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blueblue
08-01-2007, 06:56 AM
News from . . .



U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren
16th Congressional District, California

For Immediate Release: July 30, 2007 CONTACT: Pedro Ribeiro
202-225-3072, pedro.ribeiro@mail.house.gov

Rep. Lofgren Introduces Bill to Void Immigration Fee Increases

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) today introduced a bill to void the recent increases in immigration fees by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The bill would void the new fee structure set to take effect today and reinstate the previous fee structure. The bill also states that USCIS has consistently failed to reduce application backlogs and has suffered from a lack of transparency and effective management.

“Our immigration services need to move into the 21st century,” stated Rep. Zoe Lofgren. “But, USCIS has consistently failed to explain or justify the amounts and distributions of this new fee increase. While I agree that USCIS needs to modernize its existing infrastructure and procedures, they must do so in a transparent and open manner. After repeated requests over several months, USCIS has yet to provide Congress with a detailed plan for its infrastructure modernization efforts. Our immigration system should be both effective and fair; sacrificing one to achieve the other should not be an option.”

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Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren is serving her seventh term in Congress representing most of the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County. She serves as Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. She also Chairs the House Administration Subcommittee on Elections and serves on the House Homeland Security Committee. Congresswoman Lofgren is Chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation consisting of 34 Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives from California.

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tonyr7
08-01-2007, 09:02 AM
yes maam
IMHO anybody who has ever had dealings with USCIS should do whatever possible to support the Hon Congresswoman and the passage of this bill

Coventrated
08-01-2007, 04:43 PM
Congress required USCIS to not only be self funding but the fees collected to cover a variety of other issues.

So how does she propose it be paid for? General taxation?

Playing to the gallery.

inlimbo
08-01-2007, 05:34 PM
I guess I have mixed feelings about this...I mean, I'm not against the fee increase per se -- IF it makes USCIS work more efficiently and means faster processing for people going through the process, maybe it's not SO horrible. But I agree, I think there should be more transparency and more accountability. If USCIS is going to suck us all dry then we should at least be able to see faster service and more customer-friendly service.

discoviking
08-02-2007, 12:01 AM
Don't hold your breath.....

Lachulagreeneyes
08-02-2007, 04:29 AM
I guess I have mixed feelings about this...I mean, I'm not against the fee increase per se -- IF it makes USCIS work more efficiently and means faster processing for people going through the process, maybe it's not SO horrible. But I agree, I think there should be more transparency and more accountability. If USCIS is going to suck us all dry then we should at least be able to see faster service and more customer-friendly service.


:ditto:

emt103c
08-13-2007, 08:01 PM
Their plan for increasing speed was to decrease processing times by 20% by 2009. I mean obviously they wouldn't want to set their goals too high or anything!

In Vermont a 212 is taking 13 months which means they are giving themselves 2 years to make it about 10 months! (nice goal)

Lachulagreeneyes
08-13-2007, 09:40 PM
Their plan for increasing speed was to decrease processing times by 20% by 2009. I mean obviously they wouldn't want to set their goals too high or anything!

In Vermont a 212 is taking 13 months which means they are giving themselves 2 years to make it about 10 months! (nice goal)

That is so sad. There is absolutely no reason it should take that long!