Success of US Senator intervention?

[muhiretomas 4]

After encountering frustrating delays, technical problems, and a serious error on the part of the NVC (failure to process an IV payment properly), I decided to seek some intervention from the US senators in my state of Illinois. At this point, it seems like a more reliable approach then the repeated calls I've made to address various issues which have never shown to be fruitful.

I am wondering if anybody has any experiences asking for such assistance and whether it is worth trying this option.

[CallMeShams 34]

After encountering frustrating delays, technical problems, and a serious error on the part of the NVC (failure to process an IV payment properly), I decided to seek some intervention from the US senators in my state of Illinois. At this point, it seems like a more reliable approach then the repeated calls I've made to address various issues which have never shown to be fruitful.

I am wondering if anybody has any experiences asking for such assistance and whether it is worth trying this option.

Won't say it is not worth trying however, do note that their input is limited. The NVC normally responds to their email inquiries promptly.

They are able to get in contact with the NVC easier than you and I.

[muhiretomas 4]

Thanks for the reply. I assumed that they may not have too much power in a case, but making prompt contact is exactly what I am looking for.

Calling the NVC results in one of two responses: continue waiting or submit the case for supervisory review (which is a "reassuring" way of saying "continue waiting"). Given that my case is near complete, in that all documents are submitted, fees paid, and application submitted, I feel it is only a matter of the case being brought to the attention of the right person for a quick review. If a Senator at least has the ability to bring the case to more immediate attention (not the 42 days required for Supervisory Review), that is all I would ask for.

I will let you know how it goes.

[mrskvelasco 30]

I, too, live in IL and reached out to my state senator's office once our I-130 wait passed 7 months. Within a week of their inquiry, we got approved. I'd say it helps. Wouldn't hurt to reach out and see if they can do anything with your case at NVC.

Edited August 26, 2015 by mrskvelasco

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Process & Procedures to Progress Reports.

[mallafri76 1,012]

We're in the same boat as you, although we've been stuck at supervisor review for 63 days now. You're right, ever call to NVC usually means being told to wait and that the case is being reviewed.

We're actually in the process right now to involve our Senator and his team. I don't know if all Senators have this but ours have a special task team, whose job is to assist with immigration queries and in contact with federal agencies. You need to sign a release form that gives the Senator's team the authority to make inquiries about your case. They can't influence what NVC does but I think that if you have a United States Senator getting involved in your case, that's gonna make NVC speed up a little.

Good luck. I'll keep you posted on what happens with our Senator's help if you want?

[muhiretomas 4]

We're in the same boat as you, although we've been stuck at supervisor review for 63 days now. You're right, ever call to NVC usually means being told to wait and that the case is being reviewed.

We're actually in the process right now to involve our Senator and his team. I don't know if all Senators have this but ours have a special task team, whose job is to assist with immigration queries and in contact with federal agencies. You need to sign a release form that gives the Senator's team the authority to make inquiries about your case. They can't influence what NVC does but I think that if you have a United States Senator getting involved in your case, that's gonna make NVC speed up a little.

Good luck. I'll keep you posted on what happens with our Senator's help if you want?

Thanks for the reply. I would be happy to hear whether the Senator is able to help your case. Similar to what you described, the Senators in Illinois have staff focused only on immigration issues such as these.

I will keep you posted as to how it goes in my case.

Edited August 27, 2015 by muhiretomas

[muhiretomas 4]

I, too, live in IL and reached out to my state senator's office once our I-130 wait passed 7 months. Within a week of their inquiry, we got approved. I'd say it helps. Wouldn't hurt to reach out and see if they can do anything with your case at NVC.

Your case suggests that a Senator can significantly help to bring a case to the attention of the office rather quickly. I will let you know how my case goes.

