Disparity Between VSC and CSC and

[rebeccajo 14]

I have to say...if recent VSC petitioners are referring to their good fortune as a 'jackpot' - I think that's kind of tasteless.

I guess I'd have to see how it was written.

[dbears 1]

I'm also not trying to create a divide - the VSCers are doing that on their own by announcing their wonderful "jackpots" - I think everyone on the CSC list heart sinks when we see those. On the one hand, I'm happy for them but on the other hand they might be a bit more sensitive to the rest of us as well. We are all here to support each other, at least thats what I thought these boards were for.

It is obvious you have not read the content of the "jackpot" thread as you call it and yet you are so negative about it... was it created to put CSC's filers down? NO sir.... it was speciafically created for this reason:

"This is just to easily track movement amongst January filers who submitted application @ VSC. For us to monitor who gets the 'happy dance' for the day and who will need the most encouragement in a few months time when the list starts to dwindle."

That's taken from my first post on that thread. Is that bad? or maybe you have not seen VSC filers from way back several months ago still waiting for their NOA2 while majority of the people who filed within their month have already received their approvals.. and i say majority, meaning both from VSC & even CSC.... do you ever pause to think how these left behind VSC filers feel? Let's not go far, of the first 3 janaury approvals, 2 of them filed towards the end of the month and there are so many who have filed on the first week who do not have approval yet.... do you know how do these people feel?

as has been emphasized by others again and again, it is not the waiting per se that is frustrating and depressing but seeing others who filed within your time, after your time and within the same center get approved and you being left behind... what's worst for these early january filers is, they have no place to vent because there are so many people like you saying how unfair and that they cant empathize with VSC whiners but would that make them feel any better? No, It just double their agony.

Yes, it is unfair that most (not all) VSC filers get approved faster but does it mean ALL VSC filers (those that are left behind) have an immunity to feelings of frustrations and depressions in this visa process? Gosh, if you haven't noticed we are also human like you, we get envious of those who got approved within our timeline, we cry and we get depressed that others have been approved around us left and right while we still continue to wait and wait but it does not give us the right to hold grudges against those who got lucky, it does not give us the right to take away from them the right to celebrate.

And those late January filers who got approved very early in the process, do you think their happiness was really complete? A lot of them have expressed feelings of guilt even if it wasn't their fault that they were approved faster than others... and if you are really sensitive like you're claiming, you would feel that that shouldn't be the case, getting the NOA2 should only be a happy moment and not tainted with guilt because after all, we all went into the same trouble filing our papers.

Now, what do you want us January VSC filers to do? be depressed and focus on how unfair it is like the way you do and make those who got approved feel worst? NO sir, we just have to find a way to lighten the mood... we have to find a way to celebrate those who got approved and at the same time give encouragement to those who are being left behind.... and since there is no pattern in how VSC chose approval, it does feel like a 'draw lots' and that's why I chose to use that "jackpot" word for it to become a game... so that those who got approve feel that it was not their fault that they were approved faster than the other, they just got lucky.. and for those who are still waiting to know that it is also not their fault that they are still waiting... and that sooner or later we would all get our approval... the thread is also our little community where we share or just talk about anything... it is a way for us to pass the time in a positive way and provide encouragement and positive vibes to those around and a way to monitor who will be needing the most encouragement later, because after all, this is a game of draw lots, we do not know who will be left behind BUT we all want to be there to continue cheering them on.

There are so many things that is unfair in this world, if we will all count all the unfair things we have gone through and are still going through, how bleak the world would be. In this visa journey, we have a choice: to focus on the negative and all the unfair bureaucratic red tapes OR to focus on the day that we will finally be with the one we love and the happiness that we will be sharing for the rest of our lives. I don't know if 'crying foul" is more important to you but as for me, I just want to stay focused on being with the man I love. I've already waited 5 years before I opened up my heart to really love again, and as a couple. me and my fiance have waited almost 3 years already to be together. It does not make this additional months of waiting for approval any better but what is a couple more months compared to all the years I will share with him later.

now, if the title of the thread offended you, then I am sorry.. i can assure you, not all CSC filers feel your sentiments towards that thread because we do have CSC filer visitors drop by from time to time... and also, the one who gave me the full list of VSC filers, our first ever "approved and still waiting VSC filers" list is Blake, a CSC filer himself.... a very positive guy, who also have a thread specifically for January CSC filers, a thread not meant to propagate negative feelings against VSC approvals but instead, it is a thread nurturing positive vibes within the group and also offering ways to make the most of their waiting time in the most positive way.

