Travel ban

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

OP:

If you don't like the policies, pack up and go back home. We, USians, really don't need you; your post about immigration is particularly amusing because we have tons of people coming over to the USA right now from our southern border. If you want to play by our rules, then we'd be delighted to have you.

PROTIP: Before you commit to something like this again, read the friggin' rules.

-Knight

Edited August 20, 2009 by KnightAndMagpie

[DanielParul 50]

6 pages?? REALLY?

[Scott-Leonor 0]

Just a thought, maybe you should have married in your spouses native country and filed for a K3 then you could travel as much as you wanted while your AoS is pending. A K1 is a single use entry visa, it is what is it. You should have known that when you applied for it.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Wow didn't know there were so many people supporting the USCIS on here. Everyone must appreciate their waits no? Maybe USCIS should raise fees further and reduce staff to increase the time you wait further...you know to increase your support for the organization.

Edited August 20, 2009 by lancer1655

[Nik+Heather 121]

Wow, there were so many points I wanted to respond to here, so I just stopped hitting the quote button... I worked really hard today, and missed this - I feel really late to the party.

Let's see:

1. Proportionally, us family based petitioners have a LOT fewer votes than people who are not married to (or trying to get married to) people in other countries. Laws are ideally written for the good of general populace. From a general populous perspective, they don't want love-blind citizens bringing in fraudsters or other bad people. They want them checked out. There are bad people out there, and apparently a lot of them want in here. If you're not a fraudster/other sort of bad person, you're practically guaranteed approval. It's not just about the fees and taxes we pay, the rest of the citizens of this country also have a right to be protected from what might be done to them by someone who lies/cheats/manipulates their way in here. It's not really our interests being considered at all (except to allow a path in the first place).

2. Every country I can think of has regulations about who may enter the country, and under what conditions etc. We do too, believe it or not, and until you are a resident (w/ green card!) you are not guaranteed to be allowed in. One of the things which makes you inadmissible, is intent to enter and stay without being an approved permanent resident. Without being approved to stay, you're inadmissible. The AP (or other visas, like K1) gets you around that. There are options which allow our SOs to come in with the green card application process already completed, and there are options which allow them to get here faster so they can wait it out in the country with their loved one. It's a trade off.

So. If it's the rights of the rest of the country to be protected from bad people and the US can (and should!) check on people who are coming in and especially on people who want to stay, some process has to be gone through.

Yes, it would be nice if it was faster. More streamlined, less cumbersome and confusing. If we could KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON!! and count on knowing when it would be finished, but I don't think it would be a good idea if we did away with it all together.

As to the speed of things, I think we go back to the idea that they have limited funds, and work with what they have. No, it's not the responsibility of the general public - people who aren't importing family members to pay for the process, and I'm sure that our fees can't really cover the whole cost, it must be subsidized partially by the work visas and some tax money. We Americans don't really like taxes, and I doubt very much that many would vote to increase spending on something which benefits such a small segment of the population. Further, costs can't really go up much higher, every day, there is another couple on here who can't afford it as it is!! So I'm not sure where the money to go faster is supposed to come from.

It's really easy to see what's wrong with things. And easy to get mad about them. Apparently difficult to see what's right with things or to propose actual viable solutions.

[estrella 14]

Everyone says you are able to leave whenever you want right? The problem would be to come back?

Then is not really a ban, you just need the right paperwork to extend your ONE entry visa... so the subject of this thread is wrong....

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

So. If it's the rights of the rest of the country to be protected from bad people and the US can (and should!) check on people who are coming in and especially on people who want to stay, some process has to be gone through.

Yes, it would be nice if it was faster. More streamlined, less cumbersome and confusing. If we could KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON!! and count on knowing when it would be finished, but I don't think it would be a good idea if we did away with it all together.

As to the speed of things, I think we go back to the idea that they have limited funds, and work with what they have. No, it's not the responsibility of the general public - people who aren't importing family members to pay for the process, and I'm sure that our fees can't really cover the whole cost, it must be subsidized partially by the work visas and some tax money. We Americans don't really like taxes, and I doubt very much that many would vote to increase spending on something which benefits such a small segment of the population. Further, costs can't really go up much higher, every day, there is another couple on here who can't afford it as it is!! So I'm not sure where the money to go faster is supposed to come from.

It's really easy to see what's wrong with things. And easy to get mad about them. Apparently difficult to see what's right with things or to propose actual viable solutions.

