I think people, Republicans and Democrats, should really write their members of congress about making the system resemble something reasonable.
Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens
81–90 of 191 posts
Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens
#82Earlier quoted context omitted.
I get that, but the kind of white collar workers who are putting up with this have options all over the world. Why would even such people put up with it?
Professional opportunity or quality of life, most likely. Nowhere else even comes close to the US in terms of professional and economic opportunity.
In terms of professional and economic opportunity, sure, but in terms of quality of life half of the European countries eclipse the US.
Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens
#83Earlier quoted context omitted.
> if you overstay a visa you should expect detention Again, though, there's a catch-22. Wait times until you're even notified about your interview appointment date are long and unpredictable.
The article strongly misrepresents this, and they were almost certainly not detained for over-staying, but likely for fraudulent entry. See my other comment.
I don't think fraudulent entry makes sense, because that would have to be the case at the time of entry.
Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens
#84Earlier quoted context omitted.
> I'd much prefer they enforce the laws evenly and then fix them where they're broken rather than disadvantaging everyone going through the legal process while those that cheat get to jump ahead. That is incredibly optimistic to believe that any legislation reforming immigration will be passed in the next decade. There is a reason ICE was neutralized until now. Life is short. We don't have time for congress to play p…
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…
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Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens
#85Earlier quoted context omitted.
Professional opportunity or quality of life, most likely. Nowhere else even comes close to the US in terms of professional and economic opportunity.
In terms of professional and economic opportunity, sure, but in terms of quality of life half of the European countries eclipse the US.
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Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens
#86Earlier quoted context omitted.
Professional opportunity or quality of life, most likely. Nowhere else even comes close to the US in terms of professional and economic opportunity.
In terms of professional and economic opportunity, sure, but in terms of quality of life half of the European countries eclipse the US.
Countries like Denmark, Switzerland or Netherlands indeed offer very good quality of life but the language barrier is substantial. Tons of people know English as a second language and almost no one knows, say, Danish as a second language.
Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens
#87As 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.
Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens
#88Earlier quoted context omitted.
The article strongly misrepresents this, and they were almost certainly not detained for over-staying, but likely for fraudulent entry. See my other comment.
I don't think fraudulent entry makes sense, because that would have to be the case at the time of entry.
Read my other comment. It’s fraudulent based on intent, which they don’t know until you apply for change of status.
Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens
#89Earlier 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.
Countries like Denmark, Switzerland or Netherlands indeed offer very good quality of life but the language barrier is substantial. Tons of people know English as a second language and almost no one knows, say, Danish as a second language.
Oh I didn't mean americans should come over. Please don't. Deal with your mess instead of extending it here.
Re: Green card interviews end in handcuffs for spouses of U.S. citizens
#90I am surprised people are willing to put up with this sort inhumane treatment. A person I know has been waiting for 16+ years for his green card. They've very rarely traveled out of the USA together as a family because they were afraid they might be a problem getting back in. The people I know are not even desperate migrants where this sort of treatment is still better than the lives they are living - yet they still…
Everyone back home in Texas wondered why my husband (a German) wouldn’t “let” us move to the US.
He was open to doing at least a few years over there; he’d enjoyed his exchange during university back in the 90s.
I was the one who said no, having seen the hell my colleagues married to Germans and other western Europeans were going through with US immigration.
Instead, I got a German residence permit without much fuss, and converted to a permanent one (Green Card equivalent) at a renewal when the clerk pointed out I was past the minimum time needed on my renewable one and encouraged me to apply.
Everyone complains about German bureaucracy, and I did have to bring in a fair bit of paperwork, but they do a prep appointment where they give you a list of exactly what they want to see from you specifically when you file your application.