I-129F March 2017 Filers

[twoDs 590]

26 minutes ago, FutureMrsBennett said:

Good Morning! I encourage anyone who has not received their NOA2 yet to continue to reach out to government officials.  I spoke to USCIS yesterday and this time they stated the obvious...they are not required to handle cases in the order they are received and that it is at the processing center discretion in which cases they choose to adjudicate for whichever month as long as they stay within the time frame.  I said shouldn't you change the information on the website...and he said probably.  This is piss poor customer service, and even after I receive my NOA2 I will continue to encourage everyone to continue to push for their case information.  It is your information and you have a right to it.  The more heat that is placed on them maybe they will start to do their jobs. Sitting around and waiting is what they want us to do and that's why nothing is getting done.  I am very upset at this process and to see others approved from the same center is irritating.  Yes everyone waits but they could be fair about it or follow their own guidelines and change the information they put on their site.  I was also told that your case can be transferred to other centers for further review without your knowledge...So just don't sleep on this ppl.  Help each other by filing complaints, inquiring about your case and write your officials.  I even challenge those that have been approved to help out the ones who haven't.   

 

What they told you is in direct conflict with their own manual but I'm not surprised. What you heard was an answer from one USCIS employee.

The manual specifically states:

Quote

Generally, applications and petitions should be processed in the order in which they are received. Exceptions can, and should, be made for a number of different reasons, and sometimes those reasons may appear to conflict with one another. Reasons for prioritizing certain applications and petitions over others may relate to: ...

We know from adjudicators themselves that most of the time the delay is simply them sitting on shelves, and the statistics make it clear other applications were prioritized.

 

All of which supports your advice of being active in the process, squeaky wheel gets the grease unfortunately.

 

I honestly don't think it's the line-level USCIS that's reading I-129Fs that's the problem here, we have ample proof that USCIS really is processing many tens of thousands of applications of all kinds per quarter. The problem is pretty clearly management that seems to be particularly bad at resource allocation and seems to be actively avoiding maximizing resources. Just two decisions -- closing the VSC and TSC to K1 processing, forcing them all to CSC, and prioritizing I-129 (not F) over I-129Fs the past two quarters accounts for virtually all of our troubles. Less than a year ago the wait times were approaching 50 days. They sure "fixed" that!

 

Day 141 here.

[theredcomet 119]

I got my NOA2 but my case has yet to update online... Should I be worried about anything?

[twoDs 590]

1 minute ago, theredcomet said:

I got my NOA2 but my case has yet to update online... Should I be worried about anything?

No, the online system is broken. You should be celebrating, not worrying.

 

You can start calling the NVC to get your case # soon, though!

Edited August 1, 2017 by twoDs

[troika 307]

12 minutes ago, FutureMrsBennett said:

Yes seriously! I was very upset because like you said ppl way of life depends on it. My clearance at work depends on it.  So that's why I have been trying all avenues. I read everyone's post that are still waiting like me and it sucks.   I let them also know that there are others that have been waiting longer and they need to change their site or provide better customer service.  Even to say it is still awaiting processing would sound better then just repeating the information that's on the site.  I don't know if this guy was new but he was very insensitive and he said that they can do whatever they want with the cases.  I should have wrote his name down.  What would also help is having proof that others are approved that submitted after, but I am sure no one here is willing to give their receipt number.  Something needs to be done about this....I am sure I will happy post once I get my NOA2, but right now I am miserable and upset at this long process. We are just files to them as you said and it really sucks.

we tried to do the online inquire form, although, I am sure it will not be of much use anyway , however, it didn't even submit. it says we are still within processing time.

 

My question is, what do they consider normal these days ? Do they keep on moving the goal posts ? I heard 5 months, but somewhere else I saw it is now 7 months ? Not sure what is it anymore 🤔 

 

I don't have a big problem with the wait. If they told me you will have a decision by end of September. I will happily wait, but this blackhole, day by day not knowing what is going on or what they consider normal these days is frustrating. They might have even lost the file for all we know and we sit patiently waiting for something that will never arrive 😡 

[Hurry&Wait 92]

49 minutes ago, FutureMrsBennett said:

So just don't sleep on this ppl.  Help each other by filing complaints, inquiring about your case and write your officials.  I even challenge those that have been approved to help out the ones who haven't.   

