Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	What was the hardest part of the process??	Waiting is the only hardest part of the process,the rest are manageable.	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-10-24 21:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Does my fiance need a copy or the real NOA-2	Especially when A passes it to B, who passes it to C, who passes it back to you, who passes it to D, who passes it back to A. True story!! totally agree!	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-11-02 14:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I need to update my I-134	no problem. please note that if you want to include your car, it has to be a second car, because the first (or only one) doesn't count. good thing u told me,i was about to write my one and only car.haha.Thank u!	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-11-08 14:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I need to update my I-134	Real estate refers to houses. Other personal property refers to other personal property (2nd car, jewelry, etc.). If you have a mortgage on the house you bought, you have to write it too. thank you!	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-11-08 13:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	I need to update my I-134	Hi Everyone! I recently bought a house and already started moving out from my apartment.I only have till the 20th of Nov to vacate my Apt.I know i need to update my I134 with my updated address and should i declare it on : question #7. I have other personal property, the reasonable value of which is:_________________ I own real estate value at:______________ With mortgage(s) or other encumbrance(s) thereon amounting to:$______________ Should i place it on both lines?or just one?I know it really doesnt matter as long as my salary is above 125% of poverty line but i just want to be sure. I am now in the process of scheduling my Fiance for his interview and will let Manila Consulate know about my change of address then. Thank u all in advance.	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-11-08 13:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Scheduling interview appointment w/o letter from Consulate	don't be hard on yourself about it, i've just lurked this board for so long, and seen so many people lose out weeks or months or get denied over stupid stuff, and it always makes me sad. i know the waiting is hard, it's killing us all, but if i did something to try and save a week, and ended up costing us a month or a denial, i would be kicking myself forever. would hate to see that happen to anyone, especially over something so trivial. I totally agree.Ive already come this far and i dont want all my waiting pain to just go to waste.Thanks for your honest comment Kristy,i really appreciate it. Edited by Chazzie, 09 November 2010 - 12:23 AM.	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-11-09 00:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Scheduling interview appointment w/o letter from Consulate	i hope that wasn't the wrong thing to do...i don't know much about that part of it yet, but i would think going in unprepared and having them find out you lied to them would be very detrimental to your case? like i said though, i don't know much about that part...i figure i'll start researching it when my noa2 comes in. has he gotten his medical done already? he was about to go tom as its a first come first serve basis.He's prepared, its just that i called a while ago to confirm if they already received my case but since they havent i just have to cancel his appt.Its s0o silly of me to even sched and lie about receiving the letter from consulate.I only did that because thats what everybody is doing to save time when scheduling but since the waiting period is not that bad,then its ok.Sorry for even posting about what i did,i only have myself to blame and i accept that. Thanks for the comment and good luck on your case!	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-11-08 23:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Scheduling interview appointment w/o letter from Consulate	i mean he wouldn't even have his packet or anything yet, would he? They wont sent out packet 3 and 4 anymore its all to be downloaded at my consulate's site .	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-11-08 22:47:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Scheduling interview appointment w/o letter from Consulate	I just called and cancelled his appointment.Thanks everyone.	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-11-08 22:40:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Scheduling interview appointment w/o letter from Consulate	Hi again!So i sched my fiance's appointment for next week already and when asked if he already received a letter from manila consulate that its ok now to sched his interview i said yes.(but he hasnt)Now Im worried if they really do have our case...Would their system still show in their computer our INFO if it didnt?It has been 5 days since NVC sent out our case.Can i call NVC if manila received it? Hmmmn, Im really worried now. pls help.Any comments will be greatly apppreciated.	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-11-08 22:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	NOA2	HI! hang in there!it will come...Patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet.Good luck on your journey.	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-11-02 14:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	General K1 Guides and Info	We've thought about sending 4 pictures from each of our trips together. When we'll file our petition, we will have met each other 6 times, from which 4 times were within the past two years. To sum up, there would be 4x6 = 24 photos together. P.S.: I completely understand you. We have lots of photos too. thank u! we are actually sending 24 photos t0o...	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-05-10 21:00:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	General K1 Guides and Info	sorry i couldnt edit my previous post. more questions.... Can we watermark the dates on our pics?although i know i still need to write the date, location, names at the back of the pics.And how many letters too?we have tons!lol.thanks in advance!	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-05-07 01:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	General K1 Guides and Info	Hi everyone!! im starting to complete my k1 checklist and just want to ask how many photos do we have to provide? We have so many photos from vacation,trips, engagement, etc.and just want to make sure how many is just right???Some say 5-10, others say the more the better.im confused.Thanks in advance!	