UK VJers Progress Update Thread

[stef_curls 42]

Thank you Rob and April. it means a lot to have others to commiserate with. Makes me feel a hell of a lot less alone in this pile of poo of a situation <3

[rob999 51]

Hopefully one day we could all meet up with our partners somewhere in the States with a cool refreshing beer/cocktail soon!!

[Wooderz 314]

Rob, we can! I'm just north of Houston. What part of town is your fiancee?

[rob999 51]

Cool! Is that the woodlands area? She lives on east side of George bush park just north of westheimer. We have been looking to get on the west side, around cinco ranch area/west of 99, seems a really nice upcoming area and has some really good schools in that area

[Wooderz 314]

Yeah I live in the woodlands. Cinco ranch is a nice area. I'm sure you'd like it there. You're right about the good schools, too

[-Shana- 152]

Fine, yall win. I'll lay off. But I won't stop being upset at the travesty and unfairness of the situation Texas filers are in. here's hoping the transfer actually helps November(maye October too? Or at least power through the rest of august and September after the transfer) and onward, unfortunately you'll still always have people like wbeem and Jerry who have waited over 200 days. 220 something days wbeem waited, then I look over and see 4. yeah, I'm done on this subject.

Here's my progress: Just got back from a visit, my first time in Europe. He officially proposed and his mother threw us an engagement party. We had been apart for 4 months, the longest since we first met. It was the hardest ###### I've ever done, I was super depressed and kept getting worse as time went on. I described it as my heart literally breaking as time went on and I forgot what it felt like to be with my soulmate. I buried myself in work and barely had the energy to take care of myself otherwise. I hope the rest of our wait goes better than that since we won't go more than 2 or 3 months again.

I've made sure of that by spending over $800 on a flight for him to come in May for 2 weeks. In a couple more weeks I'll spend another ~$1500 on my second flight out to Europe for a last and final visit before he moves here (we are hoping to shoot for October the latest unless we wait 200+ days, which might push us out to November. An entire year of our lives! I value this year as much as I would as 10 with this person, so don't tell me that once this year is over and we are together that I will just forget about this #######.

So, out over $2000 on extra flights. Hanging on to the last shred of hope that TSC does the right thing and makes a huge transfer to CSC, and that those petitions are processed within their 5 months.

whatever, thanks for reading or not reading my rant.

Please do feel upset, I don't think anyone here would tell you you shouldn't be upset! That's really nice you got an engagement party. Distance really is a killer, coming up to 8 months (with 3 weeks inbetween) and I'm starting to feel antsy about not having to live apart again. This is round 2 for me, round 1 lasted 1 year, so it has been easier this time around knowing what to expect, but it's never a good thing.

I too just spent an extra $1500 on a flight to London this summer bc TSC. So yeah, I'd rather use that money on the honeymoon or a car for Daniel but I don't get to. I took Daniel to the airport last night and I've eaten 3 donuts and half a bag of tortilla chips today. So that's progress.... To my expanding waistline. Whatever.

And you guys have no clue bc you haven't been there, but stef has done more for the TSC cause than almost everyone on this forum currently. She's worked, called, emailed extensively to bring awareness to the issue. She's done it all to help others knowing that if change came from it, it might be too late to even help her own case. So yes, i129fs are being transferred. We still don't know who yet though. And guess what... Stef's representative was the biggest congressional driver behind our complaints. We believe the efforts were heard.

I hope you had a nice time together, did you get a lot of wedding planning done? When my fiance left over Christmas I must have spent a full week in hibernation mode...sometimes you just need that time to yourself to be sad.

It's awesome that all your efforts, especially stef's by the sound of it, was heard. No one will deny that! I think people here were just a bit shocked about the out of blue comment about Pheebs. I'm sure we can all move forward though and keep things friendly.

[Pheebs1201 269]

Fine, yall win. I'll lay off. But I won't stop being upset at the travesty and unfairness of the situation Texas filers are in. here's hoping the transfer actually helps November(maye October too? Or at least power through the rest of august and September after the transfer) and onward, unfortunately you'll still always have people like wbeem and Jerry who have waited over 200 days. 220 something days wbeem waited, then I look over and see 4. yeah, I'm done on this subject.

