Are you fed up with USCIS yet?

[U.S. Wendy 0]

Everyone, please join us in the fight to bring our loved ones here NOW. These delays are unacceptable. READ BELOW-->Take action now. I, for one, am tired of crying about it.

If you do take action, please let us know here. Only a large collective voice will get the attention we DESERVE!!!! And, if you are against this, please do us a favor and keep that to yourself. This process is painful enough without the negatively I all too often see here at VJ.

Good luck and thanks for your support!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OKAY, LET'S GET STARTED: Let's start dropping letters NOW and continue for the next seven days. Please spread the word. Only a LARGE number will make an impact.

Here is the link for your Congressman and Representative: Mail, fax and e-mail the letter. http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/

BELOW IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE SENT TO USCIS:

1- make sure you change the name from Gonzalez to Aguilar in the last few paragraphs

2- tailor the same letter to your congressman and representative

3- choose a media outlet and tailor the letter to their attention (I have the ear of a reporter at the Washington Post and I'm trying to get Haberman from NY Times). Send a letter to anyone who you think will listen.

4- don't forget to send it to the obmudman at DHS-->cisombudsman@dhs.gov

Mailing Address:

Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman

ATTN: Recommendations

United States Department of Homeland Security

Mail Stop 1225

Washington, D.C. 20528-1225

5- For all you 'naysayers' if this doesn't work, we'll plans something more effective.

Mr. Alfonso Aguilar

Chief of the Office of Citizenship

8201 Peters Road, Suite 1000

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33324 USA

Name

Street Address

Apt (if applicable)

City, State Zip

Phone

September , 2007

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Attn: Dr. Emilio T. Gonzalez, Director

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Washington, D.C. 20528

Dear Dr. Gonzalez:

I am one of many United States Citizens perplexed by the extensive delays

in the processing of K-1 and K-3 visas at USCIS all service centers.

When I began this process, I was pleased to find that our application would

be processed through the service centers quickly and efficiently. Since

April onward of this year, this has not been the case.

We are members of an on-line community who share information and

experiences related to the immigration of our loved ones. We have been closely

following the changes that USCIS has undergone, including a substantial

rate increase in the fees associated with processing of applications and

petitions. While we understand the need for fee increases and some

restructuring at USCIS (training, hiring additional staff, prioritizing the

processing of applications, etc.) to create a more efficient and customer

friendly organization/agency, there are several issues of concern shared by

many of us that we would like addressed as soon as possible. It is obvious

to us that especially since April 2007, things at USCIS appear to have

gotten worse instead of better. For example, at the Vermont Service Center,

the average time for our community members to get their K1 VISA NOA 2 has

gone from less than 30 days in May 2007 to over 100 days now.

Some of our concerns include:

1.) Significant delays in the processing of petitions. Many of us who filed

in May through the date of this letter are noticing that an extremely small

number of petitions have been processed/approved. Many of our community

members are close to the 120 day mark (At CSC, past the 6-month quoted

timeframe) in waiting for a decision on our petition. Some of us are

receiving RFE’s long after NOA 1, thereby re-starting the clock.

2.) Many of our members have not received a notice of receipt (NOA 1), even

though the On-line Case Status confirms the receipt of our applications.

3.) Information provided by your agency’s out-sourced call center employees

is often misleading, incorrect or incomplete.

4.) We feel it is entirely inappropriate to prioritize WORK visa

applications over Family-Based, Non-Immigrant Petitions.

Dr. Gonzalez, we understand that Immigration Benefits are a privilege and

not a right, but as a United States citizens, we deserve accurate

information AND the opportunity to have our concerns addressed by

knowledgeable officials who can give us FACTS (not in-accurate time

estimates and scripted misinformation designed to appease nervous and sad

callers). We also understand the need for security checks, as we are aware

of our national security issues, but we do not believe this is the source

of the most recent delays. Only the truth and some swift action on the part

of USCIS can alleviate some of the stress associated with this process. Our

lives, along with our loved ones abroad, are on hold and we have no idea

when this first part of the immigration process will conclude.

The wait for a petition to reach NVC, then the appropriate Embassy and,

finally, the attendance of the beneficiary at scheduled interview can add

an additional 3 – 12 months to an already excruciatingly slow process. The

USCIS needs to set a reasonable goal of 90 days and/or have expedited

processing available for K1/K3 VISA applicants.

