Starlight.....star bright
First star I wish tonight
I wish I may
I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight.....
I have always made a wish upon the first star I spot in the night sky.
Tonight....as I sit in Utah and my husband sleeps in Mexico.....
I WISH we were together gazing up at the stars
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Letter to the Editor
Hello,
I recently read the article titled:
Immigration: Where love and law collide
and couldn't help but pause many times and say, "Hey! That's my story, too!" I am a female, born in Utah. who has been living and working in Mexico City for the past two years because my husband was denied a visa and given a ten-year ban from reapplying for a visa. We have since married (in Mexico) and we now have a daughter (who was born in the United States). The only way for us to live as a family is to be in Mexico. The best job opportunities are in Mexico City (I am a teacher with a Masters of Education and an ESL certificate). My husband has no formal schooling and it is very difficult for him to find work in Mexico City. If he worked full-time, he would make about 4,000 pesos per month (less than 400 USD). So, I am the bread-winner.
Before we were married, my then boyfriend was an undocumented citizen from Mexico who had been in the United States for about 9 years. We sought legal advice once we were engaged, and were told to file for a finacee visa (they were being processed more quickly than spousal visas). My fianceee left Utah in December 2005 for Puebla, Mexico (since we had to file from his home country for his visa). His interviewed was granted and scheduled for Jan. 2007. At the interview in Ciudad Juarez his visa was denied and he was given a 10-year ban for illegal presence in the U.S.
I was able to stay working in Utah as a teacher at a year-round school and was able to travel about every 3 months to visit my husband in Mexico. I became pregnant and stayed in Utah to have our baby girl (my husband was not allowed even a tourist visa to witness the birth of his daughter). He held her for the first time when she was 2 months old and we were able to travel down to visit him. When she was 6 months old, we moved our lives to Mexico City so we could actually live together (for the first time in our married lives). We have been in Mexico City for just over 2 years now. It is very dangerous and polluted. We really wish we could back in Salt Lake City again amongst our family. My daughter and I travel back to SLC every July to visit our family and friends and to check on our home in Utah.
I really don't know why we ever applied for his visa. If we hadn't have applied, he would still be here. We would have never spent more than 2 years apart waiting for his interview to be scheduled. We would have never wasted thousands of dollars on the attorney and the processing fees for the visa. Most importantly, he wouldn't have missed the birth of his daughter.
Thanks for doing stories that show how the issues surrounding immigration are layered and how current immigration laws affect families.
Sincerely,
Stephanie
*Maybe somebody with influence on this issue will read this one day. You know, we've only been in Mexico for 2 years and I know 2 other families who are "Stuck in Mexico" so to speak.....
I recently read the article titled:
Immigration: Where love and law collide
and couldn't help but pause many times and say, "Hey! That's my story, too!" I am a female, born in Utah. who has been living and working in Mexico City for the past two years because my husband was denied a visa and given a ten-year ban from reapplying for a visa. We have since married (in Mexico) and we now have a daughter (who was born in the United States). The only way for us to live as a family is to be in Mexico. The best job opportunities are in Mexico City (I am a teacher with a Masters of Education and an ESL certificate). My husband has no formal schooling and it is very difficult for him to find work in Mexico City. If he worked full-time, he would make about 4,000 pesos per month (less than 400 USD). So, I am the bread-winner.
Before we were married, my then boyfriend was an undocumented citizen from Mexico who had been in the United States for about 9 years. We sought legal advice once we were engaged, and were told to file for a finacee visa (they were being processed more quickly than spousal visas). My fianceee left Utah in December 2005 for Puebla, Mexico (since we had to file from his home country for his visa). His interviewed was granted and scheduled for Jan. 2007. At the interview in Ciudad Juarez his visa was denied and he was given a 10-year ban for illegal presence in the U.S.
I was able to stay working in Utah as a teacher at a year-round school and was able to travel about every 3 months to visit my husband in Mexico. I became pregnant and stayed in Utah to have our baby girl (my husband was not allowed even a tourist visa to witness the birth of his daughter). He held her for the first time when she was 2 months old and we were able to travel down to visit him. When she was 6 months old, we moved our lives to Mexico City so we could actually live together (for the first time in our married lives). We have been in Mexico City for just over 2 years now. It is very dangerous and polluted. We really wish we could back in Salt Lake City again amongst our family. My daughter and I travel back to SLC every July to visit our family and friends and to check on our home in Utah.
I really don't know why we ever applied for his visa. If we hadn't have applied, he would still be here. We would have never spent more than 2 years apart waiting for his interview to be scheduled. We would have never wasted thousands of dollars on the attorney and the processing fees for the visa. Most importantly, he wouldn't have missed the birth of his daughter.
Thanks for doing stories that show how the issues surrounding immigration are layered and how current immigration laws affect families.
