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Posted
27 minutes ago, jg121783 said:

No. I am saying government is the worst possible entity you could pick to efficiently manage anything money related. Especially a massive health care system.

In your opinion what would be the most efficient? 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
Timeline
Posted
7 minutes ago, Keith & Arileidi said:

In your opinion what would be the most efficient? 

Easy.....private enterprise with competition.

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
Timeline
Posted
2 minutes ago, Unidentified said:

How is that going to ensure quality over money saving?

With stiff private competition, customers will gravitate toward highest quality for best price.

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Sweden
Timeline
Posted
3 minutes ago, missileman said:

With stiff private competition, customers will gravitate toward highest quality for best price.

So let me get this straight.... In order to have free schools we need private companies to run a free school and they will somehow make money? 





Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
Timeline
Posted
2 minutes ago, Keith & Arileidi said:

And who's going to pay for it? 

Who pays for it now? 

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Posted
1 minute ago, Unidentified said:

So let me get this straight.... In order to have free schools we need private companies to run a free school and they will somehow make money? 

That's actually the general idea among some actually. At least those that still think school is a good idea and wives shouldn't be homeschooling 24-7.

Our Journey Timeline  - Immigration and the Health Exchange Price of Love in the UK Thinking of Returning to UK?

 

First met: 12/31/04 - Engaged: 9/24/09
Filed I-129F: 10/4/14 - Packet received: 10/7/14
NOA 1 email + ARN assigned: 10/10/14 (hard copy 10/17/14)
Touched on website (fixed?): 12/9/14 - Poked USCIS: 4/1/15
NOA 2 email: 5/4/15 (hard copy 5/11/15)
Sent to NVC: 5/8/15 - NVC received + #'s assigned: 5/15/15 (estimated)
NVC sent: 5/19/15 - London received/ready: 5/26/15
Packet 3: 5/28/15 - Medical: 6/16/15
Poked London 7/1/15 - Packet 4: 7/2/15
Interview: 7/30/15 - Approved!
AP + Issued 8/3/15 - Visa in hand (depot): 8/6/15
POE: 8/27/15

Wedding: 9/30/15

Filed I-485, I-131, I-765: 11/7/15

Packet received: 11/9/15

NOA 1 txt/email: 11/15/15 - NOA 1 hardcopy: 11/19/15

Bio: 12/9/15

EAD + AP approved: 1/25/16 - EAD received: 2/1/16

RFE for USCIS inability to read vax instructions: 5/21/16 (no e-notification & not sent from local office!)

RFE response sent: 6/7/16 - RFE response received 6/9/16

AOS approved/card in production: 6/13/16  

NOA 2 hardcopy + card sent 6/17/16

Green Card received: 6/18/16

USCIS 120 day reminder notice: 2/22/18

Filed I-751: 5/2/18 - Packet received: 5/4/18

NOA 1:  5/29/18 (12 mo ext) 8/13/18 (18 mo ext)  - Bio: 6/27/18

Transferred: Potomac Service Center 3/26/19

Approved/New Card Produced status: 4/25/19 - NOA2 hardcopy 4/29/19

10yr Green Card Received: 5/2/19 with error >_<

N400 : 7/16/23 - Oath : 10/19/23

 

 

 

Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Sweden
Timeline
Posted
19 hours ago, Satisfied said:

As to the first paragraph, I agree.

As to the second, while the Nordic countries seem to be utopia as portrayed in the media, I know people from there who live here and want no part in going back.  Why? Because their money here buys them more for THEM, they are not working for their neighbors who may be doing little to nothing to better themselves.  I think it’s very attractive to lazy people to have a society like that, which has the potential to overcome just how great that sort of society could be if everyone worked hard for it.  I know I don’t want to have to pay more taxes than I do now to have so-called free (actually just pre-paid) healthcare and such.

I'm the American, not the Swede, but I'd agree with this. Initially, I was colored in envy after meeting Paul and learning how many benefits they have in Sweden that we don't here. In reality, though; a lot of that would not work so easily in a country several times larger than that of a country like Sweden, to be fair. But your 'pre-paid' comment stuck out to me - that's basically what it is. They pay such higher taxes, and their taxes are just being recycled for their benefit. When Paul first found out how much I make at my job here in the states (and KEEP), he thought I was RICH. (Which I laughed hysterically in response to. I only wish.)

 

Do I think we'd be able to implement a similar structure here as in most Nordic countries? No, not fully or seamlessly. Do I wish our taxes did come full circle and benefit us, the ones paying it out to begin with, more than they do now? Absolutely. I feel like there has to be some kind of moderately compromising sort of median somewhere, somehow. I just don't know what it is, nor do I think one side of the debate would ever be willing to loosen the reigns enough to let it happen.

Håll ut, y'all.

