Congressional Inquiry

[bnm 0]

rebeca

I see the message about the I130's being sent to the Chicago lockbox for data entry. This still does not imply, to me, that entire files have been sitting there ignored.

Is it possible you may start seeing NOA1 followed almost immediately by NOA2? Did that happen with the K1 backlog?

I dont think you need more evidence that they moved those files from CSC and VSC to Chicago Lockbox. The dates didnot move at all at least for the last 2 months. Means they were never procssed, but we hope they will honor the date in which it is recieved.

For NOA1 to be followed by NOA2 is unlikely given the high backlog. But everybody is hoping that will happen. Time will tell when some VJ members get their NOA1 and NOA2. For many 4 months passed without NOA1. The usual processing time is 6 months. But VSC stopeed at May 15, 2007. It means it is getting 7 months for now. It might go up or down. Again time will tell.

[*Snowdrop* 604]

I completely disagree - the processing dates we are talking about are the receipting delay dates and that does NOT refer to the oldest case in the system. It refers to the date they have reached in their processing.

If they are being processed in date order then please explain why people who filed their 1-130 in August to Vermont have not had their case put into the system and their cheque cashed and people who have filed K1s have had them as recently as October and November?

And as we see today - they have just announced that all the 1-130s received after 29/07/07 are being shipped to Chicago - which suggests even more strongly that they were just sitting in a pile not being touched.

I believe I see the page you are referring to. Is this it?

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Receipting dates aren't the same as procssing dates. Just because you don't have a NOA doesn't mean your case isn't being kept in order.

How long on the average, in the recent past before the fee increase and receipt delays, did it take for an I130 to be adjudicated? I'm asking because I seriously do not know and I would appreciate some honest feedback on this. Has not the adjudication time for and I-130 always been longer than for a K1?

I see the message about the I130's being sent to the Chicago lockbox for data entry. This still does not imply, to me, that entire files have been sitting there ignored.

Is it possible you may start seeing NOA1 followed almost immediately by NOA2? Did that happen with the K1 backlog?

You're right that at the moment we can't prove that processing times will be longer and I do realise that a receipting delay is not the same as a processing delay. But the NOA1 and a cashed cheque indicate that processing has started on your case. There are many people who filed in Vermont whose cheques have expired as it's been over three months since they sent their application in and there has been nothing to indicate the application as entered the system. As I understand it the processing times start their countdown once the application has been entered into the system (not just when you post it)

In my case it has been two months since we sent the forms in. I won't count our processing times as starting until we have the cashed cheque (as there is nothing to indicate we are in the system). So before the delays,the USCIS stage was taking up to six months on average for similar cases to mine. Some lucky people were getting the NOA2 in 4 months or so. But I was hoping for six months for that stage. Even if it still only takes six months to get to the NVC I now have to add on the two months (and most likely more) I have already waited to that total. If the increased number of applications which has contributed to the backlog then have an implication for both processing times and so on along the journey, the overall time which should have taken 10-12 months for me could be a LOT longer.

I realise this is just specualtion but you have not waited over two months for your details to even be put into the system. Our files have not been touched since we sent them in - they are now being sent to another place because the service centers cannot cope with the current workload and back to the original point of this whole thread..........it is the CR1 I-130s which are being transfered - the other visa types are being processed already - USCIS is clearly prioritising the visa types and NOT just processing everything in date order.

Of course, I accept your point that something magical may happen and we may get NOA2s more quickly than we expect afterwards and the system will catch up with itself. But please have a little more empathy for the people posting in this thread.

Edited December 8, 2007 by lsma

[pushbrk 12,883]

Here's what I am wondering. And it SHOULD be the crux of this entire conversation.

Do we have it factually stated somewhere, from an official source, that the processing of I130's has been halted?

Check the link titled "USCIS Processing Times Spreadsheet" on my blog. It is evident that I-130s have not been processed for some time, according to the USCIS Processing Delay updates that USCIS publishes weekly.

Delicia, do you understand what the processing times as stated by USCIS mean? The processing times mean they are processing cases AT LEAST that old.

You still haven't shown me any official word that USCIS has halted the processing time of I-130's in favor of other petitions.

Um, the processing dates shown on the USCIS website have historically reflected the oldest cases still in the service centers, not that they were processing cases at least that old. Now they often just reflect their number of months standard for processing certain petition types.

