Regional Forums

[LaL 418]

I went through several of the regional forums today. It seems like many are using it for immigration related issues and a bit of regional chit-chat mixed in between. Is it at all possible the site has just gotten too big & broad to house all consulate related info in one forum? Is Andy's idea to subforum the Embassy forum the solution to that? I see exactly what people are saying, but just remain skeptical that that one forum could remain organized enough to house it all.

That is why we created the regional area in part to allow regional chatter to be separated. People may interject other issues but in the context of a regional discussion.

but its not just regional chatter. its immigration chatter too. i think thats what is being hashed out here. I saw a whole bunch of UK & Canadian threads moved today, and was kinda commenting on that.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

I went through several of the regional forums today. It seems like many are using it for immigration related issues and a bit of regional chit-chat mixed in between. Is it at all possible the site has just gotten too big & broad to house all consulate related info in one forum? Is Andy's idea to subforum the Embassy forum the solution to that? I see exactly what people are saying, but just remain skeptical that that one forum could remain organized enough to house it all.

That is why we created the regional area in part to allow regional chatter to be separated. People may interject other issues but in the context of a regional discussion.

but its not just regional chatter. its immigration chatter too. i think thats what is being hashed out here. I saw a whole bunch of UK & Canadian threads moved today, and was kinda commenting on that.

Yes other topics may end up there but unless we create a million subforums then in some cases some threads will never perfectly fit into a single category.

[mybackpages 0]

I went through several of the regional forums today. It seems like many are using it for immigration related issues and a bit of regional chit-chat mixed in between. Is it at all possible the site has just gotten too big & broad to house all consulate related info in one forum? Is Andy's idea to subforum the Embassy forum the solution to that? I see exactly what people are saying, but just remain skeptical that that one forum could remain organized enough to house it all.

There is definately some serious consulate threads in MENA today. But seeing how they are so specific to the operation of Casablanca, it is better in the regional forum. Posting this dicussion in the general consulate area would cause a great deal of panic from people in other consulates when it might not be necessary (since casa is so particular in how they handle petitions as a high fraud consulate) IMO.

maybe the subcategories in the General Consulate forum would work, otherwise i think it is better left in the regional discussion area.

[LaL 418]

yes Sophia, I agree completely (see my post below). I was just thinking more on the subject since someone brought up the topic of people either not wandering down to or up from the Regionals, and all the missed info resulting. I am in no way suggesting moving any of these threads to the primary consulate forum. My question was because I have seen several others moved in the meantime, and questioned it.

Right now there are nuance threads in MENA such as *red flags* and *consular returns*. Those are absolutely necessary for people navigating through MENA. Sure its helpful for others as well who may run into challenges, but the sad fact is, these consulates are well documented in making these cases difficult. I would be against things such as these being moved.

[rebeccajo 14]

I'm going to stand by my original opinion that too much immigration chatter in the Regional Forums is bad for the overall health of VJ.

I agree that some of the consulate issues in MENA can unnecessarily 'scare' other readers. On the other hand, what's the harm in seeing how other folks have more difficult issues on their plate than the reader might?

A little sympathy for each other in this community is something sorely lacking these days. I've only deeply studied the practices of the UK consulate, because that's the one we processed through, but perhaps BECAUSE I joined VJ when there were no Regional Forums, I have an appreciation for the differences of the other consulates. I'm also not as likely to go off half-cocked and give advice to petitioners for other consulates because I know there are others out there with more knowledge than me.

If it were up to me, I would dissolve the Regional Forums entirely. I would move them to Sub-Forums of the Consulate and Embassy forum. I really feel that's the only place they have any purpose as far as an immigration website is concerned.

In the General Discussions area, a forum could then be created with some sort of title like "The World According to Visajourney". Here everybody could gather to discuss cultural differences, travel, etc. EVERYBODY. Not divided by sections of the globe, but all together. In my opinion, it would be more fun and more interesting, and would bring back the 'global friendships' once formed so easily here.

