[Mieyasmommy]

Hi,

My curiosity got the better of me. We were planning on contacting a Congressman about INS in 4 weeks as we just sent the homestudy to INS yesterday. I wanted to know some general info today so I called to ask.


He asked if we had our homestudy done – I said yes. He asked when we sent that in – I said yesterday. He said people have misconceptions about what their Congressman’s office CAN do for them regarding Cleveland INS. He said it really isn’t the INS’s fault, believe it or not, he said it is ALL on the FBI – they are slow with getting the fingerprinting results back to the INS. As soon as they do INS can move forward and wrap the case up. He said they get such a bad rap when they are trying to move fast for adoptions. He said we cannot expedite it as their adoption unit IS an expediting unit – they work hard and fast for the couples, and again, it is the FBI.

That being said, the Congressman starts a file and calls for updates. He started a file for us, took our names, address, phone number and he will e-mail today for a case update.

Seeing as how we can never get a hold of them via the phone as their line is always busy, I am a happy camper that someone who can get a hold of them will for us from time to time.


Is this what all of you who used a Congressman were told too? Is it different in other States I wonder...or if anyone here used Clev. INS and a Congressman - is this what you were told as well?


Take care.
Mieya's Mommy
Our Timeline
Signed with Agency: 2-25-05
Accepted Referral: 2-26-05
Homestudy Approved: 3-18-05
I600A Filed: 3-18-05
Sent Homestudy to INS: 4-5-05
Authenticating Dossier: 90% done!

[christinarn2000]

They misplaced our file and the only way they found us is that we made an appointment to meet with them. Of course they apologized...but it nearly drove us insane. I never thought about contacting our congressman....Good idea.
Christina

[tammy2]

In Kentucky I felt as if INS was way to slow so I first called the FBI and checked to see when my prints were released back to INS and it was actually on the same day. The next thing I did was call my senator's office and they were so helpful. Thhe girls that helped me there was a God send. She would call me several times a day with were she was and what the INS was telling her. She then told me if I did not have my I171h by 3/16/05 to call her and I did.

[RSFBuckeye]

Yes, we too have had our share of misfortune with Cleveland. However, ours was with just getting an appointment for fingerprinting of which the FBI is not involved at this point. The main concern we have is that you cannot contact them. My husband and I both have spent days on end dialing and redialing their phone number from 1-4 with no luck. If they would just provide a number or e-mail address that someone would respond to it would make a world of difference. We did relay this to our congressman as well.

[Princesa's Mama]

I live in MN and we I filed at the CIS office on 8/9/04, had our fingerprints done on 8/10/04 and they cleared the FBI on 8/11/04 according to my I-171H form--that's pretty quick if you ask me! Our processing was completed on 9/1 and we received our I-171H shortly afterward.

[acjmn4ever]

I am not sure I am buying that. Not to sound negitive, but if they are working quickly, why did it take 4 days to get a receit that they got my money. But a month and a half to get my fingerprint appointment?

I am so dissappointed, I thought calling a congressman would help. I would have a lot of questions. Why does it not take as long (on average) for Cincinati and Columbus? I am actually really currious about that. Why are other states so much faster? They are not just known to be slow in processing I600a, they are much slower accross the board at all their processing. These are some of the questions that I would be addressing with the congressmen.

I have an idea, I also use Cleveland BCIS, I think you and I should coordinate our info pass apointments every other day. That way every day they have some one that they see in person holding them accountable for what they are doing. If there are more board people waiting on Cleveland BCIS we can all coordinate. I don't mean to be rude or nasty to them, actually I think we should go in every day and be the absolute best that we can, so that they see how warm, loving and excited adoptive parents are.

I asked the guy when he did our fingerprints why you cannot call them or just walk in. He said it is because they had gobs of people from open to close and people would get nasty. And I understand them not wanting to work in that kind of environment, but I also think that now all their cases are just papers, no faces, not much accountability.

Just my oppinion. I think I will call my congressmen just to get answers for some of my questions. Sorry so long. MoMo

[amestes]

Don't feel alone on slow moving BCIS, we have people here in TN and some on this board that have waited up to 4 months for their approval. I agree with the above poster I'm unsure of the reality of these offices moving "as quickly as possible" when they have such slow approval times. We need to get some adoptive parents into those jobs!!

[PattyR]

I don't buy the story about blaming this on the FBI at all. When I was fingerprinted at the BCIS office I asked how long it took to get the report back. That said when they are submitted electronically they get them back from the FBI within 24 - 48 hours.

What I would like to do is figure out how we as adoptive/adopting parents can successfully advocate for change. I think it's ridiculous that the only way to communicate with these people is through the mail. They do not seem to respond in any big hurry and furthermore even after you apply you are not given a name and contact number. We pay hundreds of dollars for this service and we get terrible service (at least at some offices). If there aren't enough people, hire more. If someone isn't getting the job done---let them go. That's what would happen in any other job. I just can't believe there isn't accountability.

Sorry, but this is one of my pet peeves. Our paperwork often gets faster attention in the foreign country than it does here. Furthermore, if you call the BCIS and nicely ask questions about their process --- you may be called "un-Patriotic!" It happened to me and I was being nice.