One way to permanently live in the United States is to apply for a greencard through your employer. In my case, labor certification has been approved and I am coming to the end of the process. I only need to submit one last set of documents, have a full medical examination and have an interview at a United States Consulate. This was due to be submitted in September, 2007 and this is where the process has stopped.
I received a letter from the National Visa Center on July 1, 2007 pertaining to my green card application. I paid the Processing Fee Bill and have had no further communication. My current work-visa is valid until June 30, 2008. I am unable to apply for a work-visa extension as I would have exceeded the 6 year limit to work in the United States. This process was further delayed by two years due to 9/11.
I know stories like this, too. One is about a woman from Mexico who got married to an American and had two kids while she was waiting (legally). She did go back when her visa expired, but her husband finally found someone to intercede, and now she’s here legally.
They never imagined that a woman who was here on an employer sponsored visa, married an American and had two American kids would have such a hard time.
I do wonder why so many insist that we don’t need comprehensive immigration reform.
Good luck to this woman.
I’m surprised. I have a friend who came to this country legally from Indonesia as a tourist about eight years ago. She now has a green card and is rapidly on her way to becoming a citizen. And believe me, she did not have $45K to throw at the problem. I spoke to the INS on her behalf. The process didn’t seem that onerous.