Tinkerbell TX

yes it does matter when it was completed. You cannot compare a year old freeway (dual carriage road) to a 40 year old secondary road!

We don't build roads all the time???? Coulda fooled me! Funny that because I'm driving to work on a brand new freeway (that complete 18 months early). I'm sorry but you are just wrong. One of our airports here is undergoing a major expansion as are others around the country I'm sure. Can't argue on trains or rail.......I'd really like to see more light rail for commuting. Parks? We have plenty of nice parks for the rugrats.

Perhaps you mistake being better with just being different. Why do we have to be the same as everyone else? It is our differences that make us interesting. If we are so awful why are so many people trying to get here?

I'm glad for you that "your family" to build wealth but now you are coming off as an elitist snob.

See that is a prime example of why America is where it is. Regardless of the facts, you guys just cannot accept that you are no longer leaders. Okay, show me where America cities rank when compared to other international cities. Show me where the US ranks in terms of quality of living or the Human development index. These are facts. Not some personal opinion of mine.

I'm not pointing this out like hey I am better than you or top ######. I'm just trying to say you guys need to wake up. Australian conservatives are progressive. We are building the country, as is China or Dubai, which creates jobs. American conservatives hate change and falsely believe only tax cuts will fuel an economy.

I have traveled throughout America. Infrastructure is nowhere near as good as that of other first world countries. Now you're in Texas, which does have so good roads for the US but there are so many other places that are embarrassing. Like your nations capital. The NE of the US, in particular, is quite embarrassing and run down. Lets not even bring into the equation the sheer number of ghettos or run down cities in the US. May of which if you covered any signs, anyone visiting would think they are in a third world country. Texas actually has quite a few places that remind me of Aus.

I really think you are laboring under grave misconceptions about the majority of Americans. I could really care less if we are percieved as leaders or not (in the I'm better than you sense). I prefer not to compare cities (yeah go ahead, I know you're going to slam me for that) BECAUSE each place is unique. What makes one city desireable to one person typically isn't the same to another person.

Yes, you were. You have your own unique set of problems in OZ than we do here. As for your diatribe about conservatives, generalize much?

Jobs are what fuels an economy, lower the taxes on small businesses and you will see an explosion of growth.

Depends where you go, eh, as far as infrastructure goes, just like anywhere. Washington DC, or parts of it, are abysmal, I won't argue on that. as far as the NE is concerned, if you are talking about the roads, winter freezing takes it's toll very fast. That's just a natural process.

Ghettos? yeah, we have them, so do you. Run down cities? same.

OZ has quite a few places that remind me of Texas.

Now back to the topic...............

we have 2 National Health services already in existence.......Medicaid and Medicare. Why are we not just fixing (and they do need to be fixed) and expanding those? Why do we need to completely change something that is working for 80% of the population?

key points are when was the road completed??????? so again, let's compare apples to apples, eh?

Doesn't matter when it was completed. They build new roads all the time. They also renovate and renew others. You guys don't. That is choice. Investing in America is not important here. A road is just for getting from A to B, as are limited trains and the airports. Whereas, everywhere else in the world, excluding your Kenyas and Somalias, it's all about quality of life. A nice road, A nice and modern rail system. A nice modern airport. A nice park for the kids. A nice downtown for people to visit.

America is a winner takes all country. It's all about winning right. Same with your presidential system compared to the parliamentary system used by most of the countries with the top GDP per capita, that is, the ones above the US. Above as in better. As in beaten. You guys just fail to connect the dots and realize that in most rankings not only are you not your prided number one, which being first is so American, but you usually rank 20th to 30th. So not only are you not Numero Uno but you 30th, yet still cannot see and think man we are doing poorly.

For most other countries it's not about being one. They don't care really nor do they promote that as being the and all be all of their society. We help each other out there. We want to build our country. We don't say we are the best until we have factual evidence showing it. It's Australia's generosity, compassion and mateship that allowed my family to build wealth beyond that of most Americans. Allowed us to be educated in schools that quite frankly no poor person in America could even visit.

yes it does matter when it was completed. You cannot compare a year old freeway (dual carriage road) to a 40 year old secondary road!

