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

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I think the letter looks fabulous, and the changes so far have been great

A couple of things - and I work in campaigning, so I have some experience in this sort of stuff (albeit on different issues):

1. Generally it makes more impact to have LOTS of something coming in... they take notice when loads of letters / emails on a similar theme come in over a short time; one letter with lots of names tends to have less impact... specially when it's anything to do with government; I don't know if it's the same in the US but here in the UK your MP responds to you, if you've included your contact details, when you contact him/her about an issue, and tells you what s/he intends to do - that's impossible if the letter has loads of names, including some outside their constituency... also for the media: more letters / emails = more notice (usually). Oh, and I think it would be worth making a shorter, briefer version to send to newspapers - local papers will often print something like this if it's an interesting story about someone in their community, but the current format is far too long for that.

2. The list of concerns is great; I think it also needs something similar later on: 'we would like to see', or 'we ask you to' (depending on whether it's media or politics) - the last paragraph is very dense and wordy; a list of asks would make it clearer and easier to grasp quickly.

My two cents (1p at current exchange rates )

[pkewl 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....

A couple of suggestions:

1) About CIS Ombudsman:

You just beat me on bringing up CIS Ombudsman. I was just going to paste this link here:

http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/editorial_0501.shtm

I believe, Mr Prakash I Khatri, is the head of the CIS Ombudsman Dept. and IMHO we should also send him a copy of this letter. I got this directly off of DHS website:

"The Ombudsman assists individuals and employers who experience problems with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). He also identifies systemic problems with USCIS processes and recommends solutions. Mr. Khatri has provided executive leadership, vision, and direction to this office from its inception as a one-person entity to its authorized total of 24 full time staff plus six contractor staff...."

URL: http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/biography_0079.shtm

Copying CIS may sound like a stretegic thing to do but I think it will be good for the new filers. What you guys think? Just my $0.02

2) Going back to the wording of the letter... I may be interrupting the timeline incorrectly here but I think the NOA2 time (time to second approval) has been on the rise much before than the month of the June. In other words, I joined this forum back in May '07 and back then all the March K3 filers were already complaining about longer waiting times, especially @ CSC...This maybe a minor thing but, in my opinion, if we can prove that the wait time has been increasing even before the month of June, say April or May then I think it adds more waiting, implying the situation is even worse and hence it may have even more impact and/or get more attention.. btw, CSC just about got done with many of these K3 March filers in Aug/Sept timeframe.. Their NOA2s just started to trickle in last 4 - 6 weeks.. As for April K3 filers, they are hardly approving.. Bottom line, we can still paint a grimmer picture... not because we want to but thats the reality...

These are just a couple of my suggestions. BTW, thanks to all (esp to US Wendy and Bill B ) for taking this initiative to start this signing process.. I am up for it.

Lastly, good luck to all and m sorry for a wordy post but I sure hope it helps.

Regards

[Igor&Elina 0]

Well, the CSC has just now officially slipped past the 6 months goal. The processing times webpage for CSC now lists March 15th.

All the more reason for this effort.

Good luck to us all, we'll need it.

[U.S. Wendy 0]

Well, the CSC has just now officially slipped past the 6 months goal. The processing times webpage for CSC now lists March 15th.

All the more reason for this effort.

Good luck to us all, we'll need it.

Sorry for the CSC folks, but this just strengthens our argument.

Bill, your revision of my letter is perfect. I like adding the part about NVC and the embassy because the approval stage at USCIS is just the beginning!!! The other part of the process can add 6-12 months to the process. GREAT job. I made some other changes......of course this could on forever so I suggest you each use whatever you are comfortable with-->

1.) I think the letter is ready to go-->and as I said, IMHO it's okay to make minor changes specific to your set of circumstances ie. identifying a particular service center and quoting some stats-->just be mindful that they will probably say that those numbers are only representative of those of us here at VJ.

2.) CCing the Ombudsman is a good idea too. He's well aware of the delays, but in his report talked about USCIS working on the backlog and having some success with that....BUT that was before this most recent set of delays so I think he needs to be made aware.

3.) I don't know how we'd get everyone's signature on one single document.....if there is and IT expert, please come forward.......still some of you on here might not be comfortable with sharing too much personal information, so this could be tricky. IF WE CAN'T GET AN ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE THING GOING, you may opt for suggestion #1. Also, if we all hang together, no one can be hung separately, so I wouldn't worry about this affecting your individual cases, particularly if the media is aware of our efforts.

4.) I think if we all concentrate on 1-letter to Dr. Gonzales, 1-letter to Alfonso Aguilar

1-letter to the Ombudsman, 1-letter to a large media organization and 1-letter to our local elected Senator (and/or Representative) from our state, this could make the impact we'd like. That's, what? $2.00 in postage....the H1-B visa folks bought flowers that cost a lot more. We can flood their mailboxes and e-mail. Did I miss anyone? Oh, we need to agree on a date to start.

