DOS Name Check

[Hiker]

Well it has been 7 weeks since we filed our I130 at the US Embassy in Bogota.  When she went back as instructed on April 21 for her second interview she was told the name check process had not yet returned from Washington.  

At week 3 (the day she returned for her second interview) I sent an email to the Embassy asking if this was normal or should I be taking some form of action here to resolve this.

At week 4 I sent an email to the DOS using the link they have for visa related issues, and I sent another email to the US Embassy.

At week 5 I wrote my congressman and included the signed privacy form giving him authority to look into this.

At week 6 I had heard nothing from any of my letters or emails, and I sent another email to the DOS saying that I was writing my senator and hoping that she would at least call me back.  This resulted in a 1 line reply from the US Embassy in Bogota.  The reply said "Yes this is normal, usually takes 2 to 4 weeks".  That is every word they took the time to write.

Weeks 5 throuh 7 I have been calling the phone number posted on the DOS website for inquiring about visa issues.  You listen to two very long recordings and then the voice says "All Visa Specialist are busy, please call back at a later time" and then the line is disconnected.  This is designed to give the appearance of being available but without the possibility of someone actually getting through.

Today I called my congressmans office to see what action had been taken.  I was put through to their "visa and DOS specialist".  She explained to me how they had done nothing because they felt that I just did not understand that this often takes 6 to 9 months to complete.  She said some guys who had married women in Russia had been waiting more than a year.

I explained the difference in doing a Direct Consular Filing.  I told her I had done my homework and that I knew my case was an exception for the DCF visas at the US Embassy in Bogota.  She then began to explain that because my wifes last name could be a common name that it requires mush more time to sort through the database.  She then began to explain database design and how sometimes records fall out and get lost in a sort.  This is where I stopped her.  I told her that while I may not know much about the government, I know very much about database design and everything related to it.  I asked her to please not use that for an answer.  The lady had no desire to hear me.  She has no intentions of helping me.

This is the first time in my life that I have needed my government in a personal way.  I have found that my government is not accesible to me and it designed to be this way.  I hope you guys going through this do not encounter this problem.  I only have one door left to try and that is my senator.  To be honest I expect very little from any of them now.

I had a boss once who told me that A and B students go to work in the private sector, while C & D students go to work for the government.

[Wayne11]

... in response to DOS Name Check, posted by Hiker on May 16, 2003

Hiker,

The thing that makes me furious is that while they are screwing with you, 40,000 illegals slipped through the barbed wire on the Mexican border.

The whole thing is just plain stupid.  The borders are totally open and illegals even cummute to Mexico to see their families and they have the time and resources to put us through the ringer.

It is my belief that the system is so overloaded and the borders are so open, that they should let our "guests" and wives in on our word alone.  A short registration card with our SS # and they get in simple as that.

Dealing with the Coast Guard is just about as bad....

Many things about our Govt. are really screwed us, but at least most of the people aren't completely retarded like in Costa Rica.

Wayne

[Edge]

... in response to Re: DOS Name Check, posted by Wayne11 on May 19, 2003

Mr. Wayne - would it not be nice if we could just send a plane ticket to the inlaws and have them visit?  I would love for her family to visit us here in Denver and also all of my immediate family in CA.  

I do not know - I am pretty frustrated with the immigration laws in our country.  But that is another hot button issue.

All I know is this is one of the downsides to international marriages if your inlaws cannot get tourist visas.  There is alot of isolation due to the long distances which I do not like and it makes it hard on the women.
Thank god that telecom costs are down now.  With instant messaging and low phone card costs, it is not as bad as it could be.

Take care and good luck in Costa Rica.

[Hiker]

... in response to Re: Re: DOS Name Check, posted by Edge on May 20, 2003

What is really sad about the whole thing is that it does nothing to keep the bad out.  I live in Texas and I am convinced between 35 and 50 percent of the DFW metroplex is illegal.  They even go home to Mexico for Christmas etc, and know that they will be back with no problems.

We try to follow the legal path and it is a nightmare.

Last night I wrote a another letter to my Congressman but to be honest I am already convinced he is going to take no action to help me.  I am alos convinced that my wife and I are lost in the system.

[Edge]

... in response to DOS Name Check, posted by Hiker on May 16, 2003

they are putting you through the ringer.  Talk about frustration.  Can you really believe what this woman is telling you about 6 to 9 months?  First I have heard of this long a wait for a security check?

I guess all I can offer is moral support and keep trying different avenues.  Maybe think about talking to Gary Bala if you continue to strike out at your representatives.

