California Service Center To Texas Service Center

[J e n n y 26]

the "over submissions" one reminded me of the people who say "i submitted so much stuff! IDK why they sent us an RFE" or "gave us such hard time in interview" etc and i have wondered about that in the past because i have seen so many of those i've often wondered if officers were getting PO'd at being given extra paperwork or if it was simply suspicious to over-compensate (i.e. "look, i am not guilty, i can prove to you by providing for you so many things for which you did not ask!!"). i guess we know now!

That is a good point- I'm sure there are a lot of filers that send in tons and tons of evidence and of course it's going to take longer to review a case like that.

[spcarm 9]

Thanks Sean, I always have a helluva time putting into words that are in my mind, especially when I am angry. I have been stewing all day about our situation, it seems like nothing gets done with our Government unless someone does "something over the top".

Imagine all the others out there that don't belong to VJ or another similar site, what could be going through their minds?

Yep. We need to let people who may not be on a VJ or similar site that they are not alone. Hopefully someone in the media will give us a shot so the government actually does something.

My wife and I would like to thank you for your eloquence and much needed efforts.

My pleasure.

[spcarm 9]

Very nice letter. Thank you so much for taking the time to write that. Hopefully we will soon have Ms. Bernstein on our side!

Here's how Ms. Bernstein responded to my email only 2 hours after I sent it to her with some pretty good advice for us. Here's what she said:

Dear Sean Carmody,

Thanks for writing, and for your words of praise for my work. Your email reaches me

in Paris, France, where I am on a leave of absence from the New York Times until

June. As you have seen, my coverage of immigration issues at the Times included

several stories dealing with the visa problems of foreigners married to U.S.

citizens. I certainly recognize the hardship undergone by you and your wife and

couples like you.

I wil pass on your email to a colleague at the Times covering immigration, but

realistically, editors are likely to feel that we have covered the issue too

recently to devote a new story to the phenomenon. Generally, the best bet for

coverage for members of your forum will be from a reporter at the local paper of the

U.S. citizen involved. You do not mention the state you're from, though your

education suggests you're from Baltimore or near it. You might want to look for the

byline of some reporter at the Baltimore Sun or the Washington Post who writes

human interest stories with an edge, or even a columnist. Your case by itself may

not rise to the level of a stand-alone story, but an enterprising local reporter

may see an opportunity to "peg" a larger discussion to your case or another from the

local area. One caveat: a reporter who has already written about the situation is

unlikely to want to do so again.

At a time when so much public attention is focused on illegal immigration, and many

people believe that government is too lenient in immigration matters, it's an uphill

battle to draw attention to the visa policies and practices that strand couples like

you and your wife. But you may be able to use that to your advantage if you find the

right reporter.

Good luck!

All best,

Nina Bernstein

[dvs98 2]

Well my wife made it home on VWP for 90 days. Came in through San Francisco she got pulled in to secondary answered a few extra questions showed return ticket and they said you know you have to go home to finish your I 130 right she said yup they said enjoy your stay. She said staying with friends and family and they asked what kind she said husband instant pull to secondary so if you try make sure your ready but sounded pretty easy to me. She had like 0 proof of ties brought pending I130 with noa1 and return ticket.

Edited January 23, 2011 by dvs98

[nab 74]

{snipped}

At a time when so much public attention is focused on illegal immigration, and many

people believe that government is too lenient in immigration matters, it's an uphill

battle to draw attention to the visa policies and practices that strand couples like

you and your wife. But you may be able to use that to your advantage if you find the

right reporter.

Good luck!

All best,

Nina Bernstein

this is the problem we need to be aware of with media ... they do NOT want to look like they support us or they look like they support 'immigration' in general which in average Joe's mind is illegals and thanks to our govt throwing haitian convicts and dream act applicants into the mix it does make it more confusing for people to understand.

[Val and Gary 29]

Here's how Ms. Bernstein responded to my email only 2 hours after I sent it to her with some pretty good advice for us. Here's what she said:

Dear Sean Carmody,

Thanks for writing, and for your words of praise for my work. Your email reaches me

in Paris, France, where I am on a leave of absence from the New York Times until

June. As you have seen, my coverage of immigration issues at the Times included

several stories dealing with the visa problems of foreigners married to U.S.

citizens. I certainly recognize the hardship undergone by you and your wife and

couples like you.

I wil pass on your email to a colleague at the Times covering immigration, but

realistically, editors are likely to feel that we have covered the issue too

recently to devote a new story to the phenomenon. Generally, the best bet for

coverage for members of your forum will be from a reporter at the local paper of the

U.S. citizen involved. You do not mention the state you're from, though your

education suggests you're from Baltimore or near it. You might want to look for the

byline of some reporter at the Baltimore Sun or the Washington Post who writes

human interest stories with an edge, or even a columnist. Your case by itself may

not rise to the level of a stand-alone story, but an enterprising local reporter

may see an opportunity to "peg" a larger discussion to your case or another from the

local area. One caveat: a reporter who has already written about the situation is

unlikely to want to do so again.

