jundp

First of all, I hope that you are able to complete this process soon and be with your SO. It is a very frustrating situation to be separated from the one you love.

All of those talking ###### about my post, you should learn to read and analyze a little bit better.

Don't post whining on a public forum if you don't want people to respond to your post. Insulting other posters because you don't like what they say about a topic you started is childish and immature. You knew getting into this (or you should have if you'd read up on the process) that there is a chance the process would take a while. There are people who get approved quickly, and people whose cases take months, perhaps years. Immigration is not a right, it is a privilege.

And I HAVE lived in Russia and I know how the law works there and here. Everyone is corrupt over there but at least there is someone to talk to, someone to pay off. There is no one here but mindless automatons on the phone who could care less about your situation.

So, you prefer a system that is corrupt? You can't have everything.

I would move from THIS America as soon as I get a real chance to make the kind of money and have the kind of real freedom I want. This is not the same America my parents brought me to. I loved this country but this is not the same country anymore. Tea party, Michelle Bachmann and Sarah Palin. Being stupid is a good thing these days and that doesn't work for me. This is the right wing corporate slave running America and I am just using it like its using me.

This is confusing. So, you're happy to live in America to work and have freedom, but only until you get enough of both to move to another country? Please clarify.

Life isn't fair. Immigration isn't always fair. Politics DEFINITELY aren't fair.

How sad! Yes, it must be so difficult for you coming to the US and expecting to be happy now you are with your fiance - but you are living with someone who is grieving her loss. It is sad she has lost her husband but also sad that you can't feel the joy you deserve because of her sadness. You sound like a very caring, loving young woman and I know it is hard to feel happy - and you do have the right - when you are in the company of someone who is hurting.

Is it possible for your fiance to move you somewhere else until you are married? Another friend who isn't going through this painful situation? It is hard not to feel out of place when you are dealing not only with the shock of moving to another country but moving into the same space with someone who is in the shock of losing her loved one. Under the circumstances, she may also feel more comfortable if there was another place you could stay at this time.

You do have the right to be happy and you do have the right to enjoy this time after all of your hard work to get here. Perhaps this is an option you and your fiance can check out.

Good luck to you

excellent post

We have to do the same in Vermont. So what? You mean there was a state that didn't require this?

Washington doesn't require proof of legal residence. However, when my husband got his license (before he even applied for AOS - we got his license the week before we were married), he showed his K1 Visa, his SS# (he lived here during high school when his dad worked in Boston), and I had to fill out a form vouching for him. We were surprised really that it was so easy. We were told it was because he had a German license.

TBH though, I don't really see why anyone would have a problem with someone living in the US driving legally. As someone else stated, isn't it preferable that EVERYONE who drives has access to insurance and a license?

So what is the beef of the human trafficking/human abuse supporters? They do not care if they get minimum wage, social security, healthcare, safe working conditions, why would they worry that they can't get driver's licenses? If you are Ok with people being smuggled in inhuman conditions, living in inhuman conditions, working in inhuman conditions all for the purpose of putting $$$ in the pockets of business owners...why would you be concerned if they can get a driver's lisence?

I see someone already answered your previous question.

I agree with this post 100%

No,

he came forward when he (1) he couldn't get a new fake Green Card anymore, (2) realized that Gay Marriage would not be signed off by the President, and (3) when he learned that people who would be eligible under the DREAM Act would not be deported any longer. He seized the opportunity to make money, nothing else.

No,

it's because I did not commit document a felony while being here. I did not buy and use fake Green Cards, did not use a fake SSN card, did not seek employment with fake documents, did not claim to be a US citizen. That's why.

Gotcha Thanks for answering. I think there's more to it than just "seizing the opportunity to make money" though.

Were you going to post a helpful tip about how to protect one's nethers while frying food naked?

Darn. You caught me

You play, you win . . . cool. You play, you lose, you accept the consequences of your actions. That's my mantra. The fact that I do not hide my past and my timeline should tell you that I am not afraid to face criticism where criticism is due. I was young and pretty naive back then, but somehow got lucky in the end.

