Who exactly is making decisions regarding green cards?

[Dirty harry 25]

Could be... you have a good point about money, lol. I should research that because i don't even know who to call, thank you. The weird thing is that i-130 (my husband's petition) is still not approved either, no updates about i-130 since March 2015.

hm... That's interesting. It could be that its all wrapped up in the 1 background check.I dont remember the name of the office that handles all that stuff, I think it might be the local office that handles passports in the city where you are from but i would have to look it up somewhere. The best thing, that has always gotten us results (for instance when we needed a birth certificate) is to have a relative show up at the correct office and try to find out if an inquiry was made about your background, and if it has been completed.

Harry

[Lovelynyc 0]

Thanks! My husband talked to supervisor on May 25th and thats when he was told to wait for 30 days. Did you ever find out why it took longer that promised? I couldn't figure it out from your signature, sorry.

That's no problem. So for me basically my file was sent to the adjudication unit for review. But it was just sitting on someone's desk not being touched. The supervisor I saw at infopass said that it had been past the duration of time they said they would review my file ( 2-3 weeks) when I went for that infopass it was in the fourth week. So the supervisor went to the adjudication unit and requested to see my file and have the case reopened. ( this took an entire day of waiting at the office because he said there was up to 60 ppl in that unit and it could of been on anyone's desk. After a few hours he returned and told me my case was in the hands of a supervisor in that unit and was being reviewed and by the time I got home my case had been reopened.

[NikLR 13,232]

Okay they're contacting the NBC because that's what your case number is. This way they can properly trace EXACTLY where your file is RIGHT NOW. But to do that, they have to go from start to end. The US government makes sure there is paperwork so they can do this. If a file is sent from the NBC to the local office, that is recorded and is traceable. If the file has been sent else where, they can trace that. If the file is sitting on someone's desk and they're in trouble because they haven't done anything with it or because it's awaiting something, they can trace that. They can figure out exactly what's going on. You may never know what exactly is going on, but they can find out and get it moved out of the black hole it's currently located in.

Generally speaking, the interviewing officer or their supervisor will make a decision on the file. However, maybe background checks or something else is missing or extra items are needed from another part of the government before they can make a decision. At the very least, if you have a helpful senator or congressman or multiple people looking in on this case, then someone is going to figure out what happened and make it right.

[Usagi_tsukino 90]

That's no problem. So for me basically my file was sent to the adjudication unit for review. But it was just sitting on someone's desk not being touched. The supervisor I saw at infopass said that it had been past the duration of time they said they would review my file ( 2-3 weeks) when I went for that infopass it was in the fourth week. So the supervisor went to the adjudication unit and requested to see my file and have the case reopened. ( this took an entire day of waiting at the office because he said there was up to 60 ppl in that unit and it could of been on anyone's desk. After a few hours he returned and told me my case was in the hands of a supervisor in that unit and was being reviewed and by the time I got home my case had been reopened.

Sounds very similar to what happened to us, the supervisor said they need to review the file and it will take 30 days. That's crazy. We received nothing back either. Well, we will try to talk to supervisor again on July 12. Thank you!

[Usagi_tsukino 90]

Okay they're contacting the NBC because that's what your case number is. This way they can properly trace EXACTLY where your file is RIGHT NOW. But to do that, they have to go from start to end. The US government makes sure there is paperwork so they can do this. If a file is sent from the NBC to the local office, that is recorded and is traceable. If the file has been sent else where, they can trace that. If the file is sitting on someone's desk and they're in trouble because they haven't done anything with it or because it's awaiting something, they can trace that. They can figure out exactly what's going on. You may never know what exactly is going on, but they can find out and get it moved out of the black hole it's currently located in.

Generally speaking, the interviewing officer or their supervisor will make a decision on the file. However, maybe background checks or something else is missing or extra items are needed from another part of the government before they can make a decision. At the very least, if you have a helpful senator or congressman or multiple people looking in on this case, then someone is going to figure out what happened and make it right.