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-05-07 01:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	The RFE Master List	So our RFE was asking us to complete two forms, G325A, one for me and one for him. They also want 2 passport style photos of him and we get it 13 days after noa1.God blees So our RFE was asking us to complete two forms, G325A, one for me and one for him. They also want 2 passport style photos of him and we get it 13 days after noa1.God blees The VJ guidelines on assembling I129F states they only need One passport-type photo (see specification) of the US Citizen. Write the full name of the US citizen on the back. Place in a plastic bag and label the bag "Photo of <Insert US Citizen's Name>". Attach the bag to a sheet of paper and place behind the corresponding G-325a.and same goes for the foreign fiance.So we only submitted 1 of each.hmmmn, that's the only thing i could think of that we didnt do.do u think we'll get an rfe for that?	Chazzie	Female	Philippines	2010-08-02 11:03:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	As I said in an earlier thread, I believe that a lot of the delay is politically driven. The director of the USCIS has pledged to process N-400 apps faster in order to allow these new naturalized citizens to vote in this years elections. This is a sizable political bloc, and usually votes Democrat, so therefore there is immense pressure from Democrat lawmakers to prioritize these applications. I'll bet you a donut that most of these apps go through CSC as opposed to VSC, I know mine did. http://www.dallasnew...n2.37430c0.html We are unlucky enough to have two events shape our schedules - the backlog of new filings from the fee increase, which they state will carry on to 2010, and the fact that there is an election this November. I predict that we wont see an acceleration of our visas until after November. What do you think?	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-06 00:46:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	In case anyone is keeping track - or cares - the daily ratio of VSC to CSC approvals is 4:1 I sound like Sulu in Corbomite Maneuver counting down until Balok's ship blows them out of existence. Wish I could bluff the CSC into speeding us all up.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-05 22:38:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (BlakeandOlha @ Mar 5 2008, 04:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Chris Future @ Mar 5 2008, 06:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Would be great if it happened. Do you think that the group that oversees both centers really cares, or are they just happy that the overall averages, once you factor in the speedy VSC filings, are coming down... Realistically, I pretty much think they could care less - that's the root of the problem after all isn't it. But I still hope someone might be embarassed at some point. In my dreams I see some political appointee being upbraided and laughed at during the annual service center Christmas party. Then I wake up an remember that like every rollercoaster I've ever been on, this too will end. I gotta stay positive, or else I'll drive myself and the woman I love nuts. You've been though a lot with immigration already, I understand why you're frustrated. Love the songs, by the way. Thanks. Its amazing actually how many love songs about people being far apart there are. You know when I heard about how many long distance relationships there were I was surprised. There are tons of people in love separated by distance. According to this site, over 7 million couples, and I'm assuming that just Americans. http://www.carolinet...s/ldr_stats.htm	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-05 19:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Mar 5 2008, 04:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> We were lucky. Our visa process didn't take long. But immigration has messed with us in other ways. We all do have an immigration journey to continue once we are reunited, you know. Maybe the rest of your journey will be smoother than this part. Yes, you were lucky. We are facing a process possibly 3 times longer than yours was. All due to the governments inability to properly staff up to do the work in a timely manner. I'm no stranger to the immigration process. I arrived in the US in 1998 with a TN Visa since I had missed the cutoff for H1-Bs that year. Once the H1-B process opened up again, my company at the time applied for it. After I got my H1, I asked them to apply for a Green Card for me. They eventually did, but kept putting it of for cost reasons. About 6 months before I got my Green Card they were about to downsize my position but I was able to convince them to keep me on. 3.5 years into getting my Green Card, I filed for divorce from my ex-wife. A year later a re-met my fiance online. I had to get my citizenship, wait for my divorce to complete, then finally file the K1. I've had my fill of immigration already, and I know there a lot more with AOSs etc etc etc. And every day, illegal immigrants cross the borders and are able to be with their loved ones. And many of them them get no repercussions, and amnesty bills in Congress. Those of us who follow all the rules are kept apart longer and longer by arbitrary rules and mismanagement, and get only the slightest mention in legislation. I looked over at the "jackpot" thread. I'm glad that everyone is happy over there and giving each other high fives. Good for them. BTW, BlakeandOlha your point from the other thread ... "Besides, if the VSC makes the CSC look truely slow and incompetent, perhaps they'll effect the changes necessary to bring the two services in line with each other." Would be great if it happened. Do you think that the group that oversees both centers really cares, or are they just happy that the overall averages, once you factor in the speedy VSC filings, are coming down... QUOTE (mox @ Mar 5 2008, 04:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (BlakeandOlha @ Mar 5 2008, 03:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I suggest it was more of a ponzi scheme. LOL! Yeah, pretty sure StP emptied out the bank and skipped town before any of us could catch on. Stp? Must be before my time......	