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

[Bill B 0]

Yes, that is probably confusing. However, what confused me more, much more than anything else is:

Why do people on work visas (H1B) take 1 day to process their spouses visa, while a US Citizen has to wait for a total of 8-12 months? Is it because the H1B visa holders are more trustworthy than us US Citizens?

This my friends make no sense to me. I have heard back from one of the Senators and have a call with their office next week. Also, I finally spoke to someone from CNN (Lou Dobbs) and they have requested that I send them documentation, as they were unable to believe that infact is the case.

Will keep you'll posted.

Can you bring me up to speed on this? I have heard several references to the situation you describe and would like to be able to read the documentation for myself.

Thanks!

The process for H1B holders is that they have to visit their home country, and show the following docs:

1. H1B Visa

2. Marriage certificate

And they have to go back at the end of the day to collect their spouse visas. Its a pretty simple straight-forward process. You can google/check with your friends who have H1Bs.

All I am requesting is that I, a US Citizen be provided equal rights that a H1B visa holder enjoys.

waiting9,

You make a good point, but in the strictest terms others could say we (K-1) applicants cannot produce a marriage certificate and that it would only apply to K-3 applicants. Of course you and I and most others on this forum I would bet know the reason many people picked a K-1 versus K-3 process is because traditionally the K-1 was much faster. Unfortunately for us, there is not that much difference anymore.

[thejoz 0]

I don't remember who said something about me not liking the 6 month time frame, but my problem is solely why the hell foreign non-immigrant workers get granted a speedy pass to the US and the rest of us, the citizens who want to bring their loved ones into the country, who want to actually share the American Dream (whatever that may mean) with us.

It'd be one thing if everyone had to wait 6 months to immigrate, or not immigrate. That wouldn't bother me.

But the fact that people who just want to leech off our system and get employment gets fast-tracked?

In the vein of Mirla, that's fuckin' bullshit.

[amrssnowangel 0]

Im confused.

I thought USCIS was putting a priority on I485's????? According to their site, its NOT H1 Visas getting priority but these I485's for AOS due to the EAD time constraint.

"Q : Is USCIS prioritizing certain application(s) during the receipting process?

Yes. The Application to Adjust Status (I-485) will have first priority because USCIS needs to ensure that these applications are receipted in a timeframe that would allow processing of an application for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) within 90 days of filing as mandated by law [8 CFR 247a.13(d)]. Our second priority will be to receipt the Application for Naturalization (N-400) so that we can minimize any delays in obtaining citizenship."

If my SO was here...and time is running out on my I485, I'd be VERY upset on a delay to work. Its the EAD part that the LAW says MUST be done in 90 days. It never said H1 visas took priority. But I485's THEN naturalization (now THAT one ERKS me)

I agree the process is slow. Slower than it should be.

I agree the tensions here are starting to run high.

And what Im going to say next is going to draw fire.

Out of my calls to USCIS. (VCS to be exact) I've never had a rude representative. They've each been as informative as they can be and have followed all the rules of "customer service". I used to teach sales and customer serivce and I created the quality assuarnce department at a phone center I once was supervising in. So its not like I dont understand service. Im sure that if we get a rude one, its a response to our hightened aggrivated states. Im sure there is the occassional rude representative that lacks empathy. But maybe we are blaming the wrong people. I thank the service reps that answer my call. They go to work every day just like we do. Follow the company rules just like we do. They have NO power to do anything more than they are trained to do. Its not even VCS that is the issue. Our GOVERNMENT needs to allocate more help to this department. These people have an undaunting job of wading through this flood of petitions. Im not happy with how slow this is. Dont get me wrong. But its getting hard to hear so many complain in general about VCS, when some of this isn't even in the DIRECTORS hands. The system is slow. It sucks. But its the GOVERNMENT system in place. NOT the directors fault or "VSC". Even the director is just an employee of the government. He can still only do so much. Its the congress, president the elected officials that make the rules. Maybe Im wrong. But there is someone even over the director...someone is calling these shots. THATS where the fault lies. THATS where we need to target. Those workers at VSC are just doing their jobs.

Well thats MY "rant". Feel free to disagree....but Im still not happy with the speed....keep writing, keep the pressure on. But remember why we are here...to SUPPORT each other....we can't be supportive if we are starting to bicker and jeer and be sarcastic with each other. This should be a safe place where we can come to get what we need. Even if its to rant, rave, cry;......

