I-129F May 2017 Filers

[Murph4865 597]

6 minutes ago, Cm6307 said:

Hey everyone,

 

I've never posted before but have been a long term lurker since filing back in May and just have so much to get off my chest.

 

I finished school back in May and that's when we filed our I-129F. I had a job offer here in Canada that was going to pay me really well at a top tech company that would have started in mid-July, but I was expecting to be approved in August so didn't want to take it only to have to quit less than 2 months later and burn bridges with the company, so I turned down the offer. But now with these delays I'm seriously regretting not taking that offer. By the time we'll probably get approved now I could have made enough to buy my own car in full and then some (calculated about 30 - 40k+). But instead now, when I finally do move we're going to have to struggle until I get my work permit and can finally work.

 

I know there was no way for me to foresee the processing times nearly doubling but I just feel so damn dumb. And being unemployed, I just have way too much free time to worry and be depressed and feel useless and like I'm wasting my life waiting around for this approval when I could have been already building up my life. I don't like to discuss it with my fiance because I don't want him to feel like I resent him, and I don't. I'm just mostly mad at myself for only considering the ideal scenario. I should have taken the official USCIS processing times more seriously.

It is the United States government never expect anything fast with immigration now since trump is president.

[Murph4865 597]

9 minutes ago, K-1Applicant2017 said:

The consensus seems to be that the recent USCIS slow down is due to the flood of DACA renewal applications. According to USCIS, the deadline is Oct 5th. if this is all true, then things could speed up after those applications are received. 

 

The USCIS quarterly data release shows that there is an increase in I-821 (but a reduction in I-821D) applications received in Q3 of 2017. Its also not a huge increase (by about 10k applications), considering the overall number of applications they get per month (about 700k applications per month!), so I'm skeptical to say that DACA is the reason why things have slowed down.  (https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-studies/immigration-forms-data/data-set-all-uscis-application-and-petition-form-types)

 

nevertheless, I hope I am completely wrong and things will go right back to normal first thing tomorrow morning.

  

 

 

Do not hold your breath for it speeding up after daca we still have the H1-B visa to look out for and that is due to the tech companies paying big bucks to pay a lower wage to foreigners  instead of hiring AMERICANS.

[AnaMolina 567]

11 minutes ago, Cm6307 said:

Hey everyone,

 

I've never posted before but have been a long term lurker since filing back in May and just have so much to get off my chest.

 

I finished school back in May and that's when we filed our I-129F. I had a job offer here in Canada that was going to pay me really well at a top tech company that would have started in mid-July, but I was expecting to be approved in August so didn't want to take it only to have to quit less than 2 months later and burn bridges with the company, so I turned down the offer. But now with these delays I'm seriously regretting not taking that offer. By the time we'll probably get approved now I could have made enough to buy my own car in full and then some (calculated about 30 - 40k+). But instead now, when I finally do move we're going to have to struggle until I get my work permit and can finally work.

 

I know there was no way for me to foresee the processing times nearly doubling but I just feel so damn dumb. And being unemployed, I just have way too much free time to worry and be depressed and feel useless and like I'm wasting my life waiting around for this approval when I could have been already building up my life. I don't like to discuss it with my fiance because I don't want him to feel like I resent him, and I don't. I'm just mostly mad at myself for only considering the ideal scenario. I should have taken the official USCIS processing times more seriously.

I couldn't understand you better. I also turned down two offers here in my town thinking that I'd be in the states in the end of September. We filed in late april, I got an offer in like June, but I thought medical exams and maybe interview would be close, so I'd have to miss work already.. and then leave soon. What a joke lol

I feel exactly the same, real silly for considering the ideal scenario only. And now I'm still like that, we have a relationship since 2014, and there's nothing that could go wrong with my visa, but we don't know for sure.. we know nothing for sure. And I'm here, just graduated too, not looking for jobs here, life is on hold, don't know how it's gonna be til I have my work permit... yeah, makes me scared sometimes!

Edited September 24, 2017 by AnaMolina

[Pat&Ana 14]

2 minutes ago, Murph4865 said:

It is the United States government never expect anything fast with immigration now since trump is president.

Maybe we could leave politics out of the discussion?

 

One could argue that DACA was not only wrong, but a usurpation of the powers (legislative) of the US Congress.  The prior administration admitted that it was wrong (and they didn't have the power), but decided to defer enforcement of a legally and constitutionally passed law.

