Hello friends

[Susie]

Hi


Just wanted to say hello to all on expats for the support and kindess shown to my family and I.


I am back posting, well almost, and trying to stop by every day if even if it is for a few minutes.

Also trying to catch up on all the new members and postings which will take some time.

There has been so much media and other interest in this site regarding our story, our families wish to live the dream and have had some VIP people contact me. Hmmmm Even had a call from an immigration attorney from California out of the blue.

Bill Rufty of The Ledger has promised to continue to help with promotion of this site with his other media contacts and has shown a personal interest in our aims. He said he would be willing to follow up on www.expatsvoice.org in the future

Paul Thompson, the overseas reporter for the Mail, has also shown a great interest in this site as he is (very shortly) applying for change of status to a LPR. He British, married with a 20year old girl living in the USA and son who is 19 years old in UK at present, who wishes to follow to join his family once his degree is completed. This is the same type of senario that my family found itself in. Paul is going to stop by this site often and hopefully join. What a wonderful thing it would be to have our own jounalist on board !

Hopefully (my leg permitting) I have appointments with various immigration attornies the week after next and will let you all know the outcome asap

[JulieC]

Great to see you back, Susie.

[floridapete]

Sorry I was out when you called me Friday PM (UK time) Susie.

Please call again - I will be in most evening this week.

[Susie]

Hi Julie and Peter

Thanks.

Very shortly I would like to arrange a get together with as many of our members as possible to get wheels in motion , so to speak

I have some interesting appoinments coming up in the next couple of weeks but am open to when this meeting would be a good time to set up

My guess would be a Sunday afternoon would be the best day as most people get this day off. Or at least would be able to bring their emergency cell phone with them and monitor the calls ! If you know what I mean

[Kriz1]

Hi Sue...nice to see you back..not sure what help I can be up here in MA..but if you think of something just shout...

[mark]

Hi

If it is too difficult to get together in one place then maybe we could arrange a day date and time and meet in the chat room on this site.

Should anyone have any ideas about the meeting and cannot attend then perhaps they could post their ideas on this thread?

[Susie]

Hi Sue...nice to see you back..not sure what help I can be up here in MA..but if you think of something just shout...


Hi Kriz 1

Thank you for welcoming me back.

If you are willing there is so much you can do in MA to help all of us

By contacting your local media informing them of this site and aims, passing the word to all your friends , neighbors , BBB, Chamber of commerce , contacting your Senator and congressman to ask they support our group to raise awareness to the judiciary committee.

I would like to see USC joining this site as well to support us legals. I am sure They are also fed up of hearing about The Guest Worker Program. If they were informed of exactly what it is like to be an immigrant dealing with the USCIS they would be horrified, especially if they realised that there is no humanitarian visa for legals and how my son has been treated.

There are many USC who have mothers/fathers/brothers or sisters who live in a country that has the visa waiver program. If either of the USC are seriously injured in a car crash, in a coma or diagnosed terminal then their families reaction would be to jump on a plane to assist them. I bet they are not aware of the visa wavier rules.

Neighbors in my street are USC and the husband comes from Turkey. He has elderly parenets that are on their own in home country. He has petitoned for them to follow to join him in the USA as he is the breadwinner and unable to leave the USA, he is able to support his parents so they would not be a drain on the system in the USA. His wife (native USC) is willing to stay at home to care for his parents and has already called my Congressmans office about her in laws and my sons case asking they support a compassionate visa

Any family members from a visa waiver country would have to leave the USA before 90 days which is exactly what happened to my son.

We must petition for a compassionate visa as there is no provision in Federal law to extend your stay on a visa wavier.

[Kriz1]

Let me get some numbers and e-mail addys and I'll see what I can do...I have a few people in mind to start with...