Has immigration taken over you?

[epm525]

Do you ever feel like your name is "insert first name-I'm going through the immigration process-insert last name"? Do you ever introduce yourself that way? Wow, I feel like immigration and paperwork is just another part of our marriage, like doing the laundry and mowing the lawn. Sometimes I think people refer to me as "the girl who only talks about immigration and how the 'illegals' aren't here to hurt anyone, they just want to provide a better life for their family".

Sometimes.....not too often....I think, wow, I wish we were like our neighbors and we wouldn't have to worry about this mess.

Sometimes I also think - wow, we are like a modern day Romeo and Juliet. But our angry dads are the government.

Wow, this post is all over the place... Actually, I really just wanted to use this new smiley. :beam:

[Lachulagreeneyes]

epm I know the feeling, this process will make you feel that way.

[princesa]

I feel I am completely consumed by immigration and have no idea what I am going to do after my hubby is approved and home with me....hmmm maybe I will rest for a few days.

[cherrycandy001]

Do you ever feel like your name is "insert first name-I'm going through the immigration process-insert last name"? Do you ever introduce yourself that way? Wow, I feel like immigration and paperwork is just another part of our marriage, like doing the laundry and mowing the lawn. Sometimes I think people refer to me as "the girl who only talks about immigration and how the 'illegals' aren't here to hurt anyone, they just want to provide a better life for their family".

Thats exactly how I feel..everyone thinks I'm the krazy immigration girl. :bounce:

-Candy

[princesa]

I think thats what people think of me tambien...I am either constantly talking about immigration or searching for new information.

[CRYL8R]

Maybe we are part of a new club, "girls with nothing on their mind, except IMMIGRATION" Club. This whole experience has a person truamatized. There is not an hour I can go through without thinking about this process. My 1st Interview gets nearer and nearer (Sept. 28). I have made checklists, filled out agendas and other organazational stuff. But, my brain is about FRIED. Not only the fact that we are going to CDJ, but we are going to move to Mexico for awhile. I really hope it's just a while. You never know how much junk you have until you get ready to move. Maybe I'll have a yard sale and the earnings will help us.

[tonyr7]

is this club open to males too?
just when you think you see light at the end of the tunnel, you go into a brand new tunnel

[kenaly]

I was that way during the inital filings and while doing the HSL letter.After submitting the waiver in Montreal I was even more consumed. I imagine when he files for citizenship next year I will start being obsessive again!

[USnoiva]

I hate having to describe to anyone (who doesn't know) what we went through. I'm sure you all know what I mean.

[aguilar1115]

edited

[bohorquez]

Do you ever feel like your name is "insert first name-I'm going through the immigration process-insert last name"? Do you ever introduce yourself that way? Wow, I feel like immigration and paperwork is just another part of our marriage, like doing the laundry and mowing the lawn.

I find that whenever I run into a friend I haven't seen in while (and even family members) they'll ask about my husband and the ever popular question "So what's going on with his case?" Then I'm running down my timeline of what's been going on. Last weekend at a family party, I talked about our timeline about 4 times! I would tell someone and someone else would walk by say "Wait, what's going on?" Then I have to start all over again.

When you mention it's "like doing the laundry or mowing the lawn" its so true. Because it so much apart of my life I'm often surprised when I don't find someone going though something similar.

[jsierra1982]

yup, i feel the same way. i was at the dmv yesterday and overheard two men talking about illegals and how horrible they are and it was all i could do not to get upset and start talking about WHY people come here "illegally" in the first place--i saw a really cool t-shirt once, i think it was on cafepress.com, that says, "FLEEING POVERTY IS NOT A CRIME." i wanted to ask them, if you were living with your entire family in a 2-room house with no indoor bathroom, no potable water, and you could barely grow enough corn to keep your family afloat and save them from a cycle of illness and poor education, WHAT WOULD YOU DO????????? :mad:

sorry. way too emotional there. but still...

[ratito921]

I always got the question, when is your hubby coming home? I always answered politely but there's just sometimes I was bursting at the seams to let the word vomit fly. :lol:

you're not the only one consumed. See it consumed so much of me (3 years plus) that our case is through and I'm still here. But I want to help other people so I'll stick around.