Thank you, that was very helpful. By the way do you (or anyone else is more than welcome to give their opinion as well!) think we should contact congressman if senator people just contacted NBC? I heard they don't like really like it if you went to another congressman/senator. I am just not at all happy with the fact that we were told to wait for another 60 days, the reason why we contacted them originally is so we don't have to wait that long. Is it possible that another congressman will be able to find something out faster? Or should we wait if this senator can help, and if not, then go to another one? Thank you.

[NikLR 13,232]

Thank you, that was very helpful. By the way do you (or anyone else is more than welcome to give their opinion as well!) think we should contact congressman if senator people just contacted NBC? I heard they don't like really like it if you went to another congressman/senator. I am just not at all happy with the fact that we were told to wait for another 60 days, the reason why we contacted them originally is so we don't have to wait that long. Is it possible that another congressman will be able to find something out faster? Or should we wait if this senator can help, and if not, then go to another one? Thank you.

while you do have to give them time to figure out what's going on, don't be afraid to keep in contact with your senator with emails or calls to keep on top of what's happening.

[NikLR 13,232]

Also to note, who cares what they think? This is YOUR case. Also they dont' necessarily compete with each either.

https://www.reference.com/government-politics/difference-between-senator-congressman-6a9d6275d1e482ae

Also this link may help

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

https://www.dhs.gov/topic/cis-ombudsman

[Lovelynyc 0]

Sounds very similar to what happened to us, the supervisor said they need to review the file and it will take 30 days. That's crazy. We received nothing back either. Well, we will try to talk to supervisor again on July 12. Thank you!

Yeah I would definitely keep pestering them, that day when I went and my case was re opened the supervisor told me my file wasn't even there, and I said no actually it was confirmed by the Congresswomans office it was there. And then the supervisor did some more digging until he eventually saw my file was there this whole time.

Also by advice from visa journey forums I was told to contact Congresswomans office, Ombudsman, Senator & a lawyer.

The resources I used was Lawyer then Congresswomans Office. And for me the Congresswomans Office always had the most current and up to date information. It was them that contacted me and told me my case was approved days before I received any status updates, notice of action letters or phone calls requested from USCIS.

My advice is contact as many resources as possible, this is for your case and you should do everything you can even if it means contacting them more than once.

Good luck with your next info pass appointment. I hope it is successful for you

Edited July 5, 2016 by Lovelynyc

[Dirty harry 25]

Definitely go the congressman. In my experience because of the local nature of things 1 vote means much more to a congressman than to a senator. I have personally heard of congressmen getting things done with immigration.

Harry. Honestly I have experience with government. No one really cares if you get people involved, they dont have a personal stake in the case, they are just doing" their job"

Harry

[Usagi_tsukino 90]

Definitely go the congressman. In my experience because of the local nature of things 1 vote means much more to a congressman than to a senator. I have personally heard of congressmen getting things done with immigration.

Harry. Honestly I have experience with government. No one really cares if you get people involved, they dont have a personal stake in the case, they are just doing" their job"

Harry

Thank you Harry! We couldn't make it this week because my husband couldn't get out of work, but we will try to go asap.

Edited July 7, 2016 by banana_princess

[Usagi_tsukino 90]

Yeah I would definitely keep pestering them, that day when I went and my case was re opened the supervisor told me my file wasn't even there, and I said no actually it was confirmed by the Congresswomans office it was there. And then the supervisor did some more digging until he eventually saw my file was there this whole time.

Also by advice from visa journey forums I was told to contact Congresswomans office, Ombudsman, Senator & a lawyer.

The resources I used was Lawyer then Congresswomans Office. And for me the Congresswomans Office always had the most current and up to date information. It was them that contacted me and told me my case was approved days before I received any status updates, notice of action letters or phone calls requested from USCIS.

My advice is contact as many resources as possible, this is for your case and you should do everything you can even if it means contacting them more than once.

Good luck with your next info pass appointment. I hope it is successful for you

Thank you! This is so ridiculous! Why do we have to do all this and they just give us standard responses like "your case is pending", like what if you didn't tell her that congressman office confirmed it, your file would be there for ever?!

