My Immigration Letter to the President

[PMartin37 161]

What planet do you live on? The same one you're on. I can move to my husband's country today. The issue I brought up was how LONG it would take to acquire citizenship in other countries. Based on some that I researched ( I haven't researched every country in the world and never claimed to) I found that the waiting process is generally longer and have different restrictions. Before we were married, I could go for a period of time, apply to stay, and never leave. Or not leave until I was ready. People do it in record numbers and it is relatively easy for young folks without jobs to do. No biggie. Incidentally, I cannot work without citizenship where my husband is and I would have to wait 7 yrs to even apply. Not everywhere is the same as your husband's country.

People are not generally punished there for entering the country (or even just TRYING) to enter the country legally.

I have every right to criticize our system. It is punative to those that do what is asked and lax with those who flaunt thir refusal to even TRY to follow the law. Our president's talk that suggests forgiveness for those who blantantly break the law while ignoring all the ones who are taxpaying voters absolutely puzzles me.

A also agree that no one should be allowed to adjust status from tourist or temporary worker EVER. If I, personally went to another city and married, you can be danged sure I'd return to my own home to collect my belongings and resolve my family and business situations as well as my responsibilities. If someone was an honest tourist or temp worker, they would need to return home for the same reason. That is a great time to file and follow the same process.

There is an effort to do away with the K-1 visa. Personally, after reading up on it, I agree fully. We used this because it was a toss-up and this seemed only marginally easier for us. For legitimate couples, I expect the decision is about equal. There are so many victims of fraud associated with that and it is heartbreaking. (I used to date a guy who had suffered because of that--once he got here, the sweet woman who was his childhood friend in Iran demanded a 70,000 pay-off or she'd turn him in for fraud. He refused and she called homeland security on him stating that he was a terrorist and abusing her. Yeah. He found out later that he was not her first "fiance". He spent more than the cost of a modest house in legal fees.)

[EminTX 131]

There seems to be a confusion about visas versus living in the country versus official residency versus citizenship versus even a simple visit.

I have no issues with any country that requires a lengthy process to become a citizen. I just wanted to be able to be with my loved one. The process is crummy but having to deal with this stress would be not heart-rending if we can be together throughout it.

[Tinchen_ 21]

Curios what u would get when u would send that letter to the mitt romney campaign lol heheheh...my bet is nothing positive at all lol ..

[Cathi 5,748]

I agree no one on a visitor visa or work visa should ever be allowed to adjust status. You can't tell me these people who come and marry while here on a visitor visa didn't know they weren't planning to marry long before they hit US soil. They should have to return to their home country and go thru the visa process and wait like the rest of us do. People who blatantly commit fraud like this should be banned. Just like people who come here on a k-1 and don't marry within the 90 days. Then stay with no status and either remain here illegally or marry someone else in the future(not the petitioner for the 129) and then adjust status with the new spouse. The system is broken and it makes me angry that the rest of us have to jump through hoops, while these people lie to get here.

[grrrrreat 109]

I agree no one on a visitor visa or work visa should ever be allowed to adjust status. You can't tell me these people who come and marry while here on a visitor visa didn't know they weren't planning to marry long before they hit US soil. They should have to return to their home country and go thru the visa process and wait like the rest of us do. People who blatantly commit fraud like this should be banned. Just like people who come here on a k-1 and don't marry within the 90 days. Then stay with no status and either remain here illegally or marry someone else in the future(not the petitioner for the 129) and then adjust status with the new spouse. The system is broken and it makes me angry that the rest of us have to jump through hoops, while these people lie to get here.

But some people spend several years on a work or student visa getting to know someone before they decide they want to adjust status and stay. What should they do?

