Improving the Spousal & Fiancee Visa Processes

[Kastrs 723]

12 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

As it has been discussed in other forums on here. I do believe that was before the entire EO rules were made clearer.What about the 7 countries are you talking about, the countries are on the list because A) The countries harbor Islamic Extremists B) The countries themselves are failed states and extremists rules parts of those countries. The visa holders and green card holders from around the world were not affected by that EO at all. There were over 300,000 people that flew into the country and less than 200 were affected by the ban.

That does not make it any less heartbreaking for the less than 200 affected (although it was more than 200)

and that does not make right those people who were forced to surrender their GC and that does not make it right the way Muslim Americans (USC) have been treated at airports

 

also as has been pointed out many many times, no one from those 7 countries has ever staged a terrorist attack in the USA

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

From my own experience and the related experiences by vj members, I think the #1 issue is accurate case status. To improve it would mean overhauling whatever case management tool the USCIS and NVC use.

 

1. Integrate both systems - or better yet, create one system. Case transfers from USCIS to NVC to embassy are instantaneous.

2. Include a public dashboard with detailed status categories. Include the queue # on each case for each caseworker.

3. Allow petitioner/beneficiary direct access to caseworker, within strict guidelines.

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

Other ideas...

- Increase required # of face to face visits to 2, or if there is only 1 visit then require a minimum # of days for that single visit, for example, 30.

- Enforce the AOS provisions. If an immigrant becomes a public charge in any way, go after the AOS signer(s) aggressively.

Edited February 3, 2017 by Russ&Caro
Edited for clarity

[Transborderwife 4,666]

7 minutes ago, Russ&Caro said:

Other ideas...

- Increase required # of face to face visits to 2, or if there is only 1 visit then require a minimum # of days for that single visit, for example, 30.

- Enforce the AOS provisions. If an immigrant becomes a public charge in any way, go after the AOS signer(s) aggressively.

Define in any way, this came up on another thread.  For example, for a short period of time my daughter and husband received food stamps and Medicaid.  He fs card was in my name but we made it clear on the application that this was not for me, but because I was head of household it was in my name, though I did not receive benefits.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

 Chip immigrants and have enforcement methods that would really work.  Deport/departure for all overstayers and undocumented

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Just now, NigeriaorBust said:

 Chip immigrants and have enforcement methods that would really work.  Deport/departure for all overstayers and undocumented

Yikes!

 

i remember when the chip passports first came out there was a rumor that they'd be tracked somehow that way 

[sarahandyunus 133]

I agree with increasing the amount of visits from 1 - perhaps require a net amount of days spent together over the course of visits or something (Like a net total of 6 months, I'd say). One meeting could be a week long and that does not a fiance make! (watching TLC's '90 Day Fiance' has proven this to me). 

[Daisy.Chain 317]

2 hours ago, jeffkadrliktorr said:

Yeah, tell that to the LEGAL visa holder & green card holders who were detained/deported last weekend. Also, the 7 entire countries that have been banned from the US. I've been telling myself it's just the illegal immigrants they have a problem with, but it's so not true at all.

They did fix the green card situation shortly afterwards, but even if they had not, the US has the right to block any non-citizen for any reason. Also, Obama picked the same 7 countries when he blocked the vawa people in 2011, so I'm surprised to see so much angst - this isn't a new thing, just sudden.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

1 minute ago, sarahandyunus said:

I agree with increasing the amount of visits from 1 - perhaps require a net amount of days spent together over the course of visits or something (Like a net total of 6 months, I'd say). One meeting could be a week long and that does not a fiance make! (watching TLC's '90 Day Fiance' has proven this to me). 

Aww come on, but Mohamed loved Danielle ☺️?

[sarahandyunus 133]

Just now, Transborderwife said:

Aww come on, but Mohamed loved Danielle ☺️?