Good luck on your journey.

God speed.

[rebeccajo 14]

Chris -

You say you don't just want to hear positive things and you want honesty.

You want to hear a really true honest thing? From someone who has been there?

Someday - when you and Susan are reunited - this wait will all be a memory. Really and truly it will. I've been married to my husband for 2.5 years now.

Sometimes, when we are reminiscing, we talk about our separations. They are almost sweet things now. A testament to us, I guess. That we made it.

Trust me. It's true.

[Cassie 8]

Chris -

You say you don't just want to hear positive things and you want honesty.

You want to hear a really true honest thing? From someone who has been there?

Someday - when you and Susan are reunited - this wait will all be a memory. Really and truly it will. I've been married to my husband for 2.5 years now.

Sometimes, when we are reminiscing, we talk about our separations. They are almost sweet things now. A testament to us, I guess. That we made it.

Trust me. It's true.

Amen, I second that!

[rebeccajo 14]

I think the "jackpot" think is just a morale booster. I haven't read the entire thread, but I don't see anything distasteful, at least in the first page. It's being run as a "lottery," and participants do seem to be in good spirits.

I should point out that until not too long ago there was a "CSC Sweepstakes" thread that was very popular too. It pretty much died when CSC came to a screeching halt, but for a time it kept a lot of us distracted and in good spirits.

Ah. I see.

Maybe everybody ought to just take a chill-pill then and not get so bent out of shape about innocent phraseology?

[Chris Future 0]

Chris -

You say you don't just want to hear positive things and you want honesty.

You want to hear a really true honest thing? From someone who has been there?

Someday - when you and Susan are reunited - this wait will all be a memory. Really and truly it will. I've been married to my husband for 2.5 years now.

Sometimes, when we are reminiscing, we talk about our separations. They are almost sweet things now. A testament to us, I guess. That we made it.

Trust me. It's true.

Amen, I second that!

Maybe we are just feeling it more acutely. We feel like we've been apart for 25 years. Every moment we are still apart is painful.

Most of you can say that once you are together, you will have been together longer than you were apart during this process. We feel like we've been apart forever, and this is just adding to that.

Time is more precious to us than anything, and we both feel that this process is stealing it from us, and we can never make that time back.

It's stealing this time from ALL of us and there just seems to be no consideration for that.

Maybe in 25 years I'll be just barely OK with it.

Heres another song...When You're Gone, Avril Lavigne - another great Canadian singer...

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otMB3WVQNVg

Lyrics: http://music.yahoo.com/Avril-Lavigne/When-...lyrics/42490262

Thanks...Chris

[BlakeandOlha 0]

I should point out that until not too long ago there was a "CSC Sweepstakes" thread that was very popular too.

I suggest it was more of a ponzi scheme.

Rebecca, that was very nicely put.

[rebeccajo 14]

Chris -

When I filed I was 47 freaking years old. I sure as heck didn't want to spend a bunch of time wrapped up in the process. I wanted to be with the man I loved.

We were lucky. Our visa process didn't take long. But immigration has messed with us in other ways. We all do have an immigration journey to continue once we are reunited, you know. Maybe the rest of your journey will be smoother than this part.

Here's what Wes and I think. We think that one of the goals of our marriage should be to NOT forget completely what the separation was like. It's always hard to imagine that you could POSSIBLY forget when you are going through it. But life has a funny way of just happening and once you are reunited you become a regular couple. And regular couples sometimes forget to take time for each other.

We need to remember the effort we put into communicating; the way we made time for each other in our days; the way we talked about what we did each day and told each other (in complete detail) what our day was like.

Use this time as best you can to teach yourself how to communicate. Cause your gonna need it - lol! For one day, your petition and visa will be approved and you'll be together. Morning bad breath; dirty clothes on the floor and dishes in the sink; empty checkbook and all that jazz.

It'll happen.

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Chris -

When I filed I was 47 freaking years old. I sure as heck didn't want to spend a bunch of time wrapped up in the process.

Here, here, for the 47 freaking year olders!! I just turned on the 28th, do we get a special dispensation? Does Tbone have another trick? Where is StP anyway, and how did he spend the money? So many questions, and no answers (or touches)..... I guess I'll just have to keep waiting..... B)

[Chris Future 0]

We were lucky. Our visa process didn't take long. But immigration has messed with us in other ways. We all do have an immigration journey to continue once we are reunited, you know. Maybe the rest of your journey will be smoother than this part.

