snorlax said:
What is life of a human being to them?
Apparently nothing.
I do not think that news these days can be much of help.
I will try. I am thinking of writing to Lou Dobbs of CNN, and maybe to FOX. I already the local paper here, but they are using my story to bolster patriotism, so the story is missing the point, the point is we are being SCREWED and we are innocent.
Just try you best not to overextend your stay among the sands, come back safely and file you 1447b in court! We will keep bugging them bureaucrats meanwhile…
Ah, my deployment period is not in my hands, it is given as 18 months compared to regular 12. I am going to support the surge.
All the best and good luck to you!
snorlax
Thanks snorlax, best to you too.
shvili said:
I wish that we had a central newspaper journalist among us, who could make a thorough report how, hiding beyond big words like "national security" these sob-s deny naturalizations to soldiers like you. And I wish it was really broadcasted big time.
I tried. I could only stay local due to time constraints. I emailed to NPR but didn't get a response. Since we are servants of the government in a sense, we are not heard at all. I know people who are still trying in the desert. This might be just me but it is a great deal to ME that I am an American while in the desert fighting an American war, this is my motivation.
And how some "bleeding-heart" politicians, while promoting naturalization to illegal immigrants, at the same time reply to our requests (like Sen Boxer did to mine) that we should just accept that matters of "national security" being above our personal plights and just "bend over and smile" and wait forever.
I have not received attention from Dem congressmen either. John Thune (SD-R) has been indeed overly helpful, his office in my hometown keeps sending emails to USCIS.
I know that some soldier was once mentioned in some article about nat-ns delays, but somehow it never connected and I never saw a big-time report about hypocricy of this situation:
the government trusts you enough to let risk your life to protect this country, but your natural-n is stalled meanwhile.
I am the squeeky wheel WHO will get the GREASE, not to worry. Once I had dreamt of the day I was naturalized, like a close friend of mine in the military, I was going to talk to journalists how proud I would be... I wish to be interviewed when that day comes, and no they will not hear no patriotic speech, I will talk about all of our sufferings.
Bushmaster, please stay safe, come back and sue them when you return! I wish our little stories changed something meanwhile but I seriously doubt it. Stories like yours make me feel that when (and if) we win our cases and this situation is still the same we should really make a campaign to bring this stupidity to high enough levels and to generate politicians' attention.
I don't think I will wait until I come back to sue them... But even though I get my citizenship, I will visit here and will try to make this public.
786riz said:
Salute to you my man Bushmaster,
I am very sad to hear that you are still suffering due to this bureaucratic mess. I can understand your feeling. For immigration you are just an Alien or a case like others. But please take care yourself and stay sharp here and in Iraq. Do not let this issue to depress you and take your happiness. I believe that sooner or later you will get what you fight for.
God Bless you my Man.
Thanks Riz...
lotechguy said:
I think you are in a limbo type situation where some bureaucrat has to be pushed to make a decision. Try scheduling a personal (in person) appointment with your senators and congressman. They are now back in the district for recess till April 9. You can give the reason as "soldier going to war" etc and get a personal appointment and plead your case with them personally. They can make a few calls to senate judiciary committe members and get your process rolling.
This is something I did NOT know about lotechguy. Do I have to make an appointment before April 9? Do I have to go to DC for that? I would since it is only 8 hours of drive. My senator John Thune's office has been very helpful. I have inquired if he can personally get involved but the staff told me to wait on that as they will try everything to get to the bottom of this. None of the other offices gave me that kind of treatment. I got the usual "national security, we can't do much" from them. Right now, John Thune's office told me to wait until after easter and if there is no new info by then, they are going to call USCIS ATL office. I am thinking if there is NO news after the phone call, then I will talk to John Thune. If there is NO PROGRESS by first week of May, I am hiring my attorney.
My plan is to hire an attorney in the Atlanta area, I have talked to an attorney who does these kind of cases in about 3K. It is a reasonable amount enough to also request for Equal Access to Justice Act. Since he will be doing the work, and it is not pro se, I am thinking I do not need to be present. Once the JUDGE knows that I am already DEPLOYED, and I have tons of email communication shows USCIS had been moving on the case and providing info to Congress reps, he might even agree to naturalize me or enter direct instructions for USCIS to finalize the case. If they approve, all they gotta do is to forward the approval to Iraq! If they retaliate and deny it, they have to show reason, and there is NO reason to deny it, we will appeal and I will take leave from Iraq by then to attend to the interview. The only problem would be that when they are forced by the court, they might want to schedule a second interview when I am deployed, and in that I will have to wait until I get leave. I think this is such a case I can definitely use an attorney.
I AM NOT waiting another 18 months, fighting an American war, being a Not-American yet.
