The Other Option (leaving)
 

Hi Dreamers,

I just want to talk about my experience with the Dream thing. I used to be a Dreamy until very recently. I graduated from college in May '08 with a Computer Engineering degree; at the same time I decided I was not going to trust my future on a bunch of politicians. So I came back to Mexico, and I now have a good job at an American company here in mexico with a reasonable salary (a few times lower of what I would get in the US) but nonetheless more than enough. Most important of all, I have the tranquility of living without the fear of being caught by an immigration officer.

If dream were to pass in the next few months I would be out; but honestly, I am fine with that. This worked for me, and it might work for you.

All the luck,

-iamtired

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

oh, so you went back to your country already. How old are you? we never know when the Dream Act pass maybe tmr maybe next month or maybe next year. i will get my BS Graphic design, and then see Dream Act pass or not... if not, i will leave and go back my own country.

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

I am 22. Yeah, Dream could pass anytime. But its been stopped by one thing or another since 2003. It had never come as far as it did last year with the close vote in the senate. But who knows. But if you wait for it to pass, you might be wasting a few precious and productive years of your life. From my point of view, everyone should think on how long they are willing to wait for it. And then decide what to do if that time expires.

For me, the due date for Dream was graduation because I was not going to have a degree and not make good use of it

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i am thinking about the same thing. I already got my BE degree in mechanical engineering. If dream act doesnt pass by the time i get my master degree, i am definitely going to move back to my home country china. I am not going to spent the most valuable time of my whole entire life waiting for these politicians to play their games.

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I am turning 22 this year. i will wait two more years, then that's it.. and i might go back to my home country, or find my another partner marry, because i felt so wasting my time in here, i cannot do anything with my degrees

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im 26, my cut off age was when i graduated (at 25 with a BS in Industrial Engineering) but im going to wait it out one more year (by late '09) to see what the newly elected democrats and Obama can do for us.

However im also preparing my paperwork in order to smoothly relocate to Mexico (from which ive been awol 20+yrs) and then Canada if the DA doesnt pass

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have you found out yet if you can get skilled worker visas to immigrate to other countries like Canada and UK..?

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It's two more years for me because I won't leave until I have my Bachelor's Degree. I've been here for 15 years and speak English more fluently then Spanish but if things get worst with the economy and immigration, I will probably leave when I get my degree. I love this country but don't like how I'm treated like a criminal. The best we all can do is leave with a Degree from the U.S because it will help get jobs if we return back.
The sad part is that I came here when I was 5 years old, I don't speak Spanish fluently but will have to learn it more.

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

But if i go back to my country
I can never come back to the United States

I'm only 18 and I can wait another 5years..

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Glad that things turned out well for you. I will be going back to Mexico next year if nothing happens (Summer 09).

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That's actually really good that you got a job in Mexico and can lead a regular life, I think it's a good news.

But as for me, oh HELL no, I ain't going to Korea or the Korean army lol. I am 21 and I am willing to wait at least 5 more years, I don't even plan on waiting per say. If it doesn't pass next year I am gonna take the matter into my own hands and really try my best to find my one to marry. I guess it depends on your degree but I would only have a nursing degree (AS degree) and even if I got a bachelor in another major I would end up as an English teacher for the rest of my life in Korea.

.....
 

.....

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

I had been in the US since i was 13 in 1999, so I speak spanish pretty fluently. I have not tried to get a student/worker visa; however, my job description mentions eventual trips to texas. So that has me a little nervous, I guess we'll see with time. However, I have been back to the US in the last few months. I used to live near the border, so I had the Laser Visa, which lets you cross the border pretty painlessly.

I guess it all depends on your situation. I wouldnt want to go to Korea to be drafted. Right now I am trying to fix a few things with my military responsabilities in Mexico; but things can be fixed in Mexico.

- iamtired

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Wow, I was going to ask you about just that (the military responsabilities in Mexico) when I read your fist post and then I clicked on page 2 and you're saying that you are trying to fix it. If I go back to Mexico as well I'm going to have to fix that as well because I never did the service when I turned 18! What are they asking from you to fix it? Do you have to go march every saturday? Or is it sort of an "under the table" fix?

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The military stuff in mexico is really not very necessary at all. You can do most things without the cartilla. The company I'm working for hasn't got back to me on whether I really need it (They list it as a requirement and I told them I didnt have one). But I am already an official employee (contract, insurance, all the deal) and should be getting my first paycheck next week; not to mention that they are spending more than $4000 bucks on my relocation alone :-P.

Either way, I can still get it by marching every saturday for a period of time and maybe being penalized somehow.

