Happy Valentine's Day

[Jeff-n-Jana 0]

I just got home from the Portland airport where they denied Jana entry on her multi-visit tourism visa. Although we both knew there was a posssibility of it happening, after her 2 prior visits, we were not expecting it. And to happen on Valentine's Day made it worse.

I was interviewed by one of the CBP officers and at the end of the interview he told me to wait and Jana would be out in a few minutes. 30 minutes later I am being told by a Luthansa representative that Jana has been denied entry, will be held until Friday when she will be sent back to Romania, and that she will be given an opportunity to call me sometime before Friday. What a mess

Jeff

[MaryandMian 1]

So sorry about all of this and will be thinking of you both during this time.

Mary

[Lilith** 0]

It is sad.........you take the risk but it doesn't make it easier.........'held until Friday'......that's what annoys me the most..............

[Jeff-n-Jana 0]

I agree , that's a long time for her to be "held" before sending her back. I know there is nothing we can do about it, and to happen at all is terrible. But to happen on Valentine's Day really sucked.

Jeff

[TracyTN 237]

That blows!!! Where exactly is she 'being held' until Friday???

[Meriem_DZ 37]

That really sux. Sorry that happened to you guys!!

Meriem

[almaty 19]

I agree , that's a long time for her to be "held" before sending her back. I know there is nothing we can do about it, and to happen at all is terrible. But to happen on Valentine's Day really sucked.

Jeff

i agree,,it is a long time to be held...

[Jeff-n-Jana 0]

That blows!!! Where exactly is she 'being held' until Friday???

I have made some calls and found out what is currently going on with Jana, and where she is. I even got a message to her and a collect call from her.

Jana is being held at the CBP detention center at the Portland airport during the day, and is held at the Columbia County jail in St Helens at night.

When Jana called me today I learned a few things. Apparently a second CBP officer was involved in her interview yesterday was not happy with her answers and declared that she was trying to enter the US with the intent to immigrate. As near as we can tell, he used the fact that we had applied for the K-1 visa as his proof. The fact that Jana and I had put the K-1 on hold and had the packet sent back to USCIS in Nebraska was not seen as being important.

Jana said she has requested some sort of administrative review of her case, and that she was granted her request. The problem is that she has to be "held" until then. And they told her this morning it will be anywhere from 3 days to 3 months before that interview/review will happen.

Is any of this a normal thing to have happen? I am still a bit stunned over all of this.

Jeff

[TracyTN 237]

There cannot be any way that they can 'hold her' for nearly 3 months in a CBP detention center and a freaking jail (how ridiculous is that??) while they 'review' not allowing her entry - that seems crazy! (And if it IS true, how shameful our govt is.)

I would consider finding and calling an immigration attorney for some advice as to next steps. I bet hearing your story, you'd be able to get the advice for free.

Edited February 15, 2006 by TracyTN

[pax 0]

Yes, something sounds very fishy. First being held for THREE days, and being transferred to a jail at night?

There might be more to this story than you know. I would contact an attorney, too. Hope you get everything straightened out.

[meddykomp 0]

Some of the immigration rules make no sense. First of all we have to prove our relationship, which is reasonable. I can understand this. But while we wait months and months for them to process our applications, we are taking risks if we have our loved ones come visit. To complicate things further, we live in a country that has a very small amount of vacation time as a standard. Where my husband could easily be in the US for weeks at a time, I only get 10 vacation days in a year.

[irishgirl73 0]

That is horrible-so sorry to hear about this

My man was denied entry a year ago-they sent him back on the first flight out(to Amsterdam not even Ireland, they didn't care they just wanted him out). I did not even get to speak with him-just a phone call from cbc officers asking me tons of questions. It was the worst night of my life & his. I can totally sympathize with what you are going through-but I do not know how they could keep her so long. Something seems to be missing here.

Call an attorney right away & hopefully they will be able to get to the bottom of this for you.

Good luck to you both

[Peter Miami 0]

It is sad.........you take the risk but it doesn't make it easier.........'held until Friday'......that's what annoys me the most..............

I am with “Lilith**”, this is very sad but holding her and without telephone calls from Tuesday until Friday it is crazy.

Peter Miami

[almaty 19]

Yes, something sounds very fishy. First being held for THREE days, and being transferred to a jail at night?

There might be more to this story than you know. I would contact an attorney, too. Hope you get everything straightened out.

i agree here..i do not think that is something i have ever heard about....plus, it would have to be a federal jail or one with a contract ...

Edited February 15, 2006 by almaty2004

[meauxna 15]

Yes, something sounds very fishy. First being held for THREE days, and being transferred to a jail at night?

There might be more to this story than you know. I would contact an attorney, too. Hope you get everything straightened out.

i agree here..i do not think that is something i have ever heard about....plus, it would have to be a federal jail or one with a contract ...

This is normal procedure, here in Portland anyway. Immigration has had a contract with that jail for a long time.

Jeff: if you need the name of a long-time immigration attorney in Portland, drop me a PM. I'm certain that if by some small chance this is not the type of case he takes that he can refer you to the right person.

You might want to make sure that this administrative review is something Jana really does want to do.. it may have unintended consequences.

I'm *really* sorry to read your news!

meauxna