Action Item: Funding Drive for FOIA $10,000

[reddymjm]

If IV does not have any problems doing this. Better to go with IV. Few of them already sent their contributions to IV.

[chintu25]

Wait for today EOB .... if you do not get a reply from IV go for the Paypal account. Nothing wrong in that

[YesGC_NoGC]

I pledge $50 for this effort.

Shoudl I send money on the regular IV account through Paypal?

[ItIsNotFunny]

Originally Posted by YesGC_NoGC

I pledge $50 for this effort.

Shoudl I send money on the regular IV account through Paypal?

Please wait till COB today.

[KRS]

Consider a $25 pledge from me towards this effort. Would appreciate it if we are told what information are we asking for? I have seen many questions in different messages. It would be great if we can get a consolidated list of questions/information we will be asking.

TIA.

[ItIsNotFunny]

Originally Posted by KRS

Consider a $25 pledge from me towards this effort. Would appreciate it if we are told what information are we asking for? I have seen many questions in different messages. It would be great if we can get a consolidated list of questions/information we will be asking.

TIA.

Thats one of the tasks. There were multiple reasons why I was waiting for IV to show little more interest on this. We need 3 person team to tell us exactly what data and what format we need them and whether USCIS can get us that information with proposed charges.

3 Volunteers required who can decide exactly what data is required, we have rough idea but need final document on this. Amits, would like to lead this?

[pappu]

As everyone is aware of the FOIA letters we have received from USCIS. We requested everyone to fax/email us the USCIS letter.

Here is an update on IV plans and what we know till now:

On Friday, during the discussions with USCIS, we came to know that that there is a backlog of FOIA requests and currently they are clearing FOIA requests they received in 2007. We also know from the letter that the report wll not have 'country of chargeability' info. This is a critical info that we ought to have. Even after paying 5K to USCIS, over one year wait time to get the FOIA request completed will be unacceptable to the community.

In light of these developments we have explored other options to get this data and use the copies of replies we get as an example how badly we need this data to get accurate picture of the size and breakdown of the current backlog, so that we can all know how long we need to wait in the current system, if nothing changes. We would also ideally like such data to be always available and updated for public periodically.

Our first option is that we put in effort to get this data without having to pay $5K to USCIS. We will also try to get the data much sooner rather than all of us wait for more than a year.This could be possible via advocacy effort and our initial discussions on this subject have been promising. We will pursue this and if we do not make much progress until the deadline then we may pay 5K and still pursue the advocacy option to get the data faster. Thus we need more than 5K to proceed with these parallel options. The advocacy effort will also be an ongoing task beyond the first month. Thus we request members to sign up for recurring payment option to support this initiative and any other initiative we undertake for the community.

We have added a paypal module on the top of each page with a target amount. Members can use this fresh tool added to IV website to contribute. We prefer if members contributing to the effort on recurring monthly basis for a long term support of IV efforts. All members who contribute through this system will also have access to special 'Contributor's Forum' on the IV website.

Thank You for your effort and contribution for building a stronger community.

[ItIsNotFunny]

This is very useful information. Pappu is unarguably right that it doesn't make sense to wait for a year even after paying $5K. The whole system is absurd.

I am writing mail to Ombudsman regarding delay in replying FOIA.

Guys, as IV is also putting all options and working on this, lets not loose our momentum and keep contributing towards this. Pappu's message clearly indicates that if needed, this fund will be used for this purpose specifically and also as he mentioned, we need more fund to get data earlier.

[pappu]

Originally Posted by KRS

Would appreciate it if we are told what information are we asking for? I have seen many questions in different messages. It would be great if we can get a consolidated list of questions/information we will be asking.

TIA.

That is a good question. We will need to draft a detailed reply to USCIS when we submit the payment. In that reply maybe we should also draw some kind of table of data we are requesting. Some people can work on this. Do keep in touch with Nixstor , Needhelp! and anilsal for guidance and direction.

[pappu]

Originally Posted by ItIsNotFunny

This is very useful information. Pappu is unarguably right that it doesn't make sense to wait for a year even after paying $5K. The whole system is absurd.

I am writing mail to Ombudsman regarding delay in replying FOIA.

Guys, as IV is also putting all options and working on this, lets not loose our momentum and keep contributing towards this. Pappu's message clearly indicates that if needed, this fund will be used for this purpose specifically and also as he mentioned, we need more fund to get data earlier.

Please edit your first post on the thread to include my post and update your post to start this action item. We do not have much time and need to move fast. USCIS took 4 months to reply to the letter and gave us only 1 month to reply. We have already lost a few days.

[axp817]

everything in Pappu's message sounds good to me.

Itisnotfunny,
Should we go ahead and contribute what we pledged (those of us that haven't already paid) using the tool at the top of the screen?

thanks,

[ItIsNotFunny]

Originally Posted by axp817

everything in Pappu's message sounds good to me.

Itisnotfunny,
Should we go ahead and contribute what we pledged (those of us that haven't already paid) using the tool at the top of the screen?

thanks,

Yes, Everybody please do this ASAP!

[gc28262]

Donation to Support Immigration Voice (User: gc28262)
$25.00 USD for one month
Effective Date: Mar. 9, 2009 $25.00 USD

[ItIsNotFunny]

Originally Posted by pappu

Please edit your first post on the thread to include my post and update your post to start this action item. We do not have much time and need to move fast. USCIS took 4 months to reply to the letter and gave us only 1 month to reply. We have already lost a few days.

How to change headline of Poll type thread?

[pappu]

Originally Posted by ItIsNotFunny

How to change headline of Poll type thread?

Do edit post - advanced. And you will see the title to edit.