January Filers at the CSC - How are you doing?

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Cecil - Why do you have to give three mos. notice? Is that a legal requirement, or just your contractual obligation? Does giving that much notice put you at any risk of just having your contract terminated?

Yes its the legal requirement in France, for work, for rent...

I will have to do the same.

Its one of the big point for me. I wait for the NOA2 to notice my employer i will leave 3 months later. I can't do that before, as i can't take the risk to stay some weeks without money and the same for my rent. If i was alone maybe, but i have my daughters with me.

And by the way, as i have and agreement with my daughter's father, i have to take care about that she'll have to spend Christmas with her father. So between the 3 months for work and rent, and the obligation that my daughter have to be back in France for Christmas. I really hope to get the NOA2 in june...

Miss Yoko explained it well, it is a requirement in France. Just like the the US, you give a 2 weeks notice, ours is 3 months. And just like her, I will probably tell them I'm leaving when I get NOA2. (though I will check how long it took between NOA2 and the interview for the US/French couples that will be going through this in the next months, just to make sure!)

[KimandRuss 0]

Dbears, you and your entire family are just beautiful!!! You all have such kind eyes and it's obvious from your posts what a positive light you are!

What was said to you was very unfair. I'm glad you see that. It's also good to see how positive you are in the face of the frustrations of others.

While the disparity may be unfair.. it is what is it. While it's ok to be frustrated with the process and the fact that others are being approved before you based on where they live it is NOT ok to verbally abuse others or their choices and there is no excuse for personal attacks.

I've already been waiting years and can't even file until next month! Will I be frustrated if I have to wait 6 months for an approval? Hell yeah! But I will never take it out on any other filer. That is just nonsense. I have nothing but happiness in my heart for anyone who is one step closer to their loved ones.

To the CSC filers, I know it's frustrating and I wish I had the words to make it better but I know first hand that their are none. Your time will come and when it does may you fine peace with your frustration in the bliss of being in the arms of the ones you love.

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Miss Yoko explained it well, it is a requirement in France. Just like the the US, you give a 2 weeks notice, ours is 3 months. And just like her, I will probably tell them I'm leaving when I get NOA2. (though I will check how long it took between NOA2 and the interview for the US/French couples that will be going through this in the next months, just to make sure!)

Actually the 2 week thing is a courtesy and not a legal requirement. Most states are what they call "at will" where the employer and the employee can each terminate the employment relationship "at will." Employment and security laws are quite a bit different here than in the EU.

[Chris Future 0]

Chris - On another thread you talked about your frustrations with the whole immigration process, and your history in dealing with this subject. I'd be interested in knowing how you've dealt with the frustrations in the past- any strategies you might have could help me and perhaps others?

Sure. The only thing that got me through all of my other hassles was to stop thinking about it all together. I would set an alert in my organizer to check in on the progress if one date or another had passed, and I would pester my company or follow up with the USCIS then. The best solution is to ignore it - fill your life with other things. In fact, even checking sites like this was counterproductive. The timeline estimators set false expectations, everything takes twice as long as you want it to, and nothing moves quickly. So I'm kinda breaking my own rules by getting into this site deeply, but I was hoping that I might be able to muster some support for doing something. I hate feeling powerless against these government bureaucracies - they exist to serve us, not the other way around and everyone seems to forget that.

So here is what I was thinking of doing: pulling together a petition and sending it to Lou Dobbs, John Stossel, and the head of the USCIS, Emilio Gonzalez, talking about the disparity, the long waits due to the flooding, and the ineptitude of the government via a vis legal immigration. How many US citizens here would sign this?

[Chris Future 0]

BTW: does anyone know how the VJ timeline estimators work? Does the estimator use the service center rate as the basis for the estimate, or the overall rate?

[MissYoko 4]

BTW: does anyone know how the VJ timeline estimators work? Does the estimator use the service center rate as the basis for the estimate, or the overall rate?

it work on what VJ's users filed in their timelines. So it means that if a user stop to fill the timeline before NOA2 that the average will grow up. Ad it happen often as i can see. So. VJs timelines is only an average and not more. May you will be approved before maybe later. Its just for you to have an idea. Not more.

[BlakeandOlha 0]

BTW: does anyone know how the VJ timeline estimators work? Does the estimator use the service center rate as the basis for the estimate, or the overall rate?

