ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsOne Step Closer to Having My Family With Me :)

I was looking for where to post star_smile.gif CONGRATS star_smile.gif to you!

Thanks so much for your work thus far to get CSC moving !!!!!!!

 

I haven't much more than rabble-rouse here on VJ.  So I have only had an indirect influence.  I would look to others like TylerDurden, Bayareaguy and Zipline.  I believe they were much more influential than I.


pachacutiMalePeru2013-05-25 00:04:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsOne Step Closer to Having My Family With Me :)

I wasn't... which makes me hopeful that we'll have news soon, if they didn't transfer us it means that maybe it's being worked on? or at least about to be? I'm currently on hold with USCIS and have been for the last hour and fifteen minutes haha. I hope they give me some useful information when they finally pick up... are you planning on traveling for the interview?

 

Yes, I definitely hope to.  I already asked the consulate and they said that fiances are allowed back and often allowed in the interview.  I can't wait :)  So excited!!!


pachacutiMalePeru2013-05-24 18:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsOne Step Closer to Having My Family With Me :)

 

Congratulations!!!! I'm a Peru filer also, NOA1 date Nov 20th... hopefully the NOA2 will come soon, but please keep the rest of us updated about the process at the embassy and how it all goes!! 

 

I will keep posting each step of the way.  Thanks.  I hope you get yours soon.  Were you one of the many who were transferred from VSC?


pachacutiMalePeru2013-05-24 17:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsOne Step Closer to Having My Family With Me :)

Thanks everybody.  My fiancee and I are super excited right now.  I have been in touch with the embassy, I have already started on the affidavit of support and she has begun to coordinate the docs she can get now.  

 

I hope the rest of the journey is quick.  I hope it is quick for everyone else too.  If you haven't gotten your NOA2 yet, keep the faith, but don't be afraid to whine and moan and kick and scream.  It is your case, it is your life, stand up for it :)

 

VJ and the forums have been very important to me thus far and I hope that I have given back at least a little of what I have gotten.

 

Mark :)


pachacutiMalePeru2013-05-23 21:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsOne Step Closer to Having My Family With Me :)

All I have to say is that I am sooooooo happy right now.  Funnily I can't seem to stop crying.


pachacutiMalePeru2013-05-22 21:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsWhite House petition about k1 visa processing times

I signed. And I've posted it on my Facebook and twitter. Our journey of red tape just started - but I see so many horror stories and uncertainty. Not cool.

 

FWIW, I did the same, even if I did imply that it's tilting at windmills.  The idea is right. This system is wrong and needs to be corrected.  Of course, seeing the problems at the VA (which make us seem a little trivial), it would appear that the feds have some serious issues.  I am proud to say that in my state (Washington) our state government is much MUCH better.


pachacutiMalePeru2013-06-14 22:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsWhite House petition about k1 visa processing times

Saw this pop up on my twitter feed.

"The disorganization and processing times regarding the K1 visa (129f) need to be addressed immediately. Thousands of people are putting their lives on hold and can't even choose a wedding date thanks to the long waits we have to endure while receiving no information for months and months. Thousands of petitions are moved around the country. Service centers remain stagnant for months and months and yet we still remain uninformed. People should not be punished for applying for visas legally."



How much will this help? I'm not sure.
But hey it can't hurt to try.

https://petitions.wh...-uscis/43dxPgHZ








 

The problem seems to be that we are such a minority that we can't even get the minimum votes to show up on the radar.  This was tried several times during the darkest hours (12/12 - 04/13).  I don't recall us ever getting much over 100 signatures.  


pachacutiMalePeru2013-06-14 20:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsAnother milestone....Case Number assigned

Well after receiving NOA2 on 9th May, my fiance just called NVC and they were able to give him the case number YAY!!!!!!

 

They did tell him though that it takes 4-6 weeks usually before the papers get to London.  But that is still good news in my books.  We are still moving forward smile.png

 

Sweet :)  Congratulations!!!


pachacutiMalePeru2013-05-17 11:19:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reportslongest NOA2 wait time ever?

Stunned silence here :( Her fiance didn't wait for the system to work for them. Incredibly sad. I hope nobody else has to suffer that :(


Except that the system most obviously did NOT work for them.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-04-08 07:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsExactly 8 Months since filing, no RFE or NOA2. Think I messed Up?

