Right. Some consulates are much faster than others. I've seen VSCers get their NOA2 months before me only to have them stall at the consulate level and I then zoomed passed them.

Let's not forget being here last summer when all the Imbra filers (March April ans May filers who waited and waited while those of us with the new form moved right along.

I think its Tracy's OP intention is good. They had a longer than normal wait for the NOA2 and when any one passes that 90 day mark and there is stillno movement on the case, it gets extreemly disheartening to stay on VJ. It's so easy to loose focus and the days drag by. In the final days waiting for my NOA2 I just had to walk away from VJ for my own sanity.

well it makes logical sense to me (remember when regional threads were up in K1?). I also remember a time when the USCIS Svc Ctr forum was split due to the difference in timelines, once lumped together it seems people migrated elsewhere.

at any rate, while i do think this could make sense for this forum, it probably wouldn't for others, so those prone to envy aren't going to get relief in the future!

And therein lies the rub.

We all have days we need to step away from this community. I believe it's healthy to realize when that is necessary.

*sigh*

I read one time that one of the causes of stress in American life is information overload. 24 hour news channels, radios, cell phones. I actually believe it to be true. Maybe some of the information on VJ is not healthy? Maybe some of the stats - information - is counter productive? I think so.

I DO think this hyper awareness of timelines and dates and who got what when IS counterproductive. I think it is not being used in the way it was originally intended, which is to give VJ members a BALLPARK timeline more true to life than the service center's bulls*** '6 month' estimate.

But as I have learned - to live by that sword is to die by that sword.

It's hard not to live by it when it's your own case.

Well it's 12 noon eastern time on Tuesday March 27.

Just thought I would point out that in the K1 forum, of the 13 threads showing on the first page, FIVE are 'monthly filer' related and one is wondering whether Government offices are open on weekends.

And we wonder why people get depressed?

^^

I disagree. There must be some reason cases get transferred-be it a backlog at the local office or what.




Not true again. Sorry RJ, I don't see it. I don't think people assume they will get transferred. Perhaps they hope but that is completely different!



I disagree again. Hoping yes, but I see more people who are just happy to get transferred or receive a touch, etc. It IS a different animal once your honey is here & I like to think the AOS board is calmer & more educated about the process.


What has happened to the moderation? Seems to have gone away for sure.

Andy,

Agreed - if another forum is called for it should be an all-purpose 'I Got It - Congratulations' forum.

Alternatively, implement a filter that will automatically direct all posts containing those key words to the trash.

Yodrak

There are very good reasons - at least, pertinent and telling, not necessarily positive, reasons - that cases get transfered, and indeed for all other aspects of the way cases are processed and by what mechanisms things are done. In the absence of detailed knowledge people tend to make assumptions, and those assumptions, if sufficiently plausible, when repeated often enough take on the appearance of fact when in reality they may be well and truly off the mark, but in the absence of knowledgeable correction, they gain currency in their own right however wrong they are.

It also has to be said that even were a knowledgeable person to post information to correct such an established misconception, in the current climate it would likely lead to a heated discussion with plenty of posters presuming an error in the contradiction of known 'fact'!

As with many of the issues relating to how VJ functions and where it doesn't do so well, human nature is the biggest hurdle - and that's not readily fixable!



That's my preferred option I think!

By the way, good to 'see' you again!

Well that's great - but who makes the final decision?

Dev, you're speed reading me (I do get wordy at times so I don't blame you).

The reason for the transfers is the backlog. The other things I cited are falsehoods being perpetrated in that forum.

Yes, people are getting 'spooked' if they don't get transferred. I've read several threads of individuals who are actually more nervous because they got an interview instead of a transfer. As you said, you aren't around as much as you used to be. The fear is there - for some at least.

And there are plenty of threads by CSC transferree's asking 'why is my case taking so long' when it has literally only been a few weeks since the transfer. That's entitlement behavior.

With all due respect, Dev, you spent a very brief time in the AOS forum. Is it calmer than K1? Maybe. My only reason for drawing the parallel (in the first place) was paralleling certain 'different camp' behaviors like we see in K1.

*shrugs*

A lot of the way I feel is strictly based on my personal experience as a VSC filer. I tried SO HARD not to be an annoyance to my peers who were not as 'geographically lucky' as me. I tried to always be an encourager (without being a patsy cheerleader). Maybe it makes no sense, but I never felt I was 'entitled' to a 2 week approval - I wasn't 'expecting' it just because of timelines. I don't know why anyone would - its a complete mystery to me.

But then I'm kind of that way about life. I look to what SHOULD and COULD happen, but expect something less. If I get a better result, then I'm happy.

Rebeccajo and devilette, don't you think it's simply the fact that rebeccajo is a VSCer AOS non-CSC transferee while devilette is a non-VSCer CSC transferee that you're seeing this from different perspectives?

how do YOU see it jenn (VSC'er and CSC transferee)

from me - non VSC'er and non CSC transferee

I'm not sure what you mean, jenn. *scratches my old head*

I had good luck at one end and crappy luck at the other.