4.) The letter to the media should probably be of a different format, but still outline our major concerns. Anyone up for altering the existing letter for a Media outlet?

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. I am one of many United States Citizens perplexed by the extensive delays in the processing of K-1 and K-3 visas at USCIS’ Vermont Service center.

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

We are members of an on-line community who 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, hiring additional staff, 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 April 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 2007 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 (At CSC, past the 6-month quoted timeframe) 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). We also understand the need for security checks, as we are aware of our national security issues, but we do not believe this is the source of the most recent delays. 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 abroad, are on hold and we have no idea when this first part of the immigration process will conclude.

The wait for a petition to reach NVC, then the appropriate Embassy and, finally, the attendance of the beneficiary at scheduled interview can add an additional 3 – 12 months to an already excruciatingly slow process. or-->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.

The strain of this process (both financial and emotional) is taking a serious toll on the health and well-being of many US law abiding citizen’s who are trying to follow the laws to bring their loved ones to the US by legal means. Our frustration level with USCIS' inability or unwillingness to ease/improve this process is reaching a critical point.

We, as a collective, have some expectations which include:

1.) A formal response to our concerns,

2.) Improved processing time for petitions, we feel the USCIS goal timeframe of 6 months to process a K1/3 VISA at the service centers is inadequate for our needs. 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,

3.) Accurate and detailed information from your customer service representatives and,

4,) The immediate issue of NOA1 hardcopy receipts for all received petitions.

We respectfully request your immediate involvement to drastically improve this process.

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 USCIS.

Very respectfully,

XXXXXX X. XXXXXX

I'm off to work, but I'm eager to see what you Busy Bees are up to here today. Have a GREAT day....I know I will. I'm truly inspired. Thank you all for your kind words and willingness to contribute.

[Jamie76 0]

Well, the CSC has just now officially slipped past the 6 months goal. The processing times webpage for CSC now lists March 15th.

All the more reason for this effort.

Good luck to us all, we'll need it.

No it hasn't. They are processing petitions from March. March to Sept is 6 months. They are processing petitions from April and May though as well. Six months is just a generality.

[*julez* 124]

I think the letter is great. My only suggestion would be to change the word "feel" to "believe". Its a slight change, but I believe it adds a bit more strength to what we're advocating.

[amrssnowangel 0]

I've been out sick...but the letter looks fantastic. I personaly believe we should EACH sign a seperate copy and send to our senators, state representatives, white house and USCIS officials. I believe if it is coordinated to happen all in the same week we'd get a lot more attention than one letter signed by many. I think they need to be as overwhelmed with our letters as we are overwhelmed by our wait time and lack of information. In addition, I think we should CALL our state representatives and Congressmens offices with the same plea for help as well...all coordinated on the same day(s). Media attention will certainly help. Look at the couple where she was told to leave because they married while waiting for K1 and she was banned then for 10 years after she entered on approved K1. They were reunited in record time. Once again there is strength in numbers...but we want to look HUGE....so sending individual letters in addition to one with many names is more effective in my belief. Coordinated days and weeks to mail and phone calls to follow up.

[Steph1973 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?

I agree with all of the above except for point 4. I think the way to get the attention necessary is the amount of the mail/email that will come in. They can easily ignore/throw away 1 letter. However, when they start recieving a barrage of letters, that is what makes their ears perk up and listen. They need to be a bit inconvenienced by it.

[Bill y Bella 0]

As you may already know, the new VSC Processing Dates have been published.

I was relieved to see that the processing timeframes have for the most part held steady. I was concerned that the July surge would put a lot of categories with 2 month processing service levels out of compliance. If that was the case I was afraid they would keep extra adjudicators working on those categories and leave us stranded.

Some of the nonimmigrant employment based categories have deteriorated a little, but it appears that even with those they should be finished working through the July surge soon since they are currently processing July 5 petitions.

I think this is good news. It gives me hope that they will be able to switch some adjudicators back to the K-1 petitions soon.

It also appears they have caught up on the I-130 spouse petitions a little. The processing timeframe went from January 31, 2007 to 6 months. It is not a huge change, but it is a step in the right direction.

[Bill y Bella 0]

As you may already know, the new VSC Processing Dates have been published.

Oh. I forgot to add:

What do you guys think about this?

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Just let us see some approvals please...a little bit of progress from VCS...CSC seems to be moving a little more than VCS now...I wish they would just stay at a steady pace...they should have a quota that has to be reached with each particular type of petition on a weekly basis.

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

As you may already know, the new VSC Processing Dates have been published.

Oh. I forgot to add:

What do you guys think about this?

To me it just seems like the same mumbo jumbo they have always said..they could write whatever they want, i'll believe itwhen the results start showing

[Zee Bee 61]

Loving the letter!!!

I agree that everyone should send a letter to media, government officials etc. That would have a greater impact and the more letters they get the more likely we are to be heard.

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

do you send it to your senators or your representatives? or all of the above!

[Zee Bee 61]

I am guessing all of them...it can't hurt.