Do you know how a person becomes a legal citizen?

[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 do entation?

Yes, we have to prove the marriage is legal and "real" (not taken up just to get her green card).

There are people who do it without spending $3000 on an attorney.

Probably. But they'd still be on the hook for the other $2500 in filing fees.

[word]

How many people are actually familiar with the process and what's required?

I'm curious to see what the answers will be.

Well at least you're aware that there is actually a process.

[Ginobilly]

Yes, we have to prove the marriage is legal and "real" (not taken up just to get her green card).


Probably. But they'd still be on the hook for the other $2500 in filing fees.

Do you include pictures of yourself having sex with your spouse, just so that you can prove it's real?

[ploto]

None of the money that lngrrr is mentioning is paid to an attorney, these are all fees that CIS requires to be paid.

$2500 for a lawyer to help with the initial package

[LnGrrrR]

Do you include pictures of yourself having sex with your spouse, just so that you can prove it's real?

Ha! I don't think they'd accept that. Sharing our Valentine's Day cards was personal enough.

I understand the cost of the fees... I mean, background checking isn't cheap. I don't have to enjoy it though.

[ElNono]

Ding ding ding! We do have a winner. It's time-consuming and expensive.

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 pe ion)
$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.

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.

[LnGrrrR]

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.

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.

When are you applying ElNono?

[symple19]

I served with guys in the Army who had been in years, fought for America, and still couldn't get their citizenship...Wow

[MiamiHeat]

i assume the point of this thread is to point out how hard it is

i guess i can just 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 ing borders and laws.

"BUT MEXICO SUCKS, I WANT BETTER LIFE"

then fix your ing country you roach. 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.

[LnGrrrR]

i assume the point of this thread is to point out how hard it is

...

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.

To about having to pay 5K or so? And ostensibly, to educate others on what's involved. But mostly to .

Reading comprehension fail.

[LnGrrrR]

then fix your ing country you roach. 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.

Does Mexico have superheroes now?

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 re ed.

the united states is not a mecca for every single human who wants to come here. it is a country with ing 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.

[Wild Cobra]

Evidently, it's a pain in the ass. Otherwise, the illegal route woudn't be so attractive.

It is.

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.

[Wild Cobra]

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.

It's to make sure someone else doesn't change places in the middle of the process.

[ElNono]

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.

When are you applying ElNono?

I'll be a 5 year resident in March 2012...

[ElNono]

It's to make sure someone else doesn't change places in the middle of the process.

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.

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...

[MiamiHeat]

Does Mexico have superheroes now?

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 re ed.




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.

there is so much flawed logic in this post, i won't even bother

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 roaches who sneak in this country, then spawn like ing insects are ruining state's economies. THEY DONT ING 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 ING STATE DO IT, THEY BROKE OUR LAW THE VERY SECOND THEY STEPPED FOOT ON OUR SOIL ILLEGALY. Throw them out like the ing roaches they are.

[timvpimp]

there is so much flawed logic in this post, i won't even bother

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 roaches who sneak in this country, then spawn like ing insects are ruining state's economies. THEY DONT ING 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 ING STATE DO IT, THEY BROKE OUR LAW THE VERY SECOND THEY STEPPED FOOT ON OUR SOIL ILLEGALY. Throw them out like the ing roaches 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.

[MiamiHeat]

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.

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 again


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 ing wrong and you know it.

[timvpimp]

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 again


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 ing 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.

[Sense]

Ding ding ding! We do have a winner. It's time-consuming and expensive.

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 pe ion)
$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.

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.

[Sense]

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 ing wrong and you know it.

Oh wow... hahahah.

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.

[DJ Mbenga]

Ding ding ding! We do have a winner. It's time-consuming and expensive.

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 pe ion)
$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.

sounds a little more expensive than it is to pay for a "coyote"

[word]

Ding ding ding! We do have a winner. It's time-consuming and expensive.

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 pe ion)
$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.

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.

[Duff McCartney]

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.

That's capitalism my friend. You god damn communist.

[MiamiHeat]

That's capitalism my friend. You god damn communist.

can't tell if you're agreeing with me or not :P

but yeah, this is bull . 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