FAQ

Due to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, all federal government agencies and departments are strictly prohibited from releasing information about anyone without that individual's written permission. This protection of a person's right to privacy means that I can do nothing to help until I have written authorization from the individual directly affected. Once we have the release, we can begin to work on your case.

As much as I would like to assist in this matter, I am limited in what I can do because USCIS petitions are adjudicated in date receipt order. The criteria needed for consideration of expedite processing can be found at www.uscis.gov. All expedite requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and are granted at the discretion of the Director of USCIS.

When an official response is received from the federal agency involved, my office will notify you. Please feel free to contact my office for an update on the progress of your request for assistance.

My office is not able to offer legal advice or recommend an attorney. The rules of the Senate do not allow me to intervene in, or influence the outcome of, cases that are under the jurisdiction of any court.

Although I cannot guarantee a particular outcome, I want you to know that my staff and I will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response. My staff and I are able to facilitate the processes involved, gain a fair hearing for your case, and sometimes advocate for a favorable outcome.

It is a long standing tradition of congressional courtesy in the United States Senate that each Senator be given the opportunity to serve his or her own constituents. Accordingly, your brother's request for assistance should be referred to the Senators of the state he resides in.

By law, I am required to have a written request before any action can be taken on your behalf. A written request also gives me a clear understanding of the difficulty that you are having interacting with the federal agency involved and the resolution you are seeking.