Friday, January 31, 2003

The Evil Empire

I always knew the INS was hosed -- but this revelation at the NY Times takes the cake:

INS Shredder Ended Work Backlog, U.S. Says

Once upon a time, in a galaxy far, far away -- I used to be on the phone to the INS at least 20 times a week.

Controlling the frustration caused by their bureaucratic inefficiency and general unwillingness to be helpful was an almost Zen experience.

A cosmic test sent to make me a better person.

By the time a sailor came to me -- s/he'd probably submitted the required documents two or three times. All with no response from the monolith.

The process wasn't cheap either -- about 200 smacks on average. I am sure it costs more now.

And there were deadlines -- time limits were one thing the INS was up on.

They just loved to refuse things because you were late.

There was no justice.

I couldn't do much to help them. A baby lawyer over 3000 miles away from the nearest processing office.... my pull was next to non-existent.

I would counsel efficiency, patience and a few basic strategies:

1. Fill it out the forms with a type writer

2. Make multiple copies

3. When requesting copies of birth/marriage/divorce/death certificates from courthouses or clerks -- get more than one

4. Or failing that foresight -- let me as a Federal Notary notarize copies of the hard to obtain ones and send the copies in -- not the originals

5. Mail the whole kit and caboodle return receipt requested

6. Don't loose the receipt

7. Keep a copy of the canceled check

8. And finally schedule time during in a stateside leave period to go by in person to check on the file.... and be prepared to wait...

But still -- the envelopes would go out and nothing more would be heard.

Gee... Was the INS shredding back then?

posted by Bohica at 11:14 AM