How many people are actually familiar with the process and what's required?
I'm curious to see what the answers will be.
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How many people are actually familiar with the process and what's required?
I'm curious to see what the answers will be.
Why are you curious? Do you have Internet?
I know what it consists of... I'm just wondering if the majority of posters know the difficulties involved.Quote:
Originally Posted by boutons_deux
Evidently, it's a pain in the ass. Otherwise, the illegal route woudn't be so attractive.
Ding ding ding! We do have a winner. It's time-consuming and expensive.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarrinS
Here are the costs in expenses my wife I have racked up so far (not counting time/effort spent gathering evidence)
$2500 for a lawyer to help with the initial package, which is quite large
$1400 for the initial package to get her green card (Application for green card plus fiance petition)
$545 for the 2 year 'checkup'
$80 for the lawyer to review 2 year checkup package
And coming up...
$675 for her citizenship
and probably another $80 bucks for a lawyer to review.
By the time we're done, it will be about $5200... blah!
I think it was easier getting my security clearance done than this. :)
just marry some clown who has a green card then divorce
wow it's cheaper to get a DWI. that's sad.Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
and i'm assuming some of this was expatiated due to the fact she married military, or at least air force (woka woka woka)
$5200?????Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
that is chump change for an illegal.
I know of illegals that are paying $25,000 for a mere work visa
Nope, same cost. Military spouses don't get discounts; however, if I were deployed, the time for residency would be lowered. (She has to wait 3 years after getting her green card to apply for citizenship.)Quote:
Originally Posted by panic giraffe
I didn't realize DWIs were so expensive.
$25K huh? They must have one heck of a job.Quote:
Originally Posted by in2deep
Edit: And if they have a work visa, and they're living here, why not just try to upgrade to residency status?
It's all about the $$, the rest of that doesn't sound very intimidating
Intimidating? Not really.. just a hassle. For instance, our package included:Quote:
Originally Posted by z0sa
Documentation of marriage
Pictures, cards, letters etc proving the marriage was valid
Birth certs, social sec card
Shared finances (ie bank statements etc etc)
Signed letters/affidavits from friends and family testifying to the validity of our marriage
Tax returns to show ability to support spouse
The forms themselves (family history, personal items)
Medical examination
Personal interview/fingerprinting
And a few other odds and ends.
My wife and I are just impatient to get this waiting period/form over with, have her take her English and civics test, then say her oath.
So what is the point of this thread? I assume you are attempting to demonstrate part of the reason why many illegals are illegal in the first place.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
no. they are illegal. they have 2-3 shitty jobs and save for a few years to achieve that though.
exactly, the work visa opens the door to all that.Quote:
Edit: And if they have a work visa, and they're living here, why not just try to upgrade to residency status?
Illegals can't marry citizens and then become citizens. It doesn't work that way. The only way an "illegal" can marry a citizen and become legal is if they entered the country legally.
There comes a point in the process where you have to show that you entered here legally, and if you don't have that, you can't continue the process.
The only way that can happen is if they are married and the not legal spouse lives in their country of origin. Then they get a visa, and are allowed to come over here. It is a big hassle.
To bitch about having to pay 5K or so? :lol And ostensibly, to educate others on what's involved. But mostly to bitch.Quote:
Originally Posted by z0sa
Well, I don't think that's exactly right... the process can continue, but they have to move to Mexico to continue it. My wife had a VISA so she was allowed to stay, but I can certainly see why illegal immigrants choose not to expose themselves.Quote:
Originally Posted by Duff McCartney
In2deep, I don't see why the cost would be 25K... if they're working towards legal residency, then they should be able to pay for the forms/filing fees. Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if some of that was for lawyer fees.
That's the biggest issue, that I see. If you're an illegal immigrant living here, you're probably going to keep working until you make the money. Because if you go to Mexico to make the money, it will take 3x as long... and 5K may seem like chump change to some, but I'm sure it isn't to many immigrants.
I can agree there, that $5k is worth bitching over. :toastQuote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
sorry but I'm afraid it'll cost more to make her a real citizen with full rights, including the rights for being a presidential candidate. Not meaning she'll actually go there someday, I mean you just need to know how much efforts/cashes Obama paid then his presidency looks fairly deserved to you with all these considered.Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
what?
