July 2009 Filers

[Maria.S 1]

So USCIS's site is down. I decided to call and talk to someone even though I knew they couldn't tell me anything. He couldn't even look up the processing timelines today. It will like USCIS operators couldn't do a single thing besides write down my name and receipt numbers with a pencil.

So... I made the decision that I was going to compile a list of suggestions and call them back with them. Here's what I got so far:

1) Don't let the systems be down.

2) Onsite cafeteria at CSC. Let them eat at their desk and approve more files.

3) Use the $455 to actually get the applications processed. Spend less money on storing them, and more money on having people review and approve them.

4) A bonus system for employees that make the most YES decisions.

5) Ban Facebook and online forums on the firewalls, those things are such time wasters

I was hoping to come up with some goofy ones.. but my brain isn't working right now. Anyone have anything off the top of their head?

I needed that laugh.

Thank you.

It made me laugh too!

[M and F 3]

Hi Everyone,

So I went back to USCIS.GOV and looked at my case online and it said that it is "initial review"

so i scrolled over that to see what it meant and it said that petitioner/applicant is getting their background checked.

So that's a good thing right? Are all of yours under "initial review" too?

So it looks like they are processing background checks now.

That's good b/c I was under the impression that they were doing nothing right now b/c they haven't even gotten to July filers.

[M and F 3]

And wow - I know CSC is playing with our emotions b/c guess what they added now -

mobile notification!!! ugh

As if:

uscis.gov

email

regular mail

wasn't enough - Now we can look at our phones and obsess over that too.

p.s. I have to admit I selected mobile notification in addition to email notification

[roughsweet 0]

And wow - I know CSC is playing with our emotions b/c guess what they added now -

mobile notification!!! ugh

As if:

uscis.gov

email

regular mail

wasn't enough - Now we can look at our phones and obsess over that too.

p.s. I have to admit I selected mobile notification in addition to email notification

Yeah, I saw that and thought the very same thing! Gee, all I need is to jump every time I get a text now!

[Jewel-8 21]

Hi Everyone,

So I went back to USCIS.GOV and looked at my case online and it said that it is "initial review"

so i scrolled over that to see what it meant and it said that petitioner/applicant is getting their background checked.

So that's a good thing right? Are all of yours under "initial review" too?

So it looks like they are processing background checks now.

That's good b/c I was under the impression that they were doing nothing right now b/c they haven't even gotten to July filers.

OMG! Yay!! That's exactly what it says on mine as well. I'm glad they made it more visually appealing. I needed a little pick me up since my sister moved out of state yesterday. Life is stressful lately!!

As far as the text messages??? OHH NO! I'd sign up but I'd be afraid I might cause an accident if I get that while I'm driving. Better to not know maybe.

Or I could put my mom's number on there and she could be instructed to only tell me to check the site! =D She's as excited as I am about my fiance getting here. When my sister said she wasn't coming back for my moms retirement party in December my mom told her it was ok because at least she'd have Dave!

[M and F 3]

Hi Everyone,

So I went back to USCIS.GOV and looked at my case online and it said that it is "initial review"

so i scrolled over that to see what it meant and it said that petitioner/applicant is getting their background checked.

So that's a good thing right? Are all of yours under "initial review" too?

So it looks like they are processing background checks now.

That's good b/c I was under the impression that they were doing nothing right now b/c they haven't even gotten to July filers.

OMG! Yay!! That's exactly what it says on mine as well. I'm glad they made it more visually appealing. I needed a little pick me up since my sister moved out of state yesterday. Life is stressful lately!!

As far as the text messages??? OHH NO! I'd sign up but I'd be afraid I might cause an accident if I get that while I'm driving. Better to not know maybe.

Or I could put my mom's number on there and she could be instructed to only tell me to check the site! =D She's as excited as I am about my fiance getting here. When my sister said she wasn't coming back for my moms retirement party in December my mom told her it was ok because at least she'd have Dave!

That's so funny you say that Jewel - cause my mom is also as excited as I am and now she feels like she has a son (I'm the only child) so whenever she gets mad at me I hear "I'm going to call him and tell him what happened and see what he says" hahaah it's cute.

Yeah I was happy about the update too on the website.

And I totally added my number

I couldn't help it!!!

[Lost Love 0]

Good to know USCIS is atleast working on juliers now. I tried to check the website uscis.gov and itz saying

Case Status, Processing Times, Office Locator, and Change of Address Online Unavailable

Case Status, Processing Times, Office Locator, and Change of Address Online will be unavailable starting on 9/18/09 5PM EST until 9/19/09 12PM.

Last updated:09/18/2009

Have to wait till tommorow to check if other members are also in Intial Review.

