August 2008 Filers

[Stinkerpotsam 6]

These days it's easier than ever to walk around with millions and millions of people's personal private information... and no doubt it happens all the time... I don't know if USCIS allows people to take the physical files from the office, but I strongly suspect they can work remotely if needed.

I work in the legal dept of a very large insurance corporation writing contracts for Employers plans, and while we are not permitted to take documents outside the office, we can and do work remotely. Customer information is within the system and we can access what we need through the secured site but not print it, save it to an external drive or share it. I personally have two monitors at home .. one to view source docs and one to write contracts.

I would guess it's this way for most larger organizations these days.

I was working yesterday myself.

And OMG I'm FINALLY in charge here!!!!

Dungeon Mistress/Queen G demands Notices for all immediately and the drink of choice for everyone (it's 5 o clock in many places)

Oh and hugs and kisses for everyone very very soon and too!

Edited December 22, 2008 by Stinkerpotsam

[Bulgarican 0]

I hope too these 3 days will be good for us, the august filers, and i also wait like you to get my visa and buy the ticket, i hope i'll be in usa january

Wont you spend the holidays with your girl? how much are the tickets to philipines if its convenient to ask?

i bet the next approval will be august... lets see

These days it's easier than ever to walk around with millions and millions of people's personal private information... and no doubt it happens all the time... I don't know if USCIS allows people to take the physical files from the office, but I strongly suspect they can work remotely if needed.

I'm itching to see what new approvals we'll see this week... morbidly curious... will they start off with a june filer? july? august? September? Maybe they'll go straight to october or *gasp* sneak in some december filers just to really mess with us! Mostly though, I'm just bored at work thought. I know a lot of times mondays pass with no approvals showing at all, or sometimes just one, I hope this isn't one of those mondays, it's too short a week to start slow. Also, for those curious, of the nearly 40 approvals at CSC last week, about 11 were ones I consider sept filers (sent petition in september or close enough to the end of august that realistically the service center wouldn't receive it until september).

Also, only 3 days until christmas, how time has flown... just wish I had my noa2 so I could plan for my next flight!

[maliciant 7]

If I had bought early enough tickets would probably only have been 1600 range... I'd love to be there now, but I can't really afford to fly that often and one of the fun parts of my job (I am the sole dude in charge of building a office management program for law offices) is the boss likes to have all kinds of year end reports... this is the first year of using the software so until now many of these reports were needed down the road, and not a high priority... now they are... I can't really take time off at the end of the year... I'm planning to be at her interview though, or at least waiting in the lobby, and that'll be less than 2 months from whenever the NOA2 shows up (or should be). I'm really hoping to be able to fly back with her but of course, it's risky because there is no gaurentee of a visa (I'm not worried about being denied though) and more important there is no gaurentee it will be issued and delivered quickly, though I hope to ask to be able to pick it up since she lives in manila.

Also, I had planned to talk fred into giving me his tickets... as soon as I found out how easy it was to get him to check USCIS even though he said he wouldn't... so far he hasn't sent me the tickets though... I must have forgotten how to persuade him... but let's try again... hey fred... you should check USCIS, I bet you've got a NOA2 just waiting for you there if you just look hehe (yeah, I know he got it last week... that show off)

[Bulgarican 0]

LOL you're funny, we will miss Fred here and the teasing attempts to make him check he was the strongest of us, he was resistant while we check everyday and complain we dont have touches

wow your tickets are very expensive to bulgaria is around 900-1200 $ in some cases 850...

good luck with the tickets

[Hell0W0rld 10]

[maliciant 7]

I only expect to pay about 1250 for a round trip ticket next time (my first trip cost 1650ish, not sure why, I'm guessing it was due to the higher costs of fuel at the time). The philippines is pretty much the opposite side of the world from me, so in terms of total distance, it makes sense it'd be fairly expensive... the other problem is I live in a city big enough to have an airport, but uh, not big enough to get good rates... if I lived in kansas city or st louis it'd knock off a minimum of 250 off the price of any ticket and most likely more... it's almost worth it to go to one of those cities to fly out of but then you've got the cost of getting there and the time and... it's like a 25-28 hour deal when flying by plane alone so.... yeah... nothing makes me more jealous than someone posting about how they can't afford to go be with their SO... because a plane ticket from phoenix to colorado is $150-$200 (I'd be there every other weekend!... or damn close to it... if I could get tickets for that price... also I thikn that's a 2 hour trip which is more managable for a weekend than trips to the philippines).

