Monday, May 4, 2009

US Immigration Law is only an option?

My blood starts boiling when I see illegal immigrants/aliens marching on the streets protesting for the need of "amnesty". I believe in the laws of the land. If you break it, it will judge you. But while politics is packed with hidden agenda, immigration law becomes a shaded area. I do not agree that illegal aliens brings good business to the nation, which alot thinks become a defense to keep them in place. 

My grandfather who is a native of the Philippines came to USA in the late 70's as a permanent resident and 5 years after he got his citizenship he applied for his children permanent residency, and there were 21 of them. I was 7 years old then and our family was looking forward to it. We've waited for almost 14 years till our priority date came. Everybody was ecstatic....except me because I was over 21 years old and the INS law says that if a previous applicant was under that age and the priority date came but was now over 21 then that application is now voided. My immigration application was scratched. It was a big disappointment. My family tried to talk to the consulate about my situation but they stick to the rule. So they all came here and I stayed in the Philippines while at the same time finishing college. My sisters made it worse when they tell stories about their life here and made me feel really, extremely jealous and drove me insane. 

I finally had the chance to come to USA after 8 years and I took it. But not the chance an immigration can give me but for advancing my schooling to an MS in Computer Science and the school sponsored me as an international student though my mom filed for a re-application of my permanent residency years ago (1998) which is still in process. I am now here on H1B. I'm with my family. I got a decent job. I'm getting married soon. I'm happy.

My situation is not unique. Alot of people are still in their home countries waiting for their immigration application approval and some may end up having their application voided because of age limit which doesn't make any sense at all! Why would they void? I don't understand it. And here come's the illegal aliens asking for amnesty. There are alot of working professionals here on H1B and are living the pain of waiting for their permanent residency approval. Some of them get unlucky and have to go home since their H1B got exhausted (valid for 6 years only). They work hard. They contribute to the national economy. They get paid lower than their citizen counter parts. The only drag on H1B is that you are only tied to one company. If they kick you out and nobody can sponsor you in a month or two then you have to go back to your home country. That sucks. How can the smart politicians at the white house get really illogical and bias with helping illegals get naturalized automatically?? Crazy.

Hear this. Some people wait for decades before they can come here legaly. A friend of mine was sponsored by his dad for his immigration application. His dad died before his priority date and his application was voided. Of course people at the INS just followed the rule and he's just one of the numbers in the paper. Not even mercy can step in and bend the law for the illegals at this point in comparison. 

1 comment:

Em T said...

You've worked hard and done it right. Though I agree that's it's frustrating when people seem to get ahead for doing shady things....
You should check out my blog, too. I've been converted. http://tayman.wordpress.com/