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

[chuck_n_rose 0]

I am curious what the big secret is to the whole process with USCIS. I am a state employee (okay, it's the fire dept., but my paycheck still says State of Calif) so I'm use to things moving slowly at times, but there is usually some kind of reason with the "red tape". I've never heard of a government process that would take this long and you would not be able to call someone to get information. I understand that the process has always taking a long time, but with new technology and the fee increase, things should be moving much much faster. How hard is it to get a background check on a name. I can get my credit report within a minute or 2. So, I would think that Homeland Security could find my info just as fast. I'm sure if they wanted information from us, they would not stand to wait 4-6 months for an answer. I am not upset with the system, it is what it is and we are at their mercy.

Okay, I'm down off my box. Just some things that came to mind when I read what Mox wrote and wonder why they can't be more upfront with what is going on.

[B'sA 0]

I hope not too many people from Feb-April are still waiting on their NOA2s.

While I am sure that there are some stragglers from those months (particulalry at CSC) I am guessing that some people just don't post here anymore and have failed to update their timelines.

On that note, I wonder if there is a way that inactive timelines can be disabled after a certain amount of time? Hmmm...think I'll post that question in the site discussion forum.

Yes,you're right.

It's so not fairm,You know. Seeing these crazy periods(i mean it's been o year allmost for some) makes you break done.

[a-jeanne 2]

Well - I just called the USCIS again today and the man who I spoke to said "well, maam - give it another two weeks. I'm sure by then you will hear something". UGH - that's what they said two weeks ago. The pot is getting ready to boil over.....I'm trying to remain positive.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

what do they say when you point that out?

I agree with what everyone's saying... that the process is aggravatingly long, we all know... but it's a government department, and EVERYthing could always do with more money, from roads to education to pre-natal care to whatever else... so I accept that it takes a long time, and they can't necessarily hire the staff that would make it much shorter

BUT: they CAN and SHOULD do something about the processing out of order, and the lack of information... it's those things that tip you over from 'aggravated' to 'going rapidly insane with not a damn thing you can do about it'

[a-jeanne 2]

He actually cut me off when I asked him and said that every petition is different. I told him that even people with RFE's at the same time as mine are getting approved and he again cut me off and said ma'am, every case is different - and proceeded to tell me that it should be approved within two weeks.

He must have been looking into his crystal ball?

I know what he can do with that ball.

[mox 298]

BUT: they CAN and SHOULD do something about the processing out of order, and the lack of information... it's those things that tip you over from 'aggravated' to 'going rapidly insane with not a damn thing you can do about it'

Exactly. Communicating doesn't cost taxpayers anything.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

well, it probably would, to be fair... but only a very small amount, and probably save staff time from people ringing saying 'what the frank's going on?!'

[mox 298]

well, it probably would, to be fair... but only a very small amount, and probably save staff time from people ringing saying 'what the frank's going on?!'

Well, like I said earlier it would just be a matter of sticking something up on the web page saying "CSC processing is slow because of blah blah" or whatever. That costs money in terms of man-hours I suppose, but with the right process in place it would be a simple matter of manager logging in, updating message, pressing "Submit" and then watching the call volume go down. Might even be able to make a case that it saves money in call volume.

What *would* cost a little money is having an effective feedback system. The ombudsman is better than nothing, but only slightly. I'd like to see something in more of a blog format where the ombudsman solicits comments and then posts findings. That's a lot to ask for I know, but the ombudsman system right now is nigh useless.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

well, you've got to bear in mind that to those actually AT CSC, processing may not be slow at all... it may be that they're working on different petitions this week or something, so going at exactly the same pace as ever, but just not touching many K1s

however, as you say, SOME sort of update would be better than nothing, and shouldn't be too difficult to organise

[bakofoil 27]

what do they say when you point that out?