At a time when so much public attention is focused on illegal immigration, and many

people believe that government is too lenient in immigration matters, it's an uphill

battle to draw attention to the visa policies and practices that strand couples like

you and your wife. But you may be able to use that to your advantage if you find the

right reporter.

Good luck!

All best,

Nina Bernstein

GREAT stuff Sean, and Val & I wish to convey our thanks for your efforts here. If we all do our "Little bit", then results will come. I'd like to thank SqdnGns also.

[Val and Gary 29]

Well my wife made it home on VWP for 90 days. Came in through San Francisco she got pulled in to secondary answered a few extra questions showed return ticket and they said you know you have to go home to finish your I 130 right she said yup they said enjoy your stay. She said staying with friends and family and they asked what kind she said husband instant pull to secondary so if you try make sure your ready but sounded pretty easy to me. She had like 0 proof of ties brought pending I130 with noa1 and return ticket.

Glad she got through OK. Yes, instant alarm bells ring when a spouse is mentioned....

[spcarm 9]

this is the problem we need to be aware of with media ... they do NOT want to look like they support us or they look like they support 'immigration' in general which in average Joe's mind is illegals and thanks to our govt throwing haitian convicts and dream act applicants into the mix it does make it more confusing for people to understand.

You are absolutely correct about the average Joe linking support of "immigration" to illegal immigrants. That's how bad the whole immigration debate has been twisted and spun out of control in this country. We will need to take special care to make the distinction between illegal immigrants and US citizens trying to bring their spouses and family to the US as LEGAL IMMIGRANTS in any future correspondence with media outlets or anyone else for that matter.

[fermat 32]

I don't understand what these couples from the story were filing for. Sounds like the immigrant spouse was living in the country illegally, in some cases for many years, before they got married and applied for a green card. In my case my spouse is currently in her home country awaiting the visa before she comes. From my understanding, we will not have to go to an interview as a couple, only she will be interviewed at the Consulate. Am I wrong? How come nobody informed me of this 3rd track of the spouse coming to the country for 10 years or so before filing an I-130?

the "over submissions" one reminded me of the people who say "i submitted so much stuff! IDK why they sent us an RFE" or "gave us such hard time in interview" etc and i have wondered about that in the past because i have seen so many of those i've often wondered if officers were getting PO'd at being given extra paperwork or if it was simply suspicious to over-compensate (i.e. "look, i am not guilty, i can prove to you by providing for you so many things for which you did not ask!!"). i guess we know now!

[jennie ann 15]

Well my wife made it home on VWP for 90 days. Came in through San Francisco she got pulled in to secondary answered a few extra questions showed return ticket and they said you know you have to go home to finish your I 130 right she said yup they said enjoy your stay. She said staying with friends and family and they asked what kind she said husband instant pull to secondary so if you try make sure your ready but sounded pretty easy to me. She had like 0 proof of ties brought pending I130 with noa1 and return ticket.

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!

[fermat 32]

So far all the stories I've seen, her's included are somehow about illegal immigrants. Most of the couples she described are people who over-stayed their tourist visas long ago. I have yet to see a story on LEGAL immigrants. These poor folks from her story have to go in for a 2nd interview, in between they get to go home and live together as a couple. OH THE HORROR! Can anybody show me a story about the ridiculous LEGAL immigration process?

One caveat: a reporter who has already written about the situation is

unlikely to want to do so again.

[spcarm 9]

GREAT stuff Sean, and Val & I wish to convey our thanks for your efforts here. If we all do our "Little bit", then results will come. I'd like to thank SqdnGns also.

You and Val are very welcome. This is the least I can do after all you guys here in this forum and the entire VJ website have done to inform me and make me feel like I'm not alone in this struggle.

[Jellybelly 1]

such a good point about these articles being about illegal immigrants. i agree we need to keep distinguishing between those who are here illegally and trying to get thru the system, versus those of us who are doing everything by the book. there should be some recognition for the fact we are doing it right.

[Val and Gary 29]

You and Val are very welcome. This is the least I can do after all you guys here in this forum and the entire VJ website have done to inform me and make me feel like I'm not alone in this struggle.

If there is ANY comfort to be had, it is the fact that we are NOT alone. This forum provides me, as the immigrant waiting to enter the USA, with a relief from boredom, a place to vent anger and frustration, and a place to have a bit of fun and calm nerves.

If we are POSITIVELY pro-active, then things WILL happen.

Positive thoughts, bring positive hopes....

Edited January 23, 2011 by Val and Gary

[fermat 32]

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,

Here's how Ms. Bernstein responded to my email only 2 hours after I sent it to her with some pretty good advice for us. Here's what she said: