ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionStill No NOA?...
I wouldn't call USCIS just for the NOA but if your GC is expired, you should go into your local office on an info-pass appt to get the 1 yr extension.
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-11-04 16:42:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionYeah! card has been ordered!
Very cool. congrats! good.gif
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-08-21 18:28:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionFinally some action!
We're in for an interview for quality control purposes apparently. We were told in August that we are one of the lucky ones who got randomly selected cool.gif .
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-11-20 12:03:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionFinally some action!
I guess the last phone call to USCIS actually resulted in action. I have a new biometrics appt notice and go on Friday to get them done. Once I get this done, we should apparently get the interview pretty fast. The biometrics was what was holding up production! Paws crosed! Perhaps though this was fate as we now have ultrasound pics of our baby to present to them in addition to evidence since we sent the original packet.
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2008-11-19 11:36:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussiondual citizenship (UK/US) for baby ?
I am not quite sure how this works, but I want our daughter (due in approx 7 wks) to be a dual citizen. I know that she will be a USC by birth, but how do I go about making her a UK citizen as well?

Anyone else gone through this?
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-17 19:33:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionApproved! TSC-VSC-CSC
Finally nearly a year later I received my permanent GC. biggrin.gif Good luck to all of you still waiting. Its definitely been a journey. I'm eligible for citizenship now but with a new baby due in about 7 weeks, I'll be holding off on that one for the time being!
CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2009-04-17 19:20:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsResponse to I-130 Processing Times

Sent my emails.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2013-12-20 16:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNumber crunching letter to senators

In my last round of emails/faxes/letters, Ted Cruz' office was actually the first to respond. I got a phone call from them, so I can't be harsh on him as a senator...at least not too much ;)

 

I agree that another round of mass emails/letters/faxes is warranted. Senator Cornyn's office also got a fax from me this morning, as did Congresswoman Kay Granger.

 

Its all about strength in numbers. You have to keep fighting for what you know is right.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-06 15:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNumber crunching letter to senators

Good links - Thanks!

 

Anything that supports keeping USCIS accountable is helpful.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-06 09:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNumber crunching letter to senators

Fellow VJers, I know that everyone is frustrated with USCIS and I decided to do a little number crunching today to include in my letter to my senators and congress. If you want to use the body of the letter for your own use, please feel free to do so, but I think that it is worth taking a look at the bullet points. It makes me even more appalled and frustrated with USCIS. I apologize if the formatting in the letter is weird. It is copied and pasted from a Word document.

 

I know that y'all are filing for spouses and I am filing for my parents, but ultimately we are filing the same petition and being thrown together, so in my eyes there is no difference. Hopefully this is helpful to y'all that are still waiting, especially those who filed in Feb/March.

 

 

 

 

Dear Senator Cruz,

 

I reached out to you by letter on August 4th 2013 to request assistance with a pending immigration case (I-130 petition for an immediate relative), that I have filed on behalf of my parents. The I-130 petitions for xxx and xxx were filed with a priority date of March 28th 2013.

The receipt numbers are xxx and xxx.

 

On November 14th 2013, I received a notice of action from USCIS stating that both cases had been transferred from the National Benefits Center to the Nebraska Service Center in order to ?facilitate more timely processing?, (Please see enclosed). The letter also stated that if I did not receive a decision within 60 days, I should contact customer service. The 60 days deadline will come to fruition on 1/13/2014 and I still have not heard of any advancement on the pending petitions.

 

When I called USCIS customer service on 1/3/14, I was advised that my petition was still within normal processing times and that petitions were being processed with a priority date of February 13th, 2013. This is a disturbing figure as according to the USCIS government website, petitions approximately 30 days prior in September 2013, were being processed with a priority date of February 12th, 2013. This is equal to an advancement of one day within the space of a month and is simply unacceptable.

 

Additionally, the volume of petitions that are in limbo nationally and at service centers around the USA is increasing by the day, but despite USCIS statements where they claim to be putting all efforts into facilitating more timely processing, the actual figures published by USCIS do not reflect this.

 

I have illustrated these figures below in bullet-point form to support my concerns. Please note that the most recent data published is from October 2013.

