Waiting for a NOA2 from VSC for your I-129F?

[MelindaandTarek 0]

I think this letter is quite eloquent, I think it gets to the point in a respectful manner.....

[Jamie76 0]

I too think you should leave out Service Center X or Y. It's a problem that is seen at both centers. I'm not sure how much good it is going to do to send, but that is probably my frustration talking. I will gladly sign something though.

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Im at the point where i feel like no matter what i do...nothing is going to change! Guess thats what 119 days will do

[U.S. Wendy 0]

Great, I appreciate all of the feedback. I think each night i'll try and compile a list of suggestions. Not sure how we can agree on what needs to be changed though.

I'll give it one week for everyone to see and then start a new thread to finalize the letter and our media campaign.

So far,

1.) Take out the VSC part and make it apply to all service centers.

2.) Take out the statement about 90 days, since USCIS is quoting 6-months to process apps.

3.) Clearly state our expectations: we want INFORMATION in general; not about individual cases, we want the Service Center to provide us with accurate updates and information.

4.) Make the letter a form of a petition with many signatures.

ANY DISAGREEMENT WITH THE ABOVE?

News Contacts:

1.) Boston area, Hank Phillipi Ryan

Keep the suggestions coming AND the news contacts you want to include.

Getting your Senator and Rep addresses should be fairly easy.

Will someone work on a list of high ranking officials at DHS/USCIS?

[thejoz 0]

So are we planning to mail this thing along and sign it? Cause that would certainly make an impact.

I'm all for doing that if that's what needs to be done.

[MKCT 0]

So are we planning to mail this thing along and sign it? Cause that would certainly make an impact.

I'm all for doing that if that's what needs to be done.

Me too!

I'm just wondering since we can't put our signatures on the letter, don't we need to put like an ID number next to our names cause they can easily say...oh! they made-up those names....you know...! Someone correct me if I'm wrong....Of course the won't do any research on us...at least that is what we do in my country, signature and ID number....

Edited September 18, 2007 by Mirla

[thejoz 0]

Perhaps we should have a place to sign our names, a place for our case number, and the date we got our NOA1?

I'm not sure on the latter so much, but I think the case number is probably a good idea.

[MissLove 0]

All of these ideas are great, as well as the letter from U.S. Wendy. Thanks.

One thought I had though is this. Instead of all of us sending individual letters to media and our congressmen/women why not write one letter and all of us sign it. Having many names on it will carry much more weight. It'll make it that much more noticeable. Instead of a desperate plea of a single person (even if there are many letters they still all just individual people) it would be a real call from an organized group.

Just my 2 cents.

--Igor

I'm up for letter writing. U.S.Wendy, I think your draft is a great balance of professional straight forward request for information laced with emoition.

Does anyone have any idea as to how to do a petition with us all over the world? I'm sure there is some way to manage it with all this technology... I just lean heavily on my IT guys, or my brother-in-law :-)

[Bill B 0]

Hello US Wendy,

Thank you for taking the first stab at a draft letter and for all those who recommended improvements and to those who agreed to sign up for the cause. I took US Wendy's letter and made the changes and some others to convey what I believe we are trying to accomplish here. I did leave in a reference to VSC, but it serves all of us well because it gives a strong visual to how bad things have deteriorated over the last few months within USCIS. The Director is in Washington DC so I changed his address as well. I think this letter is a great start, but it does need to be mailed to everyone's elective representatives, as well as multiple media outlets. It will take public opinion to expedite funding that will be necessary for improvements. I am sure you have all seen this in action during your life; either public opinion or tragety expedites monies to make improvements. Many of the folks working in the Government have ideas to improve things, but no money to do it. Providing the problem along with the recommended solution and assistance in getting the necessary funding has the best chances of any success. For the sake of time, I recommend you gather the names, cities, and states from those wishing to be added to the letter and place them at the bottom. It will take too long to mail this letter around to each person. Thank you US Wendy for taking the lead in this. This may not end up helping us, but if done right and if we can get some folks to listen, it should at least help those who come after us.

Please provide each participant a final version of the letter so they can mail a copy to their congress members and senators. Regular hard copy mail is the best for this type of issue verus email. You may also want to mail a copy to:

Mr. Alfonso Aguilar

Chief of the Office of Citizenship

8201 Peters Road, Suite 1000

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324 USA

Suggested edited version follows:

Name

Street Address

Apt (if applicable)

City, State Zip

Phone

September 17, 2007

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Attn: Dr. Emilio T. Gonzalez, Director

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Washington, D.C. 20528

Dear Dr. Gonzalez:

We are numerous of many United States Citizens perplexed by the extensive delays in processing of K-1 and K-3 visas at USCIS’ service centers.

When we began this process we were pleased to find that our application would be processed through the service centers quickly and efficiently. Since June onward of this year, this has not been the case.

We are members of an on-line community whose members share information and experiences related to immigration of our loved ones. We have been closely following the changes that USCIS has undergone, including a substantial rate increase in the fees associated with processing of applications and petitions. While we understand the need for fee increases and some restructuring at USCIS (training, prioritizing the processing of applications, etc.) to create a more efficient and customer friendly organization/agency, there are several issues of concern shared by many of us that we would like improved as soon as possible. It is obvious to us that especially since June 2007, things at USCIS appear to have gotten worse instead of better. For example, at the Vermont Service Center, the average time for our community members to get their K1 VISA NOA 2 has gone from less than 30 days in May to over 100 days now. Some of our concerns include:

1.) Significant delays in the processing of petitions. Many of us who filed in May through the date of this letter are noticing that an extremely small number of petitions have been processed/approved. Many of our community members are close to the 120 day mark in waiting for a decision on our petition. Some of us are receiving RFE’s long after NOA 1, thereby re-starting the clock.