We don't build roads all the time???? Coulda fooled me! Funny that because I'm driving to work on a brand new freeway (that complete 18 months early). I'm sorry but you are just wrong. One of our airports here is undergoing a major expansion as are others around the country I'm sure. Can't argue on trains or rail.......I'd really like to see more light rail for commuting. Parks? We have plenty of nice parks for the rugrats.

Perhaps you mistake being better with just being different. Why do we have to be the same as everyone else? It is our differences that make us interesting. If we are so awful why are so many people trying to get here?

I'm glad for you that "your family" to build wealth but now you are coming off as an elitist snob.

I'll be travelling that bit of road in OZ in just a couple months and can't wait (110 will feel just like here).

BUT, that said, to do an apples to apples comparison, when were both roads built, how much vehicle traffic is on each, is there significant temperature changes from night to day (obviously on the Stuart) and from summer to winter, rainfall in each area, etc....

just saying..............

You will see it first hand.

Here is an example of a freeway.

Key points are no potholes, reflectors in every lane, street lighting, safety dividers in the middle, emergency telephones. Left emergency lane is also a bike lane.

key points are when was the road completed??????? so again, let's compare apples to apples, eh?

The USA is meant to be a 1st world country but when it comes to health care, most people cant afford it. Yes, the hospitals will treat people, but they are landed with huge bills they cant afford to pay!

I'm amazed that a country like the USA allows their own people to suffer but will spend billions of $ on warfare in Afganistan & Iraq!! crazy!

Well, the US is meant to be a 1st world country in a lot of areas but fails miserably short (think: high school education, vacation time, crime rate, etc.) so why should it be any different with health-care? I think it is enough for certain Americans of a particular political persuasion to just run around shouting 'USA No. 1' without that ever having to truly be the case. It is just so much easier to think it than to work to make it true.

Spot on there. The US has fallen behind in most industries yet people don't even realize this. In the others they're not doing too bad in, international companies are rapidly catching up.

The irony is that it's not folks from well off areas that are complaining, well they complain too if their taxes increase, but I find it's many blue collar workers from medium to small towns. Who basically do not know what they are talking about. They have an opinion but are too preoccupied with sport or their local NFL team's success. Therefore, nothing changes. The country's infrastructure is on pay with countries like India and Mexico.

Pride has destroyed a lot of nations. Egypt, Greece, Rome, Ottomans, Spanish, Dutch and even the English. America is now facing the same destiny. Everyone of those nations at one stage thought we are the best Egypt Egypt Egypt.

Here is an example: Compare the two roads.

Typical small town US road:

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40....337.95,,0,13.25

An Australian road in the middle of the bloody desert, with 110 degree heat

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=-29...,342.02,,0,7.44

I'll be travelling that bit of road in OZ in just a couple months and can't wait (110 will feel just like here).

BUT, that said, to do an apples to apples comparison, when were both roads built, how much vehicle traffic is on each, is there significant temperature changes from night to day (obviously on the Stuart) and from summer to winter, rainfall in each area, etc....

just saying..............

of all the people who would be most likely to give real examples of ways to make the system better, none were ever asked for their opinions or ideas. Shouldn't the people who drafted this monstrosity of a bill have asked DOCTORS and people who use doctors what works and what doesn't?

You must have missed the AMA's expressed support of HR3200.

"On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association, I am writing to express our appreciation and support for H.R. 3200, the 'America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009,'" says Dr. Michael Maves, the AMA's executive vice president and CEO.

"It's not blue or red, or Democratic or Republican. This is something that is the AMA's core values," Rohack [AMA's Prsident] said. "The status quo that is 50 million Americans not having health insurance, a system that has administrative waste and as a result drives up premiums so that it is unaffordable for many patients — that is just not acceptable."

...

