Wife of US Coast Guard member arrested on base over expired visa after security check for military housing

[DaisyDay]

...yes, that was the case with my Canadian mother....(married my American Father in '52). She did not have to return to Canada to obtain her permenant residence status.

My brother got Canadian birthright citizenship because our American parents lived there when he was born. He retained dual citizenship which he passed along to his son (born & raised in the States) who is now a Canadian citizen living in Quebec (he speaks fluent French).

 

[Hans Blaster]

Yes but they have to complete the proper paperwork. They are not allowed to stay indefinitely while the paperwork is being done. I know this because my family went through it. This couple should have done this the right way and ard now dealing with with the consequences of their choice to break the law.

I wasn't talking about them. I was talking about the Parents of Melania Knaus.

 

[rjs330]

They probably just ignored it or didn't know. I doubt they set about deliberately to break the law. Overstaying a visa is not a criminal offense and she entered the country legally. They no doubt thought that it could be fixed up with the new paperwork.

Yes. And they failed to do it. The violated the law.

 

[rjs330]

Our laws need to change. Requiring people to go back to their home country for years is simply unrealistic. Alas, we have a broken immigration system which leads people to find their own solutions. And our political leaders have utterly failed to address it.

Totally agree. But until they do we have what we have and it needs to be followed.

 

[BCP1928]

Yes. And they failed to do it. The violated the law.

Yes they did, and so do you when you jaywalk or get a parking ticket. Shall we treat you like a sinister criminal conspirator, too?

 

[rjs330]

I wasn't talking about them. I was talking about the Parents of Melania Knaus.

Is Melania illegal now? She's a citizen now. You have a right to criticize the government for failing to enforce the laws back in the 1990s and early 2000 with her. It sounds like she broke the laws back then and should have been deported. But the government failed to do so. And the government made her a legal citizen. Just like they've done in the past for others. We aren't going back and deporting all the illegals in the past who have been granted citizenship.

 

[rjs330]

Yes they did, and so do you when you jaywalk or get a parking ticket. Shall we treat you like a sinister criminal conspirator, too?

I should be subject to laws and pay the penalty for doing so. I believe the penalty in my area is about $100. I think parking tickets are between $50-$100.

And I could be eventually put in jail for not paying them separating me from my family.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Is Melania illegal now? She's a citizen now. You have a right to criticize the government for failing to enforce the laws back in the 1990s and early 2000 with her. It sounds like she broke the laws back then and should have been deported. But the government failed to do so. And the government made her a legal citizen. Just like they've done in the past for others. We aren't going back and deporting all the illegals in the past who have been granted citizenship.

I have only replied to questions about "parental sponsorship" for citizenship. I have made no comments about Ms. Knaus' legality nor anyone's "Canadian parent". (I don't really know much about the case in the OP either.)

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Deport Melania! After all, she violated the terms of her tourist visa by modeling.....

Well, a type of modeling. But very common with Eastern European women it seems.

 

[BCP1928]

I should be subject to laws and pay the penalty for doing so. I believe the penalty in my area is about $100. I think parking tickets are between $50-$100.

And I could be eventually put in jail for not paying them separating me from my family.

Eventually, but I doubt the authorities would bother with a photo-op arrest as if a dangerous criminal was being apprehended.

 

[wing2000]

Well, a type of modeling. But very common with Eastern European women it seems.

Well darn, I could have saved myself a lot of grief at the INS (what it was called in the 90's) if I had married an Eastern European woman who, shall we say, had certain physical attributes.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Well darn, I could have saved myself a lot of grief at the INS (what it was called in the 90's) if I had married an Eastern European woman who, shall we say, had certain physical attributes.

You can also mail order.

 

[RileyG]

Used to be that most spouses got a green card right away upon marriage to a citizen if they applies and got approved; citizenship took a few years. That all changed, though. Fortunately for my husband and me, we got married before the law changed to make things so difficult.