[muhiretomas 4]

Well, I can report that it appears a Senator's inquiry can change the whole course of a case in certain circumstances. Let me explain:

After the Senator's office sent their inquiry to the NVC, they received a reply saying that the NVC had completed our case and was only waiting on an interview appointment to become available at the embassy. My guess is that the NVC "completed" the case AFTER they received the inquiry from the Senator and covered themselves by saying that it was the embassy's wait times that was delaying the case from moving forward. The NVC had never indicated to us that our case was complete, and in fact ceac still shows an incomplete case. To me that seems to suggest that the Senator brought the case to the right person's attention, at which point they quickly completed the case and put it in line for an interview appointment.

I anticipate an interview appointment soon and will keep all posted as to further progress.

All in all, I would recommend contacting a your senator or representative as soon as there is an unreasonable delay or problem. It is in these moments that they can bring your case to more immediate attention of the people reviewing cases.

Best of luck!

Edited September 6, 2015 by muhiretomas

[Zats&Bryan 30]

Great news! Congrats, Could you please send me the way to contact this Senator? My husband lives in Illinois too and our case is still on hold, waiting for them to move forward, I would really appreciate it! Thanks in advance!

[muhiretomas 4]

Great news! Congrats, Could you please send me the way to contact this Senator? My husband lives in Illinois too and our case is still on hold, waiting for them to move forward, I would really appreciate it! Thanks in advance!

You can contact either US Senator for Illinois by going to their respective websites and filling out an inquiry form explaining your issue.

For Mark Kirk, go to http://www.kirk.senate.gov/?p=federal_agency_help. Fill out the form and his immigration liaison, Elisabeth Conklin, will contact you, asking you to fill out a privacy release form that allows her to ask about your case.

For ####### Durbin, go to http://www.durbin.senate.gov/help/services/immigration. His site has a specific form for immigration issues and you will be able to fill out and send the privacy release form by fax or mail. After his office receives your inquiry and your privacy release form, his liaison Tran Nguyen will contact the immigration office on your behalf.

I contacted both Senators at the same time, and each was able to get me an answer from the NVC in about two weeks from when I contacted their offices. It seems that the inquiry from a Senator brought the necessary attention to my case which should have been completed a month ago.

Now just waiting on the interview appointment.....

I hope that you find the same success with your case. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Zats&Bryan 30]

Thank you very much!! We really appreciate this info.

[mallafri76 1,012]

We contacted our Senator on Sept 15th and three days later, the Senator's team made contact with NVC. Three business days after that, our case was moved from the supervisor reviewing it to a special team who deals with Senator requests. I've learnt NEVER to trust what NVC says but if it's true, then a Senator can really help when a case is stuck and past the NVC timeframe.

NVC told us that it would take a week or two for the review to take place. I'll keep you posted on what happens. Great to hear that you were helped by a Senator request. Hope you get an interview date soon.

[muhiretomas 4]

Congrats on moving your case forward! I think there is good evidence that Senators can help in certain circumstances, so I hope it proves true in your case.

Also, shortly after our case completed on September 7th, we got an interview appointment for October 13th!!! I'm glad to be out of the NVC and near the end of this long, complicated process.

We contacted our Senator on Sept 15th and three days later, the Senator's team made contact with NVC. Three business days after that, our case was moved from the supervisor reviewing it to a special team who deals with Senator requests. I've learnt NEVER to trust what NVC says but if it's true, then a Senator can really help when a case is stuck and past the NVC timeframe.

NVC told us that it would take a week or two for the review to take place. I'll keep you posted on what happens. Great to hear that you were helped by a Senator request. Hope you get an interview date soon.

[KierenHby 899]

We contacted our Senator on Sept 15th and three days later, the Senator's team made contact with NVC. Three business days after that, our case was moved from the supervisor reviewing it to a special team who deals with Senator requests. I've learnt NEVER to trust what NVC says but if it's true, then a Senator can really help when a case is stuck and past the NVC timeframe.

NVC told us that it would take a week or two for the review to take place. I'll keep you posted on what happens. Great to hear that you were helped by a Senator request. Hope you get an interview date soon.

I gotta say yours is one of the craziest delays seen on VJ. It's downright BS to be stuck this long at NVC. Hope the VWP is keeping you sane..