U.S. Immigration

[jindojim]

I wanted to make this thread to discuss the current state of immigration to the U.S. It's an issue that I feel is often overshadowed by other things that are going on currently, yet indirected affected as well. While your average American citizen may never deal explicitly with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), there are some who do. And then, they realize just what a bureaucratic mire of delays and inefficiencies the USCIS actually is.

I'm one of those unfortunate citizens that now has to deal with the USCIS.

So, here's the background briefly. I've been engaged for more than 5 months to a Japanese woman. For 4 of those months, we've been apart. Not because we really have to be but because of one thing: she needs that magical visa to gain entry into the U.S. It's painful enough being separated when you're just dating and having a long distance relationship. But, when you've got a wedding to plan out and really have no reason to be apart, being apart isn't just excruciating. It also acts as a giant roadblock in your future, halting progress.

In my opinion, the USCIS is one of the quickest governmental agencies to enact changes yet the slowest in dealing with these changes. For instance, they very readily adopted a service fee hike for 2007. In terms of dealing with the changes however, they now have a massive backlog of visa applications, on top of their already existing heap of nonprocessed applications. I think their system of priorities is skewed as well. The average wait time for a nonimmigrant worker is about 1.5 months until they get approval for their visa. On the other hand, many engaged couples (and even married couples) have to wait around 6 months just for approval. And that's only if all the paperwork is complete (and there is a LOT of paperwork). The complete packet I sent to the immigration service center (including photos verifying that I met my fiancee physically within the last 2 years and various other documentation) totalled at least 25 pages.

Oh, and I also forgot to mention that, even after approval, there's even MORE paperwork to fill out, MORE supporting evidence to collect, and a frickin INTERVIEW?? By the time the beneficiary (the person receiving the visa) has the visa in hand, around 6 (if they're lucky) to 9 months will have elapsed. And, during this whole time, the USCIS expects the beneficiary to not enter the country until the visa is in hand, since arrival prior to receiving the visa may jeopardize the entire process. Meanwhile, I get asked every week at least once when my wedding is going to be.

On top of all this, the particular visa I applied for stipulates that the couple must get married within 90 days of the beneficiary entering the country, or else he/she faces deportation. And, I'm not even going to go into detail what happens in order for my fiancee to get a green card after she gets married ot me (mentioning more paperwork, a LOT more waiting, and a >$1000 "penalty" fee should suffice).

I understand that these bureaucratic processes are done to filter out people who are trying to marry U.S. citizens to simply get a green card or potential "terrorists" (one of the supporting documents is a police record of the beneficiary). But, just how necessary is all this in the name of "securing our borders"? Is it selfish for me to think that applications for visas for a loved one (and/or children) should receive a higher priority over other visas? And to be frustrated when plenty of immigrants come into the country illegally, while those that enter legally have to jump through all these hoops and wait for so long? To me, this whole process could be simplified a lot more to allow me to be reunited with my fiancee faster. So, I want to know what your thoughts are on the state of U.S. immigration.

[ZaichikArky]

Well I'm not very experienced with the protocol, however, I do know that things do take a long time and it's not like they haven't before 9/11.

For example, my family and I immigrated in 1990(coincidently, the fall of the USSR) our grandpa was our sponsor. Since my father hated his commie homeland with a passion and wanted to leave it for basically his whole life, we applied for citizenship as soon as we got here. It wasn't given to us until 1998. I have no idea why it took that long.

It's long, and it's bureaucratic and it sucks. Japan's policy is just as bad, I hear. The reasons it sucks so much are what you already touched on: they're trying to keep out illegal immigrants, "terrorists", and especially people who are marrying simply for a greencard.

In almost all cases, though, the hardship is worth it in the end, because usually people immigrating to the US are happier than they were in their homeland for whatever reason.

[Trump]

I wanted to make this thread to discuss the current state of immigration to the U.S. It's an issue that I feel is often overshadowed by other things that are going on currently, yet indirected affected as well. While your average American citizen may never deal explicitly with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), there are some who do. And then, they realize just what a bureaucratic mire of delays and inefficiencies the USCIS actually is.


