Are you fed up with USCIS yet?

[U.S. Wendy 0]

I work with disabled Veterans everyday so I know all about 'bigger' issues. I have thirteen years of experience in working with 'disadvantaged' individuals of all sorts. So, yes, I'll be here for the long haul. Thank you for your comments.

That's really good to know.

So.....how would you rate what those disabled Vets experience everyday compared to your situation?

Are their problems permanent or temporary?

Not to mention how working with Vets that has NOTHING to do with the (original) topic.

True, it's been 'off topic' for a while now-->although not my doing. Sorry about that.

Let's get things BACK on track.......shall we?

How are those approvals coming?

Yeah, working with Veterans may not be the topic, but it's good for introspection.

Wendy, how do those poor dudes and the stuff you see each day - how does that compare with your immigration challenges?

PS- For the record I see in your timeline you have experienced a difficult situation.

....trying to stay on topic here.

[no name 1]

I think part of the problem is that this is, for the most part at least, a privately funded public service. Individuals expecting guarantees on a service they are paying for. However, this is not a situation where quick turnover can be guaranteed. Security post 9/11 aside, each application is individual and some are more complex than others. But, some guarantee can be made. I don't think anyone (particularly those with spouses and children) should be waiting on an NOA2 after a year in the system. That is unacceptable in my opinion.

It is still the gov't - red tape & all. We are at their mercy. No guarantees are made - we chose to bring someone to live in America. It is a privilege, not a right.

But, I also think that people outside of the process (including politicians) will never really know about those who are stuck in the system unless someone tells them.

Exactly. So write letters to your congresspeople, try to affect change. Letters to USCIS are pointless, IMHO. They have more paper than they know what to do with.

[rebeccajo 14]

Let's talk about getting that elusive NOA2. And what I am about to relate is based on anecdotal accounts on this board and others.

There's virtually no reason to fear an I129F petition will not be approved.

How can I make that statement? I can with the following caveats - if you filled out the forms completely; if you sent in all the proper documentation; if you were truthful; if you have met your intended within the last two years and sent proof of same; if you are free to marry; and if you paid all the proper fees.

It ain't hard to get approved, people. This isn't the part of the process you should be sweating. If you can follow directions and have a pulse you can probably get NOA2 for an I29F.

Over at the consulate is where the wheat and chaff are separated. That's where the bonafides of the relationship are tested; that's where medical issues, criminal issues, and previous immigration violations are addressed and must be overcome; that's where financial support comes into play.

If you want something to do with your time while you wait for NOA2, I suggest you head on over to the consular forum and bone up on what will be required to get a VISA. Because getting a visa petition approved is not hard; getting the visa can be a different kettle of fish.

Edited September 19, 2007 by rebeccajo

[bakofoil 27]

Some people may have said not to write.

I think the conservative concensus would be to write about something that really matters. About the overall picture of immigration in America today, and not just the K1 process.

Even though it does feel personal as it is happening, is it hard to step back and realize how small some of the issues Wendy raised are in comparison to many of the other things happening with immigration today? There are FAR larger injustices being committed with family-based immigration categories than whether or not you get something as fast as you think you need it.

I'm sorry if it sounds sarcastic, but that's the bottom line everyone needs to examine. Are you being reasonable and realistic in your expectations? And is there true harm being caused to you - or are you just being inconvenienced?

This is a microwave society we live in. Most people aren't used to waiting for anything anymore.

And it hasn't been pointed out anywhere in this thread, but I will raise the point - once you finally are reunited - the time separated truly does melt away. It may not seem like it now, but it does.

And when it does, will you still be as 'interested' in stirring the troops - or in helping others get what they need? Or will you fade off into the immigration sunset until your own next personal situation crops up? It might be a harsh question, but self-examination is never easy.

For the record, this post wasn't up when I began writing my last post. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I think an impersonal appeal on behalf of families stuck in the system would be a more productive approach. This, if successful, might have a knock on positive affect for all others who embark on the process in the future.

And I can understand how Wendy feels...she has had an arduous K1 journey so far.

[rebeccajo 14]

I work with disabled Veterans everyday so I know all about 'bigger' issues. I have thirteen years of experience in working with 'disadvantaged' individuals of all sorts. So, yes, I'll be here for the long haul. Thank you for your comments.

That's really good to know.

So.....how would you rate what those disabled Vets experience everyday compared to your situation?

Are their problems permanent or temporary?

Not to mention how working with Vets that has NOTHING to do with the (original) topic.

True, it's been 'off topic' for a while now-->although not my doing. Sorry about that.

Let's get things BACK on track.......shall we?

How are those approvals coming?

Yeah, working with Veterans may not be the topic, but it's good for introspection.

