Are you fed up with USCIS yet?

[StillThePrettiest 3]

My apologies - apparently I misunderstood.

thank you

no problem

[LaL 418]

woah people play nice! I think its a wonderful thing when there is motivation to get involved with the process. There is something to be said about looking at the overall picture to pick your battles.

Just a quick example - USCIS loses.mail.all.the.time. You would think some kind of mechanism would be employed to ensure people receive their paperwork - or say a greencard? Talk about identity theft! How about just sending it certified? So easily remedied! There are so many nuances in this process that could easily be changed by talking to lobbyist groups supporting such.

In the group I belong to we have a campaign to send flowers from every member to the FBI. Our concern is not for our own individual cases, but because namechecks can take years while the immigrant sits in the country. Makes no logical sense for "national security". We want attention - so we are gonna "kill 'em with kindness" aka. bouquets!

*puts mod hat back on*

Please forgo the sarcastic replies/insults/etc. Conversation is a great tool! Many members here can put you in touch with some groups who are furthering some part of the process.

[no name 1]

This is not a re-invention of the wheel....

Last year with the IMBRA RFE, many of us had no answers for weeks/months. We talked about protesting, we wrote letters, we contacted our congresspeople.

One VJer had a quite a big story (about the wait times for immigration) write up by AP that got picked up for national use. Didn't make a difference either way though.

post about story

Thats why.

No, that is so all these super excited letter writers get a dose of reality. And that ran as a national story.

I wrote my congressperson in Cali (about the immigration bill) & had constant phone contact with my Senator in Ohio (about IMBRA). I educate my friends & others about immigration & how much it needs to change. I read up on current legislation for immigration as well. What did/do you do?

Edited September 19, 2007 by devilette

[*julez* 124]

This is not a re-invention of the wheel....

Last year with the IMBRA RFE, many of us had no answers for weeks/months. We talked about protesting, we wrote letters, we contacted our congresspeople.

One VJer had a quite a big story (about the wait times for immigration) write up by AP that got picked up for national use. Didn't make a difference either way though.

post about story

Thats why.

No, that is so all these super excited letter writers get a dose of reality. And that ran as a national story.

I wrote my congressperson in Cali (about the immigration bill) & had constant phone contact with my Senator in Ohio (about IMBRA). I educate my friends & others about immigration & how much it needs to change. I read up on current legislation for immigration as well. What did/do you do?

Sorry if I offended you. I just got the impression that you don't think people should continue to bother in lobbying for reform.

To answer your questions. Well, I haven't written to anyone in Cali or Ohio, but I have in NY - Congressman Higgins and Sens. Clinton and Schumer. I too constantly educate people about the immigration process since I have learned so much in my research over the last year. People are amazed at how many hoops we have to jump through, and how long and drawn out the process is. And I keep up on the overall immigration issue as much as I can.

Regardless of whether or not this particualr battle is won, I still think its a war worth fighting.

[athena_ny 1]

This is not a re-invention of the wheel....

Last year with the IMBRA RFE, many of us had no answers for weeks/months. We talked about protesting, we wrote letters, we contacted our congresspeople.

One VJer had a quite a big story (about the wait times for immigration) write up by AP that got picked up for national use. Didn't make a difference either way though.

post about story

Thats why.

No, that is so all these super excited letter writers get a dose of reality. And that ran as a national story.

I wrote my congressperson in Cali (about the immigration bill) & had constant phone contact with my Senator in Ohio (about IMBRA). I educate my friends & others about immigration & how much it needs to change. I read up on current legislation for immigration as well. What did/do you do?

Sorry if I offended you. I just got the impression that you don't think people should continue to bother in lobbying for reform.

To answer your questions. Well, I haven't written to anyone in Cali or Ohio, but I have in NY - Congressman Higgins and Sens. Clinton and Schumer. I too constantly educate people about the immigration process since I have learned so much in my research over the last year. People are amazed at how many hoops we have to jump through, and how long and drawn out the process is. And I keep up on the overall immigration issue as much as I can.

Regardless of whether or not this particualr battle is won, I still think its a war worth fighting.

I'd start writing people outside of NY, then. Clinton and Schumer are useless. (And don't take that as me thinking letter writing is useless.)

If you're from NYC though, it's possible they might care. Just a little.