Personal: He had overstayed a student visa. We were living together anyway (he had a nice apartment in Queens while I had a tenement in Hell's Kitchen in the 80s). We've been together about 40 years now.

Thanks for the info!

 

[RileyG]

Except when Trump is convicted of his many crimes, and suddenly the rules don't count anymore. Ditto for Melania and the J6ers.

Republicans seem to love lawbreakers.

Hey! Trump is far from perfect and I’m not singing his praises by any means. And I consider myself a moderate Republican.

 

[Richard T]

Richard I appreciate your compassion. We know we gave a compassionate savior. Christ died for sinners because God loves everyone regardless of what they have done and offers salvation for all who repent and believe. For those who don't believe there is only judgement.

If that couple would have asked Jesus what to do he would have told them to obey the law. God is not lawless. And committing sin has consequences on earth. Deliberately breaking the law is a sin and the consequences are real. The Bible is replete with stories of people suffering for their choices. The whole of scripture is a lesson on choice and the results of making the wrong one. It is a choice to believe. And there is a consequence that will be paid for choosing not to believe.

God is compassionate but he us not lawless. He is merciful to all of us who don't deserve mercy. But only to those who believe. Even Jesus told people to go and sin no more.

The separation of this couple would only have been temporary while working on their Visa. But they made a choice to do wrong. Just like a person makes a choice to drink and drive or steal or commit any other crime and gets separated from their loved one because they have to serve jail time. We aren't asking tge government to let them all out because they are married or have children. That creates lawlessness and as a Christian we know God is not lawless in his compassion and love for us.

Thanks for posting and I am happy to have the chance to advocate for a few good changes to current U.S. immigration policy.
Jesus broke the religious law to heal on the Sabbath. So which has precedence, love or law? Do you think even one year apart for a newly married couple makes it more or less likely for them to divorce or fall into immorality? I am all for good immigration laws. But breaking up marriages even temporarily is not one of them. Could it be any clearer in the bible than Mark 10:8-9? "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” Let no man should include the men in government. Does it not? if not why?
So we have man's law in this marriage case, versus God's law which fully supports marriage. There used to be man's law against interracial marriage in some states. If that were to become law again should all obey? No, you have to have discernment as to what should be accepted. I would suggest a compassion temporary visa category for family members that gives them a year to so to file for a permanent visa or a faster time of processing marriage visas at a minimum.
However, if the goal is to refuse immigration status to as many as possible, Lets deport all immigrants who divorce Americans. that way we can still make the numbers that rid the USA of many solid, working and in some cases Christian immigrants. Currently divorcees can stay if the marriage lasts for just two years. Why not make it for ten? Why reward divorce for residency but deny it to a newly married?
It is good to rethink the scenarios where man's law is hostile to the law of love. There is no moral law broken to allow a common sense approach to immigration, that allows easier immigration to let families stay together.

Also, if God is not lawless, are you upset that Trump asked the DOJ to pause the prosecutions under the Foreign Corrupt Bribery Act? Kleptocrats to benefit from Trump DoJ’s anti-corruption pause, experts warn
Seems a bit arbitrary.

In the disciples time and even now there are places where preaching the gospel is against man's laws. Those laws should be ignored. Immigration laws too sometimes may pass this threshold. Here is a list of ethical dilemmas in regards to immigration. Ethical Dilemmas in Human Rights and Immigration