 

               K1 Process                                                                                AOS Process

July 2015 - met online thanks to Zak Bagans                                                            May 25, 2018 - South Carolina marriage license issued

June 2016 - first in-person meeting                                                                             May 26, 2018 - legally married

August 2016 - stateside visit                                                                                        June 7, 2018 - applied for Social Security Number [manual verification required]

February-April 2017 - stateside visit                                                                           June 18, 2018 - SSN/card received in the mail

April 4, 2017 - got engaged                                                                                          June 30, 2018 - submitted I-485 (AOS)/I-765 (EAD)/I-131 (AP) together

June 5, 2017 - submitted I129F                                                                                   July 9, 2018 - AOS/EAD/AP electronic NOA1 received

June 12, 2017 - received NOA1                                                                                   July 13, 2018 - AOS/EAD/AP hard copy NOA1 received (dated July 6, 2018)

December 1, 2017 - received NOA2                                                                            July 25, 2018 - Biometrics appointment (Charlotte, NC)

January 17, 2018 - NVC received case                                                                      August 1, 2018 - case status updated to "Ready to be Scheduled for Interview"

January 18, 2018 - received NVC case number by phone                                      August 11, 2018 - case status updated to "I-485 Interview Scheduled"

January 24, 2018 - packet received via email                                                           August 16, 2018 - AOS Interview Scheduled letter received

February 15, 2018 - medical appointment                                                                 August 28, 2018 - visited civil surgeon (Winston-Salem, NC) to complete I-693

February-March 2018 - trip to Gothenburg                                                                                                [beneficiary had to get one remaining vaccination stateside]

February 22, 2018 - interview at the US Embassy in Stockholm                            September 18, 2018 - I-485/AOS Interview in Greer, SC

                                    [passed, pending receipt of medical papers]                           September 18, 2018 - case status updated to "Card Has Been Issued/Mailed"

February 27, 2018 - medical papers received by Embassy                                     September 25, 2018 - Green Card received in the mail

March 5, 2018 - visa received in the mail with passport                                          October 6, 2018 - traditional wedding with family & friends

May 16, 2018 - POE in Charlotte, NC

 

 

Up next.... Removal of Conditions!

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Taiwan
Timeline
Posted
3 minutes ago, Keith & Arileidi said:

So you are saying that you want school vouchers? 

Yes

"The US immigration process requires a great deal of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and a significant amount of money.  It is quite a journey!"

- Some old child of the 50's & 60's on his laptop 

 

Senior Master Sergeant, US Air Force- Retired (after 20+ years)- Missile Systems Maintenance & Titan 2 ICBM Launch Crew Duty (200+ Alert tours)

Registered Nurse- Retired- I practiced in the areas of Labor & Delivery, Home Health, Adolescent Psych, & Adult Psych.

IT Professional- Retired- Web Site Design, Hardware Maintenance, Compound Pharmacy Software Trainer, On-site go live support, Database Manager, App Designer.

______________________________________

In summary, it took 13 months for approval of the CR-1.  It took 44 months for approval of the I-751.  It took 4 months for approval of the N-400.   It took 172 days from N-400 application to Oath Ceremony.   It took 6 weeks for Passport, then 7 additional weeks for return of wife's Naturalization Certificate.. 
 

Filed: Timeline
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, Unidentified said:

That's the thing though. As soon as people here that we have free health care etc they think in the way of being lazy and let other pay for you. That's not how I see it. I see it as:  I am paying taxes (or were since I don't live there anymore) so that everyone in Sweden can get heavily subsidized healthcare. It's not about me, me, me it's about us. It's about providing a social safety net for everyone. By paying taxes I am not only "taking care of myself" but I am taking care of others as well. 

I think you may be referring to me when you say that about being lazy.  I cannot state how it is in Sweden, but I know for a fact that there exist in America people who do not work because they are lazy, and welfare is easier.  There have been TV shows/news as well as online videos where people are interviewed who just keep having more kids because the government pays them for each kid born.  Not sure if that exists in Sweden, but that is what I am against here in the US.

 

Another thing to consider is the population difference.  At just under 10 million people in Sweden, that’s approximately 33 times smaller than the US population.  Their unemployment rate means that only 600K are not working, as compared to 13 million here in the US.  I didn’t delve into the average salaries, but I am sure there is some disparity there as well.  One might argue that it’s all proportional, and it might be, but the marginal tax rates in Scndanavian countries are much more flat than in the US, meaning that lower income earners pay taxes at the same rate as the rich, unlike the US, which has more margins, and taxes lower income people less.  Quite a bit differently, in fact.
 

 

Progressivity%20of%20Scandanavian%20and%

 

The first 18K (Kronor) is untaxed.  Anything over 18K is taxed at 32%, and it goes up from there to around 60%.  The US margins are slower to go up to 39.9%.

Also, while I cannot find it for Sweden, US tax payers ETR varies between 10% at the low end and goes up to 16.5% at $100,000 USD salary (my personal ETR was about 10.43% after filing my tax return).  If you are familiar with how to find the tax tables for Sweden, compare those percentages if one were to make 895,000 SEK, and we will have a better comparison as to who pays the higher effective taxes.

