Yes, it does suck! And yes, we do cry ...it's tragic really.

When he got 'das boot' in September of last year we had a quick 'see you soon' at the airport assuming he'd be back home in two days. Wasn't to be. When I learned he was sent home to NZ and almost instantly knew it would be about a year before we were together again (i was waiting out a divorce) I felt as though a truck had hit me and that my heart was ripped from my body. We had been living together for a year and a half at that point and I was just used to his presence in our lives here. It took some time to adjust, even now...I just feel in limbo. My mother, bless her heart, financed a trip down to NZ for her and I in Jan/Feb of this year as a gift to help 'heal' me and to meet Russell's family. We had a wonderful visit but the goodbye at the airport was the absolute worse. I flew premium and the agent let Russell into the holding area for a final 'goodbye' because we were both crying so hard. 3 weeks out of the last 8 months we've been together...and this after sharing our days and nights...our everything...for so long. It's just not enough... it's never enough.

I certainly have my moments but I make a conscious effort every day to try to keep a positive attitude. I know that's much harder to do when everything is so fresh ...where you are now, I suppose. But as time passes we take all we can get and we learn to adjust to the waiting again. This time knowing it wont be too much longer before the day comes that we will never have to part again.

It will get easier. And before you know it you'll be back in each others arms ...better, stronger... and more ready for everything else life will have to throw your way.

Well said Kim.

The last time we parted, we promised each other.. that THIS would be our LAST goodbye.
And, now, already we are toying with the idea of meeting next month. The separation is so
difficult. It doesnt get easier, but yes, when its Fresh its so much worse.
Each time we met and had to leave I cried for weeks. We want to see each other
so badly but know what it does to us.

I wish I had a crystal ball to tell me when this
K1 would go thru. I just want to get on with OUR life together.

God, I know how that feels. We only had a month together in 2007. I couldn't sleep a wink the night before because I was so anxious and upset. We managed to keep our cool even, up until he had to board his flight. Then we both just utterly fell apart. Sobbing like little girls with broken dolls, we were. It was such a mess.

Hopefully Vermont's got its lightning suppositories in heavy supply. I'm ready for him to be back, like, yesterday.

Congrats on the job offer Graham! Good luck with that

Being away from Luis SUCKS. I don't want to get all sob story on you guys, but saying goodbye to him was the hardest thing I've ever done. It's not hard to believe, this is the man who made me stop hating men, lol.

So we talk everyday on the phone, go to sleep at night without each other, it's hard. I know things are going to be hard when we're together too, but at least we'll have each other. Right now things just suck. I swear, if I didn't have my kids I don't know what I'd do. They're what keeps a smile on my face That and knowing that there are a bunch of people out there like me who are going through the same thing. I thank you guys for that.



On another note, I'm trying to fix up my rinky dinky studio apartment so that when he gets here he doesn't feel like he lives in a shoebox. This is NY. I pay 1000 a month for this thing, lol.

Touched 2x!

We filed in mid-April....received, processed all around 4/20...we were just touched on 05/20 and then again on 05/21...I'm hoping they are moving boxes so we are getting to the top of the pile!!

Any other recent touches??

Good morning visa buddies.

No touches here for us at all. We sent on the 15th... arrived 16th... NOA1 dated 4/23... check cashed 4/25. USCIS website shows last touch as 4/24.

I agree, a little fondle would be nice!

Its coming kim i feel it in my bones. lol

Thanks sweetie! I hope so!

I can feel it coming for someone soon. Keeping my fingers crossed for everyone.

Good luck with your interview tomorrow Sal, knock their socks off!!!

Thanks, not even nervous yet but im sure that will change.

I sometimes think that becuase of the speed us January folk got approved it has raised expectation, which I can understand.

I can still remember the shock at getting approved so quick, I realy hope you get your soon!!!

VSC has a long history of fast approvals...that being a few weeks from noa1 to noa2. The slow down last year really skewed the data and messed with people's expectations. Last September I expected we could wait up to 6 months for this part since we didn't know when they'd be caught up with the backlog. Many of last year's April filers were approved in a month. So in January when everyone started getting approved in a months time I thought they were just getting back to their norm. They seemed to be for a while but now it appears it's a little longer again, for whatever reason. All I know is that right now, looking at recent data, it's looking like approx. 60 days for an approval.