  • The National goal to process an I-130 petition from start to finish is 5 months, yet the national average claims to be 8.7 months. If USCIS are only processing from February 2013 at a time of January 2014, this average is false. A more representative average would be approximately 11.5 months just to get the petition approved and moved to the National Visa Center.
  • The current number of pending I-130 petitions sitting in the system that have not received adjudication is 379,068. Between September 2013 and October 2013, the number of pending cases increased by 6%.
  • Between February 2013 to October 2013, the case-load increased by 60%.
  • In contrast the volume of petitions that were adjudicated nationally was 7%.
  • Nebraska service center showed an adjudication rate as of October 2013 of 1.6% which was equal to a mere 10.8 applications being completed daily. Compared to the 20,358 pending at the Nebraska Service Center, this is simply unacceptable.
  • Texas service center had an even more appalling completion rate of 0.27% of all petitions pending. An average of 0.68 petitions was processed daily. This means that they did not even complete ANY applications on some days during the month of October 2013.

 

Even more disturbing is the fact that USCIS is holding $159 MILLION dollars in processing fees from petitioners. Considering the facts that I have stated above, I am appalled that these people at USCIS are being paid and holding US citizen?s money to ransom when they are not even doing the job that they are being paid for.

 

I am a member of an online immigration forum where it has been observed that USCIS are now attempting to adjudicate petitions out of priority date order in an effort to portray shorter processing times. This manipulation of data does not reflect the reality in that the real processing time is at least 11.5 months.

 

I urge you, on behalf of myself and my fellow United State citizens who have petitioned for their immigrant relative to investigate why petitions are not being adjudicated by USCIS in a timely manner, in accordance with honoring their legal obligation as outlined in section 201(b) of the Immigration and National Act. This act was put in place to put all I-130 petitions as a priority above others in an effort to reunite foreign relatives living abroad with their United States Citizen family member.

I am aware that you are a family-oriented person and I am certain that you can appreciate the emotional turmoil and stress that separation from family can cause.

I appreciate your time and assistance in any information that can be provided with this case.

 

Sincerely,

 

xxx

 

Phone: xxx

Email: xxx

 

 


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-05 17:27:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsEmails *DO* have impact

I used this email: ncscfollowup.nsc@dhs.gov

 

Good luck!!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-10 12:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsEmails *DO* have impact

Last week I wrote here that I was going to email USCIS about my I-130. I did exactly that and I also called asking for a tier 2 supervisor. An immigration officer called me back yesterday and of course its now approved, but what was interesting was that he was able to tell me that the case had been touched on Friday...coincidence? Perhaps.. but I think not, considering that my email and call also went out on Friday.

 

My message is to keep hounding USCIS. Someone at least looked at my case as a result of sending that email and calling those people. I got approved with 6 days to spare of the 60 day time frame.

 

Keep on their butts especially if you are coming close to your 60 days!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-09 13:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress Reportsare we the only January 2013 fillers left here with no noa2?

Wow I wouldn't let them give me bs over this! You are way past the priority date that they're currently working on. I'm betting they've lost your petition. I would not hang up that phone until they tell you exactly where your petition is. So sorry you're dealing with this :/


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-12 16:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsRFE LIES

Wow, what dirty tricks that uscis are pulling 7-8 years later. The ombudsman needs to be aware of the current situation. Great research!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-13 20:34:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsUSC Green Card Petitioner's Committee--Organization and Agenda Moving Forward

You are more than welcome to use my letters on the blog ;)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-31 11:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsUSC Green Card Petitioner's Committee--Organization and Agenda Moving Forward

haha Hotter Otter! I'm the same way - I hate stupid hashtags on facebook but I have made a twitter account under my name Katrina Basye just for this cause. I tweeted the hashtag so now do I just wait to get followers? I'm clueless as far as twitter goes!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-29 11:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsUSC Green Card Petitioner's Committee--Organization and Agenda Moving Forward

I don't have twitter but I will make an account just for this ;)

 

I sent recent faxes and snail mail letters to my congress and senators in Texas that included the dismal processing numbers and facts for USCIS, including John Cornyn, Kay Granger, Ted Cruz. I just got a reply back from Cornyn last week saying that he will take the concerns into consideration as the 113th Congress is coming up soon.

