my green card was approved a few minutes ago. to be honest, i feel like a vegetable when i think about the trauma (rape?) i've gone through these exact two years. when i think of it thoroughly, though, i must admit that i am a bit - shall i say - glad? a lot of it could be part of the post-rape healing process - who knows?
before i get into the "whys" of the approval i'd like to convey my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to everyone who i had the pleasure of interacting with, everyone who wished for my success, and even everyone who didn't. although nowadays, thanks to evolutionary psychology, rape is sometimes considered an adaptive behavior, the fact remains that nobody should be subjected to this humiliation, even foes. so my thanks are due to my closest bunch (people i've interacted with often) as well as the not-so-close ones (people who've illuminated me in some way, even if i didn't have the opportunity to chat directly). i have decided i'll name no one - NONE - because they are too numerous - but there are at least 5 whose wisdom i'll remember for the rest of my life as an immigrant (and i know YOU know who you are).
now, for the "whys" (or why i think "why"). i had to have the senator's office hound CIS up pretty badly about 1.5 months ago. i am required to get costly and time-consuming security clearances due to work-related issues - i have a joint appointment with NASA - on my monthly visits to their centers. so NASA, after much burps and hiccups, decided to write me a letter directing CIS to expedite my case for national interest for reasons "including, but not limited to timely space-missions."
this worked magic! within 10 days i was contacted by CIS, and of course, an approval followed shortly. there's nothing like a nice beating up like old days. i was pleasantly glad to find out that an aging giant still performing those oft-needed bureaucratic tricks.
to conclude, i will still visit these forums - but honestly, i haven't been here for any extended periods in months! even when i have, i've just glanced over. seems like i've lost the old feeling. i might not have posted my approval either, but i did feel a strong sense of family and responsibility among everyone who reads this. nonetheless, my good wishes are with everyone who await his/her turn, and also to those who've passed the hurdle nonchalant.
p.s.: pork and sankrit: don't know if you guys have been approved yet - but if not, could you please post when you are? i hope to keep checking every now and then.
before i get into the "whys" of the approval i'd like to convey my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to everyone who i had the pleasure of interacting with, everyone who wished for my success, and even everyone who didn't. although nowadays, thanks to evolutionary psychology, rape is sometimes considered an adaptive behavior, the fact remains that nobody should be subjected to this humiliation, even foes. so my thanks are due to my closest bunch (people i've interacted with often) as well as the not-so-close ones (people who've illuminated me in some way, even if i didn't have the opportunity to chat directly). i have decided i'll name no one - NONE - because they are too numerous - but there are at least 5 whose wisdom i'll remember for the rest of my life as an immigrant (and i know YOU know who you are).
now, for the "whys" (or why i think "why"). i had to have the senator's office hound CIS up pretty badly about 1.5 months ago. i am required to get costly and time-consuming security clearances due to work-related issues - i have a joint appointment with NASA - on my monthly visits to their centers. so NASA, after much burps and hiccups, decided to write me a letter directing CIS to expedite my case for national interest for reasons "including, but not limited to timely space-missions."
this worked magic! within 10 days i was contacted by CIS, and of course, an approval followed shortly. there's nothing like a nice beating up like old days. i was pleasantly glad to find out that an aging giant still performing those oft-needed bureaucratic tricks.
to conclude, i will still visit these forums - but honestly, i haven't been here for any extended periods in months! even when i have, i've just glanced over. seems like i've lost the old feeling. i might not have posted my approval either, but i did feel a strong sense of family and responsibility among everyone who reads this. nonetheless, my good wishes are with everyone who await his/her turn, and also to those who've passed the hurdle nonchalant.
p.s.: pork and sankrit: don't know if you guys have been approved yet - but if not, could you please post when you are? i hope to keep checking every now and then.