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I see, I really wouldn't want to march though. My dad had to march and he said it wasn't cool at all, the sargent would put them in "automatic marching mode" cause he was so lazy and didn't want to give them orders any more. I thought that was pretty funny lol.

BTW-do you know how you would be penalized?

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

I was hoping you werent going to ask me. In my hometown, they used to be spanked with a wooden plank. In reynosa they would make them clean the bathrooms. So it sounds like it depends on your sargent.

I wouldn't want to do either of those. But I mean, we broke our national obligations as citizens of our homecountry; And if you plan to live there (like I do), well, capricious sargents are part of the culture.

:)

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You have all my admiration. That is great and I wish you the best. Good for you I completely understand why you wouldn't want to continue to live life that way. Have fun, enjoy life, and may you find a lot of success.

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LMAO, This is funny. This is what I have been saying. Don't politicians and alipacers see this. We, College grads are the ones who leave, The criminals and the ppl they are scared are gonna stay because they dont give a damn about being productive and all.

And honestly I have been thinkin the same, early 2010 it is for me.


And congratulations Iamtired.

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

Yeah, congrats to iamtired. That's awesome. I'm also thinking that 2010 will be my last year, unless I'm able to somehow continue my education. I would also have to go back to Mexico.

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I've been thinking about this ever since I graduated. I almost left right after I graduated but my family talked me out of it. A lot of us aren't' from Mexico, once we leave we're NEVER coming back for 10 plus years.

It's more than 10 years for most of us. Probably anywhere from 13 years to 20 years because tourist visas are notoriously hard to get from most countries even with no overstays. We'll have to wait until a relative of ours who is a citizen can sponsor us and for most of us it's either going to be our parents or siblings and those petitions can take more than a decade.

Don't worry about the 10 year ban. Visitor visas (tourist visas) are notoriously hard to get from most countries anyways. Even if you didn't have the 10 year ban, the odds are you couldn't come back anyways. I know people without 10 year bans and they feel no differently about their situation because in the end if you come from X country, your odds of getting a tourist visa are next to nothing. Add on the fact that you used to live here and it's a zero chance of getting one.


I don't know about you guys but I'm not ready for being banished from my homeland yet. I've grown to see this country's government for what it really is, hypocritical and full of itself. But the U.S. is the only home I've ever known and as long as I'm banned from seeing my family, friends, and everything I know, I'm not leaving willingly.


ALICRAPers are uneducated hicks who haven't contributed jack to this country's economy so they wouldn't understand how important it is to keep us here. They fail to see what an investment this country has made in us and just when the time comes to reap benefits of the investment, they block the DREAM Act so off we go to give those benefits to countries that invested nothing in us but at least don't treat us like criminals for something someone else did when we were kids while they let real criminals who committed real crimes like Senator Vitter keep his Senate seat and give him amnesty for his crime (and yes, it was a real crime, not a civil offense like us).

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yeah, leaving this country is plan b for me after i graduate. i've been making some connections and relations with my boss and his associates, I might do some traveling to other countries to work. he is involved in the oil industry worldwide. I dont think i'll be able to stand being here with a degree.

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

right on man. it's definitely good to have a plan b =]

you know, a little part of me feels as though the dream act WILL pass within 2 years. like it's a gut feeling that i can't really explain.

however, in the case that it doesn't ... i've already decided to go back to mexico after i graduate. if i have to teach english until i can immigrate somewhere else (like england or europe) then i'll do so gladly.

for now i'll stay here tho. i'm going to graduate in 2011 and i hope to have a 3.9+. the director of financial aid knows my situation ... and he just credited $20,000 to my account to cover my out of state tuition. =]

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

When I went to Michoacan, Mexico I met alot of dreamies who went back or were taken back to Mexico by their parents. For alot of families living in the USA has gotten really hard the last couple of months, so they decided to go back. I asked some why didn't they stay until after the elections and many stated that even if Obama got elected to be president, they didn't see think Dream would be really high up on the "to do list". That GW Bush had 8 years to pass some kind of amnesty and even though he wanted it was never done. So why would when things are for the worse, would they worry about a bunch of "mojados"...well I kind of understood from where they were coming from. Things are bad right now the economy, war, gas prices, housing.....sad but true!

Who knows, what will happen in the next few months???

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

dreamer hippie...what school do you attend? if you don't mind you can PM me too

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I know what you mean, truly i know some DREAMers working in Mexico with a U.S. degree. Mexico is not that bad as some people tend to devalue its economic status. I know it'll be hard for some people who were brought into the U.S. as infants, to establish a life there. A professor of mine loves Mexico, he says that the atmosphere in Mexico is life.

