k1 visa and noobs

[bostonparis 0]

I think I suggested this before, not sure if it's possible but...

How about when a new member joins, they are emailed the guidelines like the VJ guides?

That way, if they ask a silly/annoying/repetitive question, they can be referred back to their email.

Dunno if I suggested this before too, but I kinda like the idea of having a journey buddy, who's been through it and can be relied upon to give or get answers to these questions.

I know it's worked for others and good friendships have been formed from them too. That way, if the buddy didn't know the answer, they could ask the question on the forums and would probably get a far quicker and more accurate response than a newbie.

I think that's a dynamite idea about the guides being forwarded, depending on what is being filed. I don't know if there's a way to automate that.

I also like the idea of having a "buddy" - not necessarily to have them post your questions for you, but to answer questions before posting them. The only way a noob will get to know people is to post questions first.

[Sinergy 3]

I think I suggested this before, not sure if it's possible but...

How about when a new member joins, they are emailed the guidelines like the VJ guides?

That way, if they ask a silly/annoying/repetitive question, they can be referred back to their email.

Dunno if I suggested this before too, but I kinda like the idea of having a journey buddy, who's been through it and can be relied upon to give or get answers to these questions.

I know it's worked for others and good friendships have been formed from them too. That way, if the buddy didn't know the answer, they could ask the question on the forums and would probably get a far quicker and more accurate response than a newbie.

brilliant!!

[no name 1]

If they can't even be bothered to read the instructions on their I129F forms, to differentiate the fact that a K1 visa is for fiances with the intent to marry in the United States, I don't see that a pinned thread is going to help either.

As I said earlier, the onus of responsibility is ultimately up to them - we can give them as much info as we want, but it's up to them to interpret it and use it towards their petition.

But if god forbid you point out the guides, then you are branded not helpful!

If you point out the guides without any direction, no, it's not really helpful.

Bostonparis - you have not even posted in the K1 forum since May. How is that helping?

Well, I had cancer surgery on May 16, then I got married, so I've been a little busy. Next question?

Well you had no problems posting in other forums in May-onwards though.

Just saying don't be so quick to judge if you aren't helping yourself.

I'm not judging. I'm saying that personally, I'd rather see no post to my question than one that doesn't help and is just there to say, "You've annoyed me."

Going off the above bolded post, you claim that posting the guides link is not helpful. I think it is. Some people dont bother to look at them. There is no other way to suggest that noobs get informed than to use these valuable resources.

I misspoke. What I meant to say was: is not helpful without a link. That's all.

oh, that's totally different then.

Dunno if I suggested this before too, but I kinda like the idea of having a journey buddy, who's been through it and can be relied upon to give or get answers to these questions.

[chri'stina 190]

The only problem I'd see with the suggestion is getting enough people to volunteer to take on someone who possibly knows nothing about the process. There are thousands of new people here, how can they all be matched? It's a good idea I just don't think it's feasible.

Also, what if the person gives the newbie the wrong info, but they rely on it since it's their buddy? And I thought immigration Q's were not really supposed to be answered in PMs because of being held responsible of the info you give and if you accidentally misspeak there is no one to read it and correct it.

The email to newcomers is a good idea though.

[Fandango 1,440]

I agree with Stina.

This 'buddy' idea...isn't that the function of what VJ is?

Plus, this isn't a job!

[Mags 112]

Also, what if the person gives the newbie the wrong info, but they rely on it since it's their buddy? And I thought immigration Q's were not really supposed to be answered in PMs because of being held responsible of the info you give and if you accidentally misspeak there is no one to read it and correct it.

Exactly and this is why I think something like this will never happen. It opens up loads of legal avenues as well. Could you be sued if the process takes extra time and money for the petitioner, and the crucial one...you are giving legal advice on a one on one situation.

It's dodgy ground and I can't see many people who would be willing to put themselves at risk like this.