I don't get it.

Me neither.

As far as me & Rj, we always have a bit of a spirited debate - all in good fun I think. I have a lot of respect & gratitude for RJ.

(But I do know VSCers & CSCers will never agree on the K1 approvals topic). As far as AOS - I was processed very quickly & lucky. Some transferees are still in name check as well. Nothing seems to make sense really. I know I am very glad my hubby has a strange middle name & uncommon last name though.

I've confused myself now!

I guess my point was that the longer you're waiting at a certain phase of the process, the more time you spend in that particular forum and the more aggravated you would probably tend to get at the people who are flying by you at that stage.

Sorry, maybe I've been misinterpreting your posts. I wasn't making any particularly astute observation. More like stating the obvious. And yes, like you just said devilette, VSCers and CSCers will probably never agree about this.

Gosh, I don't get mad at the people. I get mad about the things being said that are CRAP - especially if it causes other folks to worry or have undue stress! From my point of view, I don't care WHICH forum that happens in- it annoys me.

But then I've been around this whole place so friggin' long that I've got an opinion on everything..........

What is there to agree or disagree about?

VSC'ers need to stop acting like they are 'entitled' and they need to be considerate of those at other Service Centers.

CSC'ers need to try and relax. Comparing their mutual timelines (IMO) makes their wait worse.

I don't know what there is to agree or disagree about, but people seem to do it a lot over whether or not VSCers should announce their approvals, or remove their signatures, or whatever the heck else is getting people up in arms. Fact is VSCers will not just stop acting the way that they do, and CSCers will never stop being annoyed by it.

Then I guess if that's true, we'll just lose a bunch of people while they're waiting because the timeline/month by month/minute by minute mentality of the K1 forum leads them to the brink. Like I said before, I find that unfortunate, but I think its becoming clear that nothing will be done to change that.

At least I tried.

*shrug*

I guess, having been a VSC'er, it does make me a little sad that some CSC'ers feel we shouldn't be allowed to celebrate too.

But I do believe (and always tried to behave) that it should be done with some consideration and some class.

Seriously - which CSCers feel that VSCers shouldn't be allowed to celebrate? Have I missed a rude post somewhere?

Maybe I didn't understand this sentiment properly?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...st&p=800153

"All the VSC filers that throw it in your face..."

Maybe I said it wrong.

I think I missed that one too.

- John

Maybe. I didn't read it that way at all. In fact, Diana and I exchanged PMs at length yesterday and I never felt that they think VSCers have no right to celebrate. And John made a very succint post later in the thread and I never caught whiff of that there, either.

I'm not trying to rile anyone up even further. That's just the way that things are coming off to me.

ETA: Also, was it in this thread that someone proposed labeling threads as congratulatory threads so that CSCers wouldn't have to read about VSC approvals?

I guess its all up to a bit of interpretation. Heck, I started this thread and I certainly don't believe that VSC people don't have the 'right' to celebrate. Everyone here has every right to celebrate whatever milestone they so desire, and actually, no one has the 'right' to say otherwise (IMHO).

Edit: I don't remember that (about labelling threads) but I do remember something about a congratulations forum. Would have to take time and reread.

I'll try to explain what Diana meant by that, but I think I already know what the waters are feeling like, regarding this subject.

Imagine that you are geographically challenged and filed at a certain center in November or December. It is now March. This means you've waited, December, January, February and March.... 4 months and nothing. In the meantime, you have people who are geographically blessed that file in December and celebrate an approval in December. January filers who celebrate in January, and so on and so forth.... now it is March and you're watching those March filers celebrate. At a certain point, a level of frustration and "who decided that they deserve to be with their loved one before me" kicks in and each celebration feels like a kick while you're already down. You're watching people fly by you while you know absolutely nothing about your case that you filed 4 months ago.

You don't begin to fault the VSC'ers, you become upset with the system. And, sometimes... you would like those VSC'ers who are running to the front of the line to stop and say "I'm sorry that you are not able to enjoy this joy that we are" instead of the "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful" type response that you get when you bring to their attention how you feel. The WORST though are the VSC 'it's been 2 days since I mailed my I-129F, should I be worried that I don't have my NOA2 yet" posts.

There's more to be said, but I have a meeting. Till later

- John

This is really starting to upset me.

Why does it have to be VSC vs. CSC?

Transferree vs. Interviewee?

Look at our case - swift on one end, slow as Moses on the other. Things usually tend to balance themselves out. Which is why when you have some good luck with immigration, you shouldn't be gloating about it. There's always the next step where you could get bit.

I wish we could just HELP each other around here without envy.

I agree with John's interpretation of Diana's comment. I guess when I read it, I knew she meant it a bit more as a 'throw away' comment, but I can see how maybe it wouldn't be taken as such.

I know what it feels like to get left behind. Way behind.

Most of the people we processed with are long gone. They don't post here anymore. Some are already filing to lift conditions.

