Maximum frustration

[Jeff & Laila 1]

As I look at the immigration timeline, it appears that my wife and I are among the very few I-130 submissions from March of this year that have not received a response. It is hard for me to believe that this is normal. I called USCIS on Friday but got the same old response: that we are still within the normal processing time of 9.5 to 12.5 months for the Potomac Service Center, which is what they are showing on their website. Never mind that here I can see that the majority of cases have been processed not only for March, but also for April, May, June and now there are even some people hearing back who filed in July. What is wrong with our case? I feel something must be holding us up. The sad thing is, it doesn't look like there is any way to find out what that might be. I was married once before, and my ex-wife was also a non-US citizen. However, we were married for over 20 years, she long since got her citizenship, and is now a very successful business woman. I can't believe that could be influencing the process with my current wife, could it? My wife and I originally filed for a fiance visa with the plan to get married here in August of 2017. That visa was approved but, because of a number of issues, we changed our plans and decided to get married in Denmark in March of this year. Again, could the fact that we changed our plans be somehow affecting our processing time now? Maybe these aren't questions that are answerable on this forum but I really long for some information. 

We have actually been in a relationship for over a half a dozen years, traveling back and forth, spending long summer vacations together; it just seems excruciating to finally have reached the point where we will now be together only to have this process not only drag on, but seemingly drag on beyond what is the normal already-snail's-pace that it is.

 

This is likely just an exercise in me expressing my frustration, but if anyone has any thoughts that they would like to share, I would appreciate the input. Thank you in advance.  

Edited December 15, 2018 by Jeff & Laila

[Rell22 42]

8 hours ago, Jeff & Laila said:

As I look at the immigration timeline, it appears that my wife and I are among the very few I-130 submissions from March of this year that have not received a response. It is hard for me to believe that this is normal. I called USCIS on Friday but got the same old response: that we are still within the normal processing time of 9.5 to 12.5 months for the Potomac Service Center, which is what they are showing on their website. Never mind that here I can see that the majority of cases have been processed not only for March, but also for April, May, June and now there are even some people hearing back who filed in July. What is wrong with our case? I feel something must be holding us up. The sad thing is, it doesn't look like there is any way to find out what that might be. I was married once before, and my ex-wife was also a non-US citizen. However, we were married for over 20 years, she long since got her citizenship, and is now a very successful business woman. I can't believe that could be influencing the process with my current wife, could it? My wife and I originally filed for a fiance visa with the plan to get married here in August of 2017. That visa was approved but, because of a number of issues, we changed our plans and decided to get married in Denmark in March of this year. Again, could the fact that we changed our plans be somehow affecting our processing time now? Maybe these aren't questions that are answerable on this forum but I really long for some information. 

We have actually been in a relationship for over a half a dozen years, traveling back and forth, spending long summer vacations together; it just seems excruciating to finally have reached the point where we will now be together only to have this process not only drag on, but seemingly drag on beyond what is the normal already-snail's-pace that it is.

 

This is likely just an exercise in me expressing my frustration, but if anyone has any thoughts that they would like to share, I would appreciate the input. Thank you in advance.  

Hey Jeff, remember me? Lol. I hope that made you laugh. Maybe I can shed some light on your problem? Or, at least calm some pint up aggression you have. Let’s start with the Potomac Service Center. This service center has one of the highest wait times right now for I-130 petitions. Not sure why, but it could be a combination of issues. All ranging from smaller office, backlogged, and or understaffed. Unfortunately for us, we cannot pick the service center our case is sent to and this is the normal processing time for this service center. The help desk you are calling does not know, because the offices do not share that information with them. These help desk are like the guard post for these offices. They keep us off their backs while they do work. That’s why all they can tell you is you are still in the normal processing time for that office. All cases are different, and others could have gotten approved because their offices had less wait times and their petition wasn’t as complicated and didn’t require a lot of effort for the officer assigned to the case. That combined with however long the background check is taking.

 

In regards to your previous marriage causing issues for the case, there’s a 50-50 chance that it could. To the extent, I am not sure. They take the background checks very seriously and I know marriage status is one of them. I’ve heard on this site and others, that when senators get involved and inquire about cases taking too long that background check is usually the answer. USCIS has also stated background checks can bog down cases.  I know if you are divorced before, you have to send your divorce documents in for the background check. I am sure they scrutinize that to great length but, I can’t say how much that holds up a case or if it does. 

