biggish data

wow, 4 years just to get the interview.. =( did you inquire about it right after you got approved? That 970 days to 999 days is stupid.. Where did you case get stuck at? You said you filed in fall 2004, got approved December 13, 2004, got interview in February 2008, and sent back medical in this month.. so it looks like you are almost done =) I think that the approval expires in 2 years? (not sure on that, but it does expire, you can do some research on that).. keep pressing them and forcing them to approve.. probably wait another month or two and everything should be OK (make sure and ask them you aren't under "Administrative Processing".. if so, then you would probably have to wait a few more months)..

gogo

Male

China

2008-04-29 11:06:00

hehe, thanks for the help, but actually that was a LOCAL OFFICE INTERVIEW (not the normal interviews that everyone gets at the consulate).. they are just suspicious of my case =( .. I'm not even past the NVC part and my case is not approved yet =( I'm actually WAY BEHIND you

I have contact various senators (my senators, and other states senators too, even McCain, Obama, and Hilary - haha, anyone can help at this time).. All they do is just an official request inside and find out what is going on... I have received letters from them in the mail stating the same thing (additional processing on the case, security checks, and other stuff).. The thing you fax to the senator is the "Case Information and Privacy Release Form".. =) Yes, I have done a lot of them already and always included it in my letter (3 pages now due to the whole story and updates in-between on what happened, like the FBI letter saying no security checks on my case)..

gemillina, wow, you filed in fall of 2004, and just got your interview this year? how did it take 4 years to complete the whole thing?

gogo

Male

China

2008-04-29 10:14:00

Thanks guys.. I'll keep you updated as it proceeds.. thanks for all the info on this particular law firm.. seems they have a good reputation.. hopefully that is true and that they can help me..

wow, you are almost done, NoelandTintin.. haha.. I'm so jealous of that.. but it is weird that you are even taking so long just to get the visa.. from May 2007 to April 2008.. almost a year too.. a lot of April filers were having problems and just getting everything done right now..

Meilon, how is your case coming along? Did you try writing letters and faxing them to everyone? I don't really know if this thing is good or not for you.. but at least more people will know about the case and hopefully something will happen..

sorry to hear that you are going through it like me.. probably family members are easier to apply for (not the time, but the process) and that they can get approve faster?.. seems like the "spouses" are the most difficult for them (and for us)..

gogo

Male

China

2008-04-29 09:14:00

haha, you are talking to the "king" of faxing..

but thanks for your help though.. I appreciate that.. I already have been doing this since last November.. faxing and emailing every week.. also I have faxed the president back in January and they fowarded a copy of my complaint to the Dept of Justice which then fowarded to the FBI.. the FBI sent a letter to my house stating there were no security checks on my 2 cases (I-130 / I-129F) and please re-check with local office again..

http://www.visaserve.....tact List.pdf
http://www.duluth.li...ct/Federal.html

here's some of my findings..

and here's something for the "security checks" people : http://usaimmigratio...tiveReview.html

they say there are 2 options :

$1500 - they writing a "threat" letter to USCIS and internal depts (Dept of Justice, Dept of State, and others) and hopefully wait for an answer.. he said "throwing rocks in a pond".. same thing as I am doing now with the senators, congressmen, vice president, president, FBI.. they just have internal contacts and send it to the "right people".. hopefully someone will answer and do something.. he says a few do this and it works..

$5500 - Writ of Mandamus (3-4 months to prepare and send in -- I'll give it all to them this weekend, so no need to wait that long).. I think they mean waiting for a court date.. then he said 2-3 months for USCIS to respond (within this time a "45 days" mandatory response from them to get a decision on my case - either favorable or unfavorable).. so a total time of 6-8 months (including the "45 days" to comply)..

haha, for you guys reading my posts, just refresh every once in a while... I always just write a basic post and add to it..

Edited by gogo, 28 April 2008 - 04:56 PM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-04-28 16:51:00

NoelandTintin, have those people you encountered have the same problem as I do? (security checks?) even the lawyer said that was fake.. he said too many bureaucracy in the government.. transferring my case back and forth.. too much red tape..

gogo

Male

China

2008-04-28 16:47:00

I thought we were approved too.. after our local office interview on February 21.. the guy said everything would be ok (I even brought my parents too to the interview).. they were afraid of fake marriages coming from China and wanted to make sure I'm real (the guy just asked a few questions to my parents and not even talk to me).. I brought some pictures for him to look at.. he said everything looks good and that I would get an approval notice within 10 days..

so that's why I'm getting a lawyer.. still nothing yet.. even with calling and faxing every week after that.. created service requests and expedite requests.. and had April 24 as the latest "target date" for my I-129F.. that was last week and still nothing..