I couldn't have put it better -- yes, it has its issues, and its kinks, but we forget how immense this country is. There's laws to protect us, laws we will perceive differently and see as frustrating. There are many on this forum who've had to go through Additional Processing after their K-1 (or other) interviews, and I was lucky enough to not have anything more than about a month. There are those who have to spend a year or more just waiting for a response, and they shouldn't have to. But sadly, because of people out there who abuse the system, there are processes in place to try and ensure that the people coming into this country have genuine intent.

Nobody likes taxes -- they're there for a reason. Up here in Alaska, they're vital to ensure that the fire and police department keep working. My mother-in-law is a senior firefighter captain and my brother-in-law's fiancee just finished working with forestry to try and keep the forest fires up here from getting out of control. Equally, we can see there's flaws in goverment spending, but nothing's perfect.

You have to earn your way to get here -- it's not easy ticket. I'd only say to be thankful that you're not one of the ones still stuck in the limbo part of the process, and that the fact you can't travel immediately is a small price to pay for getting your green card. There is an option available to bypass that, so as others have stated, "ban" isn't really an appropriate term. And no, I don't agree with the horrendous fees you have to pay to get through the process -- believe you me -- but if people who weren't able to contribute to the system came up here, then how will that assist the country or the people on the other side, the petitioners? I certainly didn't want to be a burden on my husband, or his family.

That said, everyone has had their own experience with the USCIS, and we're all entitled to our own opinions. Some have had an easier time than others. I'm just grateful that I'm one of the lucky ones, and I hope things will get easier for those who are not.

Magpie.

Edited August 20, 2009 by KnightAndMagpie

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Leidys and I are looking forward to participating in my annual 4WD campout in Baja, Mexico...but, after the K-1 is adjusted. I agree that its a bummer, since Baja, Mexico is a short drive from where I live, but we'll explore Death Valley, Anza Borrego, Joshua Tree, and the Southwest until we can camp and vacation in Baja, Mexico as well. We'll be applying for the AP.

Here are a few pics of some great camping just south of the border:

[KnightAndMagpie 7]

Wow didn't know there were so many people supporting the USCIS on here. Everyone must appreciate their waits no? Maybe USCIS should raise fees further and reduce staff to increase the time you wait further...you know to increase your support for the organization.

YES I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU.

-Knight

Edited August 20, 2009 by KnightAndMagpie

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Wow didn't know there were so many people supporting the USCIS on here. Everyone must appreciate their waits no? Maybe USCIS should raise fees further and reduce staff to increase the time you wait further...you know to increase your support for the organization.

YES I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU.

-Knight

My point is that he is simply venting about the situation he's in. If you actually look back at his first post you'll find he also spoke of his K1 not just the AP.

I'm just a little surprised at all of the "if you don't like it then leave comments" from a group of people who are supposed to be supportive given this is an immigration website. There are probably two to three venting threads on this forum a week and normally the poster gets positive reassuring comments. I'm somewhat dismayed at the negativity he's received and can only assume its because they are both here in the US already and are considered in the "extremely lucky category" (even though we all get there in the end). Had he posted this within a few months of filing and they were still separated my guess is the comments would have been kinder.

I know there is a lot of bitterness on this site because of this process and honestly I think many of the posters here have directed their bitterness at this person.

Edited August 20, 2009 by lancer1655

[DaleandPat 0]

We are finding out while adjusting we are not allowed to travel abroad!!! It is insane to both of us to be subjected to this kind of treatment. No one in our life stopped us from traveling freely and here we go, the US, the alleged most free country in the world can tell us when we can travel and when we can't. We are not anymore in the 80's East block anymore. What is the purpose of this?? We are not criminals. What do they think they are???

Further the all process of obtaining a visa for a spouse is ridiculous, heavy, un-respectful, expensive and borderline comical and stupid. I have better words for it but I should be nice! I tell you it does not show well to the rest of world, the way foreigners seeking visas are treated with this process. I am certain we will get many objections from the US if a US citizen has to be going through this type of process from another country.

I think I understand a bit of how you feel and what you see. I know getting a visiting visa for the USA is very hard and a long process. In some cases people cannot just come to the USA on a visa because of the lack of money they have. One the other hand freedom has its price. If requirements were relaxed and we could come and go internationally, terrorists could too. You are right we are losing our freedoms, but a lot of it is to protect our interior from terrorist activity. Once when you can prove you have the financial means to leave after a visit and your intentions are to leave, visitors can come and visit quite freely, which is something that you cannot do in Russia. We just cannot open the borders and have people coming and living here in huge numbers. There is only so much room. I do not think everything is fair, but if we see something maybe we can initiate a change. I am grateful that I can bring someone that I have met and love to this country. God bless.