Umm... every government institution here is a "bureaucratic mire of delays and inefficiencies" so I guess I can't say I'm too surprised. It takes months just for us to get a passport, replacement social security card, etc, and that is all with less than a page of paperwork.

And I'd have to say it is a little selfish that you want your fiance's visa expidited. Everyone has their own reasons for want to enter the country and who is to say one reason is better than another?

[whispering]

It takes months just for us to get a passport
Here it took one day to get mine if i remember right. I took a 1 year passport, not sure if 10 year passports take longer.

I think they should have let her enter US as a "tourist" untill she gets the visa.

[japanat]

Actually, they gave me the same explanation when I married back in 1993, it really hasn't changed that much (except that the backlog is a little larger). We've been married 14 years, and if I want to get my wife a US visa, the I-130 will still take 6-8 months, followed by the actual visa application process.

I know that you have said in other threads that the wedding is very important to you, and that you want it to be well-planned out, etc. But I would really recommend that you do the following: work your way through the visa process, telling your families that you will only set the date after she's in the country. Then take your fiancee to get a blood test the day after she gets in-country, and to the Justice of the Peace the day after that. Then set your 'wedding day' for 6 months later, and you'll have all the time in the world to plan it. Plus you get 2 anniversaries to celebrate.

Seriously, the first wedding is just to satisfy the visa requirements, it's a 'paper' wedding if you will. Then the ceremony later, which is the wedding you'll remember, indeed the one you'll want to remember, can be planned as you want it, with as many or as few bells and whistles as you would like - unrushed and no INS (or ICE as they're called now - friendly acronym, wouldn't you say?) breathing down your neck.

[stsparky]

I goofed on the followup form after my wife got her greencard. I foolishly believed it was a permanent one. Rather than restart the process over - we filed the I-751 late. We're okay and back on track. Scary nonsense.

It's about $1100 to file the proper forms. The I-751 was about $600.

Getting married solves your problem her being a girlfriend/fiancee causes.

Which is why I recommended the Hawaiian ceremony back then. A quiet wedding for you and her; while having a big show wedding for the families later.

Best of luck!

[jindojim]

I'm not trying to argue to have my OWN visa application process expedited...that would be very very selfish (though, of course, I wish it were possible). And I agree that most of it is just typical governmental bureaucracy, although taking "months" to get a passport and get a replacement Social Security Card is a bit of a hyperbole (typical wait time is 4-6 weeks I think). But, I think that the USCIS could handle visas for spouses, children, and engaged couples a LOT better. At least make it possible for them to not be separated as long because 6-9 months is a really long time to wait before you can finally be reunited. Like...just make it easier to get a temporary visa until everything has been approved or something.

Hell, even Americans marrying/married to CANADIANS have to go through all this rigmarole.

Zaichi: How long did it take your family to get to the states after your grandfather submitted the visa application?

EDIT: ^ Let's not make this into a discussion of how I should conduct my wedding. I can't even begin to plan it until my fiancee comes anyway, which one of a myriad of reasons why this visa process is bothering the hell out of me.

[ZaichikArky]

^ I don't know. I guess I can ask my dad, though.

It's kind of a touchy subject, though, because my mom never liked my dad's dad because she thought that he abandoned his family when he left the USSR back in the early 80s. My grandpa went to various places before settling in the US, but when he did that? I don't know. It must have been a while later , though, because it was technically still in the middle of the cold war.

I know that the typical passport takes 6 weeks to get, sometimes longer depending on the season.

I really think these things take time in all countries. I don't really think you're being "selfish", just frustrated. I was left crying after going through the headache of getting a Japanese bank account, and well, that's supposed to be instant after you give them all the "requirements".

What's funny is that everyone kept telling me about how it would take forever to get my Japanese Visa and after all the information was sent to them, it took me about 3 weeks.

Here's another story. I know this Australian guy. He was best friends with my bf. He came to the US when he was 11. Eventually he decided to apply for a dual citizenship sometime after he hit 18. What he wanted to do was go back to Australia, go to school, then eventually come back when he'd be finished with that in the states. The reason why he wanted to go to Australia for school is that he did a test for Aboriginal blood and apparently in that backwards country, they let anyone with an ounce of aboriginal blood get a uni education for free(or something like that).

