Hi everyone. I really hope DA passes this year.. -.-

I visited this site lately because DREAMAct is like the last resort.

I never thought there were many people who experience same stuffs. At least I don't feel alone.

I came to the US like 12 years ago with my mother and my sister. At that time I never knew the importance of green card and all these status stuffs. My mother sometimes talked about it with other people, but I didn't understand what those were and I only thought that studying hard and become successful was all I had to do.

But I was wrong. I really noticed that till I filled out college applications where it annoyingly asked what status I was in, etc.

I still live like a prisoner in this country. I had to go to a different state to get a driver's license paying thousands of dollars. No SSN, No Greencard obviously. I don't even have a car because I don't know where to find work. I look at Craigslist but most of them require In-state DL, and I am even scared if some employers find out my status and report me to ICE. I tried some tutoring since I have been a good student in school (mostly A's) but it hasn't been so easy because many students don't do it continuously.


I am just so frustrated living like this and I am thinking of moving back to Korea as I see Obama is not really into Dream Act and CIR. I had so full of hopes of DA but how long do we have to wait? Until 2011? *sigh*

I just don’t know what to do. I probably would have graduated from college if I chose the right subjects from the beginning, but it is too late. And I feel my 4.0 GPA and dream to transfer to UCB and UCLA seems so wasteful after studying very hard for each exam in school. Never had a crime record.
Going back to Korea isn’t so easy after staying in the US for 12 years and spending my childhood. Even if I go back to Korea, I wonder how I will have to live since getting a job in Korea is much worse. There is a slim chance I could be drafted even though my father filed handicap report due to my cleft, and nonfunctional left paralyzed hand. They can still doubt “I think this guy still can grab a gun because his right hand is normal. Put him into the army” -.-

I am still gonna try my best until this semester end. By then, I would have no money left basically and I will have to go back to Korea. I so hope that DA passes in 3 months but I highly doubt that based on what I see now. Even if it happens in 2011, what guarantees it will pass? It has failed so many times already and many Americans are opposing it. 10 year ban really sucks but I wouldn’t miss my family here though.

Sorry I had to write all these but I do at least feel relieved a bit after expressing all the pressures and stresses I get from home and these lame immigration laws.

Welcome, friend. Have you reached out to support groups in your area? I know they definitely have them in Berkeley and UCLA, and we definitely have other Koreans in our UCLA group (http://ideasla.org)

Hey keep fighting! Sounds like we could relate a lot I'm a pure mathematics, chemistry, and biochemistry/molecular biology triple major. And from the looks of it, I have a strange feeling that you're probably from where I grew up from (just the descriptions and your background)! Anyways good luck.

Side note: I feel the same way you do about returning to Korea. I feel if it doesn't pass, I may return as well.

Heh, you must be super busy or super smart to carry out triple major. I envy you.

By the way, I think I forgot to mention that my family came here legally at first(I am sure most people here are in the same situations) but we got duped by these immigration lawyers who talk confident and so sweet but after they take like $10K+, they basically go "thx for the money. bye bye." This lawyer was so incompetent after we found out. I was only like 14-16 years old, hell, I was just busy catching up in high school. We even found out he wasn't even an immigration lawyer.

Heh, I went to one Korean church before and there I saw a few people studying for citizenship exams in the corner during free time between services and they only came to the US like 2-3 years ago. And another guy came to the States 1 year ago, and he got PR! Isn't life so fair?*cough* xD

Anyway, thx for the comments, I will try to cheer up myself and survive my best till the end of this year.

Hi Vision...welcome to DAP. And you're right, you're not alone. We're all here on the same boat, so this place is perfect for us to support eachother.

The problem is CIR isn't up to Obama alone. The senate and the house puts a lot of obstacles too so even if Obama pushes for it, it wouldn't come easy. I start to wonder again what may have happened if Kerry had won the Pres. election in 2004....he was committed to passing a CIR and even mentioned that he would sign Dream Act in a heartbeat....I wish Bush was as strong.

Anyway....we're all still hoping for progress. Keep tuning in the news section for updates. One of these days, I believe, one of those news will be good =)

I am going to pull a Sylvia Brown and predict that the DA will not pass this year. 2010 still looks foggy.

Be patient.

You feel like you have to constantly keep your life moving but let me assure you a life in the US is better and worth the wait.

As much as i am pessimistic about life...

This is what I have to offer:

There has to be SOME sort of immigration reform / effort before the midterm elections in 2010. This is a fact. Period. The democrats cannot save their asses from all those health reform hooligans if the latinos decide to not show up to the polls. If latinos are the tilting factor that causes the democrats to win they cannot afford them to sit at homes.

Immigration is the NUMBER 1 priority for latinos. If a full scale immigration reform gets defeated they will try to pass something more acceptable such as DREAM ACT. same way since obama couldnt get Single payer system in Health reform to pass so he made major compromises.

Its not like Obama hasnt heard of Dream Act before. He was very vocal for its passage before he became president. Im sure that its his trump card should widescale CIR become impossible in order for him to keep the latinos.

So cheer up. something is definately coming.

wow.. must be super hard for you but i know there is going to be a way!!!!!!!!..... i too am struggling i find myself in a situation where i really want to go to an art college ... but its too expensive =(... but i know there will be a way!!! i know we will LIVE OUR DREAM YEHA!1

Thx guys for some advices.

I guess I will be with you guys longer. Originally I was thinking going back next year january. But i am postponing that to late 2010.

For survival, I am basically saying yes to my family because they are the only ones that I can truly depend on, even though I don't like them.

I do feel like dirty rags but that's only thing I can do... I tried to find jobs but failed miserably so far. It is becoming less motivating me.

So I think I can sustain until late next year 2010. Maybe some good things will happen. If not, and DA fails, then, I will probably go back to my country, and start my dream there.