 

 


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-29 11:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - January 2014

I'm trying to determine what I need to put on the AOS. I had an odd 2013, so I have 2 W2's and a 1099 as well.  I was laid off from a job in April, did contract work until I had my baby in August and then started my current job in October. The salary that I make per year now will not reflect what is listed on my IRS transcript. I am still well above the poverty line for both 2013 and my current salary, so I am not worried about making too little. Last years total gross is actually going to end up being more than what I will make for this upcoming year. My letter of employment will also not match what my earnings were for last year so what the heck do I do?

 


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-30 10:14:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - January 2014

Unless your wife specifically needs the 2013 return for proof of income if her previous years were too low, you can still file using the previous years (or 3 years as they indicate that they like that) and not have to wait until the 2013 is processed. This can be done up until April 2014 which is the tax deadline.

 

It usually takes about 14 days for the IRS to process your tax refund or in my case ask to be paid!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-29 10:32:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - January 2014

Way to go NVC! My case was sent for my parents on 1/7/14 to the NVC and I called today and was told that it was received at the NVC on 1/21/14. That was just 14 days so I am well impressed. The lady told me at the NVC to wait 10-20 days for the case number. You better believe I will be calling nearly every day starting next week for that number ;) I am honestly very impressed that it took so little time to hit the NVC from Nebraska. One little step closer!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-24 10:13:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - January 2014

I called this morning just after 9am and had a hold time of around 20 mins. On a good note though, the guy I spoke to was very nice. They are friendlier than USCIS!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-13 14:30:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - January 2014

I thought that I read somewhere that I could send in the I-864 and the IV packet at the same time? Has anyone done this to speed up processing or is it even possible?


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-11 19:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - January 2014

Thanks for the answer Saylin :)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-10 14:57:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - January 2014

I have a question regarding the medical - when is the earliest that the medical can be scheduled? From what I am reading, it states that the interview will not be scheduled until the embassy receives the medical examination results, but I can't find anything that states when the medical can be scheduled.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-10 10:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsExcitement!

Every journey starts with a single step. Good luck with your process ;)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-30 10:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLetter Writing Campaign - Feb. 2014

Also, I was one of the folks approved after 12/31/13 so I can certainly step forward and show that processing times are BS. I'm petitioning for my parents and they did not expedite and are not Filipino.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-13 10:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsLetter Writing Campaign - Feb. 2014

I too think we should wait until the new USCIS numbers are published and stick to the facts. We need hard evidence and as much as I would like to lay blame on DACA and throw around accusations, at the end of the day we don't have a leg to stand on unless we have truthful facts. I will sure participate in the letter writing campaign again.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-13 10:30:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNew Letter Campaign

Too bad they didn't mention the number fudging...adjudication of petitions out of chronological order.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-08 18:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsUSC Green Card Petitioners' Committee

Way to go Kaylara! Little steps go a long long way to reunite family members. Its time that this BS was brought to everyones attention.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-01-15 09:29:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsUSCIS Updated Processing Times 2/18/2014

They've been doing that they past several months. It seems like they must be entering in the information manually. Welcome to the 1990's everyone!

 

LOLrofl.gif


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-20 10:08:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - February 2014

I have a feeling that I am filling in the wrong information for the tax returns and I cannot get clarity. In the box of 13a-13c, am I putting my income in addition to my husbands as listed on the transcripts? I'm just so darn confused on this :/ The transcripts list both mine and hubby's income as one figure as we file married filing jointly and not mine individually (for example if we each made 50k last year, do I put 100k as that is what is listed on the transcript?). We are just using my income for the AOS as it well meets the poverty line. For those of you who file married filing jointly, what did you put here? I would be so peeved to get a checklist for this if I didn't put the correct figure.


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-28 10:26:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - February 2014

For those of you who submitted tax transcripts married filing jointly and are just using your own income-did you submit W2' s as well? I have my transcripts for 2011, 2012 and 2013. I have W2s for all years except 2011. I literally cannot find them. Would I be ok just submitting what I have or should I just send the most recent W2s with all transcripts? I hate guessing what NVC wants. :(


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-26 19:39:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - February 2014

don't want to be the bearer of bad news and hopefully this doesn't happen to you - but when I had to get my embassy changed... the NVC put my case on hold and all we were able to do was fill out the ds261 - couldn't pay any bills, nothing. 20 business days later when I was assigned a new case number for the LND embassy was I able to carry on paying the bills and sending stuff in.

