29 replies to this topic

[86hamstersi]

Do you want to talk races, nationalities, or citizenship? Let's not confuse the issue. Race is the color of your skin, and as far as American law goes, is meaningless. Small minded things happen, but eventually they get worked out because skin color in America isn't a legal issue.

Nationality has to do with where you were born. I was born in the USA, illegal immigrants were not.

Citizenship is the legal standing to be considered part of (governed by) a particular nation, granted by either nationality (place of birth) or naturalization (an application and testing process).



I'm not sure this argument holds water. For one thing, my family was poor - *REAL* poor - when they got on the boats from Denmark, England, Germany, etc., and came to Ellis Island back in 1800-whatever. When they arrived they told the US government about it, then they learned the language, then they got jobs, and yeah, they did work hard and earn their citizenship. Anybody who wants to do that still can, within the limits of the INS.

On the other hand, if an american citizen wants to emmigrate to some other country, they're going to need money, or special skills, or some other thing that country can't do for itself. 200 kilobucks is usually the threshold value of the bond you place into trust with the foreign government against your ability to support yourself. Or you can be a doctor, a nurse, an engineer, a really worthwhile artist, etc.

Number one I don't know who came out with the color race idea. I didn't. Number two, it was a lot different in the 1800's to be able to come to america. People got on a boat and came. They went through a documenting process at ellis island and became part of the U.S. If I am wrong show me proof that it was different in those days. There was no border patrol or INS. INS was made in 1933. It wasn't until 1890 that the "open door policy" was abandoned. Not to be taken personal but some of ya'll need to do your homework before ya'll start quoting " my great ................ came her in the 1800's legally" BS. That was the time of open door policy.

[86hamstersi]

This is just to get a green card.





1.) Go and look up www.uscis.gov Here you’ll find everything you need to know about becoming a legal resident of the United States of America. It’s easy, really.

At least that’s what they tell you. That and that prices are going down to make it more affordable. Both of which isn’t true, of course. You better calculate with at least $1,500 to get the GreenCard. You also won’t find all the information you need there.

2.) Apply early. Processing times vary.

“Vary” is a good word here. Actually they say it’s up to six months. Realistically it’s at least that much. Don’t make any plans if you’re planning to immigrate. In the meantime just abate your time sitting at home and waiting. If they let you stay in the country that is (see step 3 and 4)

3.) Be prepared. Have all your documents with you and be sure to do exactly what the friendly people from the USCIS tell you too. Expect to be sent back to your country of citizenship for interviews or other appointments at any time.

At this point you might be seriously considering getting an attorney. The quetion is a) do you have the money to afford one and will that actually be effective, because in order to actually help you’ll have to find an attorney whose main field of action is immigration. Have fun with that one. And in the end they might still want to send you home for random reasons.

4.) Don’t expect to receive any useful information when calling their phone support. 4. a) If you don’t have your receipt number for the forms you’re filing you’re screwed. 4 If you don’t have a receipt number yet because you’re still waiting to hear back from them you really have a problem.

Note: Do not expect that the information they give you on the phone is even remotely accurate. They will tell you that fees apply when they actually are being waived. They will tell you to send forms in seperately that should actually have been submitted together to prevent you from being sent back to your country of citizenship. Oh and they might choose not to tell you that by entering the U.S. on a visa waiver program you also waive all your rights to be able to talk to an immigration judge if your application is denied for whichever random reason, nice eh?

5.) You’ll be requested to submit a bazillion of forms once, twice, thrice and a fourth time and a fifth….in short: be srue you have access to a good copy machine.

6.) Your forms will be sent to a bazillion places all over the US of A. Don’t expect anybody to know their exact location and status at any given point.

7.) When you finally are invited to appear at an interview appointment, be prepared to get nervous. Bring anything that might serve as proof of cohabitation that you can get your hands on (i.e. leases, credit cards, bank statements, health insurance cards, utility bills, your hubby….and no used condoms or a live demostration of acts that might requirea condom aren’t appreciated. Don’t try it.)

8.) Just because you’ve received a receipt for submitted forms doesn’t mean they’ve been approved. Another term of eternal waiting will take its course. Be patient.

9.) You might get lucky and finally be able to talk to someone (an actual human being!) at an interview. You might be lucky like me and get someone who’s actually understanding and willing to help you out. Or you might not. Hey, life’s is one giant lottery!