[amrssnowangel 0]

By the way a H1 visa if I recall is NOT permanent. K1/K3 IS permanent. H1 visa holders IF they want to stay STILL have to go through a HUGE AOS. I have a friend who came on H1 visa as an Indian Chef. Maybe it was easy to GET here. But has NOT been easy to stay NOR get his wife and family over. He's been here 7 years on H1, just got wife here last year, has been waiting forever for his green card approval. He's almost had to leave 3 times because every so often he had to renew his H1. While here...these H1 workers are exploited as well in SOME cases. For him he lives working 6-7 12 hour days...has been forced to live in a hotel room with 3-4 others and slept on many floors. Employers for some of these businesses, force these workers to do things normal "American" workers dont do, becuase these H1 workers WANT to be here...so are blackmailed into a hard hard life. Now this isnt ALL. But alot. Even though my friend got here...took him a lot longer than 1 month to bring over a spouse. Getting the money saved to do so on these salaries many are given is impossible. He saved for a few years to get her here....its not just filing fees...but plane tickets for wife..maybe 2-3 kids to. So their lives are a bed of roses either. Jsut wanted to give insight from an ACTUAL H1 visa holders view.

[DKM 0]

joz haven't you figured out how things work in government? If you want something done, you have to get the ear of representatives. Cubans have their own lobby. Business sure does. H-1's are vital to our economy and it would never work to give work visas to people half a year after they apply, the job would go unfilled for that long and eventually those companies that need those people would offshore the job to wherever the people are that can do it.

But the biggest difference is in amirs angel's post, they aren't immigrating so less red tape to cut through.

Saying that they are leaching off our system is ignorant but this isn't the forum for that debate.

It is ridiculous though how VSC is not putting up some kind of explanation as to why they are dragging their a$$es. Typical govt CYA...

[thejoz 0]

H-1's are vital to our economy and it would never work to give work visas to people half a year after they apply, the job would go unfilled for that long and eventually those companies that need those people would offshore the job to wherever the people are that can do it.

I don't buy that. I think bringing in someone, who is going to live here, permanently and pay taxes permanently, and be a part of the US economy permanently, that would be more beneficial in the long run than having someone come here to work.

You'd think the government would much rather have more potential citizens and fulltime taxpayers rather than temporary labor. Apparantly not.

[amrssnowangel 0]

H-1's are vital to our economy and it would never work to give work visas to people half a year after they apply, the job would go unfilled for that long and eventually those companies that need those people would offshore the job to wherever the people are that can do it.

I don't buy that. I think bringing in someone, who is going to live here, permanently and pay taxes permanently, and be a part of the US economy permanently, that would be more beneficial in the long run than having someone come here to work.

You'd think the government would much rather have more potential citizens and fulltime taxpayers rather than temporary labor. Apparantly not.

You would think that would be the case. But what they were saying is that with all the red tape involved to MOVE someone here permanently, businesses can't wait. They need the worker today. Not in 6=12 months. So the H1 visa gets them the worker NOW. Im not so upset that USCIS is prioritizing the I485's over us because those people ARE HERE..and WAITING to find work and CANT till they get that EAD. THAT can cause a financial strain on families. How would we feel to get our SO here...then be postponed getting a job because the I485 is behind. I"d be infuriated. MOre than now. Soooo, stands to reason they made THAT the priority. Dont confuse what USCIS is doing...the H1 is NOT the priority. The I485's are.

Now what BUGS me is that their site THEN says...AFTER the I485 the next priority is those seeking citizenship.....HUH???? Come on... those people ARE here...they ARE working....WHY is that the next priority? This isn't an issue of USCIS being indifferent..this is an issue of the governments poor planniing, and poor preperation...we aren't the ONLY time in immigration this has happened to. I found articles of slow downs in 2005, 2003 and 2000. So its NOT the first time..wont be the last.

If this was YOUR business and you have a steady work load..then SUDDENLY you get to much work...do you jsut run out to hire people? No. Thats not cost effective..you work overtime, you work harder, you prioritize. Then when you are caught up...the workload goes to normal. Flucuations like that happen in business all the time. AFter USCIS gets all this caught up...if they hire more workers SIMPLY to catch up...what happens to those workers AFTER they catch up when its normal again???? Is it really the wisest thing to hire more JUST to make it through a hard time? If I was in charge...I'd say no. I dont want to lay off workers and affect even more families.

Im not defending how long this is taking. As Bill states..Im being realistic. Personally I think the workers are doing their best. Is the system broken? Yes to an extent. But is it just possible that our emotions are running high...because we want our loves here...we are emotionally spent?

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

I dont know if this will help or make things worse, but I've attached the list

I couldn't take it anymore, so here it is

visajourney_vsc_list1.doc

[Bobalouie 0]

H-1's are vital to our economy and it would never work to give work visas to people half a year after they apply, the job would go unfilled for that long and eventually those companies that need those people would offshore the job to wherever the people are that can do it.

