Clusterfuck in the gov't (rant)

[wmw999 2,589]

This isn't really SC material. Honest. Just ranting.

My brother is married to a Brazilian woman. They have a child. About 7 months ago he was transferred back to the US, and she's still in Brazil, trying to get a visa.

They've had to start at least 3 times. Now they've been asked for a police report from Japan (she lived there for 8 years, more than 5 years ago). They'd been assured that it wasn't needed. It will take another 2-3 months to get that, unless (and only maybe) they fly to Japan to get it in person.

But she has to fly via Frankfurt, Germany. Why? Because, with a visa in process, she can't get a transit visa through the US without additional paperwork. Which the same official that told her that she didn't need the police report will not expedite.

The senator's aide my brother spoke with assured him that if he re-files in the US (that was the second filing) it'll be done in 2-3 months. She knows this because she called them. Of course, their website says that they're just now STARTING on applications from 6 months ago.

OTOH, nearly 60% of the applications are bogus. And Brazilians are some of the bigger offenders. Some of the folks he's spoken with are very nice, and very sympathetic. But he's sick of hearing how his 18-month-old daughter has learned how to walk and talk without his being around very often.

So just consider your tax dollars as being well-spent, protecting us from a nice lady, married to an American for nearly 4 years, now.

OK, rant over.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[normiss 897]

there are times when constant communication with a congressman can REALLY pay off.
I think this looks like one of those times.
Somebody needs to be writing letters and visiting DC.

I've had amazing success and help.

[wmw999 2,589]

That was where the senator's aide came in.

And left

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Royd 0]

She could just work her way up through South America, Central America, into Mexico, and come across the border. She'd never have a problem after that.

[wmw999 2,589]

I'd really rather keep this out of SC.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[Nightingale 0]

Ugh. He needs to call his congressman, not the senator. There are only 2 senators per state, and a lot more congressmen, who are more accountable locally. I had an issue with social security, and my congressman took care of it quickly when the social security people wanted to sit on it. A "Congressional Inquiry" stamp on a file goes a long way.

[hungarianchick 0]

I can certainly feel your pain. My DOL application for the permanent residency just got rejected (after three years of processing, no less) stating that I should be making $ 70.000 in my position in MA. Do you wana hear the funny part? I'm a social worker

"I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food."

[shropshire 0]

Can you brothers company not help ... with sponsorship, for example?

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Amazon 7]

OMG


Wendy said the F word

[normiss 897]

Frankfurt?

[bob.dino 1]

Getting visas for the USA is remarkably hard. I can get a visa for almost any country in the world much more easily than I can get one for the USA. The INS seems to have a default "guilty until proven innocent" mentality.

I can understand some of the reasons - the USA is a very very popular place for immigrants, and because the people applying are not citizens the INS isn't accountable to them.


Does your brother have $100k? Last time I checked, if his wife is willing to invest $100k in US government securities, she can have a visa, very few questions asked. in a new commercial enterprise, the visa becomes quite easy to get.