USCIS Director Confirms Review Of Fiance Visa Program

[Roy&Chanel 109]

Hey guys, I was reading on USCIS articles and came across this:

Law360, New York (December 9, 2015, 5:48 PM ET) -- The head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services told lawmakers Wednesday that the agency is reviewing the fiance visa program used by one of the attackers in San Bernardino, and that USCIS has been ordered to retroactively review such cases approved in recent years.
During a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing, USCIS Director Leon Rodriguez confirmed the agency is reviewing the K-1 visa program said to have been used by Tashfeen Malik, one of the two shooters in the San Bernardino attack that left 14 people dead.

“Now, in light of the events in San Bernardino, the president and the secretary have both directed USCIS to review both the K-1 visa program as whole — which we are in the process of doing right now — but also to do a retrospective look at cases approved in recent years under the K-1 visa program,” Rodriguez said.

The USCIS director declined to delve into the specifics of Malik’s case, saying he didn’t believe he was at liberty to share that information at this time.

The K-1 visa allows the fiance of a U.S. citizen to enter the country for 90 days to allow for the marriage to take place, and the foreign spouse may then apply for permanent residency, according to USCIS. The FBI’s David Bowdich has confirmed that the K-1 visa was used by Malik, who carried out the deadly rampage in San Bernardino with her husband, Syed Rizwan Farook.

The USCIS director insisted that in recent years, the agency has been “working diligently” to boost its ability to spot people who are criminals or national security threats, and has developed improved techniques for detecting fraud during interviewing.

Rodriguez also took heat during Wednesday's hearing from Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., over the handling of the visa bulletin update. The monthly visa bulletin serves as guidepost for when immigrants can seek green cards, and in its updated October edition, the State Department pushed back cutoff dates for foreign workers from certain high-demand countries.

“Many people — immigrants — relied on the bulletin, as is reasonable to do, to their detriment,” Lofgren said, before discussing an individual she had met who was doing neuroscience research, who decided not to renew his H-1B visa, and was left in limbo after the bulletin was amended.

Lofgren added that “it’s crazy” that a person who’s been in the U.S. for years and has received government funding for his research is now essentially “nowhere” in the immigration process. The congresswoman also expressed concern that the U.S. has yet to launch a parole program for immigrant entrepreneurs.

The USCIS director also told lawmakers that the agency will likely be ready to issue a final version of the new guidance on extreme hardship within “a very small handful of months,” and assured committee members that agency has taken steps to ensure that renewal applications Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals are adjudicated on time.

“So what we’ve done, is ... we have extended the time at which we give them initial notification of the fact that they’re coming up for renewal,” Rodriguez said. “We now do it 180 days before expiration, rather than 150 days.”
​

[sumehra29 22]

Wonder what kind of changes . My fiancé got approved for his k1 fiance in November and he will be here December 29 . Hope everything will be fine

[LionessDeon 2,060]

As if I need anything more to add to my already difficult visa journey.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to US Immigration News and Discussion~

~Discussion about impending visa processes review~

Edited December 11, 2015 by Pitaya

[steph&max 13]

As if I need anything more to add to my already difficult visa journey.

YUP I feel ya.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

YUP I feel ya.

USCIS has had our criminal waiver filing for 4 months. I am praying that it gets approved. It is a very minor charge. I understand the need for Homeland Security, I get it. But it's seems like every obstacle that could be out in our path has been.

[steph&max 13]

USCIS has had our criminal waiver filing for 4 months. I am praying that it gets approved. It is a very minor charge. I understand the need for Homeland Security, I get it. But it's seems like every obstacle that could be out in our path has been.

Oh no good luck to you!!

[TBoneTX 45,267]

This is the government. Nothing major will be done anytime soon.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

This is the government. Nothing major will be done anytime soon.

Well when you look at it like that, you're prob right!

Edited December 11, 2015 by LionessDeon

[Lowlie 191]

I've heard quite a lot this week on CNN about all US visas. There’s talk about the need to make the process much more vigorous, with longer waits and less approvals. There’s talk about implementing mandatory AP (after interviews) for all countries on the high risk list. There’s talk about the process currently being too short...6 to 8 months average for K1, 1 year average for family visas, and the process times increasing to approximately 1+ year for K1 and 2+ years for family visas. There’s also talk about these increases in effort and time resulting in significantly higher visa fees. One person who was speaking on CNN said he would like to see visa approvals average around 25%, with the other 75% being denied in the final stage. One thing I heard someone say on CNN which was absolutely false is that the immigration visa process is much too easy. I think no one here in VJ would agree that what they’ve gone through, or are still going through could be described as “too easy”!

[minions2 24]

I agree, fiancee visa gets approved much quicker than the other petition such as ir1 and ir5..

[Maritah 101]

To be honest, to me as K-1, I think the paperwork was simple, we started the process with the Nolo book, and after sent the package we found VJ. Took 8 months to us to get the visa (Texas Service Center) and we knew that the waiting was part of the process.

I must add that our case was simple, I was single with no kids, and my husband was divorced with older daughter and son, and we didn't need a co-sponsor.

Regards.

[Advanced Aardvark 82]

This would be a good time for the USCs to begin writing to their US Senators and Representatives about the positive aspects of the K1 visa program. Tell then that USCIS requires more funding to support this important program. Get your friends and relatives to write about it too. We are coming into an election year in 2016. It is important for Congress to understand what is important to their constituents.

The more opinions Congress hears DIRECTLY from constituents, the less likely it is to succumb to knee-jerk media suggestions.

[Boiler 45,468]

This would be a good time for the USCs to begin writing to their US Senators and Representatives about the positive aspects of the K1 visa program. Tell then that USCIS requires more funding to support this important program. Get your friends and relatives to write about it too. We are coming into an election year in 2016. It is important for Congress to understand what is important to their constituents.

The more opinions Congress hears DIRECTLY from constituents, the less likely it is to succumb to knee-jerk media suggestions.

?? Self funding so you want an increase in the fees?

[JR loves JR 196]

I don't think that the place they need to make changes is necessarily in the length of the processing. Instead they might want to consider keeping track of people who show up on a tourist or student visa and never leave or ones that fail to AOS within a reasonable period of time. I understand that making the filing of AOS for K-1s mandatory within a year of arrival would be financially hard for some people but it is a second chance for the government to review recipients and a good check up to make sure that they actually followed through on their marriage. I mean, if someone filing for the CR-1 has to pay it all up front, then why can't they require the AOS is a specific amount of time? I also think they should make it more of a priority to investigate those whose Affidavit of Support has been withdrawn by the petitioner during the AOS process. It feels like too many people get to America and then melt into oblivion.