They claim to go by received date and not noa1 date but there is no consistency for approvals with either number when looking at the data ....so, to me it looks like they throw all recently delivered files up into the air and hope they land in a box.

The only think we know with any certainty... is that there is no certainty!

I choose to remain cautiously optomistic and believe that it will be a mid-June approval for us.


p.s. GO GET EM SAL!!!

Lol Kim thought Id be really nervous but i think the problems with my medical have had an impact on that.

I was keeping up with your medical and the scare they gave you.

It's funny how life puts things in perspective for us, eh?

You've had your nerve racking moment... tomorrow will be 'pie'!

Thank you, everybody! I makes me feel less like a drama queen when I know other people feels the same... I still feel miserable, but I know it'll get better...

And yesterday we got a touch!! lol

Oooooo we've been touched!!! I feel so dirty....and I love it!

Well, we havent been touched.. No one even blew in my ear.
I am getting so depressed about the whole thing. Lots of crying jags
and feeling like he will never be here.

He was staying with relatives recently, b/c we thought this process would be
done much sooner (my divorce held it up) And now he had to find a temp apartment.
He just moved in yesterday. Today is a holiday there and his family came over
to give him a "house warming" I feel so sad, that its yet another experience another
day that we are apart. As much as I know its not true- because we are waiting for
our k1- there are days it feels like living our live separately is moving us farther apart
and not closer together. Every party he goes to every wedding without me.. it just makes
me cry. I am tired of feeling so sad all the time. Our lives are on hold - I dont enjoy anything
any more- I am just so obsessed with this whole friggen thing!

Jill

awwwww Jill I'll blow in your ear if ya like.

Distance may seperate you but you are still a couple and still very much in sync with each other.... him moving into an apartment sorta puts a damper on things i'm sure but try to remember, it's just temporary! When you miss him... write him, call him, text him.. whatever you do. Even if he's not able to get it right away I think you'll find that it will help you a great deal just to release those thoughts/feelings. When you're out... talk about him. Make him a part of what your'e doing.

We're lucky in the respect that Russell was living here for so long that everyone around me is anxious for him to get back home too. It can be frustrating having to explain the process to everyone when they ask when he'll be home but I find that it makes me feel much closer to him and makes him a part of 'my day'.

In any case, keep posting, keep talking and remember that you're on the down slope now!!! It's been a month since they've had it already.... wont be long now!

Touched again today! Ahhh if only it had real meaning and purpose! I guess it's good knowing it's at least still there!

I can't imagine the weekend will hold too much good news for either center but let's hope there's at least a couple adjuticator's browsing files at their cookouts!

Have a great weekend Aprilers... stay safe!

now that college is over, and summer is in which means summer job until the semester starts back, I am hoping for lots of touches to keep me busy !

Touched again..Gotta love it!!!!heheheh...hope next is NOA2....
God bless!!!

PiP..we must be in the same box! Our petition arrived on the 16th so it would make perfect sense. We are being fondled an awful lot! Did you send any kinky pictures?

Here's hoping that those touches mean your files have been placed on someone's desk for processing!

I really hope Vermont can keep up the speedy approvals; it'd be a real shame for them to slow down again so soon.

LOL...hahaha...i think if i did i would have been touched everyday!!!lol..just kidding.....
Have a nice weekend!!!

Still no changes after 4/22.... I wonder if they're looking at our file, just keeping it on someone's desk, or just forgotten about it! The good thing is that no one else (but for that one case) from April has been approved yet... Let's just hope the wait won't be too long now.

Awwwww congrats on everyones recent VSC violations - lets home that it means they are doing some work.

I hope everyone is well and looking forward to the weekend!

xxx

I'm waiting to be violated again. Or an approval would do, haha.

Patiently waiting......

How are all of my friends doing today? It's sunny and not raining anymore here in NY!

AND my lovely boyfriend just surprised me, he's taking english classes again YAY! I'm so psyched.

Gorgeous weather here in MA today too and it's suppose to last all weekend and be mid 80's by Monday. I think we open the pool this weekend! I've got very good friends coming from Maine to spend the night and a wedding of another close friend tomorrow night so my weekend should pass very quickly.... good thing as i'm wishing the days away!