Wendy, how do those poor dudes and the stuff you see each day - how does that compare with your immigration challenges?

PS- For the record I see in your timeline you have experienced a difficult situation.

....trying to stay on topic here.

How is it off topic to ask you to look around you and ask yourself if there are people out there worse off than you are?

My mom used to browbeat me with that one a lot when I was a kid. And she said it to me as she sat wrapped up in a back brace she's been wearing since she contracted polio at age 12.

[rebeccajo 14]

Some people may have said not to write.

I think the conservative concensus would be to write about something that really matters. About the overall picture of immigration in America today, and not just the K1 process.

Even though it does feel personal as it is happening, is it hard to step back and realize how small some of the issues Wendy raised are in comparison to many of the other things happening with immigration today? There are FAR larger injustices being committed with family-based immigration categories than whether or not you get something as fast as you think you need it.

I'm sorry if it sounds sarcastic, but that's the bottom line everyone needs to examine. Are you being reasonable and realistic in your expectations? And is there true harm being caused to you - or are you just being inconvenienced?

This is a microwave society we live in. Most people aren't used to waiting for anything anymore.

And it hasn't been pointed out anywhere in this thread, but I will raise the point - once you finally are reunited - the time separated truly does melt away. It may not seem like it now, but it does.

And when it does, will you still be as 'interested' in stirring the troops - or in helping others get what they need? Or will you fade off into the immigration sunset until your own next personal situation crops up? It might be a harsh question, but self-examination is never easy.

For the record, this post wasn't up when I began writing my last post. I agree with you wholeheartedly. I think an impersonal appeal on behalf of families stuck in the system would be a more productive approach. This, if successful, might have a knock on positive affect for all others who embark on the process in the future.

And I can understand how Wendy feels...she has had an arduous K1 journey so far.

I thought your first post was spot on - nothing in there that wasn't true.

Yes, it does look like Wendy has had a tough journey. She's probably got a right to be ticked - more so than many others.

For the record, I don't find 'newbs' unbearable. But I do believe many are unnecessarily impatient.

[bakofoil 27]

It is still the gov't - red tape & all. We are at their mercy. No guarantees are made - we chose to bring someone to live in America. It is a privilege, not a right.

I agree, what I was trying to say was that I think people assume there should be guarantees of some sort...you know, quick turnover, immediate citizenship BECAUSE they are paying. But, we all know that it's a unique situation where private money is used partially to fund a beaurocratic government agency. People assume payment = rights. I still maintain though that there should be a cap on processing times for family petitions (excluding fiance). There should be some type of crack team ( ) working to give some kind of resolution when it's getting close to a year. There are crack teams working on work visas aren't there?

And I agree with you about writing to congress people. USCIS have enough on their plates right now.

[no name 1]

For the record, I don't find 'newbs' unbearable. But I do believe many are unnecessarily impatient.

and want to be spoon fed.

[Aaron_WSU 0]

I think it is a little insensitive of the members on this board who are much further along in the process to say things like "immigration is a privilege, not a right" or "just keep waiting, these delays are normal." The fact of the matter is, the mass majority of previous filers didn't have to go through the kind of stuff the April, May, and June 2007 filers are going through. We are facing a huge backlog of petitions, and no matter whose fault it is, it still sucks and we want to complain. I imagine that if a lot of these users were in the same boat as us, they would be complaining just as loudly as we are.

Why do people need to try and put people in their place? Why can't they just give some words of encouragement? I understand some people's desire to exercise their First Amendment rights, but arguing on the internet is like winning the Special Olympics. We all need to encourage each other so we can encourage our loved ones. There is a second user on the other side of almost every single account on this board. My fiance is going crazy more so that I am. Not only does she miss me, but she hates her job, and she can't quit because she can't sign another contract and incur the monetary cost of breaking that contract to leave for the US when USCIS finally decides to get off their butts and get our paperwork done.

[no name 1]

I think it is a little insensitive of the members on this board who are much further along in the process to say things like "immigration is a privilege, not a right" or "just keep waiting, these delays are normal." The fact of the matter is, the mass majority of previous filers didn't have to go through the kind of stuff the April, May, and June 2007 filers are going through.

Post #100.

Or look here:

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/stats.php?history=360

Might want to do a bit of research on past backlogs before you say that.

PS: It IS a privilege.

Edited September 19, 2007 by devilette

[rebeccajo 14]

I think it is a little insensitive of the members on this board who are much further along in the process to say things like "immigration is a privilege, not a right" or "just keep waiting, these delays are normal." The fact of the matter is, the mass majority of previous filers didn't have to go through the kind of stuff the April, May, and June 2007 filers are going through. We are facing a huge backlog of petitions, and no matter whose fault it is, it still sucks and we want to complain. I imagine that if a lot of these users were in the same boat as us, they would be complaining just as loudly as we are.

