Disparity Between VSC and CSC and

[Chris Future 0]

Chris -

You say you don't just want to hear positive things and you want honesty.

You want to hear a really true honest thing? From someone who has been there?

Someday - when you and Susan are reunited - this wait will all be a memory. Really and truly it will. I've been married to my husband for 2.5 years now.

Sometimes, when we are reminiscing, we talk about our separations. They are almost sweet things now. A testament to us, I guess. That we made it.

Trust me. It's true.

Amen, I second that!

Maybe we are just feeling it more acutely. We feel like we've been apart for 25 years. Every moment we are still apart is painful.

Most of you can say that once you are together, you will have been together longer than you were apart during this process. We feel like we've been apart forever, and this is just adding to that.

Time is more precious to us than anything, and we both feel that this process is stealing it from us, and we can never make that time back.

It's stealing this time from ALL of us and there just seems to be no consideration for that.

Maybe in 25 years I'll be just barely OK with it.

Heres another song...When You're Gone, Avril Lavigne - another great Canadian singer...

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otMB3WVQNVg

Lyrics: http://music.yahoo.com/Avril-Lavigne/When-...lyrics/42490262

Thanks...Chris

[BlakeandOlha 0]

I should point out that until not too long ago there was a "CSC Sweepstakes" thread that was very popular too.

I suggest it was more of a ponzi scheme.

Rebecca, that was very nicely put.

[rebeccajo 14]

Chris -

When I filed I was 47 freaking years old. I sure as heck didn't want to spend a bunch of time wrapped up in the process. I wanted to be with the man I loved.

We were lucky. Our visa process didn't take long. But immigration has messed with us in other ways. We all do have an immigration journey to continue once we are reunited, you know. Maybe the rest of your journey will be smoother than this part.

Here's what Wes and I think. We think that one of the goals of our marriage should be to NOT forget completely what the separation was like. It's always hard to imagine that you could POSSIBLY forget when you are going through it. But life has a funny way of just happening and once you are reunited you become a regular couple. And regular couples sometimes forget to take time for each other.

We need to remember the effort we put into communicating; the way we made time for each other in our days; the way we talked about what we did each day and told each other (in complete detail) what our day was like.

Use this time as best you can to teach yourself how to communicate. Cause your gonna need it - lol! For one day, your petition and visa will be approved and you'll be together. Morning bad breath; dirty clothes on the floor and dishes in the sink; empty checkbook and all that jazz.

It'll happen.

[mox 298]

I suggest it was more of a ponzi scheme.

LOL! Yeah, pretty sure StP emptied out the bank and skipped town before any of us could catch on.

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Chris -

When I filed I was 47 freaking years old. I sure as heck didn't want to spend a bunch of time wrapped up in the process.

Here, here, for the 47 freaking year olders!! I just turned on the 28th, do we get a special dispensation? Does Tbone have another trick? Where is StP anyway, and how did he spend the money? So many questions, and no answers (or touches)..... I guess I'll just have to keep waiting..... B)

[Chris Future 0]

We were lucky. Our visa process didn't take long. But immigration has messed with us in other ways. We all do have an immigration journey to continue once we are reunited, you know. Maybe the rest of your journey will be smoother than this part.

Yes, you were lucky. We are facing a process possibly 3 times longer than yours was. All due to the governments inability to properly staff up to do the work in a timely manner.

I'm no stranger to the immigration process. I arrived in the US in 1998 with a TN Visa since I had missed the cutoff for H1-Bs that year. Once the H1-B process opened up again, my company at the time applied for it. After I got my H1, I asked them to apply for a Green Card for me. They eventually did, but kept putting it of for cost reasons. About 6 months before I got my Green Card they were about to downsize my position but I was able to convince them to keep me on. 3.5 years into getting my Green Card, I filed for divorce from my ex-wife. A year later a re-met my fiance online. I had to get my citizenship, wait for my divorce to complete, then finally file the K1. I've had my fill of immigration already, and I know there a lot more with AOSs etc etc etc.

And every day, illegal immigrants cross the borders and are able to be with their loved ones. And many of them them get no repercussions, and amnesty bills in Congress. Those of us who follow all the rules are kept apart longer and longer by arbitrary rules and mismanagement, and get only the slightest mention in legislation.

I looked over at the "jackpot" thread. I'm glad that everyone is happy over there and giving each other high fives. Good for them. BTW, BlakeandOlha your point from the other thread ...

"Besides, if the VSC makes the CSC look truely slow and incompetent, perhaps they'll effect the changes necessary to bring the two services in line with each other."

Would be great if it happened. Do you think that the group that oversees both centers really cares, or are they just happy that the overall averages, once you factor in the speedy VSC filings, are coming down...

I suggest it was more of a ponzi scheme.

LOL! Yeah, pretty sure StP emptied out the bank and skipped town before any of us could catch on.

Stp? Must be before my time......

[rebeccajo 14]

Yikes Chris - you've had more doodly-doo with immigration than I ever hope to have.