But does it matter to you that Vargas admitted fault? He didn't wait to get "caught" and he'd been lucky for many years previously, just as you were. He was 12 when he came here, 16 when he found out his illegal status. How old were you when you knew your residency in the US was illegal? I'm not trying to offend, but I am asking what you think is the difference between you and Vargas as to responsibility? Is it because you entered the US legally and he didn't?

I agree with moving to a better district or finding a way to send your child to a school that is better -- if it's in your power. I know that there are people who cannot afford to move or who can't get jobs near the best district, etc., but I know plenty of parents who sacrifice so their kids can be in a better district.

The problem with using test scores to detect whether or not a school is "failing," is that test scores are not a one-size-fits-all indicator. Progress in the classroom can be determined by whether or not Johnny or Susie has improved from Day 1 to Day 180 -- not whether or not he or she scores lower than kids in another district.

And, people who have never worked in a classroom with kids shouldn't be making laws about education or determining curriculum. Those of us in the classroom who STAY are there for a reason -- and it isn't the big bucks or the vacation (which is never really a vacation if we want to be prepared for the next term). Parents and teachers working together is what makes a school great, not some indifferent politician who doesn't know jack about the kids or the classroom.

I don't doubt he is. That's going to make it all the harder for him. He's going to meet loads of women that not only look like super models but are college educated and speak not just one or two languages, but several. He's going to think he's died and went to heaven. It's all about "testosterone".

He speaks 7 and she speaks at least 3. She does look like a supermodel, and she's nice, but not a pushover. He also has far more substance than you are giving him credit for

So how is fighting for gay recognition disgusting?

You might as well give it up, fishdude. I've tried asking that question and received no valid answer.

I think Amby is referring to the truth of my statement that my son is brilliant

Isn't the DS260 only for immigrant visas? A K1 (fiance visa) is a non-immigrant visa.

1. I live in a land called "My Child Doesn't Have Sex" and I'll stay in that make-believe land until his first child is born

2. His gf is not only gorgeous, but as I said, his intellectual equal. Every mom thinks their children are brilliant, but in this case, it's true. He really is. And he needs to be with people who are as intelligent as he is.

Back to topic: "gays" should be allowed to get "married" and have all the "benefits" that "straight" people have.

O/T but you do know jundp that there's a better than average chance your son is going to be posting in the RUB forum when he seeks a visa for his new RUB spouse. He's most likely going to become one of us

back on topic...the DOMA is one of the better pieces of legislation imo.

DUDE! My son is only a sophomore in college, but he and his gf have already discussed marriage for after grad school. Perhaps they won't stay together, but he's going to Vladivostock for an intense course in the Russian language, not to look for a wife.

Regardless, he could never be one of you Seriously, I wouldn't care as long as whoever he ends up with shares his morals, loves him, and is his intellectual equal. His gf of 2 years fits that description.

I was wondering why this hadn't been mentioned anywhere yet...

It has been: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/316119-pulitzer-prize-winner-vargas-says-hes-an-illegal-immigrant/

Therefore DOMA is meaningless and should not be hard to do away with. Then the States could work on providing equal marriage rights to homosexuals as they currently provide to heterosexuals. Everyone wins except the bigots.

Exactly. Because according to the DOMA marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. Sounds to me like the federal government has something to say about marriage...

"Gay" because they are homosexuals, not "Gay." - I know quite a few depressed homosexuals.

"Rights" because it's silly to call them rights as I said.

It's irrational because they sit and compare themselves to blacks, women, etc. when their struggles are no where near the same.

Oh, got it. Your post reminded me of the "Friends" episode in which Joey misunderstands the use of air quotes.

Color me crazy, but I'm lost as to why you say they aren't "rights"? I mean, there was quite a bit more to my post than just the question about quotation marks, but you didn't address any of the other points. I'm truly curious as to your POV about what I had to say. I definitely don't agree with you, but that doesn't mean I can't have a discussion with you about it.

