I was wondering have you guys ever considered including other visas in addition to family based visas.
There are a lot of other visas out there and I believe VJ would benefit greatly if they included sections for other visas like work visa, student visas etc..
Full Version: Any consideration of including other Visas
I suppose a catch all "other visa" forum with possibly sub forums might be appropriate, however I would not want to do anything to tread on the community and theme of the site. Thoughts?
Captain,
VJ certainly does have the 'presence' to credibly host discussions of other visa types. The question is really for you and your team to answer - will you be able to handle the extra load? In terms of server capacity and moderator bandwidth....
VJ certainly does have the 'presence' to credibly host discussions of other visa types. The question is really for you and your team to answer - will you be able to handle the extra load? In terms of server capacity and moderator bandwidth....
I stumbled onto this site looking for pros and cons between student and fiancee visa when I was first looking. If possible, I think it would be a good idea to have other topic areas. With VJ in the news, I think it has gotten other peoples' attention at least as a site for immigration issues and stories. Maybe it's time to include other non-immigration journeys in such a way as to not take the importance off of the reason this site was created in the first place.
QUOTE(Captain Ewok @ May 6 2008, 11:29 AM) 
Thoughts?
Just say NO!
I think we all go crazy enough with people in other centers getting trough the process faster than one another. If you had worked based visas getting processed at lightening speed it would further dose our already broken spirts. Visas isn't so much the common thread here as is FAMILY
QUOTE(VJ Troll @ May 6 2008, 10:15 AM)
Captain,
VJ certainly does have the 'presence' to credibly host discussions of other visa types. The question is really for you and your team to answer - will you be able to handle the extra load? In terms of server capacity and moderator bandwidth....
VJ certainly does have the 'presence' to credibly host discussions of other visa types. The question is really for you and your team to answer - will you be able to handle the extra load? In terms of server capacity and moderator bandwidth....
She shorts and sweet is yes on the servers, and yes with additional mods as needed
.
QUOTE(Sylvia_n_Joseph @ May 6 2008, 12:39 PM)
I think we all go crazy enough with people in other centers getting trough the process faster than one another. If you had worked based visas getting processed at lightening speed it would further dose our already broken spirts. Visas isn't so much the common thread here as is FAMILY
I see your point. The other poster also makes a good point that some people find themselves in a position to have to juggle several visa related issues outside of family based. A great example would be people adjusting status from a student visa or work visa. Having additional information on those visa areas can compliment the current focus of the site allowing a good bridge of information. Clearly anything (as your state) that we add to the site would have to compliment and not detract from VJ.
May I join in? The main difference, as I see it, is that the family-based visas are petitioner-originated, whereas student and work visas are originated and facilitated by the school/employer (speaking as someone who starts the initial process for J-1 and H1b visas at a university department).
So, the school/employer is typically going to have either a department or office, or a relationship with a lawfirm, that has some, and probably significant, experience preparing student/work visas; beneficiaries would likely (and probably should) direct questions to the school/employer.
D.
So, the school/employer is typically going to have either a department or office, or a relationship with a lawfirm, that has some, and probably significant, experience preparing student/work visas; beneficiaries would likely (and probably should) direct questions to the school/employer.
D.
QUOTE(DI&JR @ May 8 2008, 01:00 PM)
May I join in? The main difference, as I see it, is that the family-based visas are petitioner-originated, whereas student and work visas are originated and facilitated by the school/employer (speaking as someone who starts the initial process for J-1 and H1b visas at a university department).
So, the school/employer is typically going to have either a department or office, or a relationship with a lawfirm, that has some, and probably significant, experience preparing student/work visas; beneficiaries would likely (and probably should) direct questions to the school/employer.
D.
So, the school/employer is typically going to have either a department or office, or a relationship with a lawfirm, that has some, and probably significant, experience preparing student/work visas; beneficiaries would likely (and probably should) direct questions to the school/employer.
D.