[arcoiris]

HAHAHA!!!! I'm so glad I'm not alone! I've become that crazy family member that the rest of the family whispers about before a social event. "Psst...Don't mention immigration to her..." I wish I had a dollar for every time some well meaning person says to me "but your husband is an American citizen since he married you, right?" I briefly explain why that's not so and give them our Congressman's phone number so they can call and complain.
I heard an old bag of a woman complaining about "those filthy illegals" in the same sentance in which she was complaining about "the sky-high price of produce" in the grocery store. I don't think she ever saw that one coming. Wretched old bag! Though I did have a little fun with her when I convinced her that Canadians should never come here speaking that foul Canadian language.
I make it on the hope that in 25 years we will all look back and shake our heads at this whole situation.

[IBMMuseum]

...i saw a really cool t-shirt once, i think it was on cafepress.com, that says, "FLEEING POVERTY IS NOT A CRIME."...

Do you mean this one? (much more than just a t-shirt): http://www.cafepress.com/buy/Hispanic/-/pv_design_details/pg_14/id_12348504/opt_/fpt_/c_360/

[IBMMuseum]

...I make it on the hope that in 25 years we will all look back and shake our heads at this whole situation.

In 25 years (at age 67) I (and my wife, of course) very well could be in Mexico retiring. And talking (maybe in Spanish, if I wanted to) about how the old xenophobes complaining about "invaders" that died of old age (and the fact of just being bitter) 24 years earlier. But I don't know if 25 years is long enough for government to gain any more smarts in humanizing a process better.

[kenaly]

I heard an old bag of a woman complaining about "those filthy illegals" in the same sentance in which she was complaining about "the sky-high price of produce" in the grocery store. I don't think she ever saw that one coming. Wretched old bag! Though I did have a little fun with her when I convinced her that Canadians should never come here speaking that foul Canadian language.


Married to a Canadian, and YES, they do talk funny!:bounce:

[ce&ll]

Without this thread I would have gone insane without a doubt. While my husband was going through this process no one could believe that he had to wait that long in Mexico since he was married to a USC. They questioned me all the time if I was sure that he couldn't adjust his status some other way :wha: I used to say to myself "thanks for making me feel dumb" I would have to explain from start to finish of why he had to wait in Mexico and why we had to file a waiver. We were the first couple among our family and friends to go through CDJ and they just couldn't believe this was true! My husband has been back in the U.S. a little over a year and I'm still here now more than ever since my sister and BIL just went to CDJ last week. I long await the day that immigration will not consume most of my thoughts and time.

[emt103c]

I have to restrain myself when people ask about my husband and when will he come.......I know they REALLY don't want to hear me spouting about immigration for an hour..

I'm with you! After three years the story gets way to convoluted and tragic. No one really wants to hear, and now, I don't EVEN want to tell the story anymore :(

[arcoiris]

Yeah, by the time I got finished with that idiot woman she stormed off in a lather about Canadians speaking that "Canadian" here in the U.S. I can only imagine her suprise when someone happened to say "but don't Canadians speak English?" Ha! (I like Canadian accents, btw)

You know, I wonder if there will even be a border in 25 years. There's another thread on here discussing the North American Alliance. It might be more like a state line, who knows. I hear there's a very good living to be made in Mexico running retirement villages for retirees. That's the new thing.

[jsierra1982]

Do you mean this one? (much more than just a t-shirt): http://www.cafepress.com/buy/Hispanic/-/pv_design_details/pg_14/id_12348504/opt_/fpt_/c_360/

oops i guess it was a bumper sticker and not a t-shirt--this one: http://www.cafepress.com/buy/fleeing%20poverty/-/pv_design_prod/p_storeid.86855727/pNo_86855727/id_15708418/opt_/pg_/c_/fpt_

and if i may be permitted a mini-hijack--there is also a really cute baby outfit at that site that has two hearts, one with the mexican flag and one with the american flag, that says 50% over each flag and then 100% me! i want to have a baby now just to get him that shirt!

[ratito921]

I love getting into immigrant debates with people who have no clue.

A lot of the time I just sit there and let them ramble on and on and once they've dug themselves into a hole deep enough I say that's funny because my husband is an illegal alien and well I'm the dumb fat white girl he married and well we're going to have little cafe con leche kids and guess I'm so stupid that I filed his paperwork and got him his greencard without the help of an attorney so if you want to keep on complaining about illegals go find one of your redneck buddies to talk to cause I'm no interested. Peace out homey! buh bye

that usually gets their attention. I like to bake the cake before I put on the frosting if you know what I mean. I love messing with people.

[cherrycandy001]

I love getting into immigrant debates with people who have no clue.