Edited April 5, 2007 by rebeccajo

[mybackpages 0]

I'm going to stand by my original opinion that too much immigration chatter in the Regional Forums is bad for the overall health of VJ.

I agree that some of the consulate issues in MENA can unnecessarily 'scare' other readers. On the other hand, what's the harm in seeing how other folks have more difficult issues on their plate than the reader might?

I do not agree completely Rebecca, but you do have a strong argument. One of the dangers I see in MENA is that it is easy for VJers to get tunnel vision about their consulate. When problems arise out of a diffficult consulate (read: high fraud countries), the focus becomes about how awful that particular consulate is as if it is an exception.

I have never met anyone going through a more difficult consulate that has said the process is easy and the experiences of these beneficiaries have more in common than differences.

[rebeccajo 14]

I'm going to stand by my original opinion that too much immigration chatter in the Regional Forums is bad for the overall health of VJ.

I agree that some of the consulate issues in MENA can unnecessarily 'scare' other readers. On the other hand, what's the harm in seeing how other folks have more difficult issues on their plate than the reader might?

I do not agree completely Rebecca, but you do have a strong argument. One of the dangers I see in MENA is that it is easy for VJers to get tunnel vision about their consulate. When problems arise out of a diffficult consulate (read: high fraud countries), the focus becomes about how awful that particular consulate is as if it is an exception.

I have never met anyone going through a more difficult consulate that has said the process is easy and the experiences of these beneficiaries have more in common than differences.

You are right about that. But i see plenty of people carping about their problems who are traversing 'easier' consulates.

[mybackpages 0]

I'm going to stand by my original opinion that too much immigration chatter in the Regional Forums is bad for the overall health of VJ.

I agree that some of the consulate issues in MENA can unnecessarily 'scare' other readers. On the other hand, what's the harm in seeing how other folks have more difficult issues on their plate than the reader might?

I do not agree completely Rebecca, but you do have a strong argument. One of the dangers I see in MENA is that it is easy for VJers to get tunnel vision about their consulate. When problems arise out of a diffficult consulate (read: high fraud countries), the focus becomes about how awful that particular consulate is as if it is an exception.

I have never met anyone going through a more difficult consulate that has said the process is easy and the experiences of these beneficiaries have more in common than differences.

You are right about that. But i see plenty of people carping about their problems who are traversing 'easier' consulates.

where are they? I' send them the link to the casablanca thread!

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Too bad these type of graphs are buried in the timeline stats page:

US Consulate Processing Times (Receipt to Visa Interview)

Gives perspective.

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

Overall K1 Stats:

Overall K3 Stats:

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

To the credit of the CIS here is a huge improvement in AOS processing times:

[rebeccajo 14]

I'm a graph moron. I'll admit it. Most of those charts don't do a thing for me.

[William33 110]

To the credit of the CIS here is a huge improvement in AOS processing times:

Captain, let's not give to much credit to CIS, as they are finally stabilizing processing times following the IMBRA nightmare. An act that they failed to prepare for and we the petitioners paid for it.

But hey, no bad feelings about CIS on my end!!!

[rebeccajo 14]

To the credit of the CIS here is a huge improvement in AOS processing times:

Captain, let's not give to much credit to CIS, as they are finally stabilizing processing times following the IMBRA nightmare. An act that they failed to prepare for and we the petitioners paid for it.

But hey, no bad feelings about CIS on my end!!!

What good is an interview if the applicant isn't really approved (stuck in namecheck).

And what good are USCIS figures if namechecked petitioners are left out of their stats?

Oh well....different topic. Back to Regional Forums.

[Ladylethal 12]

I didn't know waiting times for K1s were so high after a bit over than 6 months since I went through it. Wow!

I don't mind the idea of the regional forums, really. People can get especific help for the consulate they're going through, support each other through the adaptation to life in a new country, share the feelings for their countries, etc.