Submitted Expedite Request- when should I hear something?

[Adriane]

Hi guys.

My congressman agreed to submit an expedite request on my behalf. I just turned in some 'evidence' this afternoon, but the representative said they had already filed the request.

When should I expect to hear something, yes or no?

Thanks!

[elvia]

I would love to know the answer for this.....
Maybe someone that has done it will chime in a little later. :)

[kenaly]

For my hubbys waiver (Canada) we knew within 48 hours the expedite had been approved.

[Adriane]

48 hours, really? Nuts. They allegedly filed the request a few weeks ago.....

I don't want to pester them- but I really want to know what's going on- if anything.:(

[gdalicia]

Adriane there is a member from the Juarez board, MendozaQH that you should contact. Here's here post regarding her expedite approval:

MendozaQH
Seasoned Traveller

Posts: 220


Our Expedite is APPROVED!!!!!!
« on: June 18, 2007, 11:07:56 AM »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OMG, I am shaking so much. I requested an expedite (I requested myself, they never answered the sentaor's 2 request) that they received on June 4, 2007 in El Paso, TX. Our waiver was approved on June 12 and mailed on June 15 and signed by Warren Janssen (he must have done it right before he left for AILA conference!!!) Thank You Warren!!! Thank you to all of you for helping me get through this hard time.

Now we wait for an appointment date!!!!!

Good luck!!!

[kenaly]

Don't know if it made a difference, but my congressman was clueless and inefficient, so we used one of my state senators. Seems like a request carries more weight from a senator than a congressman. (possibly?)

[MendozaQH]

Adriane, I can only give you my experience with the expedite request. Not sure if it helps or not, but hopefully it can.

I contacted my senator from Maryland, Barbara Mikulski, and spoke with the immigration aide or whatever she was. I explained our situation and she said to send a letter with what I had described and that she would send in the request. I sent it, called her 3 days later and said that she had sent it to DHS and to wait 30 days. I waited 45 days to call her so that she wouldn't say anything (she was a bit snobby if you know what I mean) and she said she had heard nothing and would send the request again and to again wait 30days. I waited another almost 45 days and heard nothing so I said forget this and I sent the same information myself to the PO Box in El Paso at attn: Warren Janssen. One week after they recieved the request my expedite was approved and one week after that I received the approval letter. The next day I had an apointment date.

I have no way of knowing if the senator's aide ever sent the expedite request or if DHS ignored it twice. Not sure why they would listen to me and not to a senator, but it doesn't matter, it finally got approved!!!! If you don't hear anything after 30 days and you truly think you have an expeditable case, try it yourself. I sent everything via certified mail and had proof of the arrival of the request just in case.

Good Luck!!!

[zamarrone]

What evidence do you have to submit to request an expedite, isn't supposed to be some kind of medical emergency?

[gdalicia]

Expedites are based on serious medical emergencies or military deployments.

[kenaly]

Our expedite (Montreal) was based on medical and financial issues.

[Adriane]

Ours is medical, but it's a close family member, not me. So we'll see.

[kenaly]

Our medical reason was based on my grandmother and mother.

[aguilar1115]

edit

[kitkat1]

aguilar, they don't tell you what medical evidence is needed. But you can be sure that you will need to prove that it is a serious medical situation and how it is impacting your life. It's safe to assume they will require as much information as possible from your doctor to prove exactly what kind of surgery you need, your diagnosis and why you need it, the costs, the recovery time, your prognosis as well as proof that you don't have insurance and that when you husband is back that you will have insurance.

As for waiting time, there is no rule. They are not required to respond within a certain period of time (although there is speculation that they have 30 days to respond to congressional/senate requests, this is apparently not correct according to my senator's office).

http://ciudadjuarez.usconsulate.gov/wwwhciswaiver.html

The Ciudad Juarez USCIS Office may consider the expeditious processing of a waiver in cases where the waiver applicant can show that an extreme medical condition or medical emergency exists or if the applicant’s military spouse is preparing or has already deployed to an overseas post.

[aguilar1115]

edit

[salcidofamily]

Our expedite (Montreal) was based on medical and financial issues.
I would like to know more about the expedite letter and were to send i dont
know if it will work as expedite letter im going true dipression and stress i also have a back injury which i get injection every six months do you think this helps. my huspand waiver receive 12-11-06

[kenaly]

Montreal has a different procedure for expedtes. My situation was due to my mom and grandmother both being ill, and I was the only family member to care for them. I am an only child, and the only grandchild. The doctors wrote letters stating why my presence was critical. My mom also submitted an additional letter. The financial aspect was not as strongly stressed. My husband was supporting us in Canada, and also helping me to maintain a life in the USA. We showed his paystubs, what expenses (living) we had, and what the Canadian dollar was worth as compared to the US dollar.

Also, I had enlisted my senators help BEFORE our original I-130 and I-129 were approved. His office was well-versed in our case, and by the time we got to the waiver, they knew our situation and were willing to also recommend that our expedite be approved.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to get a relationship with your elected representative ASAP. It helps to have a good understanding of the laws that pertain to your case. I did almost all of the research gathering for the senators office, so all that they needed to do was read the documents I sent and make the appropriate phone calls. Iwas in touch with the senators office weekly, by phone, fax and e-mail. Remember, they work for YOU!