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-05 19:29:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (Cassie @ Mar 5 2008, 03:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Mar 5 2008, 07:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Chris - You say you don't just want to hear positive things and you want honesty. You want to hear a really true honest thing? From someone who has been there? Someday - when you and Susan are reunited - this wait will all be a memory. Really and truly it will. I've been married to my husband for 2.5 years now. Sometimes, when we are reminiscing, we talk about our separations. They are almost sweet things now. A testament to us, I guess. That we made it. Trust me. It's true. Amen, I second that! Maybe we are just feeling it more acutely. We feel like we've been apart for 25 years. Every moment we are still apart is painful. Most of you can say that once you are together, you will have been together longer than you were apart during this process. We feel like we've been apart forever, and this is just adding to that. Time is more precious to us than anything, and we both feel that this process is stealing it from us, and we can never make that time back. It's stealing this time from ALL of us and there just seems to be no consideration for that. Maybe in 25 years I'll be just barely OK with it. Heres another song...When You're Gone, Avril Lavigne - another great Canadian singer... Video:	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-05 18:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Mar 5 2008, 01:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I think the Vermont filers have every right to be excited about their approvals! They are not being disrespectful or uncaring and I certainly think they sympathize with the CSC filers. Turning it into a "jackpot" is just a game... a way for them to pass the time just like you are. It's not a go at the CSC filers. You don't know their personal stories or the struggles they may have had to endure to get to even this point. They should be excited! For all the same reasons you will be when it's your turn. Do you know that their are consulates who will put you in administrative processing and keep loving couples apart for years even after approval??? Did you know that their are parents who have never even seen or touched their child??? None of this is easy... for any of us. It is what it is. Historically VSC has always been the fastest office. I understand this is frustrating. We all do. But what you're doing with comments like that IS causing divide. All of this is hard enough. Put that energy you have into something productive and positive...like contacting people...anyone who will listen. Sorry, but I'm tired of people who always want to hear the positive side of things. I prefer to be more realistic and open, understanding that there are two sides. If you only want to hear sweetness and light from me and then I can shut up and not post anything until sometime later this year when our approval appears out of the abyss. I'm happy to do just that and save the ranting for my radio show. As I said at the beginning of this thread, its a discussion of the frustration I have of the disparity between VSC and CSC, and a general rant about the idiocy of the whole process and about how long it takes. I'm sure that there are many of you out there feeling the frustration and depression of seeing all these cases whip by while we sit and sit and sit with no action, peering into an inscrutable black hole just hoping that someday we will see some light at the end of this tunnel. I understand that there are probably a lot of people out there who agree with me and this thread but may be afraid to post lest they be branded troublemakers and kicked off. If you guys don't want to read/hear about my frustrations, then fine, I'll stop posting and find another venue. In any support group I've been in, you get both the good and the bad, and you get negativity and frustration as well and positivity and sunlight. For some reason, online groups seem to prefer the latter. I prefer a balance. Anyways, never mind. This thread can end now if you like. Let me leave you with one thing. I just found a song by Simple Plan which encapsulates how Susan and I we feel about each other and this wait and I thought I'd share it with you: Its called I Can Wait Forever Listen here:	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-05 18:22:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (mox @ Mar 5 2008, 12:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Chris Future @ Mar 5 2008, 11:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm also not trying to create a divide - the VSCers are doing that on their own by announcing their wonderful "jackpots" - I think everyone on the CSC list heart sinks when we see those. On the one hand, I'm happy for them but on the other hand they might be a bit more sensitive to the rest of us as well. We are all here to support each other, at least thats what I thought these boards were for. If you find yourself getting down by reading other people's approvals, and/or if you start to think that people announcing their approvals is insensitive, it's time to stay away from the "case filings and reports" section for awhile. I'm not trying to be snarky or mean by saying that. There were days when I couldn't be in that forum, it was just too depressing to see how many VSC approvals were screaming by, while CSC went for weeks with only a couple. The "case filings and reports" sub-forum was created exactly for that reason. To give people who are having a hard time dealing with the disparity an opportunity to stay away from it, and still be able to participate in VJ. Of course you are right. Like I like to tell my kids when one teases the other - you are both wrong - one for teasing and the other for not having a thicker skin. I can choose not to view their expressions of unadulterated glee at begin winners of a jackpot, thus implicitly labeling the rest of us losers, and they can choose to be more selective in their terminology.