What should I do? June 2023 I-130 filer

[dandjsebben 15]

My PD is June 25th, 2023 for my standalone I-130 for my Canadian husband (I am a U.S. citizen). I have never been under active review, no one has touched my case since they received it in June of 2023.

I reached out to my congressman a month ago, and they reached out to USCIS and got a canned response back. 

Now they have moved on to July cases and never have touched mine, despite it being a straightforward case. No criminal record, I was born in the US, plenty of in-person visits and interactions with my Husband both in the US and Canada. 

So:
Do I reach out to my congressman again?
Do I reach out to my senator now?
Will reaching out hurt my case/processing times with USCIS?
Do I wait reach out after 15.5 months have passed in mid October?

Any advice or assurance would be appreciated, I just want to be with my Husband and the stress about not hearing anything yet is really effecting my mental health.  TYIA

[LadyXoxo 44]

I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with this and can certainly relate to the effect on one’s mental health. I would definitely recommend reaching out to your congressman or senator like you mentioned. So far, I haven't seen any evidence of this hurting someone's case. It usually does one of two things, either you receive a response saying it's within normal processing time frame and/or you receive an update on your case shortly thereafter. Nevertheless, I think it's within reasonable limits to reach out again. All the best!

[dandjsebben 15]

10 minutes ago, LadyXoxo said:

I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with this and can certainly relate to the effect on one’s mental health. I would definitely recommend reaching out to your congressman or senator like you mentioned. So far, I haven't seen any evidence of this hurting someone's case. It usually does one of two things, either you receive a response saying it's within normal processing time frame and/or you receive an update on your case shortly thereafter. Nevertheless, I think it's within reasonable limits to reach out again. All the best!

Thanks for your response, I appreciate it. I think I will reach out again. I have been able to handle my mental health with this process until the last few months, it’s really wearing on me. 

[LadyXoxo 44]

13 minutes ago, dandjsebben said:

Thanks for your response, I appreciate it. I think I will reach out again. I have been able to handle my mental health with this process until the last few months, it’s really wearing on me. 

I get it 100%! I work in the mental health field and can give expert advise on tools to cope but these last few months, I haven't even been able to take my own advise because I'm so burn-out emotionally and psychologically with the process. Here’s to better days ahead! 

[dandjsebben 15]

6 minutes ago, LadyXoxo said:

I get it 100%! I work in the mental health field and can give expert advise on tools to cope but these last few months, I haven't even been able to take my own advise because I'm so burn-out emotionally and psychologically with the process. Here’s to better days ahead! 

I also work in the mental health field, I’m a high school counselor! Dude same, I listen to sad things all day and give advice but I also can’t even follow it either. I am also so burnt out, and work has also been crazy with the amount of mental health we are dealing with atm. And it doesn’t help that I’m also burnt out with the visa process. Yes, to better days ahead, we deserve that!

[Wolle 68]

That the hole Prozess goes so long is really not good……it really takes lifetime…….it’s just to long

[KMG 131]

19 hours ago, dandjsebben said:

My PD is June 25th, 2023 for my standalone I-130 for my Canadian husband (I am a U.S. citizen). I have never been under active review, no one has touched my case since they received it in June of 2023.

I reached out to my congressman a month ago, and they reached out to USCIS and got a canned response back. 

Now they have moved on to July cases and never have touched mine, despite it being a straightforward case. No criminal record, I was born in the US, plenty of in-person visits and interactions with my Husband both in the US and Canada. 

So:
Do I reach out to my congressman again?
Do I reach out to my senator now?
Will reaching out hurt my case/processing times with USCIS?
Do I wait reach out after 15.5 months have passed in mid October?

Any advice or assurance would be appreciated, I just want to be with my Husband and the stress about not hearing anything yet is really effecting my mental health.  TYIA

It seems like you are still within normal processing times- however, the fact your case has not even been actively reviewed at least once is concerning.  I think I read on this forum once about someone who reached out directly to the Department of State and the White House- with good results. Hope you get some answers soon...

[dandjsebben 15]

4 minutes ago, KMG said:

It seems like you are still within normal processing times- however, the fact your case has not even been actively reviewed at least once is concerning.  I think I read on this forum once about someone who reached out directly to the Department of State and the White House- with good results. Hope you get some answers soon...

Exactly! I know it’s technically within processing times, but the fact it’s never been under active review concerns me which is why I want to reach out again. If my senator can’t help, perhaps I’ll try to reach out to the department of state mid October after I’m out of the 15.5 month processing time. 

[KMG 131]

On 9/18/2024 at 9:53 AM, dandjsebben said:

Exactly! I know it’s technically within processing times, but the fact it’s never been under active review concerns me which is why I want to reach out again. If my senator can’t help, perhaps I’ll try to reach out to the department of state mid October after I’m out of the 15.5 month processing time. 

I saw today some late June cases getting approved.  I am sure yours will be soon!

[Wolle 68]

@dandjsebben

it should come each day………

[mocha12 17]

Hi, I really empathize with your situation and am sorry you're going through it. After 13 months of waiting, I made a back-up plan to contact an immigration lawyer to inquire about mandamus proceedings If I hadn't heard anything by the end of the 14th month... you are well within your right to try the mandamus route and see what happens. It doesn't hurt to reach out to reach out to your senators, who can make a congressional inquiry on your behalf. You can also send a letter inquiry to USCIS (use the same mailing address you used to send your I-130).

[dandjsebben 15]

4 minutes ago, mocha12 said:

Hi, I really empathize with your situation and am sorry you're going through it. After 13 months of waiting, I made a back-up plan to contact an immigration lawyer to inquire about mandamus proceedings If I hadn't heard anything by the end of the 14th month... you are well within your right to try the mandamus route and see what happens. It doesn't hurt to reach out to reach out to your senators, who can make a congressional inquiry on your behalf. You can also send a letter inquiry to USCIS (use the same mailing address you used to send your I-130).

I reached out to my senator, and since I reached out to my congressman 46 days ago they said I need to wait until 60 days have passed before they inquire again. Which is probably for the best since then it will be outside the 15.5 months normal processing time. Rep was super nice, said once the 60 days have passed I can email her directly with an ROI and she’ll reach out for me. And thanks, it’s been really disheartening and I’m just needing this first part of the visa process over already:/

[Willie_Overall 26]

On 9/20/2024 at 3:47 PM, dandjsebben said:

I reached out to my senator, and since I reached out to my congressman 46 days ago they said I need to wait until 60 days have passed before they inquire again. Which is probably for the best since then it will be outside the 15.5 months normal processing time. Rep was super nice, said once the 60 days have passed I can email her directly with an ROI and she’ll reach out for me. And thanks, it’s been really disheartening and I’m just needing this first part of the visa process over already:/

 

Any updates?

[dandjsebben 15]

12 minutes ago, Willie_Overall said:

 

Any updates?

Nope, haven’t heard anything:( reached out to my senator and hopefully they will inquire this week. 

[Willie_Overall 26]

3 minutes ago, dandjsebben said:

Nope, haven’t heard anything:( reached out to my senator and hopefully they will inquire this week. 

 

Sorry to hear that. Definitely keep us posted.