Tired of waiting for VSC to get around to your petition? Many of us plan to send a package of hershey kisses (love theme) from www.hersheygifts.com with a message that we are tired of waiting to be with our loved ones!

We are sending these the end of this week to

P Novak, adjudicators and staff
USCIS Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Welden Street
St Albans, Vermont 05479-0001

We are issuing a press release on monday to coincide with the packages arrival.

If you want to make some noise, pitch in and send a gift pack or two.

what ever happened with the flower senders? i never heard any more about it.

Shortly after they sent flowers the 'deadline' for filing got extended from june to august. Personally, I think this is one of the items that caused the delays at VSC, which started around june.
Some people think that they also threatened legal action which may have helped.

This is separate from the flowers. There are a bunch of us who filed at VSC who started this after the slowdown there.

ooooh could you just picture their faces...
have a GREAT day... and good luck with your chocolate kisses... keep us posted maybe those of us at the CSC might have to do something similar...
Tracy

especially if it makes news like the flowers, hehe. I hope CSC filers decide to pile on and bring more attention to this. At least Hershey's will be happy

er....perhaps I should get a job with USCIS now? I've been in the mood for chocolate. And historically, if I am fed on the job at someone else's expense, I am a better worker:)
However, did it ever occur to some people that you may actually slow down USCIS by sending them a big box of chocolates? Too busy eating chocolates to work on your cases:)
Although if I was a supervisor opening the box and I was short on meeting my quotas because of some slack off phone monkeys or approval people, I know how to get them to work faster...BRIBE with the chocolates!:) There, more cases approved AND my quota goes up.

Personally, I'm hoping for a sugar-rush fed productivity surge! we can only dream.

Ok- I'm thinking about hopping on board with the chocolate sending, but a few concerns hopefully someone can address... Sending a government agency chocolate? Boxes and boxes from people they don't know? Will they even be able to accept them? I desperately hope they do, and if they accept the boxes, ata that point will they be allowed to eat them? Anyone else understand where I'm coming from here, or am I alone in my worries? (this visa process has heightened my "worry sensor" to new and unprecendented levels!)

These same questions were taken into account, this is why the hershey's is being sent directly from the Hershey company. It was felt that it would be credible coming from a well known US business.

And then the folks at USCIS slow down even more, waiting for us to start sending car titals and house deeds.

Can't wait to see what happens

The Press Release regarding the chocolate kisses has been submitted for distribution on Monday the 12th. Hopefully the kisses will start arriving around the same time and it will get some media notice and eventually some results at uscis

Ok, as monday is a federal holiday (must be nice), i requested the press release be done tuesday instead.

The kisses will arrive tuesday, if they are closed monday so no biggy...

Also to send a message with your order from www.hersheygifts.com you can 1) choose the chocolate kiss orders with the 'p' label and put your message on the little tag on the kiss itself - but it's limited to 30 characters apparently, and/or 2) put the message in the 'to' line at checkout where you get 45 or so characters, there is another 45 or so on the 'from' line.

I was hoping a longer message would be possible because now i can't use "ROSES ARE RED VIOLETS ARE BLUE, HURRY THE HELL UP!"

Why, that sentiment would make a lovely T-shirt.....

Okay, now THAT was funny! Even the most jaded adjudicator would have to laugh.

guess i'll have to send another package. I think that message might fit.

Anyway, I have placed my order from hersheygifts.com as have others. Now is the time to order so we can really bombard them with these next week and it becomes a story!

henc henc

reminds me of this:



every time I see that, I think: I can REALLY answer that question...

they dont care about your candy or your lives.

they do a job, and they get paid, and like most everyone else they dont do anymore than
is expected of them for whatever schedule they work.

oh, I love the little ray of sunshine you bring to every thread in which you post

So does that mean we shouldn't try and bring some attention to the unfairness of the system?

No one is forcing you to contribute. If you don't want to then don't.

Some of us like to think that we can make just the smallest bit of difference.