10.) They will tell you it’ll take another 2-3 weeks till they have received your wayward forms and found time and mental stability to approve them. They’ll tell you not to worry, because there shouldn’t be a reason to incline them to deny your application. You hope. They’ll tell you that you’ll receive your Card in about 5-10 business days after approval. You hope more.
Only problem remains: You’ve already been going through immigration hassle for 7 months. You are a nervous wrreck. You’ll worry till you get your hands on that damn thing.

Good luck and strong nerves, man.
Welcome to the US of A.

[RARECRX]

Hmm..

I will say it is not as hard to get your papers as you seem to imply. My Family has come from other countries "legally" and it is just a pile of paperwork and some cash (not too extreme). Sure they may not be "citizens" yet but they are here legally and have most of the same opportunities as any other American.

My grandmother, both my aunts, my 2 cousins,my friends. etc.

Hell 1 of my cousins is on a 2 year stint in IRAQ in the marines.

One of my buddies was deported back to his country for a slight "mishap" of paperwork and a 10 year block put on him (this was after 9/11) hence the strict punishment . He went to school while away (lived a very humble life), graduated with a nursing degree, and with a lawyer,persistence, patience, and not much cash (as much as an illegal would pay a coyote), he had the 10 year block removed and after only 5 years is back here legally and for good!(just got back this 24th) How is that for beating the odds?

It's a matter of choice.

Do it the right (harder) way and live in our " land of the free" and have every opportunity as an equal American.

Or do it the wrong "Illegal" way and " live in fear,poverty,and low paying intensive labor jobs" and picket/protest how you are being treated unfairly.

Race/origin/creed/color have nothing to do with it. You do it the right way , or the wrong way..

[86hamstersi]

Im all for people doing it the right way but some families don't have all the necessary paper work and most poor mexican families don't get past 3rd grade for financial reasons. Most of yall posting shit against immigrants need to go work for the ins or border patrol if ya'll are so worried about immigration. Rarecrx I agree with you most of the way. If there was a better more fair way of coming over I would be all for it. But I guess thats how the law will be for a while especially because of 9/11.

[RARECRX]

I Feel America has the strict Immigration laws because They want a future citizen to be prepared and come into this country with a slight upperhand and with a show of eagerness and persistence to become a prominent citizen and provider. Basically what this country is supposed to be about. This is the so called "land of opportunity". If we just let anybody enter, without the necessary steps involved, they would pretty much FAIL as a citizen and not reflect the opportunities that can be had here.

This is/can be a very touchy subject, and may branch off into many agree/disagree point of views. Reality.. It is happening and will continue to happen for many years to come. people will piss each other off about their different views. Protests and new bills will happen.All in all, I am concerned about Myself and My family. It is not affecting my personal life to where I have to make drastic lifestyle changes, or making me fail as a citizen. If It ever does, I will try my hardest to adapt and overcome.

[Giltaran]

Number one I don't know who came out with the color race idea. I didn't. Number two, it was a lot different in the 1800's to be able to come to america. People got on a boat and came. They went through a documenting process at ellis island and became part of the U.S. If I am wrong show me proof that it was different in those days. There was no border patrol or INS. INS was made in 1933. It wasn't until 1890 that the "open door policy" was abandoned. Not to be taken personal but some of ya'll need to do your homework before ya'll start quoting " my great ................ came her in the 1800's legally" BS. That was the time of open door policy.

You asked the question. Don't blame me if you don't think the answer matters.

[4N2NR]

All of you have made good points. Not that I agree with them all, but they are good none the less. What I liked about her points were older immigrants didn't confuse heritage with nationality. They weren't hyphenated Americans and didn't wave the home country flag looking for handouts in a new world. They didn't feel entitled just because they made it to a new land.

My immediate family is a bit of a mini-U.N. and none of them are here illegally. It cost each of them $1,500 or less and not longer than six months to get all the paperwork done. I guess perhaps because they played by the rules and didn't immigrate until it was a done deal.

[86hamstersi]

I agree on being against those who wave flags of their country's instead of our flag. If they like it so much than why did they leave. But like I said not all immigrants are like that. Only a smaller percentage. Like some people who try to bring their strict heritage like beating or killing their kids for going out (happened here in texas) . If they like that life style than go the Fu(% back. But I believe that we should try to make some business contracts with mexicans in mexico so they can stay there and work for competitive wages. Farmers are buying land in northern mexico for growing fruits and vegetables since they are losing most of their workers to the new laws. I would be all for this new change since it would keep prices low and mexican workers near home. Never having to cross the border for jobs. They would have them there. But who knows what president would try for those kinds of alternatives.

