"Enjoy their time alone" ? sorry but we dont see it that way, we would rather treasure are time together not apart, there is nothing really positive about being apart from the person you love.

Whilst it is better to be together I don't think it is true to say there is nothing positive about an enforced separation. Admittedly there are times when I positively hate it, when I feel like a huge part of my life is missing, when it all *seems* hopeless. I have learned though, that thinking that way makes me feel ill and overwhelms my ability to be thankful for what I have. It also makes the time go much more slowly because I am constantly thinking negatively and not focussing on the great times to come.

Obviously, life is so much easier for couples who can spend every day together, making plans and enjoying each others company. I wonder, though, from past experience how much we take for granted when we can do that. Life is so much the way we want it that we never stop to think about how much of what we have is ultimately what we want. And then relationships sometimes break down.

This process has, if nothing else, made me realise how much my fiance and I want to be together. The time spent apart has made us both think in a more focussed way about what we want...because there is nothing else to fill those thoughtful moments with. He tells me what I need to hear because he truly feels it and vice versa. Had we been together this past year, perhaps (who knows) we may have taken all those feelings for granted and a part of both of us would have been less certain about the future than we are now.

I think that's the really positive thing this process delivers to us all.

I love what you said Babblesgirl!!! My guy and I say the same things to each other. With the divorce rate as high as it is, we know that we are not taking this whole wedding thing lightly. I think everyone can say that they are willing to wait as long as they have to and do whatever it takes to be with the one they love. Couples that see each other everyday tend to take that for granted. They also tend not to ' talk' as much as the rest of us probably do with our fiance's. I am grateful for every phone call, email, and actual time spent together.

Not many people could stand what all of us are doing. This process is long and painful, but the end result is more than worth it!!!

I totally agree with you. It is soo painful to be apart from love one, but the result should be really positive. A lot of people around me have boyfriends and girlfriends and plan to marry soon. They can see each other everyday and do not have to go through this crazy process and financial burden. But, once we go through this, we can be very strong and happy.

WORD!

Exactly!!

Then would it okay to whine just a little bit? Maybe, once a week. Because even though eventually we will all be approved....the wait is still long.

A hearty Congratulations to all the recent K1 CSC approvals.. Yay

Good Luck for the remaining VJ

Okay. I can deal with reading one day of whiney posts a week.

What day shall it be? I'd like to nominate Mondays... then we can be happy the rest of the week as approvals come in!

Tanjay has been waiting since May for God's sake. He has every right to be upset with their lousy service. Give him a break! He can complain just as much as those people who cheer on USCIS despite their crappy service to US citizens while they kiss big business' @ss giving their work visas in so much less time than our loved ones and then on top of that kicking sand in our faces while not offering 15-day premium processing to us. I know I don't like crawling into bed each night without my loved one...it sucks actually...as does these weekends with little or no NOA2 approvals. Just remember just because you cheer them on doesn't mean they will be processing yours any faster.

Monday sounds good, of course you have to remember China/ Japan etc is a day ahead, so who's monday ?

Hmmm.... the original post wasnt for Tanjay. Just saying that in general; griping, bitching, moaning, and groaning does nothing but spread anxiety, frusteration and dispair. I read this forum for advice, optimism, and for better idea as to when my approval will be. Which on the current timelines doesnt seem to be for another 6 weeks at least. I have no choice but to wait and while it is annoying there isnt really anything that can be done about it. The system is horrible!! We all hate the wait!! We can all agree!!

Here's to a speedy approval for everyone!


And, just remember - just because you complain to an online group of strangers doesnt mean they will process yours any faster.

I totally agree - I have struggled with relationships in the past because I have taken my partner for granted, stuck to them like glue and expected everything to fall into place. Going through this process has allowed me to see that I can work at a relationship and indeed any relationship and that by working towards a common goal with someone you love is much more fulfilling that taking things for granted and expecting everything to be perfect at the time. Yes we argue (we are both incredibly stubborn!) but we resolve our differences with a better understanding than in relationships where I have let things slide and just built up resentment.

