California Service Center To Texas Service Center

[Val and Gary 29]

I hope you don't mind, I replied to her about her reply to your email.

:

Ms. Bernstein,

I saw your reply to Sean Carmody about your June 2010 immigration story. I think you are missing the big picture. Many of the people from your June 2010 story had the benefit of actually living together in the US at the time your story was written, which means they broke the law in some way, probably by overstaying on a tourist visa. Most of us applying for an immigrant spouse have to go through a long process in which 3 government agencies have a part to play. For 35,000 of us who filed in June/July 2010 the process got extended some months due to mismanagement at USCIS (see the link above). My application is still unapproved 6-months later. Not to mention the 6-9 months it's expected to take for the remainder of the process at NVC and the German Consulate. Finally, we USCs have to wait over a year to see the whites of our spouses eyes, although we follow the rules to a tee. The point is, as you pointed out in your story, we are paying a tremendous price in relationships damaged, dollars spent, and man-hours wasted in trying to detect fraudulent marriages, probably because of fear of terrorism. Most people do not marry immigrants so they do not care, as long as they feel that DHS is doing something to keep them safe. With the recent headlines about TSA pat-downs and what not, this is the perfect opportunity to write a story that highlights the price we pay as a nation in order to feel a little bit safer. Let the Citizens be responsible for whom they choose to marry. We don't need 6 months of background checks to keep us safe from our immigrant spouses.

Respectfully,

Nice letter. VERY nicely worded letter.

[xelance 31]

great letter, but very sad when they wont publish something when we are the ones doing everything by the book and are getting screwed. I keep telling myself that we are US citizens, but it sure doesn't feel that way. It feels like we are all illegal immigrants.

[xelance 31]

Good work to everyone here, what a horrible situation we are all in...we need to stay together and come out of this ####### alive and in one piece. Remember, we are all here for each other.

[J e n n y 26]

Nice letter. VERY nicely worded letter.

I agree, that's a great letter.

[sarah et luc 7]

This is helpful, thanks. My husband and I have been thinking about having him just come here on VWP while we wait. Living apart is just so depressing – this whole seeing each other for two weeks every six months thing is not working for us – but we are worried about him not being able to show any ties to his home country (he has been unemployable since getting his Master's degree – makes sense, right?).

I'm glad your wife made it through. Enjoy your time together!

My husband was here on VWP in August. He was unemployment in France. They asked him if he had income. He replied yes (didn't specify from where bc it's not their business). He had a return ticket, no i-130 but the officer was able to pull it up on the screen. I told him why would we pay to apply for the i-130 if he was going to come illegally anyway. He said I had a good point and let us through.

[spcarm 9]

I hope you don't mind, I replied to her about her reply to your email.

:

Ms. Bernstein,

I saw your reply to Sean Carmody about your June 2010 immigration story. I think you are missing the big picture. Many of the people from your June 2010 story had the benefit of actually living together in the US at the time your story was written, which means they broke the law in some way, probably by overstaying on a tourist visa. Most of us applying for an immigrant spouse have to go through a long process in which 3 government agencies have a part to play. For 35,000 of us who filed in June/July 2010 the process got extended some months due to mismanagement at USCIS (see the link above). My application is still unapproved 6-months later. Not to mention the 6-9 months it's expected to take for the remainder of the process at NVC and the German Consulate. Finally, we USCs have to wait over a year to see the whites of our spouses eyes, although we follow the rules to a tee. The point is, as you pointed out in your story, we are paying a tremendous price in relationships damaged, dollars spent, and man-hours wasted in trying to detect fraudulent marriages, probably because of fear of terrorism. Most people do not marry immigrants so they do not care, as long as they feel that DHS is doing something to keep them safe. With the recent headlines about TSA pat-downs and what not, this is the perfect opportunity to write a story that highlights the price we pay as a nation in order to feel a little bit safer. Let the Citizens be responsible for whom they choose to marry. We don't need 6 months of background checks to keep us safe from our immigrant spouses.

