I asked my congressman to inquire about my I-485. They made the inquiry on Wed. and CSC called them back on Thu. (I hope they could provide the same service to us)
Basically CSC said I could apply for AP and EAD so there's no need for them to adjudicate I-485 or speed up the processing...
That's nonsense. I think we can write our senator/representative this:
1) Before I-485 gets processed, we have to apply for EAD and AP at least two times since they are valid for just one year and the waiting time for I-485 is about 2 years. For me and my wife, that's $920 in application fees (not including attorney fees) and 8 cases for BCIS to process. Many people had to apply 3 times or more. Compared to our 2 I-485 cases, BCIS has to process at least 8 cases instead of 2. This essentially ties up BCIS resources, create backlogs, and is costly to applicants. This problem is getting more serious now that BCIS has been short of manpower to enforce homeland security laws and regulations.
2) BCIS has backlogs for AP and EAD as well. As applicants, we have to apply for AP and EAD renewal only 7 or 8 months after we receive them. This is a very stressful process on our part.
3) Many a time we do not receive EAD renewal in time and have to interrupt our work. To apply for a temporary EAD, we have to wait in the exceptionally long lines out of local BCIS for a temporary EAD, braving the scorching sun or freezing weather for more than 10 hours in many occasions.
3) To use AP, we have to go to secondary inspection at the port of entry carrying a load of documents. It sometimes results in delays and makes us unable to catch connecting flights. In additioon, quite some foreign airlines have no knowledge of AP which causes significant inconvenience to us.
4) Some speculate that BCIS slows down the I-485 adjudication due to concerns about impact on the job market. But we know this is the responsibility of the Department of Labor (DOL), not BCIS. Nowadays the DOL scrutinizes labor certification process very carefully and has rejected many applications. Our cases have been approved by the DOL and BCIS in our I-140 stage as having positive impact on the economy and job market, not negative.
5) If we meet all the requirements of US immigration, why does BCIS have to make us law-abiding tax-payers wait a long period of time for our I-485 adjudication, and in the mean time create backlog and waste of resources by forcing us I-485 applicants to apply for and use AP and EAD?
6) The CSC I-485 adjudication has virtually been at a standstill since October, 2002. In contrast, the center with juridication over most of the East Coast, the Vermont Service Center (VSC), has been processing I-485 cases at a healthier speed.
Just some quick thoughts. Any comments guys?
Basically CSC said I could apply for AP and EAD so there's no need for them to adjudicate I-485 or speed up the processing...
That's nonsense. I think we can write our senator/representative this:
1) Before I-485 gets processed, we have to apply for EAD and AP at least two times since they are valid for just one year and the waiting time for I-485 is about 2 years. For me and my wife, that's $920 in application fees (not including attorney fees) and 8 cases for BCIS to process. Many people had to apply 3 times or more. Compared to our 2 I-485 cases, BCIS has to process at least 8 cases instead of 2. This essentially ties up BCIS resources, create backlogs, and is costly to applicants. This problem is getting more serious now that BCIS has been short of manpower to enforce homeland security laws and regulations.
2) BCIS has backlogs for AP and EAD as well. As applicants, we have to apply for AP and EAD renewal only 7 or 8 months after we receive them. This is a very stressful process on our part.
3) Many a time we do not receive EAD renewal in time and have to interrupt our work. To apply for a temporary EAD, we have to wait in the exceptionally long lines out of local BCIS for a temporary EAD, braving the scorching sun or freezing weather for more than 10 hours in many occasions.
3) To use AP, we have to go to secondary inspection at the port of entry carrying a load of documents. It sometimes results in delays and makes us unable to catch connecting flights. In additioon, quite some foreign airlines have no knowledge of AP which causes significant inconvenience to us.
4) Some speculate that BCIS slows down the I-485 adjudication due to concerns about impact on the job market. But we know this is the responsibility of the Department of Labor (DOL), not BCIS. Nowadays the DOL scrutinizes labor certification process very carefully and has rejected many applications. Our cases have been approved by the DOL and BCIS in our I-140 stage as having positive impact on the economy and job market, not negative.
5) If we meet all the requirements of US immigration, why does BCIS have to make us law-abiding tax-payers wait a long period of time for our I-485 adjudication, and in the mean time create backlog and waste of resources by forcing us I-485 applicants to apply for and use AP and EAD?
6) The CSC I-485 adjudication has virtually been at a standstill since October, 2002. In contrast, the center with juridication over most of the East Coast, the Vermont Service Center (VSC), has been processing I-485 cases at a healthier speed.
Just some quick thoughts. Any comments guys?