Suzy, it's great that luis is learning english! He's gonna need it pretty soon!

i haven't been violated in almost a month (4/29) Come on VSC!!!!!..hehehe

Awww don't worry mine went over two months without a touch. It didn't even show one before I was approved. Some get it and some don't


Suzy thats awesome that he is taking lessons, it will hopefully help to ease him through adjustment much better. I wish Alan would do something practical for me...or impractical to be honest. Either. Just something lol.

Kim do you remember when us Jan filers were having touches at the same time, if you remember we all got approved really close too. Good luck to you all.

I do remember Sally! I will be psyched when pip and those around us get their approvals and I can't check (even more than I do now ) for ours!

TWO YEAR RULE?
HELP!

When I was just getting ready to recover from saying goodbye after visiting Joey this happens to me... Is not fair...

I was on a exchange program on a J-1 visa last year. The J-1 visa has a two year rule, that applies for some, not for everybody, though, and I thought it didn´t apply for me, but it´s written on my visa, so I wasn´t sure. The rule says that I have to spend 2 years in my home country before being able to get any kind of work or immigrant visa, including K1, K3, and everything... I emailed the embassy where I got the visa and they said the rule should not apply to me, the just made a mistake on my passport visa. So we applied for the K1. But since I thought they didn´t seem to know exactly what they doing on the embassy, I asked the US Department of State for an Advisory Opinion, on wether the rule applies to me or not.

I just ckeck the status of it and it says I am subject to the rule. I´m falling apart. I absolutely cannot wait til August 2009 to be with Joey.

Does anybody know what I´m talking about, the two year rule, section 212(e)?
Is my K1 going to be denied?

WHAT DO I DO?

Am so sorry to hear about this new hardships!!! I did four J1 programs myself, and only one of them had a 2-year requirement on the visa. Was your program sponsored by the US government? Or did you do independent career/work&travel training? I believe that even if you have a two-year rule applicable, you can file for the removal of this condition. Obtaining J1 waiver is done based on one of the following conditions:

1. No Objection Statement
J1 visa holders may obtain a waiver of the two-year foreign residence requirement by obtaining a letter from their home government stating that there is no objection to the J1 visa holder remaining in the US without returning home for two years.

This option is available to all J1 visa holders subject to §212(e) except for medical doctors who came to the US for graduate medical training

The government processing time is roughly six to eight weeks.

2. Interested Government Agency (IGA)
J1 visa holders who wish to obtain a waiver through this method do not need to actually work for the government agency who will sponsor the waiver. To qualify for an IGA waiver, the J1 visa holder must have an important role in a research project where the J1 visa holder’s §212(e) requirement to return home for two years would negatively impact that project. Government Agencies who have an interest in seeing that you complete your research, may sponsor your waiver petition.

IGA waivers may also be obtained by medical doctors who will agree to work in VA Hospitals or other medical facilities located in designated underserved areas in urban or rural settings.

The government processing time is roughly four to eight weeks.

3. Persecution
J1 visa holders who believe that he or she will be persecuted upon return to their home country due to race, religion, or political opinion may obtain a waiver of the two-year foreign residence requirement.

The government processing time is roughly three to four months.

4. Hardship to J1 visa holder’s US Citizen spouse or child
J1 visa holders who can demonstrate that his or her departure from the United States would cause extreme hardship to his or her United States citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse or child, may obtain a waiver of the two-year foreign residence requirement.

The government processing time is roughly three to four months.

5. Request by a designated State Department of Health
Medical doctors who have an offer of full-time employment at a health care facility in a designated health care professional shortage area, and who agree to begin employment at the facility within 90 days of receiving such waiver, and who sign a contract to continue to work at the health care facility for a total of 40 hours per week and not less than three years, may apply for this type of waiver. Only medical doctors may apply for this type of waiver.

The government processing time is roughly four to six weeks.


Hope this helps a little.

Also check this link http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1288.html for more detailed info

Thank you!

I just think this is such a mess, I didn´t receive any money from any government, I didn´t get medical training and Hospitality Management, that is what I studied, isn´t in Brazil´s Skills List, so I don´t understand how I´m subject. I did work for Disney as part of the program, do they think that´s receiving funds? I think Travel and Tourism is in Brazil´s Skills List, maybe they think that´s the same as Hospitality Management??
Should I apply for a waiver now, even though I don´t think I should be subject to the rule? Should I just wait to see what happens with the K1? I´m starting to think that is SUCH a mess and it depends soo much on the person who´s looking at it, that I might get the visa, get married and be happy forever if a person who´s having a good day look at my petition! Oh God...