A lot of the time I just sit there and let them ramble on and on and once they've dug themselves into a hole deep enough I say that's funny because my husband is an illegal alien and well I'm the dumb fat white girl he married and well we're going to have little cafe con leche kids and guess I'm so stupid that I filed his paperwork and got him his greencard without the help of an attorney so if you want to keep on complaining about illegals go find one of your redneck buddies to talk to cause I'm no interested. Peace out homey! buh bye

that usually gets their attention. I like to bake the cake before I put on the frosting if you know what I mean. I love messing with people.

Haha sounds a lot like me :)

[IBMMuseum]

oops i guess it was a bumper sticker and not a t-shirt--this one: http://www.cafepress.com/buy/fleeing%20poverty/-/pv_design_prod/p_storeid.86855727/pNo_86855727/id_15708418/opt_/pg_/c_/fpt_

and if i may be permitted a mini-hijack--there is also a really cute baby outfit at that site that has two hearts, one with the mexican flag and one with the american flag, that says 50% over each flag and then 100% me! i want to have a baby now just to get him that shirt!

There is so much stuff (both good and bad) I haven't had time to go through it all. Along the lines of where this thread is developing and the t-shirt "This is what an immigrant looks like" I am looking for another (Spanish above, English subtitles below):

"It's just someone speaking Spanish...

Don't $&!# yourself."

The final sentence would also be good on the immigrant t-shirt...

[Laura]

There is so much stuff (both good and bad) I haven't had time to go through it all. Along the lines of where this thread is developing and the t-shirt "This is what an immigrant looks like" I am looking for another (Spanish above, English subtitles below):

"It's just someone speaking Spanish...

Don't $&!# yourself."

The final sentence would also be good on the immigrant t-shirt...

LMAO!!!

:bounce:

[IBMMuseum]

LMAO!!!

:bounce:

Or to be fully PC (something my daughter could wear to school on a t-shirt): "Don't look so scared...

It's only someone speaking Spanish."

[ratito921]

those are both very nice slogans and should you market them I will buy a shirt or two or ten! :)

[inlimbo]

if you don't want to get worked up about anti-immigrant/Mexico stuff, I would NOT recommend browsing the "Immigration" section on that cafepress site. I just did and I wanted to scream!! But I did find this lovely T-shirt that I would kind've like to buy....

http://www.cafepress.com/buy/mexico/-/pv_design_prod/pg_2/p_storeid.56619741/pNo_56619741/id_12360277/opt_/fpt_/c_360/

And, as for the original topic of this thread, YES, immigration HAS taken over my life. It is really the only thing that I think about and sometimes it's hard because I feel like a broken record with family and friends...sometimes I wonder what will happen once we get through all this immigration stuff. We will be really bored!!! :D

[Laura]

LMAO - This (http://www.cafepress.com/buy/IMMIGRATION/-/pv_design_prod/p_1053845.58674260/pNo_58674260/id_12630391/fpt__P___________Dc_PXi__FD___aG___C/opt_/c_362/pg_1) is the one I want.

[inlimbo]

LMAO - This (http://www.cafepress.com/buy/IMMIGRATION/-/pv_design_prod/p_1053845.58674260/pNo_58674260/id_12630391/fpt__P___________Dc_PXi__FD___aG___C/opt_/c_362/pg_1) is the one I want.

That's a pretty good one! And frighteningly true!

[Laura]

sometimes I wonder what will happen once we get through all this immigration stuff. We will be really bored!!! :D

It's kind of funny.. bored is not the right word, but I'm still completely interested in what is going on in the whole immigration world, even though it's over for us personally. I suppose it still affects both my husband and I on some level, because his family is here, because we wonder if they are just going to start massively deporting all our neighbors, etc. (sigh)

[inlimbo]

It's kind of funny.. bored is not the right word, but I'm still completely interested in what is going on in the whole immigration world, even though it's over for us personally. I suppose it still affects both my husband and I on some level, because his family is here, because we wonder if they are just going to start massively deporting all our neighbors, etc. (sigh)

That's really understandable. The funny thing is that I think going through the whole immigration thing has really made it into only a very personal issue for me, for the time being at least. I used to be more interested in immigration in general and how the issue is going to play out in politics, economics, etc. But now I feel like I don't have the energy to worry about immigration much beyond how it affects me and my life -- sounds very selfish, doesn't it!! ;) I guess that once it's over and resolved for us I might be able to step back and take in the whole picture again -- but definitely with a different perspective on it all.