On another note though, now that I know I can be like this and work towards common goals and work on a relationship with someone I love, I kinda want to put it into practice when we are together in person going through "normal" things: buying our first house, sorting out who does the washing, the ironing, the vacuuming, coming to shared agreements about what is and is not acceptable in the way we live our lives, bringing children into the world, going on day trips together, going to work and coming home - all these normal things that are taken for granted by so so many "normal" couples

As for "whose Monday" - I think we should go by PST as it is CSC after all

But those of us who complain do not just complain, we write our congressmen, senators, media outlets, and get others to do the same. Not all Americans sit, wait and do nothing to try to improve the system. Our country is a democracy and we don't have to just live with everything the way it is. I agree with this post by someone in another thread,

"I suggest don't waste time with [insert VJ member name here]. He/She has no power to help. Let these people live under a rock.

Write to more and more media outlets - Lou Dobbs/Oprah etc and Senators. Stand up for yourself and your rights! and Express them to people who have the power to help. Maybe it will help, may it won't. One thing for sure is: If you don't try, its 100% failure. If you try, you have increased your odds of success.

When you are old and ready to kick it, you can atleast tell your grandkids, that you spoke up and tried to do something... rather than sucking your thumb and rolling over.

I have written to 8 senators, and multiple media outlets... and am delighted that I have inspired a few more people to do the same....

I don't care if its 6 months or 1 year... My point is very simple: Why does a H1Visa get his/her spouse in 1 day, and mine takes up to 1 year?"

Have you posted the content of the letter anywhere? I would be very interested to see it - we have just sent a letter to one senator but hadn't thought of going to the press...

I think nicks family have half of their hometown writing letters. Grand Island has a lot of illegal immigrants head their way due to high availability of unskilled labor jobs in farming industry. His family going nuts that nearly every month another place is busted for employing them and at the number of them that get handed assistance and housing and never paid a penny. Yet we sit here patiently (ok impatiently) and pay for the privilage.

Although personally it's not my thing, I think it's only fair that anyone who wants to complain gets to complain. I don't think it has anything to do with feeling it moves the process, it has to do with having an outlet -- it's why we're all so lucky to have this place. It's not only an immense store of relevant information, the contact with other people who are waiting is really significant and the opportunity to express one's feelings of frustration.

I'm sure some people are bothered by the whingeing, but that doesn't mean all other members on VJ are. It's not true that complaints universally spreads anxiety and despair, and I think it's only fair you speak for yourself if you want to say so. I for am not bothered and almost feel my own internal monologue is vented when I read some of the frustrated posts.

Of course it's fair that people should be allowed to voice their opinions on a forum such as this. I personally, was not casting any judgement over those who are finding the process difficult to bear. We ALL find it difficult to a lesser or greater degree. We each have individual circumstances which affect our ability to cope periodically. And yes, the process itself leaves a lot to be desired sometimes. People are not processed in exact order, but it's probably as close to being an exact science as it can be. That is not to say it can't be improved and the only way to make improvements is to make your feelings known to those who have the ability to enforce the necessary changes.

All I was trying to say is that each of us who is going through this process, and all those who have been through it in the past, have something positive to gain from this. I believe that is the ability to see just how important our relationships are to us. I doubt any of us takes our partners for granted or is complacent in any way about a future with them. This time apart is a real test to the strength of any relationship. A test which will serve us all well in the future.

We all feel the negativity at times, but sometimes, someone here posts something that makes me see that there is actually a lot to be positive about. Isn't that the purpose of any forum? Complain as much as you like, but remember that you're not alone and every time an approval occurs take heart that you are one step closer to being with your partner for life. Try to see the positive side of things too.

I don't think it is always about an outlet either - I personally feel ok (kinda) but when you hear of issues regarding other immigration procedures and why we have to take a backseat - well that just doesn't seem fair. If people sit back and accept it then things will never change so it is about having a voice as well

sorry to change subject...I just posted this in UK forum but just want to spread the word. As there are alot of people here will be waiting on important docs through mail service.

There is a postal scam at the moment (low tech version of email, call this number, scam.)

A card is posted through your door from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a premium rate number). DO NOT
call this number, as this is a mail scam originating from Belize.

If you call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £15 for the phone call.

