Not Even Border Agent Can Stop Love--Article from Colorado Springs Gazette
Feb 22nd 2004, 3:36 pm
#16
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Not Even Border Agent Can Stop Love--Article from Colorado Springs
memorex wrote:
> Ok... Moving Parallel abit..
>
> So she Entered the Country Under the Visa
> Waver Program..
>
> As she Married in the US and has Filed for Change of
> status..
>
> Are there any obstacles that could Hinder her application ?..
>
>
> Just Wondered...
>
> Mem..
>
The way I read the story. She originally tried to enter that way, but
wes denied entry and ended up getting a fiancee visa.
> Ok... Moving Parallel abit..
>
> So she Entered the Country Under the Visa
> Waver Program..
>
> As she Married in the US and has Filed for Change of
> status..
>
> Are there any obstacles that could Hinder her application ?..
>
>
> Just Wondered...
>
> Mem..
>
The way I read the story. She originally tried to enter that way, but
wes denied entry and ended up getting a fiancee visa.
Feb 23rd 2004, 7:36 am
#17
WTF?
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Homeostasis
Posts: 79,449
Re: Not Even Border Agent Can Stop Love--Article from Colorado Springs Gazette
Was this a slow news day?
Originally posted by David Smith
By PAM ZUBECK - THE GAZETTE
Tom Menzer and Sophie DuBois are legal — in more ways than one.
They did more than become husband and wife when the Colorado Springs
resident and his French bride recently tied the knot.
They complied with DuBois' visa requirement.
DuBois is among those who have run into roadblocks when trying to
enter the United States during the past year.
She was turned away at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on April 29 when a
border patrol agent thought she was trying to enter the United States
illegally — using a tourist visa but intending to marry Menzer to
establish residency.
In truth, DuBois and Menzer planned to live together for a time to
determine whether they wanted to get married.
DuBois was placed on the next plane to France. She then decided to
seek a fiance visa, which required her to marry within 90 days of her
arrival.
She and Menzer didn't wait that long.
Two days after DuBois arrived without hassle in Newark, N.J., she and
her groom said "I do" in a downtown lawyer's office on Valentine's
Day.
Although Menzer resented Uncle Sam dictating the timing, he and DuBois
are blissful.
"We're happy to have married," said Menzer, 37. "As far as the
government influencing what the date and time is, it just means we're
forced to have two weddings."
The second will be an August bash for family and friends in
Pittsburgh, Menzer's hometown.
DuBois, 33, is effusive.
"I'm totally sure," she said, sitting in her apartment surrounded by
bouquets of snap dragons, carnations and lilies, most of them provided
by her husband. "There's no doubt. I know he's the one."
She plucked from a shelf a 2-inch-thick binder containing her
immigration papers, the foundation for her request for temporary
residency, which will allow her to work. She's an engineer, just like
Menzer.
"It appears they'll do that on the spot or within a week or so,"
Menzer said. After that, she'll apply for permanent residency.
Although this story has a happy ending, Menzer thinks the government
should investigate how some border authorities exercise their power.
"I think it comes down to the whole question of checks and balances,"
he said.
An official with the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees
immigration, denied contentions that more people are being returned to
their home countries under the USA Patriot Act, which gives officials
more authority to deter terrorism.
The spokesman acknowledged border agents are more vigilant since the
Sept. 11 attacks but defended their decisions, saying they use their
best judgment based on information available.
By PAM ZUBECK - THE GAZETTE
Tom Menzer and Sophie DuBois are legal — in more ways than one.
They did more than become husband and wife when the Colorado Springs
resident and his French bride recently tied the knot.
They complied with DuBois' visa requirement.
DuBois is among those who have run into roadblocks when trying to
enter the United States during the past year.
She was turned away at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on April 29 when a
border patrol agent thought she was trying to enter the United States
illegally — using a tourist visa but intending to marry Menzer to
establish residency.
In truth, DuBois and Menzer planned to live together for a time to
determine whether they wanted to get married.
DuBois was placed on the next plane to France. She then decided to
seek a fiance visa, which required her to marry within 90 days of her
arrival.
She and Menzer didn't wait that long.
Two days after DuBois arrived without hassle in Newark, N.J., she and
her groom said "I do" in a downtown lawyer's office on Valentine's
Day.
Although Menzer resented Uncle Sam dictating the timing, he and DuBois
are blissful.
"We're happy to have married," said Menzer, 37. "As far as the
government influencing what the date and time is, it just means we're
forced to have two weddings."
The second will be an August bash for family and friends in
Pittsburgh, Menzer's hometown.
DuBois, 33, is effusive.
"I'm totally sure," she said, sitting in her apartment surrounded by
bouquets of snap dragons, carnations and lilies, most of them provided
by her husband. "There's no doubt. I know he's the one."
She plucked from a shelf a 2-inch-thick binder containing her
immigration papers, the foundation for her request for temporary
residency, which will allow her to work. She's an engineer, just like
Menzer.
"It appears they'll do that on the spot or within a week or so,"
Menzer said. After that, she'll apply for permanent residency.
Although this story has a happy ending, Menzer thinks the government
should investigate how some border authorities exercise their power.
"I think it comes down to the whole question of checks and balances,"
he said.
An official with the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees
immigration, denied contentions that more people are being returned to
their home countries under the USA Patriot Act, which gives officials
more authority to deter terrorism.
The spokesman acknowledged border agents are more vigilant since the
Sept. 11 attacks but defended their decisions, saying they use their
best judgment based on information available.
