Has a congressperson or senator actually helped you in 2021?

[Sam Burns 155]

I keep hearing advice to contact your senator and/or congressperson but has doing that actually helped anyone here?

I reached out to my congressperson and filled out the forms, talked to their contact on the phone and then never heard anything again. I emailed them three times, the last time just this week and they never responded at all.

So that’s my question, did doing this make a difference for you? If so please let us know here.

thanks!

[TBoneTX 45,303]

Thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to General Immigration Discussion -- topic applies to many visa types.

[Carlos.Brazil 40]

I'm curious to know as well, the way people on here talk about it, they make it seem like its a done deal once they bring out the congressman/Senator statement😅 

[TBoneTX 45,303]

54 minutes ago, Sam Burns said:

has doing that actually helped anyone here?

In 2008, when Mrs.-T-B.-to-be's attempt to be granted her K-1 visa was hosed twice by the evil, incompetent, mismanaged, [censored] Guayaquil consulate, I reached out in desperation to my Congressman's office.

 

The immigration liaison was unable to help mechanically (Congressman are precluded by statute from intervening directly with consulates, and in fact not even a President has influence over consulates); however, he explained things patiently and sympathetically to me, and I consequently felt a lot less tormented.  I remember that Congressional experience with undying gratitude.

 

Congressional offices can indeed gain answers about petition progress from USCIS, which is required to respond to Congressional inquiries.  The exception is security checks during Administrative Processing, which is such an opaque process that not even the consular officers themselves know the status.

Edited October 11, 2022 by TBoneTX

[Sam Burns 155]

41 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to General Immigration Discussion -- topic applies to many visa types.

For what it’s worth I should have added that I was specifically interested in the K1 only in 2021 just because of the doubling of the processing time.

[JeanneAdil 6,510]

it really depends on what help u need

they can ask at what stage is your petition ?

same answers u would get from USCIS 

 

also ask "will my congressman go out on a limb for my vote if its an election year"

 

a few say senator has helped but most say the office only provided info on case status 

 

read what boundless says about congressional help and remember the decision to grant a visa lies with the CO and embassy or US immigration officer in the US if doing AOS here

 

https://www.boundless.com/blog/how-to-contact-your-representative-to-speed-up-your-visa-processing-time/

[TBoneTX 45,303]

2 minutes ago, Sam Burns said:

I was specifically interested in the K1 only in 2021 just because of the doubling of the processing time.

I figured so; your excellent question pertains to many visa types.  

 

The doubled time adds further unpleasantry to this infernal process.  Before the consular hosing, I had called the same Congressman's office about the status of my I-129F petition, which was behind the prevailing processing time.  The same immigration liaison said straight out to me, "USCIS is our very worst Federal agency."

 

For an overview of what happened with me, see this thread:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/410945-k-1-journey-completed/

[TBoneTX 45,303]

8 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

"will my congressman go out on a limb for my vote if its an election year"

This too is a good question.  If the Congressman cares about being engaged with voters, he/she will do everything possible to help -- and the better ones will do this even when it's not an election year.

[Sam Burns 155]

8 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

I figured so; your excellent question pertains to many visa types.  

 

The doubled time adds further unpleasantry to this infernal process.  Before the consular hosing, I had called the same Congressman's office about the status of my I-129F petition, which was behind the prevailing processing time.  The same immigration liaison said straight out to me, "USCIS is our very worst Federal agency."

 

For an overview of what happened with me, see this thread:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/410945-k-1-journey-completed/

A wonderful read, thank you for sharing 

[JeanneAdil 6,510]

9 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

In 2008, when Mrs.-T-B.-to-be's attempt to be granted her K-1 visa was hosed twice by the evil, incompetent, mismanaged, [censored] Guayaquil consulate, I reached out in desperation to my Congressman's office.

 

The immigration liaison was unable to help mechanically (Congressman are precluded by statute from intervening directly with consulates, and in fact not even a President has influence over consulates); however, he explained things patiently and sympathetically to me, and I consequently felt a lot less tormented.  I remember that Congressional experience with undying gratitude.

 

Congressional offices can indeed gain answers about petition progress from USCIS, which is required to respond to Congressional inquiries.  The exception is security checks during Administrative Processing, which is such an opaque process that not even the consular officers themselves know the status.

Same with me 

Congress is mainly made up of lawyers

and their aids are either lawyers also or studying Politcial Science and / or law

 

They can explain the rules and laws of Immigration and the rules they have to abide by

this is what boundless says

to understand the rules, laws,  process and embassies (as they are different) is important

 

My Senator liaise wrote a  letter (which i was not privy to see) to the embassy on our 3rd petition to support our cause

but i had K1 denied

CR1 denied

appeal approve by immigration court 

and 3rd interview granted visa

this is with 6 years of proofs

so,  was it the Senators'  letter that helped or all my evidence and my quality time spent with husband and his family?

 

one thing i do know is "it can't hurt to try"

and make congress aware of immigration issues (legal immigration ) as they are more concerned with illegals

[JeanneAdil 6,510]

9 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

This too is a good question.  If the Congressman cares about being engaged with voters, he/she will do everything possible to help -- and the better ones will do this even when it's not an election year.

Senator here holds town house meetings

and twice a year they meet with persons having issues with government agencies

(IRS,  USCIS,  TVA, even  the state agencies like health care)

the office looks at evidence and  works to settle individual problems

 

so,  if u get a call from congress office asking u to take part in town house meetings ,   don't ignore it

[TBoneTX 45,303]

36 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

if u get a call from congress office asking u to take part in town house meetings ,   don't ignore it

I had just returned from the [censored] Stokes interview on July 1.  The Congressman was holding a town hall meeting on July 3.  I wasn't feeling very patriotic.

 

When the Congressman opened the floor for questions, someone said, "What are you going to do about immigration?"  The C. replied, "Are you asking about legal immigration or illegal immigration?" I began to cheer up, thinking, "This guy GETS it!"  I had a chance to explain my situation and to thank the C.'s staff in public.  The immigration liaison himself wasn't there after having served at the previous day's town hall, but I made sure that everyone knew how helpful he was.

 

Jeanne is right -- town halls enable you to describe your situation AND to express appreciation.  Congressmen (well, most) are human beings and appreciate positive feedback.

47 minutes ago, Sam Burns said:

A wonderful read, thank you for sharing 

You're welcome, and thank you for saying so.

[.yana 597]

I was promptly helped each time I reached out (2017, Michael Bennet's Office, AOS; 2020, Cory Booker's Office then Bernie Sanders' Office, N400/I751; 2020, Nancy Pelosi's office, US Passport). 

[Boiler 45,522]

What are you looking them to do

[Sam Burns 155]

37 minutes ago, Boiler said:

What are you looking them to do

Well in the K1 forums when people ask about getting help with delays or any other issues etc they are told to get in touch with their congressperson/senator.

 

Hence my question.