VSC Does Some Outreach
Filed Under (USCIS) by Joe on November 20, 2010
I listened in on a USCIS teleconference this past Wednesday about U, T, and VAWA petitions. For those who don’t know, U nonimmigrant status is for victims of qualifying criminal activity, T visas are for victims of human trafficking, and VAWA petitions are for victims of domestic abuse at the hands of a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. The Vermont Service Center conducted the teleconference, and provided some great information about processing these complicated petitions, including how and when to file for qualifying family members, how U nonimmigrants can and should travel, and much more. Perhaps the most useful bit of information to emerge from that teleconference was the VSC’s U/T/VAWA Unit contact information, through which attorneys can address problems with their cases and ask general questions. The initial means of contacting the VSC is a hotline: (802) 527-4888. The VSC advised that no one is on the other end of this line; attorneys should leave detailed messages, and an officer will call back within 72 hours, although the turnaround time is usually 24 hours. If that doesn’t resolve the matter, attorneys can follow up with one of two email addresses – hotlinefollowupi360.vsc@dhs.gov or hotlinefollowupi918i914.vsc@dhs.gov, depending on the type of case involved. It warms my heart that the Vermont Service Center’s U/T/VAWA Unit is so concerned about connecting with the public, and wish that other divisions of USCIS felt the same way. Until that happens, though, I’ll happily use the VSC’s resources to better serve my clients and do my job more effectively.
Alexander7 on 18 Jul 2011 at 6:12 pm #