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

Im not sure about leaving..Im 17 now and I came here with my family 8 years ago. We came from the philippines with tourist visas..my father was an airline mechanic and was waiting for his company to sponsor him. 9/11 hits and it hit us really hard..my dad's company shut down and getting sponsored was out of the question...our lawyer said to wait and dont leave U.S yet...and waiting was exactly what we did...we waited until our visas expired and now...8 or nine years later..im stuck

idk what to do...i planned on going back to the philiphines...studying premed and then proceed onto medschool there..the benefits are that I can actually go to school and it will b very affordable..only problem is I wont be able to come back to the U.S for 10 years. So i'll be split from my family for 10 years...possibly even more..the rest of my family do not agree with me in going home..they say that what if i go home this year and then next year dream passes?..then im a bit screwed then

right now...im pressed against time..i will b a senior in highschool this coming school year...Im still confused as to what to do..i don't want to make the wrong move of going back but I also don't want to waste my time here..a medical career will need much time and so time is precious...but idk what is the right decision to make

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

Hey guys!! I am also an ex-pat...I am 22 now but I grew up in Cali from 4 to 21. I graduated in 2007 and as some of you said - i realized that my future was at stake if I stayed. I had also gotten accepted into a prestigious university for grad school in the UK (eventhough Im not from there either) and I am actually writing my dissertation at the moment! I am a month shy of getting my Master's degree and I have traveled a lot while in Europe. Freedom is a priceless feeling honestly.

Seriously guys, it was tough at first to cope with the fact that I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to go home (US is home to me). Yet now that I am finally settled in London I have finally learned what it is like to feel truly free and happy - we are some of the few people who could ever experience this i think since we never had our freedom. I finally realized all the options that are open to me all over the world, don't let a political status decide your worth and your future. It is really a loss for the US for pushing us out because they invested so much money on us but don't want us at the same time. The US makes itself look ridiculous by the very fact that we are recognized as americans as soon as you step foot in a different countries yet they themselves call us foreigners. No matter who i talk to they won't call me anything but American but I finally realized that's who I am regardless of what the American government wants to call me.

Seriously if you are considering leaving talk to me I will try to guide you or help out somehow. I have done loads of research this past year and know about the 10 yr bar, etc etc. My own plan is to apply for law schools this fall and to apply for a student visa for 2009 along with a temporary waiver (you don't need a US citizen, just yourself) just to obtain my degree and then go back to Europe and work until my bar is over. If they don't give me the Visa then honestly I don't give a crap anymore it's my last effort ~ honestly @ this point in time I have made so many friends in Europe that I feel it is more of my home than the US...I have been having doubts about even going through with the Visa but i will try for my friends that are there and to finish the dream of a legal education.

Don't hesitate to contact me ~ stick together! Only we understand each other...

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p.s. don't limit yourself to returning to your own country, canada has fairly lax visa rules especially if you want to study there really. Also, even if you are undecided apply to some schools abroad and see where your fate takes you...that's what I did and was shocked to get into one of the best schools in the world. It doesn't hurt to apply and have more choices.

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

THANK YOU! I have to say that I personally have never experienced freedom in my life. Many people say that it's all in my mind, that freedom is within you, but I really cant just go anywhere I please. I am limited to tons of things.

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

I know what you mean! People who have always known freedom will never truly understand. But I have to tell you when I stepped off the plane in Heathrow it still hadn't hit me...it wasn't until I started traveling freely/flying over different countries and filling out job applications and actually getting hired that it hit me. I really feel like a person and I can honestly say I know what it is like to enjoy the moment. Being able to not have to worry about IDs, etc when going out with friends and nightlife for example...just the little things. I'm so happy I found you guys we really are the only ones you understand each other!

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

right on, lucy. I am actually pretty happy here in Mexico too. My salary is not what it would be on the US, but the feeling of being able to live life without worrying on being deported is priceless. Not to mention that I I'm not stuck on the TV watching cspan-2 anymore wondering if Dream is actually on someone's agenda. Life here in Mexico is a lot more social too, so i like that. I don't give up the possibility on ever coming back to the states, but I dont feel the need to do so. The world is a big place, lots of places to go.

-iamtired

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

many of you are really lucky because even if you go back to your own country or anywhere else, you will have your U.S. degrees of some sort.

Unfortunately, i cant do that, because where i live education is extremely expensive, i cant wait 2+ years to finish and get an associate's at least. I would just go back to Peru and apply to a private university and start over.

Does any of you know if U.S. college credits are transferable to universities in other countries? I did some research but, i only see they have exchange programs and thats it.

