconference

September 29, 2015

2:00 3:00 pm Eastern Time

Dial-In: 888-469-0648

Conference Pin: 7659660

If you need further assistance, please email cisombudsman.publicaffairs@dhs.gov.

I just got the same email. Edited September 26, 2015 by ant330ci

[rms171 20]

Can someone tell me where you are finding the statistics on TSC (the number of cases closed) vs CSC (number of cases closed) ?

A site with sound stats for TSC (maybe CSC too, but I'm not sure about the CSC as my petition did not go there and I was not interested in the information coming out of there) is Immifairy.com. It's a subscriber service so there is a fee, but the webmaster usually sends out a daily report of all movements at the TSC. She hasn't published every day the last two weeks because the TSC has basically come to a halt, but she's still sending out, just not as frequently right now.

Best of Luck,

R

[dsldesch 27]

So a few days ago I mentioned following up with Senator Tillis's office. I had spoken with them previously, and she had told me they would check in monthly and keep me updated. She missed the first checkup after a month had passed, and now that another month had passed, I emailed her last week and she said she'd reply wtih more information on Friday. Friday came and went with nothing, so earlier this week I wrote another follow-up email, and also sent a letter to Representative Ellmer's office. Her office was of no help, but I've said a few good phrases (by which, I mean, I hope they were impactful, though still polite) that'll hopefully make them realize how hard this delay is on us, and how unfair/unethical TSC is being, but anyways, that's sort of tangential at the moment.

Then this evening I got a reponse from Tillis's office, a forwarded response from TSC saying our petition was approved.

I was excited yet uncertain, but shortly after nine this evening, USCIS updated the website with our official approval notice.

Personally, I think my fiance and I are in shock. I had resigned myself to waiting much longer and had not anticipated this happening today.

In any case, I share this news as an example of what being on top of our representatives may do for us. I honestly have no idea if it was the work of my senator's office that got our petition approved today or if it was just coincidental timing, but if their pressure did mean anything to the folks at TSC, then it's a message that we all need to actively communicate with our members of Congress to make sure we each receive the attention we deserve.

[rms171 20]

Dsldesch,

Super happy for you. I never let a date pass that my senator had committed to without following up. Your persistence led to this milestone for you. Never think it just happened by luck or chance.

Maybe share some of your phrases or guidance with the group as the right approach may assist others in developing a better framework of communication with their government officials.

R

Edited September 26, 2015 by rms171

[Mad & J 25]

Then this evening I got a reponse from Tillis's office, a forwarded response from TSC saying our petition was approved.

I was excited yet uncertain, but shortly after nine this evening, USCIS updated the website with our official approval notice.

I'm so happy for you two, and glad that your perseverance finally paid off!

Things have been even slower than usual at TSC lately while CSC keeps rolling out approvals, it's truly outrageous that they need to be nudged like this for them to even do their jobs!

[Cristina375 7]

So a few days ago I mentioned following up with Senator Tillis's office. I had spoken with them previously, and she had told me they would check in monthly and keep me updated. She missed the first checkup after a month had passed, and now that another month had passed, I emailed her last week and she said she'd reply wtih more information on Friday. Friday came and went with nothing, so earlier this week I wrote another follow-up email, and also sent a letter to Representative Ellmer's office. Her office was of no help, but I've said a few good phrases (by which, I mean, I hope they were impactful, though still polite) that'll hopefully make them realize how hard this delay is on us, and how unfair/unethical TSC is being, but anyways, that's sort of tangential at the moment.

Then this evening I got a reponse from Tillis's office, a forwarded response from TSC saying our petition was approved.

I was excited yet uncertain, but shortly after nine this evening, USCIS updated the website with our official approval notice.

Personally, I think my fiance and I are in shock. I had resigned myself to waiting much longer and had not anticipated this happening today.

In any case, I share this news as an example of what being on top of our representatives may do for us. I honestly have no idea if it was the work of my senator's office that got our petition approved today or if it was just coincidental timing, but if their pressure did mean anything to the folks at TSC, then it's a message that we all need to actively communicate with our members of Congress to make sure we each receive the attention we deserve.

So so happy for you two! Congratulations and wish you a very smooth and fast journey from now on!