The system is in a messy flux right now. IMO, predicting when and how they'll clean it up is an exercise in futility.

[Delicia 1]

sigh

Edited December 8, 2007 by Delicia

[sunshine18 0]

sigh

Depressed beyond belief by this recent news--shipping our applications back and forth between VSC to Chicago and Chicago back to VSC. It's been over 3 months since VSC received my I-130. Now this!!

[rebeccajo 14]

Here's what I am wondering. And it SHOULD be the crux of this entire conversation.

Do we have it factually stated somewhere, from an official source, that the processing of I130's has been halted?

Check the link titled "USCIS Processing Times Spreadsheet" on my blog. It is evident that I-130s have not been processed for some time, according to the USCIS Processing Delay updates that USCIS publishes weekly.

Delicia, do you understand what the processing times as stated by USCIS mean? The processing times mean they are processing cases AT LEAST that old.

You still haven't shown me any official word that USCIS has halted the processing time of I-130's in favor of other petitions.

Um, the processing dates shown on the USCIS website have historically reflected the oldest cases still in the service centers, not that they were processing cases at least that old. Now they often just reflect their number of months standard for processing certain petition types.

The system is in a messy flux right now. IMO, predicting when and how they'll clean it up is an exercise in futility.

What's the difference, pushbrk?

The participants in this thread perceive the NOA date to mean something is happening with their case. So that's the date they are looking for. If they can't see their freaking case then it means to them it's not being processed.

Edited December 8, 2007 by rebeccajo

[rebeccajo 14]

I completely disagree - the processing dates we are talking about are the receipting delay dates and that does NOT refer to the oldest case in the system. It refers to the date they have reached in their processing.

If they are being processed in date order then please explain why people who filed their 1-130 in August to Vermont have not had their case put into the system and their cheque cashed and people who have filed K1s have had them as recently as October and November?

And as we see today - they have just announced that all the 1-130s received after 29/07/07 are being shipped to Chicago - which suggests even more strongly that they were just sitting in a pile not being touched.

I believe I see the page you are referring to. Is this it?

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

Receipting dates aren't the same as procssing dates. Just because you don't have a NOA doesn't mean your case isn't being kept in order.

How long on the average, in the recent past before the fee increase and receipt delays, did it take for an I130 to be adjudicated? I'm asking because I seriously do not know and I would appreciate some honest feedback on this. Has not the adjudication time for and I-130 always been longer than for a K1?

I see the message about the I130's being sent to the Chicago lockbox for data entry. This still does not imply, to me, that entire files have been sitting there ignored.

Is it possible you may start seeing NOA1 followed almost immediately by NOA2? Did that happen with the K1 backlog?

You're right that at the moment we can't prove that processing times will be longer and I do realise that a receipting delay is not the same as a processing delay. But the NOA1 and a cashed cheque indicate that processing has started on your case. There are many people who filed in Vermont whose cheques have expired as it's been over three months since they sent their application in and there has been nothing to indicate the application as entered the system. As I understand it the processing times start their countdown once the application has been entered into the system (not just when you post it)

In my case it has been two months since we sent the forms in. I won't count our processing times as starting until we have the cashed cheque (as there is nothing to indicate we are in the system). So before the delays,the USCIS stage was taking up to six months on average for similar cases to mine. Some lucky people were getting the NOA2 in 4 months or so. But I was hoping for six months for that stage. Even if it still only takes six months to get to the NVC I now have to add on the two months (and most likely more) I have already waited to that total. If the increased number of applications which has contributed to the backlog then have an implication for both processing times and so on along the journey, the overall time which should have taken 10-12 months for me could be a LOT longer.

I realise this is just specualtion but you have not waited over two months for your details to even be put into the system. Our files have not been touched since we sent them in - they are now being sent to another place because the service centers cannot cope with the current workload and back to the original point of this whole thread..........it is the CR1 I-130s which are being transfered - the other visa types are being processed already - USCIS is clearly prioritising the visa types and NOT just processing everything in date order.

Of course, I accept your point that something magical may happen and we may get NOA2s more quickly than we expect afterwards and the system will catch up with itself. But please have a little more empathy for the people posting in this thread.