Well a petitioner for a family-based visa could direct questions to USCIS, but they won't likely hear anything, which is why we have this forum. People with student/tourist/work visas might not know that there are better (and more legal) options if they have the intent to marry or find themselves in the situation with a visa and meeting the love of their life in the U.S. So long as this is kept as a forum for marriage-based visa issues and not on how to get a work visa solely to to work in the U.S. or the steps of getting a tourist visa for the sole purpose of travel, then I think it would work within the scope of this forum.
I don't know if we have the knowledge base for it.
If you build it, they will come.
I have talked to some knoweldgable members when I first found this site who had lots of information on tourist and student visas. Remember, no one has to be an expert on how to get one, just on what to do to go from a one to a family-based one. From reading numerous posts, it seems like many members have come on a tourist visa for instance and have made the transition.
So the current layout is:
Are there any suggestions on updating or converting this to accommodate the new topics?
CODE
# Marriage Based Immigration (K1, K2, K3, etc) to the USA
* K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures General Discussion
o K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports
* K-3 Spouse Visa General Discussion
* IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa General Discussion
* Direct Consular Filing (DCF) General Discussion
* The Foreign Embassy and Consulate General Discussion
* IMBRA Special Topics
# General Family Based Immigration Topics
* Adjustment of Status (Green Card) General Discussion
* Working & Traveling prior to getting a Green Card
* Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion
* US Citizenship General Discussion
* Bringing family members of US Citizens to America
* Bringing family members of Permanent Residents to America
* Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)
* Effects of Major Family Changes on Immigration Benefits
# US CIS and Dept of State Offices
* USCIS Service Centers
* National Visa Center (Dept of State)
# General Discussion Area
* Off Topic
* Regional Discussion
o Africa: Sub-Saharan
o Asia: East and Pacific (Except China)
o Asia: South
o Canada
o China
o Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)
o Latin America, Mexico & the Caribbean
o Middle East and North Africa
o Philippines
o Russia
o United Kingdom
* Moving Here and Your New Life In America
* Introducing our Members
* General Polls
* Immigration News and Discussion
* Site Related Discussion - Updates, Ideas, etc.
* K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures General Discussion
o K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports
* K-3 Spouse Visa General Discussion
* IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa General Discussion
* Direct Consular Filing (DCF) General Discussion
* The Foreign Embassy and Consulate General Discussion
* IMBRA Special Topics
# General Family Based Immigration Topics
* Adjustment of Status (Green Card) General Discussion
* Working & Traveling prior to getting a Green Card
* Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion
* US Citizenship General Discussion
* Bringing family members of US Citizens to America
* Bringing family members of Permanent Residents to America
* Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)
* Effects of Major Family Changes on Immigration Benefits
# US CIS and Dept of State Offices
* USCIS Service Centers
* National Visa Center (Dept of State)
# General Discussion Area
* Off Topic
* Regional Discussion
o Africa: Sub-Saharan
o Asia: East and Pacific (Except China)
o Asia: South
o Canada
o China
o Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)
o Latin America, Mexico & the Caribbean
o Middle East and North Africa
o Philippines
o Russia
o United Kingdom
* Moving Here and Your New Life In America
* Introducing our Members
* General Polls
* Immigration News and Discussion
* Site Related Discussion - Updates, Ideas, etc.
Are there any suggestions on updating or converting this to accommodate the new topics?
Maybe adding a forum under General Family Based Immigration Topics or a subforum under the AOS section for non-family based visa holders. Again, the intent would be to have a forum for those looking to move from non-family based visa to family based visa. Or possibly a forum under General Discussion Area with a guide including summaries of work/tourist/student visas and guidance for the "other" visa holders to do a search in the AOS section since that would likely be their best bet for getting started. Once they know the site, they can spend other time going through the other forums such as Off topic or their country of origin.
One other option may be to broaden the scope of the section "General Family Based Immigration Topics" to "General Immigration Topics: Family, Work, Students, Tourists". That may be way to broad though. There is probably a middle ground that is just right.
