Complaint letter to Senator about local Field Office

[KeratNY 76]

1 hour ago, Going through said:

I do agree with you on how increased fees should somewhat equal increased service but alas, we are at their mercy even with that it seems.   Kind of like the MTA   :/ 

The MTA/NYC subway is actually a great metaphor! Increased delays and decreasing quality of experience, with increasing fees. Perfect. And yet everyone feels free to complain about the MTA without it being misinterpreted as a political statement or being whiny. And that is the way to get things changed! Thanks!

Edited June 19, 2018 by KeratNY

[KeratNY 76]

1 hour ago, A&H2018 said:

Hi fellow canuck,

 

This is outstanding. If I had my EAD I would send the same. Once I get my EAD I will do so 2 months after. I feel you have already contributed lots to America and sense you are not exactly in a low tax bracket for sure your voice should count. I am the same well established for 2 plus years here, credit history everything, paid plenty of taxes and contributed lots already. Similiar to yourself my spouse is a longtime resident. Our field office is also uber slow.

 

i know people will say “this is way it is” or we are not “being polite”. But truly its ridiculous for one to be forced to wait so long for an EAD and then possibly to spend another 18 months with just an EAD needing approval. When the government already has all our data, already seen our contributions and we are simply waiting for 30 minute talk to verify it all. Rant over. 

 

Anyways, great job. 

 

 

34 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

I wish you the best of luck also. It is amazing how long this stuff takes. I hate to say it, but the last time " We The People" we able to effect change on the government involved a little thing called the Boston Tea Party, Followed by the American Revolution, a small Invasion of Canada, and finally the Declaration of Independence signed in 1776. But, hopefully your letter becomes the " Declaration of Independence" for speeding up the immigration wait times. I'm still waiting on my NOA2 on my K1 I filed.  But that is a well written letter, and I say send it.

Thank you both, I appreciate the support and nice to see some people "get it"

[Sarah&Facundo 599]

This is so well written. I completely understand how you are looking to help change the overall processing time, not just yours, and that is very commendable. If we never reach out, how will they know there is an existing problem? This is what they are there for and with that, we have the freedom to express our opinions. If you get a standard letter in response, so be it! You can't ever say you didn't try, right? Always do the best you can.  

[Boiler 45,807]

You are adjusting from a Tourist?

[Diane and Chris 651]

2 hours ago, A&H2018 said:

I feel you have already contributed lots to America and sense you are not exactly in a low tax bracket for sure your voice should count. I am the same well established for 2 plus years here, credit history everything, paid plenty of taxes and contributed lots already

So if you are in a lower tax bracket your voice should not count because you have not contributed enough?  We have been waiting over a year. I don’t think it’s based on how much money you make. 

[KeratNY 76]

54 minutes ago, Boiler said:

You are adjusting from a Tourist?

I believe this detail is beyond the scope of the purpose of this thread and don't want this to go off-topic to my intent/non-intent, status/out of status etc. I am entitled to apply for an I-485 through my US Citizen spouse, and my wife is entitled to speak to her elected representatives about that process, and convey the general state of affairs at a local office of a federal agency. So, no disrespect to you intended, but I believe this detail does not matter for the purpose and intention of the letter that a US citizen is sending to her elected representative.

[KeratNY 76]

1 hour ago, Sarah&Facundo said:

This is so well written. I completely understand how you are looking to help change the overall processing time, not just yours, and that is very commendable. If we never reach out, how will they know there is an existing problem? This is what they are there for and with that, we have the freedom to express our opinions. If you get a standard letter in response, so be it! You can't ever say you didn't try, right? Always do the best you can.  

Thank you! Appreciate you reading thoroughly and the support

[A&H2018 148]

1 hour ago, Diane and Chris said:

So if you are in a lower tax bracket your voice should not count because you have not contributed enough?  We have been waiting over a year. I don’t think it’s based on how much money you make. 

This is a heated topic and I mentioned it a rant. Think everyone needs to voice their opinon. I may not not agree that simply waiting your turn is the great solution they currenty supposingly have though lots of people jump the line, expedite etc cause congressman was happy or not busy that day. Thats politics and ranting aside. 

 

The reality is everyone is getting screwed and wait times are getting worse and worse. The lack of resources and entire focus has moved to deal with illegal immigrants vs legal immigration and no one is saying a word about it. So saying simply that everyone should wait one year, cause I waited one year is not a good solution. Reality you should have never waited that long to start with.

[TBoneTX 45,756]

Thread is moved from the "AOS from WS&T Visas" main forum to the Case Progress subforum.

[Roel 7,192]

So not only you're complaining even though you're within processing times, you're also complaining even though USCIS gave you privilege to adjust from torusit visa.. 

 

Oh boy. If you're too impatient to survive AOS I can't wait to see what you're going to do during Removal of Conditions.

 

good thing you didn't arrive to the U.S. based on the spouse visa because you'd also be waiting long time. It is what it is and you're not special for waiting. It's not Uscis fault that there are other people in line in front of you. Do you know some people wait decades for their green cards? 

 

Anyway. Good luck but I highly doubt your letter will have any impact. 

[Airman 35]

Your letter is humble and respectful. I wholeheartedly support your thought. This is not only for your case but overall situation. These time-frames are only getting worse and USCIS should know our frustration. Please go for it.

