Name check?!?!?!

[david_dawei]

I think it's that "program loop" you mentioned, D-Z. It's easy to press ENTER and send off a data request. When the requested information comes back incomplete or inconsistent, it's just as easy to press ENTER and send the same request again rather than to pull the string to see what's actually at the other end of it.

 

Hey, do you think we should pin this thread for a while? Or maybe build a small name check FAQ?

well, your info was as informative as I have read about namechecks. I was thinking of including your explanation in my FAQ...

[Cody]

From Feburary 15th till now seems like three times the normal wait for the name check to pass. I wouldn't start to worry, but I would start to act. If the DOS and GUZ can't give you an adequate answer, you need to contact other officials in the DOS and demand an answer. Write to your congressman. You shouldn't worry about "nagging" your public official, because that is his or her job to serve you. I would not wait until June or July to start knocking on doors.

[david_dawei]

Frankly, I'm not convinced that the message is telling the 'truth' (name check is incomplete)... I'm only convinced that the message is a generic one that starts from the beginning of the check. I don't see it's time to worry yet..

[Zingaro]

Frankly,  I'm not convinced that the message is telling the 'truth'  (name check is incomplete)...  I'm only convinced that the message is a generic one that starts from the beginning of the check.      I don't see it's time to worry yet..

I guess it depends on how one defines "telling the truth". It is the truth, in a sense. A name check has been requested. No up or down vote has yet been received. Hence, name check incomplete.

 

Of course, there are a lot of other truths that such a blanket, formula statement can obscure. It tells us nothing about why the name check is incomplete, what remains to complete it, etc. It's that information vacuum that drives us batty.

[Maui & China]

In our case after 6 months I contacted the FBI which was a big waste of time. Still haven't received a reply from them and they were incredibly rude. Spoke with immigration assistants for my Congressman and one of my Senator's. Senator Inouye's assistant was extremely kind and understanding. She was able to determine it was the FBI holding up our case and kept contacting them every 2 weeks for a status update. Unfortunately nothing was happening.

 

After 8 months I e-mailed the Senator directly and asked for his personal assistance. Amazingly he read my e-mail and wrote to the FBI himself, asking them to expedite our case. 2 weeks later, the name check was finished. I'm trying to get a copy of the e-mail so I can frame it!!

 

So keep contacting your political reps. Don't be afraid to ask for some personal involvement on your behalf. It probably helped that I am from a small state. But I also tried to keep my correspondance logical, reasoned and not too emotional. Tried to appeal to their sense of fair play, and get them on our side.

 

Good luck and keep fighting. Never give up hope.

[Zingaro]

In our case after 6 months I contacted the FBI which was a big waste of time.  Still haven't received a reply from them and they were incredibly rude.  Spoke with immigration assistants for my Congressman and one of my Senator's.  Senator Inouye's assistant was extremely kind and understanding.  She was able to determine it was the FBI holding up our case and kept contacting them every 2 weeks for a status update.  Unfortunately nothing was happening.

 

After 8 months I e-mailed the Senator directly and asked for his personal assistance.  Amazingly he read my e-mail and wrote to the FBI himself, asking them to expedite our case.  2 weeks later, the name check was finished.  I'm trying to get a copy of the e-mail so I can frame it!!

 

So keep contacting your political reps.  Don't be afraid to ask for some personal involvement on your behalf.  It probably helped that I am from a small state.  But I also tried to keep my correspondance logical, reasoned and not too emotional. Tried to appeal to their sense of fair play, and get them on our side.

 

Good luck and keep fighting.  Never give up hope.

I'm curious - Was Inouye able to find out WHY things were delayed at the FBI?

 

I'm just about to write to both my senators' offices. I'm not real eager to go through a couple more months of waiting while their immigration assistants get the brush-off from the FBI, but I don't quite know how to go around them without causing problems.

 

I guess the best thing for us to do at this point is to write the letters, keep checking back, and email the senators directly after an apprpriate grace period.

 

Congrats again to you both!!!!!

[Maui & China]

I'm curious - Was Inouye able to find out WHY things were delayed at the FBI?

 

I'm just about to write to both my senators' offices. I'm not real eager to go through a couple more months of waiting while their immigration assistants get the brush-off from the FBI, but I don't quite know how to go around them without causing problems.

