June 2013 I-130 Filers (merged)

[r060106 109]

I believe you misunderstand the phrase that I used. It means that what I said is not very comforting.

Yes, I'm fully aware of that. I was agreeing. That's why I said "Not really", as in "not really comforting".

[grapier 10]

Yes, I'm fully aware of that. I was agreeing. That's why I said "Not really", as in "not really comforting".

I see now. Complete sentences offer protection against ambiguity. Also, I was too tired to consider that meaning. Off to bed with me.

[r060106 109]

I see now. Complete sentences offer protection against ambiguity. Also, I was too tired to consider that meaning. Off to bed with me.

No worries. It's all good.

[BOS_LHR 829]

Administratively it is definitely easier for USCIS to take them as a group, but it feels like one step forward, two steps back for the rest of us. I had the same "back of the bus" thought that Sukie did.

To be clear, this is not a slight against anyone in this thread. June filers (and earlier) have done enough waiting -- congrats to anyone who's moving forward. It's more seeing the folks who haven't even waited the 5 month "goal processing" time yet and knowing full well that some of them are benefiting from circumstances that have ruined others' lives that gets me. It's not their fault they're being given a leg up, but that doesn't stop me from being frustrated with the ongoing calamity that is USCIS. Just another delay on the long road back to things being "normal."

[NoelAnne 62]

Agree entirely BOS_LHR. We're on an emotional roller coaster! I feel for those in the Philippines who have been affected by the typhoon but I do object to those who weren't being approved before those of us who have been waiting longer. Typical USCIS though.

[grapier 10]

Agree entirely BOS_LHR. We're on an emotional roller coaster! I feel for those in the Philippines who have been affected by the typhoon but I do object to those who weren't being approved before those of us who have been waiting longer. Typical USCIS though.

The point is that USCIS is simply responding, for once, in the most efficient way possible. There are only two options here: either they sort through the flood of expedite requests or the expedite the lot. The first option will cause longer delays for everyone involved. The real blame lies with the thousands of people who submitted expedite requests even though they were not directly affected by the typhoon. It is those that sought to take advantage of this disaster towards which you should direct your frustration. I am an August 2013 filer that has been expedited because of this. I temper my elation with empathy for those that will have to wait longer and if I could trade places with an applicant that has been waiting longer, I would. The situation is not fair, but remember fairness only exists in games and stories. I wonder if you would have the same empathy if you were in my position or if you would have been one of those illegitimately seeking an expedite? I mean to say, look at this and any situation from everyone else's perspective as well as your own. If those that filed the expedites knowing that they shouldn't had done this, then they would not have gone through with it.

Edited November 23, 2013 by grapier

[xduncanx 2]

Show a little compassion guys. I get that we are all frustrated by the drawn out situation but a disaster of this magnitude affects EVERYBODY in the country, especially one the size of the Phillipines. Fast-traxking the applicants is a display of goodwill, one that will affect you very little and one that you should be able to survive.

I shall now resume refreshing this page. Consider yourselves scolded.

[BOS_LHR 829]

I believe I and those who share my view did show compassion, in that not a single person here said anyone affected by the disaster deserves anything less than top priority. I want those people to have the help they need. More than that, as someone who is living the very real pain of separation from a spouse, I would never want to subject anyone else to it. I don't begrudge the individuals who will be reunited with their spouses quickly, because I don't wish this horrible feeling on anyone. But that doesn't change my wish for my own personal hell to end. Separate these things in your mind, because there's an important distinction. I don't want to benefit at someone's expense. None of us is wishing to be put ahead of others unfairly. We're simply sharing our mutual disappointment that we are continually shunted backwards in line.

USCIS responded efficiently to DACA, too. New policy after new policy takes precedent over us regular, run-of-the-mill filers. I'll reiterate that I understand the reasons for the way they're approaching this situation, but I'm still frustrated with USCIS and not the people who are benefiting. I'm sure that if anyone actually did file paperwork for an expedite after the typhoon, USCIS didn't bother glancing at it. The agency-wide directive completely erases the need to waste time on that, and I don't think the decision was the result of tons of people wrongfully filing for it -- which, by the way, is something I would never do. There are so many people who are still waiting in line ahead of me, I would never presume their hardships are less than mine. Just because I can't be elated that USCIS is granting free rides, doesn't mean I have no empathy. The world is not black and white. I can be happy that people who desperately need help are being given some, while being sad that people who don't need it are extending the difficult time my spouse and I have to spend apart. I don't feel bad for feeling this way, however much others may feel I need to be scolded for it. I'm not a bad person, and I don't wish bad things on people. It would simply be nice to, for once, not be on the receiving end of bad things myself.

[grapier 10]

I believe I and those who share my view did show compassion, in that not a single person here said anyone affected by the disaster deserves anything less than top priority. I want those people to have the help they need. More than that, as someone who is living the very real pain of separation from a spouse, I would never want to subject anyone else to it. I don't begrudge the individuals who will be reunited with their spouses quickly, because I don't wish this horrible feeling on anyone. But that doesn't change my wish for my own personal hell to end. Separate these things in your mind, because there's an important distinction. I don't want to benefit at someone's expense. None of us is wishing to be put ahead of others unfairly. We're simply sharing our mutual disappointment that we are continually shunted backwards in line.

