My "undocumented" life so far

[MaverickLal101]

• I was 14. Parents came here on tourist visa, dragging me along against my wishes, and converted to F-1 for a while till they were taken off by a school counselor saying that since they had shown inclination to stay in USA by filing a visa petition (my mom through her citizen mom), they would be treated as residents for tuition purposes. I was put on F-2 while I was in HS, and entering college at 17, INS denied the F-1 cuz of that damned visa petition showing intention to stay (not that I personally had any intention to stay in this country). So the same thing was done to me – given resident tuition but not allowed to work, get a license, etc. We consulted Shusterman who said to me to put my head down and things would happen as I study.

• I have an MA in IR, BA in Poli-Sci all with highest honors. I want to pursue even higher studies but more than that I just want the ability to work, get some professional experience, and get out of this place if any Int. Org would hire me.
• So far my mother has kept making false promises, emotionally and financially blackmailing etc. to keep me here. Her visa petition will be coming no longer than Aug 2008 finally, but obviously I have aged out, triggering another 5.5 year wait.
• I can’t get married, I am way too gay.
My dumb lawyer keeps telling me I can get married and each time I want to seriously hurt him. Ok no, but he needs a spanking. It's seriously not a joke to be gay, lie and get married. Never ever. My identity is too strong.
• Going back to my country means a lot of harassment and discrimination – I was mentally tortured as a 13 year old for being gay. Physically abused in school as well! They also hate Indians, and have a coup every 5 years nowadays. I also don’t really have family there.
• I want to step out and pursue higher education or even a new life in another country. I don’t mind the 10 year ban. My sister is almost a US citizen, my parents might, they could always sponsor me. I don’t know how it works. But I am not sure about another country taking me again, even as a student.

I really don’t know what to do. I feel like my teenage years were ruined by my parents pathetic choices. And now every1 scares me into also wasting away my 20s which I don’t want to do. There is no way I am going to wait for 5.5 more years if my parents visa petition is approved and I am dropped for being over-age (I only found this out recently and it pisses me off the amount I have been lied to about my status).

Anyone have anything encouraging to say? I am highly educated, intellectual, never been in trouble with the law, skilled, hard-working … My professor's are deeply disappointed that I am not going for PhD programs and they can't understand. America’s loss is someone’s gain?

[joy&pain]

What country are you from?
I would just say to stop putting your life on hold. If you don't seem to care about the 10 yr bar and want to make a life for yourself in another country- start searching for education and job opportunities in other countries. Moving on and taking action is much better than "keeping your head down" and ignoring your current plight. If you wish to come back and visit your family at some point in the future, research the I-601 process that your parents & yourself would have to undergo and be prepared.

[Laura]

Hi Maverick!

Thanks for sharing your story with us. I think it's tragic, and frankly, your only option really is to take your skills and talents to a place that will properly appreciate them. Maybe somewhere in Europe?

Your options for legalizing in the U.S. are going to take forever, and it's just not right to have to put your life on hold because of the decisions of your parents and the unfair laws of what is supposed to be the world's most welcoming, democratic and free society. What a joke!

Anyway, good luck in what you decide. It's definitely America's loss and will be someone else's gain!

[angela256z]

Hello Maverick.

Thank you for sharing your story and I am sorry to hear about all the things that are going on. Hopefully there will ba a solution for you and things will work out. I understand about the gay thing. I have 2 gay cousins and 1 good friend. My good from is not legal and was told he needed to get married. Of course he didn't. Goodluck and hopefully we can help.

:welcome:

[MaverickLal101]

Thanks.
To answer some questions, we are originally from Fiji.

I am applying to Law schools in Canada... But I have to speak to the Canadian embassy first on the chances they would take me on even a student visa considering I overstayed here (through no fault of mine)... I simply fail to understand how this country has no appreciation for highly educated people. :shy: And well my bitterness towards my parents increases daily and they can't seem to understand. They would be very happy if I stayed as a janitor and helped them expand their business :wha: What a waste of a life. I am actually prepared to not see them for 10 years after what they did with my 10 years. :bang:

[mamacita]

I am so sorry this has happened to you! You know what, your parents cannot take away your education and the knowledge you hold inside!

Go for it, try to get on with a company elsewhere in the world who would sponsor you and help you get your legal status through an employer!

Your very well educated and should have no problem!:thumbup:

Good luck!

Mamacita:cool:

[Marie]

A few things stand out in your post. I understand that you didn't want to come here but it seems that given the "emotional torture" you were enduring back home, isn't that a good thing?

Also, you're over 18, your parents can't do anything to keep you here anymore. I know that parents can make their kids do things but if you want to go to another country, go for it! You have a good education, maybe try Europe, you might find something good there.

Would going home just for the purpose of going to another country be an option? Go home and then file from there? I'm not sure that's something you would even want to do.
Does Australia have any special relations with Fiji that might be advantageous to you?

[Dorothea]

Hi Maverick, welcome to I2US.
I've spent lots of time wondering about equal opportunity for gay immigrants. But there aren't any. If you can't get married you're screwed... but it's great that you know yourself so well.
Try not to be too bitter, it wont help you. There's no point in being angry. Just get what you need.
Canada is very open to immigrants. Look into their immigration laws, and perhaps consult a lawyer about that possibility. If you could go there as a student that would be great!

