On Immigration

Some twenty-five years ago, I was studying in England and then got my first job in London. I got my work visa, but my girlfriend ran into problems with hers. She could’ve applied for a tourist visa independently of me. But we tried to be transparent in the application: I explained how I had a job and she was visiting me. Her application was rejected. There was a period of gloom and uncertainty. We had already endured three years of a long-distance relationship. We did see each other once every three months or so, but it had been painful, and just when we thought we’d finally be together once and for good, we suddenly faced those visa challenges. This was so long ago that I don’t remember exactly how we resolved it. Eventually, she did get a visa, and half a year later, we got married to ensure that we had a more secure path to being together.

My girlfriend is, by the way, my wife of twenty-five years. We just wanted to be together, no matter where our lives, educations, and jobs were taking us.

A lot of the time, visa or immigration challenges are not technical matters. They are insurmountable challenges. You have no control over the officials. You have zero say. Often there is no explanation for a rejection, and you can’t demand it or resolve it.

My immigration journey in the U.S. took eight long years. I lost count of the applications, delays, extensions, and requests for more information. In the week of our green card interview, the COVID shutdown began, and the appointment was indefinitely postponed. It took more than a year…