Helloworld08: I'm watching that clock too... feelin kind of miserable today, need a pick me up NOA2, any august NOA2 will do, but I prefer it to be mine! I'm sure you understand.

ETA: Only 10 posts until someone get's to be king/queen/sexy dungeon mistress of page 200... if there was any page to rule... that'd be a good one!

Edited December 22, 2008 by maliciant

[Chuck and Grace 0]

I only expect to pay about 1250 for a round trip ticket next time (my first trip cost 1650ish, not sure why, I'm guessing it was due to the higher costs of fuel at the time). The philippines is pretty much the opposite side of the world from me, so in terms of total distance, it makes sense it'd be fairly expensive... the other problem is I live in a city big enough to have an airport, but uh, not big enough to get good rates... if I lived in kansas city or st louis it'd knock off a minimum of 250 off the price of any ticket and most likely more... it's almost worth it to go to one of those cities to fly out of but then you've got the cost of getting there and the time and... it's like a 25-28 hour deal when flying by plane alone so.... yeah... nothing makes me more jealous than someone posting about how they can't afford to go be with their SO... because a plane ticket from phoenix to colorado is $150-$200 (I'd be there every other weekend!... or damn close to it... if I could get tickets for that price... also I thikn that's a 2 hour trip which is more managable for a weekend than trips to the philippines).

Helloworld08: I'm watching that clock too... feelin kind of miserable today, need a pick me up NOA2, any august NOA2 will do, but I prefer it to be mine! I'm sure you understand.

ETA: Only 10 posts until someone get's to be king/queen/sexy dungeon mistress of page 200... if there was any page to rule... that'd be a good one!

Well, they werent being so friendly on prices for the Philippines over the holidays. I tried to use frequent flyer miles, but they wanted 120,000 miles for even coach tickets. So splitting miles and $ (basically paying for 1/2 the trip) was still over $1000 and 60,000 miles a ticket. Merry Freakin Christmas to the Airlines!

[maliciant 7]

How far in advance did you buy those tickets? My 1250 figure is based on feb or march flights, not for christmas. As soon as I know an interview date I'll find out what it'll really cost though, it's possible things could change or that I'll find out the only reason it was as low as 1250 was due to looking months ahead of the flight time (I'm assuming that the interview date will be about a month out from whenever it's even possible to call and set it up so I should have at least 3+ weeks advance on the purchase date of the plane tickets which may not be enough). I can't wait to have a date to count down to instead of a date to count up from.

[Chuck and Grace 0]

How far in advance did you buy those tickets? My 1250 figure is based on feb or march flights, not for christmas. As soon as I know an interview date I'll find out what it'll really cost though, it's possible things could change or that I'll find out the only reason it was as low as 1250 was due to looking months ahead of the flight time (I'm assuming that the interview date will be about a month out from whenever it's even possible to call and set it up so I should have at least 3+ weeks advance on the purchase date of the plane tickets which may not be enough). I can't wait to have a date to count down to instead of a date to count up from.

About 7-8 weeks in advance, but the holiday season is always expensive. Plus, dates for departure and return get limited (especially for me becuase I am bringing my kids with me). So with more flexible time schedule and not at the holidays, it should be better.

Also, I live near Detroit - so pretty much the only choice is Northwest. If you have other choices, you might get better deals. I heard now with the Delta / Northwest merger, they will offer flights from Salt Lake City to Japan direct, so that might make a cheaper flight from here to SLC to NGO or NRT to MNL.

Worst part of the prices I previously complained about is the return trip is MNL to NRT to LAX to MEM to DTW. 31 hours I think. ayako!

[HYENA 4]

So I just heard someone from CSC filed a MONTH LATER THAN ME got NOA2 couple days ago. I'm so bummed!

My tickets lowest were 1000, highest were 1500. THis time will be about 1350 (unless I have to wait much longer, they'll be 1500)

It's driving me nuts! VSC fell asleep! Last week I was 122 on Igor's list, now I'm 117...but plenty of people after me are flyin through!

Based on timelines, only 2-2 1/2 months after NOA2, she's sitting in my livingroom!

THis is making me crazy!!!!

