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My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

software.rajivprab.com

261–270 of 404 posts

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Were Europeans entitled to American land 500 years ago? What did Columbus' visa application look like?

So present-day immigration is a punishment for the founding sin of the USA?

Immigration is what is propping this country's economy up. It is a tremendous gift, not a punishment- unless you are alluding to some wierd racial monoculture thing.

The idea is to not look at a gift horse in the mouth. And stop punishing the most productive people in your economy. You don't want brexit thinking if you want to have an economy.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You keep claiming the system is “at capacity” with no evidence, and the psychological trauma it inflicts as inevitable. How does it strain the system differently to process an Indian applicant than an Australian one?

I went through the same process as this man, so I am speaking from experience. The actual impact to my life was negligible, as all of the actual work was done by immigration lawyers. The only thing I had to do was submitting some info to the attorneys, a biometrics appointment and a short interview. And paying fees, and presenting a vaccination record. And the system is at capacity because there are long waiting time…

This person had to plan vacations with 4 month contingencies for two decades of their life, so you clearly didn’t go through the same system they did.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#263

Note that India requires prospective citizens to live in the country for 12 years before applying for naturalization, and China doesn't allow non-ethnic Chinese immigration at all (only ~1500 naturalized citizens/10,000 permanent residents in the whole country of over a billion people). Something to keep in mind when people from those countries complain about the American immigration system (doesn't apply to the Sing…

I never understand this argument. If someone leaves their country to migrate, aren't they looking for a better life ? Just because India requires you to live for 12 years, Indian citizens should just shut up/put up with 18+ years of waiting because their country of origin has it worse/same ? This sounds a lot like "We gave you US citizenship. So shut up and stop criticizing the Govt because you came from a 3rd world…

Its called Reciprocity and its a pretty well-established concept in diplomacy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocity_(international_rel...

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>a border guard who is having a bad day. This is not to be understated. I was born a US citizen. Last time I entered the country, officers faked that a dog had alerted "on my anus", forcibly strip searched me, and fabricated a story that plastic baggies that they suspected 'could be drugs' were coming out of my ass. I was shackled and cuffed and dragged around the state of Arizona for 16 hours while publicly paraded…

I was super upset after visiting China and returning to the USA. Our immigration people were so much more authoritarian scary than the Chinese had been. And the Chinese had this cool smiley computer interface where you rated the chinese immigration official for their interaction on the spot. So China was not only friendlier and more welcoming, but also more accountable. We really need to check ourselves in America. O…

> I was super upset after visiting China and returning to the USA. Our immigration people were so much more authoritarian scary than the Chinese had been. And the Chinese had this cool smiley computer interface where you rated the chinese immigration official for their interaction on the spot. So China was not only friendlier and more welcoming, but also more accountable.

I've seen those machines at Ikea in the US, though they did seem more common in China.

However, it's almost unbelievably superficial to rate "authoritarianess" by the anecdotal cheeriness of front like officials.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#265
post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why did you deny an x-ray? I understand anal probing but don't understand x-ray?

The commenter had done nothing wrong, and anyway had no need for gratuitous exposure to radiation. If you look at your comment, apart from the 4th amendment issues, it's kind of like a "have you stopped beating your spouse?" kind of question.

> The commenter had done nothing wrong...

Honestly, I'm not so sure about that, given the commenter. IIRC, in a couple of previous threads they've taken pretty strong positions that they'll do what they want regardless if the law says it's illegal and they're risking jail. Given that, I wouldn't be surprised if there was some suspicious or belligerent behavior on their part that they left out of the story.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#266

Note that India requires prospective citizens to live in the country for 12 years before applying for naturalization, and China doesn't allow non-ethnic Chinese immigration at all (only ~1500 naturalized citizens/10,000 permanent residents in the whole country of over a billion people). Something to keep in mind when people from those countries complain about the American immigration system (doesn't apply to the Sing…

As an immigrant to the US, I hate the double standards applied to Americans. Oh, you think Americans are racist for wanting to restrict immigration? How would people in India react to massive immigration from Africa?

Lots of loaded statements here.

Immigrant describes his immigration situation.

Your response

1. How dare you complain

2. I am going to pretend you called Americans racist. (Wattabout Indians being racist)

You or your parents being immigrants is no excuse for your crude behavior.

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#267

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I never understand this argument. If someone leaves their country to migrate, aren't they looking for a better life ? Just because India requires you to live for 12 years, Indian citizens should just shut up/put up with 18+ years of waiting because their country of origin has it worse/same ? This sounds a lot like "We gave you US citizenship. So shut up and stop criticizing the Govt because you came from a 3rd world…

It’s the lack of perspective that annoys me. It’s because America is so accommodating of immigrants compared to the rest of the world that you can talk like your ancestors built the country the minute you take the citizenship oath.

It should be made clear to the new citizens that some citizens are more equal than the others. /s

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#268
post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The commenter had done nothing wrong, and anyway had no need for gratuitous exposure to radiation. If you look at your comment, apart from the 4th amendment issues, it's kind of like a "have you stopped beating your spouse?" kind of question.

> The commenter had done nothing wrong... Honestly, I'm not so sure about that, given the commenter. IIRC, in a couple of previous threads they've taken pretty strong positions that they'll do what they want regardless if the law says it's illegal and they're risking jail. Given that, I wouldn't be surprised if there was some suspicious or belligerent behavior on their part that they left out of the story.

You know it all don't you, even though you weren't there? Care to use your 'belligerence behavior' to embellish more tales?

>they'll do what they want regardless if the law says it's illegal and they're risking jail

So go ahead and quote that, assuming it was said, and go on and explain where it creates articulable probable cause for an x-ray.

I honestly can't believe I'm even responding to this victim-blaming garbage. Try reading Ms. Cervantes complaint, who's circumstances were incredibly similar to mine but she was treated even worse, and think again about your opinion here.

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.azd.985...

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

what is the end of the story?

I didn't even notice the mistake at first -- my name is not misspelled, so I figured if I didn't say anything I would be able to get away with it. I knew my EAD card would have to be photocopied or scanned at some point when I first arrived at the office, so I crafted some inane plan to tell an engaging story while the HR person was taking care of my documents, in the hopes they wouldn't see. In the end no one ever n…

I think the name switch is unlikely to get you into trouble. My country has the reverse of the US (First name is last name and last name is first!). I've been switching regularly and this only confused people who wanted to address me by my "first name".

Re: My journey through the American immigration system as a computer engineer

#270
post #5

Indians account for 73.9 percent out of the total number of H1B visa holders in the USA. Now i wouldn't want anyone to be discriminated but still it makes sense to limit green card based on nationality

Why though? If Google is hiring an engineer, it doesn't make a distinction and does so purely on skill. Why should it matter if said engineer is from Argentina (arbitrary example) instead of India? The US issues roughly 1 million green cards each year. 86% of those go to family based immigration. The rest 14% are for employment based immigration. Even in there the dependents (spouse + kids) are counted against that q…

>> Now i wouldn't want anyone to be discriminated but still it makes sense to limit green card based on nationality

> Why though? If Google is hiring an engineer, it doesn't make a distinction and does so purely on skill. Why should it matter if said engineer is from Argentina (arbitrary example) instead of India?

Because the priorities of the system don't have to be the same as Google's. Specifically, the US decided it prefers to get immigrants from everywhere rather than letting a couple big countries flood the queue.

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