The strain of this process (both financial and emotional) is taking a

serious toll on the health and well-being of many US law abiding citizen’s

who are trying to follow the laws to bring their loved ones to the US by

legal means. Our frustration level with USCIS' inability or unwillingness

to ease/improve this process is reaching a critical point.

We, as a collective, have some expectations which include:

1.) A formal response to our concerns,

2.) Improved processing time for petitions, we believe the USCIS goal

timeframe of 6 months to process a K1/3 VISA at the service centers is

inadequate for our needs. As with any company, if the 90-day standard

cannot be met with good management and talented professionals, then the

organization should increase staff or streamline processes,

3.) Accurate and detailed information from your customer service

representatives and,

4,) The immediate issue of NOA1 hardcopy receipts for all received

petitions.

We respectfully request your immediate involvement to drastically improve

this process.

Thank you very much for your time in reading our letter and we sincerely

hope you can initiate immediate and long lasting improvements in this

aspect of USCIS.

Very respectfully,

XXXXXX X. XXXXXX

[john_and_marlene 162]

I think the current timelines and delays are acceptable considering the massive and daunting task facing the USCIS, DOS, DHS, and FBI. I hope few people will fight to lower overall security and soverignty for a one-time temporal gain.

[U.S. Wendy 0]

I think the current timelines and delays are acceptable considering the massive and daunting task facing the USCIS, DOS, DHS, and FBI. I hope few people will fight to lower overall security and soverignty for a one-time temporal gain.

I guess you didn't read this part-->"And, if you are against this, please do us a favor and keep that to yourself. This process is painful enough without the negatively I all too often see here at VJ."

1.) No one is asking to lower security.

2.) It's easy to take that position when your case has been approved.

3.) Thanks for the support!!! God, I love this site.

[john_and_marlene 162]

You posted, I responded. We disagree. If you don't want an opposing view, you've chosen the wrong place to post.

[U.S. Wendy 0]

[Igor&Elina 0]

You posted, I responded. We disagree. If you don't want an opposing view, you've chosen the wrong place to post.

Hmmmm.... You make it sound like you respond to everything that is posted on VJ

[john_and_marlene 162]

You posted, I responded. We disagree. If you don't want an opposing view, you've chosen the wrong place to post.

Hmmmm.... You make it sound like you respond to everything that is posted on VJ

Just when I have an opinion that I feel needs voiced.

[Jaseball 0]

Best of luck with this. I totally understand how you feel and think the process and delays for the increased fees is pure and utter BS.

However I am also in the queue already and it's been 2+ months with many, many months to go. There is no way any letters or lobbying on my part will be effective in changing this process for the better for anyone currently jumping through these hoops.

The sad thing is I don't know the numbers of Americans who need these services, but they hopefully only apply for a K1 or K3 once in their lives, so once you deal with all this garbage you'll probably shove all this to the back of your mind and never have to deal with it again.

I guess it is a bit selfish, but once through this process I'd be happy to advise and help others navigate the waters, but I'm not going to waste time or effort trying to make the process easier for people in the future.

[Jamie76 0]

I think the current timelines and delays are acceptable considering the massive and daunting task facing the USCIS, DOS, DHS, and FBI. I hope few people will fight to lower overall security and soverignty for a one-time temporal gain.

Good to know someone that received their NOA2 in 36 days can call this "current timeline" acceptable.

[mox 298]

Well, speaking as someone who has just begun the process (they haven't even cashed my check yet) I have to say that while I'm really discouraged by the wait I'm faced with to be with my fiancé again, I've worked for the government and I know when you can fight city hall and when you can't. And I'm sorry to say Wendy, this is just one of those times when we have to grit our teeth and bear it. Just for starters, there is absolutely no political will to increase staffing/funding to make it (seemingly) easier for immigrants to come in to this country. A handful of visajourney peeps isn't going to change that.

The government usually staffs based on an average need (which was probably determined a few years ago). And if you look at it objectively, I don't think the average taxpayer really wants to be paying for a dream team staff of USCIS clerks who are just waiting for your application to reach their hot little hands.

They're operating with a certain number of employees, and those employees are working 8 hours a day on our petitions. When you have a fixed number of resources faced with an increase in workload a bottleneck is inevitable. It's just how government works.

And let me just say that I'm glad to be working within the USCIS system instead of the kind of system I had to work through just to get a ticket changed by Aeroflot at Sheremetyevo. An hour wait in line to take care of the 4 people in front of me, then 20 more minutes to be helped by a disgruntled "customer service" rep, who needed 2 supervisors approval and a phone call. And no, I'm not making a case of "hey at least it's not Russia!" it's just that I'm still really annoyed at my whole Sheremetyevo experience and had to share.