 

I have heard that when you apply for one visa and then, switch to another that it can slow a case down. But I’ve only heard of this happening if one is not completed when you started the other. You said it got approved. If it happened in 2017, the 90 days already passed. So, I would imagine that visa is no longer valid. I can’t see how that would slow down your case if it is no longer valid. Maybe an expert would know? Like a lawyer?

 

And lastly, me as well as everyone else on this website feel the pain that you are going through right now. This experience is dreadful, sometimes unbearable. I am a government worker, I know some people  who have worked at USCIS. I picked their brains during this process for me. What they told me was, once you send that petition in the mail everything is now out of your hands. The feeling of being powerless to help the one you love who’s also suffering, causes great pain. The only thing I can say to you Jeff, is hang in there for your wife. During this process, you and her have to be there for each other more than ever before. Remind her everyday that you love her, and that everything will be alright. Believe it yourself as well, for your sanity sake. Until 12.5 months pass or you get approved, you really cannot do anything for your case yet. Try your best to remain patient and lean on family, friends, and loved ones for support. You also have us on this site as an extra layer of support. Keep fighting and God bless. 

 

Edited December 16, 2018 by Rell22

[Jeff & Laila 1]

12 hours ago, Rell22 said:

Hey Jeff, remember me? Lol. I hope that made you laugh. Maybe I can shed some light on your problem? Or, at least calm some pint up aggression you have. Let’s start with the Potomac Service Center. This service center has one of the highest wait times right now for I-130 petitions. Not sure why, but it could be a combination of issues. All ranging from smaller office, backlogged, and or understaffed. Unfortunately for us, we cannot pick the service center our case is sent to and this is the normal processing time for this service center. The help desk you are calling does not know, because the offices do not share that information with them. These help desk are like the guard post for these offices. They keep us off their backs while they do work. That’s why all they can tell you is you are still in the normal processing time for that office. All cases are different, and others could have gotten approved because their offices had less wait times and their petition wasn’t as complicated and didn’t require a lot of effort for the officer assigned to the case. That combined with however long the background check is taking.

 

In regards to your previous marriage causing issues for the case, there’s a 50-50 chance that it could. To the extent, I am not sure. They take the background checks very seriously and I know marriage status is one of them. I’ve heard on this site and others, that when senators get involved and inquire about cases taking too long that background check is usually the answer. USCIS has also stated background checks can bog down cases.  I know if you are divorced before, you have to send your divorce documents in for the background check. I am sure they scrutinize that to great length but, I can’t say how much that holds up a case or if it does. 

 

I have heard that when you apply for one visa and then, switch to another that it can slow a case down. But I’ve only heard of this happening if one is not completed when you started the other. You said it got approved. If it happened in 2017, the 90 days already passed. So, I would imagine that visa is no longer valid. I can’t see how that would slow down your case if it is no longer valid. Maybe an expert would know? Like a lawyer?

 

And lastly, me as well as everyone else on this website feel the pain that you are going through right now. This experience is dreadful, sometimes unbearable. I am a government worker, I know some people  who have worked at USCIS. I picked their brains during this process for me. What they told me was, once you send that petition in the mail everything is now out of your hands. The feeling of being powerless to help the one you love who’s also suffering, causes great pain. The only thing I can say to you Jeff, is hang in there for your wife. During this process, you and her have to be there for each other more than ever before. Remind her everyday that you love her, and that everything will be alright. Believe it yourself as well, for your sanity sake. Until 12.5 months pass or you get approved, you really cannot do anything for your case yet. Try your best to remain patient and lean on family, friends, and loved ones for support. You also have us on this site as an extra layer of support. Keep fighting and God bless. 

 

Thank you for your reply, Rell22. It is definitely nice to get a little moral support. A couple of things though; with regard to other cases having gone ahead of mine because possibly they went to a different service center: in the searches that I do, I only look at the Potomac Service Center. Therefore, all of the cases from April, May June and July that I am seeing go ahead of me were cases that also went to the Potomac. I find that particularly frustrating. 

 

I am convinced that something in my case is holding things up. That is why I mentioned my ex-wife. I couldn't imagine that would be an issue. Again, that marriage is from 1988 and we were married for over twenty years. But, who knows what causes a red flag with USCIS. 

 

You know, I was in the U.S. Army for seven years, so I am certainly familiar with government employment. Something I don't understand is where the accountability lies with USCIS. In the Army, you have a chain of command, and Inspector General; several layers of culpability. I'm sure USCIS has the same, but I have no idea what that looks like. My sense is that I am going to get my I-130 approval with no explanation as to why all of these others, who sent their I-130s months after mine, received theirs ahead of me. I wish I had an explanation.

 

Again, thank you for your reply.