NEED PEOPLES OPINION

[SENKA 0]

I personally wouldn't agree for my full name and picture to be used for this.

[Canuck Carrie 1]

For the love of...

Please turn off your CAPS LOCK.

[thai2luv 0]

Have you already had the interview with the writer? And all they want to know now is if the can use your real first and last names and photos?

You never know how they're gonna spin the story.......

If it were my fiancee and me, first names only and no photos!!!

Edited June 9, 2006 by thai2luv

[Taye500 0]

Unfortunately, you have no idea how the Writer and Editor will spin your story. While they're giving you the impression now that it will show you in a good light, you'll never know until it's in print. You may want to tell the story from the point-of-view of people doing things the right way, but they're in the business of selling newspapers and will tell whatever story they want.

I wouldn't be worried about your photograph, but about allowing yourselves to be used without having any veto power over the text. If you want to ensure the story is what you intend, write a Letter to the Editor and include your photos if you want.

(Disclosure: I'm a Writer. I understand how flattered and flustered you feel right now.)

...

just found out they want a pic of him here in the us....and one of me in canada.....however i think i just answered my own question(not that u guys were not helpful, you were)...this is not solely about us, it is about everyone...and how it affects EVERYONE. so the pics will more than likely ruled out as far as i am concerned...i just want the story out there.

Your associated pres story will not make a difference and it will only hurt other good people trying to use this visa category. You just applied in April and you are already inpatient. Any unneccessy headline story will only shed a spotlight on your visa category and make the public want more information which can prolong the process of the whole process. Immigration and USCIS is all over the news now in America due to the illegal alien problems and the attention has put a gridlock on the process. Why don't you wait for your own time and deal with USCIS by yourself instead of jeopardising other people's applications. Beleive it or not an AP story will not help you and can possibly hurt your application by shedding unneccessary light and scrutiny on the process. American public are very wart of all immigration processes right now. Bad enough we have IMBRA delaying the process, please don't complicate things any further and wait for your turn.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

How did this reporter get your guys' names? If they're going to write a story about the immigration process then I'd hope they would know more about it that waiting 2 months isn't that long. They should find someone who turned in their petition in January or December, which is a little longer than normal. *shrugs*

It would be nice if IMBRA gets coverage though.

[mrsushi66 0]

Well wether he thought about it or not when he called the AP to encourage this story they are only going on the fact that, hey this guy called so he must be willing to talk about it.

So now you have to decide if you both want to follow through with what Bill started. I was interviewed for a fluff piece once about they types of underwear people wear. The first line of the story started out with my full name has not changed his underwear in 10 years. Of course he meant the type of underwear I was wearing. Personally I thought it was halarious but of course that was a fluff piece and not nearly as serious as this but the point is. Say what you will but remember how it ends up in the paper is completely up to the person you are telling.

Paul

[Cygnet 0]

So now you have to decide if you both want to follow through with what Bill started. I was interviewed for a fluff piece once about they types of underwear people wear. The first line of the story started out with my full name has not changed his underwear in 10 years. Of course he meant the type of underwear I was wearing. Personally I thought it was halarious but of course that was a fluff piece and not nearly as serious as this but the point is. Say what you will but remember how it ends up in the paper is completely up to the person you are telling.

Paul

I agree. I've been interviewed before, too, and it didn't come out right in print. Just be careful! It's not like being on the radio or tv where people hear things directly from you. Bill probably had good intentions when he contacted the paper but ... Well, you know how things could backfire.

[happyimmigrant 0]

HI ALL, BILL(US FIANCE) JUST RECIEVED A CALL FROM THE REPORTER FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS. SHE REALLY WANTS TO DO A STORY ON THIS, AND IT WILL BE NATION WIDE. HOWEVER........SHE WANTS THIS TO BE ON THE FRONT PAGE WITH BILL AND MY PICTURES ON THERE.....NOW WE WANT THERE TO BE A STORY, BUT WE ARE FRANTIC ABOUT THE PICTURES. RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE BILLS FULL NAME, BUT HE ONLY GAVE MY FIRST NAME. WE ARE JUST AFRAID WITH HOW THE GOVERNMENT WORKS, THAT IF WE DO THIS, AND SOMEONE (IN PATICULAR SEES THIS), WE WILL BE DOOMED. PLEASE, ANYONE WITH ANY INPUT OR SUGGESTIONS...................BILL SAID THERE WOULD STILL BE THE STORY, BUT THEY WOULD LIKE TO PUT THE PICS IN AS WELL. SHOULD WE TELL HER NO PICS?.......THANKS ALL

Having been featured in both AP and Reuters pieces, both of which were picked up nationally (read one of them here, if you like), I can tell you that 99% of the papers that run the story will not use the pictures.

As for using your name - if you do not have anything to fear with your application - if your application will be approved on its own merits, you really have nothing to fear of having your names published. If anything, it should give you some measure of protection against being treated unfairly - you're in the public eye, and the USCIS does not want to look bad.

Immigration has been in the news a great deal, and it has been focussing on the illegal abusers of the system. We really need some public press on how the restrictions being put in place to restrict abuse are unfairly punishing the legal immigrants who are slowly crawling through the USCIS bureaucratic nightmare.

Go for it, IMO.