Bc one it's after the fact and two USCIS reps tell us otherwise.

 

But you filled out the form and didn't bother to read and follow the form's instructions.  I write this in the hopes that any a tiny bit proactive will know, even if you are not following the wisdom collected on VJ, if you are filling out a form, whether that form is for USCIS, DOS, IRS, SSA, VA, whatever, READ AND FOLLOW THE FORM'S INSTRUCTIONS.  They are there for a reason. I129F instructions clearly indicate ALL the documentary evidence you need to include, and also points out that for K1 you need the G325A.... it was all there.  Get in the habit now of following instructions that are printed with each and every form issued by the government.  This should not have been "after the fact".

 

Having said all that.  It is all spilt milk and you will just have to wait until the petition you entered is adjudicated one way or the other.  You will just have to be patient now.


pachacutiMalePeru2013-08-18 23:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsExactly 8 Months since filing, no RFE or NOA2. Think I messed Up?

Why, oh why do people continue to fail to follow basic instructions?  Why make life so much more difficult on yourselves?

 

http://www.uscis.gov...i-129finstr.pdf


pachacutiMalePeru2013-08-18 21:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsProblems with visa in air travel

I've read it that's why i asked if four hours is enough to deal with POE smile.png

 

Theoretically 4 hours should be enough time.  However, what if your flight is delayed 2 hours?  Now you have 2 hours to make your connection... that is probably tough... But that is just the pessimist in me.

 

In Dallas (like most places nowadays), you have to do the following:

 

1. Make your way to immigration (I was in Dallas coming from Peru not too long ago and this was not that bad).

2. After clearing immigration, you have to go get your bags (again no biggie when I went, but you never know).

3. Make your way to customs to clear customs (I have never been searched, but I bet that would add time)

4. Re-check your bag (thank your lucky stars that you are not in Miami...  Miami is horrible on this one.... Dallas, the re-check is right after customs).

5. You have to go through security again.  When I was there, this took a loooooooooooongggggg time.  I had a healthy layover, so I was fine, but be forewarned.

6. Now you have to find your gate and Dallas is a pretty big airport.

 

I would be cautiously happy with 4 hours.  But I would also be nervous about any schedule changes or delays.  Dallas is not too bad as POEs go.  Miami, horrible (if connecting... my fiancee will have her POE in Miami, but she is staying with her best friend there for a while and I will go and pick them up).  LAX is my absolute least favorite airport in the entire world... I would avoid LAX as POE (again this really only applies if you are connecting).  I seem to recall Houston being horrible too, but that was the first time I had to go through security again after clearing immigration and customs... Lately I always have to do that, so Houston is probably not really that bad.  I have heard that Sea-Tac is a great POE (but my people are coming from the South and not from the East).

 

Good luck :)


pachacutiMalePeru2013-09-03 12:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsOMG, OMG, OMG!!!!! :D

I am soooo excited....I checked the USCIS website about an hour ago and i couldn't belive my eyes...My case is approved guys!!!
I cannot describe the level of gratitud and happines i felt, God is good!!.....i prayed everyday, i wrote to the congresswoman, i wrote to the senator, i called all the time, i lost sleep, i cried almost everynight but it is finally here.

 

After 7 months exactly i can finally do my happy dance...woohoo!!!!!! dancin5hr.gif kicking.gif jest.gif biggrin.png

 

Thank you all for the words of encouragement, for all the answers and all the advices...i have been waiting for this day for so long! 

 

Thank you God!

 

Felicitaciones!!!  I am glad y'all got yours too.  Have a smooth rest of the way :)


pachacutiMalePeru2013-05-24 22:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsThe first Gay K-1 Fiance Visa Progress with DOMA repeal on the Horizon (Tim & Keno)

Woo Hoo.  I hope someone from my state is first to test this out!!  I love seeing rights spread to more an more people.  Too bad it doesn't quite make up for the blow to voting rights the day before.


pachacutiMalePeru2013-06-26 12:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNOA2 in only 20 days!!!

Hi WOW Congrats only few people got lucky this costly and stressful journey. God Bless.


Virgogirl518Not TellingPhilippines2013-10-10 00:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsJUST GOT OUR VISA!

Congrats and God Bless!


