I feel like crying. Guh.

[G&C 0]

Well, my goodness, how dare I suggest that anyone actually plan ahead; that would just be un-American now wouldn't it!!!! Seems to me he should have moved to you! However, you both "could have" thought about all of this, and you chose not to. It's not about keeping her (my SO) at home, it's planning for the time she will not be allowed to work, nothing more, nothing less. But considering the average American only has $22,000 in savings they can access in an emergency, problems are sure to arise. Money goes fast.

Your second point is consistent with your first. You coiuld have gotten married on Day 4 or close to it in most States, Day 1 or 2 in Nevada. So if you "choose" to not get marrried until day 83 that is your choice and why then complain about an emergency travel permit?!? An emergency permit on Day 2 indicates you should have postponed your Day 0.

I am prepared to support anyone, and I have provided good advice on topics. BUT when someone makes a decision, and then blames other for the consequences, well, that is just too sad (and at the same time common;the future of this country!). People can "choose" to plan better, to think ahead, to think of how things may turn out and then plan accordingly. Or they cannot and then complain later that all that is wrong is someone else's fault.

Cass, you don't want to live in New England. It gets cold up here, trust me.

But once your fiance(e) is here, there is nothing to complain about.

After all, the petitioner has already proven they can financially support their new spouse, so why the complaining about taking forever to be allowed to work? It can't be the money because the petitioner has already stated they don't need the money.

And there is a proces for which one can travel home on a true emergency, which to me means life or death. I mean AP submittal to approval of 70 days is pretty quick; but perhaps not if the NOA1 to NOA2 is 13 days!

I just wanted to pass comment on this, because it bothered me.

Once your fiance(e) is here, life does not suddenly become peaches and roses. The petitioner has proven nothing more than that they earn about the poverty level. There is no debt-to-income ratio taken into consideration, no living expense allowance, no "OMG I've got to find a whole bunch of money for the AOS" allowance. My husband earned enough money to sponsor me officially, but when I arrived here he was unemployed. Our fixed living expenses (rent, electricity) come to 55% of the poverty level. We pay out another 6% of the poverty level income on debt. That brings us to over 60% of the required sponsorship level of earnings without even thinking about the fact that we had to find money to file, eat, pay the phone bill, run my husbands car... And there was NOTHING I could do! To say that nobody needs their spouse to work because they signed the affidavit of support is very naive. Lucky you if you can afford to keep your other half at home. Most of us cannot.

There is a process whereby one can travel very quickly for emergency purposes, but it is dependant on the AOS having been filed. Emergency on Day 2 when you're not getting married until Day 83 - tough luck. K1 is a one-entry visa. You're stuck applying all over again, in most cases. I didn't apply for AP and have not been back to my home country since I married, but some people have reasons for wanting to visit before 70 days is up.

Yes, the aim is to get your other half here, but everyone applying for a K1, K3 or CR/IR1 has that same aim. Wherever they are in the process, they deserve support. It may have only been a month, but that doesn't stop them missing their loved one. It may have been over a year, and I feel terribly sorry for those of you with long wait times. Your feelings are equally as valid - including your dislike of people complaining about what you perceive as a short waiting time. It does nobody any good to forget that you're all trying to reach the same goal though, and that everyone needs to be supported.

[rebeccajo 14]

G&C, I realize you are having a long wait for your visa approval. You are miserable being separated from her and are planning (apparently) for when she arrives. Excellent.

It appears to me you also believe that once she gets here your little world will be all rosy and every one of your plans will fit together perfectly like building blocks. I bet you've got a while picket fence out in the garage ready to put up around your house.

I think it's about time you got off your high horse.

All that Christina and I have been trying to say is that REAL LIFE happens once the visa is granted and you are living together as husband and wife. On top of the REAL LIFE are MORE immigration hassles. Are you familiar with the concept of REAL LIFE? It's that thing that happens when something happens out of your control and your PLANS don't go exactly like you thought they would. It's the thing that happens in ALL MARRIAGES that last any length of time.

Plan all you like - it isn't always going to be smooth sailing and perfection. Yes two are stronger than one - once reunited - but you have your rose colored glasses up on high if you believe for 10 seconds that this separation you are experiencing now is going to be the worst part of your history with your wife.

