Overstayers, share your experience here.

[meauxna 15]

Hi all,

I am new to this forum, and I cant believe some of the attitudes here. I just wanted a little support. Thank you Kezzie for your opinions. My husband is a 4 year overstay from Africa. He entered into this country leagally. We married in December after having dated for 2 years. We filed for his AOS in Feb. I want to ask Stinger a question. What if...he/she met and fell in love with their spouse and found out that person was a visa overstay? Would you shun them or do everything in your power to allow this person to stay in this country? Dont forget some of our loved ones have suffered much in their home countries. Many are from third world countries, who have grown up with knowing what is like to go to bed hungry, and have not had may of the things that even the poorest of Americans have had. My husband is a wonderful man, has never been in trouble, never broken a law, except for this overstay. Yes, he was quite honest with me about his overstay and told me after a few months of dating, and it never made a diffrence to me. I just know we will do what we have to do to keep him here legally. I urge Stinger to have some compassion for his fellow man.

Christine

Turnabout is fair play, Christine.

Recognize that the people who are forced to spend months or years separated from their loved one suffer too. Their opinions are part of the fabric of visajourney. Of course if I met my love in the US and he'd been an overstay I'd want to keep him here, but surely you can see how it would upset those who *do* follow the rules.

And don't drag the poverty card into it; I do not think that 'economic refugee' is a recognized class for US immigration. He made a choice, that's that.

[Lovetoteach 53]

I just wanted to add my story about overstaying. I came here in July 2004 on a fiancee visa and married my USC spouse who turned out to be emotionally, psychologically and sexually abusive. He refused to go to the AOS interview and consequently I was denied. My overstay now is backdated to the expiry date of my fiancee visa .This was totally out of my control since I didn't know that he was not going to go to the interview at that time..

In November 2005 I filed a I360 VAWA petition and in January I was put into removal proceedings. I have an immigration attorney who is dealing with this and hope that the IJ will await adjuducation of the petition. I had no choice to stay because I was going to have to go to trial for the divorce and also I had a date to go to court regarding the PPO against my ex husband in March.

This has been extremely hard on both my son and myself. I have not worked because my work authorisation was revoked because of the AOS denial. I have also not gone on public benefits even though I have a prima facie determination of my case which states I am a qualified alien for public benefits. Due to the 1996 law even though qualified I can't get benefits for another 5 years. I would love to work again as a teacher but have tried to abide by the rules as I have always done since I have been here. Infact I have sold my car and house so that I have money to live on.

I just want people to know that I did not overstay intentionally and have had reasons for staying. I just hope and pray that my petition is approved so that I can then adjust status and put these last two horrendous years behind me and finally move on with my life.

Shona

[Girona40 0]

Shona, I recall reading part of your story as you were going through that nightmare. You really have had the most horrendous experience and it is totally ridiculous, in my mind, that you are the one having to fight now to keep yourself and your son here. It is a shame that there seems to be no repercussions for your husband in all this. Sorry, but I really think that there should be some law that at least makes him responsible for you, financially, until you can return to work.

It is situations like yours that show that the whole immigration "system" is messed up! There are people like yourself and my son, who have followed all the rules, and are the ones that are denied and threatened with removal proceedings and yet there are those that deliberately break the rules, knowing that they will be forgiven doing so at a later date. I just don't feel it is right.

I truly hope that you can get through your present situation and that you and your son are allowed to stay. It isn't right that you give up everything at home to come here and marry someone you love, only to find that they are not who you thought they were at all, and you are the one that loses out both emotionally and financially.

Just know, Shona, that nobody here is going to blame you for your overstay. What else could you do? Let's hope that the IJ sees it the same way too and that you soon have some sense of security for yourself and your boy.

Hugs

Glenys

Edited April 1, 2006 by Girona40

[Lovetoteach 53]

Shona, I recall reading part of your story as you were going through that nightmare. You really have had the most horrendous experience and it is totally ridiculous, in my mind, that you are the one having to fight now to keep yourself and your son here. It is a shame that there seems to be no repercussions for your husband in all this. Sorry, but I really think that there should be some law that at least makes him responsible for you, financially, until you can return to work.

It is situations like yours that show that the whole immigration "system" is messed up! There are people like yourself and my son, who have followed all the rules, and are the ones that are denied and threatened with removal proceedings and yet there are those that deliberately break the rules, knowing that they will be forgiven doing so at a later date. I just don't feel it is right.

I truly hope that you can get through your present situation and that you and your son are allowed to stay. It isn't right that you give up everything at home to come here and marry someone you love, only to find that they are not who you thought they were at all, and you are the one that loses out both emotionally and financially.

Just know, Shona, that nobody here is going to blame you for your overstay. What else could you do? Let's hope that the IJ sees it the same way too and that you soon have some sense of security for yourself and your boy.

Hugs

Glenys

Thanks Glenys,

It really has been tough and so exhausting. It would be wonderful to finally know that we have a place called home. Hopefully that place will be here.

Love Shona