 

I guess the best thing for us to do at this point is to write the letters, keep checking back, and email the senators directly after an apprpriate grace period.

 

Congrats again to you both!!!!!

Most of the congressional delegation have offices in major towns within their districts. CALL - don't mail or email. Ask for their immigration laision and speak directly to that person.

I really don't know why it was held up, and I didn't want to press for an answer at the time. Was just happy to have that sorry episode behind us. Once we get back to Maui, I'll give the aide a call and try to find out.

 

I agree with Don, talk to a live person if you can. Inouye's aide really was helpful and kept involved the entire time. She even contacted GZ after the FBI cleared the name check, just to follow up. All without my asking. One other thing I just remembered. I always wrote thank you notes to all the people I contacted and kep them informed of our progress.

[bubbafred10]

In California, both our senators have staff assistants assigned specifically to immigration matters.

 

 

Lucky for you in California. Here in Colorado, we have a Congressman (Tancredo) who just absolutely hates immigrants, and want to close the door to immigrants. But he did hire a contractor to work on his house and that contractor used illegals.

[mari]

Our case took a long time also, too long....... The DOS visa specialists were not very kind or helpful, some even said that a name check could take up to 2 years!!! There was only one girl called Sharon and a guy who were nice and helped a little. How did I get to moved my case? I followed Maui&China's advice and this was the key to success. I was lucky enough to get a contact name for a lawyer at my congressman's office in Washington from his office over here, and the woman got to call her contact at DOS, the problem was resolved in a matter of days. What happened in our case? I never got an explanation and I don't care anymore. I just don't wish that any couple have to go through this same hell.

[Zingaro]

I'm curious - Was Inouye able to find out WHY things were delayed at the FBI?

 

I'm just about to write to both my senators' offices. I'm not real eager to go through a couple more months of waiting while their immigration assistants get the brush-off from the FBI, but I don't quite know how to go around them without causing problems.

 

I guess the best thing for us to do at this point is to write the letters, keep checking back, and email the senators directly after an apprpriate grace period.

 

Congrats again to you both!!!!!

Most of the congressional delegation have offices in major towns within their districts. CALL - don't mail or email. Ask for their immigration laision and speak directly to that person.

I really don't know why it was held up, and I didn't want to press for an answer at the time. Was just happy to have that sorry episode behind us. Once we get back to Maui, I'll give the aide a call and try to find out.

 

I agree with Don, talk to a live person if you can. Inouye's aide really was helpful and kept involved the entire time. She even contacted GZ after the FBI cleared the name check, just to follow up. All without my asking. One other thing I just remembered. I always wrote thank you notes to all the people I contacted and kep them informed of our progress.

Good advice as always, thank you.

 

Best of luck!!

[Zingaro]

In California, both our senators have staff assistants assigned specifically to immigration matters.

 

 

Lucky for you in California. Here in Colorado, we have a Congressman (Tancredo) who just absolutely hates immigrants, and want to close the door to immigrants. But he did hire a contractor to work on his house and that contractor used illegals.

The official anti-immigrant people often seem to have illegal aliens in the shadows of their lives. True humanitarians, one and all - who just seem to have a problem getting passing grades in US history.

[Zingaro]

Our case took a long time also, too long.......  The DOS visa specialists were not very kind or helpful, some even said that a name check could take up to 2 years!!!  There was only one girl called Sharon and a guy who were nice and helped a little.  How did I get to moved my case?  I followed Maui&China's advice and this was the key to success.  I was lucky enough to get  a contact name for a lawyer at my congressman's office in Washington from his office over here, and the woman got to call her contact at DOS, the problem was resolved in a matter of days.  What happened in our case? I never got an explanation and I don't care anymore.  I just don't wish that any couple have to go through this same hell.

You and maui&china's advice has been very helpful to my SO and I ... I know your interview is finally on the horizon, so I am truly happy for you and for maui and china.

 

The consulate and DOS people I've spoken to have been reasonably pleasant but ultimately not helpful. I hope our name check delay resolves sooner than later - along with favorable conclusions for everyone else at CFL!

[skibum]

In defense of Rep. Tancredo, I have never heard him compain about legal immigration. The illegal workers on his house were hired by the contractor. Kind of like the ones that were recently picked up at a military base.

 

Tancredo for President