Yes, you were lucky. We are facing a process possibly 3 times longer than yours was. All due to the governments inability to properly staff up to do the work in a timely manner.

I'm no stranger to the immigration process. I arrived in the US in 1998 with a TN Visa since I had missed the cutoff for H1-Bs that year. Once the H1-B process opened up again, my company at the time applied for it. After I got my H1, I asked them to apply for a Green Card for me. They eventually did, but kept putting it of for cost reasons. About 6 months before I got my Green Card they were about to downsize my position but I was able to convince them to keep me on. 3.5 years into getting my Green Card, I filed for divorce from my ex-wife. A year later a re-met my fiance online. I had to get my citizenship, wait for my divorce to complete, then finally file the K1. I've had my fill of immigration already, and I know there a lot more with AOSs etc etc etc.

And every day, illegal immigrants cross the borders and are able to be with their loved ones. And many of them them get no repercussions, and amnesty bills in Congress. Those of us who follow all the rules are kept apart longer and longer by arbitrary rules and mismanagement, and get only the slightest mention in legislation.

I looked over at the "jackpot" thread. I'm glad that everyone is happy over there and giving each other high fives. Good for them. BTW, BlakeandOlha your point from the other thread ...

"Besides, if the VSC makes the CSC look truely slow and incompetent, perhaps they'll effect the changes necessary to bring the two services in line with each other."

Would be great if it happened. Do you think that the group that oversees both centers really cares, or are they just happy that the overall averages, once you factor in the speedy VSC filings, are coming down...

I suggest it was more of a ponzi scheme.

LOL! Yeah, pretty sure StP emptied out the bank and skipped town before any of us could catch on.

Stp? Must be before my time......

[rebeccajo 14]

Yikes Chris - you've had more doodly-doo with immigration than I ever hope to have.

I was just trying to make you feel better. Guess it didn't work.

PS - it took us 17 months to get a greencard. Most of the people who filed with me are already lifting conditions.

Edited March 6, 2008 by rebeccajo

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Would be great if it happened. Do you think that the group that oversees both centers really cares, or are they just happy that the overall averages, once you factor in the speedy VSC filings, are coming down...

Realistically, I pretty much think they could care less - that's the root of the problem after all isn't it. But I still hope someone might be embarassed at some point. In my dreams I see some political appointee being upbraided and laughed at during the annual service center Christmas party. Then I wake up an remember that like every rollercoaster I've ever been on, this too will end. I gotta stay positive, or else I'll drive myself and the woman I love nuts. You've been though a lot with immigration already, I understand why you're frustrated. Love the songs, by the way.

Edited March 6, 2008 by BlakeandOlha

[Chris Future 0]

Would be great if it happened. Do you think that the group that oversees both centers really cares, or are they just happy that the overall averages, once you factor in the speedy VSC filings, are coming down...

Realistically, I pretty much think they could care less - that's the root of the problem after all isn't it. But I still hope someone might be embarassed at some point. In my dreams I see some political appointee being upbraided and laughed at during the annual service center Christmas party. Then I wake up an remember that like every rollercoaster I've ever been on, this too will end. I gotta stay positive, or else I'll drive myself and the woman I love nuts. You've been though a lot with immigration already, I understand why you're frustrated. Love the songs, by the way.

Thanks. Its amazing actually how many love songs about people being far apart there are. You know when I heard about how many long distance relationships there were I was surprised. There are tons of people in love separated by distance. According to this site, over 7 million couples, and I'm assuming that just Americans.

http://www.carolinetiger.com/books/ldr_stats.htm

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Thanks. Its amazing actually how many love songs about people being far apart there are. You know when I heard about how many long distance relationships there were I was surprised. There are tons of people in love separated by distance. According to this site, over 7 million couples, and I'm assuming that just Americans.

http://www.carolinetiger.com/books/ldr_stats.htm

Well this is my first long distance relationship - and I had to go find someone on the other side of the world! Fate sure has a sick sense of humor.

[Chris Future 0]

In case anyone is keeping track - or cares - the daily ratio of VSC to CSC approvals is 4:1

I sound like Sulu in Corbomite Maneuver counting down until Balok's ship blows them out of existence.

Wish I could bluff the CSC into speeding us all up.