House Committee Passes AMA-Supported Revisions to Health Reform Bill

Aug. 1, 2009

Statement attributable to:

J. James Rohack, MD

President, American Medical Association

“The House Energy and Commerce committee passed important AMA-supported revisions to the House bill that will allow physicians to negotiate payment rates in the public plan option and guarantee voluntary physician participation. We applaud members of the committee for recognizing that the ability to negotiate payment rates will help ensure physician participation. The committee also passed medical liability reform.

“The House bill expands coverage through a choice in plans, eliminates denials based on pre-existing conditions and repeals the flawed Medicare physician payment formula.”

Seems to me that Physicians have not only been consulted but have had their voices heard and stand with the administration and the Democrat led Congress in the effort to reform the broken health care system.

And the AMA represents 20% of Doctors, so your point is?

of all the people who would be most likely to give real examples of ways to make the system better, none were ever asked for their opinions or ideas. Shouldn't the people who drafted this monstrosity of a bill have asked DOCTORS and people who use doctors what works and what doesn't? Since when is .gov the leading authority on healthcare?

I'd be very surprised if that were true.

No one in the Houston Medical Center was asked for input.

of all the people who would be most likely to give real examples of ways to make the system better, none were ever asked for their opinions or ideas. Shouldn't the people who drafted this monstrosity of a bill have asked DOCTORS and people who use doctors what works and what doesn't? Since when is .gov the leading authority on healthcare?

By Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer

These disruptions are occurring because opponents are afraid not just of differing views — but of the facts themselves. Drowning out opposing views is simply un-American. Drowning out the facts is how we failed at this task for decades.

That's funny coming from Ms. Pelosi. Pot meet Kettle.

Perhaps all sides should be listened to. Even better would be actually figuring out what needs to be fixed with our current HC system before reinventing the wheel.

It's funny though because we all joke that my American friends and I are the 'uncultured American swine' which is totally a joke because we're all pretty well educated and knowledgeable about world politics, culture, etc. It's just a joke - one which might offend some people, but I absolutely know my German family loves me and say this in absolute jest.

A bit like my host dad calling me a "stupid Aussie!" whenever I said something he didn't understand, haha. We both knew he was just joking, you can't be offended by everything

As for the South American clash we've got going on... remember that every person will have a different experience, and this goes for forming an opinion on cultural norms too. If you know SA couples that are all fantastic, good for you. If you know a lot of SA couples that are not so nice, well, that's life. Either way it's going to influence what you think about the culture in general. How many times have I insisted that kangaroos DON'T jump down the street in Australia, only to have it happen right in front of my fiance when he came to visit? Now he tells everyone, "yes, kangaroos DO jump down the street over there!" and it reinforces the stereotype. It can only take one experience to forever alter your view about something or someone. If you two have had different experiences, so be it, it's nothing to be offended about.

LOL, I'm the "Yank" when I go over there to visit. (going over in Oct for a visit and can't wait!)

Hi everyone! I can't help it! I read in one of the subforums that a petition was approved in 16 days! Wow, they are so lucky!!! It's a non-military application, and the couple underwent the same process as we did. And look how lucky they got! Good for them! Congratulations!

I wish it would be the same for us all. Hehe... In God's time anyway. Congrats again guys!

WOW!!! That's great!

That would really put a wrench (spanner for you over the pond folks ) in things for us. We're trying to time things so that Neil will get his Visa sometime in the May to July 2010 timeframe.

Just wandered thru the "about USCIS" and saw the operating performance........+500,000 new filings this year so far (if I am reading the graph correctly).

In order to fix USCIS I suggest that Nancy Pelosi draft a 1,000 page piece of legislation that will include protection for the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse, limit green house gas emissions from Al Gore's Jumbo Jet, mandate health care for USCIS employees, place a 5% surcharge on the USCIS Directors income, channel funding to ACORN etc. On page 987 will be a paragraph that states that the USCIS Director can at his discretion increase fees to improve efficiency. This legislation can be passed without Republican support and by arm-twisting the Democratic Majority in the House and Senate. President Obama will sign it if he knows nobody has actually read it.

