So I'm officially able to cross the USA border once again.

[Ivan The Awesome]

9 hours ago, SOJA said:

wow this whole time and I knew you lived in Mexico but I didn't know you weren't allowed in the States, congrats dude

I just didn't have a visa. I could have gone. But that would have been illegal..  Which is frowned upon.. 

[thefuzz]

2 hours ago, Ivan The Awesome said:

I just didn't have a visa. I could have gone. But that would have been illegal..  Which is frowned upon.. 

First, congrats, I know you must be thrilled.

Second, can you explain what the hold up was for you to legally be able to enter now....5 years?  geez.....

[SOJA]

2 hours ago, Ivan The Awesome said:

I just didn't have a visa. I could have gone. But that would have been illegal..  Which is frowned upon.. 

ah my fault

[Ivan The Awesome]

6 hours ago, thefuzz said:

First, congrats, I know you must be thrilled.

Second, can you explain what the hold up was for you to legally be able to enter now....5 years?  geez.....

Well...

 

I came back home in 2011. Getting a stable job is key. The US consulate agents are very meticulous and sometimes harsh. don't blame them. It's their job to make judgment calls. 

The pure cost of the visa is a factor. You're looking at around 350-500 dollars. Which in Mexico Is a nice chunk of change. The visa can be denied and sometimes no real reason will be given. My mom several years back was denied by an agent that interviewed her that said she had his ex wife's first name. He blatantly said that. It all depends on the person you get to interview you. If it's denied, you can apply again and come back.  But no one has 500 bucks lying around like that. I'm not even counting gas money,  food, or other expenses.  

 

I have all my receipts and I spent a grand total of $1,034 us dollars. Visa, passport,  travel (gas, toll booth),lawyer,  food, documents, copies, etc. 

My lawyer suggested waiting at least  a year and a half before going to get it. This was two years before I had a steady job. Us consulate agents look at longevity at your work place. If they see you barely have 6 months (the Minimum amount of time required to apply), the agent will likely deny your request. Train of thought being that the applicant will use the visa to cross border legally but stay illegally to work. The visa is only to cross a radius of 25 miles inland. Not further. And to stay 3 days. If I wanted to go further and longer I'd need a permit. Which is easy to get. 

 

So it took me a while to find a stable job. Finally did, lawyer recommend to wait. I did, I actually waited longer, personal reasons, had to use money for other things. Then had to get money back. Took me 5 years.. It's ridiculous. 

 

They look at your earnings,  if you make below a certain number they deny you. I saw a lot of people get denied on Tuesday.  It's heartbreaking because a lot of them,  you could tell, had their hearts set on that visa. 

 

I think there should be a reform and maybe a more detailed and accessible way to get a visa. I've seen people bring all the paperwork they require, have great earnings and get denied because the agent didn't like them or the person may have stuttered at the interview. In the same spectrum I've seen someone that doesn't have a lot of time at their job, makes really next to nothing get approved. I mean, really? 

 

Personally I'd like to see the requirement, for security reasons and to almost ensure your visa, of having a background check by the Mexican government. That paperwork is legit and can't be altered or given to just anyone. It's actually hard to obtain that piece of paper. I got one to get a job and also to take my English-speaking certificate test. It only costs 200 pesos ($12 USD)  but it's worth it. That would be a way the US and Mexican government can work together and ensure you're accepting law abiding citizens into the USA. I was surprised it wasn't required. Also extend the work requirement to 2 years at your current job. Or at least 1 and a half. Assuring the applicant has been working for that long. 

 

I got my visa but I think things could get better. More fluid. Right now it's not optimal. Especially since every person applying is doing things the legal way. You know? But I guess this system has worked for them the past century.  

[thefuzz]

I would love to figure out a way to streamline that process for folks like you @Ivan The Awesome that's just crazy.

[Kevin Greene]

Sorry, too late.There's a wall.

[Ivan The Awesome]

1 hour ago, Kevin Greene said:

Sorry, too late.There's a wall.

Muahahahahahahahaha Trump can suck it! 

[ladypanther]

On 8/17/2016 at 0:30 PM, Ivan The Awesome said:

USA! USA! USA! USA!

 

 

I'd like to thank the people that made it possible, those of you that actually helped out in this endeavor. It's been a long 5 years but I am finally able to cross that border LEGALLY without any problem. I get my Border Crossing Card a.k.a. Visa in two weeks. I will be attending several games this year, I at least plan to. I am like, extremely satisfied right now. Life is good man. :D

 

 

Cheers huddle!

Congrats Ivan!  Can't believe it has been 5 years.

[TheRed]

We have so many hateful citizens here fearful of anyone different who barely deserve oxygen, let alone citizenship. Congrats, you should have been here much sooner. Live it up.

[Ja Rhule]

When you go back home, could you take TheRed with you.  Huddle will pay.

[Ivan The Awesome]

lol 

 

@ladypanther crazy right? It's been five years since I was in the states. I can't wait to visit all my friends and catch a couple of games. I am planning on probably doing the LA game when they play the rams and maybe the Tampa Bay game next year in Tampa. I have a buddy that lives down there and he already said I can crash at his place and go to the game. So I'm stoked. I will definitely try to go to Charlotte to see the stadium, I haven't been in that stadium since 2010.