Virgogirl518Not TellingPhilippines2013-10-27 02:28:00
PhilippinesTime from interview to visa...to minimize

 

Thanks, I'm getting tired of skype!

Link to the page? I couldn't find the info looking around the website.

 

I hear you on the skype thing brother.  I am also tired of missing each and every one of my little guy's major milestones (although it would appear that I am a catalyst, since he started crawling 2 days after my visit in December, walking 2 days after my visit back in April... and there is a rumor going around that he will start talking 2 days after I leave this time)

 

I look forward to hearing the good news when you get it.


pachacutiMalePeru2013-08-02 11:20:00
PhilippinesTime from interview to visa...to minimize

Yayyyy!!!  Finally!  I was starting to worry about you, man! 

 

Our interview is next week, too.  I am here in country to be at the embassy as evidence of on-going relationship :)  Of course we have a little walking terror that does pretty good in that department.

 

Good luck.  I will be thinking of you guys and wishing you the best.


pachacutiMalePeru2013-08-01 12:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNOA1 date question...
Okay, so I received my electronic notification of the NOA1 on 12/03/2012. I have now received the hard copy today 12/07/2012. The date on the notice, however, is 11/30/2012. Which date should I use as my NOA1 date for VJ?

TIA

Mark
pachacutiMalePeru2012-12-07 17:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNew Journey Started
Thanks everybody. Still tracking my FedEx shipment. It just won't move fast enough :)
pachacutiMalePeru2012-11-27 22:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsNew Journey Started
Just mailed my I-129F packet today. Wish us luck :)

Mark
pachacutiMalePeru2012-11-27 00:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reportschange of address
Change your address with USCIS. Write up a letter for the border agent that you can send to your fiance(e) that he/she can take with them. The letter can clearly explain the change of address. That should be more than enough. :)

Good luck. Oh! Feel my envy!!! (in a good way :)

Mark
pachacutiMalePeru2013-01-23 22:26:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC July Filer Contacting Congressman

With all due respect, I don't think you understand the reason for our frustration.

The people we talk to when we call USCIS are in a call center. They are not retrieving our files and diverting time away from the processing because they are not the people working on our files. Calling is not delaying the processing of applications in anyway.

The reason we are all upset is because of the lack of information and blatantly false information. When we July filers filed our petitions, we were told there was an average of 5 months for processing at CSC (though it was very common for approvals within 3-4 months). I patiently waited for a decision for 5 1/2 months before I tried to inquire on what was occurring as I had heard nothing and had not received an RFE. We are upset because many of us are at 7 months with no word since the day we filed. We would be fine with waiting if we would be given an accurate estimate of expected approval, reasons for the delay, or even a small update on our file, such as they are waiting for X paper from Y office. But that is not the case. No one will even pull up our case or tell us why it has not been approved or if they have even looked at it. No one will tell us truthfully when we can expect a response. If we call we are told "Wait __ weeks and you should have a response." We then wait, and when we haven't received a response, we call and are told to wait more and that we should hear within that time. Many of us have no problem with being patient or waiting our turn. But we are sick of being told excuses and contradicting information. We just want an honest timeline or answer as to why there is such a delay. They are clearly not on July 18 applications - it is a line they are told to say. And if for some odd reason they really are stuck on July 18 after two months, that is very alarming.

And that is the other reason why we are upset. There is clearly a dramatic decrease in the number of applications for fiance visas being approved/processed at CSC in the last few months. Movement appears to have almost came to a complete stop. CSC has not stated the reason for the sudden drop in processing or the cause. If we were given a reason from CSC, or if it seemed that they were actively working to process applications and rectify the delay/backlog, many of us wouldn't upset.



I don't understand why people who are in the same waiting game don't understand your pain and offer condolences, instead of offering empty "patience" platitudes.

I feel for you and hope things resolve themselves quickly.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-02-27 00:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC STILL NO SIGN

Also, +1 on this. It's patronising and unhelpful for those folks to be like that, particularly because everyone's case is individual.


I think I have already made my displeasure known on this topic :)
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-08 16:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC STILL NO SIGN

220 days here and what should we do?lastnite my fiancee told me guess she is getting tired of waiting these people are causing problems for us after all u said about 5months now why all this delays why?