Here's my progress: Just got back from a visit, my first time in Europe. He officially proposed and his mother threw us an engagement party. We had been apart for 4 months, the longest since we first met. It was the hardest ###### I've ever done, I was super depressed and kept getting worse as time went on. I described it as my heart literally breaking as time went on and I forgot what it felt like to be with my soulmate. I buried myself in work and barely had the energy to take care of myself otherwise. I hope the rest of our wait goes better than that since we won't go more than 2 or 3 months again.

I've made sure of that by spending over $800 on a flight for him to come in May for 2 weeks. In a couple more weeks I'll spend another ~$1500 on my second flight out to Europe for a last and final visit before he moves here (we are hoping to shoot for October the latest unless we wait 200+ days, which might push us out to November. An entire year of our lives! I value this year as much as I would as 10 with this person, so don't tell me that once this year is over and we are together that I will just forget about this #######.

So, out over $2000 on extra flights. Hanging on to the last shred of hope that TSC does the right thing and makes a huge transfer to CSC, and that those petitions are processed within their 5 months.

whatever, thanks for reading or not reading my rant.

I can relate to your heartbreak, Dan and I have done 3-4 months of time apart on more than one occasion, not as an aspect of our K1 journey, but prior to that and it is pure hell. I sympathise greatly and have always stated that I do not agree with the discrepancy in processing times. I don't understand why you continue to lash out at me in particular, for matters which are out of my control. I truly hope the rest of your journey is over quickly and am glad to hear that all of your efforts to even the processing times were not in vain.

I too just spent an extra $1500 on a flight to London this summer bc TSC. So yeah, I'd rather use that money on the honeymoon or a car for Daniel but I don't get to. I took Daniel to the airport last night and I've eaten 3 donuts and half a bag of tortilla chips today. So that's progress.... To my expanding waistline. Whatever.

And you guys have no clue bc you haven't been there, but stef has done more for the TSC cause than almost everyone on this forum currently. She's worked, called, emailed extensively to bring awareness to the issue. She's done it all to help others knowing that if change came from it, it might be too late to even help her own case. So yes, i129fs are being transferred. We still don't know who yet though. And guess what... Stef's representative was the biggest congressional driver behind our complaints. We believe the efforts were heard.

That's wonderful that she's done so much for you guys at TSC. However, that doesn't mean she has a free pass to lash out at me for no reason. I maintain the right to defend myself, there's no need to be spiteful. This is hardly my fault, I'm deeply sympathetic and I always sign petitions when they are sent my way. The system is unfair and that sucks- but it doesn't mean I don't understand the pain of being apart. We were long distance prior to our K1 application so I've experienced it too. Who are you to say that none of us understand? We are all in the same boat. Yes the K1 is quicker for us at CSC, but that doesn't mean that the long distance we experienced prior to that is meaningless. Some people have been long distance for years before applying, so of course they understand. The frustration of being at TSC? No, we haven't experienced that. But we are all human beings and we are doing our best to help.

I think people here were just a bit shocked about the out of blue comment about Pheebs. I'm sure we can all move forward though and keep things friendly.

P.S I also think a VJ meet up would be a lot of fun! I hope we can achieve that at some point

[Sunya and Tim 55]

Fine, yall win. I'll lay off. But I won't stop being upset at the travesty and unfairness of the situation Texas filers are in. here's hoping the transfer actually helps November(maye October too? Or at least power through the rest of august and September after the transfer) and onward, unfortunately you'll still always have people like wbeem and Jerry who have waited over 200 days. 220 something days wbeem waited, then I look over and see 4. yeah, I'm done on this subject.

Here's my progress: Just got back from a visit, my first time in Europe. He officially proposed and his mother threw us an engagement party. We had been apart for 4 months, the longest since we first met. It was the hardest ###### I've ever done, I was super depressed and kept getting worse as time went on. I described it as my heart literally breaking as time went on and I forgot what it felt like to be with my soulmate. I buried myself in work and barely had the energy to take care of myself otherwise. I hope the rest of our wait goes better than that since we won't go more than 2 or 3 months again.

I've made sure of that by spending over $800 on a flight for him to come in May for 2 weeks. In a couple more weeks I'll spend another ~$1500 on my second flight out to Europe for a last and final visit before he moves here (we are hoping to shoot for October the latest unless we wait 200+ days, which might push us out to November. An entire year of our lives! I value this year as much as I would as 10 with this person, so don't tell me that once this year is over and we are together that I will just forget about this #######.