 

This has created a problem for the past and current administration - and increased the work load on USCIS and DHS as they need to vet the additional 800,000 applications, every few years. 

 

Cleaning up a mess is never easy, and we have millions, including several on this thread, that want to come to the US.  Allowing them to formulate their own opinions, views and beliefs would be best.  Of course in my own opinion.

 

-- P

[Cm6307 156]

6 minutes ago, Murph4865 said:

It is the United States government never expect anything fast with immigration now since trump is president.

Lesson learned. 

Edited September 24, 2017 by Cm6307

[Murph4865 597]

1 minute ago, Pat&Ana said:

Maybe we could leave politics out of the discussion?

 

One could argue that DACA was not only wrong, but a usurpation of the powers (legislative) of the US Congress.  The prior administration admitted that it was wrong (and they didn't have the power), but decided to defer enforcement of a legally and constitutionally passed law.

 

This has created a problem for the past and current administration - and increased the work load on USCIS and DHS as they need to vet the additional 800,000 applications, every few years. 

 

Cleaning up a mess is never easy, and we have millions, including several on this thread, that want to come to the US.  Allowing them to formulate their own opinions, views and beliefs would be best.  Of course in my own opinion.

 

-- P

Sure leave politics out of it how do you do that when the previous @potus created this mess cause he did it illegally and the current one is creating more enforcement which is not cleaning it up but adding to the problem, cause uscis are confused on which way to go and then the freeze on federal hiring caused a major backlog not enough people to process apps.

[Cm6307 156]

29 minutes ago, AnaMolina said:

I couldn't understand you better. I also turned down two offers here in my town thinking that I'd be in the states in the end of September. We filed in late april, I got an offer in like June, but I thought medical exams and maybe interview would be close, so I'd have to miss work already.. and then leave soon. What a joke lol

I feel exactly the same, real silly for considering the ideal scenario only. And now I'm still like that, we have a relationship since 2014, and there's nothing that could go wrong with my visa, but we don't know for sure.. we know nothing for sure. And I'm here, just graduated too, not looking for jobs here, life is on hold, don't know how it's gonna be til I have my work permit... yeah, makes me scared sometimes!

Wow I'm so sorry you're going through this too, but it does make me feel better that I'm not the only one. My family and friends thought I was crazy for turning down that offer, and I guess they were right lol. All I can really do is remind myself that a few extra months isn't going to matter much in the long run and to stop worrying about past choices that can't be changed. Everyone has things in life that they wish they could have done differently if given a second chance. I've been trying to focus my energy on using this free time improve my skills to find a good job there and exercising a lot.  

Edited September 24, 2017 by Cm6307

[Pat&Ana 14]

21 minutes ago, Murph4865 said:

Sure leave politics out of it how do you do that when the previous @potus created this mess cause he did it illegally and the current one is creating more enforcement which is not cleaning it up but adding to the problem, cause uscis are confused on which way to go and then the freeze on federal hiring caused a major backlog not enough people to process apps.

Leaving the politics aside...  Let's start

 

Pt 1.  Basic Civics

 

The US Government is formed of three co-equal branches of Government, with the foundation being a Constitution.  Many think that the US is a Democracy, but at the Federal level that is very far from the truth.  The people of the US get the ability to cast a vote for a representative and as such, we can call the US a "Constitutional Republic" which means the Constitution serves as the foundation, and the Representation of the people creates the Republic.

 

The third branch of Government is the SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States).  This branch of Government, along with lesser courts (Federal appeals courts) rule in the matters of law pertaining to Federal laws, and the Constitution.  If a law is passed by, it can be challenged because it directly contradicts that which is in the Constitution.  The same can be said of Executive actions by the first branch.

 

The second branch of the Government is the COTUS (Congress of the United States).  This branch has two bodies, the Senate and the House.  Both need to agree in order to create legislation, and both are drawn from representatives sent to Washington DC (the US seat of power).  When both bodies agree to create a law, that law is sent to the President for ratification, and that ratification can be challenged (veto by the President) and subsequently over ruled by the COTUS.  In the case of Immigration, laws were passed in the 1950's called the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) which limits immigration and grants the President powers to further restrict immigration as well.