2.) Many of our members have not received a notice of receipt (NOA 1), even though the On-line Case Status confirms the receipt of our applications.

3.) Information provided by your agency’s out-sourced call center employees is often misleading, incorrect or incomplete.

4.) We feel it is entirely inappropriate to prioritize WORK visa applications over Family-Based, Non-Immigrant Petitions.

Dr. Gonzalez, we understand that Immigration Benefits are a privilege and not a right, but as a United States citizen, we deserve accurate information AND the opportunity to have our concerns addressed by knowledgeable officials who can give us FACTS (not in-accurate time estimates and scripted misinformation designed to appease nervous and sad callers). Only the truth and some swift action on the part of USCIS can alleviate some of the stress associated with this process. Our lives, along with our loved ones far apart in foreign countries, are on hold and severely stressed while we are separated from our loved ones and we have no idea when this first part of the immigration process will conclude. The strain of this process (financial and emotional) is taking a heavy toll on many US law abiding citizen’s well-being who are trying to follow the laws to bring their loved ones together with them here in the US. Our frustration level with USCIS' inability or unwillingness to ease/improve this process is reaching a critical point. Not only is the process communication in need of much improvement, also we feel the USCIS goal timeframe of 6 months to process a K1/3 VISA at the service centers is inadequate for our needs. This long period at the service centers coupled with processing times at the National VISA Processing Center and then the respective US Embassy is in need of much improvement. The National VISA Processing Center has their time down to less than a month and often less than a week. Most US Embassies have their processing times down to 2 months or so. The USCIS needs to set a reasonable goal of 90 days and/or have expedited processing available for K1/K3 VISA applicants. As with any company, if the 90-day standard cannot be met with good management and talented professionals, then the organization should increase staff or streamline processes. All of us applicants, your customers, are paying for a service and if the rate needs to be raised to establish a reasonable processing goal than that should have been done versus setting an inflated goal and causing so much heartache for so many of the US citizens and their loved ones. We respectfully request your immediate involvement to drastically improve the processing in regards to open, accurate communication with customers and a reasonable standard of 90 days for processing times.

Thank you very much for your time in reading our letter and we sincerely hope you can initiate immediate and long lasting improvements in this aspect of the USCIS.

Very respectfully,

XXXXXX X. XXXXXX

On behalf and electronically also signed by:

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

Mr. XXXXX X. XXXXX, City, State

and their separated loved ones hoping for compassion, understanding, and support.

[MKCT 0]

That is a good letter indeed....!

Just a question...will it help if someone here works for the gov?

[Bill B 0]

I noticed I have two spelling errors in my post above, but it will not let me edit the post. Please correct the spelling of "tragedy" in the first paragraph and the word "versus" in the second paragraph before using this letter. Thank you.

[Bill B 0]

Mirla,

I doubt it unless they are in a very high position and work for the Department of State, USCIS (powerful enough to move recources from one area to K1/K3 processing), White House, or a very powerful congressman or senator. The delays they are having are almost certainly going to be attributed to unavailable funding or staffing to make necessary major improvements. Our letter, our collective voices, and public support are likely to be the only way a vast amount of funding would possibly be quickly given to them for improvements in the K1/K3 processing time area. Government's focus now is on the war, the Mexico border, and other reactions to public opinion priorities like bridges...as I mentioned above public opinion and tragedy often drive funding. On Aug 1 the bridge in Minnesota collapsed. This last week a US Senate bill came out that contains an extra $1 billion for bridge repair. And it will take even longer before the money gets to the folks writing the checks to pay for the repairs. Changes in Government are rarely ever quick, but there is strength in numbers, voices, and public opinion...especially close to major elections. But if we don't at least try, we have no chance for improvements that may help us and no chance to help others after us.

Edited September 18, 2007 by Bill B

[Olya2007 0]

B)-->

QUOTE(Bill B @ Sep 17 2007, 08:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Mirla,

I doubt it unless they are in a very high position and work for the Department of State, USCIS (powerful enough to move recources from one area to K1/K3 processing), White House, or a very powerful congressman or senator. The delays they are having are almost certainly going to be attributed to unavailable funding or staffing to make necessary major improvements. Our letter, our collective voices, and public support are likely to be the only way a vast amount of funding would possibly be quickly given to them for improvements in the K1/K3 processing time area. Government's focus now is on the war, the Mexico border, and other reactions to public opinion priorities like bridges...as I mentioned above public opinion and tragedy often drive funding. On Aug 1 the bridge in Minnesota collapsed. This last week a US Senate bill came out that contains an extra $1 billion for bridge repair. And it will take even longer before the money gets to the folks writing the checks to pay for the repairs. Changes in Government are rarely ever quick, but there is strength in numbers, voices, and public opinion...especially close to major elections. But if we don't at least try, we have no chance for improvements that may help us and no chance to help others after us.

100 % with you on that!

And thank you for the letter! The last edition looks absolutely brilliant! Seems it is ready to go out to the world! Just let's all agree on the way of doing it. Only acting quickly and as a large group of people can possibly help !

[Adrians Mom 0]

Has anyone heard of this "CIS Ombudsman"?

Apparently, he is "an independent DHS officer that reports directly to the DHS Deputy Secretary. The CIS Ombudsman:

Assists individuals and employers in resolving problems with USCIS;

Identifies areas in which individuals and employers have problems in dealing with USCIS; and

Proposes changes to mitigate identified problems. "

http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/editorial_0482.shtm

Maybe we should send this guy the letter too....

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Unbelieveable...my adjudication date dropped another DAMN DAY just now!!!!!!! now its the 26th of Sept!!!!!!!! thats officially from the 14th last friday to the 26th today!!!!!! I hate this #######!!!!!!!!!!!!