We aren't going to be able to resolve this 'mystery' in this thread. But I would certainly like to resolve one thing and that is the bit in your post that I have bolded. I realize this is a sensitive time for you, but if I am trying to help you resolve this problem, how is that not empathetic? Do you think I'm just here trying to make a point or argue with you? I'm trying to help us all figure this out......

In order to do that, let's talk about a couple of things. You state above that a NOA1 means processing of your case has begun. That's not accurate. It means USCIS acknowledges they have received your file. Cases still lie around until the file boxes are pulled and the files individually worked. Even though the NOA1 was issued a long time ago.

You say you won't count your processing time as starting until you have the NOA1. Do you believe your NOA1 (if processed and mailed today) would have a date on it of, say - December 8, 2007? That's not what happened with the K1's who had long waits for NOA's. They were backdated.

I see the logic in your hope for six months and I would have calculated the same, had it been me. But it's taking all petitions longer to be processed right now, correct?

I don't know if USCIS is going to be able to 'magically' catch up these files. I was asking if K1's (after being inordinately delayed) received NOA2 shortly after NOA1. And I asked that to see if it were possibly true, and to give you some possible hope.

[SusieK 3]

Here's what I am wondering. And it SHOULD be the crux of this entire conversation.

Do we have it factually stated somewhere, from an official source, that the processing of I130's has been halted?

Check the link titled "USCIS Processing Times Spreadsheet" on my blog. It is evident that I-130s have not been processed for some time, according to the USCIS Processing Delay updates that USCIS publishes weekly.

Delicia, do you understand what the processing times as stated by USCIS mean? The processing times mean they are processing cases AT LEAST that old.

You still haven't shown me any official word that USCIS has halted the processing time of I-130's in favor of other petitions.

Um, the processing dates shown on the USCIS website have historically reflected the oldest cases still in the service centers, not that they were processing cases at least that old. Now they often just reflect their number of months standard for processing certain petition types.

The system is in a messy flux right now. IMO, predicting when and how they'll clean it up is an exercise in futility.

What's the difference, pushbrk?

Better yet, how do we even know where the application is oh wait, thats been my exericse in futility for the last two months- another place, another skid, just oh hell whatever..................................will ask shrink for strong drugs may help (sorry for trying to make someone laugh but its about all we can do at this point as trying to read into this recent news is somewhat confusing...will wait for another month and see what happens, if nothing, putting hubby on boat from Cuba to Florida why the heck not)

Cheers all and hang in there and will get double scripts for all that are depressed......

[rebeccajo 14]

Here's what I am wondering. And it SHOULD be the crux of this entire conversation.

Do we have it factually stated somewhere, from an official source, that the processing of I130's has been halted?

Check the link titled "USCIS Processing Times Spreadsheet" on my blog. It is evident that I-130s have not been processed for some time, according to the USCIS Processing Delay updates that USCIS publishes weekly.

Delicia, do you understand what the processing times as stated by USCIS mean? The processing times mean they are processing cases AT LEAST that old.

You still haven't shown me any official word that USCIS has halted the processing time of I-130's in favor of other petitions.

Um, the processing dates shown on the USCIS website have historically reflected the oldest cases still in the service centers, not that they were processing cases at least that old. Now they often just reflect their number of months standard for processing certain petition types.

The system is in a messy flux right now. IMO, predicting when and how they'll clean it up is an exercise in futility.

What's the difference, pushbrk?

Better yet, how do we even know where the application is oh wait, thats been my exericse in futility for the last two months- another place, another skid, just oh hell whatever..................................will ask shrink for strong drugs may help (sorry for trying to make someone laugh but its about all we can do at this point as trying to read into this recent news is somewhat confusing...will wait for another month and see what happens, if nothing, putting hubby on boat from Cuba to Florida why the heck not)

Cheers all and hang in there and will get double scripts for all that are depressed......

Susie, I think that's what a lot of people have been wondering. Where in the hell is my file? Not just I-130's you know.

I don't blame you for looking for a 'mother's little helper' when it comes to this. Better living through chemistry, they say....

[SusieK 3]

Here's what I am wondering. And it SHOULD be the crux of this entire conversation.

Do we have it factually stated somewhere, from an official source, that the processing of I130's has been halted?

Check the link titled "USCIS Processing Times Spreadsheet" on my blog. It is evident that I-130s have not been processed for some time, according to the USCIS Processing Delay updates that USCIS publishes weekly.

