Send chocolate kisses to USCIS to get there attention

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

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.

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

[Jeraly 4]

There would also be the issue that those paying for an expedite would jump the queue so to speak and it would push the waiting times for those that can't afford it further and further back... I know that if it came to it I would find the money but then if everyone pays for it then we're basically paying more for the same service

Not just that but I know if I couldn't afford it it would break my heart to see those in better financial situations getting approved while my wait just got longer and longer

It sucks but we just have to be patient - I know I would prefer to fly first class but really I don't think you can compare a bit of comfort to being with your loved one - it's far too materialistic

[StillThePrettiest 4]

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...

I have to say, I find your logic baffling... service is service? so everything just gets lumped together? can I say: education is education, and object to some kids getting special one-on-one attention for learning needs, or others, a ramp put in for a wheelchair? can I say: medicine is medicine, and you with your heart attack can wait while I get my hangnail looked at, because I got here first (or can pay more)? you HAVE to look at situations separately

so whatever you say, flying first class does NOT equal paying express Amazon delivery, and does NOT equal expedited visa processing; they're completely different

as for 'how the world works' (bolding mine, above) - personally, I think the way the world works is largely #######, and I will NEVER simply accept the status quo because 'that's how it is'

money may buy more, but should it? in this situation, no, it should not; it's not just about whether you can afford more ice cream than me... as mox said: this is about people's lives, and not material rubbish

[virgillionaire 0]

I agree.

And frankly I am a little sick of watching first class passengers skip the security line. We all pay for that security, why should they get a special line? Their money is for the seat and so they feel special.

Here in the DC area they are even building special toll roads that only well off people will be able to afford to use regularly. Is this what this country is about now? Instead of trying to fix the problems we just let the well off bypass them and screw the rabble?

LET THEM EAT CAKE!!!!

[virgillionaire 0]

Will defo be sending e-mail

EXCELLENT

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

What is so baffling? Service IS service and it comes at a price in any free market society. The more you are willing to pay, the better the service. Your examples DO happen. If someone comes into an ER with mega insurance or special status they will get put ahead of the uninsured guy with a more serious problem. It's the same with the legal system. The OJs and Michael Jacksons get off because they can afford million dollar attorneys while the guy who has to rely on a public defender has to serve time for a far lesser crime. All because they can't afford it. It happens everyday. Those situations affect personal lives just as much and more than us waiting for petitions to be approved.

I never said I agree with any of it. Right or wrong it is the way things work in this ultra-materialistic country. I will continue to say, that given the way things work in this country, I would be willing to pay to have my petition expedited IF I could afford the price.

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...

I have to say, I find your logic baffling... service is service? so everything just gets lumped together? can I say: education is education, and object to some kids getting special one-on-one attention for learning needs, or others, a ramp put in for a wheelchair? can I say: medicine is medicine, and you with your heart attack can wait while I get my hangnail looked at, because I got here first (or can pay more)? you HAVE to look at situations separately

so whatever you say, flying first class does NOT equal paying express Amazon delivery, and does NOT equal expedited visa processing; they're completely different

as for 'how the world works' (bolding mine, above) - personally, I think the way the world works is largely #######, and I will NEVER simply accept the status quo because 'that's how it is'

money may buy more, but should it? in this situation, no, it should not; it's not just about whether you can afford more ice cream than me... as mox said: this is about people's lives, and not material rubbish

[StillThePrettiest 4]

you don't agree with any of it, but you're quite happy to perpetuate it and would buy into it given the chance? well, I guess we're different in more ways than one

[Jeraly 4]

Can't say I wouldn't mind flying first class but only if I got a free upgrade

Saying that, when I move I might pay for it purely because I am going to have my cat so I want to make sure she isn't cramped under a seat somewhere

[StillThePrettiest 4]

I can always think of better things to do with my money

and even if I was given a free upgrade I'd have to think about it pretty hard; it would be difficult to go back to economy after that

(at last count, I've flown between Europe and Australia 21 times, at around 24 hours a time, and have done the UK - North America trip four times, at around 10 hours a time, plus numerous shorter flights around Europe... I think I know what it's like to be stuck in economy )

but at least someone flying first class doesn't do anyone else out of anything; we might be jealous of their comfort levels, but at the end we'll arrive in exactly the same airport

[Jeraly 4]

Agreed!!! I'd quite fancy a bit of extra comfort but how do you measure the importance of being with a loved one? Should one person deserve to be with theirs sooner above someone else? I can think of exceptional circumstances: terminal illnesses, military duties etc but there are already things in place for that and (as far as I am aware) at no extra cost.