I don't think it's entirely necessary to file an FOIA to understand why the only 2 processing centers go at different speeds. Seems quite straight forward to me............one center is currently receiving more items to process than the other or those items being processed need more hands-on than normal (for example perhaps more RFE's are being sent out). At any rate, I still haven't seen anyone post their suggestions about how to make the system work more efficiently.......except for those who have added their experiences here. They give us tons of guidance on how to file the forms, what information is required, they answer our stupid questions, all so that our Visa experience goes smoother and quicker than theirs did. So, how about a little respect for those "old VJ'ers and some respect for the (I'm sure) overworked USCIS processors.

Once I started researching how long it would take from I129F application to POE, we pretty much figured on a whole year........so we were/are prepared to wait that long. Or, thinking of it another way, we budgeted our time so that we applied early enough so that Neil can retire July 2010 and then move directly here.

registered online and see that we were "touched" on the 13th.

I just checked my account. Check has been cleared yesterday.

Congrats!!!

registered online and see that we were "touched" on the 13th.

To the OP: If you were not ready to wait six months for your approval (which the USCIS states is the normal processing time) then you shouldn't have submitted a petition. There is no "right" to a speedy immigration process. Yes, its not fun waiting, but it is what it is.

Trust me, after you are united with your loved one, the bad feelings will quickly fade. I was stuck at the NVC for 50 days just a few monts ago ... Simply a distant memory now.

Again, you're missing the point. The process CAN be faster, more expeditious, more efficient. It just isn't because USCIS doesn't NEED to make it that way, mostly because most people just DEAL with it. Why would any of you want to discourage someone from trying to make a positive change in this process? It almost seems spiteful to be so discouraging, especially if you've already completed the process.

Man this thread is frustrating to read! I think I'll stop now!

just how many applications do you think they're sitting on? How many cases do you think you could clear in a day and not compromise our national security? May I remind you that there are many other types of visas that are also adjudicated at these same 2 centers. it's not just K1's. We all get in the same line and right now that line is long. Let them do their jobs. If you have some valid ways in which they could improve efficiencies in the process, please post them and let USCIS know about them.

The whole problem with this thread is that people are trying to DISCOURAGE someone from making an attempt to express displeasure with the K1 process. Why in the world would anyone on THIS board want to DISCOURAGE someone from doing that? Does anyone here honestly think that the process absolutely CAN'T be improved in any way? And I understand that many of you have "given up" and think that we just have to deal with it (mostly people who have been on this board for a long, long time) - but do you really think that EVERYONE should feel that way?

Please understand that we aren't discouraging anyone, only reminding some that the processing centers deal with many many visa applications not limited to the K1's.

I don't know if you guys have seen this already or not but it helps to answer a lot of your questions.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...dicator-q-and-a

Waw! Thank you. It gives an insight on what's going on in a Service Center. I read the whole thing. It's very useful. Thanks again.

I agree!! Thanks for posting that for us nOObs.

I didn't vote for Obama either. please don't let him anywhere near VSC..........I don't want any more tax increases and complete overhauls of systems that are working (even if they are slower than we'd like).

Anyone know how many cases are at VSC and how many are being worked on at any given time? And how many people there are working these cases? If there are 10 people working 1000 cases.........yeah, it's gonna take some time.

Good luck to everyone in this tread, hope you have a speedy journey. I was in the July 2008 group can't believe it has been a year since we filed. Believe me going through it was slow and painful but it was all worth it.

GOOD LUCK!

It took you 9 months?!!! I believe that was pretty longer than usual, wasn't it?

We're counting on it taking about 12 months to POE..............he's working til the beginning of July 2010 anyway. Just the way we've got things planned out.

Whoohoo!!!! We received both the return receipt AND the NOA1 today.

Just checked my bank account...........the check cleared yesterday!!!! but I haven't received the return receipt yet.....hoping that'll get here today!! C'mon NOA 1!!

Newbie here too. I sent off our I-129F yesterday!!