Delicia, do you understand what the processing times as stated by USCIS mean? The processing times mean they are processing cases AT LEAST that old.

You still haven't shown me any official word that USCIS has halted the processing time of I-130's in favor of other petitions.

Um, the processing dates shown on the USCIS website have historically reflected the oldest cases still in the service centers, not that they were processing cases at least that old. Now they often just reflect their number of months standard for processing certain petition types.

The system is in a messy flux right now. IMO, predicting when and how they'll clean it up is an exercise in futility.

What's the difference, pushbrk?

Better yet, how do we even know where the application is oh wait, thats been my exericse in futility for the last two months- another place, another skid, just oh hell whatever..................................will ask shrink for strong drugs may help (sorry for trying to make someone laugh but its about all we can do at this point as trying to read into this recent news is somewhat confusing...will wait for another month and see what happens, if nothing, putting hubby on boat from Cuba to Florida why the heck not)

Cheers all and hang in there and will get double scripts for all that are depressed......

Susie, I think that's what a lot of people have been wondering. Where in the hell is my file? Not just I-130's you know.

I don't blame you for looking for a 'mother's little helper' when it comes to this. Better living through chemistry, they say....

LOL luv it xxxxx yeah kinda like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disney (Orlando here lol ) but this ride is definetly on an acid trip....

Cheers

Susie

Edited December 8, 2007 by SusieK

[SusieK 3]

Here's what I am wondering. And it SHOULD be the crux of this entire conversation.

Do we have it factually stated somewhere, from an official source, that the processing of I130's has been halted?

Check the link titled "USCIS Processing Times Spreadsheet" on my blog. It is evident that I-130s have not been processed for some time, according to the USCIS Processing Delay updates that USCIS publishes weekly.

Delicia, do you understand what the processing times as stated by USCIS mean? The processing times mean they are processing cases AT LEAST that old.

You still haven't shown me any official word that USCIS has halted the processing time of I-130's in favor of other petitions.

Um, the processing dates shown on the USCIS website have historically reflected the oldest cases still in the service centers, not that they were processing cases at least that old. Now they often just reflect their number of months standard for processing certain petition types.

The system is in a messy flux right now. IMO, predicting when and how they'll clean it up is an exercise in futility.

What's the difference, pushbrk?

Better yet, how do we even know where the application is oh wait, thats been my exericse in futility for the last two months- another place, another skid, just oh hell whatever..................................will ask shrink for strong drugs may help (sorry for trying to make someone laugh but its about all we can do at this point as trying to read into this recent news is somewhat confusing...will wait for another month and see what happens, if nothing, putting hubby on boat from Cuba to Florida why the heck not)

Cheers all and hang in there and will get double scripts for all that are depressed......

Susie, I think that's what a lot of people have been wondering. Where in the hell is my file? Not just I-130's you know.

I don't blame you for looking for a 'mother's little helper' when it comes to this. Better living through chemistry, they say....

LOL luv it xxxxx yeah kinda like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disney (Orlando here lol ) but this ride is definetly on an acid trip....

Cheers

Susie

Actually key word is HAS BEEN so maybe we can lessen the meds a bit-

*All I-130s received after the indicated date have been forwarded to USCIS Chicago Lockbox for data entry.

[JenAlex 0]

I don't know how much this means but every immigration officer I've spoken to says to ignore the website. They said it was not accurate. I don't blame the immigration officers for the backlog. I blame the head of USCIS for not having the foresight to hire and train those 1500 new hires (or at least half of them) BEFORE the fee increase.

I'm not happy that my petition is 100 days old and I have nothing to show it for it. A cashed check would be a sign that it's progessing, even if it's at snails pace. I miss my hubby more than I ever thought it was possible to miss someone. However, creating more clogs in the works is not beneficial to anyone. I'm waiting, sometimes not so patiently, but I know my turn will come. I just thank my lucky stars that I have the means to see him in 12 days.

[rjp44 1]

I don't know how much this means but every immigration officer I've spoken to says to ignore the website. They said it was not accurate. I don't blame the immigration officers for the backlog. I blame the head of USCIS for not having the foresight to hire and train those 1500 new hires (or at least half of them) BEFORE the fee increase.

