I'm filing a congressional complaint against ELIS, interested in how many others are stuck in this system

[samiam95124 1]

Its going on a month that I have not been able to get anywhere simply paying my bill with ELIS. I am going to move to

complaining to my congressperson.

I'd be interested in how many others are stuck in this horrible system.

I have been simply trying to pay the $165 fee for a month now. I waited 1 and 1/2 hours to get a hold of a tech, who tried to work it out, failed and said they would "look into it". That was a month ago. They have done nothing. My login there is still wedged, and they have the system rigged so that if you do try to open a new account with another email, it tells you you can't use the same alien registration number again. As it is, the existing account just tells me I have an incomplete application to pay the fee -- then crashes when I try to continue it (as in spills incomprehensible error messages across the screen).

My wife arrived long ago. All this is doing is denying her her green card, which we worked very hard for and paid for. If their system is having problems, fine -- they should allow another way to pay (by mail) while they work it out.

I was in their technical help queue for 4 hours today (yes four, not a misprint). I left it playing dumb music on speakerphone, and finally just shut it down.

Scott Moore

Edited July 17, 2013 by samiam95124

[NikLR 13,231]

****moved to general immigration from IR1/CR1 process and procedures because post can apply to anyone getting a green card having to use ELIS ***

Have you contacted the USCIS tier 2 not just the ELIS people?

[samiam95124 1]

Thats a new one on me. What I tried was to ask for a supervisor, and pleaded with her for any way to pay the fee.

Who are tier 2 people and how do you get ahold of them?

Thanks,

Scott

[Darnell 8,479]

I suggest you chase down the original account,

using a PC with internet explorer V7 or better.

----

As to reaching an ISO Human with USCIS, please read the following:

http://www.dhs.gov/cis-ombudsman-update-getting-most-out-your-call-uscis-national-customer-service-center

http://www.dhs.gov/cis-ombudsman-update-getting-most-out-your-call-uscis-national-customer-service-center

http://www.dhs.gov/cis-ombudsman-update-getting-most-out-your-call-uscis-national-customer-service-center

[sumit381 2]

What is the problem you are having and more importantly what steps did you take for the problem to arise? Unfortunately, I don't think I could help you find a solution to your issue but VJ members can benefit from your experience.

Sorry you're experiencing this problem. I hope it will be resolved soon.

[samiam95124 1]

I suggest you chase down the original account,

using a PC with internet explorer V7 or better.

----

As to reaching an ISO Human with USCIS, please read the following:

http://www.dhs.gov/cis-ombudsman-update-getting-most-out-your-call-uscis-national-customer-service-center

http://www.dhs.gov/cis-ombudsman-update-getting-most-out-your-call-uscis-national-customer-service-center

http://www.dhs.gov/cis-ombudsman-update-getting-most-out-your-call-uscis-national-customer-service-center

Thank you for the link, I will try that avenue as well.

I don't know what you mean by original account. I tried both google chrome and internet explorer. Both give a "internal server

error message".

Scott

[samiam95124 1]

What is the problem you are having and more importantly what steps did you take for the problem to arise? Unfortunately, I don't think I could help you find a solution to your issue but VJ members can benefit from your experience.

Sorry you're experiencing this problem. I hope it will be resolved soon.

Thanks, it was well documented on another thread, so I'll spare the board from repeating it.

Scott

[samiam95124 1]

So the result appears to be that nobody else is stuck in ELIS. Having difficulties, yes, but able to proceed.

That's great, glad to hear it.

On my case, there seems to be a want to shoot the messenger here. Because the system works for %99

of people just not justify keeping %1 from getting a green card because someone low bid the ELIS web site.

The problem is not that USCIS tried to create a new more efficient way to pay. The problem is that they allowed

no backup plan at all, such as using the old system or allowing mail in payments, and now have defaulted

completely on support (and telling callers that you have 1000 minutes of average hold times or not picking up

for 4 hours certainly qualifies as default).

