Why is it so difficult?

Question

Why is it apparently so easy to gain entry to the US illegally but after a 9yr relationship and 3yrs of marriage, with no criminal record. So hard to get there legally.

No i'm not illegally in the states i am in the UK and trying to be with my husband who is in the USAF. I am not that stupid as to be illegal.

Why do people automatically assume that you are either illegal or considering becoming a illegal immigrant. My question stated in the last line "GET THERE LEGALLY".

Not until the day of the interview was there any probs. Just delays

Answer 1

As far as I know the American use a quota system.Being British does not help the cause and I beleive it reflects on the countrys population.You must Love each other very much and must keep this one hot.The circumstances you describe qualifies you for permanency into the US on the grounds of compassion.It is worth noting that Embassy rules are simply general guidlines and are negotiable.Good Luck to you both.

Answer 2

The second part is because of the first part. The government tries to clamp down on illegals by making it harder to get into the country period, which is just stupid. It only makes it more tempting to give up on going it the legal route. It's very frustrating.

I can sympathize with you completely, as I'm a "registered alien" with a US citizen for a husband living legally in the US. It took over a year just to be able to work in this country and over 4 years to get my registered alien status. Even though it was supposed to only take 2 years for that. I was on "temporary" status the whole time I was waiting. The final interview kept getting delayed and delayed. I'm Canadian, so fortunately I was able to stay in the US as a visitor while I waited and didn't have to be separated from my husband. Still it was a real pain. We even got an immigration lawyer to try to help expedite the process. I don't recommend that as it was very expensive and I don't really think she did anything we couldn't have done ourselves. There was a lot of time spent waiting (full days usually) in crowded offices full of foreigners just to stand in line and file paperwork. It was a weird process. I hate how all the papers kept referring to me as "the alien spouse". My husband still jokes about how he married "an alien". Ha ha, very funny. :p

It really makes you sympathize with all those people who just hop across the border. It sure does seem like the easier route at times. When will the government learn that making it more difficult and expensive to do things legally will just make the last few honest people left give up and turn criminal?

Answer 3

Since you say "get there" I assume you are not in the US. I do not understand why you are having difficulty unless you are in a country which the US considers hostile or requires additional, and time consuming, background checks. I met my Bulgarian wife online December 2000, went to see her in Bulgaria in April 2001 and got engaged, and had an attorney complete paperwork for a "Visa for Fiancees." She had her interview September 18, 2001, 7 days after the 9/11 attacks. I was sure they would not grant a Visa, especially with Bulgaria being an ex-Communist country, but they did. She arrived here in October 2001 and we were married December 2001, less than a year after I met her.

Now I did ask my attorney if it would be quicker if I married my fiancee in her country and he said no and that it may actually take longer to get her here. But I cannot remember why.

Another thing that may be causing a delay is incomplete or incorrect paperwork. The slightest error, such as a typographical error, can cause the form to be sent back to the petitioner for correction. Also, if Homeland Security does not feel your spouse can adequately support you they may delay the Visa.

Although you may have no criminal record, there may be something in your past that has caused delay, but your spouse should be made aware of what it is.

Your spouse can always contact Homeland Security (Visas used to be handled by INS) to see what may be delaying your Visa.

Answer 4

Well there really hasnt been any organized attempt to reform the immigration law in this country in years. The last time it was done the reforms were seen as amnesty because there have been no serious discussions in the house or the senate about the laws, how theyre interpreted, or even the possibility of forming a committee to report on changes that could be made to alleviate an already strained system.

Answer 5

Part of the problem is that you are not a minority nor do you come from a preferred immigration nation.

Stick with it and you will prevail - and because you did it the right way without any laws being broken you can hold your head up. That is not something that any of the current illegals can EVER do. Their children and grandchildrens entire future will have that cloud of shame hanging over it that they broke the law, were not wanted here to begin with and do not belong here - EVER!

Answer 6

Because 9 years ago it was much easier for all of it and now that the government is having so many problems on the boarder the only way they can TRY to regulate it right now is through marriage licenses. What a shame! Keep on trying you will eventually get it. You need lawyer.

Answer 7

Immigration laws are too tight in the USA. That is why so many people enter illegally.

The reason it is 'easy' is that it is so difficult to police massive land and sea borders.

However, it is not that easy. Often illegals have to pay huge amounts of money to smugglers or risk dying of thirst or snake bites in the desert.

Answer 8

It should be easy to gain admittance with a spouse visa, and you don't need to hire a lawyer, just be careful to fill out the paperwork properly. You need pictures showing the two of you together and copies of on going correspondence to establish your history together, and if you ever lived together, evidence proving it. It shouldn't take you more than a year, and with your husband in the military, it should be easier.

Answer 9

Go through the process you need to so that you can be with your husband...I wish American citizens took immigration and marriage more seriously so that these kinds of things didn't happen so often....Good luck!

Answer 10

It may not be easy, but the reality is that our immigration laws are no harder or more difficult than those of most other countries. Its just when its YOU that it seems so difficult.

Don't succumb to do it criminally....that will cause nothing but even more heartache down the road.