 

That would royally suck - I hope that isn't the case but I fear that it will be :( I will be making sure that they know my name however and will be calling daily - why should I have to suffer even longer for someone else's careless mistake...


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-26 15:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - February 2014

 

It's a good job I spotted it! It could have gone unnoticed for months.

 

At least you can rectify it early. In that person on British Expats case she managed to get a new case number after a week because she kept complaining  so you should make a massive fuss about it!

 

Yes I'm glad that you seen it. It was in the back of my mind and was niggling away, so I'm happy that you confirmed my suspicions, thank you :)

 

I think I may have to try and befriend that person on British Expats and see what sort of action she took. I don't want to wait another 30 darn days until we get a new case number, so you better believe that I will be on their butts every single day. ;)


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-26 15:32:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - February 2014

Bingo! I asked and the person told me that Ireland processes through the Dublin embassy. I told her that my parents don't live in Ireland. They live in Northern Ireland which is part of Great Britain. They use different currency and have a different government compared to Ireland. (They also talk differently :P) Fricking damn uneducated idiots! My parents WILL go through London. They don't understand obviously that NI is NOT IRELAND. Its the United Kingdom. Arghhhhhh! ####### and double #######. She said that it could take up to 30 days to change the case number but I can still go ahead with processing and will still be on the same time frame for paying the fee and submitting documents. I swear if this screws up my case even further, I will be freaking pis$ed!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-26 13:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - February 2014

 

Oh ok, have you double checked with NVC that that's correct? I don't want to worry you but I have seen two different examples on British Expats where NVC officers have mistaken Northen Ireland as being part of Rep. Ireland and not the UK and given out DBL case numbers instead of LND. Both had to get new case numbers assigned. It's probably the case that you have checked with them or arranged it yourself but thought I would let you know this just in case. That's assuming the applicants are in Northen Ireland and not Rep. Ireland of course.

 

Oh hell that thought is exactly what is lingering in my mind right now.... Can you find those examples by any chance? I did mention it to the officer that I spoke to but I'm not at ease so I am calling back. They live in Northern Ireland near Belfast so it is definitely not the republic....      eff. rolleyes.gif


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-26 12:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - February 2014

 

Are you having your medical at Knightsbridge Doctors in London. Word of warning... I booked my medical for a couple of weeks ago as soon as I had my case number back at the end of Jan. I was all set to go and then I suddenly thought "where are my medical results going to go if my file is still at NVC and has not arrived at London yet?". I called Knightsbridge 4 days before my appointment with this query and the lady on the phone said they have been advised by the embassy not to examine applicants who are still at NVC. She said this can cause problems because when the embassy receives your results they does not have a file to match them up with.

 

I just thought I would let you know in case you were thinking of having the medical before the case is complete at NVC and with London. I had no idea and was lucky I had that realisation. I think the system is slightly flawed as there is no way of stopping you from booking an appointment before case is complete at NVC. You would think they would ask at the time of booking the appointment whether the case is complete at NVC.

 

Tim

 

No I thought we would be at London, but their interview is going to be at Dublin embassy, so they will actually have their medical in Dublin. It will at least save them on a plane ticket from Belfast to London x 2. I have no idea now when they should be doing their medical and am currently researching the Dublin embassy. I think they have to wait until their case is complete?


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-26 11:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - February 2014

Can I just say holy ####### at how expensive the medical exam is? wow.gif  My parents will be paying approx. $1000 for their exams. Seriously? How the heck do they justify that?!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-26 10:59:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - February 2014

We have case numbers! I was so excited that I forgot the years that my parents were born. Also I found out that they will not be interviewing in London. They will be interviewing in Dublin - does anyone by any chance have any experience of the Dublin embassy? I know that there is a place somewhere on VJ that I can look up interview wait time averages, but I can't remember where. I have to now look up and see where they should do their medical. We assumed all along as Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom that we would be in London. Immigration just loves to keep us on our toes!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-26 09:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNVC Filers - February 2014

Arghh so close to getting the case number! Called tonight and she said she couldn't tell me an update as someone was currently putting my case in the computer and two can't be in it at the same time. Said to call tomorrow. So freaking close but still being suspended like a fish on a hook!


CollieFemaleUnited Kingdom2014-02-25 23:22:00