Sincerely,
Stephanie
*Maybe somebody with influence on this issue will read this one day. You know, we've only been in Mexico for 2 years and I know 2 other families who are "Stuck in Mexico" so to speak.....
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Fence Jumpers vs The Rednecks
Some people seriously amaze me. They are so ignorant and filled with hatred. I am sick of every discussion about immigration being centered around Mexicans. There millions of illegal immigrants in the US from around the world--not just Mexico or Latin America. There are "illegals" in the US from New Zealand, Australia ...and many other countries. Those people aren't singled out because they aren't brown. Gimme a break.
It is as ignorant to say that Mexicans are "fence jumpers" as it is for me to call white people who watch racing on Sundays "rednecks". I hope my daughter can grow up in a country that is diverse and proud of diversity. That is not the current state of the U.S. I'm not trying to be all political about it. I am living in the disaster that is current immigration law. To be quite honest, it sucks. I don't like not being able to live with my husband legally in the United States because of the hoops we have to jump through to do it legally.
I don't know if anybody is going to read this, or if it is simply a place for me to vent, but I'd sure like for people to hear my story and the MILLIONS of other stories from people around the world (not just in Mexico) who are in, or were in, similar situations. Something has got to change now.
By the way, my husband never jumped a fence.
Thanks for listening.
It is as ignorant to say that Mexicans are "fence jumpers" as it is for me to call white people who watch racing on Sundays "rednecks". I hope my daughter can grow up in a country that is diverse and proud of diversity. That is not the current state of the U.S. I'm not trying to be all political about it. I am living in the disaster that is current immigration law. To be quite honest, it sucks. I don't like not being able to live with my husband legally in the United States because of the hoops we have to jump through to do it legally.
I don't know if anybody is going to read this, or if it is simply a place for me to vent, but I'd sure like for people to hear my story and the MILLIONS of other stories from people around the world (not just in Mexico) who are in, or were in, similar situations. Something has got to change now.
By the way, my husband never jumped a fence.
Thanks for listening.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Tragic
Another deadly weekend across Mexico. The Mexican drug cartel is killing people left and right. How refreshing for our family. This weekend an American consulate worker was killed in Juarez--one of the most dangerous cities in the world, and the location of the US Embassy where interviews for visas are conducted. Really? The US can't find a better place to conduct the interviews? And Enrique really can't get a visa yet? Can we please be allowed to leave and come back to Utah? Whose ass do I have to kiss to get him a visa? What do we have to agree to?
Even though we do not live on a border town, fortunately, it pretty much sucks here. I miss the suburbs. I miss my teaching job. I miss my family and friends. I miss Utah. I love my husband and father of my child, so I am forced to choose. And, here we are.
There is a march in SLC this weekend for immigration reform. If you can go, please do. If you can't please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Something has got to change to bring us home!
XOXO
Even though we do not live on a border town, fortunately, it pretty much sucks here. I miss the suburbs. I miss my teaching job. I miss my family and friends. I miss Utah. I love my husband and father of my child, so I am forced to choose. And, here we are.
There is a march in SLC this weekend for immigration reform. If you can go, please do. If you can't please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Something has got to change to bring us home!
XOXO
Monday, January 11, 2010
Congrats...
Some of our dear friends have gone through the process of applying for the spousal visa these past few months. The husband had his interview today in Juarez and he got the visa! Congrats!
As much as I want to be 100% happy for them, I am green with envy. My hubby tells me to be happy for them as their situation is different from ours...it's apples and oranges. The thing is....the situations may be different, but the reasons for wanting our spouses to have visas are the same. We both want to be able to raise our families in a safer country than Mexico and closer to our families.
Don't get me wrong, I am very happy for them, but watching them go through everything brings back all the memories from when we were in Juarez waiting for our interview and the tears strolling down Enrique's face when he walked out of the embassy, and him shaking his head.
We never gave up. We never said, well this is it. I guess our relationship is over. But a lot has changed since our interview and now we have a little girl to think about. I can't stand having her far away from my family.
Jan. 2007 was the worst year of my life. Enrique's visa was denied and two weeks later my dad passed away suddenly. I picked myself by the bootstraps and lived in Enrique's and my house in SLC by myself for another year. The feelings of sadness and loss were undescribable during that month. It just wasn't fair......I still think it's not fair. Enrique was in the country illegally. I get it. He didn't kill anyone, or deal drugs, or steal things. He simply did what he could to get to a country to get some money to help out his family and give himself a more optimistic life.
We spent over 4,000 dollars going through our visa process, just to be denied. Minimum wage here in Mexico City is less than 6 dollars per day. How long would Enrique have had to save up to pay for the legal fees involved in getting a visa on his own........food for thought.
As much as I want to be 100% happy for them, I am green with envy. My hubby tells me to be happy for them as their situation is different from ours...it's apples and oranges. The thing is....the situations may be different, but the reasons for wanting our spouses to have visas are the same. We both want to be able to raise our families in a safer country than Mexico and closer to our families.