[Wade+Kristin 0]

We're also under 'initial review' and I really hope we go from there to our case being approved! I don't like the look of the RFE button We didn't pick mobile update, think we're obsessing enough as it is through the websites and e-mails as it is! I'm on my way over to the july-08 thread. I'm interesting to see if they were generally tired and going through hard times with their relationships too at this point. Can't help but think this is something most of us experience while waiting for the NOA2. It wouldn't be half as bad waiting if we just had a certain date, it's the not knowing that is driving me insane

<--- waiting for this whole thing truly makes me feel like that

Edited September 19, 2009 by Wade+Kristin

[Wade+Kristin 0]

Oh and another thing... I am friggen SICK of being awake when America is asleep! The time zone thing is driving me mad, I go to bed when he wakes up and vica versa. I want to be awake when the office hours is happening in the US. It's crazy to hear people tell me good morning or afternoon when I'm about to wind down and go to bed for the day. GAHH - that's one thing I won't miss about this whole seperation thing. Wade and I got a 9 hour difference, how about everyone else?

Yes.. and I still feel like this:

[RISURF 0]

Doesnt Ukraine have a cold #### winter???

...Am I crazy for wanting to call CSC/USCIS to get an update or to check on the file? I mean I recognize the fact that they have not touched it or anything ....but still? Has anyone else thought about calling??? lol

Can I join in ??

I have been reading your comments and getting support from them for over a month guess I'm a little shy

I'm driving my Tamara nuts with phone calls and webcam so maybe I need to speak to some others

Anyone ever been to Alaska?

Welcome T&G. What part of Alaska are you from? My brother and his wife both have strong ties to Eagle River, but I've never been.

As far as CSC is concerned... yeah I'm not loving what is going on either. I dont think calling would help. Maybe sending them some coffee might??

Fairbanks, Alaska

Been to Eagle River several times

I'm a little scared Tamara has never experienced winter before!!!

And the way CSC is moving she will be coming to Fairbanks in December and thats -45F

Even more amusing to think of the fact she might get a winter wedding too! Imagine that, never experienced winter and then may end up married in the middle of it

I totally want a winter wedding!!

SIGH.

[M and F 3]

Kristin,

We have a 10 hour difference ... So now it is 1.19pm his time ... It is past 3am my time and I'm wide awake... Actually just woke up....the hour difference is a major pain bc I feel like I base my day thinking about what he is doing and what time it is and every time I look at my watch I calculate his time too and I will not miss that either.

I told my fiance the same thing ....it would not be so hard if we actually knew the exact day this would all end. The guesstimating and the unknown stress me out.

He is convinced we have a minimum of another 2 months and I don't know if I can handle another 2 months...haven't seen him since june 25th 2009 ... Miss him so much.

And what am I doing on VJ at this hour??? I don't know ....this forum calms me down ...it was really a hard week and I'm so emotionally/mentally tired.

Anyway - hopefully we are all getting close to some good news. Everything will be ok.

Hope Ýou have a good "afternoon"

Oh and another thing... I am friggen SICK of being awake when America is asleep! The time zone thing is driving me mad, I go to bed when he wakes up and vica versa. I want to be awake when the office hours is happening in the US. It's crazy to hear people tell me good morning or afternoon when I'm about to wind down and go to bed for the day. GAHH - that's one thing I won't miss about this whole seperation thing. Wade and I got a 9 hour difference, how about everyone else?

Yes.. and I still feel like this:

[Wade+Kristin 0]

Kristin,

We have a 10 hour difference ... So now it is 1.19pm his time ... It is past 3am my time and I'm wide awake... Actually just woke up....the hour difference is a major pain bc I feel like I base my day thinking about what he is doing and what time it is and every time I look at my watch I calculate his time too and I will not miss that either.

I told my fiance the same thing ....it would not be so hard if we actually knew the exact day this would all end. The guesstimating and the unknown stress me out.

He is convinced we have a minimum of another 2 months and I don't know if I can handle another 2 months...haven't seen him since june 25th 2009 ... Miss him so much.

And what am I doing on VJ at this hour??? I don't know ....this forum calms me down ...it was really a hard week and I'm so emotionally/mentally tired.

Anyway - hopefully we are all getting close to some good news. Everything will be ok.

Hope Ýou have a good "afternoon"

Oh and another thing... I am friggen SICK of being awake when America is asleep! The time zone thing is driving me mad, I go to bed when he wakes up and vica versa. I want to be awake when the office hours is happening in the US. It's crazy to hear people tell me good morning or afternoon when I'm about to wind down and go to bed for the day. GAHH - that's one thing I won't miss about this whole seperation thing. Wade and I got a 9 hour difference, how about everyone else?

