Why so complicated?

I don't know why. It's ridiculous. But it is a choice we have made and so we deal with it.

Here are the details:
1. Glen applied for and got a job in Jan 2004.
2. New company applied on his behalf for a work permit.
3. Waiting game #1 began (in our case just over 8 months... we were told we were lucky)
4. Sold our house, said goodbye to the life we knew and friends and family, spent a fortune shipping boxes, cats, and ourselves across the world. Arrived in the USA on October 19, 2004. (20wks pregnant)
5. As a dependent on Glen's work visa I have no social security number and am not allowed by law to work. Can't even get a cellphone in my own name. Talk about dependent. VERY. I am, however, allowed to have a drivers license and best of all... no guilt about being a full time stay-at-home mom. Thank you.
6. Work permits are valid for 3 years and can be renewed for a further 3 years maximum. If you change jobs, you have to apply (through your new company) for a new visa.
7. Children born in the USA are automatically US citizens. So that's something. 8. Before your 6 years are up, if you want to stay in the country you can apply for a green card (permanent residence, NOT citizenship)
9. To apply for a green card you first need to file an application with the Dept of Labor certifying that you are the only person your company believes can fill your position. To do this the company has to advertise your position for 30 days in 3 different media. For another 30 days your company has to actively work through any valid resumes, interviews, etc and put together information showing that a US citizen can't fill your post. In this economy that's pretty difficult.

(Aside: This process was going to take us beyond our final visa expiry date, which explains why Glen was out of the country for 3 months from Nov 22, 2009 to Feb 17, 2010. The kids and I did not HAVE to go. But where else would we be... home is where the heart is)

10. Waiting game #2: The Dept of Labor will notify you of your labor certification (or denial) in 6-12 months. If your work visa expires during this time you have to renew it.
11. Once the Dept of Labor certifies you, you can then apply for your green card.
12. Waiting game #3: This time 5-10 years. Green card application is filed and you now get a "pending" status. During which time every year you are required to renew your visa, and during which time I STILL do not get a ssn or permission to work.

And then you get a greencard. And 5 years after that you are permitted to apply for citizenship.
If this goes smoothly and takes the least amount of time estimated, I will be 45 when I become a citizen.


YIKES!

(Another aside: Don't get me started on the subject of illegal immigrants)