Why things're getting worse and worse ????
Do all these things mean doors for immig. are closing day by day... ???
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6. VSC Supervisor Speaks to AILA DC Chapter
On March 26, 2003, Donna Kane, Supervisor for Immigration
Information Officers and Customer Service at the Vermont
Service Center (VSC) spoke to AILA Washington, D.C. Chapter
members about new developments with the transition from INS to
BCIS and other ongoing changes at VSC. All attorneys from The
Law Office of Sheela Murthy attended the meeting, as did our
Paralegal Coordinators from each department. As anticipated,
there remain many unresolved issues with respect to the INS/DHS
transition. However, Ms. Kane was able to provide some helpful
news and guidance that may prove helpful to MurthyDotCom and
MurthyBulletin readers.
Communications
While Ms. Kane explained that improved communications from
BCIS is a priority, she also announced that the individual service
center telephone numbers will be turned off on June 1, 2003. In
their place will be a national toll-free number, but they are
working on a database to allow the VSC to identify calls related
to the center and respond with a telephone call or letter. This
change, in part, is attributable to the belief that the online case
status system should have eliminated the need for a number of
calls. However, we would note that, while the online system does
provide frequently updated status information, it is no substitute
for the live person who is needed when there is a problem or the
status system has not been updated in a timely manner. On May 1,
2003, the VSC expects to implement a dedicated fax line for
requests to expedite processing for a particular case. The requests
must include an acceptable reason for the VSC to expedite a case.
Acceptable reasons would include a family medical emergency or
an age-out issue that is left unresolved by the Child Status
Protection Act (CSPA).
