Country Portals

[Nik+Heather 121]

Hey guys,

I don't know about you, but I try to monitor what questions are being asked by our fellow UK-ers, particularly when newbies enter the fray here, so I often check the country portal for the new thread topics. Unfortunately, I often miss (for days) people who have selected one of the constituent countries because it's just less convenient, and since there are fewer people not always anything new. Aside from the occasional question about long distances to travel for the medical and interview, is there really that much difference in how the process works for someone from Scotland vs. Wales vs. England? It seems the commonality of the questions exceeds and differences.

It is my feeling that for the purposes of Visa Journey there is no gain from separating these out, especially when it is in a category which includes Iran, India, Germany, etc. It seems like it's too fine a point, and for immigration purposes it doesn't matter. However, I recognize that some people have very strong identification with one or another over the whole, so I wanted to open a discussion about possibly rolling them together here rather than running straight off to the site discussion to request it.

So, how do you all use the country portals? Do you agree that it would be more useful if there was just one UK country portal? What if people could put UK (and only UK) in their profile, but could keep the different flag icons next to their posts (not sure if that's possible)?

[Boiler 45,360]

I am currently flying the Welsh flag, I change it every now and then to an English flag. And back again.

The only real difference is between those who do not have British heritage and those who do.

[Nik+Heather 121]

I am currently flying the Welsh flag, I change it every now and then to an English flag. And back again.

The only real difference is between those who do not have British heritage and those who do.

So...are you in favor of, neutral to or against the idea of rolling all into the UK for the purposes of VJ? Does the use of the graphic (or not) for the flag change your answer? Your answer makes me think that you don't care, but I don't want to assume...

I'm sort of trying to feel out the potentially affected members before proposing it to Ewok.

[marlea 84]

I agree with you, I like the idea of UK instead of individual nations. Technically, the UK is one country that consists of England, Wales, Scotland and NI, though people may claim those each as nationalities. Technically, I should have a Cornish flag on my profile as my fiance is from Cornwall (and many in Cornwall would argue that they should have just as much autonomy as Wales or Scotland and that Cornish is just as much a nationality as the others). Yes, a person can be Scottish rather than English, but everyone born in the UK is British.

But all of that is really just theoretical. For practical immigration purposes, especially since there is only one Embassy at which all of these people would interview (London), I think that having everyone under the UK portal would be a good idea.

[Boiler 45,360]

There is another, Belfast.

UK would be simplest.

[Leenie 15]

When I signed up for VJ, I never considered that just England might be an option. I just went straight to UK. It's seems the processes are all inherently the same, so I am strongly in favor of having simply a UK category.

Can't say I've used the country portal very much, but I think I'll be trying it out.

[JoannaV 174]

I don't even know what a country portal is.

It is sort of discriminatory allowing us to have so much choice as to flags Do any other countries have it? As far as sovereign states go, we should just have the country of the UK. Seeing as how this whole immigration thing involves talk about political countries not geographical countries.

Having said that, I do like seeing all the different flags around

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

So, how do you all use the country portals? Do you agree that it would be more useful if there was just one UK country portal? What if people could put UK (and only UK) in their profile, but could keep the different flag icons next to their posts (not sure if that's possible)?

I don't ever look at the country portals and it doesn't matter to me how it's organized on VJ.

[Amy and Michael 21]

I am the USC wife that posts, but I think it's a good idea to roll all the UK countries into the one UK flag & group (for Country Portals as well as any other grouping reason). I was surprised to see a Welsh flag/country because most places I have to select a country, Wales never appeared.

As much as my husband is Welsh and extremely proud of that, I would have to say extra help, advice, support is always appreciated. I could always indicate Welsh in our signature if UKer's like to see where everybody is from.

Thanks Nik & Heather!

[Gemmie 142]

At the risk of sounding like a newb, what's a country portal?

[JoannaV 174]

Aaaah, ok, it is where it says "Portals" at the top of the page. Pfft, I thought that was some Doctor Who secret passageway.

[JoannaV 174]

Sorry for spamming this thread, but YES definitely change it to just the UK. VJ has a large volume of new posts every day, and it is impossible to keep up with it all. When it comes to providing helpful advice, it is easiest to do so for those from the UK. Often one can help with other countries too, but often there are variations in either procedures or the way-of-doing-things. So the Portals thing is actually a really useful way to efficiently target ones (meagre) words of advice where they can be most useful.

[JoannaV 174]

There is ONE Isle of Man member. Who has never posted. Think of how lonely they must feel

If possible, the solution that would satisfy 99% of people would be if the appearances stayed the same but all the constituent countries linked into the same portal. (And to satisfy the other 1%: the option to then filter by the country.)

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

There is ONE Isle of Man member. Who has never posted. Think of how lonely they must feel

If possible, the solution that would satisfy 99% of people would be if the appearances stayed the same but all the constituent countries linked into the same portal. (And to satisfy the other 1%: the option to then filter by the country.)

This is the best idea, I think.

[TracyTN 237]

This thread might better be suited for the 'site discussions' forum (so Captain can see it and possibly make the change). Want me to move it there?