[CarolinaCRX]

Im all for people doing it the right way but some families don't have all the necessary paper work and most poor mexican families don't get past 3rd grade for financial reasons. Most of yall posting shit against immigrants need to go work for the ins or border patrol if ya'll are so worried about immigration. Rarecrx I agree with you most of the way. If there was a better more fair way of coming over I would be all for it. But I guess thats how the law will be for a while especially because of 9/11.

Sorry you had a problem with coming here legally, but I don't need to go work for the INS or Border Patrol..............I need to find a politician who will help write and pass two federal laws. The first is closing the "Anchor baby loophole".......being born here should not be an automatic ticket to citizenship unless one of the parents is a legal citizen. The second is employers hiring illegals should be fined $250,000 per an illegal employee when they are caught hiring illegals and the fine is non-negotiable or transferable to another party ie.... when the business is sold. The argument of illegals doing jobs no one else wants is horse cookies..............they were being done before the illegals.

[CarolinaCRX]

ORANGE COUNTY (CALIFORNIA) NEWSPAPER-New Immigrants
This is a very good letter to the editor. This woman made some good points.
For some reason, people have difficulty structuring their arguments when arguing against supporting the currently proposed immigration revisions. This lady made the argument pretty simple. NOT printed in the Orange County Paper...................

Newspapers simply won't publish letters to the editor which they either deem politically incorrect (read below) or which does not agree with the philosophy they're pushing on the public. This woman wrote a great letter to the editor that should have been published; but, with your help it will get published via cyberspace!


From: 'David LaBonte'
My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC Register which, of course, was not printed. So, I decided to 'print' it myself by sending it out on the Internet. Pass it along if you feel so inclined. Written in response to a series of letters to the editor in the Orange County Register:

Dear Editor:
So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry.

Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.

They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture. Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity.

Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy, France and Japan . None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the United States of America as one people.

When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.

And here we are in 2007 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.

And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.

(signed) Rosemary LaBonte

KEEP THIS LETTER MOVING. FOR THE WRONG THINGS TO PREVAIL
THE RIGHTFUL MAJORITY NEEDS TO REMAIN COMPLACENT AND QUIET!!
LET THIS NEVER HAPPEN!!

I sincerely hope this letter gets read by millions of people all across the nation!!

I will pass the letter on.....................she forgot to mention the prior immigrants didn't expect us to learn THEIR language and spend millions of dollars of tax money to produce bilingual forms, instructions, and educate their children in their native language.

[86hamstersi]

Sorry you had a problem with coming here legally, but I don't need to go work for the INS or Border Patrol..............I need to find a politician who will help write and pass two federal laws. The first is closing the "Anchor baby loophole".......being born here should not be an automatic ticket to citizenship unless one of the parents is a legal citizen. The second is employers hiring illegals should be fined $250,000 per an illegal employee when they are caught hiring illegals and the fine is non-negotiable or transferable to another party ie.... when the business is sold. The argument of illegals doing jobs no one else wants is horse cookies..............they were being done before the illegals.

STFU you redneck fagot. I was born in Chicago to U.S. citizens. Just because you are a racist you use your excuse as a way of not showing it. Its funny how you want to get the anchor loop hole taken away but what if we went back 150 years and sent back all the immigrants children. You would more than likely be sent back. And how in the world did you spend millions on bilingual literature. Stupid noob.

[CarolinaCRX]

STFU you redneck fagot. I was born in Chicago to U.S. citizens. Just because you are a racist you use your excuse as a way of not showing it. Its funny how you want to get the anchor loop hole taken away but what if we went back 150 years and sent back all the immigrants children. You would more than likely be sent back. And how in the world did you spend millions on bilingual literature. Stupid noob.

Typical meheecan supporter response.........

ON EDIT: Why bother to reply to stereotypical responses such as the above.............I will concentrate on getting those two laws passed instead of getting side-tracked.

Edited by CarolinaCRX, 05 May 2008 - 08:19 PM.

[Giltaran]

If any moderator wants to lock this thread for inability to have a reasoned discussion, I for one am done talking.

[86hamstersi]

If any moderator wants to lock this thread for inability to have a reasoned discussion, I for one am done talking.

This conversation has come up many times and ends the same. Neither side will ever be done with their opinions. I'd rather not talk about this topic but as long as it keeps popping up I will keep sticking my foot up people's @$$e$.

[Ghost-One]

Typical meheecan supporter response.........

what kind of bullshit response is this

eff racism