Why do people need to try and put people in their place? Why can't they just give some words of encouragement? I understand some people's desire to exercise their First Amendment rights, but arguing on the internet is like winning the Special Olympics. We all need to encourage each other so we can encourage our loved ones. There is a second user on the other side of almost every single account on this board. My fiance is going crazy more so that I am. Not only does she miss me, but she hates her job, and she can't quit because she can't sign another contract and incur the monetary cost of breaking that contract to leave for the US when USCIS finally decides to get off their butts and get our paperwork done.

I've bolded a portion of your post which is - unfortunately - incorrect.

The IMBRA debacle of 2006 was raised here previously - that little mess cost most petitioners huge delays.

When my husband and filed in 2005, it was not uncommon for petitioners to Nebraska to wait 6 to 8 months for approval. In fact it was fairly common.

Nobody is saying you have no right to complain. What we are saying is the situation is not UNIQUE. The class of Summer of 2007 is not experiencing something others on this board cannot relate too.

In my opinion, it is as equally unfair for you to state so as you presume it is unfair for us to tell you otherwise.

Edited September 19, 2007 by rebeccajo

[bakofoil 27]

I think it is a little insensitive of the members on this board who are much further along in the process to say things like "immigration is a privilege, not a right" or "just keep waiting, these delays are normal." The fact of the matter is, the mass majority of previous filers didn't have to go through the kind of stuff the April, May, and June 2007 filers are going through. We are facing a huge backlog of petitions, and no matter whose fault it is, it still sucks and we want to complain. I imagine that if a lot of these users were in the same boat as us, they would be complaining just as loudly as we are.

Why do people need to try and put people in their place? Why can't they just give some words of encouragement? I understand some people's desire to exercise their First Amendment rights, but arguing on the internet is like winning the Special Olympics. We all need to encourage each other so we can encourage our loved ones. There is a second user on the other side of almost every single account on this board. My fiance is going crazy more so that I am. Not only does she miss me, but she hates her job, and she can't quit because she can't sign another contract and incur the monetary cost of breaking that contract to leave for the US when USCIS finally decides to get off their butts and get our paperwork done.

It's also highly insensitive and inappropriate to compare arguing with winning the Special Olympics...it is an immense achievement to take part in the Special Olympics, nevermind win it. Hardly comparable to sitting at home arguing the toss on the internet.

Edited September 19, 2007 by babblesgirl

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Is it sad and heart breaking at times, yes. Is it completely unacceptable, no. We all just need to be very patient and remember all worthwhile things take time. So many of us log on every day, hoping to find that update to our case. It's that "watched kettle" dilemma. A few years from now, we may even find ourselves saying, the time went by quickly than we thought.

[bakofoil 27]

I thought your first post was spot on - nothing in there that wasn't true.

Yes, it does look like Wendy has had a tough journey. She's probably got a right to be ticked - more so than many others.

For the record, I don't find 'newbs' unbearable. But I do believe many are unnecessarily impatient.

I think 'impatient' is a fair assessment in some cases. This is why these boards are so useful. All of us knew what minimum timeframe we are looking at before we applied. The timelines of others help us gain some perspective. If it gets past 9 months for me i'll probably have a different opinion on this.

[rebeccajo 14]

I think it is a little insensitive of the members on this board who are much further along in the process to say things like "immigration is a privilege, not a right" or "just keep waiting, these delays are normal." The fact of the matter is, the mass majority of previous filers didn't have to go through the kind of stuff the April, May, and June 2007 filers are going through. We are facing a huge backlog of petitions, and no matter whose fault it is, it still sucks and we want to complain. I imagine that if a lot of these users were in the same boat as us, they would be complaining just as loudly as we are.

Why do people need to try and put people in their place? Why can't they just give some words of encouragement? I understand some people's desire to exercise their First Amendment rights, but arguing on the internet is like winning the Special Olympics. We all need to encourage each other so we can encourage our loved ones. There is a second user on the other side of almost every single account on this board. My fiance is going crazy more so that I am. Not only does she miss me, but she hates her job, and she can't quit because she can't sign another contract and incur the monetary cost of breaking that contract to leave for the US when USCIS finally decides to get off their butts and get our paperwork done.

It's also highly insensitive and inappropriate to compare arguing with winning the Special Olympics...it is an immense achievement to take part in the Special Olympics, nevermind win it. Hardly comparable to sitting at home arguing the toss on the internet.

Well, that's a big oops if I ever saw one.