I know I can do the "Mandamus" myself, but maybe I left something out of my case in the first place.. I rather pay the high fee now and have someone to back me up.. since no one is doing so at the moment..

Edited by gogo, 28 April 2008 - 04:39 PM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-04-28 16:38:00

Yes, I did some research to find a good place.. they seem to get a lot of "success stories" even in this past year.. I know they all have success stories, but these are cases that have long-term problems in them..

http://www.rreeves.c...ess-stories.asp

thanks NoelandTintin..

are you going with them too?... anyone else know of their reputation?

Edited by gogo, 28 April 2008 - 04:27 PM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-04-28 16:26:00

yay, I will be getting a lawyer (or a team) to work on my case.. doing a "Writ of Mandamus".. they said they can send it in within 3-4 months and have an answer 45 days after that.. so hopefully around 6 months time I would receive an answer..

The fee is pretty expensive though ($5500), but it is worth it if I get to be with her everyday...

the lawyer website (open for 25+ years, and a team of lawyers so hopefully it would be better and more trustworthy than just one) :

http://www.rreeves.com

Edited by gogo, 28 April 2008 - 04:23 PM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-04-28 16:21:00

so that news doesn't apply to the I-130/I-129F then? sorry about that.. I thought I get that "benefit" too

so I'm still where I am now..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-05 15:50:00

maybe so, I actually checked and it seems my security check would supposedly clear in November 2008.. man, 1 1/2 years just to get approved..

and by that time they would probably have another excuse.. they told me there are other places to do security checks, not just the FBI..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-05 12:34:00

the thing is I even mailed a letter to the President (White House) and they transferred it to Dept of Justice who then forwarded to FBI (Names Records Division - Chief) and he wrote me back a letter (to my house) stating I had NO SECURITY CHECKS on my two cases and to please recheck with local office again.. so the USCIS is lying to me

I don't know why.. if they wanted something, they can just ask for a RFE.. I never received a request so far.. I hope the lawyer I hired can do something for me..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-05 11:53:00

haha, I'll believe it when I see it..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-05 09:00:00

finally my NOA2

congratulations!!

and 8 1/2 months from VSC for China people.. then California Service Center (where I am) would take even longer... no wonder..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-05 18:07:00

thanks LaL! is that the Ombudsman office? If so, then I already contacted them and they are no help... all they did was sent back a letter saying I was still under "additional processing".. that excuse is not acceptable to me now.. so if I hear the CSR talk to me about that, i just ask for a supervisor.. haha, end of story to them because all they are doing is reading off their manual.. but I'll send my story (3 pages now with 5 pages evidence and current status online) to them just the same.. thanks for your help

Edited by gogo, 12 June 2008 - 06:04 PM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 18:03:00

thanks G&A! well, I'm just also posting my experience to help others with these so-called "security checks".. well, you and the others are past that point already.. but I found out a 2nd place to call them (the director's office will transfer you to the "Washington DC" center - not sure where it is, I just call it that because they call from the 202 area code).. they also will call back to you and research your case for you.. provided that you are far from the 6 months that it is taking everyone to get approved..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 17:27:00

thanks rebecca!!

haha, I didn't take that personally.. I have enough problems as it is with USCIS now.. it was just a surprise for me today about the I-129F and I-130..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 17:25:00

it's not over yet.. I guess you didn't read the writ of mandamus yet.. the job was for them to "adjundicate the I-130" and they will do it.. I'm just "attacking" USCIS like I was doing before by bothering them everyday (or at least once a week).. This was just a sudden piece of news that I didn't expect.. They just told me about the thing this morning.. about the May 8 transfer for the I-130 to go back to the local office.. anyway, the fight isn't over yet and far from it..

The fat lady didn't sing yet, and I'm going to tell her to go sit on them..

I made another infopass for next Monday to go in and bother the hell out of them..

sorry, not to pick on you.. I'm going to get my $5k back from USCIS if I have to.. they already cost me a year that I can't get back.. I'm going to fax the list of people I have everyday and pressure them too.. this has gone far enough..