Your call to action hit a nerve and I am extremely interested in seeing what we can collectively do to improve this process for ourselves and others. We have always been taught that it is our duty to hold our government accountable! Of course, this is much easier said than done, but I do believe that we could get the attention of a few key decision-makers and things may improve for those that file after us. To me, the lack of communication and accountability are the largest issue that we face. There are numerous problems with this process and they seem to simply be getting worse.   

 

I do not have experience in social activism, but know that it can work. Well, I believe that this requires a focused message and enough members (or at least signatures) to be taken serious. Anyway, I would be happy to work with others to develop a plan and a rough draft of our primary concerns. Again, this is not my expertise. My expertise is in organizational management (Ph.D. in Business Management), with my research focusing on organizational justice. Still, many of the constructs, theories, and outcomes are the same in this situation. It would be great if a few of us could find time to discuss this outside of this forum. I am currently teaching two fast-paced summer courses, but they end next week. I have some time now, but will have more at the end of next week. Is anyone else interested in “rallying the troops”?

[Nathan&Amy 204]

For Packet 3 - "color-scanned copy of the biographic data page of the applicant's passport" - this is the passport of the beneficiary, correct? Not the petitioner?

[Estibaliz 3,037]

6 minutes ago, Nathan&Amy said:

For Packet 3 - "color-scanned copy of the biographic data page of the applicant's passport" - this is the passport of the beneficiary, correct? Not the petitioner?

Beneficiary, correct

[twoDs 590]

4 minutes ago, troika said:

we tried to do the online inquire form, although, I am sure it will not be of much use anyway , however, it didn't even submit. it says we are still within processing time.

 

My question is, what do they consider normal these days ? Do they keep on moving the goal posts ? I heard 5 months, but somewhere else I saw it is now 7 months ? Not sure what is it anymore 🤔 

 

I don't have a big problem with the wait. If they told me you will have a decision by end of September. I will happily wait, but this blackhole, day by day not knowing what is going on or what they consider normal these days is frustrating. They might have even lost the file for all we know and we sit patiently waiting for something that will never arrive 😡 

 

The last I read was five months. I think the bigger issue is I don't think there's any actual rule they're held to on times. There are rules on US after a RFE or intent to deny happens, but not them.

 

Also for those that didn't go to the actual link on the manual, one more gem:

 

Quote

Generally, applications and petitions should be processed in the order in which they are received. Exceptions can, and should, be made for a number of different reasons, and sometimes those reasons may appear to conflict with one another. Reasons for prioritizing certain applications and petitions over others may relate to:

...

·     USCIS -wide policy pertaining to the type of application or petition being filed, such as The USCIS Director's fiscal year priority that backlogs in a given type of application or petition be reduced to a specified level;

 

This is exactly what happened to us. In theory the resumption of expedited I-129 (not F) processing means that backlog goal has been achieved, but based on the flow of NOA2s, they must be working on something else now.

 

I'm convinced the only thing that fixes this is time or congressional inquiry, and I'm having doubts about congressional inquiry at this point. I'm having the exact opposite experience from what KosmicBlues did with the same senator.

 

[FutureMrsBennett 69]

6 minutes ago, Hurry&Wait said:

Your call to action hit a nerve and I am extremely interested in seeing what we can collectively do to improve this process for ourselves and others. We have always been taught that it is our duty to hold our government accountable! Of course, this is much easier said than done, but I do believe that we could get the attention of a few key decision-makers and things may improve for those that file after us. To me, the lack of communication and accountability are the largest issue that we face. There are numerous problems with this process and they seem to simply be getting worse.   

 

I do not have experience in social activism, but know that it can work. Well, I believe that this requires a focused message and enough members (or at least signatures) to be taken serious. Anyway, I would be happy to work with others to develop a plan and a rough draft of our primary concerns. Again, this is not my expertise. My expertise is in organizational management (Ph.D. in Business Management), with my research focusing on organizational justice. Still, many of the constructs, theories, and outcomes are the same in this situation. It would be great if a few of us could find time to discuss this outside of this forum. I am currently teaching two fast-paced summer courses, but they end next week. I have some time now, but will have more at the end of next week. Is anyone else interested in “rallying the troops”?

I am with you on this fight.  Being a Marine vet it is always our duty to hold others accountable for their actions.  And this process is unsat.  I am interested in further discussions outside of this forum to get the ball rolling.  I am no expert in any of this, but I do know that getting the attention of key officials will definitely raise some eyebrows and prayfully make some changes that can help us and others still waiting. You're right. The lack of communication and accountability is probably the worse part of this entire process.  Even to know where your case is 60 to 90 days out would be reasonable and ease the anxiety of the families waiting.  I am with you and prayfully others will join us in this fight for change because it needs to happen. 