QUOTE(Captain Ewok @ May 8 2008, 03:40 PM)
One other option may be to broaden the scope of the section "General Family Based Immigration Topics" to "General Immigration Topics: Family, Work, Students, Tourists". That may be way to broad though. There is probably a middle ground that is just right.
I think keeping the section title as-is is best since that is the foundation of the site IMO. Including a forum with information on "other" visas would work regardless of whether its under family-based immigration topics or general immigration topics because it would be an entry point for these "other" visa holders to use to find the real forum that addresses their concerns (most likely AOS).
Maybe a subforum called "Work, Student, and Tourist Visas" under either of the aforementioned forums would work or a subforum called "Non-Family Based Visas" with a description that states it is intended as a resource for those with student, work, tourist, etc visas.
That is probably a good idea. Right now we do not have a catch all area for issues. There is certainly a need .
.
I still say put the Regional Forums under consulates and in the place of Regionals create an "Around the World" forum for discussion of the cultural differences that Regionals were originally intended for.
Visa Journey, Your Family Immigration Community!
Anything else is a dilution of the aformentioned. If it comes to that, the site will deteriorate irrespective of the mod presence. We will then entertain fraud and circumvention of US Immigration law issues.
Just my opinion.
Anything else is a dilution of the aformentioned. If it comes to that, the site will deteriorate irrespective of the mod presence. We will then entertain fraud and circumvention of US Immigration law issues.
Just my opinion.
I think that we are hopefully talking about other visas and how they relate to family immigration. Examples are people on student visas adjusting status; People here on work visa's getting married; etc... I think the key is to allow for a forum where people can discuss issues like this that relate to family issues.
A great example showing this would be this guide http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=otheraos. This is the one of the very few areas of the site that discusses adjusting status in any way other than the traditional IR1/CR1/K3/K1.
@Will, I am not thinking we should make the site a "how to" for every visa type but instead widen the scope of the site to include people that have a family immigration situation from other backgrounds such as converting from other visas. Ways to do this are to promote information in the guides and wiki as well as open an area of the forums to foster conversation on this. Thoughts?
A great example showing this would be this guide http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=otheraos. This is the one of the very few areas of the site that discusses adjusting status in any way other than the traditional IR1/CR1/K3/K1.
@Will, I am not thinking we should make the site a "how to" for every visa type but instead widen the scope of the site to include people that have a family immigration situation from other backgrounds such as converting from other visas. Ways to do this are to promote information in the guides and wiki as well as open an area of the forums to foster conversation on this. Thoughts?
QUOTE(Captain Ewok @ May 8 2008, 11:36 PM)
I think that we are hopefully talking about other visas and how they relate to family immigration. Examples are people on student visas adjusting status; People here on work visa's getting married; etc... I think the key is to allow for a forum where people can discuss issues like this that relate to family issues.
A great example showing this would be this guide http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=otheraos. This is the one of the very few areas of the site that discusses adjusting status in any way other than the traditional IR1/CR1/K3/K1.
@Will, I am not thinking we should make the site a "how to" for every visa type but instead widen the scope of the site to include people that have a family immigration situation from other backgrounds such as converting from other visas. Ways to do this are to promote information in the guides and wiki as well as open an area of the forums to foster conversation on this. Thoughts?
A great example showing this would be this guide http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;page=otheraos. This is the one of the very few areas of the site that discusses adjusting status in any way other than the traditional IR1/CR1/K3/K1.
@Will, I am not thinking we should make the site a "how to" for every visa type but instead widen the scope of the site to include people that have a family immigration situation from other backgrounds such as converting from other visas. Ways to do this are to promote information in the guides and wiki as well as open an area of the forums to foster conversation on this. Thoughts?
That makes perfect sense. So long as we do not make this a "US Visa Journey" site, capturing all possible immigration or visit visa's.
Good call Captain!!!
QUOTE(rebeccajo @ May 9 2008, 12:13 AM)
I still say put the Regional Forums under consulates and in the place of Regionals create an "Around the World" forum for discussion of the cultural differences that Regionals were originally intended for.
