maybe nothing but still worth the effort.
Just to emphasize the fact here is a trail of my communication with an eminent Immigration Lawyer in the country who sits on the AILA board of directors.
I have hidden the identity of the ;awyer and mine as much as possible in this email thread and also like any email thread start reading from the email at bottom of the chain (bottom of the page) first.
**********************
Subject: RE: Petition to CSC
Hi J____,
Thanks for giving due thought and consideration to my request. I agree with your assessment of our petition drive in toto. It would be a soft measure, unlikely to bring any dramatic change in the near future but regardless we will pursue this path because of the following reasons:
1. this might be my or our (speaking on behalf of many applicants) only option at this stage. We do not weild much political leverage as a group for many congressmen to back us up or at least they do not consider that.
2. Granted, it may not bring the changes we seek immediately, but at least a lot of individuals within BCIS will become acutely aware of the building frustrations of the potential US citizens and we might in the process change the attitude of a small percentage of the decision makers.
3. If a lot of other eminent lawyers like yourself, the applicants themselves and other eminent immigrants use relevant forums or opportunities to bring to light the callous attitude of BCIS in handling these applications, more people will be aware. Somewhere down the road it might bring a change. Our efforts might just lead to the change in attitude/thinking of a few people at a time. It will surely benefit future legit immigrants, or as I would like to believe.
So far we have convinced one lawyer (
http://www.immigration.com/common/rsk/petition_california.html ) to send a petition on our behalf and 400 people have signed it. I will continue to do my part. As you rightly said it is also a good way to channelize the energies of such applicants and give them an opportunity to vent their frustration in a positive way.
Hoping to bring a change one mind at a time.
Sincerely,
Kuldeep
Jeff Appleman <jappleman@usabal.com> wrote:
Hi Kuldeep,
I have discussed your email with my colleagues. We share your frustration with the indefensible processing delays that are being experienced by adjustment of status applicants as well as by virtually every other category of immigration applicant. The six month plus processing times for H1B petitions is another example of the many ways that BCIS (formerly INS) is failing the petitioners and applicants who rely on the agency for fair and expeditious processing of applications. The recent scathing review of the premium processing program by the Office of the Inspector General makes clear that this is a view that is shared both inside and outside of the government. (See:
http://www.usdoj.gov/oig/audit/0314/final.pdf) It is also a view of which BCIS is undoubtedly aware.
Your idea of a petition drive would, in my view, be a good way of providing a means of venting the frustration of the many adjustment of status applicants who are victimized by these processing delays. I think that it is unlikely however, that it would result in any remedial action. My view is that it is going to take a combination of concerted congressional pressure and a litigation strategy to effect the kinds of changes that you seek. On the other hand, I do not see any harm in your petition strategy as long as you embark on the petition drive with realistic expectations.
Thanks for sharing your ideas with me. Please keep me in the loop on your progress.
Regards,
J___
Subject: RE: Petition to CSC
Thanks a lot for your consideration. I will be eagerly waiting for your response.
Sincerely,
Kuldeepc
Hi Kuldeep,
Thanks for your email. I will discuss your idea with some of my colleagues here and get back to you soon.
Regards,
J___
-----Original Message-----
Subject: Petition to CSC
Dear Mr. A_________,
Please allow me to introduce myself. I am a client of your firm and my AOS case is being handled by one of your attorneys.
I have been watching the slow progress or lack of it for the last 8 months and thought of writing to you to see if you would help people like me by petitioning BCIS to either process I485 like they used to earlier or at least let people know of their stance and what can we expect in terms of processing times.
As you are probably aware that there has been a marked slow down in the processing speed of I485's after September 2002 for one reason or the other. Though Vermont and Nebraska picked up speed after so called system changes CSC is still lagging way behind.
This uncertainity has kind of put the our lives on hold. I was wondering if you would be interested in initiating a petition to CSC requesting them to speed up and provide more accurate estimates of processing times. I am sure a lot of poeple will be ready to sign such a petition.
Most of the people coming in through EB category are productive and positively contributing members of the American society and economy. I am sure many of us will play bigger role in near future in the field of science, politics and/or business. It will nice if BCIS recognizes this and at least abstains from treating us with this callous attitude.
I am writing to eminent lawyers like yourself, journalists and some eminent immigrants to write such petitions to BCIS to help smoothen the process of immigration without compromising America's security. Their should be some time limit on the waiting period. This department's inefficient functioning is totally uncharacteristic of any other that I have dealt with in this great country.
Sincerely,
Kuldeepc