If it were me, I would be contacting my congressional representatives to get some resolution to my case. I plan to ride herd hard on my case the day I hit 5 months, regardless of what USCIS tries to tell me is "current processing time". But definitely at 220 days. That is just ridiculous.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-08 12:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC STILL NO SIGN

I don't believe they divide the petitions up like that; our public service expert should be able to tell us.


I don't why you have decided to lay into me so hard. I don't think I have gone overboard, but whatever, if it makes you feel better...

I have never done any USCIS work. I worked for state agencies that manage federal programs under Title IV-A and Title IV-D of the Social Security Act. So, if you want to talk welfare or child support, I am your man.

I have no idea how USCIS divides up the workload. It is quite possible that workers specialize on certain types of petitions. It is quite possible that different teams do different workload division. That is how it is in the agencies I have worked for, so it wouldn't surprise me.

Bayareaguy's statements are based on how many estimated FTEs are dedicated to the processing, given the numbers of petitions being approved. Talking in numbers of FTEs is certainly appropriate. Whether the FTEs are actual people or simply representations of some composite time estimate.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-08 12:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC STILL NO SIGN
Tomorrow (well, today actually) I will be contacting Northwest Immigrant Rights for guidance. http://www.nwirp.org...weare/contactus

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, please join me in this effort. In some other part of the country, look for whatever organization covers you and do the same.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-08 06:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC STILL NO SIGN
I need to add further stuff to this thread...

If you guys want to sit around and not speak out, knock yourselves out. I don't think this is acceptable. Not just for me, but for everyone. I at least have the wherewithall to visit my fiancee. How many don't.

The reason (in law, mind you) for the K1 visa is to NOT have a wait. Yet there is an interminable wait. They are BREAKING THE LAW. They need to be held to account.

Platitudes like "get to know your fiancee" and "plan whatever" are useless. These steps do NOT require the INTERMINABLE time that is imposed on us.

I don't know why USCIS is immune to public pressure. September 11 fears? Lack of critical mass? Lack of transparency? Whatever. Trust me. This treatment is wrong. Although I sound like a broken record, I have worked in the public sector many many years and know that it is wrong and needs to be addressed. It won't be addressed unless we make noise. So every July, August and September filer needs to be screaming their lungs out.

This weekend I will be send a general complaint letter to the the Ombudsman for DHS with copies to my congress critters. I will make it known it this letter that I realize I am only 3+ months in, but that I object to the general disregard for our family situations. I would hope that as many people as possible would join me in this effort.

Further, if it is reasonable, I will be approaching legal counsel as to the merits of this situation for a class action lawsuit. It has happened before with other agencies and in my opinion USCIS is ripe for this action.

I hope no one is offended by my strident attitude, but wake up!! This treatment is wrong. As Americans we should not stand for it.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-08 06:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC STILL NO SIGN

Then move if you don't like it here. Immigration is not a constitutional right.

It only takes 15 minutes to adjucate a proper petition. They have a multiple months backlog. Do the math. How many cases are in front of your? How Many?


Move?? Really? I am an American citizen! By birth! Trust me. Moving is in the cards, but only if absolutely necessary.

I HAVE done the math. Based on fees paid, USCIS has more than enough resources to cover processing of our applications. That they are not doing so is their issue not mine.

I have pointed out that I have worked for decades in public service, so I am not clueless how this works. There is no reasonable explanation for this delay.

How dare you tell me to move, though! Jesus Christ! Really? Why don't YOU move. Who are you to say such a thing? When I am criticizing a particular agency that is failing in its mission.

What is wrong with you people?

I don't want to flame anyone, but man! Really? I am appalled.

Then move if you don't like it here. Immigration is not a constitutional right.

It only takes 15 minutes to adjucate a proper petition. They have a multiple months backlog. Do the math. How many cases are in front of your? How Many?


And further... you waited 3 months from NOA1 to NOA2. You have absolutely no clue what the 07/2012 and 08/2012 people are feeling. Think about that before chiming in with this type of attack.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-08 06:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC STILL NO SIGN

Just telling it like it is. You guys are forgetting that they got the entire Christmas holidays off, you there's almost two weeks added....

....rather than obsess over your timeline it is suggested by many that you guys focus instead on your relationship and solidify all the plans

that you need to make for your fiance(e) (and children if applicable) when they arrive in the US.