I really love this idea.
Or, instead of moving the regional discussion, add a Global Discussion subforum under the General Discussion Area
I like the idea of renaming the "General Family Based Immigration Topics" to "General Immigration Topics" and add a subforum "adjusting status from student - or workvisa".
I don't think that would take away from the focus on families but add info for those who took another route to adjust status. And at the end, we all have the same goal: Be with your loved one.
I don't think that would take away from the focus on families but add info for those who took another route to adjust status. And at the end, we all have the same goal: Be with your loved one.
QUOTE(Captain Ewok @ May 6 2008, 12:29 PM)
I suppose a catch all "other visa" forum with possibly sub forums might be appropriate, however I would not want to do anything to tread on the community and theme of the site. Thoughts?
Yeah. Like a sub-section for other Visa's. The site definitely has the name to back it up. It certainly does not have to lose its family oriented theme to do so. Quite the opposite actually considering that lots of families migrate here on other types of visas. Probably even more so than marriage based visas..
The knowledge from one visa to another could actually be quite helpful for people considering that a lot of the visas are interrelated and even use the same forms.
I really wish we could get this forum started. There have been a flood of people in the last few days asking questions about adjusting from, or wanting to marry, while they are holding other visa types, and they seem to be getting lost in the fray. 
I am recovering from a bout of food poisoning right now so I apologise for being MIA the last 36 hours . I will certainly add the new area asap though .
. I will certainly add the new area asap though .
Ohmygoodness, you poor thing. Hope you are feeling better soon. 
Hope you are feeling better soon.
As a subforum of AOS I added: Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas.
Do you guys think that this is the right place and name?
Do you guys think that this is the right place and name?
Oh great, Cap'n. Thank you. I don't think I have a good idea, at the moment, of whether it should be amended or not, but I will let you know if something comes up. Thanks again!
I don't think I have a good idea, at the moment, of whether it should be amended or not, but I will let you know if something comes up. Thanks again!
QUOTE(Captain Ewok @ May 6 2008, 12:29 PM)
I suppose a catch all "other visa" forum with possibly sub forums might be appropriate, however I would not want to do anything to tread on the community and theme of the site. Thoughts?
I know you're trying out that new forum now.. but.. something that does come up for many of us is tourist visas for family visitation. I know I, myself, am about to have to deal indirectly with this as my Dh wants some of his family come to visit (and he's on greencard). Right now I know these things come up on the regional forums every once in a while and maybe that's where they should stay... but it would be kind of nice to have a place where people could share experiences with how tourist visas for visiting family go.
QUOTE(julianna @ Jun 6 2008, 12:23 AM)
QUOTE(Captain Ewok @ May 6 2008, 12:29 PM)
I suppose a catch all "other visa" forum with possibly sub forums might be appropriate, however I would not want to do anything to tread on the community and theme of the site. Thoughts?
I know you're trying out that new forum now.. but.. something that does come up for many of us is tourist visas for family visitation. I know I, myself, am about to have to deal indirectly with this as my Dh wants some of his family come to visit (and he's on greencard). Right now I know these things come up on the regional forums every once in a while and maybe that's where they should stay... but it would be kind of nice to have a place where people could share experiences with how tourist visas for visiting family go.
Those kinds of posts shouldn't really be in the Regional forums - they should be in the forums dedicated for that purpose (even just for visits):
Bringing Family Members of Permanent Residents to the US
Bringing Family Members of Citizens to the US
QUOTE(LaL @ Jun 6 2008, 10:40 AM)
QUOTE(julianna @ Jun 6 2008, 12:23 AM)
QUOTE(Captain Ewok @ May 6 2008, 12:29 PM)
I suppose a catch all "other visa" forum with possibly sub forums might be appropriate, however I would not want to do anything to tread on the community and theme of the site. Thoughts?