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-05 18:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Mar 5 2008, 12:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Chris - I was a Vermont petitioner. At the time I filed my husband's petition, there were four service centers. VSC was the fastest; Nebraska was the slowest. I announced our very speedy approval with the same glee posters do now. After all - it WAS my approval. However, I tried to walk a very fine line in my communications on the board at that time. I really didn't want to have people hating me. Sometimes I felt like I was unnecessarily sucking up. BUT....I did it because I knew there were other people waiting sooooooooo long. I announced my approval - I was happy and so I felt I was entitled to celebrate - but I tried to be gracious. There is occasional media contact made by VJ members and other people traversing USCIS. But the media is more interested in a different aspect of immigration right now. Americans by and large are also not as sympathetic to your case as you would like to think they are. Some are only interested in any plan the government has for dealing with illegal entrants; some would only be interested in a government plan to stop ALL immigration. The rest of America - well - they just really don't care. Immigration isn't like taxes - it doesn't effect everybody. So while you and I might see some 'injustices' in the present system, don't expect a huge public outcry by taking your case to the press. It's just a big yawn for most of America because it doesn't affect them. Yes, I agree. Graciousness is what you will get from us as well when we are approved, not outright expressions of glee, or comparing things to a "jackpot" Jackpots allude to winners and losers, and I don't want to brand anyone here "a loser". Most of the people on this forum are waiting for their approvals as well. So I will be sensitive in my communications too. I guess you are right. Its part of the culture of America right now. People have forgotten our founding principals, and that the government was designed to serve the people and not the other way around. Now we serve the government, and most people are just happy to bop along through life just like that.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-05 18:05:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Mar 4 2008, 07:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Insofar as VSC speed and CSC sloth - that's just the way it is. It's always been that way and it's not likely to change. If you wish to promote controversy and create a 'divide' within the community, continue to wail away. It's no more a Vermont petitioner's 'fault' they get a fast approval (based on where they live) than it is your fault that your approval takes more time. Thems just the breaks. One of the things that drew me to the US was the prevailing attitude that when there ARE injustices, Americans stand up and do something about it. In Canada, we just grumble. I was trying to also see if we could enlist someone in the media to help us champion our cause, and actually do something to try and effect changes. Was thinking Lou Dobbs or John Stossel. Has anyone on here have some contacts we could possibly leverage? BTW, I don't blame the VSC petitioner getting fast approval - I blame the government for not providing speedy service to everyone. I'm also not trying to create a divide - the VSCers are doing that on their own by announcing their wonderful "jackpots" - I think everyone on the CSC list heart sinks when we see those. On the one hand, I'm happy for them but on the other hand they might be a bit more sensitive to the rest of us as well. We are all here to support each other, at least thats what I thought these boards were for.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-05 14:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Mar 4 2008, 10:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Chris Future @ Mar 4 2008, 01:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> OK: With ALL other types of immigrant visas, the only people affected are non-citizens. With family visas, there must be at least one citizen who does the sponsoring. Therefore with family visas, the "customer" is a citizen and a non-citizen. With all other visas, the "customer" is a non-citizen. You would think that having a citizen as a "customer" makes a difference. Either way, the only way we can change this for the better is find someone who matters and have them champion the cause. Will President Obama bring us what we need?? When my husband filed for his greencard, I, a USC was affected. I am his wife and I was his original USC petitioner. At what point do you suggest the line be drawn so your case can get pushed ahead of others who aren't as entitled to service for a fee paid as you are? The line should be drawn at citizenship. In your case, its an expedited case as its a marriage GC to a citizen. Those GCs should take priority as a US citizen is affected. A non-citizen on an employment visa waiting for a Green Card should take a regular process. I'm not saying that a regular process should take 6 months. We shoudl be staffed to 30 days for "citizen" service and 60 days for "regular" service. BTW: This weeks score so far: VSC: 6, CSC, 1 Nice, eh?	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-04 22:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Mar 4 2008, 10:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Chris Future @ Mar 4 2008, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Mar 4 2008, 10:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Chris Future @ Mar 4 2008, 12:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Mar 3 2008, 09:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Chris Future @ Mar 3 2008, 03:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Caladan @ Mar 3 2008, 11:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Cassie @ Mar 3 2008, 01:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If I had a dollar for every time I have read a "it's not fair, Vermont is so fast" post over the last 3 years, I'd be a rich rich woman! And they've even reorganized it since then to make it a more equitable distribution of family-based petitions, IIRC. It is also cyclical. VSC slowed down earlier. CSC hasn't recovered from the backlog yet (I believe they handle more AOS-related stuff than Vermont does, and it was a *huge* hit last August, and people who are here waiting for green cards took priority.) Interesting. Green card processing does not keep families apart. Neither does AOS as far as i know. I know that employment visas, which keep people from taking a job here, are expedited. Why do marriage visas take the lowest priority, I wonder? Is marriage the #1 immigration fraud that it needs so much scrutiny. I'm starting to feel that the post that someone made once that they want it to take a long time on purpose so that the prospective emigrant will give up, only those that don't give up are real relationships. Cynical? I'll bet