[aprilstorm]

OMG I love these shirts!!!!!
I'm known as the crazy immigration girl also. I argue with everyone...family, friends, co-workers and strangers :bleh: Even though hubby is home now..(thank you God and I2US!!!!!) I still think, sleep , breathe and eat stuff about immigration. I think for most of us we will continue to have a fight in us when someone talks about it. I hope one day this whole crap will be a dream and people will be free to come and go as they please..but I'm afraid that is all it will ever be...a dream.

[Dorothea]

Oh yes, obsession with immigration... I can't even remember what I thought about a few years ago. lol
I love that "My boyfriend is an illegal immigrant" shirt. I would totally wear one that said my husband...
But my husband would KILL me.

[inlimbo]

Oh yes, obsession with immigration... I can't even remember what I thought about a few years ago. lol
I love that "My boyfriend is an illegal immigrant" shirt. I would totally wear one that said my husband...
But my husband would KILL me.

LOL So true, Dorothea...I think I would get a lot more enjoyment out of it than my fiance :)

[ratito921]

it's not immigration related but I want THIS (http://www.cafepress.com/buy/t-shirt/-/sort_byDesignScore/pv_design_prod/p_storeid.34741026/pNo_34741026/id_11200629/opt_/pg_/c_/fpt_) one

[kitkat1]

Oh yes, obsession with immigration... I can't even remember what I thought about a few years ago. lol
I love that "My boyfriend is an illegal immigrant" shirt. I would totally wear one that said my husband...
But my husband would KILL me.

I WANT that shirt!!! But soon I'll need the "happiness is being married to a mexican"!!

[ratito921]

I WANT that shirt!!! But soon I'll need the "happiness is being married to a mexican"!!

hey kitkat if you find that shirt let us know!! :thumbup:

[ratito921]

how about this one? http://www.cafepress.com/buy/spanish/-/pv_design_details/pg_4/id_14888734/opt_/fpt_/c_360/

[hilarya]

Immigration sure has taken me over as the rest of us. I feel like a piece of paper and not like a human being anymore. My hubbie is in mexico right now waiting for his waiver to be approved. I hope we hear something soon. He turned the waiver in Feb of 07. I don't know about the rest of you but I feel like they should give out blood pressure pills and valiums to anyone going through process. I wouldn't wish my worst enemy to go through this. I am really worried about the long term affects that this will have on our daughter. She is 3 and my mom keeps telling me that she won't remember any of this when she gets bigger. She wouldn't talk to my hubbie for at least a month after he left. Then the nightmares began..she woke up one night crying and told me that a monster threw her daddy in the trash. I tried to get help from my congressman to see if he could expedite anything or help me in anyway. He wouldn't even take my name. He said that there were lot of mexican men married to american women and that we were low resource and there is nothing that he could do. I had to write an ex vice president who lives in my state just so the congressman would speak to me, and then you want my vote..seriously????? I hope that everyone gets their waiver approved and soon and that they will be reunited with their families:) I get so worried for my brother in laws. They live w/ me and I am worried something will happen to them. There are so many racist people in the world, many of whom work with me. It isn't enough that you have to deal with this on a personal level, but to have to deal with at work too is rough. I hope that everyone has a great day and don't lose hope.:)

[SHELLYFCO]

hey kitkat if you find that shirt let us know!! :thumbup:

If you can't find it, Make it. Most T-Shirt Marts will print the image of your choice then iron it on the shirt. You can even bring the image from home (if you use the t-shirt transfer paper). I know, everyone's so busy, but this might help preoccupy the time a bit.

[SHELLYFCO]

As for immigration having taken over my life; the first thing I do in the morning is check I2US which is also my nightly routine. I can't talk to my Mom about this process as she gets more fired up than anyone else I know...I keep reminding her "don't shoot the messenger, tell your Congressman!".

[Luckysprite]

If you can't find it, Make it. Most T-Shirt Marts will print the image of your choice then iron it on the shirt. You can even bring the image from home (if you use the t-shirt transfer paper). I know, everyone's so busy, but this might help preoccupy the time a bit.

I work for a promotional printing company - and we actually print t shirts - some of these ideas were soooo cute....the simpler ideas would be so easy...hmm! (my own little business....)

[jsierra1982]

I love that "My boyfriend is an illegal immigrant" shirt. I would totally wear one that said my husband...
But my husband would KILL me.

yeah, me too. i mentioned it to mine and he was absolutely scandalized.