Although things could change, I thought I would just let those know who might have any interest that as of today there has been no problems with any of the guys I have been working with on going to Russia or Ukraine.

Several guys have asked me if it is safe to travel to Ukraine or Russia and my response is that no one is screwing with Russia, no one is bombing Ukraine. You are probably safer in Ukraine or Russia today than you are in America.

It's my opinion that if the war continues on for a couple more weeks that airfares overseas could go down.

I would recommend for guys to just go about their business, I would try to keep a low profile but I always recommend this, not just today but always.

And if any of you guys have connecting flights in Baghdad, I would change flights!

... in response to effect of war on guys visiting, posted by Jack on Mar 23, 2003

I can't help but think that some FSU women are going to be dissuaded from coming to, say, the U.S. because of the current war, anticipation of more conflicts with Iran, North Korea (and who knows who else), and even moreso-- more terror strikes in the U.S.

Personally, I see no reason to panic over anything, but I could easily imagine women succumbing to growing anti-Americanism and not coming to join their fiancees as planned.

On a different but related matter, I am getting impatient with the immigration gridlock for processing fiancee visas. Looking at a site that posts information about processing fiancee visas (http://members.aol.com/MDUdall/cscjit.htm), I saw this about the California Service Center:

On 2/15/03 they were processing I-129f's with a receipt notice date of 11/22/02"; 85 days behind.

On 02/01/03 they were processing I-129f's with a receipt notice date of 11/19/02"; 73 days behind.

On 01/01/03 they were processing I-129f's with a receipt notice date of 11/19/02"; 42 days behind.

On 12/01/02 they were processing I-129f's with a receipt notice date of 10/17/02"; 44 days behind.

On 11/15/02 they were processing I-129f's with a receipt notice date of 10/08/02"; 37 days behind.

On 11/05/02 they were processing I-129f's with a receipt notice date of 09/30/02"; 35 days behind.

On 10/15/02 they were processing I-129f's with a receipt notice date of 09/20/02"; 25 days behind.

On 10/11/02 they were processing I-129f's with a receipt notice date of 09/20/02"; 21 days behind.

On 09/27/02 they were processing I-129f's with a receipt notice date of 09/19/02". 8 days behind.

An update is due any day now and it'll be interesting to see if they can make a major breakthrough, say, maybe they are now working on ones from 11/20, or from very, very late in the afternoon of 11/19. At this rate, getting one's fiancee here will take years. However, this bottleneck has to clear up. I understand that since the INS is no longer, restructuring is going on, and that clearly will take a substantial amount of time. Right now, it looks like my plan to have my fiancee join me at the end of the summer is totally unrealistic. (We filed at the end of last year.)

... in response to Re: How about a possible effect on women..., posted by CS767 on Mar 24, 2003

I don't know the alternative, except one immigration lawyer's website says that there's a new K-3 that speeds up processing time. According to the new department's (BCIS's) information, the new processing time for California K-1's is 7 to 8 months. And add a few-to-several months more for the fiancee for the next stage. And if you make a mistake on the original paperwork-- well..

Right now, it look like the process takes a minimum of a year. You have to wonder if marrying at first sight might be a good strategy for the time being, as it'll take at least a year before she gets here, and you have plenty of time for multiple trips. (I can't believe I wrote that!)

... in response to effect of war on guys visiting, posted by Jack on Mar 23, 2003

At home ?  What about my cowboy boots?

You don't think they would reconize me as being an American do ya?

... in response to Re: Does that mean I should leave my cow..., posted by wsbill on Mar 23, 2003

Now the cat is out of the bag,  you were country,
before country was what............forgot.
Are your boot for riding or walking..........

... in response to Re: That depends how many cock roaches, posted by wsbill on Mar 23, 2003

Talking about riding,  wsbill.

We have a saying in french,  like a toast before a drink.

The men say:  Lets drink to our horses, our women and to the ones who rides them.

The girls say:  To our dogs, our men and to the one who do teach them to be obedient.