How to *actually* request an expedite?

[Simplytex 387]

Without going into the details of my personal reasons to request an expedite, I had a question about process. I understand the basic starting point and have tried to read some threads here, but...

 

I went online to Ask Emma, got to a live agent, and asked them to please create an expedite request. They said, sure thing, here's the ticket #, and I should hear from USCIS within 7 business days. Here's what I'm confused about - I thought, that within 7 days, I would be given an RFE to provide additional information, not originally part of the I-130 package, to explain the reasons for expediting. 

 

Today, I just got back a generic message:

"Your request for expeditious processing is denied.

Upon receipt of your letter requesting expeditious handling, this matter was reviewed and a determination was made that it does not meet the criteria for special handling."

 

But, besides the roughly 5 sentences in the Ask Emma chat - I never sent any letter detailing the request or any evidence for it! 

 

I don't want to be that guy but I do believe I have a strong enough reasoning to request an expedite. So, looking for any advice if I was to request an expedite again... Should I do it again online, should I get on the phone, through my congressperson? I'm just confused that they'd deny it without even getting any further information!

[Verrou 1,962]

no. 7 days is only generic answer. i did expedite couple of time before, sometimes i got response, sometimes i dont. 

if i were you i will try to ask help from local congressperson.

and sounds about right, uscis can deny anything without any further info

[JeanneAdil 6,489]

USCIS:

• Considers all expedite requests on a case-by-case basis;
• May require additional documentation to support a request; and
• Has the sole discretion to decide whether to accommodate a request.

Asking Emma seems to be a total waste

 

Congressman can not help /  he or she can only inquire and get the same answer u got 

they are suppose to make immigration laws but have no power over the process as told to me by my senator and lawyer both

[Simplytex 387]

Appreciate the replies. Glad to knows its just "normal" govt procedure to do this - I expected to deal with some amount of shenanigan's but not right away, I guess thats where I went wrong. 

 

I'll give it a week, and try again.

 

Edit: I do wonder, should I have put anything related to an expedite request in this "Unsolicited Evidence" section? Or, if I'm successful in getting a real human to look at the expedite request, will they send an RFE or similar?

Edited June 7, 2022 by Simplytex

[Simplytex 387]

On 6/7/2022 at 3:06 PM, Simplytex said:

I'll give it a week, and try again.

As an update in case this helps anyone else, I went back through into AskEmma, got an agent on live chat, and created a new request. But! This time, I specifically mentioned that I have new evidence I need to provide (that wasn't part of the I-130 application obviously), so please note  that, as well as the reasons for requesting the expedite (last time, the agent just asked, what would my reason for expedite be, and I only gave a very, very high level reason, I guess its better to include some detail at the request stage..)

 

I guess that worked, because today I just got back an email from the Vermont SC to provide the additional evidence by fax, so will be working on the info package over the weekend to send next week.

[pushbrk 12,869]

Follow the actual instructions from USCIS for making an expedite request.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request

[Simplytex 387]

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

Follow the actual instructions from USCIS for making an expedite request.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request

I had  but when I got to this part

• "When you call to request expedited processing, the USCIS Contact Center creates and forwards a service request to the office with jurisdiction over your application or petition. After receiving the service request, the reviewing office may request additional documentation to support expedited processing. " 

my first request was just denied without any further request for documentation from USCIS after the 7th business day. Some googling shows that a lot of other people encountered this problem, so I was wondering what the 'magic' words were to get an actual USCIS agent to actually request the additional documentation.

[pushbrk 12,869]

10 hours ago, Simplytex said:

I had  but when I got to this part

• "When you call to request expedited processing, the USCIS Contact Center creates and forwards a service request to the office with jurisdiction over your application or petition. After receiving the service request, the reviewing office may request additional documentation to support expedited processing. " 

my first request was just denied without any further request for documentation from USCIS after the 7th business day. Some googling shows that a lot of other people encountered this problem, so I was wondering what the 'magic' words were to get an actual USCIS agent to actually request the additional documentation.

Make your request by the other method, US Mail.  Include your explanation and evidence with your request.

[Simplytex 387]

13 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Make your request by the other method, US Mail.  Include your explanation and evidence with your request.

