Sharing Regarding USEM CR1 Interview Expedite Request

[Jason and May 79]

Just FYI for anyone else considering requesting an expedite: 

My wife was robbed July 3rd in Manila. They took everything she had. The next day, a man started messaging her (because they have all her contact information), stating his father had found several of her belongings and to come out and meet him to get them back. The police told her they suspected this was the budol budol gang, and a police officer went with her to meet this man. The short version: No one was arrested. There is no way to prove they were part of this gang. Maybe they really were good samaritans. But... My wife is still getting messages to come out and meet this person. Alone. And she's terrified they will come to her apartment. 

After NVC DQ'd her, we sent a request for an expedited interview, and we sent the police blotters, police reports, and messages, all translated into English. 

 

USEM still denied her expedite. Actually, they didn't deny it. They said they couldn't accommodate it at the present time. 

 

So, I'm not saying don't request an expedite, because the worst they can do, I suppose, is say no, but based on other expedite requests I've read about that were granted, it's sure disappointing...maddening, actually...that my wife has to wait however long it takes for her interview, stressed out and scared. 

Good luck to all the others out there waiting on USEM. I hope your cases flow smoothly. 

 

Jason 

[Timona 4,207]

But didn't she and the police already meet the said person? And got her stuff back? 

 

I'd just ignore.

 

Unfortunately, robbery isn't grounds for expedite

[Boiler 45,426]

I have also seen some odd cases expedited and agree there is no harm trying, you never know.

[Jason and May 79]

4 hours ago, Timona said:

But didn't she and the police already meet the said person? And got her stuff back? 

 

I'd just ignore.

 

Unfortunately, robbery isn't grounds for expedite

They didn't meet the person who robbed her; they met two men who had sent her photographs of some items that were taken from her, notably some of her documents. Some of the items taken from her included her barangay ID, passport, and some other documents with personally identifiable information. The documents were what they said they had. They did bring them, and she did get them back. Her jewelry, phone, money, IDs, and bank and credit cards, etc., were not among the items returned. 

 

We didn't request the expedite based on the fact she was robbed, per se, but that she was robbed, these men started messaging her after the fact, and the police suspect they are part of a gang responsible for kidnapping and human trafficking in the area...though, that as of now remains speculation. She lives alone. And she is very scared. 

 

While that might not be grounds for an expedite in some people's or official's perspectives, neither, then, would some of the expedites I've read about that have been approved. It's very much just complaining to vent, e.g. if an expedite is approved because a petitioner is on active duty and worried about missing pieces of mail relevant to the visa process when out in the field for weeks at a time training, then it seems like my wife's situation might have merited an expedite. Maybe her situation doesn't merit an expedite, and that's okay. But it felt like a bit of a jab or a letdown, comparatively. That was more my point; though, probably poorly explained. 

 

 

Edited September 6, 2023 by Jason and May

[Timona 4,207]

Maybe have her relocate temporarily, switch to new number