I don't buy that. I think bringing in someone, who is going to live here, permanently and pay taxes permanently, and be a part of the US economy permanently, that would be more beneficial in the long run than having someone come here to work.

You'd think the government would much rather have more potential citizens and fulltime taxpayers rather than temporary labor. Apparantly not.

You would think that would be the case. But what they were saying is that with all the red tape involved to MOVE someone here permanently, businesses can't wait. They need the worker today. Not in 6=12 months. So the H1 visa gets them the worker NOW. Im not so upset that USCIS is prioritizing the I485's over us because those people ARE HERE..and WAITING to find work and CANT till they get that EAD. THAT can cause a financial strain on families. How would we feel to get our SO here...then be postponed getting a job because the I485 is behind. I"d be infuriated. MOre than now. Soooo, stands to reason they made THAT the priority. Dont confuse what USCIS is doing...the H1 is NOT the priority. The I485's are.

Now what BUGS me is that their site THEN says...AFTER the I485 the next priority is those seeking citizenship.....HUH???? Come on... those people ARE here...they ARE working....WHY is that the next priority? This isn't an issue of USCIS being indifferent..this is an issue of the governments poor planniing, and poor preperation...we aren't the ONLY time in immigration this has happened to. I found articles of slow downs in 2005, 2003 and 2000. So its NOT the first time..wont be the last.

If this was YOUR business and you have a steady work load..then SUDDENLY you get to much work...do you jsut run out to hire people? No. Thats not cost effective..you work overtime, you work harder, you prioritize. Then when you are caught up...the workload goes to normal. Flucuations like that happen in business all the time. AFter USCIS gets all this caught up...if they hire more workers SIMPLY to catch up...what happens to those workers AFTER they catch up when its normal again???? Is it really the wisest thing to hire more JUST to make it through a hard time? If I was in charge...I'd say no. I dont want to lay off workers and affect even more families.

Im not defending how long this is taking. As Bill states..Im being realistic. Personally I think the workers are doing their best. Is the system broken? Yes to an extent. But is it just possible that our emotions are running high...because we want our loves here...we are emotionally spent?

Bold in quotes above added for emphasis.

I agree with what you wrote above, I cant fault your logic, but what I take issue with is the fact that NONE of this process should take 6-12 months just to get thru the initial step. Not when this Whole process is as simple as it is. What did it take you guys to fill out the paperwork for this process and to put together your packet? I probably spent a total of 12 hours on it working on it off and on over a period of 3 days. If the paperwork is that simple, it CANT take an excessive amount of time to check it. Besides, the only real thing that they are checking on at this stage is if you have actually met in person in the last 2 years. That is the only thing that you have to prove at this stage. Sure, they run background checks on you and your spouse, but how long does that take? The cops do an abbreviated version when they pull you over for speeding. How long do you spend on the side of the road when you get pulled over? 10-20 minutes? Chances are that 99% of our better halves are not going to get a hit in the background checks, simply because the FBI doesnt keep files on every foriegn national in the world. So unless your SO is on a watch list or is a "person of interest" that check is pretty straightforward as well.

Also, companies all across the US use a temporary work force to help out in times of need. But, as is typical of the government, by the time they get the temps up to speed, the slowdown will probably be over already. Right now, every person on this board w/o an NOA2 is being held up by improper planning and management. That is someones fault, and I dont care who's fault it is, but I want to know WHO it is so I can give them a call and let them know what I think about their cracker jack management and planning skills.

I am only a Sept. filer who before the slow down would have been at the TSC. I was already prepared in my mind to go 110 days to approval because that is what TSC was at just before I filed. However, I am nearly at 50 days now, almost at the 1/2 way point in the process I had in my mind, and they havent even completed May filers? Then you call customer service and they tell you they are working on March 19th petitions? Well outside the 6 month window? With no updates to the USCIS website? Then you call back the next day and they are working on June 19th petitions? CSC petitioners are now being told that they have to wait for 90 days after the receipting update page says they have receipted their petitions? We are being told you have to wait 6+1 months before calling about being outside the window? IN MY MIND, THERE IS NOT A SINGLE PROCEDURE OR PROCESS AT THE USCIS THAT IS WORKING CORRECTLY NOW.

This process is rediculously easy and the USCIS is screwing it up at every level from Cust service to long range strategic planning.

Or, maybe I am way off base here.

[*julez* 124]

I dont know if this will help or make things worse, but I've attached the list

I couldn't take it anymore, so here it is

visajourney_vsc_list1.doc

Thanks Susie!!! Although I am further down the list, its interesting to see how many more people have joined VJ!!

I'm just working hard to keep the faith that VSC will pick up the pace for all of us someday soon!

