I got these numbers from Saturday's IHT article --  As I had thought and have repeatedly said - this rule is designed to save virtually nothing.  No real cost analysis was done -- 

Department of State billed USCIS $3,000,000 last year for handling 16,000 cases filed at consular sections (the other 8,000 were handled by USCIS).

That is $187.50 per overseas case 

Interestingly, "187" is police code for murder in California

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/187_(slang)

http://www.urbandictionary.com...

The murder of our decades long, fully functioning, unbroken process is only days away.  

All this to avoid a small budget redistribution of funds already paid for by all petitioning parties -- the price of a good cup of coffee -- the actual cost to the entire 700,000 petitions filed = $4.30!

$4.30!

This is nothing compared to the increased emotional and family costs, let alone the financial costs to US Citizens... and, the new Rule will most likely result in increased costs to DOS and USCIS for the new multi-step year(s)-long "detour" in the process. 

Speak up! 

Thanks,

Wayne

Friends,

What happened and what is happening:

The current process has been in place and functioning pretty well for decades.

Everyone is wondering how this can be changed so quicky without effective notice and input.

There is mounting resistance to the new rule by several overseas American organizations, none of whom were consulted by USCIS prior to or post drafting of the rule. Organizations are considering planning global action activities for the day the rule goes into effect - Monday. I will probably participate as well.

Gary will provide action items tomorrow.  

This is snowballing. The Wednesday USCIS call made people angry that USCIS would take no input.

I must say, I agree with them.  

Now local branches of overseas American citizen groups are linking up - AARO, FAWCO, AAWE, AMCHAM, ACA, even REPUBLICANS ABROAD are being discussed for linking in.   

There is a solution for now, slow this Rule down. Pull it back. At least to get real input.  Input that is not disregarded.  

On the call, USCIS could not identify even one group or any overseas Americans they spoke with in drafting the Rule or consulted with post drafting -- it seemed to me none of the US Gov reps had ever lived overseas nor had families. I believe one of them said, in response to complaints of long wait times, that we better learn how to plan ahead properly.

It really seemed like they just did the call so they could check off a mark on a todo list -- item: do call with citizens, check.       

And the USCIS phone call summary was very misrepresentative of the call. Nothing of substance was relayed in the summary - like all commentary fell on deaf ears. No one on the call was for the new rule (2 or 3 speakers asked for info and the rest questioned and criticized the rule - maybe 100 people on the call.

It appears they drafted the report to pretend compliance to their bosses and so they could claim, "another call in our year long exhaustive process to get out the word and seek input."

We need to get the message to their bosses in congress, state dept and the Whitehouse.  

USCIS did put out their emergency circumstances language - but lacks definitions for terms and periods. Further, they stated it would be rarely granted.

Please note, USCIS  often opens up new comment periods where comments are few -- and where they want input.  

Why not on this action?

It ain't broke, so don't fix it!

Kind Regards,

Wayne Weightman

On Wednesday, USCIS is asking for our feedback regarding their new Rule which ends our efficient direct consular filing of Petitions to bring our family members with us when be want to move back to America.

Instead of filing our petitions with our local consular officer, we will have to send them to a lockbox in Chicago where our petition will have to navigate a lengthy process ripe with opportunities for snafus.  It will also cause us lots of problems with lost mail between the USCIS and NVC and us as well as significant international mailing expenses for both us overseas Americans an the US Government.

USCIS will be explaining their reasoning for changing our simple and quick process into an indirect and lengthy process where unrepresented parties currently spend long waits from filing petitions to visa interviews.

USCIS's position is contrary to current Administration Policy of reuniting families and making the process easier for overseas Americans to return to the US to live or visit with their non-American spouses and children.

Besides adversely impacting overseas Americans, the Rule actually makes an efficient process - fraud detection at an early stage -- inefficient by delaying it and costing the US Government resources that it currently does not have to expend. 

Our position is that we want the Rule withdrawn prior to its effective date ofAugust 15. 

To join the call -  email USCIS office of public engagement and list your organization as DA and the country you are living in.

Follow instructions on the invitation from provided by USCIS.

The invitation is located on the upper right panel called "group Resources" and is titled "I-130 Teleconference, Aug. 10" 

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT! 

Hope to see you there. 

Wayne Weightman

Cambodia 

If you haven't yet written your Representative regarding the upcoming change in visa request procedures for Americ

There is a dangerous rule change impacting overseas Americans in most countries that takes effect August 15