Immigration Improvements

[Gary Bala]

For those of you looking for immigration improvements,
BCIS (Immigration Service) appears ready to move
into the digital age. It was announced today that
they will begin electronic filing (e-filing)
of certain petitions, starting first with I-765 Employment
Authorization and I-90 "green card" replacement. These
two petitions alone constitute 30% of all
immigration petition work nationwide.

You file your petition on line through their website
and you will receive e-mail confirmation immediately.
The program is currently set to roll out on May 29, 2003.
It will eventually expand to all major petitions
including the I-129F fiancee visa petition.

Good luck to all,
Gary Bal

[Michael B]

... in response to Immigration Improvements, posted by Gary Bala on Apr 25, 2003

Well, that won't help me, but at least (hopefully) others won't have to suffer when (if) they finally get their act together.

[Hiker]

... in response to Re: Immigration Improvements, posted by Michael B on Apr 26, 2003

Yeah and if they would make a change to ensure the girl does not make the trip for her second interview until the security check is back from Washington.  My wife went back on March 21, paid the 330 bucks and presented her documents.  Then she was told everything looked good but her clearance had not been returned from Washington yet.  She was told she would be called and just have to come back again.  We still have heard nothing.  I emailed the embassy in Bogota Tuesday morning but no reply.  I have tried being really patient but now I am learning that this is not as uncommon as I first thought.  Monday I will attempt to call the embassy and then I will call my US Rep.  I realize the importance of the security check, but don't schedule someone to make the trip if it is not going to be ready.  In our case I really don't understand.  We are both professionals with an uneventful background.  I do belong to the NRA though.  Hope that doesn't count against me.  :-)

[Michael B]

... in response to Security Clearance, posted by Hiker on Apr 26, 2003

[This message has been edited by Michael B]

(There's that phrase again, why is it that it always comes up when talking about the 'efficient'and 'caring' way our government treats people trying to do LEGAL immigration?).

Where did she have to come from? I'll bet they didn't volunteer to reemburse the transportation and lodging expenses for her additional trip, did they?

[Hiker]

... in response to That's disgusting, posted by Michael B on Apr 26, 2003

From Cali.  The guy was real cool about it.  It was like it was no big deal.  I understand that it is out of the hands of the embassy and they can't do anything without receiving the clearance from washington, but they know every person scheduled each morning.  They have all the info including phone number.  It would be no big deal to take a little initiative and call them and pencil in another date.  

[lswote]

... in response to Re: That's disgusting, posted by Hiker on Apr 26, 2003

Celt's wife went in February and had the same problem you did.  My wife went in March with no problems, and now your wife in April having the problem Celt's wife had.  I am surprised they scheduled the return visit for your wife so soon.  If I am not mistaken you said they scheduled the second appointment just 3 weeks after the first for your wife.  They scheduled my wife's second appointment 5 weeks later.

[Celt]

... in response to Lots of inconsistancy in the process, posted by lswote on Apr 26, 2003

They have all the info necessary to avoid useless 2nd
visits for those whose security checks are still pending.
I suspected this kind of governmental neglect, and demanded
service by bringing the situation to my Congressman's door.
His staffer told me he was working on similar cases--in
the Bogota embassy! He told me he was able to speed things
up in every case.

Also, your security check may have cleared, and they have
failed to tell you. I found that communicating through e-mail,
while cc-ing my Congressman's office, sped things up
tremendously.

[Hiker]

... in response to Re: Lots of inconsistancy in the process, posted by Celt on Apr 28, 2003

I can't get them to answer my emails.  I can't find someone at the embassy that can speak F**ing english.  I can't believe these bunch of idiots.

[Hiker]

... in response to Lots of inconsistancy in the process, posted by lswote on Apr 26, 2003

Last night a woman in Cali told my wife that her son married an American girl.  The same thing happened to him.  They went together to the embassy to file and he was told to be back in three weeks.  He returned only to be told that the security clearance was not ready.  They called him last wednesday to come back.  It had been 20 days since he had made his second trip.

[Hiker]

... in response to Immigration Improvements, posted by Gary Bala on Apr 25, 2003

Yeah about the time I finish it will become digital.  :-)

Thanks for the info