JoeCanuk

Sorry to go off topic but I would gladly pay some taxes to the Canadian government to still be able to access Canadian health care. Citizenship should entitle someone to health care, not residency.

That is because your green card will show where you were born, thus signifying your citizenship. Since a Canadian citizen has the right to enter Canada, a green card showing you're a Canadian citizen is good enough to enter Canada. That, and I believe the states and Canada has an agreement to let Canadians use their green card since it is a land border crossing. I always used my green card; in fact if I remember correctly the Canadian customs site said that you can use your green card to enter Canada.

With all due respect folks, what did you expect the President to do? The President has nothing to do with immigration matters. I believe it's Congress that handles things like that.

You missed the point of the meaning, anything worth waiting takes time to develop. As you stated you'll didn't do your due deligent until after you had married. If you have done your due deligent than you'll wouldn't have been un-prepared for the process. You can't blame others for what you didnt do.
Immigration is not just about you'll bringing your love ones into the country , it's about the US government protecting the welfare of it's citizens and protecting the national security of the country.
The bottom line is this, nothing is going to change about this process until those who venture into it, ventures with a truthful purpose, rather than those who venture for a fraudualent gain. When the US government can find a way to weed out those who wish to harm its citizens or harm the country national security, this process will no longer be long and hard. AS I see it this is not going to happen in the near future, as you'll are screaming about the US process other countries have step up their immigration process to include more national security checks. As I see it the US is probably a couple of steps ahead of other countries, it atleast allows you to petition for a non-USC to migrate to this country.

J visa (work visa) allows for as much as 5 years of working in the US. Not picking apples in the orchard, but doing science, engineering, programming... it is plenty of time to meet someone, marry and create a life in the US, including children.
Do you want those people to go back to their country and endure a year apart from their spouse and possibly children? What if the spouse on work visa is the only spouse working (USC spouse caring for the babies) and they can not provide for their USC family from abroad due to low wages in their home country?
I don't think you are that cruel, are you?

For those criticizing the impersonal/standard nature of the letter, what do you prefer? That President Obama take time each day to respond to the thousands of people who contact him? That he uses our tax money to hire people to answer each letter personally, tracking down the person's case and needs? I think it was a good letter--it clearly articulated the administration's position on the relevant issue area, even if it wasn't specific to family-based immigration. Sheesh.