Visa Overstay Dashes Green Card Hopes

Visa Overstay Dashes Green Card Hopes October 10th, 2018 ICE, immigration law, USCIS | Tags: Immigration, immigration enforcement, visa, visa applications | No Comments »A recently published story about the dashed hopes of a U.S. military veteran illustrates the complexity and Draconian nature of the U.S. immigration system. It also demonstrates the dangers of trying to navigate this system without an experienced immigration lawyer.According to “the Lookout,” a Yahoo news service, Michael Giesey spent thousands of dollars in immigration application and processing fees and still failed to obtain the necessary permits for his German-born wife to stay in this country.Giesey, a 20-year vet, had met his wife Marina and married her in Germany in 1999. They planned to stay there, but Giesey came back to the U.S. in 2008 after his brother suffered a serious spinal injury on the job as a firefighter.Marina subsequently entered the country on a 90-day tourist visa, which she overstayed while helping Giesey to care for his brother. In 2009, the couple returned to Germany for a visit, but Marina discovered that she was unable to re-enter the U.S. because she had been flagged for overstaying a visa. After more than five hours of detention by customs officials, she was permitted to enter on a “paroled” status and advised to file for a green card right away. But months later, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services declined to issue Marina a green card, which is a common initial ruling for any applicant who has overstayed a visa.The Giesey family decided to give up, packing their bags, and heading back to Germany, leaving brother Stan to fend for himself. Michael Giesey reportedly summed up his immigration experience by saying, “If you don’t have a lawyer or can’t afford a lawyer, you’re doomed.”If either you or a family member needs a visa or green card, do not go it alone. Let us help you to succeed. Just call our offices at (847)564-0712 to schedule an appointment and/or check out the pertinent section of our Website for more information on how we can be of assistance.