Did you do the Internship Program then? Cause this is the program I just finished (this past December). As far as I know neither Work&Travel nor Internship programs are subject to two-year rule. You can also check your DS form, if you have a copy. It usually states so (they put a check next to applies/not applies or smth like that).

It wasn´t exactly Work and Travel, it was a Disney-University of Central Florida program. I went to UCF and had a paid internship at Disney for 6 months.
On my visa, it says on the bottom: bearer is subject to the two year rule section 212(e).
However, on my DS-2019, the box "not subject to section 212(e)" is marked.
The embassy said they marked my visa by mistake, US Department of State says I´m subject to the rule.
Go figure, right!
I feel like they´re playing games with my head or something.

This is insane!!!! Well, the only condition uder which you can be subject to two-year rule, is if some international organization paid for your internship, since neither your, nor US governments were involved. The only thing I might suggest is contacting the embassy again, with copies of all your documents and advisory opinion from the U.S. government. Make sure to let them know if you paid for the program yourself, since this is a crucial info. Let them reassure you that it was indeed a mistake. I sincerely hope that it is a simple missunderstanding and you will have no problems getting ur K1.

Well fellow April filers, I'm currently sitting at gate 74 in Newark Airport waiting on the flight back to Glasgow. Today has been the worst day of my life. I hope VSC starts getting approvals out soon as doing this to people's lives is utterly disgusting. I understand the wait isn't that long in reality but it certainly feels it right now.

Take care everyone and I won't be on too much but I'll ask Meg to keep this topic updated regularly on any progress we have. So be easy with her, she is pregnant after all!!

Fernanda, i'm so sorry you're having to deal with the added stress of the HRR. You're getting great advice from Ana&D. I do hope you find you are not subject to it and do not need a waiver.

Graham... big hugs to you and megan. I think most, if not all, of us can relate to how you're feeling right now having to part and play the waiting game again. Do ask megan to keep us posted ( I promise i'll be gentle with her! ) ...and good luck with your new postition.

Let's hope the time passes quickly for all of us!

Thanks for the good luck wish. Not sure what Internet coverage we have up there so Megan will be sorting everything from here on in. Good luck everyone.

I remember sitting at BWI waiting on my flight back to Glasgow, was utterly horrible, hopefully you wont have to say goodbye again, cmon Vermont get your skates on

Thank you Nicoxcx. This is truly horrible just playing with people's lives and emotions

Yep, I just hope they understand they hold many peoples lives in their hands!

I keep thinking forward to the day I arrive in the States for good, it is rather exciting, 52 days since we re-sent our forms, I'm not sure if it feels like that long or not yet!

Yeah, Nic, sometimes it feels like the time is flying by and sometimes it's like it has taken forever to pass. I was going over all the stats again last night and it still seems that 60 is about the average. They were talking in another thread about when you track your petition from NVC to USEM and how even tho their were only a few approvals here at VJ there were still 80+ going to the USEM so we must remember that even though it looks slow from our side...they could very well still be cruising! Fingers crossed!

Graham, I wish I had more words of encouragmentment for you and Megan. I know it's heartwrenching....but I hope it will get a little easier to adjust as time passes ....but by then you'll probably be approved and ready to come home! At least you know she is in very good hands and surrounded by people who love her. Meagan, please feel free to jump in and join us anytime! We'll miss graham around here too.

The day Russell comes back home and never has to leave my side again is a day we will celebrate for the rest of our lives....probably even more so than the day we are married. I'm sure you folks can relate.

Good Tuesday morning April filers and welcome to the new week in which I hope will bring us our first true April approval!

Looking forward for this blessed week...God bless evryone!!!!!

It is very strange, I dont think I joined VJ until after I filed (cant remember for sure!) now that I did it seems to make it easier to handle, it is like going on some sort of trip you have lots of other people with you for the journey! (if that makes sense hehe)

I welcome the new week, and soon the new month!

Good afternoon!
I’m hopping that this week will bring good news to all of you!
GOOD LUCK!!!!!