It's always rainbows and unicorns with you, isn't it?

no, but really; it's a rare gift to know a whole bunch of people you haven't even met, AND their motivations, AND what they're going to do in the future... I only wish I were that insightful

You are helping yourselves cope, and thats positive, im just saying what the reality is as far as any big government
or corporate system.. if you really want to make a difference, and I know you do.. VOTE FOR RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT.

I make the best enchiladas in the entire known universe. I dont know how I would ship 100 lbs of enchiladas
to the service center though. Let me think about that.

do you have a background in campaigning? on what do you base your claims that none of this will work?

I think we're all sane and adult enough to recognise reality when we see it... however, perhaps some of us also have some idealism
and one CAN become the other, with a bit of persistence

I worked on the Jim Maddox campaign for attorney general when I lived in Texas. He was a democrat. I had an interesting view into the workings of that kind of campaign. I was part of a small group that raised millions of
dollars from trial attorneys and business people.

I appreciate your enthusiasm to try to help the situation. Another reality is that once a petitioner has gone through
the process or even after their NOA 2 is rcvd, they move on. Most peoples interest is just during the time they
are waiting. Once they have what they want, they arent too concerned anymore.

One thing that has always bothered me, and this is my second time around with the k-1 process, and that is
the speed of the processing at the Vermont center vs everyone else. I have always thought this to be grossly unfair.
Why should some people have to wait months and months and the vermont folks just breeze through in 30 days?

If anything should be changed, the whole k-1 visa process should be lumped under one roof and everyone treated
the same.

I was just having a bit of fun with you on the unicorns remark, but I might be guilty of dragging this thread off topic. My apologies. But out of respect to the OP, the non-h-kisses conversations should probably be taken to a different thread.

Thank you

It's ok if the candy doesn't change the vsc by itself. The main idea is for the press release to get some publicity for what WE did and our situation. That can bring public and political sympathy for us which may help.

It may not work, but it seems to me to be worth a try. It certainly worked for the H1B people seeking greencards who sent flowers to USCIS director and got a deadline extended by two months!

It costs about 20 bucks to send a package, why not take a shot? We all ###### and moan about it at least this is an idea we can try to improve things

Many people over the years have started the process of change simply by speaking up. That is the beauty of our country. Its not a matter of weather we ca change the entire system, its the fact that its broken, needs fixed and if we simply sit quiet then we are ASSURED nothing will be done.

We can not sit and complain, and not try to instigate a change. Political campaigning is a different ball game. Many DO try to make a change and fail. But many ALSO SUCCEED.

My suggestion is, that if you are unhappy with the overall system as is...either dont complain..or jump on www.hersheygifts.com and make your voice heard. Does it matter if change comes today? Or does it matter more that you at least TRIED.

The only real failure, is in not trying at all.

I just sent a pack of kisses to VSC even though I am going through the CSC and already have my NOA2. I agree that it all should be under one roof so the hole country is in the same place. I also will vote for Ron Paul in the republican primaries as off subject as that is. What really pisses me off is I am an American citizen and non citizens with work visas can bring there spouse here in a much smaller amount of time. I think sending candy to show that they are working with fellow citizens lives is a good idea and not a waist of time or money.

Seattle2Cebu is a f'n troll, don't mind him any attention. He admitted he is a troll in another thread. Can't believe anything he says and he loves to step in and stir the pot. Onward with the chocolate bombardment!!!

What exactly is a TROLL????

Don't feed the troll



It's a person who comes on message boards like these with the intent of causing trouble, going against what others say and just making people generally annoyed and making themselves look like complete idiots.
The one in this thread is a real winner (not)
Just ignore.

wasn't it yesterday they were suppose to receive it ??
any news ?

Yes they received many pounds of Hershey Kisses yesterday. Many arrived next day air too. So I'm sure VSC noticed
As far as the press release, I guess it helps to know somebody or something, so far not much has happened, maybe in a day or two ...
Either way I hope they will think of us a little while they are ( hopefully) eating them.