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Maybe you should ask Nick for a name change then?

:)

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i understand what you are saying. I have been in this country since i was 5 and now im 18 and just graduated high school. i hope one day that i can taste that freedom and really there is nothing holding me back. Well, except for my mom who fears what awaits us in Haiti. Actually she misses home and cries about and has good ideas on how to survive but unlike me she fears imprisonment and believes that if we try to return home we will not only be transported in handcuffs to Haitian authorities but we will also loose the small monetary gain which she obtained through odd jobs in the U.S.

can anyone clarify: if one decides to leave will that person be detained and if so is it an immigration center or actual jail, because those ICE people are psychos.
also, how can one transfer funds from a bank in the U.S. without i.d. or can it be done while abroad(such as with an atm/debit card...do they work in another country?)

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I'm really glad we have each other to talk to since we can all say we truly understand each other!! Really i'm so thankful I can finally talk to people who know what it's like

Ayame which state do you live in? Don't give up hope have you considered doing you associates and maybe transfering to a university and doing summer school/21 units a semester and gettin ur bachelor's within a yr?? never say never maybe we can helpyou out

Countryless - I left in late 2007 (wow a year almost!) from Los Angeles Intl Airport directly to the UK, at the airport the lady noticed I didn't have a stamp in my passport & asked where my I-91 paper thingy was that says ur visa expiration date apparently. I just said I didn't know it was a new passport...she seemed confused so she asked someone else and she then gave me a simple form stating the current date and my signature so i guess they have a record of when i left the U.S. They are basically glad you are leaving so no they usually don't bother to incarcerate you etc since you are already doing them a favor by leaving volunatarily - otherwise they would have to pay for your flight home. I heard it is less of a hassle to cross the border by bus, but my dad said he saw on the news that now they check you at the border, direct flight is probably the best option now i think.

As for the money issue, im currently in the UK and my parents are still in the States and they have wired me money through bank transfer several times. My dad has an ID though from a long time ago which he uses. You can also do Western Union which should accept any ID, if not I would transfer money to a close friend who can then do the task for you. You can use your US cards abroad unless your bank is closed..a lot of my American friends studying abroad don't have a bank in the UK they just use their cards and banks from back home. I definitely recommend doing all the money transfers and handling the asset issue before leaving so once you're gone they can't touch anything. They will not bother to go out and hunt you down. Hope that helped :)

p.s. I'm not from the UK by the way I was actually born in Germany but since I figured going to a brand new country wouldn't make a difference since anything other than the US is foreign to me...I can't write German just speak it..by the way im half German and half Mexican which makes my identity crisis even worse...lol

p.s.s. thanks i am tired i know exactly how u feel being away from home especially when people from your native country call you 'American' but you can't even go back home to visit!

Re: The Other Option (leaving)
 

Hi ILoveLucy21,welcome to DAP,

You have an interesting background/story,hopefully you'll stick around.

p.s.It is so ironic nowadays that some people are actually leaving the country but can still post,gotta love this website & the internet.

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ILoveLucy21 you are definitely a great help and I guess I'm going to try to leave it with a family member or hell just use my card abroad and hope for the best. I was also thinking of getting travelers checks but currently i only have only a high school ID and i doubt they'll just hand me traveler's checks so idk...but i'll figure something out.

p.s. and half german half mexican wow you're right that must be one hell of an identity crisis...(if you're a girl) you must be damn good looking ;D

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Thank you Ianus! I definitely plan on sticking around (well as long as I am by a computer & not in the middle of traveling...my new obsession!)

Countryless it sounds like you plan to leave soon for real is that the case? when and where to?? p.s. thanks for the compliment i don't know how to reply to that! :) Well "pure breeds" are just as nice looking sometimes lol

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I really believe this is one of those "to each her/his own" issues. We come from all walks of life and no one should be ashamed or afraid to admit that the way they have been ostracized and barely tolerated has them jaded with this country. There is nothing wrong with having no allegiance to any country especially in an increasingly globalizing and borderless world.

I cheer for Italy in soccer, Australia in swimming, Fiji in rugby, India in cricket, my favorite food is Chinese, favorite place in the world is Chicago (for now), favorite music is Pakistani and my best friends live in Canada and the UK. The list goes on.

If you feel comfortable enough leaving and have the resources to make a life for yourself, by all means. If you want to leave because this place has completely suffocated you and you will still be a second class legal resident with DREAM, a little travel and living in other places won't hurt.

I am MOST definitely leaving the moment I get my US LPR. That way I can at least come back and visit my family.