I am a humble, hard-working, intelligent, Caucasian, English speaking Christian man from Wales who came to the United States in June on a temporary Visa, and married my American-born wife to begin a new life together. We had a wonderful plan for our lives here... For me to work full time and minister part-time and for my wife to finally be able to stay at home and also assist me in ministry (after resigning from a job in local government for the past 12 years).in Wales, I was employed with an international company and could have easily been re-instated here.
USCIS has literally pulled the rug out from under our feet... Financially and otherwise.
A few weeks after marrying, we contacted USCIS using the 800 number provided on their website, spoke with a CSR who gave us some pretty basic information. Concerned, we requested to speak with a supervisor, who was most helpful and provided further information and addressed our concerns. I was told I would receive an Employment Authorization with a SSN after 90 days, so I could work, get a driver's license, etc.in addition, I was told I could not leave the country but would receive a Travel Permit after 6 months.
We then began the immigration process by filling out and sending in the various forms with fees, and attached the documents required.
I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (wife, fee)
I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (self, fee)
G-325A, Biographic Information (wife & self)
I-864, Affidavit of Support (wife)
I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (self)
I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (self, fee for medical exam)
Since July we have made several calls to the USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283, but to no avail. At one point, they even had the menu changed so that you could ONLY speak with a CSR if you were informing them of a change of address. Upon taking that route and getting a CSR, we asked why they had changed the menu and not providing assistance to immigrants anymore. We were told, "So you can figure it [the immigration process] out for yourselves."
On February 6th we received one approval of (I-130), but then on March 25th, a denial of (I-765) in which the date of February 6 has correction tape over it with March 25th stamped over it. The letter states I was denied the Employment authorization due to denial of (I-485) in February - to which we have never received any such denial. We have never received the Travel Permit, and see that there is now a fee associated it with it in their Forms Section of the website.
The bottom line is, they do not provide personal assistance - just general, and often contradicting, information. Our last phone call/inquiry (December 10th) inquiring about the Employment Authorization resulted in our requesting to be transferred to a supervisor who could better answer our question - but instead we were forwarded to a very rude, unprofessional immigration officer that stated to us there was no one in the office who could assist us; that there were 1,000, 000 other immigrants ahead of us; and that we should have thought of all this before getting married!
But needless to say, they didn't hesitate to take approximately $2,000. Of our money along with their required forms. We are simply at a loss... Literally. My wife is not employed and now I can't work. I have been offered jobs 'under the table' but I will not disobey the rules of Immigration or the laws of this country, but yet we read in the news that a high-ranking USCIS Immigration official was employing an illegal immigrant???
USCIS tells us that my wife should financially support me during this process - which is against biblical teaching and our Christian faith. I am a MAN who made a vow before God when I married my wife - to support, provide for and protect HER. USCIS won't even allow me that dignity...
I pray the Lord will continue to expose those organizations that continue to function in a way that is contrary to the truth and freedom which is allegedly proclaimed in the United States.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." - Excerpt from The Declaration of Independence
Thank you for your time and attention.
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