[cyclone27 710]

I predict a nice form letter response in your future. 

[Going through 5,671]

8 hours ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

5-7 months? It was 10 months back in 2013 for my wife to adjust status. So it has only been a couple months yet for you. 

It was 14 months for me back in 2005  

Edited June 19, 2018 by Going through

[Going through 5,671]

7 hours ago, KeratNY said:

The MTA/NYC subway is actually a great metaphor! Increased delays and decreasing quality of experience, with increasing fees. Perfect. And yet everyone feels free to complain about the MTA without it being misinterpreted as a political statement or being whiny. And that is the way to get things changed! Thanks!

I think because a part of our taxes go into funding the MTA, so we expect something more from them.  They really don't get used much in funding USCIS, as they are largely fee-based.

Edited June 19, 2018 by Going through

[bad4tatt 168]

11 hours ago, KeratNY said:

My wife is planning on sending this below complaint letter to our state's two senators on my behalf, and I wanted to see what people thought, and if enough of you are willing to also send something similar, perhaps we can collectively voice our concern to our federal representatives and effectuate some real change. 

 

I am sure some people here won't like me doing this, and will think me ungrateful or obnoxious, but I think the processing timelines for AOS have gotten a little ridiculous (14.5 months - 24.5 months) in my field office. I am judging that by how long it used to take as short as a couple years ago, (5-9 months) and by some other field offices which are still processing in those timeframes. Some of my language (ie "outrageous") is exaggerated on purpose to get my point across. 

 

I say that knowing full well that immigration is a privilege, not a right. And that national security and public safety are far more important than giving people green cards with a quick turnaround. As well, I am living with my spouse in the US, and have my EAD and advance parole, so I'll be the first to say I am in a really, really good position compared to others, and I am not at any disadvantage compared to others. I am lucky and grateful and happy and content. I also know that others going through K1 or CR1 or a host of other processes have similar or worse timelines and they also have to be apart from their spouse. I am grateful to not be in that position. 

 

At the same time, our Senators are there to represent us constituents and are our only real voice to push back on developments at federal agencies. The timeline going up to almost 3x as long is a negative development for the general publc. If 14.5 months - 24.5 months is the very best they can do with the resources they have, then ok we will have to accept that. But until told otherwise, I believe they can go faster, and if people don't voice their concerns they will never be aware of people's frustrations, much less feel any urgency to speed up. So I am doing this more because I want to communicate it to my representatives, and do my part to try and help the process for future filers. 

 

In short, what do people think of the persuasiveness and comprehensiveness of this complaint letter? As well as pros and cons of sending it, besides the obvious of perhaps sounding like an "ungrateful douche?

 

Letter:

 

Dear Senator Kirsten Gillibrand,

 

My name is [ ]. I am a US Citizen, a lifelong NY State resident, your constituent, and a registered Democrat. I currently live with my husband, [ ] in the neighborhood of [ ] in Manhattan. I am writing to you to complain about the lengthy, unreasonable, and outrageous processing delays at the NYC Field Office of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), specifically for Adjustment of Status (“AOS”) applications for immigrants applying for Permanent Residency (“PR”, or a “Green Gard.”)

According to https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times, which is the official page to look up estimated processing times, the NYC Field Office estimate to adjudicate I-485s (Application to Register PR or Adjust Status to PR) for family-based applications (that is, those applying due to an immediate family connection, in our case, me as spouse) is 14.5 months – 24.5 months. Here is a screenshot:

 

Anecdotal reports from those who have completed the process confirm that this is the processing timeline. This timeline is unreasonable and outrageous, and has significantly increased over the past couple years. Two years ago, the estimated processing time was 5-7 months, then it became 7-9 months, and now it has significantly more than doubled. It is not as if the USCIS does not have the budget or resources to process these in a timely manner – the USCIS is self-funded through application fees, which costs $1,760 per person for AOS. This considerable fee has increased over past years, too. “Extreme vetting,” for applicants already lawfully inside the country, should not lead to delays this long either. I would also like to note that many other Field Offices do not suffer from these delays and are able to adjudicate applications in a more timely and efficient manner. It must be said that the increased backlog of applicants and the lengthening, frustrating timelines are mostly the fault of the NYC Field Office and it must be within their control to speed up processing to a more reasonable timeframe.

 

My husband, [ ], is a Canadian citizen, who has legally studied, worked, and visited in the US over the last several years. We met in NYC in [ ] 2015, fell in love, married in [ ], 2017, and applied for AOS on [ ]. He has received his Employment Authorization Document (“EAD”) and Advance Parole, so he is authorized to work and travel. Nevertheless, the delay in interviewing for, approval of, and receival of, his Green Card to enable him to be a legitimate PR with all of its rights and privileges, is causing us significant stress and many, many others in a similar position with this NYC Field Office.

 

I respectfully request your intervention and assistance in getting to the bottom of the lengthy and increasing processing timelines for the NYC Field Office and doing everything you can to speed it up to a more reasonable one, in line with both past timelines and other Field Offices.

 

I can be reached at the address, email address, and phone number listed in the header. My husband’s A # and our case number is also listed there. I look forward to hearing from you and a resolution of this matter.

 

 

Just go back to Canada!