I pray that you never loose a job through no fault of your own. That your bank account never dry up no matter how hard you and she scrimp and save. I pray that you always see eye to eye about how you spend those dollars when you have them. I pray you never find out she has a casatrophic health issue. I pray that you never find out you have a health issue that limits your ability to work and provide for your family. That you never have an untimed pregnancy, that you never find out one of your children has been gravely injured, or god forbid that you ever lose a child.

Stop being so mean spirited and near sighted. Life happens. If you are VERY LUCKY this part of your journey will be the worst challenge you ever have. Stop berating the rest of us who are trying to prepare you for the other side once your fiance gets here. As I said earlier, this separation can be something you look back on and cling to when REAL LIFE happens. And if you think for 10 seconds that it won't happen to you - you are dead wrong.

Well, my goodness, how dare I suggest that anyone actually plan ahead; that would just be un-American now wouldn't it!!!! Seems to me he should have moved to you! However, you both "could have" thought about all of this, and you chose not to. It's not about keeping her (my SO) at home, it's planning for the time she will not be allowed to work, nothing more, nothing less. But considering the average American only has $22,000 in savings they can access in an emergency, problems are sure to arise. Money goes fast.

Your second point is consistent with your first. You coiuld have gotten married on Day 4 or close to it in most States, Day 1 or 2 in Nevada. So if you "choose" to not get marrried until day 83 that is your choice and why then complain about an emergency travel permit?!? An emergency permit on Day 2 indicates you should have postponed your Day 0.

I am prepared to support anyone, and I have provided good advice on topics. BUT when someone makes a decision, and then blames other for the consequences, well, that is just too sad (and at the same time common;the future of this country!). People can "choose" to plan better, to think ahead, to think of how things may turn out and then plan accordingly. Or they cannot and then complain later that all that is wrong is someone else's fault.

Cass, you don't want to live in New England. It gets cold up here, trust me.

But once your fiance(e) is here, there is nothing to complain about.

After all, the petitioner has already proven they can financially support their new spouse, so why the complaining about taking forever to be allowed to work? It can't be the money because the petitioner has already stated they don't need the money.

And there is a proces for which one can travel home on a true emergency, which to me means life or death. I mean AP submittal to approval of 70 days is pretty quick; but perhaps not if the NOA1 to NOA2 is 13 days!

I just wanted to pass comment on this, because it bothered me.

Once your fiance(e) is here, life does not suddenly become peaches and roses. The petitioner has proven nothing more than that they earn about the poverty level. There is no debt-to-income ratio taken into consideration, no living expense allowance, no "OMG I've got to find a whole bunch of money for the AOS" allowance. My husband earned enough money to sponsor me officially, but when I arrived here he was unemployed. Our fixed living expenses (rent, electricity) come to 55% of the poverty level. We pay out another 6% of the poverty level income on debt. That brings us to over 60% of the required sponsorship level of earnings without even thinking about the fact that we had to find money to file, eat, pay the phone bill, run my husbands car... And there was NOTHING I could do! To say that nobody needs their spouse to work because they signed the affidavit of support is very naive. Lucky you if you can afford to keep your other half at home. Most of us cannot.

There is a process whereby one can travel very quickly for emergency purposes, but it is dependant on the AOS having been filed. Emergency on Day 2 when you're not getting married until Day 83 - tough luck. K1 is a one-entry visa. You're stuck applying all over again, in most cases. I didn't apply for AP and have not been back to my home country since I married, but some people have reasons for wanting to visit before 70 days is up.

Yes, the aim is to get your other half here, but everyone applying for a K1, K3 or CR/IR1 has that same aim. Wherever they are in the process, they deserve support. It may have only been a month, but that doesn't stop them missing their loved one. It may have been over a year, and I feel terribly sorry for those of you with long wait times. Your feelings are equally as valid - including your dislike of people complaining about what you perceive as a short waiting time. It does nobody any good to forget that you're all trying to reach the same goal though, and that everyone needs to be supported.

Edited September 8, 2006 by rebeccajo

[gugu24 0]

"But considering the average American only has $22,000 in savings they can access in an emergency, problems are sure to arise. Money goes fast."...................uuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhh..yeah... I wish i had $22,000 in savings that i could access in any case...lol I must have been out of america to long and fell out of that loop. lol

I do have to say"woooooooooooooowww" i missed alot on here lately. this was a shin dig of a thread i see.