"It was amateurish, it was rank, and it hurt," Klayman said at the press conference, which according to Adweek was attended by just three reporters. "There was nothing stating that it was satire."

That last part is my favorite. Um, yeah. If someone needs it stated that it's satire, then you probably aren't the intended audience, since satire, by definition is the use of intelligent wit, irony, and sarcasm.

But then again, the Brits got pissed at Jonathan Swift for "A Modest Proposal" too.

Well sure, high school kids would.

I would do it now if I lost my job and we needed the income. I wouldn't like it, but I'd do it if it was necessary.

n/m

Work a whole day for $40? $800/month; $1200/month if you work weekends?

I did the year after high school...of course that was more than a few years ago and I had virtually no expenses either.

Then let them immigrate to one of those 34 other country's.

The United States is included in my count of 34-ish countries, as same sex unions are performed and recognized in 11 states, with two other states recognizing the unions performed in those 11 states. As well there are about a dozen other states where same sex unions are a real possibility in the next decade.

I don't imagine it will be too long before same sex unions are legal and recognized throughout the US.

Also, the DOMA is a piece of ####### legislation -- but that's totally OT.

I thought you couldn't collect unemployment unless you'd been laid off? I've never collected it so I really don't know. I also haven't worked for minimum wage since I was probably 17 years old...

My point is, is that "Gays" want to be treated equally. They aren't fighting for "rights" like Black men and Women had to fight for their "rights."

Equating the two is disgusting to be quite honest and a disservice to those who had a REAL battle to be fought.

If you need the Government to recognize your union with your partner to be happy, if you need it to feel like your relationship is "special" then that's utterly pathetic and your relationship isn't about "love" at all.

What's with the overuse of quotation marks?!

I think the point is that homosexuals do not need the government to recognize their union to be "happy," but rather without governmental recognition of their union, same sex partners do not have access to certain benefits available to heterosexual couples. There are many businesses that offer medical insurance to same sex spouses, even in places where same sex unions aren't recognized, but they are few and far between. Many same sex couples who have been together for decades don't have the right to inherit money, make medical decisions -- even down to visiting his or her SO in the hospital because they aren't considered "next of kin." That is appalling.

But, back to the OP: Immigration laws should be changed for many reasons and same sex unions are just one more reason to add to the list. roughly 34 countries in the world either perform or recognize some form of same sex union. It's a shame that we don't extend immigration benefits to same sex couples here in the US.

In this particular case, I totally agree that if the couple married AFTER deportation proceedings were in place, then the marriage should be seen as fraudulent as far as immigration. I would say the same if it was a heterosexual couple.

Ranting yes... just "Gay Rights" is an irritating and irrational term.

Also, I respect your opinion that gay rights is an irritating term, but what exactly makes it an irrational term?

Is that Hedy Epstein?! She's one of the people my students study when we talk about the Holocaust and the Kindertransport.

Totally OT: But she's adorable. I know she's also quite the political activist, but that doesn't take away her adorable-ness

ETA: n/m I just saw the post saying that it is her. I didn't read all the way down.

I don't think Vargas should be allowed to go unpunished for this, but I do commend him for coming forward publicly. Obviously he's been in the public eye for years and it never came out, so I don't think he admitted this to avoid someone else breaking the story.

This is a definite grey area in terms of immigration law. He came here as a 12 year old, knew at 16 he was here illegally, received advice from mentors/teachers/adults to not say anything -- not that it really matters, but I imagine that this knowledge weighed on him for years. Anyway, I think letting it go and allowing him to remain unpunished sets a dangerous precedent. It also begs the question why it would be okay for him, as a Pulitzer winner, to stay in the US and be granted amnesty, but not someone who is just your average worker.

I'm very conflicted on this, personally.

Summer hasn't yet arrived here, so no hot-tubbing, swimming, or anything that doesn't involve a sweater here.