that factors into their processing times. I wonders if there is some historical precedent that fraudsters will give up after 6 months?? Oh my goodness. First of all - greencards are not processed in the Service Centers. Visa petitions are. Greencards are processed in the District Offices. Second of all - don't you think it's a really good idea that an immigrant receive the paperwork they need to prove they are legally authorized to be in this country? Uh, my point is that citizens should get better, faster service than non-citizens. Yes, the beneficiary is not a citizen, but the petitioner is. In the Green Card process, the beneficiary is a non-citizen. Immigrants who are waiting for a Green Card are already in this country legally on some other type of visa, so there is usually no rush to get one. It's like they are saying "Well, its OK we can treat him worse cause he is a citizen" "Immigrants who are in this country legally" without a greencard but have an expired visa (such as a K1 whose I94 has expired) are actually without status. When my husband was at the window at the London consulate, the CO looked over at me and said 'make sure you file for his greencard as soon as you marry'. 10 days later when we entered the US, the CBP officer said the same thing. Filing ASAP for your greencard as soon as possible isn't only something an immigrant needs to do - if they want to remain in this country legally, they have to do it. You're not comparing apples to apples. Sigh. Yes, some people do need Green Cards to stay in this country legally. Those should get higher priority. However, most people waiting for GCs are already on some other work visa and can wait a few months for a GC. What I'm saying in the end is that we matter less to the processors than the immigrants do. Aren't you filing a petition for an immigrant to come here? OK: With ALL other types of immigrant visas, the only people affected are non-citizens. With family visas, there must be at least one citizen who does the sponsoring. Therefore with family visas, the "customer" is a citizen and a non-citizen. With all other visas, the "customer" is a non-citizen. You would think that having a citizen as a "customer" makes a difference. Either way, the only way we can change this for the better is find someone who matters and have them champion the cause. Will President Obama bring us what we need??	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-04 13:23:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Mar 4 2008, 10:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Chris Future @ Mar 4 2008, 12:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Mar 3 2008, 09:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Chris Future @ Mar 3 2008, 03:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Caladan @ Mar 3 2008, 11:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Cassie @ Mar 3 2008, 01:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If I had a dollar for every time I have read a "it's not fair, Vermont is so fast" post over the last 3 years, I'd be a rich rich woman! And they've even reorganized it since then to make it a more equitable distribution of family-based petitions, IIRC. It is also cyclical. VSC slowed down earlier. CSC hasn't recovered from the backlog yet (I believe they handle more AOS-related stuff than Vermont does, and it was a *huge* hit last August, and people who are here waiting for green cards took priority.) Interesting. Green card processing does not keep families apart. Neither does AOS as far as i know. I know that employment visas, which keep people from taking a job here, are expedited. Why do marriage visas take the lowest priority, I wonder? Is marriage the #1 immigration fraud that it needs so much scrutiny. I'm starting to feel that the post that someone made once that they want it to take a long time on purpose so that the prospective emigrant will give up, only those that don't give up are real relationships. Cynical? I'll bet that factors into their processing times. I wonders if there is some historical precedent that fraudsters will give up after 6 months?? Oh my goodness. First of all - greencards are not processed in the Service Centers. Visa petitions are. Greencards are processed in the District Offices. Second of all - don't you think it's a really good idea that an immigrant receive the paperwork they need to prove they are legally authorized to be in this country? Uh, my point is that citizens should get better, faster service than non-citizens. Yes, the beneficiary is not a citizen, but the petitioner is. In the Green Card process, the beneficiary is a non-citizen. Immigrants who are waiting for a Green Card are already in this country legally on some other type of visa, so there is usually no rush to get one. It's like they are saying "Well, its OK we can treat him worse cause he is a citizen" "Immigrants who are in this country legally" without a greencard but have an expired visa (such as a K1 whose I94 has expired) are actually without status. When my husband was at the window at the London consulate, the CO looked over at me and said 'make sure you file for his greencard as soon as you marry'. 10 days later when we entered the US, the CBP officer said the same thing. Filing ASAP for your greencard as soon as possible isn't only something an immigrant needs to do - if they want to remain in this country legally, they have to do it. You're not comparing apples to apples. Sigh. Yes, some people do need Green Cards to stay in this country legally. Those should get higher priority. However, most people waiting for GCs are already on some other work visa and can wait a few months for a GC. What I'm saying in the end is that we matter less to the processors than the immigrants do.