Spiritee...congrats on the pregnancy..i'm 5 1/2 months pg myself. but i have to tell you i can't stop complaining lol. (((beginning to think it was a pre-pregnancy condition that got inflamed afterwards))). My fiance and I got approved back in may and here we are still waiting (3 yrs) soooo &%$#@#@ lol BuUuUtT...We have been staying together here in Japan(I came to him) since Feb2005. and ChristineM you said it sister..its not a peaches after both partners come together. I left a full time job,benifits,car, family, nice home to come be with my fiance and now we are doing what we can to save up enough mula when we go back for our 1 year old's needs, our expected arrival of baby, and fees for the rest of this process along with the cost of filing for I-130 after and plane tickets and our money hungrey sits on her butt doing pretty much nothing lawyer. (this where I'd like to say..ooh I wish i had that $22,000 dollars now! When we go back we are staying in my brother's home til we get on our feet which will be awhile since i wont be working right away due to having the baby soon and he)fiance will have to get whatever it is he has to get in order to work,which yet again will be awhile since our daughter needs surgery before the age of 2 so ill need his help with her and the baby.

sorry i spealed everything out like that, though im not really somplaining. i have bigger things to gripe about like a certain person seeing a certain little person spill things all over and just walk on by...

yep thats petty but hey we act like every normal couple lololol now who's gonna make the damn cofee?!

[Kirsten L 0]

"But considering the average American only has $22,000 in savings they can access in an emergency, problems are sure to arise. Money goes fast."...................uuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhh..yeah... I wish i had $22,000 in savings that i could access in any case...lol I must have been out of america to long and fell out of that loop. lol

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!! You can say that again, gugu!!! And Rebeccajo, you too! I'm so on this train with you both. I spent two years in France doing dissertation research--where I wasn't permitted to work, incidentally, so has been NO money coming in to my accounts until the beginning of June when I finally found a job after my return. And because I'm still in school and minus my doctorate, it ain't exactly a high-paying affair. I'm having to throw a yard sale this weekend to make enough money for the fraction of my tuition I still don't have and am literally PRAYING I'll have enough to eat for the rest of the month after that. The company that hired me out of the temp agency only pays on the last day of every month, and I just started on their payroll, so that leaves me with a major gap from which it will be hard to recover. About the time I do, it will be time to pay tuition again in January. And the way things are looking now, my fiancé will be showing up at the beginning of the year, as well. It is not a pretty fiancial picture.

Geez, G&C, you talk as though we're a bunch of dunderheads who don't know our patoots from holes in the ground rather than understanding with the rest of us that LIFE HAPPENS. We all fell in love...whether the timing of that was financially convenient or not. We all have situations that existed BEFORE we fell in love. And we all have additional situations that unexpectedly arise AFTER we've decided to traverse this hellish immigration process. I'd say Rebeccajo, gugu, myself, and lots of others are pretty intrepid and CREATIVE as we go through this process. We're managing it. We WILL manage it. I think we all deserve a round of congratulations...not your condescending, unrealistic blather. Glad you're so on to top of it...FOR NOW. Rebeccajo's right. You have no idea where you'll be tomorrow. Remember...the bigger they come, the harder they fall...With your rigid, hardnose attitude, your finances might be just fine throughout, but one wonders how your relationship will survive. Good luck...

[spiritee 0]

Kirsten,

Another day, another sob story... Yesterday was no approval in a month and today is no money maybe no food! gosh whatever could it be tomorrow! oooppps sorry I forgot tomorrow is the yard sale..

Please there are people in the World who are really starving your problems are minor! How much more pity are you seeking?

[mybackpages 0]

And thankfully, I've come full-circle and am back to my normal optimistic self. But, I'm sure everyone here can attest to having some days where the frustration is just unbearable. And I'm sure, as devilette alludes to, those days only become more fequent the longer you've waited. But that doesn't mean that everyone isn't entitled to having those days.

Just to let you know you are not alone in your sentiments in the original post on this thread. Last night I found jealousy creeping into my head. And it is exactly as your said- you don't wish to take away the happiness for two people being able to move through this process quickly. I feel really happy when I read the recent approvals coming through- especially for these march filers finally getting some action. BUT jealousy is still there on the days i am feeling frustrated and missing my fiance. One emotion exists right along side with the other.

I like how Iceyspots called it a pity party. This forum allows us to come here and whine a bit, get some support and then move on and get back to our normal selves.