 

The first branch of Government, the POTUS (President of the United States) is changed every 4 years, but a President can serve two terms.  The election of the President isn't by the people (hence the failure to understand the US isn't a Democracy) but by the Electoral College.  One of the responsibilities of the President is the "dutifully and faithfully execute the laws of the land"

 

Knowing that, the INA was passed by the COTUS and affirmed by the POTUS.  The POTUS has a constitutional duty to enforce the law, and deferment of the enforcement of the law is a violation of the duties and responsibilities of the POTUS.  The SCOTUS could have as easily been asked to challenged DACA, or the actions of the POTUS, but they haven't - meaning that the actions by the POTUS are still legal.

 

Pt 2.  Contributory Belief in why the President was Elected

 

Many in the US believe that the Federal Government is far too large, and the current administration froze hiring at the beginning of the year across the board.  This was changed in April.  This included areas such as DHS which includes USCIS as well.  This would cause a problem with applications, time off, and back filling individuals - for if you don't have enough personnel coming in to replace people, or to deal with the ever increasing demand to immigrate to the US, then the backlog will continue to increase. 

 

Pt 3.  Funding Sources

 

Funding for the USCIS comes from application fees (e.g. K1) and from the Federal Government itself (to pay for the DHS employees, background checks, computer systems, and coffee).  The US has increased it's national debt to $20T which causes many concern, as a larger percentage of what the Federal Government pays for isn't operational cost of the Government, but interest on the debt and social service programs. 

 

Pt 4.  Additional demands for resources

 

In addition, there is more demand for the US to take immigrants.  These can be refugees from Haiti, Australia, or even Syria.  These are life changing and potentially time-based changes that need to be looked at ... quickly.  Someone of a certain religious group in Syria can be at risk, as can someone in Iraq who helped US troops.  If they don't get their application looked at quickly - there may not be someone there to come to the US.

 

More and more people want to the come the US.  In the past, it was much easier to overstay a Visa, reducing pressures, but by some accounts there are now over 20M illegal immigrants to the US.  This increases demand on enforcement (DHS) to identify and apprehend those who are here, but also to prioritize deportation procedures against those who commit felonious crimes with victims (e.g. Kate Steinle). 

 

Summary

 

After all is said and done, it's not the diktat of one man, but the problems of past which have compounded into the current situation.

 

-- P

 

PS.  Of course this may be off base, I only took like 10 min to write it

 

PPS.  And unless people want to see a lot more of my writing ... can we leave politics aside? 

 

Let's focus on status, updates, prayers, drinking and plans for what we will do when they get here!!!!

Edited September 24, 2017 by Pat&Ana
PPS added

[bcoakley06 280]

11 minutes ago, Pat&Ana said:

Leaving the politics aside...  Let's start

 

Pt 1.  Basic Civics

 

The US Government is formed of three co-equal branches of Government, with the foundation being a Constitution.  Many think that the US is a Democracy, but at the Federal level that is very far from the truth.  The people of the US get the ability to cast a vote for a representative and as such, we can call the US a "Constitutional Republic" which means the Constitution serves as the foundation, and the Representation of the people creates the Republic.

 

The third branch of Government is the SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States).  This branch of Government, along with lesser courts (Federal appeals courts) rule in the matters of law pertaining to Federal laws, and the Constitution.  If a law is passed by, it can be challenged because it directly contradicts that which is in the Constitution.  The same can be said of Executive actions by the first branch.

 

The second branch of the Government is the COTUS (Congress of the United States).  This branch has two bodies, the Senate and the House.  Both need to agree in order to create legislation, and both are drawn from representatives sent to Washington DC (the US seat of power).  When both bodies agree to create a law, that law is sent to the President for ratification, and that ratification can be challenged (veto by the President) and subsequently over ruled by the COTUS.  In the case of Immigration, laws were passed in the 1950's called the Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) which limits immigration and grants the President powers to further restrict immigration as well.

 

The first branch of Government, the POTUS (President of the United States) is changed every 4 years, but a President can serve two terms.  The election of the President isn't by the people (hence the failure to understand the US isn't a Democracy) but by the Electoral College.  One of the responsibilities of the President is the "dutifully and faithfully execute the laws of the land"

 

Knowing that, the INA was passed by the COTUS and affirmed by the POTUS.  The POTUS has a constitutional duty to enforce the law, and deferment of the enforcement of the law is a violation of the duties and responsibilities of the POTUS.  The SCOTUS could have as easily been asked to challenged DACA, or the actions of the POTUS, but they haven't - meaning that the actions by the POTUS are still legal.

