Ideas to Improve VJ? Outside of the forums :).

[beejay 123]

*This is not about FB linking*

I find the state department reciprocity table very useful on how to obtain police clearances but the link for it on this site can be difficult to find for newer users and sometimes the information on the table isn't helpful or accurate for figuring out how to get the harder to obtain clearances especially when you no longer reside in the country. For example the reciprocity table for Jordan says certificates are available but gives no information on how to obtain them if you live outside the country - only that they are not available at embassies. Malaysia seems to be a huge hassle to get and involves a lot of patience and phone calls even when you follow the procedure. Singapore also seems to have very specific details or quirks to obtaining the clearance that are not found in the table but some vj members have started threads on the tricks they used to obtain them.

So my question is, would it be possible to have a "Review" type section like we do for the embassies and POEs for getting police clearances?

It would put the collective knowledge of vj members in obtaining police clearances in one place and would hopefully also help to track changes in procedures. Again using Singapore as an example the reciprocity table used to claim that a clearance was not required but that changed sometime towards the end of last year. This was inconsistently enforced at the embassy in Manila and some people were waived the requirement and others were not. Since the new year it seems they have cracked down on this and are now requiring all applicants in Manila to have the COC from Singapore but you will still get people who went through the process not needing the clearance that will tell others they do not need it. If all this information was contained in one place it would be very easy to see this trend and learn how to get the clearance.

That's my suggestion Thanks!

<eom>

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

oh snap.

What? Steven wasn't being personable when he addressed the Speedy Gonzales routine? I know Steven and I think he would be happy to tell T-Bone, in real life to his face, that the whole thing is old. I know I sure would.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What? Steven wasn't being personable when he addressed the Speedy Gonzales routine? I know Steven and I think he would be happy to tell T-Bone, in real life to his face, that the whole thing is old. I know I sure would.

Yep, in a heartbeat. It's reached a level of psychosis - to continue doing it with the belief that it is even mildly amusing or clever to anyone but himself.

Edited June 8, 2012 by Mister Fancypants

[TBoneTX 45,288]

Yep, in a heartbeat. It's reached a level of psychosis - to continue doing it with the belief that it is even mildly amusing or clever to anyone but himself.

Thank you for the kindly acknowledgment, yes hombre. Another idea to improve VJ, si man: Figure out whether regular P&R/OT contributors are ever present in the upper fora to offer meaningful assistance to others who have real-life immigration-related problems; if the answer is no, then question whether their presence in P&R/OT (and contribution to the hit-count) are enough to overcome what might be a lack of contribution to the chief purpose of the site, see man.

It's interesting that certain posters are becoming personal when they could be commenting on the substance of ideas. Perhaps someone official could offer a "please stay on topic" reminder, and observe that (for example) making psychiatric diagnoses without a medical license is at least untoward and might even tread on the TOS, si man.

[photomile 101]

New suggestion - Dedicated "Si Man" language pack. Bit like facebook pirate only less useful. Hey I like it, at least I know it's not an act!

---

Anyway! Site suggestions - On the mobile site, getting to the forums is pretty hard from the front page. Can we have a bigger button near the top? All I got is a text link in the middle of the page and that is "hard" to find right now!

I like the portals idea but I think it could be reapplied to a micro site for particular visa types. Sort of a culmination of the guides, pinned threads and latest news feeds (Stick an RSS link in and filter by form type, shouldn't be too hard)

It would make it more centralised - (We already have this, but perhaps it could be tweaked?)

I hate to say this, but can we have a maximum signature length? it's HORRIBLE sometimes seeing youtube videos, massive pictures etc. I know this isn't going to be all that popular but on a smaller screen, or even a mobile device it makes navigating the forum a real chore. (sorry, you DID say other than the forums)

The processing times page is great, but I'd love to see a lot more data from those nmap graphs. Average times etc. I'd love to be able to take some data and create my own graphs as well but that's damn near impossible. I would like to see some more data flexibility though.

That brings me on to something bigger....

The graph range and the averages

Presumably, the graphs have been counting for years and years. Statistically, the average dates might not be all that good because of the years where 90 days was the defacto standard for an I-129F or 1 year for an N-400.... These kinds of figures will really really sway the graphs.

What I'd like to see is two sets of figures. One "All time averages" as we have now, and another which is based on data submitted over perhaps the last three years only. I have a feeling the last three years set would be more accurately and more helpful to VJ members in the future since that data won't have a heavy bias on processing changes.

I agree with the suggestion of content admins. Updating the forms needs to be done. Again I'll repeat my suggestion that the Wiki gets a clear out or a massive overhaul. It has the potential to be much more powerful and useful than it is now!

[SMOKE 1,426]

Thank you for the kindly acknowledgment, yes hombre. Another idea to improve VJ, si man: Figure out whether regular P&R/OT contributors are ever present in the upper fora to offer meaningful assistance to others who have real-life immigration-related problems; if the answer is no, then question whether their presence in P&R/OT (and contribution to the hit-count) are enough to overcome what might be a lack of contribution to the chief purpose of the site, see man.

It's interesting that certain posters are becoming personal when they could be commenting on the substance of ideas. Perhaps someone official could offer a "please stay on topic" reminder, and observe that (for example) making psychiatric diagnoses without a medical license is at least untoward and might even tread on the TOS, si man.

si man

[Shoot Em Straight 385]

Another suggestion (general), si man:

Can the consulate rating-scale be altered to include an actual ZERO instead of just the 1 to 5, huh man?