Last night was a little frustrating. This morning things are better. up and down seems the be the normal emotional behavior in this process. (Iceyspots may be the exception- she's my role model for optimism and postive energy! Cheers to you Icey! )

I work with a woman from the Ukraine who came here in 1998 on a fiance visit. Her family was in Germany. Her fiance was in the US, so she spend a lot of this time waiting without close family support. She told me that after she arrived in the US, she and her husband often remembered the frustrations and waiting in a sweet positive way. Something they could laugh about- a memory of their early relationship. It was great to hear this from her. reasuring in a way- if that makes any sense.

Here's to quick reunions across the board-

off to work now...hoping to see Iceyspots and GaryC's approvals posted later tonight!!!!!

[ChristinaM 0]

Kirsten,

Another day, another sob story... Yesterday was no approval in a month and today is no money maybe no food! gosh whatever could it be tomorrow! oooppps sorry I forgot tomorrow is the yard sale..

Please there are people in the World who are really starving your problems are minor! How much more pity are you seeking?

Lucky you, Spiritee. You've obivously never had to decide whether to have the electricity or the gas cut off, whether to pay the rent or buy food.

NEWSFLASH! Some people here have had to make that kind of decision. I'm one of them.

Everything is relative. When you lose a relative you mustn't cry; don't forget people who have lost their whole family in a tragic accident. Don't be so ridiculous.

[spiritee 0]

Please I have been there the before but I had faith and prayed not complained endlessly as I knew that there was someone else who was far worse than me. So do not assume anything. I guess you have never visited a third World Country and seen how people live I have and trust me it's a humbling experience and those people do not complain they make do.

Kirsten,

Another day, another sob story... Yesterday was no approval in a month and today is no money maybe no food! gosh whatever could it be tomorrow! oooppps sorry I forgot tomorrow is the yard sale..

Please there are people in the World who are really starving your problems are minor! How much more pity are you seeking?

Lucky you, Spiritee. You've obivously never had to decide whether to have the electricity or the gas cut off, whether to pay the rent or buy food.

NEWSFLASH! Some people here have had to make that kind of decision. I'm one of them.

Everything is relative. When you lose a relative you mustn't cry; don't forget people who have lost their whole family in a tragic accident. Don't be so ridiculous.

How you can compare waiting more than one month for a Fiancé visa to a person loosing their whole family in a tragic accident. Now who is being ridiculous?

Kirsten,

Another day, another sob story... Yesterday was no approval in a month and today is no money maybe no food! gosh whatever could it be tomorrow! oooppps sorry I forgot tomorrow is the yard sale..

Please there are people in the World who are really starving your problems are minor! How much more pity are you seeking?

Lucky you, Spiritee. You've obivously never had to decide whether to have the electricity or the gas cut off, whether to pay the rent or buy food.

NEWSFLASH! Some people here have had to make that kind of decision. I'm one of them.

Everything is relative. When you lose a relative you mustn't cry; don't forget people who have lost their whole family in a tragic accident. Don't be so ridiculous.

Edited September 8, 2006 by spiritee

[Ecalos 0]

Yikes what happened to this thread?

IMHO, all Cass was trying to do was rant a little to make herself feel better. It wasn't a personal attack on VSCers. No one from CSC hates you, we envy you that's all. Dont take everything so seriously even when we get a little jealous. We're all still very happy when you get approved, we just wish we could sneak some of our petitions in there

No, I haven't, nor has Cass, been waiting that long yet. Who knows, maybe CSC will clean up their act and start approving people in three months again. But until that happens, even though we haven't been waiting long yet, the reportedly long wait ahead of us is depressing to contemplate. Yup it sucks @$$. Nope, it wont be the worst thing in the world we have to endure by far. Yup, in the scheme of things 6-8 months isn't all that long, but its because its these (past for all the IMBRA filers) (future, for all those who filed recently) 6-8 months, they stand out more in our heads than stuff we haven't experienced yet, or stuff in the distant past. OR stuff we haven't experienced happening around the world.

Hell I bit*h and whine to my roommate on a daily basis about how much my "life sucks, I hate this, I'm going to be waiting so lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng (really whiny tone of voice)" Is it really that dramatic? No, but it makes me feel a little better just to get it out.

Life wont be roses after the approval. There's still the expenses associated with interviewing, medicals, moving, AOS, biometrics, etc. etc. etc. Then there's expenses for living while the new USC looks for work. Insurance. A Vehicle? House? Children? It will be tough the whole way until things settle and you begin to establish yourselves. Some people will have it easier and some harder, some through poor planning and others through luck and still others through no discernable fault of their own.

