Speaking Up

I discovered today writing for the press isn't always about other people's stories. It also gives me a platform. From today's Naperville Sun:

Much has been written in this and other newspapers about the raging debate on immigration reform. As a journalist and a Brit, I tend to view most stories from the outside. This time, I find I'm at the center of the story.

Like many of you, my husband and I had always wanted to live the American Dream; trouble was, we were doing it from across the pond. Ross works for an American company, and the only way in was if they could offer him a position here. After a year of negotiations, we were given the opportunity and grabbed it eagerly with all four hands. Remember, we are not here like many Brits because their companies put them here; we orchestrated this because we wanted to live out the rest of our days in the U.S.

So with an L1 visa in our hands, we arrived in Naperville on a freezing March day three years ago. Our goal -- to obtain the magic green card that will mean we can live happily ever after.

Many nationalities can get them very easily, but apparently we Brits are not under-represented here. Plus my husband is in the same category as hundreds of thousands of others. It took us two years to get through the first two stages of the green card application. We're now facing the final stage, but guess what? USCIS is now considering applications from 2003, so they have five more years' worth before they even get to ours.

I'm not sure how the stereotypical immigrant would ever cope with the mountains of red tape. We're educated and have an excellent team of lawyers helping us. How would a Mexican orange picker ever be able to become legal?

Our first visa expired after three years, and has now been renewed for two more. Under its terms, I have to pay for an employment authorization document, which gives me the right to work. As you might imagine, being a starving writer means it took me months to even earn what it cost me initially.

We are careful to make sure we do everything by the book, because nothing can upset that green card application. I don't drop as much as a Kleenex on the ground, and if I had a cat I'd certainly make sure she never went out without a leash!

But here's the problem: In 2012, our L1 visa expires. The good news is that then we can transfer to an H1 until the green card finally arrives. The bad news is that I will no longer be entitled to even pay for a work permit. That means after years of trying to build up a career, the whole thing will be swept away from me like an unsuccessful magician pulling a tablecloth from under a pile of tumblers.

I don't suppose the country will crumble without another journalist, but I'm not just talking about myself here. There are thousands of women and men in this situation -- doctors, scientists, highly educated people who cannot work because they are here because of their spouse's jobs.

So America, when you look at immigration reform, do look at the H1 visa situation and make sure the dream doesn't become a nightmare. And Naperville, be assured I'll carry on doing my best for you until the law says I can't.