If you do receive a card with these details, then please contact Royal Mail Fraud on 02072396655 or ICSTIS (the premium rate service regulator) at www.icstis.org.uk

This is similar to a scam at the start of the year in teeside area but this time it is UK wide.

Yep, I agree with this.

Why is it that people are called whiners when all they are doing is venting their frustrations. This forum is for everyone to say what they feel. Just because someone labels someone else a whiner, bitcher of moaner does not make it necessarily true. That is their opinion only (we all know opinions are like xxxx, everyone has one). Everybody vents in their own way. No one on this forum has the right to criticize some one else for expressing their hurt, pain or frustration in the only way they know how. If you notice the timeline of the people venting right now, it is hovering around 5 months.

Instead of calling someone a whiner, why not trying to give them encouragement and moral support. Why not try to empathize with them. Yes, some people get approved faster than others but I have not read anyone putting those people down. I notice everybody congratulates those people who get approved regardless. People approved and people not approve still send out congratulations. This out of control wait is extremely frustrating for everyone but those who have been waiting from March, April and May should be given some understanding and not an unfair label.

If you are tired of reading about the "whiners" maybe you should skip their post.

I want to thank all the people who come on here and give their support and understanding. It means alot to us still waiting.

Jeraly,
There were several posted over the last couple months in the "Waiting for a NOA2 from VSC for your I-129F?" thread. I pasted below some recent information from that thread. I just changed the person's letter a little bit to add the CSC info. Thanks for not just laying down and taking it up the @ss from the system and instead trying to make a difference to improve the system and get your loved one with you quicker or at least help others that come after us.

Here is some good info/web sites for those of you considering writing your elected officials:

http://thomas.loc.gov/ (a good starting point for all Legislative issues and links to House and Senate)

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

Information on letter writing and offers tips and advice on how to accomplish your task. It is http://www.fcnl.org/getin/resources/write_congress.htm

CNN’s Lou Dobbs: loudobbstonight@cnn.com


Example Letter Below:


Dear XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX,

It is obvious to us that especially since April 2007; things at USCIS appear to have gotten gradually worse instead of better. For example, at the Service Centers: the average time at the Vermont Service Center for our community members to get their K1 VISA NOA 2 has gone from less than 30 days in May 2007 to over 130 days and still climbing now, and at the California Service Center from less than 90 days to over 130 days and still climbing now.

Some of our concerns include:

1. Significant delays in the processing of petitions. We notice that an extremely small number of petitions have been processed/approved since September 1, even in cases where they received I-129F’s well before the influx of applications submitted to beat the fee increase.

2. Information provided by call center employees is often misleading, scripted, incorrect or incomplete and almost always apathetic.

3. We feel it is entirely inappropriate to prioritize WORK VISA applications over Family-Based, Non-Immigrant Petitions and to add insult to injury, allow many types of VISA seekers to pay extra for 15-calendar day premium processing service, but not us.

4. We understand the need for security checks, as we are aware of our national security issues, but we have good reason to believe this is not the source of the most recent delays. Only the truth and some swift action on the part of USCIS can alleviate some of the stress associated with this process. Our lives, along with our loved ones abroad, are on hold and we have no idea when this first part of the immigration process will conclude.

5. The wait for a petition to clear the USCIS Service Center, reach the National Visa Center, then the appropriate Embassy and, finally the attendance of the beneficiary at the scheduled embassy interview can add an additional 4 – 12 months to an already excruciatingly slow process. The USCIS needs to set a reasonable goal of 90 days and/or have expedited processing immediately available for K1/K3 VISA applicants.

6. The strain of this process (both financial and emotional) is taking a serious toll on the health and well-being of many US law abiding citizen’s who are trying to follow the laws to bring their loved ones to the US by legal means. Our frustration level with USCIS' inability or unwillingness to ease/improve this process is reaching a critical point.

7. We, as a collective, have some expectations which include:
a. Accurate, detailed, and empathetic communication with customers suffering separation from their loved ones.

b. Immediately improved processing times with a new goal of 90 days for petitions as we believe the USCIS goal timeframe of 6 months to process a K1/3 VISA at the service centers is insensitive and inadequate for our needs. As with any company, if the new 90-day standard cannot be met with good management and talented professionals, then the organization should increase staff or streamline processes—maybe even outsource the function utilizing the creative talent of a good US company to provide our citizens with better service.

