BCIS (formerly INS)

“Man, who would have thought marrying a Canadian would be so much trouble! Right now I'm swimming through stacks of paperwork we have to complete and turn in just so we can lead normal lives here in the States. I hear things used to be easier until George W Bush stuck the INS in with the Homeland Security Act. It's going to end up costing us $800-$1000 and about 20 hours of work just to complete the fist wave of paperwork (we have to file more in a couple of years). My wife is in a wedding back in Canada in August and we even have to file a form that costs $110 for that just so she has permission to go to it and come back! Craziness...”

“Breathe deep, the gathering gloom...


Ain't bureaucratic paranoia grand?”

“I'm not a big fan of it. ;-)”

“The paperwork is really invasive too. They want more tax and income information from me than the IRS; proof of my employment; my wife has to have a physical and blood work done; we have to send dozens of photos of ourselves and of our wedding...the list goes on.”

“Maybe you should've invited the region head of Immigration to the wedding!

o well. Too many people have run too many scams --- now everyone has to go through all that. PLUS the Homeland Security hassles, <yikes>”

“it's really funny they don't seem to mind illegal aliens much, but just try to do things the legal way and you'll understand why there are so many illegals”

“EXACTLY!

And man, they even have "discounts" on the form fees and fewer forms to fill out for persons of certain ethnicity groups. Isn't that discrimination?

Uh-oh... I might have opened up a whole new can of worms with that comment!”

“Get a good immigration attorney, saves time and stops mistakes. I did and it was well worth the money - think of what your wife can earn for every week saved. The INS time for processing applications also seems to be improving according to others I've talked to.”

“I personally know an immigration lawyer and he said that's not the case anymore. Since the switch from INS to BCIS the paperwork has increased and become more expensive, but it has also become easy enough for a person like me to do myself. And you're right; the process time has gotten better over the past 5 years.

So I guess some things have improved since the change, but what concerns me is the tightening of the legal immigration noose. I don't think there should be this much BS attached to immigration through marriage.”

“Yes... a GOOD immigration atty. Check Those References...

My brother dated a girl from Ireland for a while and she had an immigration atty who was Not So Swift and it became a fair sized nightmare.

And yes, having different fees for different groups sounds like a systematic violation.”

“Yes, some immigration lawyers are horrible. I've heard a lot of war stories.”

“I think it's great that the gov. is finally cracking down. Now, to work on the illegal alien issues.”

“Just tell them you are enrolling in flying lessons. They'll wave you right through.”

“gordon:
LMAO!

Savage:
I agree, but I don't think they're going about it in the right way. Have you seen the numbers for illegals getting across the border lately? The Arizona/Mexico border alone estimates 12,000 anually. In my opinion they have their priorities backwards. If I was a terrorist, I'd go that route - seems the odds of success are 110% better...
Here's a list of the forms we need. Take a look for yourself if you have the time and don't believe me. For some of them, each one of us has to fill one out:

I-94, I-130 (both), G-325A (both), I-145, I-693 (both), I-864, I-765, I-485 (both)

http://www.bcis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/index.htm”

“Seen the numbers of illegals coming across? Hell man, I live in California. I don't need to go the border, I just need to go to Home Depot or Lowes in the morning to determine how many illegals are here.”

“Man, I looked at that site, holy cow, I don't think I would know the answers to some of the questions.
Good luck with the whole thing anyway.”

“thanks.”

“Here in Fl. all I have to do is go to any construction site and I'll find plenty of illegals building people's homes and businesses. I regularly see the INS bus loaded with freshly captured illegals.”

“Just think: you'll go through all that trouble to get her in here and get married, then she'll divorce you once she's here legally...”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence stickman.

We're already married.”

“Oh no, then it's already started.







I'm just hassling you bro.”

“I did all the paper work myself. It was easy. Read on, if you want the story.
--------------------------------
I married in Panama. Brought my wife here as a tourist since we planned to return to Pamana. Settling an estate took longer than necessary. Had to fire the lawyer. To renew her 6 months stay allowed here, we went to Canada. They waved us right across the border on the way back. We had to return to Canada and stop on that side to get her passport stamped for an entrance into Canada. Then, we had to stop on the U.S. side and convince them that we did not plan to stay in the U.S. any longer than it took to settle the estate. They gave her another six months.

When the estate case dragged on, I finally took a job and applied for her residency. (New rules started two years ago require that the person leave the country until the residency is approved. This could cause you trouble.) After a couple of years more, we returned to the Rep. of Panama and I applied for citizenship there. (Dual citizenship between Panama and the U.S. is OK.) The paper work dragged on and on down there. After 3 years I ran out of money and returned to the U.S. and to work. My wife, after finishing a project, tried to return to the U.S. The U.S. Embassy told her that her permanent visa had expired!!! They would not even let her come to visit me, while papers were pending. We were apart for a total of nine months. After she arrived and we learned the rules, which they had not told us previously, everything went well, and, eventually, we applied for her citizenship.

After 5 to 7 years she became a U.S. Citizen. I did all the paper work, including translating the Marriage Certificate from Spanish to English (even the tiny printing on the governmental stamps). They accepted my qualifications as a translator, which saved me some money.

The paper work was easy. There were some fees, which have been increased, probably. It was mainly a waiting game of 5 or 7 years.

We split after 16 years. She now resides in the Rep. of Panama, primarily because she was unable to get a decent job here. She is a qualified teacher, but Florida has an abundance of them. I even obtained Florida Certification (for two years) a few years ago, but I, too, was unable to land a teaching job.
-------------------------
I documented this history in hopes that it might help you a little. Good luck with your case.
Paul”

“You were unable to land a teaching job in FL?! Well, you should be able to find a teaching job with this "smaller class size" debacle going on.”

“treebait:

Budget cuts my friend...budget cuts.”

“Nowslimmer:

Man, how long ago was all this again? I don't think they make you leave the country now...at least I hope not and haven't heard of anything like that. There might also be a difference between immigrating from Canada and Rep. of Panama, who knows?

Well, if anything you made me feel a little better about what we're going. Sounds like your case was a nightmare. If you have any other tips, please let me know. Thanks for the help bro.

ERIC”

“treebait - For some reason finding work can be more difficult as one ages. That's why I ended up bagging groceries for the past 7½ years. I even took some refresher courses in C++ and Ada (A's), but it did not help.

Perhaps Jacksonville is different, but Brevard has a large labor pool. Most of it is due to the military installations and medical care available(spouses and retirees). And part may be due to the fact that I have five bypasses.(insurance companies may not want me eligible for their insurance programs, even though I have maintained other coverage).”

“Nowslimmer:

I'm a teacher too. Sounds like you have it worse in FL than we have it in CA. Here there have been a bunch of lay-offs...recently though. Sounds like there have been problems over there for quite some time now.”