petalbabe Forum Posts (3,101)

Immigration..Aaaaaaaaaargh!!

Further to this post also, I understand that Canada is much more "money orientated" in its immigration requirements than some other countries.

Also, things like DUIs etc are held against you, if you are an American wishing to enter Canada, even if the event happened 20 years ago. I find that quite astonishing!!

Immigration..Aaaaaaaaaargh!!

Yes, quite!!

Immigration..Aaaaaaaaaargh!!

I think it is SOMEWHAT easier to travel within the EU, yes, but as Riz pointed out in a previous posting, even within the EU countries still seem to make up their own rules..

I can totally understand the need for checks, and double checks and so on, especially given the terrorist threats that are around in the world, but when you are a genuine immigrant, seeking to contribute fully in your adopted country, it really is QUITE FRUSTRATING!!

Immigration..Aaaaaaaaaargh!!

I am sorry to hear that, Riz. I am sure she would have made a worthy contributor to the UK..

There is obviously a clear difference between scammers and true cases of people wishing to emmigrate. What I remember is that I myself was actually accused - albeit under a veil - of only wanting a Green Card..



I think in this day and age, with the economic problems in most countrys, some Citizens are becoming a little too paranoid about our motives for relocating to another country..

Immigration..Aaaaaaaaaargh!!

Yes, it seems quite mad sometimes, the excuses they come with. I am sorry for your experience, and I trust you will, or have sorted it out.

Part of the reason I started the thread was to highlight how difficult, and how much committment it takes to go through the immigration process - in ANY country, as my own and your own experience demonstrates..

Some on forums such as these seem to think it is so easy and therefore "we are all at it". As we both know, that is NOT the case..

RE: Are you bothered by extra religious people?

Hi Larry

Well, I have tried emailing with her, and suchlike, but the outcome is always the same. I am also very skeptical that it is actually my sister that writes the emails, and not her husband, but that is pure conjecture on my part..

It is quite simple for me, and I cannot understand why she cannot grasp it. All I want is for her to respect my views, as I respect hers. I have no doubt that she considers her views correct, and I have had to bite my tongue on NUMEROUS occasions in order to avoid all out war. But it seems it does not work both ways..

I just feel that I have to sit back, and wait..

RE: Are you bothered by extra religious people?

I agree with this Riz. I consider myself a "Christian" person, but rarely actually go to church. But because I do not actually enter a church per se, my sister considers I am going straight to Hell..

Maybe I am!!

I have always respected her views, and those of her husband, although I disagree completely with him most of the time as he is very narrow minded and biggoted toward other religions other than his own. They do not possess a TV, and only watch religious videos through a monitor. My sister educates her young son at home, because she does not want him to mix with 'non-believers"

I respect her for her strength of view, but find it equally frustrating and sad that she can be so blinkered..

RE: I was wondering if someone could help me out.

Sorry to hear this, OP..

I get extremely fed up that when a story like this is posted, many jump in, screaming "Scammer, Scammer", or "Game Player, Game Player".. Thats a very skeptical and narrow minded viewpoint, in my humble opinion, and a terrible generalisation.

I would throw into the mix that some get frightened sometimes, by the thought of opening up to someone else, especially if they have been single for some time, and consequently run like Michael Johnson into the sunset, because they are embarrassed to admit that fact and dont know what to say..

These instances of people suddenly disappearing are common. Some, yes, may be scammers, or game players, but BY NO MEANS is that the only reason someone gets cold feet.

RE: Are you bothered by extra religious people?

I agree, Thumps..thats all I can do..

I hope at some point we can come to some agreement, my sis and me, but at the moment it seems impossible. Which of course, is made even more sad by the fact that Im now in the same country as her..

Oh well..

Hope you are well, my friend..

Immigration..Aaaaaaaaaargh!!

As I am currently dealing with the nightmare that is US Immigration Procedure and consequent mounds of paperwork, I thought I would start a thread loosely covering the whole immigration issue to a foreign land and who has gone through it and who knows really what is involved.

The subject of scammers, and particularly people seeking that allegedly Totally Wonderful US Green Card arises a great deal on this forum, and I find it incredibly irritating, to be honest – for several reasons.

Firstly, having read back through past posts in threads that I remember the subject arising, it appears that some are completely mistaken about the actual process of immigration, and what you have to do to achieve Citizenship in your adopted country. So, that’s my first beef; some obviously do not actually know the system but think they do.

Secondly, it is not something to be taken lightly, or to be looked upon as a Get Out Clause. It is expensive, very time consuming and stressful and requires one to meet stringent requirements. The way the subject, as raised on these forums comes across is that it is extremely easy and quick to obtain Citizenship of another country, and that is why there allegedly are so many scammers. Again, this is not true.

As some of you will probably be unsurprised to hear, I have already encountered some here in NYS who are dubious about my motives. That, of course, is their prerogative, and I was kind of expecting a certain amount of skepticism, as that is simply human nature. But it does make me laugh really, because I am a British Citizen, I have a British Passport and I had a perfectly comfortable life in England/Ireland before I met my partner and decided to remain the States. In fact, it will probably cost me -over the course of the rest of my life anyway, MORE to live here than in England, in particular – due in part to the Free Healthcare System Great Britain possesses. Moreover, my sister has lived here for 10 years, and had on several occasions asked me to move to Florida with her.

So, my point is that I am no better off financially to be living in the States. I am here because I WANT to be, and want to build a life and CONTRIBUTE . Obviously, it does not mean in any way that I will lose my “Irishness” or my “Englishness” – in effect I am hoping to actually use those aspects to contribute to the community in bringing a new perspective. And (obviously!) contribute to the US Treasury!