[bostonparis 0]

Didn't even think of that perspective. Yipes!

[Sinergy 3]

I agree with Stina.

This 'buddy' idea...isn't that the function of what VJ is?

Plus, this isn't a job!

But if they make it a job i promise to be here everyday

[Mags 112]

Didn't even think of that perspective. Yipes!

The legal ramifications are huge.

It sounds like a good idea in theory, but when you start to think of all the things that could go wrong it doesn't bear thinking about.

[Fandango 1,440]

I agree with Stina.

This 'buddy' idea...isn't that the function of what VJ is?

Plus, this isn't a job!

But if they make it a job i promise to be here everyday

hahahahahahaha! But you'd go nuts if your 'buddy' said 'Hey Tara...can I get married while this K-1 is processing?'

I think you'd implode, hahahhah.

Didn't even think of that perspective. Yipes!

The legal ramifications are huge.

It sounds like a good idea in theory, but when you start to think of all the things that could go wrong it doesn't bear thinking about.

Cmon everyone, say it with me:

We are not a paid help desk!

[Fandango 1,440]

I'm feelin goofy. So I made you something else, Tara:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=80123

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

Didn't even think of that perspective. Yipes!

The legal ramifications are huge.

It sounds like a good idea in theory, but when you start to think of all the things that could go wrong it doesn't bear thinking about.

What's the difference between VJ's (mis)advice and an individuals? I'm not suggesting people become immigration lawyers overnight, but just the bog standard questions that are asked daily. Like, where do I send this, do I need that, etc etc

[Dr_LHA 3]

The trouble is that there are certain people on VJ who answer simple questions incorrectly, and do so a lot. Some people think that going through K-1/AOS process makes them an expert on all aspects of AOS, including things they don't actually know anything about. How do you weed out the real experts from the people who think they are experts?

The good thing about VJ is having a large number of eyes on a question makes for an eventually correct answer. This is why I personally don't like it when people PM me questions, because even though I think I'm right I might not be, and if the question was posted on the forum then someone else would catch my mistake.

For this reason I think the idea of "buddies" is probably a bad idea, regardless of the legal liability issues that no doubt would arise from it.

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

The trouble is that there are certain people on VJ who answer simple questions incorrectly, and do so a lot. Some people think that going through K-1/AOS process makes them an expert on all aspects of AOS, including things they don't actually know anything about. How do you weed out the real experts from the people who think they are experts?

The good thing about VJ is having a large number of eyes on a question makes for an eventually correct answer. This is why I personally don't like it when people PM me questions, because even though I think I'm right I might not be, and if the question was posted on the forum then someone else would catch my mistake.

For this reason I think the idea of "buddies" is probably a bad idea, regardless of the legal liability issues that no doubt would arise from it.

While I agree, I know personally that I found it overwhelming when I asked a question on here and had 10 people saying 5 different things and I didn't know what or who to believe.

A member of VJ used me as a buddy (now friend) earlier this year. I helped her with form filling and letter writing, anything more technical, I told her to ask the experts on here. I think it would help newer members to not feel so clueless and panicky.

I'm not getting the legal liabilities thing.... I'm sueing YOU for telling ME to complete the wrong form? Half the forms on the USCIS website are out of date anyway.

Someone told me I didn't need my X-Ray through Immigration - maybe I shoulda sued?

[TinTin and Samby 11]

Here is my suggestion for a VJ site redesign:

VisaJourney.com

Your Family Immigration Community

READ THE F***ING GUIDES N00BS!!!!!!

[home][forums][news][guides][visa FAQ]

etc...

My goodness. Can we all just just imagine how many new people coming to VJ and seeing this kind of "Welcome Mat" will want to actually have anything to do with this site? Isn't the point of a site like this to draw people in? How will VJ survive in the long run if we stop the inflow of new people? It is exactly some of those new people will be become tomorrow's "Resident Experts" one day.

Warm Regards,

Samby