English classes set up? Children's schooling? Driver's training? Marriage plans? House remodeling? Shopping?

There's going to be much more to worry about than some little old timeline. That is what is will be.


Personally, I am sick of you guys assuming that we are NOT doing this. I already have all of this well in hand. Took me all of a month to get all my ducks in a row as to what steps I need to take. I will repeat it here.... IN NO WAY DO I NEED 8 MONTHS TO DO THIS TYPE OF PREPARATION.

I would prefer to proactive if I can be, especially if this will help those who come after me. Stop being an apologist for the USCIS; they do not appear to deserve it.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-08 05:17:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC STILL NO SIGN

you are right but when are we moving on getting uscis come in and explain themselves on this waiting game in a court of law or something.all we do for now I think is talk and nothing we doing about it let's try and come together and call this people at csc in order.my pennies too


Okay, so since I am not a lawyer and have no idea what I am talking about, next step would be to consult with an attorney regarding the possibility of a class action suit. Any ideas?
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-08 05:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC STILL NO SIGN

I find this statement interesting.

If you look at the 1-129F submissions during the June-sept time period, they are within the average amount of 1-129F applications they normally receive.

So, if the number of I-129F submissions is in the normal range, what submissions could they possibly be referring to in this statement???


Hmmmmmmm.


I was thinking the same thing. It even seems that they might be a little down in the K1 submissions. But it is definitely not any kind of abnormally high volume, by any stretch.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-07 13:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC STILL NO SIGN

I have been saying this for a couple months now.

http://www.visajourn...se-about-uscis/

http://www.visajourn...-cis-ombudsman/


This weekend I will write letters to my congress critters and to the Ombudsman's office of USCIS. I will post here the text before I do so.

I can at least do what little I can to help out.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-07 12:53:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC STILL NO SIGN
Look. I just resigned from public service a few months ago, but I was an 18 year veteran. The last 12 were IT, but the first 6 were processing cases (I worked for the state agency that handles welfare benefits in my state, first as a financial worker, then a financial lead, and finally I worked two years in what would be the ombudsman's office for my agency). So, I have a good feel for what it means to process mountains and mountains of paperwork. But we had laws we had to follow or we would be reprimanded. There were lawsuits behind many of those laws.

Having said that, I don't understand how USCIS gets away with essentially flaunting their own regulations. I said on another thread that I wonder if we could file a class action suit to bring attention to this issue. I believe something needs to happen to get this process under better control. This kind of thing is simply not tolerated in any of the agencies I have been involved in, and I would bet that if pressure were brought to bear the same thing could be said about USCIS down the line.

One further thing in the issue of contacting or not contacting. This is what I would tell clients in my caseload about contacting me: Look, I have over 700 cases in my caseload. You only have 1 case, yours. You are much more capable of riding herd on your case, so if you feel the need to rattle my cage, do it. Luckily for my clients, I was pretty freaking good at my job (as can be inferred from my career trajectory), so they didn't have to call me too much. The bottom line is that you are the ones most familiar with your case and where it should be. Feel free to stay on top of it as much as you can.

Just my two pennies.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-07 12:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC STILL NO SIGN

You need to wait. Not until you're at about 10-12 months out would I call out the troops.


Don't listen to this poster. 10 to 12 months??? Seriously? We need to put more pressure on USCIS to process these cases timely. The K1 visa was set up to NOT endure long wait times. They are failing at their mission and should be held to account. If more people would do this, maybe they wouldn't act the way they do. Contact as soon as is sensible (I am calling at 5 months, regardless of what their "current processing times are"... they told me 5 months when I started). Depending on the runaround I get then, I will be contacting my congress critters and the USCIS ombudsman's office. Now, I may look at the current processing times before I pull that particular trigger, but I may not, depending on how unreasonable this is. Heck, I even think 5 months is unreasonable, given the reason for the the K1 and K3 visa program.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-07 10:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsPost Decision Activity - Happy Day
Super congratulations :)

Yay another CSC approval... Congrats :dance:


There were 4 yesterday. Please, please, please. Let this be the beginning of a huge wave of approvals.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-08 13:16:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC
BTW, any and all my feel free to copy as necessary (you might need to change a few details). Consider this letter to be copyleft :P
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-11 00:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC

Really great letter. I'm thinking about sending it to my representatives as well. Corrections: 1) Aforementioned doesn't need a dash, and 2) In paragraph 6, you're missing the 'o' in 'who' in 'soul-mates who have found...'.


