Hi, Everyone:
This website is a useful tool for obtaining information but it seems to me that we're still operating as individuals rather than a group. With some targeted political activism, it seems to me we'd have a better chance of getting results.

I was spurred to try to stir up some action by an April 3 call to the USCIS - apparently the wait has now increased from six months to eight months for action on an I-129 application at the California Service Center. This despite the reported increases in personnel.

I'm also concerned about the apparent violation of statute when it comes to allowing fiances to work. An official with the Ameican Immigration Lawyers Association told me categorically that the K-1 visa allows the fiance to work the minute he or she sets foot on American soil. Yet the USCIS is requiring yet another fee and application, which delays the fiance's ability to work for another 3-4 months, while he or she waits for the agency to issue the permit. There are additional cost factors related to poor planning for this process, but you get the picture.

I'm sure those of you who are applying for other kinds of visas have similar issues.

The point is that, if my last phone call is any indication, things seem to be getting worse rather than better, despite the resignation of Emilio Gonzalez, the Bush appointee who has been responsible for many of the bad decisions that are affecting us.

I'm sure I'm not the first to suggest some kind of concerted political action. Can folks get me up to date on what's been done so far? Here are the ideas that spring to mind for me:

1. Letter writing campaign.
2. Demonstrations in several cities, with media outreach.
3. Website designed specifically to inform public about these issues.

Have these already gotten underway? If not, are people willing to volunteer a few hours to work on this? Does anyone have political organizing experience? Can we coordinate with immigrant rights groups?

Let me know!

Susan Zakin

PS - My husband is from Northern Ireland.

Ever heard of the IRA?

whoever told you that is full of crap. i've got a ts/sci with 4 tickets and nessa isn't a usc.

Google is your friend.

Otherwise, my personal favorite:

www.americanfamiliesunited.org

Rebecca, please stop. Please stop. I actually reread your post because I thought I read hypocrisy, but I couldn't believe how much until I reread it. Please read above in bold OR just go ahead and criticize. You are great at it. I only wish you had logic behind it...

I've read this entire thread in detail, and I don't see any hypocrisy, OR lack of logic, in anything rebeccajo has posted... on the contrary, the post you dissected with comments in bold (which I didn't quote, to avoid too long a post) displayed what seemed to me a lack of understanding of what RJ was saying; she was pointing out contradictions, which were clear to me when reading through it, and I suspect to others
and that's not personal, just an observation...

put simply, and without mention of the whole other issue that is lawsuits and so on that people have already raised: immigration services can't discriminate between countries when it comes to scrutiny/name checks/whatever, because it opens doors for exploitation down the line... same goes for airline security checks; as soon as one group of people don't get pulled aside, then there's an opening and a weakness for a potential terrorist to use later on down the track... these things HAVE to be applied across the board, or they don't work
there are other ways for friendly relationships to be fostered between countries, but a 'courtesy' waiver, or even simplification, of the security checks shouldn't be one of them

I've read this entire thread in detail, and I don't see any hypocrisy, OR lack of logic, in anything rebeccajo has posted... on the contrary, the post you dissected with comments in bold (which I didn't quote, to avoid too long a post) displayed what seemed to me a lack of understanding of what RJ was saying; she was pointing out contradictions, which were clear to me when reading through it, and I suspect to others
and that's not personal, just an observation...

put simply, and without mention of the whole other issue that is lawsuits and so on that people have already raised: immigration services can't discriminate between countries when it comes to scrutiny/name checks/whatever, because it opens doors for exploitation down the line... same goes for airline security checks; as soon as one group of people don't get pulled aside, then there's an opening and a weakness for a potential terrorist to use later on down the track... these things HAVE to be applied across the board, or they don't work
there are other ways for friendly relationships to be fostered between countries, but a 'courtesy' waiver, or even simplification, of the security checks shouldn't be one of them

Well, some people were reading too much into it. But, instead of going back and forth and getting away from the point, I'll repeat what I have been saying again. I agree that immigration services cannot or should not discriminate, but it happens and anyone who thinks otherwise is not listening to reality.

If the Department of State has a list of 5 countries that "sponsor terrorism" there are going to be longer background checks on people from those countries regardless. Right or wrong for how the government came up with that list, it should not adversely affect every other country. Again, I'm not saying that anyone from those countries should have longer background checks; what I am saying is that other countries should not be penalized for the U.S. government scrutinizing a few, based off of a list that the U.S. government created. If the U.S. government put my fiancee's country on the list, then I would be on the phone with a congressional representative about it. But, I would also expect a lengthier background check because it is stated on the federal website as a "state that sponsors terrorism."

So what is your point? Why attack Jack? You knew that when you married your husband, like we all did when we married someone from another country, I feel for you, it is too bad and unfortunate all you have had to go through, but there are others like you also suffering as much if not more. Get over it and move on and stop being so jaded and bitter to all. Also what does this have to do with us forming a PAC or lobbying Congress to pass laws for a good program of change to help all of us VJers with the marriage process to a person not from the USA? I still do not get it after reading your rants and wild ravings, guess I am going to get blasted for this post, oh well, please stick to the topic, political organization formation to help us with laws of immigration while marrying a non US citizen.

And thanks for that collective insult about people from about one-fourth of the planet.