Which is how it should be

[myangel2 0]

Good Ideal, maybe some of us could send some to NVC and get a quicker response. Keep us posted on the results.....

[Bobalouie 0]

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...

I have to say, I find your logic baffling... service is service? so everything just gets lumped together? can I say: education is education, and object to some kids getting special one-on-one attention for learning needs, or others, a ramp put in for a wheelchair? can I say: medicine is medicine, and you with your heart attack can wait while I get my hangnail looked at, because I got here first (or can pay more)? you HAVE to look at situations separately

so whatever you say, flying first class does NOT equal paying express Amazon delivery, and does NOT equal expedited visa processing; they're completely different

as for 'how the world works' (bolding mine, above) - personally, I think the way the world works is largely #######, and I will NEVER simply accept the status quo because 'that's how it is'

money may buy more, but should it? in this situation, no, it should not; it's not just about whether you can afford more ice cream than me... as mox said: this is about people's lives, and not material rubbish

You are quite correct here, but other people who can afford it, can get a better education than someone else. The University of Oklahoma or Kansas or Wisconsin does not cost as much as Duke, MIT or Stanford. You can have the grades to get into the latter, but they still cost more, and the quality of education is probably higher. Same goes for medicene. If you can afford to see the best heart surgeon in the country, then you see him. If not, you get treated by the most competent doctor you are comfortable with.

Also, even if all people paid for expedited processing, it is similar to paying for the same service anyway, because you would be guranteed to get 60-90 day service.

I hate to be the materialistic weasel of the bunch here, but contrary to popular belief, money is what drives the world. Those with money can get preferential treatment in almost all aspects of life. Those without, like myself, do the best with what we got. And if it is something that is important to my life, I will find a way to swing it. But we shouldnt hate on the people that can afford to do it. Is it fair? Probably not, but that is the way the world works in every country on the globe.

But I do agree, USCIS should be much better than they are today, and the neccessity of using expeditied service should be much less than it is now.

[Bobalouie 0]

And I hear what your saying about being trapped in economy class!! I have done the NA to Aussieland 4 times in economy and the NA to Eastern Europe 4 times, and have always wished, just once, I could go in first class! But it is just not worth the price increase to me. The same can be said for this process. If the price was reasonable, like $455 for the petition, and $500 for expeditied service, I would pay it, but if the expeditied service was $2000 that would be unreasonable and wouldnt pay it even if I could afford it.

[StillThePrettiest 4]

contrary to whose popular belief? of course money is largely what drives the world; I'm saying it shouldn't, and that I'm glad this isn't an extra factor and headache that people have to contend with when filing for K-1... which was the original issue under discussion (whether expedition should be available)

and yeah, people can pay for a better education, and healthcare; you're absolutely right - but that's not quite the substance of my point... I was challenging Kazan' Tiger's sweeping generalisation that 'service is service', and saying it was far too broad, and misleading, especially when then applied to all manner of disparate examples (like first class air travel, express delivery of a book, and expedited visa processing)

in any case, I would say that money DOES play a part even now in the visa processing, just less directly - some people have managed multiple trips to see their SOs, and others have even been able to take weeks or months off work to be with their fiancé/e - I would say THIS is closer to being an accurate comparison; they've been able to buy themselves some comfort, like a first class air traveller, but haven't materially impacted on anyone else in line, and skipped ahead of someone who can't afford the faster processing fees

I didn't see anyone 'hating on' anyone, either, just some fairly polite discussion

plus, I'd challenge your belief that money drives 'every country on the globe' - what about Bhutan's Gross National Happiness?

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Never said I was happy about it either! I'm not happy to pay for many things in this country. Are we all perpetuating the high cost of gasoline by continuing to buy it? Do many of us really have a choice? We can debate these issues for a long time. I'm glad to be different. It's what attracted my fiancée to me and me to her. We take pride in being different. It's what makes the world go around!

you don't agree with any of it, but you're quite happy to perpetuate it and would buy into it given the chance? well, I guess we're different in more ways than one