(Untitled)

[cris]

I've been having illegal alien dreams. These are similar to, but not the same as my skipping class and failing school dreams. In those episodes, I'm back in high school or university, enrolled in something like "Gumshoes and Femme Fatales -- the evolution of Noir Fiction in Literature and Cinema" and the rational part of my mind is all "wait, I

Comments

Re:

[cris]

I would if only so that I wouldn't have to do this roadtrip every time I wanted to switch jobs or approach my hiring anniversary with my current one. However, short of marriage, getting a green card through an employer can take up to three years and involve a couple of thousand dollars in filing and lawyer fees. Also, if I switched employers, I'd have to start the process over again. Also, technically, the TN categpru isn't eligible for a green card application (hence my need to switch to an H1, which itself also involves a complicated procedure involving labor certification and more filing fees)

[cris]

I can probably qualify, given some of the stuff I've had to do in the past.

[moebius_rex]

Ha, when I first read the phrase "illegal alien dreams" I was imagining some sort of weird X-Files scenario...shows how far removed my mindset is from this sort of thing, I guess.

As far as what your dreams were really about...I know you're not alone. One of my close friends here in SF is from Canada, and her husband is from France. She says they've both had nightmares about the unfolding of similar post-9/11, post-Patriot Act II scenarios. And they've both had to deal with a lot of crazy visa/immigration hoop-jumping lately.

I also have similar exam anxiety dreams (who doesn't?). In mine, I find myself back in high school, where I learn that this entire adult life I think I've been leading these past twenty years was the actual dream. Now it's time to stop goofing off and get back to work. Ugh.

Re:

[cris]

I haven't had a lot of crazy hoop-jumping actually, but I imagine that things get a lot more complicated when you're married and working under different visa categories from your spouse.

Seeing all the chaos that erupted from the Arab registration programs scared the hell out of me, though, and I think it was around that time that those illegal alien nightmares started popping up.

[tiny_chicken]

Gahhh I don't understand why Our Stupid Country (or, I suppose, My Stupid Country, or something -- either way, it's a stupid country) makes the whole process of immigration so fraught with hassles and expense.

I read "I'll eke out a paperless existence on cash-only jobs, driving cabs and dealing with competition from the Ukranian Taxi mafioso" and thought, "hey, that's what he can do!" because My Associate is trying to figure out what the hell to do with a Philosophy Degree once his student visa expires (which it will, painfully soon).

That makes me sad.

[cris]

yeah, "give me your tired and poor", right?

seriously, though, I assume he's already applied for the extension on his student work authorization? because he can try squeezing that out as much as he can and then going into under-the-table pay mode once the visa expires. I've seen it happen before, though admittedly he needs to bend over convince his employer that keeping him around and paying him in cash is cheaper because then they don't have to worry about payroll taxes or giving him benefits than trying to find a replacement. I also know that TN conditions are more stringent for Mexicans (because after all, it's not like NAFTA's supposed to make all of our countries are supposed to be equal partners or anything) but if Your Associate needs any advice on navigating the whole immigration labyrinth, let me know.

Re:

[tiny_chicken]

It seems like a big stupid nightmare to me. He's unfortunately presently unemployed -- I just found him some possible translation work for a school district, but it's unlikely they'll pay him under the table or give him whatever sponsorship he needs.

So.
Frustrating.

I'm sure he could use some advice, but I'm sure he'd never ask for or accept it. I think he's too overwhelmed and freaked out to do anything about it.

I also think he'd be at least a teensy bit annoyed/embarrassed that I'm discussing his issues with folks who are, to him, total strangers.

I think a Flan Party may be the only way to bring all parties together for candid discussion.

Re:

[cris]

I think a lot of great discussion can happen at Flan Parties. Flan Parties can create world peace.

also, I can sympathize with the annoyed/embarassed bit. I probably would be doing the same thing if I faced looming deportation.

[chaizzilla]

haha you never graduated, you didn't go to any classes! hahahaha!

no seriously, have you seen the movie Top Secret? it's from back when comedy was funny

[damiel]

Hey, if they approve same-sex marriages, would you marry me for a Green Card? That would be sooo radical. I guess now that I've made the offer public, the INS will find out and we won't be able to go through with it. A shame, really. It was a master plan.