I was just trying to make you feel better. Guess it didn't work.

PS - it took us 17 months to get a greencard. Most of the people who filed with me are already lifting conditions.

Edited March 6, 2008 by rebeccajo

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Would be great if it happened. Do you think that the group that oversees both centers really cares, or are they just happy that the overall averages, once you factor in the speedy VSC filings, are coming down...

Realistically, I pretty much think they could care less - that's the root of the problem after all isn't it. But I still hope someone might be embarassed at some point. In my dreams I see some political appointee being upbraided and laughed at during the annual service center Christmas party. Then I wake up an remember that like every rollercoaster I've ever been on, this too will end. I gotta stay positive, or else I'll drive myself and the woman I love nuts. You've been though a lot with immigration already, I understand why you're frustrated. Love the songs, by the way.

Edited March 6, 2008 by BlakeandOlha

[Chris Future 0]

Would be great if it happened. Do you think that the group that oversees both centers really cares, or are they just happy that the overall averages, once you factor in the speedy VSC filings, are coming down...

Realistically, I pretty much think they could care less - that's the root of the problem after all isn't it. But I still hope someone might be embarassed at some point. In my dreams I see some political appointee being upbraided and laughed at during the annual service center Christmas party. Then I wake up an remember that like every rollercoaster I've ever been on, this too will end. I gotta stay positive, or else I'll drive myself and the woman I love nuts. You've been though a lot with immigration already, I understand why you're frustrated. Love the songs, by the way.

Thanks. Its amazing actually how many love songs about people being far apart there are. You know when I heard about how many long distance relationships there were I was surprised. There are tons of people in love separated by distance. According to this site, over 7 million couples, and I'm assuming that just Americans.

http://www.carolinetiger.com/books/ldr_stats.htm

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Thanks. Its amazing actually how many love songs about people being far apart there are. You know when I heard about how many long distance relationships there were I was surprised. There are tons of people in love separated by distance. According to this site, over 7 million couples, and I'm assuming that just Americans.

http://www.carolinetiger.com/books/ldr_stats.htm

Well this is my first long distance relationship - and I had to go find someone on the other side of the world! Fate sure has a sick sense of humor.

[Chris Future 0]

In case anyone is keeping track - or cares - the daily ratio of VSC to CSC approvals is 4:1

I sound like Sulu in Corbomite Maneuver counting down until Balok's ship blows them out of existence.

Wish I could bluff the CSC into speeding us all up.

[mox 298]

In case anyone is keeping track - or cares - the daily ratio of VSC to CSC approvals is 4:1

I sound like Sulu in Corbomite Maneuver counting down until Balok's ship blows them out of existence.

Wish I could bluff the CSC into speeding us all up.

OMG...the Corbomite Maneuver!?!?!! Chris...will you have my baby?

[Kathleen 0]

Your other half is in Canada. You can go there almost at will and see her. You two can talk online daily.

You have it so good and don't even know it. I filed for someone in Africa. I can't afford to fly off to see himbecause of my work and kids and there is NO way he can get a visa to visit while we wait. He doesn't have a computer nor money to spend on cafes, which he doesn't trust do to the scammers. Phone service is terrible. I have spent 3 days trying to get through for a connection that lasted 4 minutes. ( Ok I am venting )

I have been waiting since November. And yes it is upsetting to see someone get approved for the same country that filed in Jan but I know there are people that filed in October that are also waiting.

The problem with the process is that being efficient would mean they wouldn't need as many of them. If you take forever then you have a job. I wish I could push them along or do something but it like having a baby. Some arrive earlier than others.

Hi, this is an interesting coincidence, but I'm also in San Bernardino and just filed for my Nigerian fiance! My situation isn't quite as bad, because he's in Kenya right now where the communications infrastructure is a bit better. Still, we can't talk nearly as much as I want to, and its damn expensive. *sigh* Africa. Anyway, best of luck to you with the waiting.

[Chris Future 0]

As I said in an earlier thread, I believe that a lot of the delay is politically driven. The director of the USCIS has pledged to process N-400 apps faster in order to allow these new naturalized citizens to vote in this years elections. This is a sizable political bloc, and usually votes Democrat, so therefore there is immense pressure from Democrat lawmakers to prioritize these applications. I'll bet you a donut that most of these apps go through CSC as opposed to VSC, I know mine did.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...n2.37430c0.html

We are unlucky enough to have two events shape our schedules - the backlog of new filings from the fee increase, which they state will carry on to 2010, and the fact that there is an election this November. I predict that we wont see an acceleration of our visas until after November. What do you think?

[mox 298]

We are unlucky enough to have two events shape our schedules - the backlog of new filings from the fee increase, which they state will carry on to 2010, and the fact that there is an election this November. I predict that we wont see an acceleration of our visas until after November. What do you think?

I think the situation will remain as-is for at least 2 more years. That's how long it's going to take President Obama to get someone in there who can do the job, and for that person to actually affect change.