To my African Brothers and Sisters in USA:
Majority of Africans, especially those from Sub-Saharan Africa who entered the United States on Tourist/B1 or student visas / I-20 and end up violating their immigration status by either over staying their visas or staying put at the expiration of their visas. This is a dangerously growing trend for my African brothers and sisters and it should not be so. Majority of people in these groups should never be in this situation in the first place. But due to dearth of information available to these highly educated group of immigrants and the African people's tendency of not asking questions on how to upgrade their status add to this immigration doldrums. Because we want to appear legal even to our own detriment, we end up where we should not to be. Also, most are victims of their own recklessness. I recently heard about an African brother who is here illegally (for political correctness: "out of status") and is proposing to marry his African girlfriend who happens to be out of status as well, but the sister thinks that her man is a U.S. citizen.
United States Immigration law is constantly evolving and currently, US immigration laws are so intertwined with criminal laws that offenses in the past that would not have hindered your chance of becoming a permanent resident/Citizen now pose a great obstacle to your adjustment of status prospects. These offenses pose a tremendous road block to African immigrants becoming a permanent resident or United States Citizens. In addition, because criminal laws in the United States varies from state to state and sometimes from county to county or even from one town to another, it is extremely important to be very informed when dealing with these issues no matter how minor it appears to be or risk being sent home for some flimsy offense.
I know someone who ended up being deported because he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. At that time, he has over stayed his visa by a few weeks. He never consulted with a criminal lawyer with immigration background that would have made sure that the charges would be dismissed in a way that would have no negative immigration consequence on him. Also, I know a friend whose US Citizenship application took almost five years because of a traffic violation ticket that he neglected to pay and the city issued a warrant for his arrest. Most of you probably know or have similar stories.
These unfortunate but minor acts should not prevent our brothers and sisters from becoming permanent residents or U.S. Citizens and living out their American Dreams to the fullest. Like I have already stated earlier, these problems that should not be a problem in the first place can only be curtailed by the very same people who end up being the victims. The truth is that majority of Africans that live illegally (opps, "out of status") in the US would be eligible for asylum but because they never asked the right questions, they end up in INS/USCIS doldrums.
We should step out of our closets--by opening our mouths and asking questions. There are numerous seasoned African Attorneys out there who are willing to answer these questions and guide you through the process. Oh, I forgot about our
Just my 2 cents.
John Nwosu, Esq. pending.
P.S:
Join an immigration group that is exclusively dedicated to serving African Immigrants with the following link:
http://dir.groups.yahoo.co
