Re: Dallas Pilot Program & other flub ups
Here is a link to information on the pilot program...I am not going to read through the whole thing, but it does look very informative. Look like a great program if you have all your paperwork in order. You may be too far into the process to take advantage of the Dallas pilot..
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/fieldo...t_overview.htm
With regards to your case, here is another link to the structure of the service center/district office, sub office...etc...You did not indicate where you are from or where you sent in the application, but if Dallas is the nearest sub office, then you should have filed in the Texas service center, then all your appointments should go through the Dallas office. Sounds like you got a mess if they are making you go to NO..
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/fieldo...nchorTENNESSEE
With regards to the biometrics, they sent us a letter saying they would inform us of our appointment, and we waited and waited, almost two months and got nothing. We made an appointment to our local sub office to ask about it, and they just sent us over to another counter we got it done right then and there, no problems. I Found you get much better service when you go to the offices, rather than phone in....I suggest you make an appointment with info pass at the nearest center, take all your stuff with questions prepared and head on down there. In Columbus Ohio, at least, they were very informative, helpful and nice.
Finally, a word of advice..go easy on the tude...they may seem to be idiots, but they still control this whole process and yes, they can probably make it worse for you if you piss them off! It is okay to vent here, but play nice when you talk to them!!
Good Luck
Re: Dallas Pilot Program & other flub ups
Hi mmadsen55,
Appreciate the timely reply. Am curious if when you did go for your biometrics, if you saw anything resembling a "Biometrics worksheet" I see mentioned on the recent appointment letter.
Yes, am aware of Dallas Pilot program link you listed. the Dallas Pilot Program looks glossy on "paper", but was told by Washington a while back that a person had to go to the approved service center for their state (New Orleans in my case) for biometrics, and that the Dallas Pilot Program was for locals... (yet Dallas is the assigned service center for Louisiana, as well as Texas and a number of other states). The technical definition of who can actually process through on that program on the website is vauge, and so was the response I got, and when I formally requested to be processed through that program when filing the I-485, there was absolutely no response.
At the time of sending in our paperwork, the I-485 website page stated at that time that all I-485 applications were to be sent to chicago. Recently again checked the state links you mentioned, and interestingly, now although they still list Dallas as the assigned service center, they list processing of I-485's as being done in "Nebraska"? Yet, various links still list N.O as the place biometrics are done.
It is not clear to me if your suggestions of making an appointment via the infopass system and going in with all papers is just for the biometrics, or for the whole I-485 process. My understanding was other than this vauge Dallas Pilot Program, a person had no option but to send in paperwork to what ever currently assigned receiving service center was listed for a particular process, which was confirmed by Washington. In looking at the links you referred to today, the following link even states a person has to first have a mailed letter in hand before attempting to go to get biometrics done. So, are you saying that contrary to their declarations, a person can just get an online appointment and show up? For Biometrics, or for the whole I-485 process via their online infopass?
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/ascs/asc.htm
You mentioned that you waited for months to get a biometrics appointment as others I know have also experienced. Yet, almost as if to chide me, the day after the assigned service center sent out their receipt of my I-485 application, they sent out the appointment for the biometrics, setting the appointment date a mere 72 hours after the postmark date of the letter. I didn't even get the letter until after the assigned appointment date which is very contrary to their declared policy of providing ample time from point of notice to plan and appear at any scheduled appointments. I can't think of many excuses for such competence, other than the lack thereof or sheer childish behavior.
I'm still curious about the "Biometrics worksheet" that is mentioned on the appointment letter. Can you update me as to what information they need/request regarding when going in for the biometrics? Don't care to travel all the way to Jackson, MS to find out this worksheet is asking for data or papers I needed to have gathered before going.
Appreciate the feedback. Yes, better to vent here...but twice now have had to hammer on heads of state to deal with such lurid conduct. Actually, those at the bottom of the food chain in that organization always seemed to be very cordial and bend over backwards to try to help. It seems that those who somehow got in the position of making decisions that seem to behave like two year olds, and sorely lacking in the IQ department.
This is not just personal experience. People in upper management have told acquaintances of mine that many who are in the position of authority or decision making, tend to enjoy playing god with people's lives, are inclined to go out of their way to be un-productive, only show up to draw a pay check and do only what they absolutely have to to stay on long enough to draw retirement.
People behaving this way wouldn't be allowed to work that way in corporate life, at least those having to work for a corporation (i.e. the workers). Or if they were allowed to stay very long, would soon sink ships. Ooops... well, in light of all the corp scandals over the recent years, it seems they tend to somehow wiggle their way into the upper corporate management realm as well, as many many ships seem to have been sinking...
Over the years, have talked to, traveled, and even experienced communistic/mafia oppression and fear tactics used in former soviet bloc countries. Those who I've talked to over the years who grew up and lived under the iron hand of socialistic communism that seems to have evolved into socalistic mafiasm all tell me the same thing... There is more freedom and less beauracratic oppression in their socialistic / communistic mafia run countries, than here in the good ole U S of A. Back then, I just thought they were blowing smoke.
Anyway do let me know if you would, what if any info / documents you found that was needed for the biometrics worksheet. (Or was there no "worksheet" when you went in, and is just another "fluke" of their stated process?)
Thanks,
ee33 (vented :)
Re: Dallas Pilot Program & other flub ups
There was no worksheet that we filled out ahead of time.....What happened is that we showed up to ask why we had not received our appointment, and they just sent us to another counter in the office and we got it done. They did not know why we had not received the letter, but were very accomodating.
When I mentioned the info pass meeting, it was to discuss everything you are talking about. All the question about where to go, how to transfer the service center if you need, the biometrics worksheet. Just make a long list of the questions and talk to an immigration officer in person. I Just meant show up to ask questions, and maybe you can get some of the process stuff done, like the biometrics, or changing the service center.
There is a program that if you are filing the I130 and I485 together, then you can send it to Chicago. Yes, I am in the Nebraska service area, and all the forms indicated that we should send to Nebraska, but we sent it to Chicago. Our lawyer told us that, (worked great) and upon my research, I could not find that little tidbit anywhere, so I am on board with the mis informaiton in the forms and the confusion it creates.