[HYENA 4]

the BEST I ever found was direct to Bangkok from JFK 17 hours (problem was the layover in NYC for a few hours leaving the total to 24 hours and some change.

I found if I drive an hour to Dulles airport (near DC) there's a 20-21 hour to Tokyo then BKK which is pretty good.

Baltimore Wash airport is 15 minutes from me but that tacks on a few hours each way PLUS it sticks me in American owned airlines (I HATE AMERICAN OWNED AIRLINES-nickel and dime you for stupid sit on the tarmac for 3 hours going nowhere service). Foreign airlines don't play those stupid games.

I changed my ticket with Thai airways when they used to go direct to JFK and it cost me.....NOTHING to stay 2 more weeks. Clanging tickets through an American owned company tacks on $1000 extra.

If I can avoid it, even if it's a few hundred difference, I will always use Korea, THai or any other airliens NOT any American companies (American companies don't have proper passenger protection and considerations that foreign one's do).

[Chuck and Grace 0]

the BEST I ever found was direct to Bangkok from JFK 17 hours (problem was the layover in NYC for a few hours leaving the total to 24 hours and some change.

I found if I drive an hour to Dulles airport (near DC) there's a 20-21 hour to Tokyo then BKK which is pretty good.

Baltimore Wash airport is 15 minutes from me but that tacks on a few hours each way PLUS it sticks me in American owned airlines (I HATE AMERICAN OWNED AIRLINES-nickel and dime you for stupid sit on the tarmac for 3 hours going nowhere service). Foreign airlines don't play those stupid games.

I changed my ticket with Thai airways when they used to go direct to JFK and it cost me.....NOTHING to stay 2 more weeks. Clanging tickets through an American owned company tacks on $1000 extra.

If I can avoid it, even if it's a few hundred difference, I will always use Korea, THai or any other airliens NOT any American companies (American companies don't have proper passenger protection and considerations that foreign one's do).

Glad your not bitter.

[maliciant 7]

On my way out the door I found out that I know someone working for hotels.com and he claims he can get cheap tickets for me... I figured I'd be contacting some kind of travel agent anyway this time since I'd want return trip tickets for 2 instead of just one and the flexible dates etc... I somehow suspect that it won't be much diff than if I just book the stuff myself via online sites... but who knows. He told me you can buy travelers insurance for $15 and that'll allow you to change your flight date at least once... that's a lot less than $1000 (and I had seen on orbitz or wherever I got my last tickets something about a 250 fee to switch dates after purchase... still less than 1000 but not exactly cheap).

[Chris & Mara 0]

the BEST I ever found was direct to Bangkok from JFK 17 hours (problem was the layover in NYC for a few hours leaving the total to 24 hours and some change.

I found if I drive an hour to Dulles airport (near DC) there's a 20-21 hour to Tokyo then BKK which is pretty good.

Baltimore Wash airport is 15 minutes from me but that tacks on a few hours each way PLUS it sticks me in American owned airlines (I HATE AMERICAN OWNED AIRLINES-nickel and dime you for stupid sit on the tarmac for 3 hours going nowhere service). Foreign airlines don't play those stupid games.

I changed my ticket with Thai airways when they used to go direct to JFK and it cost me.....NOTHING to stay 2 more weeks. Clanging tickets through an American owned company tacks on $1000 extra.

If I can avoid it, even if it's a few hundred difference, I will always use Korea, THai or any other airliens NOT any American companies (American companies don't have proper passenger protection and considerations that foreign one's do).

Wow Hyena! Your only like an hour north of where i am heading

So I have had Chris here since Saturday, OMG been so awesome, I know I missed him but I didn't realise that I missed him that much, thankfully the hot weather has been friendly for him and cooled down a little bit.

I won't find out about my NOA2 until the 2nd week of Jan even if it was issued last week, it could be sitting on the floor of Chris' house but we won't know till he gets home, silly silly not having a USCIS number.

Hopefully it will be there when he gets back though. Whilst I would like to share Dani's wishful thinking of being in the states by Jan I know that not going to happen, I am hoping to fly out of Aus on the 4th of March personally.

Later all

[Fred N Emilia 0]

How's everyone today? Seattle is still digging out from snow. My office is closed today so I been off for a while now, hehehehehe!

I am getting sick of this snowy weather, I need some Tropical weather now! UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!