I got a letter in the mail yesterday from USCIS stating that we didn’t include Erin’s W2 tax statement with the package and because of that don’t meet the income requirements to support a three person family. We made sure that all evidence that was required was in the package sent off to USCIS. Infact we went out of our way to make sure taking an extra couple of weeks to absolutely make sure we had everything. So we can only assume that like the British government, the US government is equally as incompetent and losses important documents regularly. We now need to send off fresh copies of the W2s and also additional supporting evidence such as six months pay slips and a letter of employment. It’s worrying that USCIS (or USELESS as I now refer to them) loses such vital documents and Erin is concerned that we will get denied due to their incompetence. To add to this; I called up the USCIS helpline and they were frankly no help, I was asking generic questions and all they kept on saying is “we don’t have that information” then I got transferred to customer service and they were no more help, glass hammers, chocolate teapots and handbrakes on canoes spring to mind. The only person that knows about our specific case is the person reviewing our case and apparently I can’t talk to that person! I understand they want to make it difficult to immigrate to the US but does it really have to be this damn hard; it’s not like I actually want to live in the US, if circumstances were different I would simply get on a plane back to the UK with my wife and child(ren).
More Formula 1 nonsense, Ferrari failed in getting an injunction against rule changes for 2010. Ferrari tried to get an injunction based upon an agreement with the FIA that gave Ferrari a VETO to block any rule changes when contracts were renegotiated a few years back because manufacturers threatened to start a rival series to be named GP1. But the court dismissed the case because Ferrari breached that contractual agreement when they started FOTA (Formula One Teams Association) making it null and void. Luca di Montezemolo and Ferrari are considering further legal action against the FIA but the reality is they have exhausted their options and either have to fall in line or leave the sport. If the other manufacturers follow suit and leave the sport then I believe the sport will ultimately benefit. Viewing figures may drop initially but they’ll recover and I’d be willing to bet if racing is more equal and exciting to watch more floating viewers will tune in. I believe that F1 needs a revolution to break up the Bernie Ecclestone and CVC monopoly which has gifted Ferrari a preferential $100m payment per year because of their so-called importance to the sport. I don’t care how much history any team has; they are not bigger than the sport! Some sites are reporting that Max Mosley has a vendetta against Luca di Montezemolo but that’s wild speculation; Ferrari have dug themselves into a big hole and are struggling to find a way out; Max Mosley simply called Montezemolo’s bluff! I have heard many opinions on the 606 forums that F1 is turning in Formula 3 because of the budget cap. To be honest if that was the case, I like that as at least F3 is exciting to watch; you genuinely have no idea of who is going to win and there is lots of wheel to wheel action. Which is what F1 used to be before the big money manufacturers got involved; F1 was founded on privateer teams not corporates looking to boost their brand identity. Also many people seem to be referring to McLaren as a manufacturer; WRONG; McLaren are privateer team that just happen to have a factory engine deal with Mercedes. I’m excited about next season if these rule changes happen!