Dear Editor:
I get Immigrant's Weekly every week and I want to thank you for giving us this
opportunity to express our opinions as immigrants to this country.
I have been in US with an H1B visa for more than 5 years and I applied to
become a permanent resident at the same time I applied for my visa. I've
dealt with the INS before and after September 11, and believe me, it has been an
experience I will share with generations to come so they don't make the same
mistakes I made... like trusting my immigration attorney and leaving
everything to her.
Protect my interests? Yeah, right. I've had to do a lot of research to find
out that she is been making a lot of mistakes. Now, don't get me wrong, she
came with excellent referrals. I've waited more time than necessary to receive my permanent residence
because Mary (my lawyer) did not tell me there were different procedures to
apply for it: a short one and a long one. Long or short, I am almost done and it is just a matter of time before I finally get
my greencard. But I wish I knew then what I know now.
The Immigration agencies seem to me like some sort of Lotto offices that
choose between millions of applicants a few lucky ones who will get their
greencards if they make enough money to pay for them. The more money you
have, the bigger the chance you have to get a hot shot lawyer who knows how
to get a greencard by pulling the right strings. What about the rest of the
people who work hard and eventually are the ones who make this country
great?
Things must change. Immigrants have the right to know what is going on,
because they pay taxes too, they contribute to the economy of this country
in amounts most people will never know (or accept). They should be given the choices
and the necessary information to defend themselves against the predators and
scavengers disguised as immigration attorneys and politicians.
Eduardo Martinez
Copyright © 1999-2002 American Immigration LLC, ILW.COM
|
Add to del.icio.us