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Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens

nytimes.com

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Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens

#111

Post by mlrtime »

danenania wrote: post #84
aikinai wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe I'm too stiff, but even if they don't get around to updating the laws, I'd still prefer they enforce the ones that exist so it's clear, fair, and safe. And so upstanding citizens aren't spending years separated from their spouses while they keep getting skipped by people willing to cheat the system. It's not even a law that results in the years-long wait; it's just because the system is clogged up with other ju…

[flagged]

Come on, just say it. Don't hide behind your thoughts.

Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens

#112

Post by soerxpso »

Any attempt to fix this would immediately used for outright immigration fraud, and any attempt to ban immigration fraud will always be used as a cudgel for bureaucrats to keep out normal, tax-paying Europeans, until low-level bureaucrats have term limits.

Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens

#113

Post by 4gotunameagain »

sys_64738 wrote: post #95
4gotunameagain wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In terms of professional and economic opportunity, sure, but in terms of quality of life half of the European countries eclipse the US.

That's entirely subjective for sure. The USA is a continent sized country and not a one-size-fits-all like most European countries. Each state should be viewed as its own European sized country with its own warts and all. You will have some backwater, inbred states like AL, MS and GA but places like CA or New England or NY are just eons above anything Europe has to offer. Again, it's all subjective.

What I'm hearing about CA and NY is 10hr work days if you're lucky, 2/3 jobs to make ends meet if you're not, and absurd rents.

It is true that it is probably better in the US if you're privileged, but then again it's good everywhere if you're privileged. The difference is in the quality of life of the average person.

Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens

#114

Post by aikinai »

mikelward wrote: post #87
aikinai wrote: post #19

As an American with a foreign-spouse who went through the green card application long before Trump, these stories are heart-breaking but also what I expected. I guess these couples and lawyers were just counting on lax enforcement? But this was never allowed. The article is very light on details, but implies all of these spouses travelled to the US on a visa waiver (or similar) and then applied for a green card. Ente…

The article says "temporary visas", not visa waivers. It also says "They had already been granted employment authorization". But I agree more details would be helpful.

It's extremely unlikely a journalist this haphazard is going to differentiate between a visa waiver and a temporary visa. Obviously some came on other visa if they could work, but it doesn't matter anyway; any non-immigrant visa you enter with will include the requirement that you have no intent to immigrate.

The only options are to be lucky enough to have decided to get married and immigrate after you were already in the US, or to do the application from overseas.

Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens

#115

Post by RemainsOfTheDay »

nxobject wrote: post #2

A note that it's easy to "overstay" a visa when waiting for a green card interview - the wait times are often in the 6-16 month range, and if you leave the country you'll be considered to have abandoned your "petition to adjust status". It's a catch-22, and it looks like the only recourse is for an immigration lawyer to file a habeas corpus petition in federal court.

[dead]

Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens

#116

Post by sys_64738 »

sometimes_all wrote: post #98
netsharc wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> their views are mostly influenced by biased media in their home country. Mirror, mirror on the wall... (As you've already concluded, don't bother...)

Your parent comment is probably satire, but given current situations, one can never be sure.

No satire intended. It's more a simple reflection on reality.

Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens

#117

Post by sys_64738 »

4gotunameagain wrote: post #113
sys_64738 wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's entirely subjective for sure. The USA is a continent sized country and not a one-size-fits-all like most European countries. Each state should be viewed as its own European sized country with its own warts and all. You will have some backwater, inbred states like AL, MS and GA but places like CA or New England or NY are just eons above anything Europe has to offer. Again, it's all subjective.

What I'm hearing about CA and NY is 10hr work days if you're lucky, 2/3 jobs to make ends meet if you're not, and absurd rents. It is true that it is probably better in the US if you're privileged, but then again it's good everywhere if you're privileged. The difference is in the quality of life of the average person.

> What I'm hearing about CA and NY is 10hr work days if you're lucky, 2/3 jobs to make ends meet if you're not, and absurd rents.

All these things can be said about most countries you'd want to live in nowadays.

Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens

#118

Post by DrierCycle »

jackjeff wrote: post #44
DrierCycle wrote: post #3

[flagged]

Oh you can declare anything… but the minute you don’t pay you taxes you’ll realize it’s just words.

When terror is used to enforce policy, not laws, and its done arbitrarily, under pretexts, the govt is broken, and resistance, which is built into the framework of our development as a nation, is necessitated.

Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens

#120

Post by kalkin »

refurb wrote: post #78
kalkin wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In many circumstances - including when that person is married to a US citizen, or when they'll likely be killed on return to their country of birth - it is indeed crazy and cruel. (In more ordinary circumstances it's merely arbitrary and unjust.)

I wanted to be a citizen of Singapore and was never approved. I agree it was arbitrary and unjust. I deserved to be a citizen.

Yes, this is by no means only a U.S. problem. Some countries are worse, even where birth rate trends seem like they should make it more obviously self-destructive. A tendency towards xenophobia seems to be an unfortunate human universal, although one we can sometimes overcome.
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