So, the main topic of my thread is this: How many of you have emigrated to another country, or how many of you have had partners, or even family members that you have assisted in this course of action, and how did you find it?? The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, please!! I’m interested in how easy you found it, whether you considered the requirements reasonable or not, and generally how it worked for you and yours.

Also, the general complex question of immigration. How do we all feel about it in this day and age?? Thoughts and posts welcomed..

RE: Are you bothered by extra religious people?

Hi Thumps..

Yep, it does make me sad. It has made me angry in the past, because I truely believe she has been brainwashed, to be honest. She was always somewhat of a follower, and has gone through several different phases in her life already.

I know she truely does believe in her religious views, and I have always respected her for that. But she is my ONLY SIBLING, and I now feel that I have lost her.

RE: Are you bothered by extra religious people?

My sister became a Born Again Christian a few years ago. She met her partner on a Christian Dating Site, and then married him a while ago.

She and I have never really been that close, but in recent years her religious beliefs, which are becoming increasingly blinkered and fanatical, have driven us apart.

I have attempted - several times - to tell her that I love her, and I totally respect her views, but that I will NEVER see religion the same way she does and I would love it if she would just accept me for MY beliefs too. That doesnt seem likely to happen.

It saddens me, because I just want my sister back and to have a "normal" sister to sister relationship with her, without it turning into a religious debate/argument.

RE: Testing potentials

My partner didnt test me, well - not as far as I am aware..

But a "friend" of his did - a female friend. Without going into details, she attempted a honey trap with me, and it backfired on her. Now, neither myself or my partner have any respect whatsoever for this lady, and she lost two potentially good friends.

So, there you go. If you want to meddle in others' relationships, you have to chance getting your fingers burnt..

RE: Thread creativity.

Absolutely.

RE: Thread creativity.

Yes, I totally agree with all you have said in this post, Jan. Spot on. Well, it is blatantly obvious to me why some male members here have suddenly decided what a terrible, horrible woman I am, where a few months ago I was Flavor of the Year - Its not too difficult to work out the reasons behind that!!



Well, I have already experienced some great things in my new life, and have occasionally thought about starting threads about them, but I just felt that recently there was a little animosity around so I decided not to chance being accused of being an American, or of monolopising threads.

I really enjoy good, adult discussion, and have enjoyed many happy hours when I was lonely in my life debating with some on here! I sincerely hope that just because I am now attached certain members will have the sense to see Im still the same Petalbabe I was a few months ago.

So, anyway, I will attempt to start some new threads!!

RE: When was the last time someone said to you "I love YOU"?

About 2 hours ago....

RE: What's the hardest thing you're dealing with in your life, right now?

No, thats not what I meant. Your post was as I quoted it - a man who sounds quite happy with what he has, and has little time for anything else, is not very desirable to a woman who wants to share.

Not rocket science, really...

RE: "Americans" Lets have some feedback from eveyone!

OK, Im off to Walmart - sporting my "I Love Americans" T-Shirt now.. Joke!!

Good to see you, Gods, best wishes..

RE: "Americans" Lets have some feedback from eveyone!

Hurray! We agree!

Yep, it gets tedious, for all concerned actually - it would be nice to see less threads pertaining to the States, for sure. Apart from some of the Obama threads, however, alot of these threads are started by non-Americans!

Yep, I agree with you, Godsgift; a little more variety on here would be good.

Hope you are well..and yes, I guess I do get fiery - thats good, I think!

RE: United States Get Together Where and When?

There's always Central Park, Thumps..

RE: "Americans" Lets have some feedback from eveyone!

Further, if I saw a thread entitled "Irish People" - Lets have some feedback from everyone, I think that I too would probably rush in and post; of course I would! Anything that pertains in any way to one's own country is going to be of interest, I would have thought..

RE: "Americans" Lets have some feedback from eveyone!

RE: "Americans" Lets have some feedback from eveyone!

I did read the posts, Godsgift. Both yours and Snugg's. Thats why I said that she realised she had made a mistake in reading the thread title, and later apologised for it. Why is that so hard to accept?

And, then you say "its none of your business"..



Well, you seem pretty darn interested from what I can see..

I think you are using Snugg's innocent mistake as just another excuse to put a boot in, to be honest..

RE: "Americans" Lets have some feedback from eveyone!

Ok, fine, you are not Irish. Secondly, your religion was never mentioned in my post.

Fine, whatever nationality you are, the point remains the same as regards the way the Irish display flags, etc, so as regards to Snugg's post, there is no difference.

You may think that some posts convey "arrogance" - that is your preogative. I dont wish to get into that. You posted directly to Snugg's post regarding her having a flag on her desk, and a US numberplate - that is why I replied to you on that particular point.

Lastly, if you take the time to read back on Snugg's subsequent post, you will see that she misread the title of the thread, and apologised for that. So, sue her for being human!

RE: "Americans" Lets have some feedback from eveyone!

What is arrogant about having your country's flag on your desk at work? What is arrogant about being proud of your country?

If you want to talk about YOUR perception of "arrogance", look around your homeland in Ireland. Almost EVERY other house is painted in the tri-color, almost every house window/car window sports either an Irish Tricolor or the relevant County flag. "Irish Pride" is lengendary, dont you agree?? I have always considered that a good and admirable thing to see - people being proud of their country/county as so many Irish people are..

What difference is there between what the Irish do, and what Snuggs mentioned in her post?

Country Bashing..

Sorry, thats me!

Country Bashing..

The thread was purely tongue in cheek,passion!

RE: "Americans" Lets have some feedback from eveyone!

Cool...!

I dont need to rise to anything..

I just like intelligent debate, and I thank you, Englishman, for some amusement tonight..

RE: "Americans" Lets have some feedback from eveyone!

Hi from the Northern to the Southern..

RE: "Americans" Lets have some feedback from eveyone!

Ah, yes,,,,,

Thats the joy of it...