-------

Edited to add:

There's a desperate need for a pinned thread or very obvious Wiki or Guide section that talks about a VERY often-asked question: "Should I, the petitioner, be at the consular interview with my fiance/e?"

The thread should ideally be pinned, should include a range of eclectic (previous) answers that cover the spectrum of consulates from "powderpuff" to "#######," and should be locked to further comment (unless new, meaningful information comes to light that should be added, by special request of and action by the Admiral or the moderators).

There are plenty of good answers already in the fora, but they're spread amongst the zillion individual threads of inquiry from petitioners who wonder if they should attend. Slurp out these answers, combine them, and pin it, see man.

To clean it up a little?? It sounds more efficient!! So the focus can still be on the more informative questions....Right?

Would somehow the "OMG I got my NOA2 approved" go into the grab bag category too? PLEASE.

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

i like the facebook idea, as long as ewok can bring over the games too. then we can have forum mafia wars!

[LaL 418]

I am personally sick of having to link FB or google to every stinkin' site I want to participate in. I like to control what I share and not have it automatic, required or dependent upon accounts elsewhere.

Edited June 8, 2012 by LaL

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I am personally sick of having to link FB or google to every stinkin' site I want to participate in. I like to control what I share and not have it automatic, required or dependent upon accounts elsewhere.

Agreed 100%.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Thank you for the kindly acknowledgment, yes hombre. Another idea to improve VJ, si man: Figure out whether regular P&R/OT contributors are ever present in the upper fora to offer meaningful assistance to others who have real-life immigration-related problems; if the answer is no, then question whether their presence in P&R/OT (and contribution to the hit-count) are enough to overcome what might be a lack of contribution to the chief purpose of the site, see man.

It's interesting that certain posters are becoming personal when they could be commenting on the substance of ideas. Perhaps someone official could offer a "please stay on topic" reminder, and observe that (for example) making psychiatric diagnoses without a medical license is at least untoward and might even tread on the TOS, si man.

That's a novel idea - removing members who only participate in the non-immigration forums. Except for the amount of traffic they bring to this site, they're dead weight. If the owner of this site is solely focused on providing free help with family immigration matters, he or she will do the right thing and shut down all non-immigrant forums and ban anyone who doesn't contribute to that cause. And that goes for any members who also happen to run their own fee-based immigration services, phishing for potential clients.

[^_^ 5,021]

That's a novel idea - removing members who only participate in the non-immigration forums. Except for the amount of traffic they bring to this site, they're dead weight. If the owner of this site is solely focused on providing free help with family immigration matters, he or she will do the right thing and shut down all non-immigrant forums and ban anyone who doesn't contribute to that cause. And that goes for any members who also happen to run their own fee-based immigration services, phishing for potential clients.

VJ is in bed with Platinum, not to put too fine a point on it. To imply that what they are doing here is disingenuous is simply not true. Site Admin knows they're here, knows what they're doing and happily takes their money in exchange for providing them a platform within which to look for potential clients.

There's nothing wrong with that, by the way. Nor is anyone really trying to hide it. See those Platinum ads up top? That's right out there in the open. No mistaking it at all.

So, Steven... go pursue your hippie idealism somewhere else. This is a business.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

VJ is in bed with Platinum, not to put too fine a point on it. To imply that what they are doing here is disingenuous is simply not true. Site Admin knows they're here, knows what they're doing and happily takes their money in exchange for providing them a platform within which to look for potential clients.

There's nothing wrong with that, by the way. Nor is anyone really trying to hide it. See those Platinum ads up top? That's right out there in the open. No mistaking it at all.

So, Steven... go pursue your hippie idealism somewhere else. This is a business.

If you want to go by what USCIS recommends, no "immigration consultant" who is not accredited by the BIA should be advertising on VisaJourney. I mean - if the site wants to support all aspects of legal immigration.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.e8b24a3cec33ca34c48bfc10526e0aa0/?vgnextoid=0b6dd53a55c8b210VgnVCM10000025e6a00aRCRD&vgnextchannel=84ecd53a55c8b210VgnVCM10000025e6a00aRCRD

Edited June 8, 2012 by Rebecca Jo

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

That's a novel idea - removing members who only participate in the non-immigration forums. Except for the amount of traffic they bring to this site, they're dead weight. If the owner of this site is solely focused on providing free help with family immigration matters, he or she will do the right thing and shut down all non-immigrant forums and ban anyone who doesn't contribute to that cause. And that goes for any members who also happen to run their own fee-based immigration services, phishing for potential clients.

Steven, I don't add much (or ask for much) in the upper immigration forums at the moment. I do help out in other areas, particularly in the UK forum on burning issues like where to locate PG Tips and tinned custard, and how to make a decent Yorkshire pudding using American ingredients. However, later this year I will be asking questions about naturalization, as my ex has hit the 5-year PR mark and has asked me to go back on VJ to ask advice. Do I have nothing to add? If you didn't know I would be back in the upper forums later this year would you suggest I be banned?

I think the line from admin has been that no one has the right to tell another member to get off the site because they're done with immigration. I have been on the receiving end of that comment more than a few times, as have others. However, there are plenty of members on here who are done, but continue to post and no one takes issue with them remaining on here. Ultimately, it gets down to personalities. If you're one of the tall poppies, you're going to get people who want to mow you down. If you're just the grass, well, no one seems to notice.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

No one should feel they are being bullied off the site because they are done or on breaks between immigration. There are lots of friends we all develop here as well as folks simply wanting to stick around and help others. If folks are trolling or causing problems and have no immigration agenda then that is another story but I believe that is a rare thing overall.