The Current Backlog

[John & Annie 0]

Hi all,

I just got off of the phone with a person in the CSC. She is not an adjudicator, but is in a position that allows her to see the bigger picture.

She was telling me that due to the influx of people filing prior to August 2007 that CSC has a Semi truck full of applications in the parking lot that they have not got to, The other service centers each have multiple trucks.

They are estimating that they have millions in un-cashed checks and unprocessed applications and petitions and they are trying to get to them.

Its a catch 22, they can hire the people to process the forms when they have the money but Congress has denied them more funds to hire the people.

They have calls into all of the local and district offices for overtime hours to help reduce the backlog.

I know that it is a pain to wait, but they are doing their best to address this, she said their reminded her of the influx during the amnesty in the 1980's.

[MonicaMexico 0]

A semi-truck, huh? I have a friend who lives in Chicago. I'm going to tell her to swing by and confirm that. Millions of applications...that would take years to approve! #######!

[payxibka 10,045]

With a little foresight the USCIS could have staggered the fee increases to balance the truckloads... but then again we are dealing with a governemntal agency...

[garya505 2]

With a little foresight the USCIS could have staggered the fee increases to balance the truckloads... but then again we are dealing with a governemntal agency...

He said "foresight" and "USCIS" in the same sentence.

[Caladan 19]

Sorry, not much sympathy here as it's now been 35 days since I sent in the check. I knew there'd be a fee increase. The New York Times knew there'd be a fee increase. We all predicted the backlog. The only people that seem to be caught off balance are Congress and USCIS.

And I don't see anyone popping up with the lost wages my husband isn't working because it's taking them five weeks to check to see if a form is signed, thus delaying his EAD when he HAS A JOB. He probably won't be able to visit home for Christmas now because we won't have AP in time.

So, cry me a river, USCIS. Do your damn jobs and next time have incremental fee increases and avoid the goddamn problem.

[casscm 0]

Sorry, not much sympathy here as it's now been 35 days since I sent in the check. I knew there'd be a fee increase. The New York Times knew there'd be a fee increase. We all predicted the backlog. The only people that seem to be caught off balance are Congress and USCIS.

And I don't see anyone popping up with the lost wages my husband isn't working because it's taking them five weeks to check to see if a form is signed, thus delaying his EAD when he HAS A JOB. He probably won't be able to visit home for Christmas now because we won't have AP in time.

So, cry me a river, USCIS. Do your damn jobs and next time have incremental fee increases and avoid the goddamn problem.

HAHA I Feel the same way they knew this was going to be a problem why did they not prepare them selfs for it !!!!! I dont feel bad for them in anyway i am sure none of them have to worrie about paying bills from there bloted salarys. They are all USC and dont have to worrie about there familys being riped apart! Drives me nuts !!!!

[Cécy 44]

I sure don't feel bad for them. But I don't feel surprised either.

[TracyTN 237]

Where's that violin playing emote when we need it? (I'm too lazy to go look for it.

But thanks for the info, John & Annie!

[Mags 112]

A semi-truck, huh? I have a friend who lives in Chicago. I'm going to tell her to swing by and confirm that. Millions of applications...that would take years to approve! #######!

Well, you hope it's #######. Otherwise you're in for a bit of a wait....

[featherB 1]

A semi-truck, huh? I have a friend who lives in Chicago. I'm going to tell her to swing by and confirm that. Millions of applications...that would take years to approve! #######!

Well, you hope it's #######. Otherwise you're in for a bit of a wait....

Luckily that's not what John & Annie actually said, though! It wasn't 'millions of applications', it was 'millions (of dollars) in uncashed checks'... which doesn't necessarily translate to millions of applications!

[Mags 112]

A semi-truck, huh? I have a friend who lives in Chicago. I'm going to tell her to swing by and confirm that. Millions of applications...that would take years to approve! #######!

Well, you hope it's #######. Otherwise you're in for a bit of a wait....

Luckily that's not what John & Annie actually said, though! It wasn't 'millions of applications', it was 'millions (of dollars) in uncashed checks'... which doesn't necessarily translate to millions of applications!

Exactly! *squints at PC screen*

[MonicaMexico 0]

They are estimating that they have millions in un-cashed checks and unprocessed applications and petitions and they are trying to get to them.

I took that to mean "millions of un-cashed checks AND [millions of] unprocessed applications AND [millions of] petitions".

[eau_xplain 2]

Its a catch 22, they can hire the people to process the forms when they have the money but Congress has denied them more funds to hire the people.

I thought the reason for the fee increase is for USCIS not to depend on money from congress? Weren't the much increased fees supposed to go to hiring more people and improving their system?

[TracyTN 237]

USCIS has never depended on 'money from Congress'. Not that I'm aware of anyway.

[rebeccajo 14]

Its a catch 22, they can hire the people to process the forms when they have the money but Congress has denied them more funds to hire the people.

I thought the reason for the fee increase is for USCIS not to depend on money from congress? Weren't the much increased fees supposed to go to hiring more people and improving their system?

The money has to come in first. And no improvements are going to happen overnite.