?Quote:
Originally Posted by John Terry
That is exactly right. I know people that have tried that way. The only way they can continue is if they go back to Mexico so they can get their visa, but if they go back, they face the penalty of waiting 10 years before they can return to the United States. That is no joke.Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
Isn't a lot of this because she married a US citizen, and you are having to prove it really is a valid marriage with all these visits and documentation? There are people who do it without spending $3000 on an attorney.
An immigrant can never become President. Nor can they even be in the Presidential line of succession. Meaning no Secretary of State, none of that. Unless of course I am mistaken and it is possible for someone who wasn't born in this country to be President.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Terry
None of the money that lngrrr is mentioning is paid to an attorney, these are all fees that CIS requires to be paid.Quote:
Originally Posted by ploto
Yes, we have to prove the marriage is legal and "real" (not taken up just to get her green card).Quote:
Originally Posted by ploto
Probably. But they'd still be on the hook for the other $2500 in filing fees.Quote:
Originally Posted by ploto
Well at least you're aware that there is actually a process.Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
Do you include pictures of yourself having sex with your spouse, just so that you can prove it's real?Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duff McCartney
Quote:
$2500 for a lawyer to help with the initial package
Ha! I don't think they'd accept that. Sharing our Valentine's Day cards was personal enough.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ginobilly
I understand the cost of the fees... I mean, background checking isn't cheap. I don't have to enjoy it though. :lol
We actually did it all without lawyers... and paid about $4K. You forgot to include that on every step they nail you $50 or so for fingerprinting. They must have done my fingerprints like 10 times already between my old H1B visa and my residency. I fully expect to get fingerprinted one more time when I apply for citizenship.Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
You will. I included those fees in my calculations, but yeah, it's pretty bs. Why do they need to take my wife's biometrics three times? Yeesh.Quote:
Originally Posted by ElNono
When are you applying ElNono?
I served with guys in the Army who had been in years, fought for America, and still couldn't get their citizenship...Wow
i assume the point of this thread is to point out how hard it is
i guess i can just bitch and whine, go break the law when i want something, because doing it legally is too hard.
the united states is not a mecca for every single human who wants to come here. it is a country with fucking borders and laws.
"BUT MEXICO SUCKS, I WANT BETTER LIFE"
then fix your fucking country you cockroach. don't run away and scatter. how else do you think countries rise up from the ashes?
fix mexico. get rid of your drug problem, fix your economy, enact new laws.
stop coming to usa.
all of these illegal immigrants are hurting america in almost every way possible.
...Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiHeat
Quote:
Originally Posted by z0sa
Reading comprehension fail.Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
Does Mexico have superheroes now?Quote:
then fix your fucking country you cockroach. don't run away and scatter. how else do you think countries rise up from the ashes?
fix mexico. get rid of your drug problem, fix your economy, enact new laws.
I don't think you realize how failed a state some parts of Mexico are right now. It's not just, "Oh, I'm poor." It's "Oh, I'm poor, and I'm threatened by drug dealers who pretty much own the government."
I'm not saying I'm totally fine with illegal immigration. But to act like it's that simple to fix the problem is retarded.
Quote:
the united states is not a mecca for every single human who wants to come here. it is a country with fucking borders and laws.
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
But hey, I guess the Statue of Liberty is a commie liberal.
It is.Quote:
Originally Posted by DarrinS
My ex-wife is a permanent alien resident. We started the process some years back, but it was difficult and unnecessary since she has permanent status.
It's to make sure someone else doesn't change places in the middle of the process.Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
I'll be a 5 year resident in March 2012...Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
Biometrics verification is done by merely sticking your thumb in a portable reader and looking at a camera. Done it plenty of times when coming in from overseas.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild Cobra
What these guys do is a full set of fingerprints + photo every time. I'm pretty sure it's for archival. I'm also pretty sure that the company that received the contract to do this is doing quite well...
there is so much flawed logic in this post, i won't even botherQuote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
you can figure it out for yourself if you self-reflect on your post.
i will say though, I was talking about ILLEGAL immigration, not legal immigration. I assumed this thread was because "look how hard it is to become a citizen! no wonder illegals commit a crime and sneak into america!"
these cockroaches who sneak in this country, then spawn like fucking insects are ruining state's economies. THEY DONT FUCKING PAY TAXES, yet they suck our resources. These roaches hide in the shadows and then scatter when La Migra comes around.