Its just an average of filer's by service center - a historical perspective. It's distorted because of all the July filers that clogged up the system for so long. I know my estimated date has dropped 18 days from when I first sent in my paperwork and set my timelines. I expect it will continue to drop as the CSC moves through October and into November this month. The timeline projection will also automatically add 10 days for an RFE if you get one of those. I actually think it's better to project our based on the petitions the CSC is currently clearing rather than a backward looking calculated average. This is where Igor's list comes in handy.

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Chris - On another thread you talked about your frustrations with the whole immigration process, and your history in dealing with this subject. I'd be interested in knowing how you've dealt with the frustrations in the past- any strategies you might have could help me and perhaps others?

Sure. The only thing that got me through all of my other hassles was to stop thinking about it all together. I would set an alert in my organizer to check in on the progress if one date or another had passed, and I would pester my company or follow up with the USCIS then. The best solution is to ignore it - fill your life with other things. In fact, even checking sites like this was counterproductive. The timeline estimators set false expectations, everything takes twice as long as you want it to, and nothing moves quickly. So I'm kinda breaking my own rules by getting into this site deeply, but I was hoping that I might be able to muster some support for doing something. I hate feeling powerless against these government bureaucracies - they exist to serve us, not the other way around and everyone seems to forget that.

So here is what I was thinking of doing: pulling together a petition and sending it to Lou Dobbs, John Stossel, and the head of the USCIS, Emilio Gonzalez, talking about the disparity, the long waits due to the flooding, and the ineptitude of the government via a vis legal immigration. How many US citizens here would sign this?

I don't think a couple of hundred names on a petition will turn Stossel's head - but a compelling story line will (I think he's the right guy). Even Geraldo would like this one. I do think that with all the people talking about the wrongs of illegal immegration, that the hardships imposed on those who try to do it the right way makes a good case for how screwed up the whole approach is.

[greeneyedgirlfl 0]

Chris - On another thread you talked about your frustrations with the whole immigration process, and your history in dealing with this subject. I'd be interested in knowing how you've dealt with the frustrations in the past- any strategies you might have could help me and perhaps others?

Sure. The only thing that got me through all of my other hassles was to stop thinking about it all together. I would set an alert in my organizer to check in on the progress if one date or another had passed, and I would pester my company or follow up with the USCIS then. The best solution is to ignore it - fill your life with other things. In fact, even checking sites like this was counterproductive. The timeline estimators set false expectations, everything takes twice as long as you want it to, and nothing moves quickly. So I'm kinda breaking my own rules by getting into this site deeply, but I was hoping that I might be able to muster some support for doing something. I hate feeling powerless against these government bureaucracies - they exist to serve us, not the other way around and everyone seems to forget that.

So here is what I was thinking of doing: pulling together a petition and sending it to Lou Dobbs, John Stossel, and the head of the USCIS, Emilio Gonzalez, talking about the disparity, the long waits due to the flooding, and the ineptitude of the government via a vis legal immigration. How many US citizens here would sign this?

I don't think a couple of hundred names on a petition will turn Stossel's head - but a compelling story line will (I think he's the right guy). Even Geraldo would like this one. I do think that with all the people talking about the wrongs of illegal immegration, that the hardships imposed on those who try to do it the right way makes a good case for how screwed up the whole approach is.

I completely agree...I teach American History, and we're working on an immigration unit (past to present)...it has opened the eyes of many of my students who would have not given it a second thought...

Most people not going through this process (educated or not) are completely oblivious to the inner workings of the immigration process...education and awareness is the only way to get our message across.

[dbears 1]

Although I'm not sure how long it takes dBears' SO to get to her, I'm sure it is a difficult and expensive process. For me to travel to see Olga takes at least 20 hours, some of which are spent in airplanes from the Kruschev era - it's also very expensive, and only getting more so.