Gaahaha 

 

I didn't know the show was a thing until I explained my relationship to the girl who does my eyebrows (lol) and she was like 'Oh, so it's like 90 day fiance?!?!' I watched it and then I realized the potential for fraud! We lived in the same country for a year so I knew what I was getting into - I can see how it'd be so so easy to get tricked with someone you just met up with once or twice briefly!

[Transborderwife 4,666]

1 minute ago, sarahandyunus said:

Gaahaha 

 

I didn't know the show was a thing until I explained my relationship to the girl who does my eyebrows (lol) and she was like 'Oh, so it's like 90 day fiance?!?!' I watched it and then I realized the potential for fraud! We lived in the same country for a year so I knew what I was getting into - I can see how it'd be so so easy to get tricked with someone you just met up with once or twice briefly!

My husband and I have a friend who's going thru the k1 process and thought about applying for the show.  We basically said please don't ?

[sarahandyunus 133]

Just now, Transborderwife said:

My husband and I have a friend who's going thru the k1 process and thought about applying for the show.  We basically said please don't ?

Yeah seriously good advice

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Just now, sarahandyunus said:

Yeah seriously good advice

To be honest they'd prob be a slam dunk to get on, she's gorgeous and from Poland and he's black from Florida.  The culture mix would prove to be interesting.

[sarahandyunus 133]

Just now, Transborderwife said:

To be honest they'd prob be a slam dunk to get on, she's gorgeous and from Poland and he's black from Florida.  The culture mix would prove to be interesting.

That is such a cool combination!  I'm sure they'd provide some sanity to the show which would be appreciated haha

[yuna628 9,712]

I know some may disagree on this about the K1, but... inherently fraud can be committed on any visa, even a spousal one. In the same regard a person can come here legally and find the country not to their liking and leave, and leave their USC sponsor heartbroken and angry. Same as any relationship. Things happen. Our federal government has no claim in the realm of marriage... and yet here they are having us ''fill out'' forms and jump through hoops in order to 'authorize' us to marry. But the truth is, marriage is a states rights thing and not a federal thing. So our government is a fair bit hypocritical. I noted early on that we could have done the gray area VWP thing that the CBP tells you not to do but our government continues to allow people to do (you know the thing), but we chose not to because it felt dishonest and wrong. Of course we see so many times here and people complaining that their fiancé didn't seem to be the sweet person behind the computer they thought they were and that they were dropped like a hot potato once inside the US -- but ultimately that is not our government's fault or problem for a person's own stupidity. In most cases I think you can see the party was blind or completely dumb. That's unfortunate, but we can't control people's bad decision making. So how to snap up people better that might be fraudy? We all know the embassies these stories seem to come out of, so perhaps those embassies should strengthen their processes. It won't catch everyone though. Do we increase the requirements for how long you know the person? Or increase the requirements for how many times you have met? Do we require embassies to actually pay attention to the bulk of relationship evidence people send in? I certainly knew my fiancé for a very long time, not a week, a few months, or barely a year. We have been devoted to each other now for 12 years, and were engaged for 5 of those years. We sent in a great deal of evidence our embassy never even cared about, why is that? Still - we are thankful that the K1 process exists and I am thankful for sponsorship options (though I think those could strengthening). Without it there is no way we could have married in my husband's country.. which is something a lot of people don't think about.

 

But beyond that I think what a lot of people in this process would like to see is better communication between the petitioner and the government both in the entirety of the process. The instructions they give are lengthy and confusing, and if it weren't for websites like this existing I'm confident a lot of people send in half-completed applications cluelessly. Those that try to talk to the USCIS are regularly given false info. We don't call it the USCIS the misinformation line for nothing. Make the affidavit enforceable if possible. I would also like there to be better regulation of civil surgeons. Civil surgeons in foreign countries, routinely fill out paperwork incorrectly and do not adhere to standards. Some civil surgeons in this country also seem to lack ethical standards by lying to their patients for money and are dubious individuals. Beyond that I think this country needs to decide about the VWP-AOSing thing. I would say to end it, but that won't be a popular suggestion.

Edited February 3, 2017 by yuna628