Reporting problems and asking for help

IIUSA, the trade association for EB-5, hosts a regular conference call for members, and I was particularly impressed by this month’s guest caller from the CIS Ombudsman Office. Fred Troncone is a senior advisor at the office dealing specially with business matters, and he appeared well informed about the EB-5 program, energetic and proactive, and ready and willing to work closely with both stakeholders and USCIS to consider recommendations for improvement and address case-specific problems. Comments and complaints can be submitted directly to USCIS through the EB-5 inquiry page, but keep the CIS Ombudsman in mind as well. As an independent office within the Department of Homeland Security, the CIS Ombudsman exists (at least so long as it can keep funding) to help improve the immigration service. To quote from its website:

The Ombudsman is dedicated to identifying systemic problems in the immigration benefits process and preparing recommendations for submission to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for process changes. The Ombudsman believes that process change recommendations from individuals like you represent one of the best sources for identifying systemic problems in the immigration benefits process.

The Ombudsman also offers an option to those at their wits end in dealing with case-specific issues. To quote:

You should contact the CIS Ombudsman if you have an ongoing or immediate issue with USCIS, such as:

• You are facing, or are about to face, an immediate adverse action or impact, an emergency or any other type of significant hardship caused by an action/inaction/delay in processing by USCIS, or a problem, which could not be resolved through the normal processes provided for by USCIS;
• Your case experienced processing delays beyond anticipated processing times;
• You will incur, or are about to incur, significant and unusual costs (including fees for professional representation that are not normally incurred);
• Have not received a response or resolution within the anticipated time frames as published by USCIS.