Today I post my application for a Green Card to US.
I hope I get it later this year so I can search for a job and move to US.

__________________
I live my life a quarter a mile at the time

"the hardest cars to chase are german cars" - L.A. police department

MB E500, 320CE
Corvette C4 93, C5 -01
Toyota Celica x2
Yamaha R1,

I hate to put a damper on your timeline, but the current wait for a green card was reported in our local paper last week: 19 months.

Perhaps there are different wait for people from different countries and that was an average. For your sake, I hope so.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Or you could just jump the Mexican border. Or come threw Canada, they will let anyone in.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Poor kid... reminds me of the story I read last year about how a kid in Turkey was being picked on at school because his name was Hezbollah.

I'm already here and the wait for just the interview to get my temporary green card is 18 months
I can't leave the country in that time either, unless it's a real emergency, then I have to pay money to apply for what they call 'advance parole(!)

good luck with your application...you're gonna need it!

__________________
1993 320TE M104
---------------------------------------------------
past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
----------------------------------------------
"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

Enter illegally. Work, pay taxes and SSI. Stay out of trouble. When the next Congress goes into session they'll take-up Bush's amnesty program and you will be in without all the hassle of doing it legally and honorably.

After you get in, help me vote the jerks out of office that reward illegals over legal entrants.

B

when i was 9 my family moved from germany to the states. i remember we had to wait a long time and many trips to the US embassy to get the papers right.

looking back, i have to say that it is worth it. it was difficult leaving the place you know with the friends you grew up with.

in fact, my brother is in Iraq right now serving with the Marines. he said he is proud to be serving his 'adopted' country. he says that the best thing the folks can do for the guys over there is to send them letters. not email but rather regular mail. he's not allowed to get homemade anything (cookies, jams, etc.) but canned nuts, fruits are ok.

__________________
Jennifer
90 350sdl

even if you already have a green card, just to replace one that is expired the wait is over one year. real gov't efficiency at work there.

so... not to discourage you, but be prepared for a loong delay.

some others suggested you come for a ''vacation'' and forget to leave, hehe.
that actually is a good idea the way things are going.
good luck

__________________
1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

Or do what many foreigners coming to this country do... marry a US citizen.. wait 2 years... and VOILA!... GREEN CARD!

Just don't joke with the immigration officials on your way in... I've never met a more unfriendly bunch in my life, I had one guy basically try and get me to admit I had entered illegally, although I had been admitted legally by another officer in the same office.
I've seen people verbally abused and insulted because they didn't understand the question or speak English that well.

On the other hand, in my home country I was treated with courtesy and respect by the (american) officials throughout my visa process. I guess some of it's down to luck on who you get...

Typical though- now I'm in, I can't get out again!

__________________
1993 320TE M104
---------------------------------------------------
past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
----------------------------------------------
"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

I have no thoughts doing it the illigal way.
And marry an citizen? I donīt know. Thats not me.

So I go for the legal way.

__________________
I live my life a quarter a mile at the time

"the hardest cars to chase are german cars" - L.A. police department

MB E500, 320CE
Corvette C4 93, C5 -01
Toyota Celica x2
Yamaha R1,

I have had many unpleasant experience with these under-achievers working in the INS and the US Customs. In my younger days when I was doing a lot of business trips, some of these bastards like to flex their muscles with anyone they think they can pick on. That was 20 years ago, I still don't think much of them

__________________
Flash Gordon

2003 E500 BlackOpal/Charcoal

2004 Infiniti G35X

Interesting... just the opposite from my experience. I encountered a few rude Brits in London at the airport. In the US, the only place that gave me any trouble if any would be Columbus where I live. It has one of the stricktest security in the nation... having you remove shoes and socks and belts, etc. Never encountered this or any problems related in Chicago, New York or Houston.

I think he's talking about INS, not the airport security folks.

INS has gotten beaten-up pretty badly for sloppy enforcement so folks who have to deal with them now are probably paying the price of the bad press.

My sister-in-law is Canadian. Fortunately for her, she can afford a high-quality immigration attorney so the INS is always very respectful and careful with her.

As in any other legal situation, get a good attorney and cut him/her loose on the INS.

B