[almaty 19]

I think the current timelines and delays are acceptable considering the massive and daunting task facing the USCIS, DOS, DHS, and FBI. I hope few people will fight to lower overall security and soverignty for a one-time temporal gain.

I guess you didn't read this part-->"And, if you are against this, please do us a favor and keep that to yourself. This process is painful enough without the negatively I all too often see here at VJ."

1.) No one is asking to lower security.

2.) It's easy to take that position when your case has been approved.

3.) Thanks for the support!!! God, I love this site.

lol...of course, you were the first to think of this,,, good luck

[U.S. Wendy 0]

I really wish people would do their homework. USCIS has hired and has advertised for a lot more adjudicators-->go to www.usajobs.com if you don't believe me. They are understaffed and always have been, still, explain to me why (honestly) many petitions at VSC were approved in under 30 days and now they are NOT. You know why? Because USCIS has made a big mess with the H1-B visas AND the fee increases (that should ease the process, not make it worse) AND NOW they are dealing with the refugee process.

I, too, work for the government and I KNOW the only thing that moves an agency like USCIS is media attention and pressure from our congress. Read the news please.

I'll be sure to check back and see how your case is progressing.........................6 months from now. Good luck to you!! AND please, don't apologize.

Well, speaking as someone who has just begun the process (they haven't even cashed my check yet) I have to say that while I'm really discouraged by the wait I'm faced with to be with my fiancé again, I've worked for the government and I know when you can fight city hall and when you can't. And I'm sorry to say Wendy, this is just one of those times when we have to grit our teeth and bear it. Just for starters, there is absolutely no political will to increase staffing/funding to make it (seemingly) easier for immigrants to come in to this country. A handful of visajourney peeps isn't going to change that.

The government usually staffs based on an average need (which was probably determined a few years ago). And if you look at it objectively, I don't think the average taxpayer really wants to be paying for a dream team staff of USCIS clerks who are just waiting for your application to reach their hot little hands.

They're operating with a certain number of employees, and those employees are working 8 hours a day on our petitions. When you have a fixed number of resources faced with an increase in workload a bottleneck is inevitable. It's just how government works.

And let me just say that I'm glad to be working within the USCIS system instead of the kind of system I had to work through just to get a ticket changed by Aeroflot at Sheremetyevo. An hour wait in line to take care of the 4 people in front of me, then 20 more minutes to be helped by a disgruntled "customer service" rep, who needed 2 supervisors approval and a phone call. And no, I'm not making a case of "hey at least it's not Russia!" it's just that I'm still really annoyed at my whole Sheremetyevo experience and had to share.

[almaty 19]

U S Wendy, i admire your determination and #######...i wish you good luck...dean

[mox 298]

AND please, don't apologize.

Um...okay.

[U.S. Wendy 0]

AND USCIS IS FUNDED BY OUR FEES, NOT YOUR TAX DOLLARS!!!!! Sheesh. I'm calling it a night. I hope to find more intelligent life when I return. I'm out!

Well, speaking as someone who has just begun the process (they haven't even cashed my check yet) I have to say that while I'm really discouraged by the wait I'm faced with to be with my fiancé again, I've worked for the government and I know when you can fight city hall and when you can't. And I'm sorry to say Wendy, this is just one of those times when we have to grit our teeth and bear it. Just for starters, there is absolutely no political will to increase staffing/funding to make it (seemingly) easier for immigrants to come in to this country. A handful of visajourney peeps isn't going to change that.

The government usually staffs based on an average need (which was probably determined a few years ago). And if you look at it objectively, I don't think the average taxpayer really wants to be paying for a dream team staff of USCIS clerks who are just waiting for your application to reach their hot little hands.

They're operating with a certain number of employees, and those employees are working 8 hours a day on our petitions. When you have a fixed number of resources faced with an increase in workload a bottleneck is inevitable. It's just how government works.

And let me just say that I'm glad to be working within the USCIS system instead of the kind of system I had to work through just to get a ticket changed by Aeroflot at Sheremetyevo. An hour wait in line to take care of the 4 people in front of me, then 20 more minutes to be helped by a disgruntled "customer service" rep, who needed 2 supervisors approval and a phone call. And no, I'm not making a case of "hey at least it's not Russia!" it's just that I'm still really annoyed at my whole Sheremetyevo experience and had to share.