Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 20, 2014 News
By Attorney Gail S. Seeram,
[email protected]
Through this “Question & Answer” column, our goal is to answer your immigration questions. We appreciate your comments and questions. If you have a question that you would like answered in this column, please email: [email protected].
Question #1: I recently applied for a holiday visa to the US. On the day of the interview I was given a letter, which stated that they need Administrative Processing (it usually takes 60 days) before granting me a visa. 60 days have long passed and I am still waiting for a response from the Embassy. What can I do?
Answer #1: You can make an inquiry, but just know that you do not have a right to a tourist visa – it is the officer’s discretion to grant or deny based on proof of strong financial and family ties to Guyana. “Administrative processing or review” means they are performing background checks.
Question #2: My husband works on a cruise ship. This has been his second contract with them. What I want to know is how I can get a visitor’s visa to go sometimes with my husband. We also have a one-year-old child together. It’s really hard to be away from each other for so long, especially when you are a young couple! Please tell me what I have to do or what my husband has to do?
Answer #2: Your husband probably has a C visa, which is not a tourist visa. You can only get a C visa by working on a ship or airline. If you apply for B visa (tourist) it will not assure that you will be traveling with your husband on the cruise ship.
Question #3: My dad recently went to the U.S. as a permanent resident. When could he sponsor his unmarried children and how long is the waiting process?
Answer #3: He can submit the petition as soon as he receives his green card. The waiting time for a visa as an unmarried child of a permanent resident is generally six (6) to eight (8) years.
Question #4: I read your questions and answers in the Kaieteur News, which I find very honest and helpful to us who are seeking answers to immigration questions.
I have three children who are American Citizens, by birth. After my last child in 2002, I overstayed my time, because of the crisis in Guyana. In 2007, I was offered a job and housing in Guyana, which I took advantage of, because I was not working in the US. My mother-in-law who is a US Citizen, filed for my husband in July 2005. We are legally married. To date I have not heard anything, except for an approval letter. My kids would like to return to the U.S. What are my chances of returning to the US after overstaying my time?
Answer #4: You face a 10-year ban from returning to U.S. since your 2007 departure, so you are eligible to return to the U.S. in 2017. Visas being issued for petitions filed on or before July 2002 for a married child of a U.S. citizen is about a 3-year wait. You will need to file a waiver seeking permission to re-enter the U.S. since you had an unlawful presence there.
**************
Discovering your Immigration Roots may Give Root to Life Changing Experiences: My Story & the GAIL Foundation Inc.
“I’m so high. I want to go higher. I love it here.” This is the thought of a young child swaying on a playground swing. Do you remember playing as a child – running, laughing and jumping with no worries in the world except when it’s time to go home? Playing is critical for young children and it’s the only job they have.
As I write this, I am getting ready to host the second annual “Casino Night for Charity” fundraising event in Florida for the GAIL Foundation Inc., a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization I had the privilege to form in 2011.
How is this related to immigration? Well, I left Guyana at age 5 and my parents thought it was important to take me back to Guyana in 2010 to show me my “immigration roots and history” – a very humbling experience. As I visited my birth town named Smythfield, New Amsterdam, I discovered an orphanage where the children had nowhere to play outdoors. My heart spoke to me and I formed the GAIL Foundation Inc. and since then have been donating playground equipment in Guyana on an annual basis.
The goal for 2014 is to touch as many hearts with the stories of children who have been displaced and are in need of the “gift of play” that will not only give them a sense of release from their particular life situation, but will allow them to be a child. If our monetary goals are met for 2014, we will build and donate playground equipment to the Guyana Relief Council Shelter in Georgetown, and the Bless the Children Home in Industry. Lastly, we are committed to using donated funds to apply for several grants in the United States to assist in donating playground, soccer, cricket volleyball equipment to the Angoy’s Avenue Playfield in Berbice.
The GAIL Foundation Inc., through valuable donors, has built and donated playground equipment to orphanages and other children organizations in Guyana for the past four (4) years – visit www.GailFoundation.org to view pictures and videos from past and current projects.
Swings, slides, monkey bars and see-saws have been donated to the Children of Promise of Eden Orphanage in New Amsterdam, and the N/A Special Needs School.
Additionally, the GAIL Foundation Inc. donated educational toys and learning equipment such as DVDs, laptop, desktop, projector screen, white board, and two wall-to-wall bookcases of books to the New Amsterdam Special Needs School. Previous projects included the donation of walkers, toddler chairs, toys, books and educational tools to the Red Cross Convalescent Home and the Children of Promise Eden Orphanage in Georgetown.
The GAIL Foundation is committed to Giving Abundantly In Life to help children in need. I hope my immigration story will lead you to learn more about www.GAILFoundation.org and support our mission of donating playground equipment and educational tools to displaced children in Guyana. God Bless you and your family!
Jagdeo giving Exxon 102 cent to collect 2 cent.
Apr 25, 2024
By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – The French Diplomatic Office in Guyana, in collaboration with the Guyana Olympic Association and UNICEF, hosted an exhibition on Tuesday evening at the...Kaieteur News – Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, persists in offering... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]