Per the same page you referenced, I would have submit by mail, except that's not a method they give as an option - maybe it was previously but I looked pretty thoroughly at USCIS online resources and didn't see a mailing option: 

 

"You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice. (You can access Emma by clicking on the Ask Emma icon on the top right of this page). The USCIS Contact Center will not be able to refer the expedite request to the appropriate office without a receipt number." (Emphasis mine)

[pushbrk 12,869]

7 minutes ago, Simplytex said:

Per the same page you referenced, I would have submit by mail, except that's not a method they give as an option - maybe it was previously but I looked pretty thoroughly at USCIS online resources and didn't see a mailing option: 

 

"You can generally request expedited processing by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) or by asking Emma after you have obtained a receipt notice. (You can access Emma by clicking on the Ask Emma icon on the top right of this page). The USCIS Contact Center will not be able to refer the expedite request to the appropriate office without a receipt number." (Emphasis mine)

I understand your dilemma. Ask Emma which service center actually has your case and mail your expedite request and evidence to the service center directly.

[pushbrk 12,869]

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

I understand your dilemma. Ask Emma which service center actually has your case and mail your expedite request and evidence to the service center directly.

Note also that the request may well have correctly been denied based on the information/reason you gave initially.  No way for us to know that, because you didn't give us your reason.

[Simplytex 387]

3 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Note also that the request may well have correctly been denied based on the information/reason you gave initially.  No way for us to know that, because you didn't give us your reason.

Sure, though for this I'm preferring to her personal info off the web Appreciate your input here, as you've got a lot of good advice on the forum I've read through for other situations. 

 

This is just one of those strange ones where the official instructions say to do one thing (create a expedite support request over the phone or ask Emma), but it's not very effective. I guess my learning here was to:

 

1) ask the support agent to note that additional and pertinent information is available, and 

2) not just use the generic headings given on the USCIS website for "reason to request" and expect them to ask for more info.

 

I guess also, it seems quite a few folks have had the issue where a ticket isn't actioned and seems to be denied just before hitting the max time allowed for USCIS response, which leads me to believe that USCIS might be closing tickets in bulk to meet some internal time quota, since they can't respond to all tickets.

 

I'm sure they have a lot of tickets, but I guess my suggestion to others would be if your first request is denied without you being able to actually provide evidence, just try to request it again. Of course, if my request is denied after giving the evidence, then I wouldn't try again if I don't have any additional information to provide (that's just contributing to USCIS excessive backlog, and I hope others would do the same.)

[pushbrk 12,869]

19 hours ago, Simplytex said:

Sure, though for this I'm preferring to her personal info off the web Appreciate your input here, as you've got a lot of good advice on the forum I've read through for other situations. 

 

This is just one of those strange ones where the official instructions say to do one thing (create a expedite support request over the phone or ask Emma), but it's not very effective. I guess my learning here was to:

 

1) ask the support agent to note that additional and pertinent information is available, and 

2) not just use the generic headings given on the USCIS website for "reason to request" and expect them to ask for more info.

 

I guess also, it seems quite a few folks have had the issue where a ticket isn't actioned and seems to be denied just before hitting the max time allowed for USCIS response, which leads me to believe that USCIS might be closing tickets in bulk to meet some internal time quota, since they can't respond to all tickets.

 

I'm sure they have a lot of tickets, but I guess my suggestion to others would be if your first request is denied without you being able to actually provide evidence, just try to request it again. Of course, if my request is denied after giving the evidence, then I wouldn't try again if I don't have any additional information to provide (that's just contributing to USCIS excessive backlog, and I hope others would do the same.)

Then you are left to your own judgment whether the denial was clearly justified WITHOUT additional evidence.  If  you're confident that is NOT the case.  Make the request by mail and include explanation and evidence.

[Dig-13 0]

was your expedite request approved? 

[Simplytex 387]

2 hours ago, Dig-13 said:

was your expedite request approved? 

Unfortunately not. I'm pretty sure it was because of them just not being convinced but I'm also not sure how the review of evidence went. 

 

So, when they sent a response asking for more info, I had to fax it within 20 calendar days, and they would review within 7. I did it on day 13... So, in assuming that the fax was received with all the documents, but I also have no way of really confirming that they looked at it/that the request didn't just "time out"... And there's no way of knowing, cause it's just a fax and their response was pretty generic. They also said, I can't request expedite again for another 60 calendar days, so I have a while longer to wait. 

 

Since I do feel like my case/evidence is worth pushing, I will probably reach out to my congressperson(s) in Sept if the "k3 trick" doesn't work for me.