I dont get where all this snappy BS came from honestly. These forums are meant to be a source of support where people can vent when this idiotic process bothers them, not where other members will rip their face off when they disagree with something being said. If you have a difference of opinion by all means spit it out, but don't toss personal attacks at people. If you wouldn't say it to their face in that tone of voice, dont type it out like that either.

Let the flaming begin

[rebeccajo 14]

Yikes what happened to this thread?

IMHO, all Cass was trying to do was rant a little to make herself feel better. It wasn't a personal attack on VSCers. No one from CSC hates you, we envy you that's all. Dont take everything so seriously even when we get a little jealous. We're all still very happy when you get approved, we just wish we could sneak some of our petitions in there

No, I haven't, nor has Cass, been waiting that long yet. Who knows, maybe CSC will clean up their act and start approving people in three months again. But until that happens, even though we haven't been waiting long yet, the reportedly long wait ahead of us is depressing to contemplate. Yup it sucks @$$. Nope, it wont be the worst thing in the world we have to endure by far. Yup, in the scheme of things 6-8 months isn't all that long, but its because its these (past for all the IMBRA filers) (future, for all those who filed recently) 6-8 months, they stand out more in our heads than stuff we haven't experienced yet, or stuff in the distant past. OR stuff we haven't experienced happening around the world.

Hell I bit*h and whine to my roommate on a daily basis about how much my "life sucks, I hate this, I'm going to be waiting so lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng (really whiny tone of voice)" Is it really that dramatic? No, but it makes me feel a little better just to get it out.

Life wont be roses after the approval. There's still the expenses associated with interviewing, medicals, moving, AOS, biometrics, etc. etc. etc. Then there's expenses for living while the new USC looks for work. Insurance. A Vehicle? House? Children? It will be tough the whole way until things settle and you begin to establish yourselves. Some people will have it easier and some harder, some through poor planning and others through luck and still others through no discernable fault of their own.

I dont get where all this snappy BS came from honestly. These forums are meant to be a source of support where people can vent when this idiotic process bothers them, not where other members will rip their face off when they disagree with something being said. If you have a difference of opinion by all means spit it out, but don't toss personal attacks at people. If you wouldn't say it to their face in that tone of voice, dont type it out like that either.

Let the flaming begin

I'm not going to flame you because you're absolutely right.

[irishgirl73 0]

Yikes what happened to this thread?

IMHO, all Cass was trying to do was rant a little to make herself feel better. It wasn't a personal attack on VSCers. No one from CSC hates you, we envy you that's all. Dont take everything so seriously even when we get a little jealous. We're all still very happy when you get approved, we just wish we could sneak some of our petitions in there

No, I haven't, nor has Cass, been waiting that long yet. Who knows, maybe CSC will clean up their act and start approving people in three months again. But until that happens, even though we haven't been waiting long yet, the reportedly long wait ahead of us is depressing to contemplate. Yup it sucks @$$. Nope, it wont be the worst thing in the world we have to endure by far. Yup, in the scheme of things 6-8 months isn't all that long, but its because its these (past for all the IMBRA filers) (future, for all those who filed recently) 6-8 months, they stand out more in our heads than stuff we haven't experienced yet, or stuff in the distant past. OR stuff we haven't experienced happening around the world.

Hell I bit*h and whine to my roommate on a daily basis about how much my "life sucks, I hate this, I'm going to be waiting so lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng (really whiny tone of voice)" Is it really that dramatic? No, but it makes me feel a little better just to get it out.

Life wont be roses after the approval. There's still the expenses associated with interviewing, medicals, moving, AOS, biometrics, etc. etc. etc. Then there's expenses for living while the new USC looks for work. Insurance. A Vehicle? House? Children? It will be tough the whole way until things settle and you begin to establish yourselves. Some people will have it easier and some harder, some through poor planning and others through luck and still others through no discernable fault of their own.

I dont get where all this snappy BS came from honestly. These forums are meant to be a source of support where people can vent when this idiotic process bothers them, not where other members will rip their face off when they disagree with something being said. If you have a difference of opinion by all means spit it out, but don't toss personal attacks at people. If you wouldn't say it to their face in that tone of voice, dont type it out like that either.

Let the flaming begin

I'm not going to flame you because you're absolutely right.