The reason he wanted dual citizenship is because he thought he wouldn't be able to permanently reside in the states after his bout in Australia.

Well he got the citizenship when he was 24 or 25. Dual citizenship is really hard to get.

[stsparky]

Do your best Jim

[Shamu]

Sent you a PM with some info, Jim.
Good luck and please keep us updated! =)

[Y.T.]

US visa applications are hilarious... I filled one out some time back preparing for a business assignment overseas.

I wonder when they'll drop the Nazi party membership checkbox.
When the last NSDAP members dies?
---------------------------------------------------------
I'll be getting myself a dual citizenship in a few years' time.

But it'll be easy for me. You have to be a legal resident for five years,
plus take a language test .. but I used to be a citizen where I live now until I was 7..

Already, most people don't realize I am not a native speaker, if I don't tell them.

I wish you good luck. Dealing with bureaucracies is a universally unpleasant experience..

[Angelyne]

:stirthepo :stirthepo :stirthepo :stirthepo

This is why the proposed amnesty bills that occasionally pop up in Congress really, really piss me off. It's not fair at all to the legal immigrants who have had to deal with years of insane fees and bureaucratic bullshit.

Pretty much the reason while I'll never, ever vote for Obama or Hilary since they've both voted in favor of such bills.

[jindojim]

...Are you serious? Obama AND Hillary are in favor of these sorts of things? I can't say I'm liking any of the candidates that are running. I might be desperate enough to favor Ron Paul actually..haha

I'd like to see the bureaucratic backlog that's created if the proposed Z visa actually comes into fruition. And, at least they get to stay in the country while they're waiting too. To me, it just seems like a reward for successfully sneaking into the country and makes no sense.

I had a thought. There are certain countries where people are...ahem...more prone to marry to get a U.S. green card (i.e. developing countries). Would it be unreasonable to propose that people from certained developed countries be placed into a different category from other countries and have an easier time getting a visa?

[ZaichikArky]

I'd like to see the bureaucratic backlog that's created if the proposed Z visa actually comes into fruition. And, at least they get to stay in the country while they're waiting too. To me, it just seems like a reward for successfully sneaking into the country and makes no sense.


You have to keep the important thing in mind. The "backlog" is often caused by whatever country is on the US's shitlist at the time. I'm honestly surprised the government even allowed my grandfather into the nation legally during the 80s. I'm sure it helped that he said he was a Jew and probably told them he hated the motherland and everything, but things do tend to take longer due to the government wanting extra security during periods of bad foreign relations with certain countries.

You don't have that problem since America and Japan have been stable basically ever since the postwar.

I think that today, it would be similar to compare Middle Eastern Immigrants trying to come here. It happens all the time, but I would think they have extra hoops to jump though...

[jindojim]

See, but the way USCIS handles visas (at least from what I've seen) is to handle each one by the date it was received. So, if one case requires "extra hoops to jump through"...it ends up delaying every other application behind it.

[stsparky]

We're doing the 2nd round of fingerprints on the 30th. Annoying as hell.

[jindojim]

And they complain how Japan is fingerprinting foreigners...sheesh.

[Digital Masta]

Apparently work visas are bitch as well. Although apparently if you're Indian it isn't as hard to get the visa because a lot of companies hire people from that area.

A Japanese girl I worked with spent 4 years in an American University and couldn't get a work visa because they were essentially all gone. She's back in Japan now but wants to work in the states.

[erbiumfiber]

We do the intra-company (L-1) non-immigrant work visa all the time for our employees (we have a small office in Virginia and they take the U.S. Patent Agent exam while they're there). For something like $1100 we get expedited visa processing and the whole thing takes about 3 weeks.

I can't understand why they make it so hard for RELATIVES when they're letting perfect strangers in so easily. :bang:

And why you're not allowed to come in on a tourist visa during this time makes absolutely no sense to me, even by the low standards I set for U.S. government agencies