So, out over $2000 on extra flights. Hanging on to the last shred of hope that TSC does the right thing and makes a huge transfer to CSC, and that those petitions are processed within their 5 months.

whatever, thanks for reading or not reading my rant.

Stef, I do not believe that anyone is saying that you should not be upset with the system and the division of workload between the two service centers. I personally believe that the large discrepancy in processing times is unfair. All we are suggesting is to please not take it out on each other. Once the package is sent to the Dallas Lockbox it is out of everyones control.

I have followed all of the things you have been doing and I have been very impressed with all that you have accomplished. You have the opportunity to use yourself as an example of how best to fix the things that are wrong with this process not put down those that have no control over where or how fast their applications are processed. Be proud of the things you have done and that others might not have to go thru what you have.

It took me 42 years to find the man of my dreams. I never imagined that he would live 4300 miles away and that it would take us 2.5 years to even get to the point where we could file our I-129F. We have had so many delays just to get to this point that even if we have to wait it is part of our journey. Everyone has a story. Everyone is away from the ones they love.

Personally I am proud of everything that my fiance and I have been thru. We have learned so much about each other during these times of 6 hour online chat marathons. Everyday thru this process just confirms that he is the right person for me and I will never take for granted all the we have been thru to get to this point.

Best of luck on the rest of your journey and I hope that you will join us here to share your ups and downs. I personally do not have anyone around me that has been thru this process so it if very hard for them to understand. You folks on here are the only ones that understand what it is like. Use us to help you get thru those times.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. And thanks for reading and taking to heart the other responses that were posted. Greatly appreciated!!

[Gary & Aubrey 23]

Fine, yall win. I'll lay off. But I won't stop being upset at the travesty and unfairness of the situation Texas filers are in. here's hoping the transfer actually helps November(maye October too? Or at least power through the rest of august and September after the transfer) and onward, unfortunately you'll still always have people like wbeem and Jerry who have waited over 200 days. 220 something days wbeem waited, then I look over and see 4. yeah, I'm done on this subject.

Here's my progress: Just got back from a visit, my first time in Europe. He officially proposed and his mother threw us an engagement party. We had been apart for 4 months, the longest since we first met. It was the hardest ###### I've ever done, I was super depressed and kept getting worse as time went on. I described it as my heart literally breaking as time went on and I forgot what it felt like to be with my soulmate. I buried myself in work and barely had the energy to take care of myself otherwise. I hope the rest of our wait goes better than that since we won't go more than 2 or 3 months again.

I've made sure of that by spending over $800 on a flight for him to come in May for 2 weeks. In a couple more weeks I'll spend another ~$1500 on my second flight out to Europe for a last and final visit before he moves here (we are hoping to shoot for October the latest unless we wait 200+ days, which might push us out to November. An entire year of our lives! I value this year as much as I would as 10 with this person, so don't tell me that once this year is over and we are together that I will just forget about this #######.

So, out over $2000 on extra flights. Hanging on to the last shred of hope that TSC does the right thing and makes a huge transfer to CSC, and that those petitions are processed within their 5 months.

whatever, thanks for reading or not reading my rant.

I'm sorry but nobody 'wins' by you attacking or then laying off. We win by coming together as a community and helping eachother. You're upset, and thats understandable, but be upset at the system not individuals.

[Wooderz 314]

I hope you had a nice time together, did you get a lot of wedding planning done? When my fiance left over Christmas I must have spent a full week in hibernation mode...sometimes you just need that time to yourself to be sad.

It's awesome that all your efforts, especially stef's by the sound of it, was heard. No one will deny that! I think people here were just a bit shocked about the out of blue comment about Pheebs. I'm sure we can all move forward though and keep things friendly.

We had a really great time. Sorry I've disappeared from our convo. I was trying hard to focus my attention on Daniel and not VJ. We went to the 2 venues we were considering and have chosen one. Once my case gets to London I'm gonna do the forbidden thing and select a date and put a deposit down. The venue will let me change it if needed. I'll pm you tomorrow with more details when I get back to a pc. I make so many typos tying on my phone.