I agree with what everyone's saying... that the process is aggravatingly long, we all know... but it's a government department, and EVERYthing could always do with more money, from roads to education to pre-natal care to whatever else... so I accept that it takes a long time, and they can't necessarily hire the staff that would make it much shorter

BUT: they CAN and SHOULD do something about the processing out of order, and the lack of information... it's those things that tip you over from 'aggravated' to 'going rapidly insane with not a damn thing you can do about it'

Just about every month (every day at the moment) something (or nothing ) comes up that makes me think that we really should be trying to do something about this so that we can change the outcome for future filers. I know this sounds all very idealistic and seasoned VJers would likely pat me on the head and tell me there is nothing to be done except be patient. In some ways I agree, since calling does very little except divert resources and cause further frustration. Plus, historically many people have been waiting much longer than I currently have. Another reason why I have done nothing about it is because I fear annoying the very people who have my future in their hands.

Having said all of this, the excuses re: excess applications in 2007 are just wearing a bit thin now. The fact remains that USCIS, since August, have received 2.5 times the July application fee for every applicant and nothing has been done to improve the situation for those who paid the new fee. Part of me feels guilty for being one of the filers who caused the system to overload but USCIS knew what impact the fee increase would have. I really feel that every post-July filer has been let down by a terribly flawed system. Throwing money at the issue clearly had little impact. Or the money just hasn't been directed into the right areas.

I'm just terribly frustrated by the whole K1 experience and whilst I know following anything but the K1 route is unpopular to some on this forum I know what advice I would be giving to anyone who fell in love with someone in the US. It wouldn't be K1.

[bakofoil 27]

well, it probably would, to be fair... but only a very small amount, and probably save staff time from people ringing saying 'what the frank's going on?!'

Well, like I said earlier it would just be a matter of sticking something up on the web page saying "CSC processing is slow because of blah blah" or whatever. That costs money in terms of man-hours I suppose, but with the right process in place it would be a simple matter of manager logging in, updating message, pressing "Submit" and then watching the call volume go down. Might even be able to make a case that it saves money in call volume.

What *would* cost a little money is having an effective feedback system. The ombudsman is better than nothing, but only slightly. I'd like to see something in more of a blog format where the ombudsman solicits comments and then posts findings. That's a lot to ask for I know, but the ombudsman system right now is nigh useless.

That's the thing. If petitions were being processed in order and both service centers were working within a given timeframe of one another then any slowdown in processing wouldn't be such a hardship - as long as they posted some information on the website.

[mox 298]

well, you've got to bear in mind that to those actually AT CSC, processing may not be slow at all... it may be that they're working on different petitions this week or something, so going at exactly the same pace as ever, but just not touching many K1s

Hmmm...I hadn't actually thought of this possibility. That's a good point. Maybe it's tourist visa month at CSC.

We can know one thing for sure, and it is that CSC hates gorillas.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I dunno; if I was as behind as CSC is at present, I think I'd be keeping one jump ahead of the wolf, and doing a few days or a week on whatever was coming closest to being 'out of time'... so maybe it IS tourist visa week, but that means K1s will come back around soon

[TBoneTX 45,328]

Well, I had a long talk with my Congressman's aide in August, and he flatly said, "USCIS is our VERY worst" (Federal agency). He said that no one there would even listen to Congressional people any longer, and there was even a go-between that Congressional offices had to go to -- no more calling supervisors directly. He said that he had cases "999 days plus" that still weren't being dealt with. He said that it would LITERALLY take an "Act of Congress" for anything to change.

What I'm certain of is this: If Pres. Bush or his successor(rette) gives amnesty to the Illegals currently here, my blood will boil. The Illegals need to get in the back of the line, pay the same fees that we do, suffer just as long (at least) as we do, and be required to pay taxes through the nether regions like we do.

My fiancee wryly agrees with me when I say that if she were an illegal Mexican, she'd be here already and have the world by the tail. Even in Ecuador, they've heard what's going on!

Interestingly, the Mexicans who are here illegally are ALSO in violation of MEXICAN law, which states that no Mexican may emigrate until his papers are in order. We're rapidly approaching a tangent probably inappropriate for this thread (and a counterproductive one, unless we wish to be upset), but it's true.

Four paragraphs without a punchline -- I must be sick! Si, man.

[StillThePrettiest 3]

sick, man