Don't get me wrong, I am very happy for them, but watching them go through everything brings back all the memories from when we were in Juarez waiting for our interview and the tears strolling down Enrique's face when he walked out of the embassy, and him shaking his head.
We never gave up. We never said, well this is it. I guess our relationship is over. But a lot has changed since our interview and now we have a little girl to think about. I can't stand having her far away from my family.
Jan. 2007 was the worst year of my life. Enrique's visa was denied and two weeks later my dad passed away suddenly. I picked myself by the bootstraps and lived in Enrique's and my house in SLC by myself for another year. The feelings of sadness and loss were undescribable during that month. It just wasn't fair......I still think it's not fair. Enrique was in the country illegally. I get it. He didn't kill anyone, or deal drugs, or steal things. He simply did what he could to get to a country to get some money to help out his family and give himself a more optimistic life.
We spent over 4,000 dollars going through our visa process, just to be denied. Minimum wage here in Mexico City is less than 6 dollars per day. How long would Enrique have had to save up to pay for the legal fees involved in getting a visa on his own........food for thought.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Amnesty
We went to a posada last night in Puebla and met some people from San Antonio. The guy (I didn't catch his name) has been in San Antonio for about 25 years and was lucky enough to get amnesty back when Regan did it. Cool. Super cool....for him. When I meet people like this...people with papers...I cannot help but be jealous. Why? Why can't I just be happy for them? Why am I tinged with jealousy? Their situation is not ours, but I cannot help but compare situations. It's apples and oranges my friends!
People say everything happens for a reason. I like to think that. But sometimes (like during the holidays) I am sad.
Sad that Gabby cannot be with my family in Utah playing in the snow, enjoying traditions that I enjoyed growing up. Sad that Enrique and I have had to sacrifice and are both unhappy with living in Mexico.
I want to be optimistic. I want to like our time here and take advantage of it. But today I'm sad. I'm gonna go with it and not try to pretend that I'm not sad today....on Christmas Eve.
People say everything happens for a reason. I like to think that. But sometimes (like during the holidays) I am sad.
Sad that Gabby cannot be with my family in Utah playing in the snow, enjoying traditions that I enjoyed growing up. Sad that Enrique and I have had to sacrifice and are both unhappy with living in Mexico.
I want to be optimistic. I want to like our time here and take advantage of it. But today I'm sad. I'm gonna go with it and not try to pretend that I'm not sad today....on Christmas Eve.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
That's Right!
That's right! I'm stuck in Mexico....well, that's one way to look at it. My husband and I met in the U.S. back in 2004 and he returned to Mexico in 2005 (as per our lawyer's advice) so we could submit the paperwork to get him a visa. His visa was denied (since he had been in the U.S. without a visa) and he now has a 10 year ban! We cannot apply for a visa until the year 2017. After he was banned, we were married in Veracruz, Mexico. We lived apart for 1.5 years (I came to Mexico about every 3 months to visit). We had a beautiful baby girl in 2007 and in June of 2008 my daughter and I moved to Mexico so that we could be a family with my husband.
Living here the past year has been.....hard. That is one adjective that could describe the past few years. I don't think I was as mentally prepared as I thought I was to leave my family and friends and begin a new life here. We own a home in the U.S. that is currently being rented out, while we are back to paying rent here. My husband has no special education (hence the reason he was in the U.S to work) and working FULL TIME here in Mexico City would result in 4,000 pesos per month. That is currently less that 400 USD with the exchange rate. Wow. Daycare here is 2,000 pesos a month, our rent is 4,500 pesos per month, add on utilities, food, doctor's visits, and that 4,000 pesos doesn't go far!
Thank goodnes I am a licensed teacher and can be the sole financial supporter right now. I admire my hubby and am thankful that he gets to be such a huge part of our daughter's life right now. He gets to be with her all day and he does an amazing job with her. We may have to sacrifice right now, but it will pay off in the end!
Living here the past year has been.....hard. That is one adjective that could describe the past few years. I don't think I was as mentally prepared as I thought I was to leave my family and friends and begin a new life here. We own a home in the U.S. that is currently being rented out, while we are back to paying rent here. My husband has no special education (hence the reason he was in the U.S to work) and working FULL TIME here in Mexico City would result in 4,000 pesos per month. That is currently less that 400 USD with the exchange rate. Wow. Daycare here is 2,000 pesos a month, our rent is 4,500 pesos per month, add on utilities, food, doctor's visits, and that 4,000 pesos doesn't go far!
Thank goodnes I am a licensed teacher and can be the sole financial supporter right now. I admire my hubby and am thankful that he gets to be such a huge part of our daughter's life right now. He gets to be with her all day and he does an amazing job with her. We may have to sacrifice right now, but it will pay off in the end!
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