Source for chart: https://taxfoundation.org/how-scandinavian-countries-pay-their-government-spending/ 

Edited by Satisfied
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Sweden
Timeline
Posted
5 minutes ago, Satisfied said:

I think you may be referring to me when you say that about being lazy.  I cannot state how it is in Sweden, but I know for a fact that there exist in America people who do not work because they are lazy, and welfare is easier.  There have been TV shows/news as well as online videos where people are interviewed who just keep having more kids because the government pays them for each kid born.  Not sure if that exists in Sweden, but that is what I am against here in the US.

 

Another thing to consider is the population difference.  At just under 10 million people in Sweden, that’s approximately 33 times smaller than the US population.  Their unemployment rate means that only 600K are not working, as compared to 13 million here in the US.  I didn’t delve into the average salaries, but I am sure there is some disparity there as well.  One might argue that it’s all proportional, and it might be, but the marginal tax rates in Scndanavian countries are much more flat than in the US, meaning that lower income earners pay taxes at the same rate as the rich, unlike the US, which has more margins, and taxes lower income people less.  Quite a bit differently, in fact.
 

 

Progressivity%20of%20Scandanavian%20and%

 

The first 18K (Kronor) is untaxed.  Anything over 18K is taxed at 32%, and it goes up from there to around 60%.  The US margins are slower to go up to 39.9%.

Also, while I cannot find it for Sweden, US tax payers ETR varies between 10% at the low end and goes up to 16.5% at $100,000 USD salary (my personal ETR was about 10.43% after filing my tax return).  If you are familiar with how to find the tax tables for Sweden, compare those percentages if one were to make 895,000 SEK, and we will have a better comparison as to who pays the higher effective taxes.

Source for chart: https://taxfoundation.org/how-scandinavian-countries-pay-their-government-spending/ 

I wasn't calling you lazy, I was saying that is how some see people who want universal healthcare etc. 

 

In Sweden we try to get everyone who can to work. We have something called Swedish Public Employment Service. Part of it is they have all the job postings posted there but also if you get unemployed you have to register with them to get unemployment benefits. You have to show them that you are actively applying for a job to get unemployment benefits. And you can even lose it if you decline a job offer. 

 

People do get money if they have children but I doubt it's enough to be able to just be home with children, possibly if you're spouse has a decent job thought I have never met a Swedish stay-at-home mom (not counting moms on maternity leave). It's basically so that you can provide basic needs for the child until that child is 16. 





Filed: Timeline
Posted
2 minutes ago, Unidentified said:

I wasn't calling you lazy, I was saying that is how some see people who want universal healthcare etc. 

 

In Sweden we try to get everyone who can to work. We have something called Swedish Public Employment Service. Part of it is they have all the job postings posted there but also if you get unemployed you have to register with them to get unemployment benefits. You have to show them that you are actively applying for a job to get unemployment benefits. And you can even lose it if you decline a job offer. 

 

People do get money if they have children but I doubt it's enough to be able to just be home with children, possibly if you're spouse has a decent job thought I have never met a Swedish stay-at-home mom (not counting moms on maternity leave). It's basically so that you can provide basic needs for the child until that child is 16. 

No, I never thought you were calling me lazy, but I have probably used that term in reference to people who want to skate by on our government assistance programs.  Not all are lazy, to be sure; some truly need the help in spite of working hard to get ahead.  But there ARE those who sit around and just wait for the money to come rolling in.  And those who will sell their $100 EBT card for $50-80 cash, so they can use the cash to buy items that the government won’t allow like cigs and alcohol.

 

Sweden’s unemployment rate showed up as 6% when I looked.  Not terrible, but not great either.  About average, I reckon.

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Sweden
Timeline
Posted (edited)
12 minutes ago, Satisfied said:

No, I never thought you were calling me lazy, but I have probably used that term in reference to people who want to skate by on our government assistance programs.  Not all are lazy, to be sure; some truly need the help in spite of working hard to get ahead.  But there ARE those who sit around and just wait for the money to come rolling in.  And those who will sell their $100 EBT card for $50-80 cash, so they can use the cash to buy items that the government won’t allow like cigs and alcohol.

 

Sweden’s unemployment rate showed up as 6% when I looked.  Not terrible, but not great either.  About average, I reckon.

I think a big chunk of that is immigrants. It's not always easy for them to get a job, especially since you actually have to have an approved asylum or resident status before they can start to learn Swedish unless they learn on their own. 

 

There's always going to be lazy people. There need to be strict rules about who is allowed to be on government assistance but they also have to be careful wit their assessment. In Sweden some of the assessments have led to people who absolutely can't work has somehow lost their assistance because some idiot thought that they somehow could work and then they screw up and give assistance to someone who clearly can work. No system is perfect but we can always try to make it better. 

Edited by Unidentified




 

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