Today is a very important day!!!

[Dumbluck]

Yes it is hard to get ahead while playing by the rules, and there is the definte possiblity of not getting a green card/citizenship. But if you don't jump through the hoops you will never get the position tht you have earned (aviation career). If you want to be illegal alien, do manual labor for cash and have no legal rights, but you get a drivers liscense and food stamps. Not what I would call a fair trade. By the way most of us are the sons and daughters of immigrants, but how many of our fore-fathers were trying to get jobs in the most respected professions of their time.

 

[Flyingdutchman]

I hear ya.

 

[8AF]

You are absolutely correct in your statement. Some people tend to forget that once upon a time their ancestors where immigrants as well. Good for them that they didn’t get discouraged by people telling them to piss of because they are not citizens. I find it quit amusing when people start telling me how easy it is to go to the States and stay there. It takes on average of 6/12 months (if your from western Europe that is) to get a restricted work permit (H visa). You’ll need all qualifications need for the job + some extra stuff (like an extra degree or whatever).

Great! Now you got your H visa. This allows you to work for one company (it’s not allowed to switch companies), pay tax in 2 countries, not being eligible for social benefits (like food stamps!) and shut up.

Fair enough for me! I consider myself blessed with that opportunity. After 3 years your lawyer (you’ll need one, because it way to complicated to get your own visa paperwork done) will have to file for an extension of you work permit. If your lucky you’ll get one, if not your out!

Then after 6 years you can start applying for a green card, witch will take an additional 3 years to get it. If you get on at all !

Then after 8 years you can apply for citizenship. Again, this doesn’t mean you’ll get it!

Meanwhile (now this does piss me off) ten thousands of illegal Mexicans cross the border every month! They don’t bring anything to this country (other then manual - illegal - labor). They get a driving license, and even freaking food stamps!

Totally agree with you. My instructor had been living in the US for 10 plus years on H visa. Only bcos the flight school have a lot of foreign student he was able to obtain H visa. Now he has 10000+ hours instruction time but he is stuck in that position. That's a lot of dues paid.