Sheryl

If anyone ever wondered what cataclysmic events occur should 180 days
of I129F processing ever come to pass, we will soon find out (185 days
on 130 and 175 on 129F). Our first NOA was April 1st and 2nd was
April 10th. Since then, we haven't heard a word. For months I have
checked the MSC and VSC phone systems daily. Anticipating the end of
my waiting sentence, I called the National INS people today, who made
two worthless suggestions: I write a letter to the MSC requesting
status (according to her the MSC takes about 6-7 weeks to respond to
written inquiries), or even better, that I call the automated
telephone number for status. Gee, I never thought of that! They also
claim there are many cases older than six months still waiting to hear
back from the MSC after the 2nd NOA. I have a hard time believing
this since I have encountered no one on this or any other site with a
silent older case. If there is anyone out there with an I129F (for
K3) receipt date of early April or before and has yet to hear anything
from the MSC, would you please let me know? We have sent letters to
the three congressmen that sponsored LIFE, my two state senators,
local House Rep, and most recently a Hill insider. To date no one has
given us information on what, if anything, is holding up our case. I
have encountered a brick wall at every turn. Four months ago, we
thought we couldn't stand being away from one another for another
week. The longing has evolved into long-term suffering...emotionally,
physically and financially. We clearly need help, but can't find any.
Attorneys say they can't do anything for us. If they can't, and the
politicians can't, then who can? Me? How?

Sheryl

trburton

My wife a Russian citizen was in US on J-1 Visa & we were married 7/13/1999. I filed the I130 & I485 forms & finally got ackowledgement on 9/15/1999
In Nov 2001 we were called for interview. We were told that her fingerprints could not be read by the computer. We sent to INS on 12/11/2001 police jurisdiction reports as requested. In Mar 2002 a status request said "still pending" in May a status request went unanswered. A request for Advance Parole went unanswered until Aug 21, 2002. My wife had to leave to see about her property & get her internal passport renewed. We made the decision for her to go ahead & I would meet her in Russia with the papers & we would come back together.
After visiting two INS offices it seems that my wifes' file has been misplaced or lost.
DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW MY WIFE & I CAN BE TOGETHER IN THE US AGAIN

It is more than a brick wall. No one cares but us. I have decided that I must leave the U.S. for us to be together. I never thought my country would forsake me. Luckily we have her home in southern Russia & we both can live temporarily with my sister in Brussels.

I wish we could present a united front to someone in power.

Until then this forum acts as a support group.

Sheryl

Trburton:

Your situation is far worse than ours. I am so sorry for you. Have
you written to congressmen about your case? What sort of feedback
have you recieved? I am hoping a few other old cases will speak up as
well. Do you think it's possible to help ourselves if we work
together?

Sheryl

mrsstrickland

i can sympathise with both your situations, although mine is a month later, but we were told over a month ago we were gonna receive a RFE but still havent received it yet, this information we have received from our congressman, we are sufferring emotional and physically and financially too, MSC is reluctant to tell you anything, i just wish they would pull their socks up and get things movin, it sickens me to see others get approved way past our dates, but yet they continue to leave others layin on some desk, im pleased everyone dont choose to run their business's in this manner, but i bet you if they wanted more money off you, they would soon let you know, as you can tell im getting bitter the longer this goes on, i cannot help my USC through it cos im stuck in my home country and thats the worst part, when will this noghtmare end

Sheryl

Mrs. Strickland,

I have read several of your posts, and I can empathize with you also.
You and I (and I'm sure many others) are faced with the choice of
being away from our partners, or being away from our children. Since
you and I have chosen the former, we face single parenthood while
going through the turmoil of the INS process. It seems no one cares
about us, and how difficult our lives are while going through this.
It is very humbling

Again today I found another person somewhere in DC that seemed to care
and gave me hope. She says she'll call me back tomorrow, but then
again, everyone says the same and eventually flakes out.

Sheryl

mrsstrickland

yeah everyone seems to say 'we call you back tommorow', you know i thought this life act was put in force to preserve the family unity, at the moment there seems to be a lot of people without unity, i was looking at a site tonight who post MSC processing times, well it said as of 09/22 they were working on july 02 dates, this sickens me, with people like yourselves who are waiting and waiting, my husband is waiting on a call from the congressman who implied we should of heard from MSC by now about our RFE, but im not holding my breath, and the kids dont understand why we have to wait in the UK, they dont understand the 'visa deal', i just wish it was over, my husband is so depressed he's thinking about coming to visit, but i dont know whether i could cope with another tearful goodbye, im praying i get home for christmas, and its a shame no-one seems to want to listen, im just so pleased i found this board, if nothing else i can moan a bit...hehe. Goodluck to you, i hope you hear something soon

trburton

I have tried the offices of both Senators. Nothing, I felt as if I was dealing with INS. They knew nothing but to file a request for status. Idiots, we can do that & even check status of some items on the internet. My US Representative seems to know more & more willing to try. As of now I am considering other options.
Because she was here on a Visa (J-1 visiting professor) I did not have to file for a G-3 visa. The downside is our current problem. INS does not know she is out of the U.S. as of now. This may be our only hope if she can get back to U.S. on another Visa. She was well known in her field we may be able to work the U.S. academia friends for an excuse for a tourist visa.
My wife also says she cannot stand for me to come & then leave. I was unable to work today I was so depressed. I guess we can be thankfull we were not students. They have to be apart or leave the country for two years before the spouse can return to U.S.