[PMartin37 161]

I agree no one on a visitor visa or work visa should ever be allowed to adjust status. You can't tell me these people who come and marry while here on a visitor visa didn't know they weren't planning to marry long before they hit US soil. They should have to return to their home country and go thru the visa process and wait like the rest of us do. People who blatantly commit fraud like this should be banned. Just like people who come here on a k-1 and don't marry within the 90 days. Then stay with no status and either remain here illegally or marry someone else in the future(not the petitioner for the 129) and then adjust status with the new spouse. The system is broken and it makes me angry that the rest of us have to jump through hoops, while these people lie to get here.

You got that right! Those are the people that make it longer for the rest of us! You have an excellent point. I don't know why they don't make it impossible for that to happen in the first place? Seems it would be a wise allocation of resources to stop that in it's tracks so that train doesn't keep chugging down the road and holding us all up.

[Cathi 5,748]

But some people spend several years on a work or student visa getting to know someone before they decide they want to adjust status and stay. What should they do?

The student I can see...and understand...

[Boiler 45,486]

Takes about a month to get a UK PR type Visa, you can do it quicker if you are in a rush.

[Iyawo Ijebu 157]

But some people spend several years on a work or student visa getting to know someone before they decide they want to adjust status and stay. What should they do?

Easy. Finish your studies and go back home and file like we are doing.

[dwheels76 5,468]

Curios what u would get when u would send that letter to the mitt romney campaign lol heheheh...my bet is nothing positive at all lol ..

good point I am on it. if i get anything else i will post back here.

[A and T 82]

Sadly i feel they just don't care , no matter who is elected no one seems to care about immigration, or immigration reform in any way to help our own citizens

[Musashii 21]

dwheels76: Regardless of the reply from Mr. President's office, well done.

It may not have made any difference but at least you tried and did your part. It always takes first drop of water to jump of the clouds and then others follow to make it rain.

Now, coming back to letter response, I see Business in the underlines.

Business visa with $100000 - $150000 investment in any U.S. approved project = A visa in your hands within 2 months with all so called background checks done.

Business visa with $500000 investment in any U.S. approved project = A visa in your hands within 2 months (Not only visa but a Green Card).

In a nutshell, it is all about money and unfortunately, people like us don't have the loads of money to push through the 5 months just to look into a petition, 2 months in NVC and embassy till interview and then God knows how long in AP.

Rule of thumb: More sugar you add, sweeter it will be.

[rika60607 215]

J visa (work visa) allows for as much as 5 years of working in the US. Not picking apples in the orchard, but doing science, engineering, programming... it is plenty of time to meet someone, marry and create a life in the US, including children.

Do you want those people to go back to their country and endure a year apart from their spouse and possibly children? What if the spouse on work visa is the only spouse working (USC spouse caring for the babies) and they can not provide for their USC family from abroad due to low wages in their home country?

I don't think you are that cruel, are you?

I agree no one on a visitor visa or work visa should ever be allowed to adjust status.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

Most of us are separated throughout the courtship of the relationship, why is it when one decides to get married, or propose then there is this urgency to be with that one within a month? Mind you knew before you proposed or married the person, there were countries separating you. A year to prepare for your new life is such a short period of time, most people aren’t even prepared for the interview or the financial obligation. Granted there are some countries inwhich this process is harder than others, but again immigration didn’t create the hardship it was those who went before you. The wait time nor the process will never change as long as there are scammers working the system. This goes for both spouse, finance and family base visas.

A pregnancy takes nine months, and people tend to wait that out quite fine, but to wait out immigration most people makes it seems as if it is a torture.

[AmyWrites 593]

J visa (work visa) allows for as much as 5 years of working in the US. Not picking apples in the orchard, but doing science, engineering, programming... it is plenty of time to meet someone, marry and create a life in the US, including children.

Do you want those people to go back to their country and endure a year apart from their spouse and possibly children? What if the spouse on work visa is the only spouse working (USC spouse caring for the babies) and they can not provide for their USC family from abroad due to low wages in their home country?

I don't think you are that cruel, are you?

That's different, the ones that tick me off are while using tourist visas.