Little bit of my HSL

[sotelos]

This is my #1 reason ---- Please let me know your thougts.

Financial Hardship to US Citizen

Adjusting HUSBAND’s immigration status has been stressful, financially as well as emotionally. I accepted a higher paying position with COMPANY, my current employer to help cover the costs of immigration fees, lawyer fees as well as preparing for the time during the separation while the I601 waiver is processed. The new position required me to relocate to Texas where the US corporate headquarters is located. Working as a business development manager with COMPANY requires me to travel extensively. On average I am away from the home 2 weeks per month. (Exhibit 1 a-z) During this time HUSBAND is the sole care giver for our son CHILD. Since we live 1800 miles from our family not allowing HUSBAND to return would force me to loose my job. We currently know no one here in Dallas who could help watch CHILD while I am away on my frequent business trips. These business trips are always out of state and require overnight stays.

I have spent the last 9 years working my way up the corporate ladder within COMPANY. This adds to the 1 year I worked for US Airways and my specialized degree in Travel and Tourism. In my current role I specialize in providing business to business solutions for universities, institutions, work and volunteer organizations, au pair agencies and study abroad program providers. I have created relationships over the past 9 years which provide me leads as well as excellent recommendations. If I were to relocate I would loose all benefits I currently have, including my retirement, health insurance, disability insurance and my life insurance from STA Travel which are not replaceable. Mexico cannot provide me with same employment opportunities which are maintaining my family’s standard of living. When I learned how long it could take for the process to be completed I began looking for suitable for employment with companies in Mexico. Since I am not fluent in Spanish it would be impossible for me to work as a business development manager in Mexico. The salary I currently earn in the United States would not be comparable in Mexico. It would also be very difficult to keep up with the ever changing travel industry environment while living in Mexico. Per exhibit 2a, b, c you can see my skills are not to par for companies in which I applied. Per exhibit 3a and b you can see that a position would not pay comparable to what I currently make at COMPANY.

Relocating to Mexico would be financially catastrophic due to the debt I currently owe in the United States. Our bills consist of our home mortgage in Michigan (exhibit 1), rent payment in Texas (exhibit 2), car payment (exhibit 3), car insurance (exhibit 4), personal loan (exhibit 5), credit cards (exhibits 6, 7, 8 and 9), phone (exhibit 10), internet (exhibit 11), two life insurance for policies for me and one for Lorenzo (exhibit 12, 13 and 14) and contribution and outstanding loan to my 401K retirement fund (exhibit 15a and b). I would not be able to make payments for the above items if I were to relocate to Mexico.

Exhibits include all boarding passes from trips.
Denial letter from 2 companies due to lack of Spanish skill and geography knowledge
Acceptance letter earning $35 per day as tour guide

[sandra191406]

Sotelos, I think you should include the actual breakdown of your monthly expenses. For example:

Home Mortgage $XXXX
Rent $XXXX
Car Insurance $XXX
Loans $XXX
Credit Cards $XXX

Then you can add up your total expenses and include your earnings and your husbands earnings to show that you need the 2 incomes to cover these expenses. This can help show that you rely on your husbands income.

[MBLA]

i would put the stuff about you traveling and needing your husband to keep the child under special circumstance. i was told that finances should not be your strongest hardship.

[Laura]

What you have there is fine, but like MBLA said, financial cannot be your strongest hardship. Everyone who has to relocate to another country, especially one with a relatively poor economy, is going to face financial hardship. But don't think they are going to be especially impressed with what you are describing, because it's pretty much the scenario for most of the people applying for waivers. I don't mean to be discouraging, I just think you need to realize that what you are describing is pretty much considered "ordinary" hardship to the adjudicators. You need to have many other arguments
besides financial - the more unique the better. If you don't have anything particularly unique, don't freak out, Mexico is pretty lenient, but don't bank on this argument.

[sotelos]

I cannot seem to get this darn thing right....I have such a hard time sitting home at the computer trying to put my thoughts and fears into writing. Especially since I sit at the computer all day. I really to appreciate all your advise though. It is great to have your feedback!!! Can my big argument be Employment??

Ok gonna try again .... it seems like such a better case in my head ....

So here it goes again...better (hopefully)

I received a promotion in December 2006. The new position required me to relocate to Texas from Michigan where the US corporate headquarters is located. Working as a business development manager with COMPANY requires me to travel extensively. On average I am away from the home 2 weeks per month. (Exhibit 1 a-z) We are a one income family. Due to the extensive travel my job requires HUSBAND is the sole care giver for our son CHILD while I am away. Since we live 1800 miles from our family not allowing HUSBAND to return would cause extreme hardship on the US Citizen. These business trips are always out of state and require overnight stays. Since I am not going to leave my son with strangers while I am away extreme hardship would fall upon us.

I have spent the last 9 years working my way up the corporate ladder within COMPANY. This adds to the 1 year I worked for US Airways and my specialized degree in Travel and Tourism. In my current role I specialize in providing business to business solutions for universities, institutions, work and volunteer organizations, au pair agencies and study abroad program providers. I have developed relationships over the past 9 years. If I were to relocate I would loose all benefits I currently have, including my retirement, health insurance, disability insurance and my life insurance from STA Travel which are not replaceable. Mexico cannot provide me with same employment opportunities which are maintaining my family’s standard of living. When I learned how long it could take for the process to be completed I began looking for suitable for employment with companies in Mexico. Since I am not fluent in Spanish it would be impossible for me to work as a business development manager in Mexico. The salary I currently earn in the United States would not be comparable in Mexico. It would also be very difficult to keep up with the ever changing travel industry environment while living in Mexico. Per exhibit 2a, b, c you can see my skills are not to par for companies in which I applied. Per exhibit 3a and b you can see that a position would not pay comparable to what I currently make at COMPANY.

[sotelos]

And I am getting closer to terms with living in Mexico....

[MBLA]

Yeah I think that is better. I would change this sentence

Since I am not going to leave my son with strangers while I am away extreme hardship would fall upon us.

To say

Since I am not going to leave my son with strangers while I am away, I need my here in the United States. If he is denied I will forced to find another job.

[Chapital]

I agree that you should also focus on the career loss. I talked about abondoning my career if I had to move to Mexico and not being able to care for my kids alone due to the demands of my job if I stayed in the US. Sounds similar to what you are arguing