Sheryl

The tearful goodbye's are the worst. The thought of another Christmas
alone with the children is too painful a thought. I was hoping a few
other old cases would come forward. Obviously Mrs. Strickland cannot
come to the US, but perhaps Mr. Strickland, Mr. Burton and I can do
something jointly. I have thought of making some sort of an attempt
at being heard, whether picket, contact news programs, etc. Somehow,
something has to be done. One gets the feeling that this could go on
for years. Don't you feel that at this point we should be well beyond
where we are in the immigration process, like spending Saturdays at
Home Depot picking out wallpaper together, or contemplating which SUV
to buy that will accomodate the new baby, and "oh...we have that final
green card interview next week"? This is like a debilitating thorn in
the side...rather palm frond crammed into heart.

Mrs. Strickland, does the INS web site or automated telephone system
mention an RFE, or was this only told to you by your husband's
congressperson?

Sheryl

mrsstrickland

No the website or automated service still says the same message as it has done from the beginning, the congressmans representative emailed MSC and managed to get this info and was very suprised when my hubbie called her 'again' to ask if she could find out anything for us, she asked if we had received anything and when my hubbie said no she said she would contact them yet again and let us know, my husband has now been diagnosed as depressed and is being treated for it, he cannot hold a job, we lost our home, all because the INS cant get their job done, he waits by the mailbox everyday and then just gets dissappointed when nothing arrives, he is so disheartenned with the whole process, which gets me down cos i cant be there to console him, he is so withdrawn i dont think hes been out of the house in days, i just hope its over soon

trburton

Update.
I called the American Consulate in Moscow this am. They confirmed all K3 & K4 visas were still suspended.

Rep Gordon's office called & said Memphis told him the records were in Nashville with an enforcement officer. I reminded him I was told in person at the Nashville office that the records were sent to Memphis two months ago. I also reminded him that I had sent requested records check info to them Dec 11 2001. This was due to fingerprints not being able to be read by the computer. Also an enforcement officer had done the interview Nov 6 2001.

Sen Fred Thompson's office called & said they had contacted Memphis and status was "still pending". What an idiot

I called Gordon's office and was told the two offices were going to call each other.

I am now waiting & willing to do anything legal to make people aware of my problem. Investigative news programs,
congress, Etc

PS. I earlier said G3 instead of K3, sorry

saledevo

I can empathize with all of you. This may sound like a stupid thing to say, but have you tried the press angle?? Perhaps a blurb in your local newpaper citing your plea (along with accompanying pictures) may tug at the heartstrings of your townspeople and then perhaps someone can be in a position to help! It's worth a try isn't it?

At the very least, the general public in your area will be aware of what you are going through and may be supportive in some way.

Good luck to you all!

sal

Sheryl

Mrs. Strickland,

Have you tried moving above and beyond your congressperson? If the
phone/online systems are still simply saying "pending", then perhaps
whatever the RFE was over has been resolved within the MSC. I have
heard other MSC cases' recordings mentioning RFEs.

Wasn't there mention of your 130 being approved and therefore
canceling your K3? Have you filed for the children yet?

Sheryl

trburton

What is MSC & RFE mean. My service center has no way of finding info online. In fact they did not send computer receipts until recently. Also, they absolutely will not accept phone calls or even talk to you if you have a real problem.
I got past the information officer by almost getting removed by security. It worked, but I was still not given correct information. Lies or CYA or not bothering to check, produces the same result. An agency corrupted by its own ineptness.

Sheryl

Sal,

Your idea is certainly a good one, but my local newspaper is the
NYTimes. Nonetheless, I will send a letter if another week goes by.
It's a great idea for TBurton. His problems seem to be within his own
state.

TBurton,

I'm hoping to understand your case better. You filed the I130 three
years ago. You mention "pending", but you had an
interview/fingerprints. What stage of the process is pending? Was
the 130 approved? Did you receive a Notice of Approval? If so, did
Moscow ever receive word of your case from the National Visa Center
(NVC)? If your I130 is still pending, then have you filed for a K3
visa through the Missouri Service Center (MSC)? MSC is the only
service center handling K3 visas. You mention receipts. Are these
Notices of Action or Approval?

RFE is a request for further information/clarification on filed
papers, I think. You should move to the federal level if your state
reps are too inadequate to find out which of the two service centers
has your papers. Isn't it amazing that one simple question takes
months/years to answer for these people?

Sheryl

trburton

Spouse in U.S. on J-1 (visiting professor) at Univ of Illinois
Married Jul 13, 1999 - Nashville TN
I-130 & I-485 Mailed Aug & returned for clarification of J-1 type
I-130 & I-485 Mailed proof & received letter with A-number signifying acceptance Sep 15, 1999
Interview held Nov 9, 2001 - we were told fingerprints were "unclassifiable" & to mail 5 year records check
Records checks mailed to & signed for by INS Dec 10, 2001
Status check By Senator Fred Thompsons office Mar 26, 2002 - "still pending"
Status request directly to INS Apr 23, 2002 - never answered
Personal visit to INS Memphis, TN - Sep 25, 2002 - "Records in Nashville"
Personal visit to INS Nashville, TN - Sep 30, 2002 - "Records sent to Memphis two months ago"
Status check By Senator Fred Thompsons office Oct 2,2002 - "still pending"
Calls to INS by Representative Bart Gordons office Oct 2, 2002 - INS trying to locate file