Send an e-mail to Drudge, if it makes his site, other agancies will pick it up.

DRUDGE@DRUDGEREPORT.COM

thanks for the tip

Ok, so far the press release and other attempts to get others to circulate our Hershey's protest has not been much help.
But the purpose was to 1) let VSC know we're tired of waiting 2) get sympathy from the public, and 3) let politicians know our plight.

We might be foiled in number 2, but we accomplished the first and I have an idea on how to succeed with number 3 yet.

We can send our congressmen/women and senators the press release DIRECTLY by email. They all actually read these emails from constituents and it would be a way to follow up on our past complaints to them about the process so they know it's ongoing. The press release is at this link :

hersheys press release

Let's make this work for us

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/e...arin+brulliard/ this is link for her email

Good Luck and I fight this battle everyday......just makes you stronger!!!!

Thanks, I was actually in the article So I sent the release to her too. Thanks for the encouragement also, hopefully it all makes a little progress... Also here is the link for people who want to help and email the above release to their reps and senators:

your reps and senators email add.s

Let's be heard!!!

HAVE YOU SENT YOUR EMAIL?????????

I'd never do that. Instead of working on our petitions they sit back getting fat on chocolate. FORGET IT! Personally, I've always felt there should be a sliding fee for expedited service.

Well, the chocolate has already been sent. Now I'm just asking that we take advantage of it by letting our rep.s and senators know about it, and that we are fed up enough to do that.

So how would your sliding scale for an expedite work? Isn't it a little unfair to let people with money butt ahead in line?

hear HEAR

Will defo be sending e-mail

It is no more unfair then me ordering something from Amazon and spending extra to have my item shipped overnight or in two days instead of a week. Even better, is it fair that first class butts into line at the airport? Yes, it is. They PAID to be boarded first, have more room, more luggage, and so forth. There should be nothing wrong with paying extra for guaranteed 90 or even 60 day turnaround.

yes, it IS more unfair; those situations you cited are vastly different

I think there's a difference between paying extra for a flight, or a product; for a start; the people in economy class might have to wait a whole extra half hour while first class boards; that's not a material harm to them; the people in first are paying for extra comfort, not a whole extra service

same with the shipping; people who don't pay extra have their product within a few days anyway, and those who DO want the fast service only pay a few dollars more... what you're talking about is making a difference between six months and one; quite a change... and be practical: if USCIS were to offer an expediting service like that for $100 or so, everyone would take it, so to be able to offer it at all it would have to be VERY expensive...

I don't think ANY of the processing should have a paid expedite option; not business, not family

I think they should just fix the system and make it faster for everyone

This is a tough hypothetical to think about. On the one hand, I'd probably pay for expedited processing if it existed. On the other hand I'm glad it doesn't exist. This isn't Amazon.com or the airlines or anything so material. This is about real human lives and relationships. My happiness is no more important than yours and vice versa. There are some luxuries that money should be able to buy, but I don't think this is one of them.

And really, there should be no need for an expedited process anyway. USCIS should be much more efficient than they are, and they should be able to turn these cases around in much better time than they are doing. USCIS should be able to turn a non-complex case around in 60-90 days anyway.

Can't agree here. These situations are not different. Service is service. If you pay more you get more. It's how our world works. People who have it have always paid to get more. Why is it two people could break the same law and one goes "free" pending trial the same day? Because they are one that can afford to post the bond. We are held captive too, separated from our loved ones. I'd glady pay a premium to get bumped further ahead. It's only not fair if someone can't afford it. I even heard several years ago a story about a country that allowed (or was considering to allow) you to pay extra to get a driver's permit licensed to speed. Pay more and you can glide down the highway in a special lane for those that want to drive considerably faster. There is nothing fair about that either.

What I can agree with you is on fixing the system. Of course, it is the right thing to do. But thre is no motivation on the USCIS to change the way things are currently done.