NEW reason for delay at CSC - 48,000 files damaged

[kfischm1 18]

So I requested help from my congressman a few weeks ago to inquire about my case. Today the aide called me with an update.

Apparently the USCIS congressional liason at CSC told him that 48,000 files were damaged when the pipe broke a couple of weeks ago. (Remember CSC was closed for two days for a plumbing problem??) They are saying that my case, July 26, was included in that pile. However, they haven't reviewed my file to see if it was damaged and if I will need to send in everything again or not. According to my congressman's aide, that is what is causing a delay now. When I asked if I needed to send a copy of my entire I-129f, he said no, wait until CSC gets to my case.

So I asked him, "Ok, that is the reason they are giving for the delay now What about before that? What was causing the delay before two weeks ago?" The aide got kind of huffy with me and said, "Well I'm sorry you don't like my answer but that is what CSC said." He didn't give me an answer.

He said that they are currently processing July 18. I told him that they have been quoting that for four months now, though they are clearly not on that date. I told him how I have been to many websites and monitored other people's cases, and there are a good chunk of people in August that have been approved. He said, "If you choose to believe that, that is fine. But I believe CSC." I said, "Ok, so thousands of individual people are all lying about their individual cases?" Again he said that he was choosing to believe CSC because he talked to the liason and blah blah blah. I asked if he knew when they expected to move passed the July 18 date. He said that was not a question he had asked.

Has anyone else heard anything like this? At first I was devastated to hear that my file was possibly destroyed and about the delay it would cause having to send everything in again. However, this is starting to sound like a BS excuse for CSC to buy some time considering they haven't made an official announcement.

[duraaraa 203]

It would be nice if we could all live in a country which is honest with its citizens.

[cazzers 83]

they have got to be kidding...48000 files damaged????

and we don't know how damaged they are..imagine if they are completely damaged...that means that all files from last year could be destroyed. and if they ask to resend the whole application again, it's gonna be such a mess at CSC. with this news, i can only predict more months of waiting...

but that's ok...another 6 months of waiting, and we'll be at 1 year of waiting.. not that they care!

Edited April 2, 2013 by cazzers

[MrsFrida 2]

This is becoming surreal. Must have been some monster pipe that broke down. Maybe they just dumped them all into the ocean.

[Bayareaguy 156]

Like the keystone cops. Or goober and gomer.

[kfischm1 18]

Maybe it is just an excuse? The pipe break happened a couple of weeks ago and no one has said anything about it causing that kind of damage until now. Based on the misinformation that USCIS seems to spread lately, I wouldn't be surprised if this was their latest attempt to try and explain their long delays on processing.

I would think that if 48,000 files were destroyed, word have been out before now, and it wouldn't be from a congressional aide who inquired on a case for someone in his district.

ANYONE ELSE HEARD SOMETHING LIKE THIS? Really interested in hearing if anyone else has been told this.

[kfischm1 18]

And I'm pretty sure that the congressional aide will not be following up on my case for me. I'm sure I pissed him off.

So much for trying to get my congressman to help :-/

[Azsara 110]

really???

[uk2upstateny 13]

That is beyond insane. What the tap-dancing heck is going ON over there?!

[kfischm1 18]

From the USCIS website news alert -

USCIS California Service Center Has Reopened

The USCIS California Service Center (CSC) has reopened on March 27, 2013 following a temporary closure due to plumbing issues. Deliveries have resumed and USCIS does not anticipate any delays due to the closure.

Last updated:03/27/2013

NOWHERE does it say that 48,000 files have been ruined. In fact, they make a point to say that they do not anticipate any delays due to the closure. (Then again, if they already weren't working on our cases, and the plumbing issue caused them to not work on cases, I guess technically there wouldn't be any delays. Haha)

If you want the link: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=e7b078ba572ad310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e7801c2c9be44210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

Edited April 3, 2013 by kfischm1

[Scott65 27]

So I requested help from my congressman a few weeks ago to inquire about my case. Today the aide called me with an update.

Apparently the USCIS congressional liason at CSC told him that 48,000 files were damaged when the pipe broke a couple of weeks ago. (Remember CSC was closed for two days for a plumbing problem??) They are saying that my case, July 26, was included in that pile. However, they haven't reviewed my file to see if it was damaged and if I will need to send in everything again or not. According to my congressman's aide, that is what is causing a delay now. When I asked if I needed to send a copy of my entire I-129f, he said no, wait until CSC gets to my case.

So I asked him, "Ok, that is the reason they are giving for the delay now What about before that? What was causing the delay before two weeks ago?" The aide got kind of huffy with me and said, "Well I'm sorry you don't like my answer but that is what CSC said." He didn't give me an answer.

He said that they are currently processing July 18. I told him that they have been quoting that for four months now, though they are clearly not on that date. I told him how I have been to many websites and monitored other people's cases, and there are a good chunk of people in August that have been approved. He said, "If you choose to believe that, that is fine. But I believe CSC." I said, "Ok, so thousands of individual people are all lying about their individual cases?" Again he said that he was choosing to believe CSC because he talked to the liason and blah blah blah. I asked if he knew when they expected to move passed the July 18 date. He said that was not a question he had asked.

