New Home Page Message

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

A call for immigration professionals! VisaJourney is looking for qualified professionals in the immigration field who would like to participate in a new area on the site, engaging our membership and subject matter experts. For more information please contact our team making sure to select "Immigration Professionals Inquiry" as the subject.

[Ban Hammer 13,474]

A call for immigration professionals! VisaJourney is looking for qualified professionals in the immigration field who would like to participate in a new area on the site, engaging our membership and subject matter experts. For more information please contact our team making sure to select "Immigration Professionals Inquiry" as the subject.

you applying?

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

you applying?

No.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

What does it mean by "immigration professionals"? Is this people who created a website to give out info 'cause they feel qualified, or is it lawyers? Or people that work in the immigration field? Or simply people who feel like they're particularly "clever" about immigration stuff?

[TBoneTX 45,870]

Pending my learning more, my first impression is that a "professional" area is fraught with potential peril.

[Captain Ewok 1,900]

We are looking to bring on folks from industry to participate in periodic Q&A's from members. This is not related to the forums in place now, nor would they interact at that level. A good example would be if we can get a consulate officer to reply to a segment of questions submitted by members on a monthly basis. Given the confusion, I have removed the memo for now until we can draft a clearer message.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Pending my learning more, my first impression is that a "professional" area is fraught with potential peril.

Here's the exact wording: "A call for immigration professionals! VisaJourney is looking for qualified professionals in the immigration field who would like to participate in a new area on the site, engaging our membership and subject matter experts. For more information please contact our team making sure to select "Immigration Professionals Inquiry" as the subject."

Hmm... a paid section perhaps where immigration lawyers can answer questions? But that doesn't sound safe.. like you said.. potential peril indeed... So my other idea is maybe they're re-doing guides and forms and more specific Q&A to stop the repeated questions?? The thing that trips me up is "engaging our membership and subject matter experts".. I have no idea...

Any elaboration Mods?

[Captain Ewok 1,900]

See above. We would like to engage members with folks that they would not normally have access to such as consulate officers and other folks in the industry that are not as easily accessible. There would of course never be fees or costs for this and provided as a benefit to the community.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

See above. We would like to engage members with folks that they would not normally have access to such as consulate officers and other folks in the industry that are not as easily accessible. There would of course never be fees or costs for this and provided as a benefit to the community.

lol. You beat me by ONE minute

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

There are true professionals who post on other similar sites. By "true professionals" I mean attorneys with malpractice insurance to back up what they say.

They do not have dedicated areas to post in. Their participation appears to be purely voluntary.

I have never seen a consular officer or other government official posting regularly on DIY sites. IMO this would be in conflict with their positions and possibly jeopardize their careers. I have seen interviews of immigration officials, but these are just that - one time interviews with a glimpse into the process.

The site uk-yankee.com appears to be administered by an individual who may be a practicing attorney in Great Britain.

Where one parks their server seems to be a legal technicality in the US as to what may be said (and by whom) when it comes to the unauthorized practice of law. Even so, that is the exact rub when someone presents themselves as a "professional" via a web location wherein that professional is not wholly responsible for site content. Many attorneys do not wish to associate themselves with other site content. They do not wish their participation on a site to be construed as some sort of varnish over the misinformation of mere mortals. Some professionals of lesser character use the power of their license to create turmoil.

I can add this to the discussion with absolute certainty. Those websites I am familiar with that are graced by the presence of a "true professionals" have a much higher level of moderation. There is a constant, consistent effort to maintain the integrity of "mere mortal" information. This does not mean that colorful discussions don't occur. It does mean that the business of helping others is taken seriously.

[LaL 418]

Pick_A_Ring and Agent005 were two COs from HCMC (if I remember correctly) and really provided invaluable information at the time.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Pick_A_Ring and Agent005 were two COs from HCMC (if I remember correctly) and really provided invaluable information at the time.

Thanks for that as I was unaware of their membership. Must have been the really, really old days!

I presume there was not a dedicated area for their participation?

[LaL 418]

No, they just participated on the forums.

[luckytxn 2,265]

Great idea and one that if done well could be a big asset.