Yes.. and I still feel like this:

That's so sweet of you, you made me smile so thank you! Can't say I've been doing a whole lot of it since Wade left, but I've decided to try and cheer up some. We have so much to look forward to, the awful visa process is just a temporary set back, right?!

I always calculate his hours too! It drives me nuts sometimes but I can't help it. Wade and I both have a somewhat unhealthy sleep pattern due to the fact we're trying to have a lot of contact even with the whacky time difference. You two got an hour more to struggle with compared to us.. almost half a day! At least it's weekend so you can try to relax and get a bit more sleep, and let's hope CSC will do a massive amount of approvals next week! We're so close, so just hang in there. I know another two months seem like an eternity, but after this you never have to be apart again! At least we have each other, I swear VJ is part the reason I still got my sanity.

Sleep tight and I'll talk to you 'tomorrow' ..even though your tomorrow already is my today

Edited September 19, 2009 by Wade+Kristin

[roughsweet 0]

Hey there everyone, Happy Saturday

Not much new to report, just waiting, waiting, waiting like the rest of you and wanted to say hi.

I'm feeling a little better, maybe I worried myself to the point of my brain shutting down, I don't know.

Neil keeps me sane too. He says he's just as impatient as I am, but that he's just better at hiding it. Well, there's no doubt there. I'm of that Irish-American temperament, where I express my emotions without much of a filter. And he, being that suave Brit that he is tends to say things like "Oh dear" when he's upset. That's why we're good together, he calms me down. I've got the best fiance ever And yes, I know we ALL feel that way. And well we should, or else why go through all of this.

Here's the toughest part of the waiting game. Remember last month, just after mid-month, they started on June apps? That's what is making me crazy. Knowing that any day now...ANY DAY NOW...there could be a July approval. It's both the most exciting and most excruciating feeling all at the same time.

K. that's my visajourney journal entry for the day hope you are all doing well.

[Wade+Kristin 0]

Hey there everyone, Happy Saturday

Not much new to report, just waiting, waiting, waiting like the rest of you and wanted to say hi.

I'm feeling a little better, maybe I worried myself to the point of my brain shutting down, I don't know.

Neil keeps me sane too. He says he's just as impatient as I am, but that he's just better at hiding it. Well, there's no doubt there. I'm of that Irish-American temperament, where I express my emotions without much of a filter. And he, being that suave Brit that he is tends to say things like "Oh dear" when he's upset. That's why we're good together, he calms me down. I've got the best fiance ever And yes, I know we ALL feel that way. And well we should, or else why go through all of this.

Here's the toughest part of the waiting game. Remember last month, just after mid-month, they started on June apps? That's what is making me crazy. Knowing that any day now...ANY DAY NOW...there could be a July approval. It's both the most exciting and most excruciating feeling all at the same time.

K. that's my visajourney journal entry for the day hope you are all doing well.

Hi Nancy! Awwww...! I'm glad to see you're feeling good about everything. Waiting isn't easy, and there's so many steps in this process that we're waiting for, but for each day that goes by - we're one day closer. That is exciting stuff! Like I said earlier today, I too feel a bit better and will try to keep my chin up. We all should, because soon - very soon - this will all be over and we'll be happily married to the people we love more than anything else! I've had wedding plans and thoughts of it buzzing around all day, perhaps that's what's making me feel better? Right before Wade left, we picked out a place to get married so now all we need is a date!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Neil sound like such a great support to you, which I think is one of the most important qualities in our partners right now as waiting is so hard to do! Just hang in there, and we'll all have our reunions soon enough

Edited September 19, 2009 by Wade+Kristin

[roughsweet 0]

Hi Nancy! Awwww...! I'm glad to see you're feeling good about everything. Waiting isn't easy, and there's so many steps in this process that we're waiting for, but for each day that goes by - we're one day closer. That is exciting stuff! Like I said earlier today, I too feel a bit better and will try to keep my chin up. We all should, because soon - very soon - this will all be over and we'll be happily married to the people we love more than anything else! I've had wedding plans and thoughts of it buzzing around all day, perhaps that's what's making me feel better? Right before Wade left, we picked out a place to get married so now all we need is a date!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Neil sound like such a great support to you, which I think is one of the most important qualities in our partners right now as waiting is so hard to do! Just hang in there, and we'll all have our reunions soon enough heart.gif

Hi Kristin, and yay!! I'm so glad you picked out a place! I know EXACTLY what you mean about letting the thoughts about the wedding keep you happy and excited. I do the same thing! When I get stressed out about all the visa stuff, I just daydream about marrying Neil

Hope you have a great Saturday evening/night! See? I remembered...yaaaay!