Is it worth the wait?

Long lines, long waits, tons of paper-work, and a lot of immigration law that a common man would not be able to fully comprehend… and for what?

TO BECOME A U.S. citizen.

It all started with coming into the country on a student visa I-90 and then getting an adjustment of status when a non profit organization sponsered for me for  a I360 to be a religious worker.  Then I was given a work permit to work legally in the country because the processing time for that I360 petition took 3 years so I was given a work permit so I can work while I wait.  One day in the mail came my green card!  I was relieved.  After that, you need to hold your green card for 5 years staying in the country as a permanent resident and once you’ve fulfilled the 5 years time, you are allowed to file an application to become U.S citizen.

23 YEARS.  It took 23 years to get to this point going the “legal” route.  Believe me, that movie, Green Card, where you marry a U.S. citizen so you can get your citizenship, well trust me, I thought about it.

I google searched, “How file for U.S. citizenship?” and there it was, fill out the N400 form with your application fee and send it to said address.  My anxiety grew as I checked and checked the form i was filling out to making sure that after 23 years, I don’t make a mistake on the form.  I sent out my application with all the supporting documents and mailed it off, certified mail. Then I wait…

Waiting has become very familiar to me because I knew my papers went into a bin full of petitions like myself.  I was told they are still processing paperwork from October 2009 and to not have any expectations of return mail anytime soon.  To my utter surprise, on day a few weeks later, I got mail from Immigration telling me to get my finger printing.  I got that done right away!  Then wait…

Shortly after that, I got mail!  It was a letter telling me that July 13th, 2010 is my interview for citizenship.  That interview will determine if I will be approved to be a U.S citizen.  I was nervous and counted the days that passed up to the point of that interview.  I studied my government questions that I will be tested on in the interview.  On that day, July 13th, I was ready and prepared to face the Immigration officer who will determine whether I will get what I’ve wanted for the last 23 years, U.S Citizenship.

My immigration interview was at 11am in the morning.  I arrived at the federal building in Santa Ana and entered a room full of people who were once again, waiting!  I couldn’t believe my eyes, the room was packed.  I wondered how it is that ALL of those people had 11am appointments like myself.  But like always, it was a waiting game and my appointment was pushed back as I waited and waited.

The room was full of people speaking all different languages.  It sounded like a hum that I cannot understand and I thought, what a beautiful thing that we are so different, and yet in that moment we had a common goal.  Everyone sat facing a see through window where we saw piles upon piles of documents.  The immigration officers would come out of their office, pick up a file from the huge pile, and then open the door to us sitting out there and call out a name.  One by one, the files would get picked up and I would wonder, which one is mine?  Which one of these people will determine my fate?  Some officers spoke with an accent or spoke softly and I sat there anxious that I would miss hearing my name when it was called.

Then I heard a lady call, “Joanna Rodriguez”, and I hopped to my feet holding my big file with all the documents I could possibly bring with me.  I followed this lady to her office.  I sat nervously as she flipped through my file and I answered the questions she asked of  me.   She asked “What’s the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?” and I drew a blank… I answered, “so we can have the pursuit of freedom and happiness?”  I was sweating bullets at that point?  How can I forget that we declared independence from Great Britain?  You had to answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly and though I drew a blank for one question, I was able to answer the rest.  I passed my government questions test, my reading, and writing, and I thought I was going to be approved, when she asked for one more supporting document that I did not bring with me.  She wanted to see a letter of employment from the non-profit I worked for.  I searched and searched all my papers and I didn’t have the letter she was looking for.  WHAT NOW?  She quietly pulled out a form and asked me to get the supporting letter and submit it to her and that every Wednesday she reviews pending cases. Then I was excused from her office.

I was upset and disappointed all at the same time!  How could I have missed that one document?  I was ready to celebrate my passing of the interview and now, I have to send in more document and wait again.

From many people’s point of view, immigrants are here in this country taking up jobs and we are a big waste of money!  Yet, no one ever stop to think how much money has been poured into us trying becoming a part of this country?  Then having to rely on attorney’s advise to understand the laws.  How much attorney fees and application fees and emotional energy spent in just trying to be a part of what this country stands for freedom.  Why does freedom only extend to those who are geographically lucky to be here to begin with?  What’s so wrong that we want to share and contribute to the U.S the same way that any U.S citizen does?  After thousands of dollars, and lots of time spent waiting, I’m still wondering when?  I pay taxes, yet I don’t get to vote!  I’ve lived in this country for over 23 years and yet, I still have to stand in the non- citizen line when I come “home” from vacation out of country.  What I call “home” in the U.S. is never really fully my home because on my passport, I’m a British National, yet citizen of Hong Kong, which is now China.

What now? More waiting ahead of me…

Tags: immigration law, Independence