I'm not happy that my petition is 100 days old and I have nothing to show it for it. A cashed check would be a sign that it's progessing, even if it's at snails pace. I miss my hubby more than I ever thought it was possible to miss someone. However, creating more clogs in the works is not beneficial to anyone. I'm waiting, sometimes not so patiently, but I know my turn will come. I just thank my lucky stars that I have the means to see him in 12 days.

USCIS couldn't hire more workers before the fee increase. It was explained when the new fees were first proposed that USCIS in fee based, meaning working from the fees they collect. They don't recieve money appropriated by Congress. Once more money started coming in, they could start hiring more people. What I wonder, is if once the USCIS starts catching up with the process, what will happen at NVC with the increased volume. Our application took 5 months from the NOA #2 to case completed, If NVC is able to keep up, how will it affect scheduling at different embassies. It's not a problem that is going to be resolved quickly unless the number of new applications drops dramatically because so many were submitted to beat the application fee increase. We just saw the effect of a drastic increase in volume of passport applications.

[Germanchick2502 0]

Why should NVC be affected? The application will NOT as was the case at the SC all come in at the same time. They will slowly arrive just like it always was the case. And even if they have more petitions than usual: the dimension will be different to what USCIS experienced. I think it will maybe be a backlog of 2-3 months at NVC. The consulates should be affected the least as they only get small portions of the huge pile each. I think the worst part will be processing at USCIS- NVC will be slightly slower- Consulates will be least affected.

@rebeccajo: the thing is: It is ONLY the I-130s that have been held back by USCIS. How many times do we have to explain this. I think no one here would complain if they thought we had been treated fairly. But I-130s have been the petitions that have been held on hold for MONTHS now. I mean its all dandy for the people who are still being processed. But to tell us to just wait patiently and everybody had to wait just like us: NOT true. How long did you wait for notification? A week, maybe two? Or maybe even 3? I don't think you waited as my husband and I have been for over 16 weeks now. And still: nothing. The only hope is that Chicago will have the capacities needed. But thats guess-work. How can you say everybody has waited like this? Yes, they will count from the day they received the petitions initially. But who cares? They are never ever going to make the usual time frame. Never ever. So, I don't care if they start counting with the issuing date of the NOA1 or the original date they received it. It doesn't matter. They are not going to make the 6 months. And seriously: all I care about is not even the time this whole fricking process is going to take (my estimate is 18-24months) all I care about is that they finally start doing something, anything. And if it is hiring people all over the world to call the petitioners to inform them. But just waiting without knowing what will happen. If anything will happen. You can't tell me that's normal. Sorry, if you do I am not going to believe you. This is not normal. Stop criticizing us for something that is natural. All we want is that someone pays attention not only to part of the filed petitions but also to the I-130 petitions. And probably now you will say that everyone has been affected equally by the backlog. Not true! Everything has been moving for months. Everything but the I-130s. You can believe us or not. But please respect our feelings and don't say this is normal. I know you can't understand what we're going through because you have never been in the situation and also you are with your loved ones (and I am happy for you). But I think I and the others who have been waiting more or less patiently have a right to be with our loved ones too.

[JenAlex 0]

I don't know how much this means but every immigration officer I've spoken to says to ignore the website. They said it was not accurate. I don't blame the immigration officers for the backlog. I blame the head of USCIS for not having the foresight to hire and train those 1500 new hires (or at least half of them) BEFORE the fee increase.

I'm not happy that my petition is 100 days old and I have nothing to show it for it. A cashed check would be a sign that it's progessing, even if it's at snails pace. I miss my hubby more than I ever thought it was possible to miss someone. However, creating more clogs in the works is not beneficial to anyone. I'm waiting, sometimes not so patiently, but I know my turn will come. I just thank my lucky stars that I have the means to see him in 12 days.

USCIS couldn't hire more workers before the fee increase. It was explained when the new fees were first proposed that USCIS in fee based, meaning working from the fees they collect. They don't recieve money appropriated by Congress. Once more money started coming in, they could start hiring more people. What I wonder, is if once the USCIS starts catching up with the process, what will happen at NVC with the increased volume. Our application took 5 months from the NOA #2 to case completed, If NVC is able to keep up, how will it affect scheduling at different embassies. It's not a problem that is going to be resolved quickly unless the number of new applications drops dramatically because so many were submitted to beat the application fee increase. We just saw the effect of a drastic increase in volume of passport applications.

I see! It was easier being mad at the head honchos than sad that my case isn't going anywhere from what I can see.