@GayotFow Do you have an email or website of some sorts where I can contact you or have a chat? You're one of the most interesting people I've met on TSE and I'd love to talk some time!

Also, not sure if this is taboo now, but what happened with pnuts? Last I heard he made some mass edits, but aside from that was there some drama that I missed or something?

@JoelDamien Hi, Joel. I'm not in practice any more and only do visa stuff for family and very close friends. I no longer carry the statutory liability insurance and because of my internet profile the Commissioner would totally love to catch me, so sorry mate.

Intrepid stalkers from here have tracked me down in person because they want me to help with their personal stuff and I have to tell them foxtrot oscar.

But if you are around long enough and trusted enough like @JoErNanO or Neanderthal, then I'll offer a personalised tour of Marylebone :) wouldn't that be nice?

Thanks for your kind words and all the best for a great weekend!

It is too bad. pnuts did a lot of good work

@GayotFow Oh, I remember reading that you did not practice anymore on your profile some time back. That's not actually the reason I wanted to talk (aside from maybe getting a few recommendations of other practicing consultants, but again, no plan on that as I don't plan on moving to the UK right now - just visits, that I can manage myself)

It was more to talk about some of the things I've seen you say on here, and just curiosity about ECOs and IOs and what life must be like for them (I assume you know a few of them, and about their lifestyle)

And also I was going to ask what you were going to do about that question you commented on about the botched refusal notice...

But of course I understand you must have had a lot of negative experiences with people seeking immigration advice so of course, I respect your decision.

@ZachLipton yeah! I've only had good experiences with him, no idea why he's disliked all of a sudden, surely it can't all be just because of the mass edits?

That thing you said about ECOs getting in more trouble for refusals than accepting applications is what really piqued my interest.

What is everyone up to at the moment anyway? Currently bored and slaving away at my 9-5 :'(

@JoelDamien I don't think anyone disliked him; I certainly didn't. The mass edits were something that the community discussed at some length, but it was never personal and was intended more like "hey, you make some really good contributions, but this one particular thing is frustrating, so can you not do that please?"

But it ended up being taken personally

Ah I see

So he sort of left/quit on his own?

As far as I know, after that discussion

Unless there are parts of the story I'm not aware of

I see, shame really. His question about the Kurdistan blood tests netted me a neat 250 rep bounty haha.

Speaking of bounties. Are we doing another bounty bonanza soon? I've already dropped from top 2% to top 10%... I need to farm me some more bounty :D

I don't know if pnuts left after that discussion. All I know is that, according to his profile, he left for some time then showed up again at the beginning of may.

I hope he did not leave because of that discussion.

My understanding is that pnuts was coping with mental illness manifesting as OCD; if this is true and we have seen his descent, it would have invariably wrought more personal problems with family, job, colleagues, etc. This would have driven him away rather then TSE commentary. He's a fine lad and needs whatever support this community can muster.

====>> While I'm here, people should be collecting bounties by answering the a+c+e question. It bugs me that I cannot award bounties for it because nobody tries.

@GayotFow It's kinda hard to add to your magnificent answer, old friend.

@GayotFow @JoErNanO I'm not particularly well suited to work on such a canonical question, mainly because I don't have much experience with or knowledge of US visa practices. It seems far more opaque than the UK, certainly, and probably also than the Schengen system.

@GayotFow I thought of you as I was responding to the comments in...

... because (I believe) I managed to express the distinction between the rules and the regulations correctly. The new material is perhaps too long and rather a ramble. I should probably restructure it a bit, but I haven't got the time at the moment. If you are able to make your way through it in its present state, I would welcome any corrections or other comments you may have.

I see, @GayotFow Thanks for the info.

Also, where is this "a+c+e" question? I do not see it in the featured list...

Also lol at that guy nitpicking my use of the word "devastating" :^)

@phoog I think you have it right, everything from the EU is put through Parliament as a statutory instrument, hence regulation.

@JoErNanO it's not an issue of difficulty, it's an issue of effort :) you can try

@JoelDamien Agreed. It's not like it's a matter of statutory construction.

Besides, one's reaction to a situation such as that is personal. One person could legitimately shrug it off while another might in fact be truly devastated.