Higher crime rates, JOB THEFT, bigger burden on education system, government programs, medical care, .....
Mexicans come over here, and then it gives the option to companies to hire a mexican for 2-3 dollars an hour than to hire an american for 7 dollars/hr.
I fully support Arizona and I wish to see EVERY FUCKING STATE DO IT, THEY BROKE OUR LAW THE VERY SECOND THEY STEPPED FOOT ON OUR SOIL ILLEGALY. Throw them out like the fucking cockroaches they are.
you're a legal immigrant? I think to turn yourself a legal immigrant, preliminarily you need to get through some english tests like Toefl first of all, which probably you haven't got done yet.Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiHeat
what? I was born in USA, i'm not an immigrant. i know you are trolling though. so i won't respond to you again if you try it againQuote:
Originally Posted by timvpimp
to sneak into a country and hide in there, breaking their law, stealing jobs from americans, sucking their resources and sending money back to another country, it's fucking wrong and you know it.
co-signed, but I have to disagree on your clemency for those immigrants who are "legal". Just because they've got done some tests and probably have bribed some officials of immigration bureau, it doesn't mean they are rightfully to be living in america while the illegals aren't. Your dog might be lovely but you still can't differentiate him from the vagrant dogs who are of the same species yet wandering in street.Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiHeat
Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
lmao.... Seriously?
I know people who pay about 3k tops... I guess it depends on the lawyer.
and people pay for working visas about 350 or so... there's a lot of exageration being thrown around.
Oh wow... hahahah.Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiHeat
I disagree with you on every statement you've made here. You know I've argued countless of times with idiots that view this topic like you do.... never ending arguments.
However, I can't seem to find myself to even start this one, just reading this makes me realize that some of you idiots just won't change your minds on anything relating an illegal immigrant.
I can understand someone like timvpimp, because it's fairly obvious that he's not an idiot when talking about the topic, but stop making yourself look bad... you should go live in Arizona, I'm sure it'll make you happier.
sounds a little more expensive than it is to pay for a "coyote"Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
Your clearance won't cost you a dime and it just might be that hard. I've seen 'em take quite a while, over a year, sometimes two. Sometimes not. Depends what kind, how old you are, how much you screwed up in life or not.Quote:
Originally Posted by LnGrrrR
That's capitalism my friend. You god damn communist.Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiHeat
can't tell if you're agreeing with me or not :PQuote:
Originally Posted by Duff McCartney
but yeah, this is bullshit. that's called exploitation. harboring criminals, too.
there are federal and state minimum wage laws for a reason, you know.
when an illegal comes here and does a job for 2-3 dollars an hour, that is a stolen job. period. if they weren't here breaking the law and helping corporations to also break the law, then that job would have been filled by an american at a HIGHER SALARY. stolen jobs
If you had taken out the lawyer numbers, it would be around 2700 roughly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sense
And if you don't believe me, just go to the USCIS website... they have all the cost of the forms there. Pretty easy to tell if I'm "exagerating" or not.
Well, the biggest thing is that when they did my clearance, I didn't have to collect all the information! :lolQuote:
Originally Posted by word
Thankfully mine was never delayed more than six months, but I've seen some people wait for over a year for theirs.
What? Go take a look at the USCIS site. Prices are there. (LINK)Quote:
Originally Posted by Sense
I went through a H1B work visa, including extension and now residency.
The residency form alone is over $1K (I-485)...
I probably filed about 5 different forms in 10 years...
I'll bet the requirements by law don't get updated as technology does. So many things can be changed, but ever try to make non-political common-sense changes in such a large bureaucracy? I've worked for a couple large corporations, and work for a pretty large employer now. Practical changes almost take an act of God.Quote:
Originally Posted by ElNono
Eh, I bet it's more of a "show of security" measure as you postulated earlier... Plus, it's more money in the govenments pocket. They have to pay for that equipment somehow... Although at 80 bucks a screening, they must be expensive machines!Quote:
Originally Posted by Wild Cobra