I agree

[ChristinaM 0]

You misunderstand, spiritee. The comparison was between not being allowed to be frustrated about visa waits and not being allowed to be upset at the loss of a relative, because - as YOU said - there are starving children out there! Heaven forbid that anyone should ever have a problem, because there are children STARVING out there! STARVING, I tell you!

Every problem is relative, but that fact that one's problem may not be of national importance does not mean that one does not have the right to complain about it. We are all "making do", in some way or another. I am not making do with limited clean drinking water, but that doesn't mean I don't have every right to complain about the fact that my boss is a dickhead. I have a roof over my head, but that doesn't mean I don't have the right to complain about the extortionate price of renting in Portland Maine. And I am reliant on charity too, with over 80% of my clothes coming from the Goodwill Store, but I'm working hard and I'm making do. Cass is missing her other half, but she is making do.

Do you think that by minimising a personal problem it simply vanishes? Do you think that by remembering that civilians are having the ####### bombed out of them in Iraq people feel better about their own lives? Because they do not - you're not making an apples to apples comparison. Of course we're all better off than millions of people. But a fair comparison is to say "I filed my papers on June 1st, as did Fred. I'm going through CSC and I've only got my NOA2, when Fred Filed for his AOS yesterday because he went through Vermont."

If you do not feel that Cass deserves sympathy, then fine. Push off to another thread (there are plenty here...) and leave the poor girl be. But she wanted a place to vent and be supported, not people to piss on her.

[gugu24 0]

I totally agree. spiritee you sound like you are singleing out people to lash out at. Everyone has hard times, me included. we've had our gas turned off a couple times. and ate beans for weeks. lol i certianly dont consider myself worse off then others,noone here is saying they are. People here are just sharing their experiences, thoughts, fears,hardships ect... Kristen seems like a very nice person, as do you, but you are carrying a chip on your shoulder about her. Kristen i would love to have a yard sale lol i'd sell everything i own if it meant having the money it takes to finish this process. In Japan they dont have yards(unless you consider the plower pots placed in rows out front of the house a yard) lol infact when they get rid of things they usually buy a cetain sticker form the store and place on the item then call the people to come get it. when the truck comes they come to your door and collect the fee to take it away. the things they throw out so easily here you wouldnt believe! i could make a fortune selling it back home or on ebay lol. usually the foriegnors scavenge it up for their own place before the truck comes to get it. anyway back to the main point..... its ok to vent,rant,complain,cry, and all here but to personally attack anyone for it isnt nice. let's be a little more supportive. Christine your post was right on the money!

[Kirsten L 0]

Kristen i would love to have a yard sale lol i'd sell everything i own if it meant having the money it takes to finish this process. In Japan they dont have yards(unless you consider the plower pots placed in rows out front of the house a yard) lol infact when they get rid of things they usually buy a cetain sticker form the store and place on the item then call the people to come get it. when the truck comes they come to your door and collect the fee to take it away. the things they throw out so easily here you wouldnt believe! i could make a fortune selling it back home or on ebay lol. usually the foriegnors scavenge it up for their own place before the truck comes to get it.

gugu,

When you make it back from Japan, we'll have to have a sale together! If you're lacking stuff to sell, well go hunting on curbs to see what we can find! I'm guessing we'll still both need the money!! ChristinaM, wanna join us? Thanks for your understanding and support, both of you. You have mine, as well. Guaranteed.

Edited September 9, 2006 by Kirsten L

[StupidJourney 0]

Kirsten,

Another day, another sob story... Yesterday was no approval in a month and today is no money maybe no food! gosh whatever could it be tomorrow! oooppps sorry I forgot tomorrow is the yard sale..

Please there are people in the World who are really starving your problems are minor! How much more pity are you seeking?

These types of comments remind me of why I rarely read the posts on here anymore and just check the timelines, which is sad, because there were some really helpful posts when I first found this place.

I know exactly how you feel Kirsten! I started my job August 1, and won't get paid till the end of September. And it will be less than one month of pay because I'm a teacher on a 12 month contract (work 9 months, but pay is spread out over 12)! And we all know too well the price of international air travel that has put an even bigger strain on our pocketbooks.

And let's not get started on the pain of waiting, which is still painful, regardless if it's been 1 day or 177! The anticipation of not knowing when the approval will come makes it hard for anyone, ESPECIALLY because people seemed to be approved in a random order.