Many nations including the USA shut out many of the Jews that were seeking asylum during WWII. Was that just? No. So here is just another wrinkle that even though it is not life threatening, it is family threatening. Some might say he can just go live in Mexico or wherever she is from. Perhaps, but not everyone can get a long term visa or especially a working visa in many other nations. Where the USA conduct toward immigrant marriages is especially egregious is in the length of time it takes to get a visa for a non-citizen spouse. "The processing time for a spouse visa in the USA, also known as a marriage-based green card, varies depending on whether the foreign spouse is already in the U.S. or outside the U.S. For spouses outside the U.S., it typically takes around 14.3 months for the petition (Form I-130) to be approved. If the spouse is already in the U.S., the process can be faster, with a typical processing time of 9.5 months when filed concurrently with Form I-485." (From google AI overview). The countries that have the most spouses marry Americans though may have far longer times.
The spouses that are already in the USA as they refer to here are the ones that came to America on a fiancé or other legal visa. So this woman could have stayed if she married in 2017. But with an overstayed visa and illegal status she is facing quite a bit of wait time.
Anyway, I see some on the front lines and know what they go through so I am passionate about this topic. We hear so much anti-immigrant policy and practice that this hopefully can show that compassion may be lacking in some situations.

 

[Richard T]

Because US citizens can sponsor their parents for citizenship.

You have to have enough income to sponsor even a wife. I think the level is 135% of the poverty level. If that income is not shown the visa application is rejected. Sponsorship I believe lasts 5 years.

 

[Richard T]

I’m no expert, but what happens when an American marries someone from a different country? Do they get a visa?

A citizen can apply for a visa for a spouse if they like. In the USA that takes on average about 14 months but can vary quite a bit if the country has lots of applicants. The US citizen must show residency and have enough income to support the spouse and any children that also might be included from the foreigner. They are required to take a physical and interview at the consulate where they reside or in some cases the nation where they married. They pay around 2000 total in fees and expenses. If the spouse is in America illegal then there is a problem. Illegals can be banned two years from even applying. Multiple times illegal I think can even be permanent. Criminal history too is considered as it should be.
Here is an article as to why there is no path for illegals living the USA.

Why Don’t Immigrants Apply for Citizenship?

There is no line available for undocumented immigrants and the “regular channels” do not include them.

www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org

 

[seeking.IAM]

Used to be that most spouses got a green card right away upon marriage to a citizen if they applies and got approved; citizenship took a few years. That all changed, though

It took a family member of mine nearly four years after marriage and thousands of dollars paid to an immigration attorney before the spouse's green card came through. Most Americans simply don't understand how complex and expensive things can be, which is why many people either fail at it or don't try.

 

[DaisyDay]

It took a family member of mine nearly four years after marriage and thousands of dollars paid to an immigration attorney before the spouse's green card came through. Most Americans simply don't understand how complex and expensive things can be, which is why many people either fail at it or don't try.

I know. It didn’t use to be so bad.

It may have been the mass Moonie wedding of 5,000 couples which was an immigration scam that tipped the scale of ease.

 

[rjs330]

Let no man should include the men in government. Does it not? if not why?

Jesus wasnt talking about government. He was talking about divorce. If that same man robbed a store, I sure don't think him being separated from his wife to pay the penalty for his crime is what Jesus was referring to. Do you?

There used to be man's law against interracial marriage in some states. If that were to become law again should all obey?

Yes. Not that I think it was a good law. It was a stupid and racist law. But it should be obeyed or you move somewhere where it is legal. And people certainly should advocate for the ending of the law.

would suggest a compassion temporary visa category for family members that gives them a year to so to file for a permanent visa or a faster time of processing marriage visas at a minimum.

Totally agree. Out immigration law is far too cumbersome. It should be much easier for people to come here to work. It should be much easier to come here as a family member as well.

You want fet any argument from me regarding fixing immigration laws.

Currently divorcees can stay if the marriage lasts for just two years. Why not make it for ten? Why reward divorce for residency but deny it to a newly married?

Totally agree. You should have to stay married for at least 10 years.

We hear so much anti-immigrant policy and practice that this hopefully can show that compassion may be lacking in some situations.

Compassion is fine. Lawlessness is not. This is an immigration law problem. And I fully support making changes.

But until they are made rhe law needs to be followed. If we allow cut outs for every single sad story then we might as well not have hardly anyone deported. Because everyone has a story.

No, these people had full opportunity to do rhe right thing and decided not to.