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-04 13:12:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (rebeccajo @ Mar 3 2008, 09:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Chris Future @ Mar 3 2008, 03:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Caladan @ Mar 3 2008, 11:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Cassie @ Mar 3 2008, 01:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If I had a dollar for every time I have read a "it's not fair, Vermont is so fast" post over the last 3 years, I'd be a rich rich woman! And they've even reorganized it since then to make it a more equitable distribution of family-based petitions, IIRC. It is also cyclical. VSC slowed down earlier. CSC hasn't recovered from the backlog yet (I believe they handle more AOS-related stuff than Vermont does, and it was a *huge* hit last August, and people who are here waiting for green cards took priority.) Interesting. Green card processing does not keep families apart. Neither does AOS as far as i know. I know that employment visas, which keep people from taking a job here, are expedited. Why do marriage visas take the lowest priority, I wonder? Is marriage the #1 immigration fraud that it needs so much scrutiny. I'm starting to feel that the post that someone made once that they want it to take a long time on purpose so that the prospective emigrant will give up, only those that don't give up are real relationships. Cynical? I'll bet that factors into their processing times. I wonders if there is some historical precedent that fraudsters will give up after 6 months?? Oh my goodness. First of all - greencards are not processed in the Service Centers. Visa petitions are. Greencards are processed in the District Offices. Second of all - don't you think it's a really good idea that an immigrant receive the paperwork they need to prove they are legally authorized to be in this country? Uh, my point is that citizens should get better, faster service than non-citizens. Yes, the beneficiary is not a citizen, but the petitioner is. In the Green Card process, the beneficiary is a non-citizen. Immigrants who are waiting for a Green Card are already in this country legally on some other type of visa, so there is usually no rush to get one. It's like they are saying "Well, its OK we can treat him worse cause he is a citizen"	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-04 12:55:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (mox @ Mar 3 2008, 11:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I agree the system is broken. I have no idea why some people at VSC are being approved in record time, other than sheer managerial incompetence. I agree that 6+ months is way too long. There was a day when 60 days was about the average wait, and I don't think that's unreasonable. Sheer managerial incompetence - agree with you there that that is the most likely reason. The sad thing is that WE don't matter. I don't blame the staff at the center, they are probably just doing what they can in the face of a huge overload of work. I blame the decision makers at the top who have no problem allocating the massive amount of money they take from us in taxes and fees and providing non-citizens better service than citizens. I went through the green card process. Only in certain cases does one really NEED a Green card - usually the individual is in the country under an employment visa and can stay on it a while longer. Remember Green Card holders are NOT citizens, but somehow they deserve faster service than citizens, who are the petitioners here at VJ. Time and time again, we see the government servicing non-citizens better than citizens. You would think that being a citizen would put you at the head of some line, but apparently not.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-03 23:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (Caladan @ Mar 3 2008, 11:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Cassie @ Mar 3 2008, 01:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> If I had a dollar for every time I have read a "it's not fair, Vermont is so fast" post over the last 3 years, I'd be a rich rich woman! And they've even reorganized it since then to make it a more equitable distribution of family-based petitions, IIRC. It is also cyclical. VSC slowed down earlier. CSC hasn't recovered from the backlog yet (I believe they handle more AOS-related stuff than Vermont does, and it was a *huge* hit last August, and people who are here waiting for green cards took priority.) Interesting. Green card processing does not keep families apart. Neither does AOS as far as i know. I know that employment visas, which keep people from taking a job here, are expedited. Why do marriage visas take the lowest priority, I wonder? Is marriage the #1 immigration fraud that it needs so much scrutiny. I'm starting to feel that the post that someone made once that they want it to take a long time on purpose so that the prospective emigrant will give up, only those that don't give up are real relationships. Cynical? I'll bet that factors into their processing times. I wonders if there is some historical precedent that fraudsters will give up after 6 months??	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-03 15:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Mar 3 2008, 10:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Mar 2 2008, 09:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Everyone has the right to contact their representative. That's doing something! QUOTE All that will do is .... nothing. Their is no political will to make this process work better. We are not enough of a voting bloc to make a difference. I disagree. That's like saying your vote doesn't count. If everybody thought that way.... I did state earlier in the thread that we have very little voice as most are uneducated to the process and just dont care enough to change it. I do agree with that. But reaching out to those who do have a bigger voice is a step, is it not? Related or not... they are there for us... they are our voice. My Congressperson is a decent person who listens. Whether it has an effect on the process or not is irrelevant really. At least when I ###### and moan about the process I can say that I did 'something'. And at least that's one more person in the 'chain of command' that knows the woes of those of us faced with this situation so perhaps when there is a vote regarding legal immigration my small little voice will be at the back of his head and will bring a sense of reality and real life to his vote. Just my opinion. Best of luck! Sure - contacting my rep is akin to placing a curse - it probably doesn't do anything but it possibly could make me feel better. I wonder if Lou Dobbs would do a piece on this for CNN. He is usually tuned into immigration issues. We need some big head in the media to promote our cause. I'm sure that there a TON of stories about couples and families being kept apart by idiotic government policies. Maybe John Stossel. He's good at unearthing failing government programs.