Thank you for your time and effort to assist us.

So......ok whats the count for approvals this week ?

I make it 23 K1's

That is quite a few!!!!

I'll see your 23 and raise you 5.

Get this weedebz - I have to set this up... I live in a very small town of about 8,000 people and have known my banker for several years. I went in to him to have something notorized and he refused because there wasn't a little box that says "notorize"! Then when I asked for the letter for the I-134, he asked me 100 questions about "this guy" and that "we have never done anything like this before." I am so glad that you have support from your hometown - that's awseome. Mine just needs to make history and that's exactly what I told them. I will not be banking there in the near future.

Well theres only 19 may filiers and 83 june filiers to go, should all be done in a 3-4 weeks, then its July's turn, yipee

I'm Holding strong with my 32 approvals.. GO CSC!!

My figures are a lot different than yours. Combining CSC/NSC/TSC K1's I see 67 open petitions sent in May and 102 open petitions sent in June. At the CSC/NSC/TSC K1 approval rate for the last 30 days of 3.40 approvals per day, it will take approximately 50 days to finish up May & June.

Don't feel bad. At VSC's 30 day approval rate it will take them 211 days to finish April, May & June.

Wow, that is still alot of May filers.

And that's just the people here on VJ...there are hundreds of others who don't even know about this site who are pending

Hey guys...so I come back and see all this drama
Concerning the last week´s sweepstakes looks like the final number is 27 and that looks like we have no winner again...(weedebz you bet on 25 not 23 ) Tanjay was pretty close - 26 I think...
Concerning wining....it´s not wining people Wining is, when someone keeps complaining about silly things for no reason...we have a serious reason and it´s a big thing And I think it was a July filer who called it wining...well wait till it´s January 2008 for you and you still have no NOA2 and try not to complain about it

And a new week is starting yeahhhhhh That will bring us lotsa new approvals

TSC are fowarded to Vermont, I was just looking at CSC. I will have to revise my figures to include NSC in with CSC. 16 may & june pending from NSC. 118 total

You were discussing May and June and during that period TSC petitions went to CSC.

For CSC & NSC only I see 146 open K1 petitions so I think we must also be using different criteria to search. I can think of a couple of things that would give us different results. Are you using the first and last day of the month in your date range? If so, you will lose 2 days because VJ excludes the beginning and ending days in the range. Are you searching by sent date or NOA1 date? I am using sent date.

Very true!!

I hope I'm not still waiting for my NOA2 in January!!

Oh - and put me down for my usual 33 approvals I like to remain optimistic

Hehe cool I stay with my 23

though 100 is a nice round number...

I assume we are around number 76 now (on bszooms list)...so that looks like 2-3 more weeks to go (?)

Why is the layout so ugly now? When I click on a topic I don´t get to see the posts but just the links to the posts I don´t like it

When I ccame into work thismorning I saw another date change on my USCIS account. Has anyone ever gotten two touches for one call???

ooooo I really hope this means something....I'm only a month behind you!

We got two touches for one call...the next day and the day after

Yes, afterforever, ramzis and I all got two touches after we called...one the day of and one the day after. No other action since then :-(

Let's hope it moves that quickly, although I forgot to look and see what number you were on bszooms last list on the 12th. I was #79 on 10/5 and moved to #61 on 10/12. Don't know where I would be now, but I wish we could get an actual list from USCIS. Who knows how many more are pending that don't even know about this site.

Come on CSC!! We're waiting!!

I had a feeling it was nothing.

Haha - that happened to me before as well and I freaked!!!! At the top of the messages you should see an "options" drop down menu where you can set the view to standard - that should sort it out

I think I was 108 on 12th...and about 30 people were approved since...so that´s how I did the math Though I was just looking at the statistics and I am not sure there is everybody on bszooms list...Only for unapproved May filers it still gave me a number around 67 and as for June filers around 110 are still waiting for their approval...I am in the middle of June so I should be a bigger number than 76...
Why can´t they just finish May filers already? That´s rediculous...I gave them a week for to do that like two or three weeks ago