STUPID Immigration STUPID policies

Ok well I have always heard that immigration policies are some of the most confusing ridiculous government policies out there. But until you actually have to abide by them you can not even begin to realize how stupid they are. There are so many requirements based on so many different criteria that I am amazed we have as much immigration to the States as we; though if you are on a short list of certain countries it is easier than others. Of course I am trying learn about all of this because I want to get my wife back over to the states, and her situation is made more difficult thanks to the state department program that she originally came over on. Of course had it not been for that program we would not have met so you take the good and the bad I guess.

But here is what I find is ridiculous, 1 the goofy forms. And there are a ton of them, and you need different forms for different things, and you don’t know if you did them right or wrong for months. This is the point of the process we are in right now – gathering the correct documentation: marriage certificates, birth certificates, affidavits of our relationship by third parties, biographies, and the immigration forms. What fun. Once this is package of funness is completed it gets mailed to the USCIS. The what-what? The USCIS, the newer name for the old INS, I know everyone knows the INS so lets go ahead and rebrand a government agency. Again this just seems to add to calamity with which I am forced to be involved.

So beyond the USCIS, we also get to work with two parts of the US Department of State. At least that is according to the USCIS who actually answer the phone. On repeated attempts to contact the State Department I have only been referred back to the USCIS, who in turn say that the questions I have need to be directed to the State Department. YES THAT IS AWESOME! Government at its best, I tell you that much. So the concern I have is this RG is currently under a requirement to live in Russia for a total of 2 years to complete her scholarship agreement with the US State Department. Of which she has completed at least 9 or 10 months. However it takes 6 months for the USCIS to process an application. If it is approved it is sent to the State Department to change status, grant visas, etc. The State Department forwards this work to the US Consultant/Embassy in Russia. Well no one at the state department can tell how long this process takes, and if she has not completed her 2 year residency requirement if they hold her application or if we have to reapply.

So I don’t know when to submit the paper work. Too soon and we may have to start over after waiting say 12 months though at that point she would only need to live in Russia for 2 more months to meet the requirement. This would mean she would have to live there for and additional 10 months. If we submit the forms to late we are in the same boat if it takes that long to process. She may end up staying an additional 4-10 months just waiting on processing. AHHH!!. However if the State Department takes less than or more than 6 months to do there part who knows what the best time to file is. Or if they will hold her application until she is eligible then the sooner we get the application in the better.

Now this is just to get her Residency/Green Card. We have to continue to deal with the USCIS if she decides to become a US Citizen. But before she can do this we have to live together for 3 years as a married couple. We have like 4 months completed the rest won’t start until she moves home. Then there is an additional 5 year wait once she becomes a citizen before her parents would be able to get a Residency/Green Card and up to 10 years before her sister could be one. How crazy is that. The 3 year wait to become a citizen is to keep people from marrying just to gain citizenship. Though, if I join the military or become a diplomat she would automatically qualify for citizenship. Maybe this is something I could consider. The wait for her family on Residency/Green Cards is do to the limited number that are allotted to people from different countries per year. The wait is up to five years for parents and 10 for siblings from Russia. If they were Cuban they would immediately be eligible for residency.

So this is the silliness that I get to put up with as our country has different relationships with different nations, the rules have become ridiculously complicated. Beyond that politicians now argue about amnesty and citizenship for illegals from Mexico. How much of a double standard is that. If you are trying to get into the country legally to be with you family that has come over legally, well you may have to wait 5, 10, 15, or even 20 years, but if you came over illegally (hence breaking the law) we want to reward you!!!

So again I say…
“Stupid Immigration, Stupid Policies!!”