Edit: Here's one that DID use (an admittedly horrible) picture of me.

Edited June 9, 2006 by gsmaclean

[Ladylethal 12]

Even for something so stupid as a yearbook when I was an exchange student in Arizona they switched what I said.

I was asked what I thought of the school and how I compared it to my school in Brasil and I said "It´s a little bigger than my school in Brasil but I guess it´s ´cus mine is not so spread out like this (meaning how they had small buildings all over a field instead of my school that has a huge 5 story high building)" and I kept talking about other stuff about schools in Brasil x schools in US and all they printed out was "Laura was impressed at the size of our school having come from a small place in Brasil". #######?!?! And that´s not important at all.

[Larry and Maria 0]

I agree with all that's been said and do understand both your hesitation; I think I'd feel the same way.

However, I'd probably do it.

If it's not too late, there should be something in it to balance the male seeking female abroad versus female seeking male.

I've been amazed at the number of USC females bringing males in.

The public's perception is that it's only USC males who are worthless and that's why we're seeking a foreign partner.

So, I vote for trying to get them to see that this "foreign bride" notion is totally in error.

It seems there's at least at 60/40 split here on VJ male to female seeking foreign partners, dating globally.

This IS after all a GLOBAL economy now; some still haven't understood exactly what that means.

[Anna Sif 0]

oh, please! do you really think anyone at USCIS is going to look through their backlog of cases to see who's the naughty ones who've been talking to the press and childishly "punish" them for their "indiscretion"? Give me a break!

Let's get out of our little VJ world for a second and remember that 99.9% of the population don't have a clue what a K1 visa is, have never heard of IMBRA, and have no idea about what regular law abiding people like you and I have to wait and go through just to be able to be with our loved one.

Media exposure will only make people aware of the situation and simpathetic to it, who knows, there might be lawyers, congressmen/women, lawmakers reading this article and can help do something about it.

Since when is it wrong to denounce a situation that is clearly affecting people negatively? Are we so scared and paranoid and selfish that we'd rather hide and pretend nothing is wrong than denounce it?

We're talking about the Associated Press, by the way, not People magazine or a tabloid.

I say go for it full on, Bill's girl! And thank you very much for having the guts to do this, and for putting a voice and a face to all of us in this situation.

[rlt 0]

oh, please! do you really think anyone at USCIS is going to look through their backlog of cases to see who's the naughty ones who've been talking to the press and childishly "punish" them for their "indiscretion"? Give me a break!

Let's get out of our little VJ world for a second and remember that 99.9% of the population don't have a clue what a K1 visa is, have never heard of IMBRA, and have no idea about what regular law abiding people like you and I have to wait and go through just to be able to be with our loved one.

Media exposure will only make people aware of the situation and simpathetic to it, who knows, there might be lawyers, congressmen/women, lawmakers reading this article and can help do something about it.

Since when is it wrong to denounce a situation that is clearly affecting people negatively? Are we so scared and paranoid and selfish that we'd rather hide and pretend nothing is wrong than denounce it?

We're talking about the Associated Press, by the way, not People magazine or a tabloid.

I say go for it full on, Bill's girl! And thank you very much for having the guts to do this, and for putting a voice and a face to all of us in this situation.

I think it can also be a way to get more information, because us "regular people" haven´t got anything so far.

So it´s just a metter to let them know about your concerns and what do you expect from this.

The lack of information about what´s going on with people´s process to be with their loved ones.

That´s all. I think it can come out as a good article.

[billsgirl 0]

first thing i want to say...is i am sorry i even posted this....i didnt know it would ruffle so many feathers. 2nd of all, everyone that bill has ever spoke with regarding the ki visa and the effects it would have on the processing times, and how the government failed to implement the new law in time, we had informed them that our case was still young, and was in a 2 month period. like others on this site, we would like to know some idea on how long the process is going to take, since the government couldnt tell us, and no one seemed to know, he took it upon himself to call the associated press to see if they could find out what was going on. she informed me today, they are a week or 2 from having the paperwork ready.this reporter covers homeland security in washington, dc. i also explained to her that other people had it far far worse than us., and how peoples final interviews were cxled. she understood that cause homeland security told her that it was effecting 10,000 people. i am sorry if you think its wrong to let the rest of the nation know how the government messed up implementing a law in a timely fashion. i feel it is better to bring this to light, and how it is affecting 1000's of americans and their fiances lives. if any of you are interested, in telling your story, and how this new law is affecting your life, just pm me and i will give you the contact number...

MAN OF ACTION: you apparently didnt read the whole thread, because if you did, you be able to comprehend that we were not looking for attention and notarity. we are not going to have our pics taken, just wanted other members opinions.,and every conversation that bill has had with the reporter, he has stressed that there are many more people worse off than us..we just wanted answeres like most here.

[Ladylethal 12]

I for one know you´re not looking for attention but only looking for information like myself. Your timeline is close to mine and I know you´re on the exact same boat going through Vermont and all. I totally understand what you guys did and remember that when your fiance talked to the press everyone was telling everyone else to do something about this, and you guys had the guts to go do it.

Only thing is that maybe you ought to to tell the reporter to speak in general lines and not just about your case especifically, especially about those recalled cases that lost so much more than we did.

[eclowjpd 0]

I would go for it! I would not worry about pics or names.