-it usually takes 18hours from NC to Philippines: 3 stops and 3 plane transfers.. but last year, he left Raleigh afternoon of June 19 and arrived in Manila Philippines midnight of June 22.. there was delay after delay and technical problems airport after airport. he looked so exhausted when he arrived .. but we both just thank God, the technical problems occured while still on the ground and not when it was already up and that he arrived safely in my arms ... and yes, it is expensive and getting more now that the USD is dropping... so we can't really afford to see each other as much as we want to

What each of us would do, given the chance to be in someone else's shoes, is kinda irrelevant. We all have our own realities to deal with, and if we look back to when we filed - we each probably had an expectation that this process would take a certain number of days or months. If the VSC has stepped up the approval process, great, does that change the expectation that I had when I entered this process, no it does not. Honestly, I am sometimes envious of the rapid approvals of some of the VSC filers, but that still doesn't change the rules of the game I signed up for.

-We have prepared ourselves for a 6-8 months visa wait all in all... and i am envious of those early approvals also and wouldn't mind getting one myself but honestly, I would prefer to see those from the past months get approved first.. like those waiting since june... it's just heartbreaking what they have to endure.

dbears - your kids are beautiful, how are you planning to work with them to prepare them for a new language and a new school?

Thank you. English is our second language and they are being taught to speak and read and write english in school so they could understand it a little and speak it a little, its like a broken english.. but of course, my son said he will pretend to be mute when he gets there so they wont ask him anything ... i do worry about them but as other parents on the Philippine regional board have said, kids adjust faster than adults... they go to a non-traditional child centered school here where the focus is on learning by doing and experimenting and not by text book and also utilizes multiple intelligence approach. i know there are a lot of non-traditional schools in the US but i don't know if there is one near my SO's place and it might be so expensive there... so they will have to attend the public school near Rick's place and we will observe how it goes.

No problem with registering in July or August - people move all the time, and normally the children move with them (if they are behaving well ) You should be fine, but make sure you have all your kids vaccination paperwork translated (if they are not in english) because this is a precondition for enrollment.

All their records are already in english but we might have to have additional vaccinations for them.

To KimandRuss: Thank you very much. May you be able to file soon. God speed.

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Good News January CSC filers, the CSC is moving through the ranks of the October filers pretty quickly. I think they should be through the month within the next week or so. When you look at the number of November and December filers we could start seeing some January folk being approved in the next six to seven weeks. It is said that all good things come to those who wait - so..... Good things are coming to all of us! Patience and fortitude those are the keys for me.

[MissYoko 4]

Good News January CSC filers, the CSC is moving through the ranks of the October filers pretty quickly. I think they should be through the month within the next week or so. When you look at the number of November and December filers we could start seeing some January folk being approved in the next six to seven weeks. It is said that all good things come to those who wait - so..... Good things are coming to all of us! Patience and fortitude those are the keys for me.

I hope that what you say its true... maybe we have to do some voodoo stuffs, i don't know, like sacrify a virgin or something like that

[greeneyedgirlfl 0]

Good News January CSC filers, the CSC is moving through the ranks of the October filers pretty quickly. I think they should be through the month within the next week or so. When you look at the number of November and December filers we could start seeing some January folk being approved in the next six to seven weeks. It is said that all good things come to those who wait - so..... Good things are coming to all of us! Patience and fortitude those are the keys for me.

I hope that what you say its true... maybe we have to do some voodoo stuffs, i don't know, like sacrify a virgin or something like that

I hope that you all get approved ASAP!!!

And about the voodoo thing...that leaves me out!

Edited March 7, 2008 by greeneyedgirlfl

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Good to hear, Blake

The talk of vaccinations is reminding me that there is one thing I should do - go and get all of mine from the doctor before the medical, as it'll be cheaper. I also fall into the age-group (11-26 females) for the Human papillonomavirus which looks to be required for AOS, so I'll need to ask for that, too.

I'm off to visit my parents for a few days! Blake, Cecile - I'm relying on you guys to keep this thread well and alive.

[MissYoko 4]

Good to hear, Blake

The talk of vaccinations is reminding me that there is one thing I should do - go and get all of mine from the doctor before the medical, as it'll be cheaper. I also fall into the age-group (11-26 females) for the Human papillonomavirus which looks to be required for AOS, so I'll need to ask for that, too.

I'm off to visit my parents for a few days! Blake, Cecile - I'm relying on you guys to keep this thread well and alive.

i already did vaccinations the last Monday... 3 shots argh, and i will have to go back in one month. I did that in advance cause yes, its almost for free with my insurance. The only thing i really don't like ist that i have to did the hepatitis B... as its a huge controversy about that vaccination