Keep in mind this is not someone disputing a USCIS immigration decision. We went through with flying colors

and the USCIS handled my case well and rapidly. We are done. My wife is here.

Now she is effectively being denied her earned green card by a third party bureaucracy appointed to run a

web site that apparently is responsive to nobody -- including USCIS.

It needs to stop. It is not right.

Scott Moore

In San Jose with my beautiful wife Doris.

[Darnell 8,479]

when you talk with a Tier 2 Human, at USCIS,

I suggest you ask for yer ELIS account to be deleted.

Once you have confirmation of that, start a new ELIS account.

[NikLR 13,231]

Have you tried from other computers? Like at the library? A friend's house?

But I really agree with Darnell on the best solution. Hopefully an ISO can get this unstuck for you!

[NickD 203]

Like doing things the old fashion way, real paper, real signed for important documents for something important as immigration or even taxes. With a stepdaughter with low wages, did try with the IRS filing on line. But did make a back up copy. While waiting forever for that tiny refund, get a letter instead for a fine for not filing. Replied with a printed copy and proof when that filing was done.

Never get a letter of apology from any government agency when they screw up, but did get her refund check. Never have a problem downloading any *.pdf file, even a two hundred page service manual. But always do with any government form and in printing these out, for whatever reason, my printer jams. At times had to print out one page at a time that took hours.

Recall that M-476 you are supposed to read for US citizenship, at first I tried to find a hard copy, none available. Sure had my problems downloading that 68 page book. But when I finally downloaded it, read it page by page and only copied and pasted the sections that applied to us to word. That reduced the number of pages for us down to four. Then even had more fun running a grammar check on it, to see a lot of green underlining.

[Darnell 8,479]

NickD- that's very interesting, but has nothing to do with ELIS or paying via ELIS for a green card. Are you attempting yet another thread-hijaak?

[samiam95124 1]

Solved,

A guy from something like "hanson security" called me (didn't quite hear it). I thought it was some burglar alarm company with a wrong number. Turns out it was the USCIS contractor for ELIS.

They had backed out the bad transaction that was causing my account to always fail. It was proceeding to pay the $165. I kept the guy on the line anyways, just in case. What a good idea, because the site crashed yet again while trying to process the payment. I started again, and this time it worked. Huzza!

I'm quite sure the fact that my letter detailing the problems I am having arrived at my congresswoman's office (Go Anna Eschoo!!!!) 2 days ago was just a wild coincidence ;-)

I hope for everyone's sake that they take the suggestion about providing an alternative way to pay, preferably via low tech regular mail. I made sure to make that suggestion yet again to the tech on the phone.

Anyways, huge load off.....

Scott and Doris in San Jose, CA

[NikLR 13,231]

Solved,

A guy from something like "hanson security" called me (didn't quite hear it). I thought it was some burglar alarm company with a wrong number. Turns out it was the USCIS contractor for ELIS.

They had backed out the bad transaction that was causing my account to always fail. It was proceeding to pay the $165. I kept the guy on the line anyways, just in case. What a good idea, because the site crashed yet again while trying to process the payment. I started again, and this time it worked. Huzza!

I'm quite sure the fact that my letter detailing the problems I am having arrived at my congresswoman's office (Go Anna Eschoo!!!!) 2 days ago was just a wild coincidence ;-)

I hope for everyone's sake that they take the suggestion about providing an alternative way to pay, preferably via low tech regular mail. I made sure to make that suggestion yet again to the tech on the phone.

Anyways, huge load off.....

Scott and Doris in San Jose, CA

I am glad that you a were finally able to get this work for you! That is awesome.

[Darnell 8,479]

sam - yay ! one less thing, aye?

can you tell us , what prompted a contractor from homeland security to call you, though? That'd be cool, if you can tell us about that.

Edited July 20, 2013 by Darnell