[deadbird 2]

No, that is so all these super excited letter writers get a dose of reality. And that ran as a national story.

.... I educate my friends & others about immigration & how much it needs to change. I read up on current legislation for immigration as well. What did/do you do?

:thumbs:

In all seriousness, I think a peaceful march would be noticed. Maybe not actually get anything done, but be noticed enough to have a small write up in the press. Besides, marches are fun.

[Bill B 0]

"Rising over what? Over the last few weeks since the fee increase?

Take a look at how processing times have IMPROVED over the last two to three years.

Rome wasn't built in a day."

Rebecca,

I guess you were not kidding in a follow-on post about being sarcastic. Out of all the things I said it my post, you keyed in on one thing--rising timelines, and did not say one positive thing about any of the rest of it. I appreciate those that have stayed in this forum and helped others along and provided constructive criticism with mutual respect, but not those that think their role in here is to "give a dose of reality to others." Many of us newer members know more about Government and immigration than some veteran VJers may think. By the way, I was mainly referring to the VJ chart at

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...ge=k1historical

labeled I-129F NOA 1 to NOA2 @ VSC for K1 VISAS where it clearly shows a large rise in times beginning around Apr/May each month through now. I would like to thank you for all the posts you have made in VJs as I am sure you have provided some useful information to folks over the years. Also congratulations to all of you who have your loved ones now with you and hopefully you are having a wonderful life together.

Edited September 19, 2007 by Bill B

[no name 1]

QUOTE(Bill B @ Sep 19 2007, 01:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Rebecca,

I guess you were not kidding in a follow-on post about being sarcastic. Out of all the things I said it my post, you keyed in on one thing--rising timelines, and did not say one positive thing about any of the rest of it. I appreciate those that have stayed in this forum and helped others along and provided constructive criticism with mutual respect, but not those that think their role in here is to "give a dose of reality to others." Many of us newer members know more about Government and immigration than some veteran VJers may think. By the way, I was mainly referring to the VJ chart at

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...ge=k1historical

labeled I-129F NOA 1 to NOA2 @ VSC for K1 VISAS where it clearly shows a large rise in times beginning around Apr/May each month through now. I would like to thank you for all the posts you have made in VJs as I am sure you have provided some useful information to folks over the years. Also congratulations to all of you who have your loved ones now with you and hopefully you are having a wonderful life together.

Assuming you read that page you linked...you would see that OVERALL things are the same (processing time comparison chart). Obviously over the last few months things are different as they are merging 4 service centers to 2, along with the increase in apps to beat the fees. That means VSC will SHARE THE LOAD NOW whereas before CSC had apps from 3 centers going to them. But I assume you knew that already as an educated newbie, right?

Signed, a reality check

Edited September 19, 2007 by devilette

[Sinergy 3]

QUOTE(Bill B @ Sep 19 2007, 01:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Rebecca,

I guess you were not kidding in a follow-on post about being sarcastic. Out of all the things I said it my post, you keyed in on one thing--rising timelines, and did not say one positive thing about any of the rest of it. I appreciate those that have stayed in this forum and helped others along and provided constructive criticism with mutual respect, but not those that think their role in here is to "give a dose of reality to others." Many of us newer members know more about Government and immigration than some veteran VJers may think. By the way, I was mainly referring to the VJ chart at

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...ge=k1historical

labeled I-129F NOA 1 to NOA2 @ VSC for K1 VISAS where it clearly shows a large rise in times beginning around Apr/May each month through now. I would like to thank you for all the posts you have made in VJs as I am sure you have provided some useful information to folks over the years. Also congratulations to all of you who have your loved ones now with you and hopefully you are having a wonderful life together.

Assuming you read that page you linked...you would see that OVERALL things are the same (processing time comparison chart). Obviously over the last few months things are different as they are merging 4 service centers to 2, along with the increase in apps to beat the fees. That means VSC will SHARE the load whereas before CSC had apps from 3 centers going to them. But I assume you knew that already as an educated newbie.

Signed, a reality check

excellent point,

so for an answer on processing times in easy terms:

there used to be 4 service centers doing the petitions

there are now 2

so CSC and the other one now have double the work load

therefore, longer processing times

complaining about it is not going to make them reopen the other 2 centers for petition approvals

[StillThePrettiest 3]

Assuming you read that page you linked...you would see that OVERALL things are the same (processing time comparison chart). Obviously over the last few months things are different as they are merging 4 service centers to 2, along with the increase in apps to beat the fees. That means VSC will SHARE THE LOAD NOW whereas before CSC had apps from 3 centers going to them. But I assume you knew that already as an educated newbie, right?