Has anyone else heard anything like this? At first I was devastated to hear that my file was possibly destroyed and about the delay it would cause having to send everything in again. However, this is starting to sound like a BS excuse for CSC to buy some time considering they haven't made an official announcement.

First, I'd write off to both of your Senators and skip the Congressman.. My understanding is that Senators hold a little more clout than a Congressman.. Not sure if this is the truth but possible. In any case you have other avenues so I would use them. AND hopefully they are Republicans because I'd expect to get them riled about the whole mess. I've always had good response from my Senators.. Congressman many times do not even reply to my letters.

Second, I wouldn't believe this unless you get a direct mailing from CSC. Unless the files are all stored in the basement on the floor I wouldn't see how it would be possible.. OR maybe the sewage problem was actually fire sprinkler system blowing a gasket. Again maybe I am wrong but surely.. CSC cannot be that inept.. OK what am I saying... Sure they are!!! USCIS and CSC have proven this!!! My original petition and entire packet was returned to me, because I had the wrong I-129f (only difference was the USCIS document approval date on the I129f :blink: everything else was EXACTLY the same... ). The pages had all been sent through, what I believe, was a scanner. Also a number and other information imprinted on the side of each page. Anyway, I would expect that everything is digitized. If not I would be completely surprised...... On the outside... I hope everyone made 2 or 3 backup sets of every form, page and piece of evidence.. I sure did..

A few months ago I called and spoke to a tier 1 CSR at the USCIS. She calmly advised that the USCIS considers every application when arriving to be in zero month.. You heard it! Zero month.. So I said to her that they needed to change their reporting to advise of this zero month.. She replied why.. because the process typically takes between month 5 and 6 to complete and to expect to hear in 5 to 6 months.. #######??? 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to me represents between 6 and 7 months.. Now I am not a mathematician by trade so again correct me if I am wrong.. So I asked this girl if I should call the IRS and tell them I only pay taxes for 11 months because I do not count zero... :rofl: She advised that she couldn't discuss any tax information and disconnected the call.. WOW!! is something broke at USCIS or what??

If the company I work for was this inept and freekin' incompetent.... we would have been out of business years and years ago...!!!!

Question: Should we not expect that the USCIS runs like a business? That there be some type of accountability to someone, somewhere? AND people are held responsible for actions when working for the USCIS? Obviously they don't.

[Sami & Farz 1]

From the USCIS website news alert -

USCIS California Service Center Has Reopened

The USCIS California Service Center (CSC) has reopened on March 27, 2013 following a temporary closure due to plumbing issues. Deliveries have resumed and USCIS does not anticipate any delays due to the closure.

Last updated:03/27/2013

NOWHERE does it say that 48,000 files have been ruined. In fact, they make a point to say that they do not anticipate any delays due to the closure. (Then again, if they already weren't working on our cases, and the plumbing issue caused them to not work on cases, I guess technically there wouldn't be any delays. Haha)

If you want the link: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=e7b078ba572ad310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e7801c2c9be44210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

Hahaha, good catch!

[Leidlein 9]

I would hope these idiots are using scanners by now. But then again, this is the US government we are talking about. What I don't understand is, if they are scanning all applications into a database, why do they continue to cluster people into specific Service Centers? That is totally stupid, and unfair. Any person who knows the first thing about operations management will know that this is completely idiotic. Yet we KNOW they process people through specific service centers.

My faith in my government was not very hight before I submitted my I129f back in August. Now it is even lower.

[Bayareaguy 156]

They are fostering life long enemies of the state.

[F&N 7]

So I requested help from my congressman a few weeks ago to inquire about my case. Today the aide called me with an update.

Apparently the USCIS congressional liason at CSC told him that 48,000 files were damaged when the pipe broke a couple of weeks ago. (Remember CSC was closed for two days for a plumbing problem??) They are saying that my case, July 26, was included in that pile. However, they haven't reviewed my file to see if it was damaged and if I will need to send in everything again or not. According to my congressman's aide, that is what is causing a delay now. When I asked if I needed to send a copy of my entire I-129f, he said no, wait until CSC gets to my case.

So I asked him, "Ok, that is the reason they are giving for the delay now What about before that? What was causing the delay before two weeks ago?" The aide got kind of huffy with me and said, "Well I'm sorry you don't like my answer but that is what CSC said." He didn't give me an answer.

He said that they are currently processing July 18. I told him that they have been quoting that for four months now, though they are clearly not on that date. I told him how I have been to many websites and monitored other people's cases, and there are a good chunk of people in August that have been approved. He said, "If you choose to believe that, that is fine. But I believe CSC." I said, "Ok, so thousands of individual people are all lying about their individual cases?" Again he said that he was choosing to believe CSC because he talked to the liason and blah blah blah. I asked if he knew when they expected to move passed the July 18 date. He said that was not a question he had asked.

Has anyone else heard anything like this? At first I was devastated to hear that my file was possibly destroyed and about the delay it would cause having to send everything in again. However, this is starting to sound like a BS excuse for CSC to buy some time considering they haven't made an official announcement.

Try your senator? I met with a Representative of my Congresswoman last week and waiting to hear back. I'll let you know what they tell me. How long did it take your congressperson to get back to you? If I don't hear back from her in over two weeks I am writing to my Senator. This is insane!