[MaverickLal101]

A few things stand out in your post. I understand that you didn't want to come here but it seems that given the "emotional torture" you were enduring back home, isn't that a good thing?

Also, you're over 18, your parents can't do anything to keep you here anymore. I know that parents can make their kids do things but if you want to go to another country, go for it! You have a good education, maybe try Europe, you might find something good there.

Would going home just for the purpose of going to another country be an option? Go home and then file from there? I'm not sure that's something you would even want to do.
Does Australia have any special relations with Fiji that might be advantageous to you?

Hey Marie, you are correct on the first count. I am a bit better off on the West Coast of this country than on the Islands. Anyway, I think the reason I was upset at that young age is cuz I am a fighter and would have continued to fight. They could pull me out of class and teach me about their God all day, but it didnt change the fact that I topped the class and standardized exams all the time :D:thumbup: Anyway, that's in the past, I should forget about it ... though I have also been subject to harassment etc. here, its not too different.

On the parents count... its a bit different with Indian parents than it is with Caucasian ones. My mom has over the years, constantly lied to me about my status, and nowadays she emotionally and financially blackmails me. The fact that I am gay doesn't seem to register in her mind... I ain't interested in her crap anymore. I know if I step out, they will be falling over themselves to come visit lolz.

Australia doesn't want to see anymore Fijians if it can help it. They have had enough Fijians of Indian descent flooding the place in the past few years. Umm, going home to file to Canada wont help since there is no Canadian embassy there. Ditto for a lot of European countries as well. I think I have to file from here... incredibly worried. I hope whoever interviews me understands that I came here legally and the only reason I am leaving voluntarily is that there is no protection in place for immigration delays that happened in my case and that I do have a chance of becoming a US citizen but its a long wait. I want to be a legal, law-abiding resident that can pursue professional work and higher education... not because I want to overstay in another country.:bounce:

Thanks for your posts. And I will try not to be too bitter or angry. :innocent:

[Coventrated]

Canadian Consuate in Sydney deals with applicants from Fiji, took 10 seconds to find that out.

[eddiecarter]

I am undocumented as well, u just have to hang in there, you have already accomplished so much, and it would be terrible to waste your accomplishments, mamacita is right, you should definitely look into, getting sponsored with a company from another country, I mean with the divided senate, it is almost impossible to get anything passed into law, look at the dream act, that would of changed my life if it was passed but we fell short 8 votes. I am planning to take up nursing, and if nothing changes with immigration laws, i might consider in looking into getting sponsored with another country.

* i came here when i was 4 yrs. old, and basically just overstayed, never really learned about my status until i was a sophmore in high school., but i couldnt do anything because after 9/11 they started cracking down on overstayed visas. so i pretty much lived in fear, but although if i knew the things i know now, back then, i might been able to do something about it.

[Rawr]

You're a professional, I'm pretty sure Canada would have you even as a student if you don't have any experience working in your field.

Don't let your parents bring you down, I totally understand what that feels like, my parents have tried many many times to get me to go back to Mexico, even now when I am engaged they still think Mexico is better, for people like you and I [I'm a woman going into a male-dominated field, Computer Science] in our home countries the ignorance and failure to enforce civil and human rights keeps us from ever really being individuals.

I would seriously pursue Canada, or even Spain, but I am not sure about Spain anymore. I know someone who consults to immigrate to Canada:

http://www.alexandrafajardo.com/

She speaks both English and Spanish, good luck.

[MaverickLal101]

You're a professional, I'm pretty sure Canada would have you even as a student if you don't have any experience working in your field.

Don't let your parents bring you down, I totally understand what that feels like, my parents have tried many many times to get me to go back to Mexico, even now when I am engaged they still think Mexico is better, for people like you and I [I'm a woman going into a male-dominated field, Computer Science] in our home countries the ignorance and failure to enforce civil and human rights keeps us from ever really being individuals.

I would seriously pursue Canada, or even Spain, but I am not sure about Spain anymore. I know someone who consults to immigrate to Canada:

http://www.alexandrafajardo.com/

She speaks both English and Spanish, good luck.

Thanks for encouragement and the link buddy, seems like the domain is down. Do you have an email or other contact? :thumbup::thumbup:

[MaverickLal101]

I am undocumented as well, u just have to hang in there, you have already accomplished so much, and it would be terrible to waste your accomplishments, mamacita is right, you should definitely look into, getting sponsored with a company from another country, I mean with the divided senate, it is almost impossible to get anything passed into law, look at the dream act, that would of changed my life if it was passed but we fell short 8 votes. I am planning to take up nursing, and if nothing changes with immigration laws, i might consider in looking into getting sponsored with another country.

* i came here when i was 4 yrs. old, and basically just overstayed, never really learned about my status until i was a sophmore in high school., but i couldnt do anything because after 9/11 they started cracking down on overstayed visas. so i pretty much lived in fear, but although if i knew the things i know now, back then, i might been able to do something about it.

Yea, things after 911 were just hectic. That's the year they denied my F-1 because my parents had a visa petition filed for us. :rolleyes: Then they started tracking all int. students through sevis, and making life hell for them. Maybe I am lucky that they couldn't put me on something where they would turn up outside my house if I dropped some classes.... :wink: Not everyone wants to harm America but by treating a lot of us like we are felons or surplus requirement even with our education, the USA is not exactly making friends.