 

Pt 2.  Contributory Belief in why the President was Elected

 

Many in the US believe that the Federal Government is far too large, and the current administration froze hiring at the beginning of the year across the board.  This was changed in April.  This included areas such as DHS which includes USCIS as well.  This would cause a problem with applications, time off, and back filling individuals - for if you don't have enough personnel coming in to replace people, or to deal with the ever increasing demand to immigrate to the US, then the backlog will continue to increase. 

 

Pt 3.  Funding Sources

 

Funding for the USCIS comes from application fees (e.g. K1) and from the Federal Government itself (to pay for the DHS employees, background checks, computer systems, and coffee).  The US has increased it's national debt to $20T which causes many concern, as a larger percentage of what the Federal Government pays for isn't operational cost of the Government, but interest on the debt and social service programs. 

 

Pt 4.  Additional demands for resources

 

In addition, there is more demand for the US to take immigrants.  These can be refugees from Haiti, Australia, or even Syria.  These are life changing and potentially time-based changes that need to be looked at ... quickly.  Someone of a certain religious group in Syria can be at risk, as can someone in Iraq who helped US troops.  If they don't get their application looked at quickly - there may not be someone there to come to the US.

 

More and more people want to the come the US.  In the past, it was much easier to overstay a Visa, reducing pressures, but by some accounts there are now over 20M illegal immigrants to the US.  This increases demand on enforcement (DHS) to identify and apprehend those who are here, but also to prioritize deportation procedures against those who commit felonious crimes with victims (e.g. Kate Steinle). 

 

Summary

 

After all is said and done, it's not the diktat of one man, but the problems of past which have compounded into the current situation.

 

-- P

 

PS.  Of course this may be off base, I only took like 10 min to write it

 

PPS.  And unless people want to see a lot more of my writing ... can we leave politics aside? 

 

Let's focus on status, updates, prayers, drinking and plans for what we will do when they get here!!!!

No one know true reasin for uscis back log. We all can assume but the none know. If you look back the wait times have been loke this before. I know people last year that waited 6 months with no RFEs and some 2 months. Both females where sisters and took one 4 months to come to the us and the other 10 months. Still dont know why it worked that way but my uncle and his friend both filled same time and both been married and kids. Just depends on how fast they push one through.

[Pat&Ana 14]

1 minute ago, bcoakley06 said:

No one know true reasin for uscis back log. We all can assume but the none know. If you look back the wait times have been loke this before. I know people last year that waited 6 months with no RFEs and some 2 months. Both females where sisters and took one 4 months to come to the us and the other 10 months. Still dont know why it worked that way but my uncle and his friend both filled same time and both been married and kids. Just depends on how fast they push one through.

In the US, there was a shooting in San Bernadino which included the spouse and wife who came to the US under a K1 Visa.

 

http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-k1-visas-20151208-story.html

 

The CSC that many wonder about is located in Laguna Niguel which is 60mi / 100km from San Bernardino.  A very close distance!  As such, there have been many calls since then to increase the scrutiny of those applying (petitioner and beneficiary) to bring people from certain countries / backgrounds under those types of Visas.  

 

https://www.us-immigration.com/blog/fiancee-visa-program-under-scrutiny-after-san-bernardino-shooting

 

In addition, imagine being the employee who approved that Visa.  No doubt that individual would be double checking whatever they legally could, and as would their nearby co-workers.  The supervisor would be under additional pressures and there would be a shift of resources to further "check" the work being done. 

 

This means more work, more processing and longer times for Visas such as this.  This doesn't even begin to talk about the increased scrutiny going into the H1B (and associated Visas) process!

 

The US Government may not work quickly, but they do ultimately respond to situations such as this.

[BaconSF 9]

20 hours ago, LabOz said:

Curious what kind of OFW do Filipinos do in Thailand? Ill guess singer or something to do with English language. 

We went on a river cruise in Bangkok and the singer was an OFW.

[bcoakley06 280]

Is it monday yet? Lol

[mcs 686]

4 minutes ago, bcoakley06 said:

Is it monday yet? Lol

Soon... very soon... hopefully, this will be a great week for all of us. 

[jeff osborne 0]

hi jeff here from washington state recieved5/09/17 notice date5/11/17 havent heard anything are they backed up checked the list prossessing as of march1st im patient

[bcoakley06 280]

34 minutes ago, mcs said:

Soon... very soon... hopefully, this will be a great week for all of us. 

Only the ones doifng the K1 visa wait for monday lol. I figure i have few more weeks yet but hope early may filers get theres soon.