Thanks for the corrections. Any others more than welcome :)
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-11 00:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC
This is my first draft... please let me know what you think and offer tweaks before I send it off:

I am currently a petitioner for a K-1 fiance(e) visa. I am writing to express my displeasure with the process and the prioritization it is given. Before I begin, I must state that I realize that I am relatively new to the process (in the system as of November 30, 2012), but the complaints that I raise are valid for my case and even more so for those who applied before I did. My statements are not meant as an appeal for my particular case, but to shed light on a process that is flawed, and, in my opinion, a violation of federal law.

I am writing not only to you, a representative of the Department of Homeland Security, but am also sending copies to my congressional representation. I hope that my voice will be heard with this statement. If this is not the case, I will be pursuing my options in regards to garnering media attention to the matter. I am also considering the possibility of a class-action lawsuit against the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, for a process that is inherently prejudicial to the families of United States citizens, not to mention in direct violation of federal statute.

When I originally petitioned for my fiancée to be able to apply for a visa under the K-1 non-immigrant visa program, I was informed that the process would require 5 months. This duration is already excessive, in my opinion, given the mandate the agency is under the Legal Immigration and Family Equity (LIFE) act. Here you can see USCIS’s own statement regarding this mandate:

http://www.uscis.gov...000082ca60aRCRD

I believe anyone would be hard-pressed to consider 5 months as not being a “long separation.” But things are much worse than this. Times are now typically much longer: 8, 9 and 10 months, not being unusual. To further exacerbate this inequity, the California Service Center has essentially not processed any cases (but a few tokens) since I initiated this process more than 100 days ago. They have been informing the public since December that they are stuck on July 18, 2012 applications. This delay is unacceptable, given the afore-mentioned mandate.
Further mistreatment is being inflicted on American citizens in the mere fact that USCIS is allowed to act in a completely unaccountable manner. They are the exact opposite of transparency. It is difficult, if not impossible to get any straight information about the process from USCIS. Getting information about your specific case is a hopeless endeavor. This is very disheartening for a lifelong supporter of an effective transparent government.

USCIS is making any number of vacuous excuses for this delay. They claim that there are an unusually high number of applicants; this is belied by the data they themselves publish which indicate that there are, in fact, a typical, if not lower, number of applicants. They may claim a lack of resources, but this is belied by a quick calculation of the fees assessed on applications. If we look solely at K-1 visas, we can see that at $340.00 an application, we can see even by USCIS’s own data that they take in 1000 applications a month, which shows that on that application type alone they take in $340,000 a month. Extrapolating this data to all other visa types, it is easy to see that the California Service Center itself should be flush with revenue. It cannot be said that this revenue is being directed to other sources, because USCIS is mandated to be self-funding. Thus, the only conclusion that I can draw is that this revenue is being mismanaged.

Each and every one of these “cases” that are being forced to endure inordinate durations of separation, are, in fact, people. People who are wanting to move on with their lives, which have been put on hold for this period of inactivity. To highlight this, let us look at my case as an anecdotal example. My fiancée and I have a son in common, who we have already registered with the consulate. Imagine what 100 days in the life of an infant represent. I have been forced to forego this significant development in his life due to the vagaries of USCIS and their “priorities.” Each case is something similar: soul-mates wh have found each other, families trying to reunite, parents trying to be with their children. And in each case, USCIS gives the appearance of indifference. Is this really the service that government should be providing to American citizens.

I believe that the American public would be appalled to see that this is the way that immigration processing is being conducted. They are not outraged now, only because they are not aware. I believe that most Americans would agree with me that immigration reform should begin with those visas that are designed for family reunification. I further believe that this is something that USCIS can do without any type of legislative or administrative mandate. That they choose not to do so baffles me.

I urge you to take action to rectify this situation. I hope to receive a prompt reply to my concerns. Depending on what type of reply I receive, I will continue to address my concerns with the media and the courts.
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-10 23:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsCSC

He said that he was 'directly involved'. Maybe he's helping others with theirs.


Don't think so. He said " It's my 3rd K-1 in my lifetime."
pachacutiMalePeru2013-03-09 16:27:00