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-03 14:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (marabou @ Mar 2 2008, 07:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Out of curiosity I checked the job posting for adjudication officers for the USCIS California Service center. All applicants must complete an exam to even be considered and the time it takes to score this multiple choice exam is 6-8weeks from the date of testing. And that doesn't even take into account the background checks, interviews, or training of the officers. So I think in order to hire the proper people and train them to do the job it takes quite a while. Which is sad, but a reality. I wish the process could be expedited to speed it up for everyone, but alas it is hiring is slow as well. Geez. Even the exam takes 6 weeks. If the private sector worked this slow we'd still be using stone knives and bearskins.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-03 13:58:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (mox @ Mar 3 2008, 10:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (Chris Future @ Mar 3 2008, 10:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Thats ridiculous. It shouldn't take more than a month. I agree that 219 days is unacceptable, but 30 days is equally unrealistic. I disagree. All they need to to is hire enough people to get it down to 30 days. Its job creation. You're telling me they had no idea that they'd have a huge influx of visas the moment they announced a fee increase? Thats pretty poor planning and would probably get people fired in the business world.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-03 13:48:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (mox @ Mar 2 2008, 07:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Here's the thing: The system is what it is. We can try to work through the political process to affect change if that's something we really feel passionate about, but the fact is that all of our cases will be long gone through the system by the time any change is made. Mark Twain said "everyone talks about the weather but nobody does anything about it." Think of USCIS like that. The system is frustrating, slow, and opaque. But the key to making it through with your sanity intact is to try to be positive and resolve to settle in for a long wait. Blowing steam is ok, but be careful not to get sucked into a vortex of unhappiness. I've seen threads on these boards that I couldn't even read anymore because they made me so unhappy. You do not want to go there. You don't have to post about rainbows and puppies, but you'll only make it worse on yourself by dwelling on the negatives. I've said this before, but it bears repeating: If you think the waiting is hard right now, wait until people start getting approved around you. The wait will get about 10 times harder the minute you see that first approval past your date. That's why you need to go into those last weeks of waiting in as good a mental place as you can be. If you go into those last weeks miserable, you will be a complete wreck by the time you're approved. Yes, but I'm ranting not just for myself but for ALL affected couples, present and future. People like us, who follow the rules of the land, get shafted, while the law breakers get deals. Look at THOMAS to see what bills have to do with visas. There are tons of bills which mention illegals, and a ton of "special" dispensations handing citizenship directly to individual people (mixed in with the very important business of renaming post offices, btw). The difference is that with the weather, we can't do anything about it, when it comes to this - we SHOULD be able to do something about it. Just sitting and grumbling about injustice seems to me to NOT be the American way - we DO something about it - or at least try to. Just grumbling about it seems so...Canadian. People ARE already getting approved around us - those at VSC that is...	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-03 13:42:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (Grandoner @ Mar 2 2008, 02:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> could the disparity beween east and west have to do with the foreign locations of the beneficiaries? Does CSC handle more K-1, K-3 from beneficiaries of Mexico and Asia where fraud rates and waiver delays are more prevelant....? Just a thought... I agree with an earlier poster that if everyone is paying the same fee for a government service, there should be a similar timeframe. Another thought is the actual location and thus type of persons working in the service center... CSC is right outside LA and the working situation will be urban, commutes, diverse group of people. VSC is in bumblef*k Vermont. I would think a better commute... happier people Just some thoughts in the wind This is true. I bet that they have trouble finding people to work at CSC, the salaries are higher and the standards are lower. I'm actually surprised that the office IS in any kind of metro area - I thought most government agencies were in remote locations as part of a job creation program for those areas. In fact, isn't the CSC the only center in a metro area? Nebraska, Vermont etc etc. The N-400 apps go to Lincoln, NE, right? Why are we forced to go to the only backlogged urban center??	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-03 13:36:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (SqdnGuns @ Mar 1 2008, 10:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> 219 days from filing petition @ CSC to NOA2, we're still alive. It sucks but our love is as strong as ever because of the long process. Thats ridiculous. It shouldn't take more than a month. QUOTE (KimandRuss @ Mar 2 2008, 09:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Everyone has the right to contact their representative. That's doing something! All that will do is .... nothing. Their is no political will to make this process work better. We are not enough of a voting bloc to make a difference.