I can relate to your heartbreak, Dan and I have done 3-4 months of time apart on more than one occasion, not as an aspect of our K1 journey, but prior to that and it is pure hell. I sympathise greatly and have always stated that I do not agree with the discrepancy in processing times. I don't understand why you continue to lash out at me in particular, for matters which are out of my control. I truly hope the rest of your journey is over quickly and am glad to hear that all of your efforts to even the processing times were not in vain.

That's wonderful that she's done so much for you guys at TSC. However, that doesn't mean she has a free pass to lash out at me for no reason. I maintain the right to defend myself, there's no need to be spiteful. This is hardly my fault, I'm deeply sympathetic and I always sign petitions when they are sent my way. The system is unfair and that sucks- but it doesn't mean I don't understand the pain of being apart. We were long distance prior to our K1 application so I've experienced it too. Who are you to say that none of us understand? We are all in the same boat. Yes the K1 is quicker for us at CSC, but that doesn't mean that the long distance we experienced prior to that is meaningless. Some people have been long distance for years before applying, so of course they understand. The frustration of being at TSC? No, we haven't experienced that. But we are all human beings and we are doing our best to help.

I'm not sure who said anyone doesn't know what the distance is like. Of course we all know how that feels and we've all been through it for however long it took for our relationships to progress. Longer or shorter, that's not at issue here. We all have that in common.

What you can't understand, and admitted to it, is the horrible feeling of being passed over for no reason. I don't wish this on anyone. I can only speak for myself, but it's a serious pill to swallow to know that you sent your packet on the exact same day as me. You're already married and that's barely even on the horizon for me. I'm fully expecting to have to go 6 more months. It really sucks to see people be able to move on with their lives knowing I'm wasting a year of mine. I hope you can appreciate how I could feel that way. And yes, it is a waste. I don't need to make my relationship stronger, save money, get a house ready, or whatever else ppl say to try to pretend like the wait is a good thing.

I hope I'm not stirring up a riot here. You and I have already been through this so I really don't think we need to rehash it again. I think we both understand each other. I, for one, would like to move on with my life. I'd much rather not be going through this (both this convo and TSC).

Off topic, but is anyone else having issues with VJ on Chrome? My page just keeps refreshing over and over again. I have to clear my cache and log in again repeatedly.

Edited March 29, 2015 by April+Daniel

[Wooderz 314]

Hilarious that I made a typo in the sentence talking about how many typos I make. I'm not even gonna fix it.

[TLSR2014 9]

I like James . Oof...yeah...us English roses don't always do well in warmer climates. When I moved to Japan in the middle of the summer (smart move Shana) I was not a happy bunny! I actually felt more at home over there when it rained! What's a Florida winter like?

A South Florida winter gets down to maybe 40 degrees Fahrenheit on a bad day, maybe twice. lol A normal day in the winter is in the 70s and sunny He might just melt.

As far as lack of understanding we waited at TSC for 174 days. I don't know what miracle caused our approval but I will be forever grateful. I wish that we could have made trips to see each other but between my kids and saving for AOS and another vehicle when James gets here it just wasn't practical so we haven't seen each other in person since the end of September. I understand the pain. I just don't believe that it is the fault of anyone but those in the administration of the TSC.

I did the signing the petitions and the calling of the representatives and Senators, and then writing letters to all involved. I'm sure I was but one voice among many but we need to support and help each other not try to tear each other down for what amounts to luck of the draw.

[Pheebs1201 269]

You and I have already been through this so I really don't think we need to rehash it again. I think we both understand each other. I, for one, would like to move on with my life. I'd much rather not be going through this (both this convo and TSC).

I don't understand what you mean by this- we've had one other conversation where you said most CSC-ers are not sympathetic to TSC-ers and I merely emphasised how sympathetic I was personally, and that I was sorry you felt that way. You seem to be implying we have had prior disagreements- I don't see how this is us "going through" anything again. I also once gave you advice on roast potatoes. Other than that, we haven't argued or spoken as far as I recall.

I agree that this has gone on long enough, I'd like to get back to the pleasant posting that was occurring previously, I was never seeking disagreement or cross words in the first place! I always try and help people as best I can.

I am on chrome and currently not having issues other than it's not letting me reply to private messages without starting a new conversation

[wbeem 568]

My page keeps refreshing and I am also having to start a new post to reply to PM's. It only started today.

[Wooderz 314]

This is truly exhausting. I can't even bury the hatchet on this entire thing to your satisfaction.

Peace out VJ. I'm done.