Edited by gogo, 12 June 2008 - 04:54 PM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 16:51:00

the lawyer will only go for the I-130 now.. they say it is not worth it to pursue the I-129F anymore.. it was suppose to be faster , but now it isn't.. the USCIS told me they administratively closed the I-129F, but the "Washington DC Service Center" person told me that just because it is administrative closed, it is only to that particular service center.. something like that.. I still don't know what that means..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 15:00:00

oh, thanks.. I didn't know about that... the first one should be ok due to the general info on mandamus.. did you mean the update where the mandamus no longer works sometimes? can you find me a link? I have read that before, but it is just a USCIS article.. I'll do some more searching as well.. thanks

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 12:41:00

haha, but seriously, the writ of mandamus is the last thing you can really do.. I don't have anything else I can do except to keep bugging them (calling them).. and they keep saying I make too many inquiries.. haha, I don't stick to the "once a month" call.. my reply is that "if they did their job, I wouldn't be calling"..

http://www.visalaw.c...b3/2feb305.html
http://www.ailf.org/...c_pa_081505.pdf

for those of you who want to read up on it..

Edited by gogo, 12 June 2008 - 12:18 PM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 12:17:00

haha, that's funny.. yes, but the official writ of mandamus is in already and I have to wait another 60 days - 90 days for it to take effect (for them to get a response from USCIS).. maybe that is why they are transferring the case, not sure.. well, I ran out of ideas I can do..

maybe send some more faxes and letters, but not sure.. I guess calling them would be more effective (attack them from two different sides - with the lawyer and from calling them myself)..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 12:13:00

thanks Rebecca..

yes, I already sent them an email on what happened today.. wow, I never thought that they would close the I-129F.. the lawyers said they were fighting for the I-130 ONLY anyway because the I-129F was supposedly faster but isn't now..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 12:07:00

just called today regarding my case to the 1-800 number and they said my I-129F was administrative closed on 4/23 (the 2nd level officer said so).. even though the website said it was transferred to a USCIS office on 4/24.. so for those of you have a "standard processing at a USCIS office", it would probably mean that it is administratively closed (transferred to a local office without a name).. they said my I-130 got lost and don't know where it is anymore..

so I got pissed and called the director's office..

they transfer you to another "service center" (one in Washington DC) and he helped me look into my cases and also called back to my office with a reply after searching for more info about my cases.. he said that my I-129F was administrative closed, but doesn't mean it is closed.. just means it makes way for the I-130 to get a decision.. he called the CSC and they said that the I-130 was transferred back to the LOS ANGELES LOCAL office (#######?? it was there since November 2007).. anyway, he said I should receive something in a few weeks (another interview or RFE).. but he said since I already had a local office interview so soon (February 2008), that it probably won't be another one.. but he even said my case was WAY OVERDUE and that he would call the service center to see what is up with my case..

I am really depressed and lost now..

USCIS doesn't even send a letter saying transfer or administratively closed to my house.. I haven't received anything lately.. the last one was for the local office interview back in January (interview for February 2008).. even the website is never updated..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 11:45:00

WITH DRAWING K3 PETITONS

and you will probably still get done before me.. haha..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-13 10:42:00

aproved at vermont today woowo

Yay, congratulations!!

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-13 10:43:00

APPROVED BOTH I-130&I-129f

Congratulations, Mielon!!

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-11 11:44:00

VISA IN HAND & HUBBY IN MY ARMS

YAY, Congratulations!!

I am jealous..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-16 15:21:00

well, don't give up.. I'm on my last fight, but I can only go so far.. if the lawsuit fails, I'm going to move back to China... no matter what, they can't take me away from my wife.. my view of America has dropped considerably because of this failure to approve my case.. the only thing that's keeping me so far is the job (it's really hard to earn this much over there)..

this is what happened to me today.. http://www.visajourn...howtopic=133664 (sorry, not thread jacking here - just posting what I had to deal with for ninjarocket) it seems there will be lots of arguments and problems (hell, they couldn't even give me a pen to use.. well, that's after I blasted them though).. but just don't give up.. keep fighting.. this is your spouse we are talking about.. how far are you willing to go for her??... people say they are afraid of the government and to not make them mad.. My opinion is to bring the fight to them.. local office, CSC.. wherever.. let all the government officials know about your case.. that's what I am doing.. at least that's how I got the FBI letter saying I had no security checks.. that will help out with the lawsuit at least..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-16 17:36:00

thanks

haha, the tone of my paragraph wasn't against you.. it's just hard being not able to know anything..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-16 15:56:00

that's true.. except I don't have a security check according to the FBI.. so hmmm.. got to find the other so-called "places" they do.. they told me that not just the FBI does security checks..

lots of things have happened to my case that warrants me to worry about it.. I may not get an approval, but at least tell me the REAL REASON behind it.. the July backlog is OVER, and there are NO security checks on my case (they told me this back in November that i had).. now they said I file it wrong.. what the #### is this all about? (not to you, to them).. Also, if everyone takes 2 years to complete, then I understand and I will wait my turn.. but if I see people get approved left and right (same feelings with people who filed before and after me that are still waiting).. then I get real frustrated..