Respectfully,

I don't mind at all. You make some very valid points that I will try to incorporate into any other letter I write to the media. I'm so pissed off about all this that I could write for days on end, non-stop. Unfortunately though I'm supposed to be writing out my comp exams for my Master's Degree right now and I start teaching again on Friday. This whole process is just so disruptive to decent people like us. Even if some of us are not working right now, this is taking us a way from other constructive and positive things that we could be doing.

[OuterX 5]

Two questions for the group:

(1) Does there seem to be a particular geographic area affected? There seems to be many Floridians affected, myself included. That might be an edge we could pursue with Florida State and Federal legislatures regarding adverse actions affecting a particular region.

(2) Has anyone sent information regarding this to high profile, but out of the mainstream media such as the Drudge Report, or high profile radio talk shows (Mark Levin; Michael Savage; Rush; Hannity)?

At a time when the government is bending over backwards to reward and facilitate illegal immigration in every way possible, but at the same time running a draconian "legal" immigration process there might be ample appetite for our story.

Just some thoughts.

[fermat 32]

I wonder if those folks would support us or not. Those people are usually outspoken against government inefficiency and waste. But they also I think have supported some of the more extreme security measures deemed necessary for "the war on terrorism".

(2) Has anyone sent information regarding this to high profile, but out of the mainstream media such as the Drudge Report, or high profile radio talk shows (Mark Levin; Michael Savage; Rush; Hannity)?

[Val and Gary 29]

Two questions for the group:

(1) Does there seem to be a particular geographic area affected? There seems to be many Floridians affected, myself included. That might be an edge we could pursue with Florida State and Federal legislatures regarding adverse actions affecting a particular region.

(2) Has anyone sent information regarding this to high profile, but out of the mainstream media such as the Drudge Report, or high profile radio talk shows (Mark Levin; Michael Savage; Rush; Hannity)?

At a time when the government is bending over backwards to reward and facilitate illegal immigration in every way possible, but at the same time running a draconian "legal" immigration process there might be ample appetite for our story.

Just some thoughts.

Howard Stern anyone?

Yeah, there are quite a few Floridians affected, us included. It's not a geographical thing though, I think it's just that in general, Florida is a high immigrant state.

Your last paragraph says it all. There's much food for thought in your post.

[OuterX 5]

I wonder if those folks would support us or not. Those people are usually outspoken against government inefficiency and waste. But they also I think have supported some of the more extreme security measures deemed necessary for "the war on terrorism".

They are 100% in favor of legal immigration and would salivate over a story like this one. I have heard each of them bring up the glaring illegal and legal dichotomy this government has put in place (referred to in my post above). It is worth a try to bring this to a national level of debate.

[fermat 32]

The simple fact is that people don't how long it really takes for an immigrant spouse to be allowed into the country, let alone to get a Green Card. When I tell people I've been waiting 6 months and I expect to wait another 6 months, they are shocked because they all thought the process was more or less instantaneous. Get married and then you're home-free. Finally this is not an issue affecting very many people, as opposed to TSA pat-downs or the Arizona immigration laws so the media is not interested. That's why we have essentially no voice. Although, 19,000 cases in November at CSC seems like a lot of people. I would say the best way to affect change is to write your Senators once a week. Writing your local newspapers isn't a bad idea either.

Howard Stern anyone?

Yeah, there are quite a few Floridians affected, us included. It's not a geographical thing though, I think it's just that in general, Florida is a high immigrant state.

Your last paragraph says it all. There's much food for thought in your post.

[Nataliya-Ron 7]

Well Nina looks and may have been correct since there is so much Illegal

immigrations probelms already in the media.

We will have to just keep trying other methods.

Good LUCK

[Val and Gary 29]

Another line of reasoning, is that the legal immigration system is so in need of restructuring, that it is actively encouraging illegals. This may a good way of bringing OUR situation into the illegals argument.

Edited January 23, 2011 by Val and Gary

[fermat 32]

I would certainly write or call in to those shows. Drudge I think is just a composite of existing news stories, I don't think they do anything original.

They are 100% in favor of legal immigration and would salivate over a story like this one. I have heard each of them bring up the glaring illegal and legal dichotomy this government has put in place (referred to in my post above). It is worth a try to bring this to a national level of debate.

[Val and Gary 29]

I agree, that's a great letter.

A subtle change of user name!