USCIS responded efficiently to DACA, too. New policy after new policy takes precedent over us regular, run-of-the-mill filers. I'll reiterate that I understand the reasons for the way they're approaching this situation, but I'm still frustrated with USCIS and not the people who are benefiting. I'm sure that if anyone actually did file paperwork for an expedite after the typhoon, USCIS didn't bother glancing at it. The agency-wide directive completely erases the need to waste time on that, and I don't think the decision was the result of tons of people wrongfully filing for it -- which, by the way, is something I would never do. There are so many people who are still waiting in line ahead of me, I would never presume their hardships are less than mine. Just because I can't be elated that USCIS is granting free rides, doesn't mean I have no empathy. The world is not black and white. I can be happy that people who desperately need help are being given some, while being sad that people who don't need it are extending the difficult time my spouse and I have to spend apart. I don't feel bad for feeling this way, however much others may feel I need to be scolded for it. I'm not a bad person, and I don't wish bad things on people. It would simply be nice to, for once, not be on the receiving end of bad things myself.

Whether or not you believe that fraudulent filers are the cause of this is of no consequence. It is easy to feel morally satiated with your feelings/views when they are not based on facts. Furthermore, even if every expedite petition was legitimate, the larger issue remains unchanged. Sifting through each expedite request would cause you personally more delays than simply expediting all of them. What you have failed to grasp is that, although lamenting the situation itself is warranted, this singular decision to adjudicate them expeditiously as a group benefits you. Had the USCIS not done this, simply making decisions on the expedite apps themselves would have caused a larger delay for you. Then after that, a further delay as those approved for expedited processing get processed. The reality of the situation sucks enough that it is not necessary to exacerbate it by playing wih beliefs and imaginings.

[BOS_LHR 829]

There's absolutely no way of knowing whether a blanket approach versus individual expedites is beneficial to anyone aside from Philippines beneficiaries. But thank you for acknowledging that my lamentations are warranted. There's enough arguing on VJ these days. Everyone's suffering somehow, and I'm just gonna leave it there.

[grapier 10]

There's absolutely no way of knowing whether a blanket approach versus individual expedites is beneficial to anyone aside from Philippines beneficiaries. But thank you for acknowledging that my lamentations are warranted. There's enough arguing on VJ these days. Everyone's suffering somehow, and I'm just gonna leave it there.

You left nothing, as you offered nothing. There is no argument. Only your refusal to accept reality. You say there's no way to know, yet you were just told. Beyond the USCIS stating so...Apply rudimentary deductive reasoning. You do understand that administrative decisions are not arbitrary? They received in excess of 10,000 expedite requests in a three day period. They actually perform calculations, up to and including internally-derived algorithms to determine a benefit/time-cost analysis of processing the expedite request determination versus bulk expediting the lot. Logic is the key to the door through which lives reality.

[r060106 109]

I believe I and those who share my view did show compassion, in that not a single person here said anyone affected by the disaster deserves anything less than top priority. I want those people to have the help they need. More than that, as someone who is living the very real pain of separation from a spouse, I would never want to subject anyone else to it. I don't begrudge the individuals who will be reunited with their spouses quickly, because I don't wish this horrible feeling on anyone. But that doesn't change my wish for my own personal hell to end. Separate these things in your mind, because there's an important distinction. I don't want to benefit at someone's expense. None of us is wishing to be put ahead of others unfairly. We're simply sharing our mutual disappointment that we are continually shunted backwards in line.

USCIS responded efficiently to DACA, too. New policy after new policy takes precedent over us regular, run-of-the-mill filers. I'll reiterate that I understand the reasons for the way they're approaching this situation, but I'm still frustrated with USCIS and not the people who are benefiting. I'm sure that if anyone actually did file paperwork for an expedite after the typhoon, USCIS didn't bother glancing at it. The agency-wide directive completely erases the need to waste time on that, and I don't think the decision was the result of tons of people wrongfully filing for it -- which, by the way, is something I would never do. There are so many people who are still waiting in line ahead of me, I would never presume their hardships are less than mine. Just because I can't be elated that USCIS is granting free rides, doesn't mean I have no empathy. The world is not black and white. I can be happy that people who desperately need help are being given some, while being sad that people who don't need it are extending the difficult time my spouse and I have to spend apart. I don't feel bad for feeling this way, however much others may feel I need to be scolded for it. I'm not a bad person, and I don't wish bad things on people. It would simply be nice to, for once, not be on the receiving end of bad things myself.

I agree with BOS.

[Natsukiii 35]

Show a little compassion guys. I get that we are all frustrated by the drawn out situation but a disaster of this magnitude affects EVERYBODY in the country, especially one the size of the Phillipines. Fast-traxking the applicants is a display of goodwill, one that will affect you very little and one that you should be able to survive.

I shall now resume refreshing this page. Consider yourselves scolded.

This^

[r060106 109]

No one ever said we don't have compassion and we've made this absolutely clear. BOS made the case perfectly above. Not having compassion isn't the same as being upset about the expedite situation.

[Natsukiii 35]

No one ever said we don't have compassion and we've made this absolutely clear. BOS made the case perfectly above. Not having compassion isn't the same as being upset about the expedite situation.

I'm not going to argue with you. You've made your stance perfectly clear and there is no need to explain.