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-03 13:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	QUOTE (Jonboyusmc @ Mar 1 2008, 09:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> It's very disheartening to see couples that filed only 1 month before you at VSC get approved, knowing full well that I will probably still be waiting for NOA2 AFTER their wedding. The sad part for me is that I served this country with honor. I still wear the scars both physical and emotional. I've never asked for anything in return. I will get to watch other people pass me by in this visajourney, that have no idea the sacrifices I made for this country. It's really a shame how the people that actually defended this country are forgotten about so quickly. Sorry, just my little addition to the rant Agreed - its appalling to me that you shouldn't qualify for some kind of expedited processing after what you have done for this country. After reading the interview from a former USCIS worker on this site, it appears that the only thing holding back our petitions is the sheer volume. They admit that it takes about 15 minutes to review each one. Therefore a typical processor should be able to do about 3-4 per hour. In order to get petitions done in a month, VSC must have staffed itself up properly in order to provide that level of service. Question is, why doesn't CSC do that same? Why can't they hire enough officers to maintain a 1 month turn around? Especially with this huge influx of cash from our much more expensive applications? I mean, its not like the process has changed. Some people say that it has nothing to do with politics, Congress or the President. I disagree. The civil service who runs this dept do have budgets and mandates which are set by these elected officials. If the President were to actually come out and say - "these wait times for LEGAL immigrants is unacceptable" and properly allocate budget for more processors, then its more likely that it will happen. Rare is the mention in the press about our plight - compare that with the number of articles on illegal immigration in the press. Hire more processors, CSC, please.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-02 11:13:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	Thanks for all your comments - I think the biggest issue I have with all of this is the whole transparency thing - why not in the 21st century cant we have an open process which lets us know exaclty where our application is how much longer it has to go, what they are doing with it etc. It feels like you just throw things into a big black hole and then you wait and pray that something happens. The people who file all the forms and dot all the i's and cross all the t's and make sure everything is perfect and follow all the rules like us, seems to be the ones who get the short shrift, whereas illegal immigrants seem to be able to do what they please and get rewarded most of the time. BTW, I'm not freaking out cause its only been a month. What I'm thinking is that I could be approved right now, just like those VSCers, but I'm not simply because of my location within the country. Everyones approval should be speedy. And you are totally right - if the government outsourced this process to a private firm I bet things would turn around a lot faster. I know there are no easy solutions. Well, they are, there is just not enough political will to do anything about it. As a "voting" block, we just don't have enough political clout to make a difference. This is why 12million illegals get noticed, but 100,000 legal visa seekers don't... Edited by Chris Future, 01 March 2008 - 09:12 PM.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-01 21:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	Disparity Between VSC and CSC and	....general rant... Is anyone else being driven crazy by this? Why are we out of luck simply because we happen to live on the left side of the Mississippi? Did the chocolate bomb people sent to the VSC in November start this off? I noticed that the VSC kicked up their numbers in November, right after the got sent a bunch of chocolate kisses. Doubt if we do that to CSC that we'll get the same speed increase, eh? I seem to be seeing a pattern of approvals with UK based visas from VSC seeming to go faster - do you think theres been some special deal struck? With our luck, President Obama will bring in the North American Union just as our visa is approved and all Canadians and Mexicans will become citizens overnight, and wont need a K1 at all. Sorry, but I'm frustrated with all of the speedy approvals. It not fair to the rest of us. There should be a standard, across the board, speedy approval rate and total clarity into the process at every step of the way. I read somewhere that it takes about 15 minutes to review an application. If thats the case, why is their "standard" of service 6 months. Some people have postulated that its because they want it it take a long time - they want us to just give up. I don't want to rain on the lucky VSC folks with their speedy approvals, but I'm sure that the rest of us stuck in the slow line are feeling the frustration and are depressed by all this. Its almost making me want to stop looking at VJ, its that depressing. Folks, I've been waiting 26 years to be with my fiance, shes my high school sweetheart - we met back in 1980, dated in 1982, lost touch and then reconnected in 2006. Because of the vagaries of all the processes we've had to go through, it might be 3 years before we are together for good. We are very tactile people, and talk every day via Skype and webcam, but its not enough. Its torture not to be together, and I don't think that the processors understand that they are dealing with people here, us and all the other couples on VJ, who love each other deeply and just want to be together and don't understand why they have to suffer through this extended torture of being apart. I mentioned once to an attorney friend that I was planning on bringing my fiance down - she said - oh now that you are an American citizen it should be really quick. If you ask me, illegal immigrants get more care and support and speedy processing than those of us who want to do everything by the book and honor the laws of the country. Anyways, sorry for the long rant but the frustrations sometimes get the better of you, don't they? Thanks...Chris --- Unucky Left-Coaster - Mailed to CSC 1/30/08 - No touches, no approvals, no rfes, no nuthin' Edited by Chris Future, 01 March 2008 - 03:16 PM.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-01 15:14:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures	impact 2008 H-1Bs will have on K1s?	QUOTE (psiprez @ Mar 15 2008, 12:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I don't know anything about H-1B's. Please elaborate... Probably - H1-Bs are employment visas, which tend to get processed faster - businesses tend to get better service than citizens from the US Government. Not sure where they are processed, but you can be sure that anything thats in the news on a regular basis gets a lot more attention than we do, such as Bill Gates saying we need more H1-B workers, or anything on illegal immigration. Our fiances are at the bottom of the priority list, seems to me.	Chris Future	Male	Canada	2008-03-15 14:10:00