[NikLR 13,232]

Basically you have to ask where exactly is my case? Not the status of it. You want to know where it is and why? Then they need to actually find the casefile. Then you ask them to find out why its still waiting when others around you have had a decision.

[Usagi_tsukino 90]

Basically you have to ask where exactly is my case? Not the status of it. You want to know where it is and why? Then they need to actually find the casefile. Then you ask them to find out why its still waiting when others around you have had a decision.

That's a very good tip We keep asking "why", but they seem to reply to "what's the status". I think we know where is it though, unless it moved. On may 25th it was with the supervisor, the officer had to review it. A month later the guy said there is no real timeframe for that, basically the officer gets to the case whenever they have time/want to/miracle happens. This is when he said that in some cases it takes 4-5 years, i mentioned it here before. So, we will go back on Tuesday, what should we say? Assuming that the case is still with the supervisor (we will ask where it is to make sure) or at the officer's desk?

Because they will just tell us to wait again until the officer gets to it... Who should we ask to talk to? They will just tell us to go home and wait for 2 weeks and we will get nothing again because the officer won't get to the case again (assuming the case is with the officer/supervisor) I literally just want them to pull it out and review it when we are there!

[Usagi_tsukino 90]

What happened today, or Durbin is useless.

1) In the morning, we went to Mike Quigley office, filled out privacy release form so they could work on our case.

2) Came back, found a letter from Durbin's office that pretty much said that our case it pending! Seriously?! I am shocked, i had no idea that it's pending.

3) My husband went to work, angry me went to Durbin's office. I told them that i did not ask if it's pending or not, i asked WHY is it still pending. I talked to Tran Nguyen. She said this is all the information they can get. I said that i can get this information by myself and there is no way they do not have more power than me. Oh, funny story! They misspelled my last name. I was going to call and tell them few day ago but totally forgot. So, uscis responded regarding the misspelled last name! You know what it means? They pretty much just sent the standard response without even looking at our case! Tran Nguyen or anyone else didn't seem to care about that. They said they will continue sending inquiries every 45 days, LOL! (so they don't exclude the possibility that it will be another 45 days and may be even longer). Completely useless!!!!!!

They also said they out case is not in National Benefits center, it's in the local office in Chicago, and the officer needs to review it, just what we already knew.

So instead of working today i was running around Chicago all day. I think we should sue uscis for all this wasted time and the money i could have made today but didn't, lol

Whats next? Ombudsman?

Edited July 8, 2016 by banana_princess

[Lovelynyc 0]

What happened today, or Durbin is useless.

1) In the morning, we went to Mike Quigley office, filled out privacy release form so they could work on our case.

2) Came back, found a letter from Durbin's office that pretty much said that our case it pending! Seriously?! I am shocked, i had no idea that it's pending.

3) My husband went to work, angry me went to Durbin's office. I told them that i did not ask if it's pending or not, i asked WHY is it still pending. I talked to Tran Nguyen. She said this is all the information they can get. I said that i can get this information by myself and there is no way they do not have more power than me. Oh, funny story! They misspelled my last name. I was going to call and tell them few day ago but totally forgot. So, uscis responded regarding the misspelled last name! You know what it means? They pretty much just sent the standard response without even looking at our case! Tran Nguyen or anyone else didn't seem to care about that. They said they will continue sending inquiries every 45 days, LOL! (so they don't exclude the possibility that it will be another 45 days and may be even longer). Completely useless!!!!!!

They also said they out case is not in National Benefits center, it's in the local office in Chicago, and the officer needs to review it, just what we already knew.

So instead of working today i was running around Chicago all day. I think we should sue uscis for all this wasted time and the money i could have made today but didn't, lol

Whats next? Ombudsman?

That really sucks, sorry you are going through this. I know their are ways for expedited processing but I think those are cases where you have received a decision in clear error. You could try to use the name error as an administrative error maybe that could get your file to the top of the pile.

I remember with my case they couldn't do anything about it in the beginning because firstly my file wasn't there and two the office who needed to review it was on vacation so I had to wait.