It is hard to tell if the government is going overboard on these security checks since 9/11.  Can we blame the government or Osama since he still seems to running around blowing people up?

Frustrating part is not to at least get a status check for your wife on where she is at in the process.

[yorktr]

... in response to man o man, posted by Edge on May 17, 2003

n/t

[fencer]

... in response to DOS Name Check, posted by Hiker on May 16, 2003

"Today I called my congressmans office to see what action had been taken....This is the first time in my life that I have needed my government in a personal way. I have found that my government is not accesible to me and it designed to be this way."

I dug up this article from The Atlantic Monthly which had something interesting to say about the accesibility of our Representatives to us its citizens -

"In 1789 the first House of Representatives had sixty-five members, each representing about 30,000 inhabitants (and far fewer qualified voters). Anti-Federalist opponents of the new federal Constitution protested that districts of 30,000 were too large: congressmen would be far too remote from the concerns of their constituents
.....
Today each of the 435 members of the House represents about twenty times as many voters as the first representatives did. Whereas the United States has, on average, one representative for roughly every 600,000 inhabitants, the ratio in Japan is one to 238,600, in Germany one to 120,000, in France one to 96,300, and in Britain one to 87,500."

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/congress/lindf.htm

Who knows, perhaps they employ thousands of staff to act as the Solomon's for their constituents - but they don't wield much power (and as for wisdom, I bet Solomon knew more about databases).

[Brazilophile]

... in response to an interesting(?) aside to your problem, posted by fencer on May 16, 2003

Continuing on your aside, off topic as it is, so I will be brief.  In Canada, there is a ceiling on the number of residents in the electoral district a member of parliament represents.  Every 10 years or so, the number of electoral districts is changed (increased) to reflect population growth.  When I was a child I was taught there were 264 seats in the House of Commons.  Today there are 301.

[wizard]

... in response to DOS Name Check, posted by Hiker on May 16, 2003

someone came up with the saying "good enough for government work"!!!

Sorry to hear that you still have not received any assistance in this matter... To be honest, your story scares the crap out of me since my wife is scheduled for her second interview on May 27th...

I know you have followed all the necessary steps trying to expedite things... This is the most frustrating part... You've done everything properly, yet your case has fallen in a crack somewhere... We are at the mercy of the State Department and the BCIS when it comes to the Visa process... No matter how hard you push, you get nowhere... Kinda like trying to push a wet noodle...

Sounds like you wanted to "normalize" the Visa and DOS Assistant's database... I know it's tough, but if you lose your temper with these people, they may work against you instead of trying to help...

I wish you luck...

[Hiker]

... in response to Why do you think, posted by wizard on May 16, 2003

Yeah you are right about not making them mad.  I was very careful in that regard.  When I made my comment about not explaining the internals of a database to her, I tried to do it in a joking way.

The frustration comes from having no avenues to simply ask "Am I in the system?".

Thanks

[Celt]

... in response to Re: Why do you think, posted by Hiker on May 16, 2003

The logjams are occurring in the FBI, according to
my Congressional Rep. The Congressional aide is supposed
to contact the FBI, and ask if there is a reason for the
delay. You may wish to re-contact your Reps. office, and
rephrase the question. Ask her what response she heard
from the FBI. In this way, at least you will get a better
idea whether she made initial contact with the FBI or not.

[Hiker]

... in response to Re: Re: Why do you think, posted by Celt on May 16, 2003

Actually I did that but she told me that while the FBI is the body physically performing the name search that the authority is the DOS.  The way she tried to describe it was like the DOS subed it out to the FBI.  She wanted to ensure me that she has done this for 10 plus years and knew her job.  She didn't want to listen.  She only wanted off the phone.

[Celt]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Why do you think, posted by Hiker on May 16, 2003

My Rep.'s assistant told it to me straight. The DOS has
no informal authority or prodding powers over the FBI. I
got so pissed off that I wrote en e-mail to my FBI branch
office, asking them to forward it to any buddies they had
in the FBI building in D.C. I basically told them how the
Bogota embassy runs their show, and that alot of innocent
people were spending unnecessary time in bureaucratic limbo,
compared to the normal service others received.

I am shocked that your assistant is so snot-nosed. Don't
they realize that you win votes by pleasing
consituents? I would send a fax directly to the Congress-
person's office in D.C, repeating your request and mention-
ing the service you received in your local office, and
that you are a swing voter with friends. They often do not
know what takes place in the district offices with small
matters like this. But, they do know the multiplier-effect
of one pissed-off consituent.