Signed, a reality check

since pushbrk isn't here to do it, should I say here that they're 'petitions', not 'applications'?

*a learning n00b*

Edited September 19, 2007 by StillThePrettiest

[Kathryn41 3,205]

One point that is being overlooked here is that while you are stagnating in the process of waiting - whether it is a long or short time respectively, it ALL feels long to you personally. It is the sense of helplessness - of being at someone else's beck and call, and having no recourse even to find out an honest status update - that also eats away at you. I went through the K-1 portion of this virtually alone - just my then fiance/now husband and me - as I hadn't discovered VJ yet. We wrote letters, we phoned, we sent emails, we visited congressmen. Did it work? Nope - not until the file moved the Montreal, then we got nice responses. Did it help? Absolutely! It was Something - Anything! - that we could do to help us retain our sanity during this at times ridiculously bureaucratic process, to feel that there might be some forward motion while enduring the wait.

So, yes, write your letters, phone who you need to phone, email where you need to email. It may or may not get attention; it may or may not get action; but it WILL make you feel better and help you survive the process with some of your sanity still intact.

Good luck to you all.

(btw - I LOVE the idea of sending flowers - now that definitely gets noticed)

Edited September 19, 2007 by Kathryn41

[Sinergy 3]

Assuming you read that page you linked...you would see that OVERALL things are the same (processing time comparison chart). Obviously over the last few months things are different as they are merging 4 service centers to 2, along with the increase in apps to beat the fees. That means VSC will SHARE THE LOAD NOW whereas before CSC had apps from 3 centers going to them. But I assume you knew that already as an educated newbie, right?

Signed, a reality check

since pushbrk isn't here to do it, should I say here that they're 'petitions', not 'applications'?

*a learning n00b*

OMG

its a piece of flippin paper, who cares what someone calls it

now this is getting more childish by the min

One point that is being overlooked here is that while you are stagnating in the process of waiting - whether it is a long or short time respectively, it ALL feels long to you personally. It is the sense of helplessness - of being at someone else's beck and call, and having no recourse even to find out an honest status update - that also eats away at you. I went through the K-1 portion of this virtually alone - just my then fiance/now husband and me - as I hadn't discovered VJ yet. We wrote letters, we phoned, we sent emails, we visited congressmen. Did they work? Nope - not until the file moved the Montreal, then we got nice responses. Did the letters, emails, visits help? Absolutely! It was Something - Anything! - that we could do to help us retain our sanity during this at times ridiculously bureaucratic process, to feel that there might be some forward motion while enduring the wait.

So, yes, write your letters, phone who you need to phone, email where you need to email. It may or may not get attention; it may or may not get action; but it WILL make you feel better and help you survive the process with some of your sanity still intact.

Good luck to you all.

I think the biggest prob happened when some members said writing a letter wouldnt help. indeed everyone has a right to say what they think, but bc it wasnt what some members wanted to hear it got ugly.

anywho i agree with you on the upper part

[no name 1]

since pushbrk isn't here to do it, should I say here that they're 'petitions', not 'applications'?

*a learning n00b*

'General Tips on Assembling Applications for Mailing'

The I-129f is a petition but supporting documents make it an application. The dictionary is handy!

Edited September 19, 2007 by devilette

[Kathryn41 3,205]

since pushbrk isn't here to do it, should I say here that they're 'petitions', not 'applications'?

*a learning n00b*

'General Tips on Assembling Applications for Mailing'

ap·pli·ca·tion

–noun

a form to be filled out by an applicant, as for a job or a driver's license.

hehehehe picky, picky, picky! I am sure he appreciates the assistance in keeping us all on the straight and narrow (this is being said with humour and a smile, just in case anyone is concerned . . .)

Edited September 19, 2007 by Kathryn41

[Sinergy 3]

since pushbrk isn't here to do it, should I say here that they're 'petitions', not 'applications'?

*a learning n00b*

'General Tips on Assembling Applications for Mailing'

The I-129f is a petition but supporting documents make it an application. The dictionary is handy!

thats why we advice reading the guides