Dale

[D&R 0]

What our frustrations come from is the fact that we need to ask if it is ok to travel abroad, nobody ever before told us when we can travel. I know we need to file an AOS to be able to travel while waiting for adjustment.

This does not show us we are free to travel and this is totally insane to us. I am about to file for adjustment and according to the time line it will pass around 50 days before we are "allowed" to travel.

The way I see it we need to ask for a permission (AP) to travel but it will be given only for emergency. We are effectively prevented from a government from traveling and it is not an acceptable behavior.

My quote about the former east block was a metaphor to show what repressive countries were.

Calm down! What's wrong with a little bi of waiting? So many people are in such a rush to get to their partners country, and now you're there, you're in a rush to travel out of it so fast too. Why not take a few months to settle in, find a job get familiar with your surroundings while waiting for your AP, before jetting off again.

As far complaining about it, if you'd done your research you'd have known this was the case before you even filled in Form No. 1. Has this really just come as a surprise to you? Your new country that YOU CHOSE to live in has rules.... now there's a surprise! There'll be many rules and laws that are different than you're used to... that's because it's a different country!!! (Duh) Some you'll agree with, and some you won't... it really doesn't matter. As for bringing it up at your interview.... Good Luck with that, and let us know how it goes

[clueless_in_usa 8]

Free of our moves is not a privilege (given by somebody because we are nice) but rather a right and at this moment I have to make many concessions around my life just because this moving restriction that was imposed to us..

I wish to know one good reason why a K1 can't travel abroad after the first entry. I take it all back if I can have one good valid reason.

OP: It has been said a few times already, but let me explain it for you better: You and your fiancee/wife can travel anywhere you want, even outside the US. The only thing you cannot do is reenter the USA.

What you do not seem to understand is the conditions of the visa that was granted to your fiancee. It is a ONE ENTRY VISA. When you are granted a visa to ANY country, you have to abide by the rules of such visa. Therefore, if your fiancee wants to reenter the USA after traveling abroad, she MUST get a NEW visa (in your case, a CR-1). The fact that she has a Swiss passport does not allow her to break US immigration rules. Her VWP (another privilege, instead of a right) is no longer valid since the moment she said "I DO."

Get it?

By the way, you, the USC, can go anywhere, anytime. You are under no restriction to travel. You are a USC and you are FREE to go where you please, whenever you please and reenter the USA any time you want. Your wife, she is a citizen of Switzerland. She is FREE to travel in and out of SWITZERLAND whenever she wants as you can do in the USA. However, for her, traveling in and out of any other country outside the EU is ONLY to the discretion of the government of that other country.

Lower your sense of "entitlement." You are a USC. She is NOT!

Understand?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Just a thought, maybe you should have married in your spouses native country and filed for a K3 then you could travel as much as you wanted while your AoS is pending. A K1 is a single use entry visa, it is what is it. You should have known that when you applied for it.

Of course, and even applied for a CR-1 and work right away on arrival. There are several options. As USUAL, they chose the one that was "fastest" and now do not like to deal with the choice THEY made. Typical "I want it all and I want it right now and no one should care because we are in love!".

Apply for your AP...or...just leave. Travel all you want...there IS NO BAN on your travel. We do not hold anyone here against their free will.

You wanted a "good reason" for why you cannot "travel" (actually, return from travel) The REASON is you CHOSE the K-1 visa and that is the deal YOU agreed to. The visa process makes this very clear and YOU accepted it, signed all the papers, filled out all the forms. You act as though this has siomehiow been FORCED on you by the US government against your will while you were minding your own business in Suisse! YOU chose the method, YOU filled out the petition, the visa application, paid the fees, and everything else. YOU did everything and now YOU are not happy with what you did.

Now you may say that you didn't know this...which will be shame on who? Exactly who? In fact your intiial post indicates you did not do your homework and did not styudy the procedure, no doubt someone told you the K-1 is the "fastest" and you jumped on that like a duck on a bug. They didn't tell you the process is only half done when you arrive. In fact you should be HAPPY (yeah, like that will happen!) because you got to come earlier than people that apply for CR-1s. They let YOU complete the process HERE instead of waiting overseas while the AOS is done as with a CR-1, so you could be with your hunny bunny sooner (which is what you wanted) and now you complain.

I think maybe you should have spent 2/3 of your life in the Soviet Union and maybe you will feel better. My wife never complained about such things.

Sheeesh.

Have you heard the saying "Be careful what you wish for...you MIGHT get it!"

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

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