Edited by gogo, 16 June 2008 - 03:07 PM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-16 15:04:00

I'm only one step behind you mrseze..

now my only shot is for the writ of mandamus (lawsuit).. if that doesn't go through, then I'll have to move back with her.. it's sad because she couldn't come to live here with me..

Edited by gogo, 16 June 2008 - 01:16 PM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-16 13:13:00

you can do it alone for about $385.. something like that.. but I don't want to mess mine up even more, so I got a lawyer (or a group who does just immigration law).. and they have a lot of successful "campaigns" against USCIS.. they charge pretty high though (about $5k, I paid).. but it will be worth it for the peace of mind.. they are real good with their emails and phone calls so far..

www.rreeves.com

a tidbit from them..

"Once we received the above, we will issue the demand letter. The demand letter will instruct CIS to adjudicate your application within 30 days. If no response is received within 30 days, we will prepare to file the mandamus. The government has 60 days from the receiving the lawsuit to file their response. They are entitled to a 30 days extension. Basically it is at least 3-4 months to complete the process. "

My demand letter has expired, and we are preparing the official lawsuit now..

here's a good website if you want to do it yourself..

http://boards.immigr...ad.php?t=216772

other info about writ of mandamus..
http://www.visalaw.c...b3/2feb305.html
http://www.ailf.org/...c_pa_081505.pdf

Edited by gogo, 13 June 2008 - 04:26 PM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-13 16:25:00

so they want an imminent threat? what if I threaten to run my car through their office?

I am beyond mad now, especially with yesterday's news... how can they ###### lose my case and also close my I-129F?.. they should close one if the other one is approved.. and it doesn't even match with the USCIS Online Case Status too.. their website is beyond useless.. it still has my I-130 as being transferred to the local office on November 2007...

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-13 09:24:00

I'll go kick both of them.. and whoever else gets in my way..

I work across from the local office in LOS ANGELES, and whenever I get to work and see the building, I get mad just thinking about why she isn't here yet.. Even the officer I talked with (2nd level) was wondering what the hell was wrong with my case.. but he said they are transferring it to the local office (again) and I might get a 2nd interview or something like that.. he said I wasn't even supposed to get an interview in the first place.. he doesn't even know what's going on there.. he just has more details on his computer.. and the weird thing is the 1st level CSR told me that they can't tell me all the details about my case.. "the customer is limited to only know a certain portion".. what the hell is that about?

Edited by gogo, 12 June 2008 - 02:02 PM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 14:00:00

all I'm asking is to be treated the same..

if everyone took 2 years to complete, then I will wait.. but if most get their decision within 6-8 months, then I want it too.. this is so unfair to some of us that are waiting a long time..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 13:43:00

not the FBI it seems like (Records Management Division Chief).. I received a letter from them stating I had no security checks on my cases and to please "recheck with local office".. they even told me that there are other places where they do security checks when I told them about the letter.. don't know if that is true or not..

Edited by gogo, 12 June 2008 - 01:38 PM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 13:37:00

naturalization, I think..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 10:06:00

also, one more on security checks..

http://usaimmigratio...tiveReview.html

then you can understand more about what they check.. if any..

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 09:59:00

there are things you can try in the meantime (to keep you busy) like me..

1) fax different senators, congressmen, atttorney generals, governor, anyone who is related in government.. keep sending/faxing them everyday (and the white house , of course) and bother the hell out of them.. that's how I got a response from the FBI about my security check.. which they said wasn't real..

2) keep making local office infopasses and hunt them down at the local office (well, my case got transferred to the local office..)

3) call them everyday (and more than once, because usually the first person is not helpful).. and go all the way up to the supervisor.. I once got to level 3 (well, 3rd one anyway).. haha, they ask me "do you think your case is over the processing times and 6 months??".. and I said "it's been 14 months already".. and that shut them up real quick..

dhobee and ninjarocket.. don't just keep waiting.. I know that you waited a longer time dhobee.. but just keep fighting and don't be afraid.. find different ways to bother them..this is your spouse you are fighting for.. that is why I'm not afraid of them.. I will keep bothering them until they approve my case.. I'm also going next Monday (June 16) to the local office again.. and then make another appointment after that..

here's some to help you guys..

http://www.duluth.li...ct/Federal.html
http://www.visaserve.....tact List.pdf (bother these people a lot)
http://www.ailf.org/...c_pa_081505.pdf (Writ of mandamus)
http://www.visalaw.c...b3/2feb305.html

I got more if you want.. haha..

Edited by gogo, 12 June 2008 - 09:57 AM.

gogo

Male

China

2008-06-12 09:54:00