I know you're trying out that new forum now.. but.. something that does come up for many of us is tourist visas for family visitation. I know I, myself, am about to have to deal indirectly with this as my Dh wants some of his family come to visit (and he's on greencard). Right now I know these things come up on the regional forums every once in a while and maybe that's where they should stay... but it would be kind of nice to have a place where people could share experiences with how tourist visas for visiting family go.
Those kinds of posts shouldn't really be in the Regional forums - they should be in the forums dedicated for that purpose (even just for visits):
Bringing Family Members of Permanent Residents to the US
Bringing Family Members of Citizens to the US
"Bringing" has a more permanent connotation IMO. Tourist visas are something that come up fairly regularly in the Russia forum, and I think that the Russia forum is the best place for discussing tourist visas for Russians, as it tends to be quite difficult and varies from consulate to consulate in Russia. I would never even bother posting about in the bringing someone to america forums, as I know that my fellow Russian forum members would be able to give me much better, Russia-specific advice. For countries where one needs a visa to set foot in America at all, I think the regional forums suit this purpose much better.
QUOTE(eekee @ Jun 9 2008, 07:04 PM)
"Bringing" has a more permanent connotation IMO. Tourist visas are something that come up fairly regularly in the Russia forum, and I think that the Russia forum is the best place for discussing tourist visas for Russians, as it tends to be quite difficult and varies from consulate to consulate in Russia. I would never even bother posting about in the bringing someone to america forums, as I know that my fellow Russian forum members would be able to give me much better, Russia-specific advice. For countries where one needs a visa to set foot in America at all, I think the regional forums suit this purpose much better.
I agree. I posted in the MENA forum and got some answers, although now that my post has moved I have gotten squat and have no more information to any opther questions. That other forum just doesn't really provide what I needed nor currently need and since too much time has passed, I get to go in without my questions answered-- like they started to be on MENA. Oh well!
(too late to edit and add:)
"Topics of discussion may include travel, moving, what to eat and any other experience you may wish to share or inquire about, " is what the regional forums say as their description, so I don't really see why my topic on tourist visas as moved (and thus killed) as MENA people are, in this case, the best ones to answer this MENA question-- since I think most people seeking tourist visas for family members of immigrants tend to hang out in their regional or visa discussion, not in the bringing family members area.
"Topics of discussion may include travel, moving, what to eat and any other experience you may wish to share or inquire about, " is what the regional forums say as their description, so I don't really see why my topic on tourist visas as moved (and thus killed) as MENA people are, in this case, the best ones to answer this MENA question-- since I think most people seeking tourist visas for family members of immigrants tend to hang out in their regional or visa discussion, not in the bringing family members area.
QUOTE(Captain Ewok @ Jun 4 2008, 05:23 PM)
As a subforum of AOS I added: Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas.
Do you guys think that this is the right place and name?
Do you guys think that this is the right place and name?
Just noticed.
Good stuff Ewok.
QUOTE(LaL @ Jun 6 2008, 10:40 AM)
QUOTE(julianna @ Jun 6 2008, 12:23 AM)
QUOTE(Captain Ewok @ May 6 2008, 12:29 PM)
I suppose a catch all "other visa" forum with possibly sub forums might be appropriate, however I would not want to do anything to tread on the community and theme of the site. Thoughts?
I know you're trying out that new forum now.. but.. something that does come up for many of us is tourist visas for family visitation. I know I, myself, am about to have to deal indirectly with this as my Dh wants some of his family come to visit (and he's on greencard). Right now I know these things come up on the regional forums every once in a while and maybe that's where they should stay... but it would be kind of nice to have a place where people could share experiences with how tourist visas for visiting family go.
Those kinds of posts shouldn't really be in the Regional forums - they should be in the forums dedicated for that purpose (even just for visits):
Bringing Family Members of Permanent Residents to the US
Bringing Family Members of Citizens to the US
Those topics though tend to indicate they are for family members immigrating here.
I think Julianna is on to something there. Like discussing the various tourist visa's / VWP etc when family members from abroad are visiting.
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