Thanks again for making the list!!!!!

[Steph1973 0]

This thread is no longer enjoyable. If you're so mad about the way VSC is handling cases...why not just go there in person and yell at them? Why yell at other VJ members? Handle your business. You should be thankful that we have the right to even do this! Its hard for all of us. The only way to get through this ####### is to remain positive, strong and patient. Or....you can just go to your fiance(e)'s country and take up residency there. What? Cant leave your job? Your home? Your family? Can't do what your "other" is doing?? We all need to get a grip here. I think its a very good idea to write as many letters as possible to people who can help. I did it. But yelling at other members who havent done so is just stupid. I agree that USCIS owes us better service, but this whole process is a choice. Not a guarantee. The government just doesn't do that. Get over it or move along. Hey, you could always just give up. If a relationship is strong enough, nothing will tear it apart. If the waiting period was a year, would you have applied?? If not, then you have other issues. Nothing wrong with bashing VSC as much as you wish. Nothing wrong with bitching and complaining. But stop the attacks on each other for God's sake!! Everyone's time will come. If you dont like it, if you dont think its fair...write to someone who can actually help. In the meantime, remember what makes us good people....consideration, kindness, comradery, honesty. Just to name a few things. The government is not a direct reflection of it's people. We know what's fair. What's right. But in the eyes of Uncle Sam, we are people who are asking for a favor. we are requesting a service. We are at their mercy here. Time to face that fact. Again, that's how Uncle Sam sees it. We are different. We feel cheated. We feel poorly served. Unless we have the ability to actually go inside their facility, ask questions and watch production....we can't really bash them. Not fairly anyway. It feels good to do it though. Hell, I know that. I enjoy giving them #######. But you know what always turns my mood from negative and angry to positive and productive? My Sasha. Knowing that there's not a force on this Earth that will or can keep us apart forever. I tell myself that she is why I live. And if for some outrageous reason we fail in our process, well, I'll just go there. We know and trust each other so deeply that we have confidence that we'll be together again soon enough. I know all of you must have this same connection with your fiance(e)s/spouses. So chill out. Some of you act like you're gonna kick the bucket sometime soon, leaving you only days with your lovers. So pessimistic! Try to focus on all of the wonderful years you will have together and not the painful months that you were apart. Besides, what good are you doing by pissing other VJers off? You want to help apply for a job with USCIS's Vermont facility. So, can't we all just get along??

You make an interesting parallel in your post. You talk about we are asking a favor of Uncle Sam. I completely agree, but the conotation of "Uncle" means that Sam is family. I would think that Family would treat me better than Joe Schmo from a foriegn country who wishes to ask for a favor as well. I would think that my "Family" would treat me better and give me preferential treatment. That is the crux of every arguement on this subject.

I am so TIRED of people saying the government is doing me a "FAVOR" by allowing me to PAY them to have my fiance live near me. Its called Freedom. Ya know, that thing people died for. They are not doing me a favor. I am a citizen of a country that states this process is allowed. If it is not allowed, change the law so we wouldn't expect to get what we derserve. Otherwise, deliver it. NOTHING the government does for us is a "favor". We pay taxes, we paid for this service.

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

I dont know if this will help or make things worse, but I've attached the list

I couldn't take it anymore, so here it is

visajourney_vsc_list1.doc

Thanks Susie!!! Although I am further down the list, its interesting to see how many more people have joined VJ!!

I'm just working hard to keep the faith that VSC will pick up the pace for all of us someday soon!

Thanks again for making the list!!!!!

yea i also didnt look at when people have updated their timeline, so it will be a little different than bszoom's list

im number 78 =/

[*julez* 124]

I dont know if this will help or make things worse, but I've attached the list

I couldn't take it anymore, so here it is

visajourney_vsc_list1.doc

Thanks Susie!!! Although I am further down the list, its interesting to see how many more people have joined VJ!!

I'm just working hard to keep the faith that VSC will pick up the pace for all of us someday soon!

Thanks again for making the list!!!!!

yea i also didnt look at when people have updated their timeline, so it will be a little different than bszoom's list

im number 78 =/

I'm #111, although I did a bit of research and noticed that #1 on the list had their petition denied. There were also a few members in the Top 20 who haven't been on VJ in a quite awhile, so they may have been approved, but just abandoned their timelines. Not everyone is as addicted as I am to VJ!!!!!!

Long live the list! I love it!!!

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

i love the list too, thats why i couldnt live without it...i will do some more research today and try to clean it up a bit...

[Aaralyn 0]

I'm soo going to be late for work, but I wanted to add my thank you for posting the list!

#129!! Yay!!

(yeah, I know.. but if I don't laugh, I'll cry! )