Feb 23rd 2004, 9:55 am
#18
Banned
Joined: Sep 2002
Location: United States
Posts: 3,825
Re: Not Even Border Agent Can Stop Love--Article from Colorado Springs Gazette
Originally posted by David Smith
By PAM ZUBECK - THE GAZETTE
Tom Menzer and Sophie DuBois are legal — in more ways than one.
They did more than become husband and wife when the Colorado Springs
resident and his French bride recently tied the knot.
They complied with DuBois' visa requirement.
DuBois is among those who have run into roadblocks when trying to
enter the United States during the past year.
She was turned away at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on April 29 when a
border patrol agent thought she was trying to enter the United States
illegally — using a tourist visa but intending to marry Menzer to
establish residency.
In truth, DuBois and Menzer planned to live together for a time to
determine whether they wanted to get married.
By PAM ZUBECK - THE GAZETTE
Tom Menzer and Sophie DuBois are legal — in more ways than one.
They did more than become husband and wife when the Colorado Springs
resident and his French bride recently tied the knot.
They complied with DuBois' visa requirement.
DuBois is among those who have run into roadblocks when trying to
enter the United States during the past year.
She was turned away at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on April 29 when a
border patrol agent thought she was trying to enter the United States
illegally — using a tourist visa but intending to marry Menzer to
establish residency.
In truth, DuBois and Menzer planned to live together for a time to
determine whether they wanted to get married.
Planning on "living together for a time" sounds like immigrant intent to me. Now, planning on visiting to spend a little more time with each other would cut towards nonimmigrant intent (a visit), but "living" together, to me, sounds like immigrant intent.
The reporter seems to think that since they just wanted to "live together" it was incorrect for her to be turned away at the POE (which is of course, an incorrect assumption on the reporters part).
Originally posted by David Smith
DuBois was placed on the next plane to France. She then decided to
seek a fiance visa, which required her to marry within 90 days of her
arrival.
She and Menzer didn't wait that long.
Two days after DuBois arrived without hassle in Newark, N.J., she and
her groom said "I do" in a downtown lawyer's office on Valentine's
Day.
Although Menzer resented Uncle Sam dictating the timing, he and DuBois
are blissful.
DuBois was placed on the next plane to France. She then decided to
seek a fiance visa, which required her to marry within 90 days of her
arrival.
She and Menzer didn't wait that long.
Two days after DuBois arrived without hassle in Newark, N.J., she and
her groom said "I do" in a downtown lawyer's office on Valentine's
Day.
Although Menzer resented Uncle Sam dictating the timing, he and DuBois
are blissful.
Of course, demonizing the government makes for better press, even if it is not an accurate accounting of the situation. Again, this seems to be common (slanting the facts or not doing homework before publishing) for reporters who write anti USCIS stories.
Originally posted by David Smith
"We're happy to have married," said Menzer, 37. "As far as the
government influencing what the date and time is, it just means we're
forced to have two weddings."
The second will be an August bash for family and friends in
Pittsburgh, Menzer's hometown.
DuBois, 33, is effusive.
"I'm totally sure," she said, sitting in her apartment surrounded by
bouquets of snap dragons, carnations and lilies, most of them provided
by her husband. "There's no doubt. I know he's the one."
She plucked from a shelf a 2-inch-thick binder containing her
immigration papers, the foundation for her request for temporary
residency, which will allow her to work. She's an engineer, just like
Menzer.
"It appears they'll do that on the spot or within a week or so,"
Menzer said. After that, she'll apply for permanent residency.
"We're happy to have married," said Menzer, 37. "As far as the
government influencing what the date and time is, it just means we're
forced to have two weddings."
The second will be an August bash for family and friends in
Pittsburgh, Menzer's hometown.
DuBois, 33, is effusive.
"I'm totally sure," she said, sitting in her apartment surrounded by
bouquets of snap dragons, carnations and lilies, most of them provided
by her husband. "There's no doubt. I know he's the one."
She plucked from a shelf a 2-inch-thick binder containing her
immigration papers, the foundation for her request for temporary
residency, which will allow her to work. She's an engineer, just like
Menzer.
"It appears they'll do that on the spot or within a week or so,"
Menzer said. After that, she'll apply for permanent residency.
In this case, the reporter could have easily found out that one can usually apply for an EAD (work card) at the same time of filing for permanent resident status (reporter used the term "temporary residency") or some time after filing for permanent resident status. This reporter seems to say she can apply for the EAD "before" applying for permanent resident status. Yes, there is the 90 day temporary EAD one could file under category a6, however as Rita has pointed out, that would likely not end up helping the foreign spouse, and there is nothing in the article to suggest the reporter was referring to a category a6 EAD (and since the reporter has been wrong about some very basic immigration concepts and fact patterns already in this article, I assume the reporter was not referring to an EAD under category a6 nor had any idea about the existence of an a6 EAD).
Originally posted by David Smith
Although this story has a happy ending, Menzer thinks the government
should investigate how some border authorities exercise their power.
"I think it comes down to the whole question of checks and balances,"
he said.
An official with the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees
immigration, denied contentions that more people are being returned to
their home countries under the USA Patriot Act, which gives officials
more authority to deter terrorism.
The spokesman acknowledged border agents are more vigilant since the
Sept. 11 attacks but defended their decisions, saying they use their
best judgment based on information available.
Although this story has a happy ending, Menzer thinks the government
should investigate how some border authorities exercise their power.
"I think it comes down to the whole question of checks and balances,"
he said.
An official with the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees
immigration, denied contentions that more people are being returned to
their home countries under the USA Patriot Act, which gives officials
more authority to deter terrorism.
The spokesman acknowledged border agents are more vigilant since the
Sept. 11 attacks but defended their decisions, saying they use their
best judgment based on information available.
Last edited by Matthew Udall; Feb 23rd 2004 at 9:59 am.