For me, it's really sad to loose touch with my friends. I'm glad they are done and dusted, but I miss them.

I do too. And that is basically why I suggested this to begin with - to somehow try and minimize the timeline driven 'envy' that seems to be happening. I guess maybe if I hadn't posted this topic, it wouldn't have come up. I'm starting to feel bad for having done it.

I'm not offended either way. I do think though that comments like that are contributing to the "us vs. them" mentality. If I interpreted it that way, I'm sure there's someone else who did too, and maybe it was a VSCer who was just about to share some good news.

I don't know, it's a very sensitive subject. I can completely understand the envy/resentment/slightly negative feelings, whatever you want to call it, towards VSCers when you're stuck at CSC.

RJ, with all due respect, it's the nature of the immigration beast. It will ALWAYS be a debate & there will always be whiners & gloaters.

It seems to me that these very sentiments are the reason people might feel there's resentment:



The fact is that no VSC filer has decided they deserve to be with their loved ones any faster than anyone else, and no VSCer is running to the front of the queue. They get the service they get, and characterizing it in these sort of terms in not a fair representation. If I were a VSC filer, I'd somewhat resent the implication.

What I think we all understand is the consequence in terms of the sheer frustration of watching month after month after month of filers get approved while you're still waiting to hear, but it isn't through any action, intention or desire on the part of those people that their cases are running faster in the first instance than yours. It is also an intrinsic consequence of the way the system works, and there have always been discrepancies in processing times.

Not long ago, before the AOS process was revamped, depending on where you were in the country your AOS application could take anything from 2 or 3 hours to 3 years. Some got walk-in options in their DOs and some got a prolonged queue with multiple EAD applications. Before that it was Citizenship, where some got processed in 3 months, and some weren't completed after 5 years pending. There have always been 'before that...' examples of the same things.

As victims of this iniquitous system, we should all be outraged by it's variability, inefficiency, dire bureaucracy, idiotic design and methodology, obstructive and opaque nature, whether we've been on the loosing end of the equation or not. We are ALL victims of the system in some way, and it's exactly that for which VJ is intended to help.

The frustration is understandable, the characterization isn't.

Oh sugar, don't feel bad. At least it's a civilized discussion!!

I think you, Tracy, are just trying to find a solution to prevent someone from going through the 'torment' you experienced. It's not a bad idea.

I like Yodrak's idea of a 'filter'. I think we need more moderation - but I don't think we will get it. I'm not in favor of further subdivision of the forums, but only because I think that creates more 'segregation'.

Andy's right. We are all a part of this messed up system. We should be equally happy and equally outraged for each other.

I've thoroughly enjoyed this thread - intellectual discussion, not too many exclamation marks.

I will ask again, where has the moderation gone? It seems non-existent these days?

According to many, I'm rude so I would never get the job. I am not rude, but I am not all about rainbows either. You could def. say my patience is lacking on VJ for the whenwhenwhen or whereismyNOA2? posts. I stand by newbioes not being allowed to post for a week after joining.

YES. Exactly!!!

Nooooo, I don't believe that for a second!!!



LOL

I had a major issue on the day i found and joined VJ. I wouldn't have given VJ a seconds look if I had to wait a week prior to posting. Nothing in the guides would have been able to help me with a refusal at the interview.

It amazes me how over analysed this thread has become.
Surely the whole point of this is simple.

Is there a way that CSC filers can still come and post on VJ, in the relevant forums, without having the rapid success stories of VSC filers, (and their whoaful "it's been 2 weeks and I'm still waiting" threads), so much in your face that it actually pains to come here at all?

How tough is that really to solve??? (That is a rhetorical question)

I think in reality that's true of many people. It's also true that many who come here needing help don't know enough to actually know what to read or what it means when they've read it. It strikes me that the idea of forcing people to wait any period before posting the first time is a simple recipe for having them go elsewhere, and have VJ tail off into the future with decreasing membership.

With the best will in the world we cannot legislate for human nature. What we have to do is look at way to effectively remediate the behaviors that come out of it - which is why this thread is a good one, because we can see what these issues are and what effect they have, and we're discussing what we can do to improve things.

The sad fact is though that at the very least, much of the solution does in fact depend on more active and effective moderation, because without that for every step forward in structural organization, we'll take two steps back in posting content!

ON EDIT: Yes, it's tough to solve when the people suffering the problem have no control over the outcome!

So what's the holdup with getting more moderators then? Why have we never seen that come about? I know there was talk at one point but it was rejected in favor of having the "thread movers".

It always comes back to this very point.
Geez, I mean every other board I've posted on has a gammet of mods. Why is there such a lack here?

Good question, Jenn. I don't know who makes such decisions here.

what would the moderators do in this case exactly? prod to tone down high fives? or provide sympathy for those waiting?

i had kinda thought we ran the gamut in this thread and came back to - be angry at the system, take a break when necessary, but its really just something you have to deal with (and every step of the way)