[FutureMrsBennett 69]

14 minutes ago, troika said:

we tried to do the online inquire form, although, I am sure it will not be of much use anyway , however, it didn't even submit. it says we are still within processing time.

 

My question is, what do they consider normal these days ? Do they keep on moving the goal posts ? I heard 5 months, but somewhere else I saw it is now 7 months ? Not sure what is it anymore 🤔 

 

I don't have a big problem with the wait. If they told me you will have a decision by end of September. I will happily wait, but this blackhole, day by day not knowing what is going on or what they consider normal these days is frustrating. They might have even lost the file for all we know and we sit patiently waiting for something that will never arrive 😡 

Exactly! That's why I hope you stay on them to find out the status of your case.  Whatever they stated when the submission was submitted that's what they should stick to.  I was told 4 to 6 months.  But if you call not they will say 6 to 7 months.  These types of changes need to be sent out to every petitioner.  If they don't have the manpower, I know they have computers.  I am right here waiting and every time I call I get a different answer.  Why should I wait till September when others that have applied after me have gotten approvals already....those are the questions that need to be asked.  Sigh...

[FutureMrsBennett 69]

7 minutes ago, twoDs said:

 

The last I read was five months. I think the bigger issue is I don't think there's any actual rule they're held to on times. There are rules on US after a RFE or intent to deny happens, but not them.

 

Also for those that didn't go to the actual link on the manual, one more gem:

 

 

This is exactly what happened to us. In theory the resumption of expedited I-129 (not F) processing means that backlog goal has been achieved, but based on the flow of NOA2s, they must be working on something else now.

 

I'm convinced the only thing that fixes this is time or congressional inquiry, and I'm having doubts about congressional inquiry at this point. I'm having the exact opposite experience from what KosmicBlues did with the same senator.

 

You are right with the time line of approval because once I spoke to an agent who said call back if I reach the date my case was submitted....I almost broke the phone because he was implying a year.  Though I have seen on here ppl have waited this long, but I thought it was mostly issues with them personally as to why it took that long.  I would take it higher or to other Senators.  One's that care about this process. 

[gob332 420]

15 minutes ago, Nathan&Amy said:

For Packet 3 - "color-scanned copy of the biographic data page of the applicant's passport" - this is the passport of the beneficiary, correct? Not the petitioner?

 

Correct - For Packet 3 at Montreal, you just need the Bio page from the beneficiary's passport, DS-160 confirmation and the signed checklist for packet 3. For any of the documents that were not applicable to our case like previous marriage certificate, we wrote "N/A" and checked off all of the documents we did have.

[Nathan&Amy 204]

5 minutes ago, gob332 said:

 

Correct - For Packet 3 at Montreal, you just need the Bio page from the beneficiary's passport, DS-160 confirmation and the signed checklist for packet 3. For any of the documents that were not applicable to our case like previous marriage certificate, we wrote "N/A" and checked off all of the documents we did have.

thanks v much!

[twoDs 590]

5 minutes ago, FutureMrsBennett said:

You are right with the time line of approval because once I spoke to an agent who said call back if I reach the date my case was submitted....I almost broke the phone because he was implying a year.  Though I have seen on here ppl have waited this long, but I thought it was mostly issues with them personally as to why it took that long.  I would take it higher or to other Senators.  One's that care about this process. 

We only have two senators, and my other senator is well-known for being useless to the point I know it's not worth the effort to call. I am going to try my representative, however.

[AnJ Co 1,676]

33 minutes ago, Hurry&Wait said:

Your call to action hit a nerve and I am extremely interested in seeing what we can collectively do to improve this process for ourselves and others. We have always been taught that it is our duty to hold our government accountable! Of course, this is much easier said than done, but I do believe that we could get the attention of a few key decision-makers and things may improve for those that file after us. To me, the lack of communication and accountability are the largest issue that we face. There are numerous problems with this process and they seem to simply be getting worse.   

...<snip>

I've wondered about this, in fact this wkd posted about what are the limits we are willing to wait before starting something......

Clearly with our waiting for action we have had ample opportunities to think about the what ifs.  We've seen others waiting when we petitioned and we saw their exacerbation at the same tactics that we are hearing here today.  Maybe 10 years ago a reach out to the legislative branch worked, but as one 'old timer' told me, USCIS can blow off an enquiry once without any repercussions.  I just wonder if using the same tactics over and over - from month to month is our best course.