Do I apply?

I was brought into the country back when I was 8 years old when my family got tourust Visas. We saw the many opportunities and what a great country it was to persue a better life. We decided to stay in the U.S and try to reach the American Dream. My sister and I were able to get into grammar school (since 4th grade) and lived all the way up to the day we graduated High School. I knew the day would come when I had to make the decision to leave since being undocumented meant not being able to get a decent job or my aspirations to get into college. I graduated in 2008, which wasn't all that great. I noticed how my friends were all planning ahead into their future and were all excited to get into college. I noticed how everyone was applying for jobs, and I noticed how the last filed trips asked for a Social Security number for our safety. I felt completely out of place and I had no idea what was going to become of me. I felt unwanted and unable to show what I was capable of, not being able to work or getting into college. I became blind folded and I couldn't find a way out, everyone was moving forward but me. My friends would ask me what was wrong but I was always ashamed to tell. My Junior and Senior year became a huge stress and it was my illegal status that bugged me. That same year, my uncle was killed over at my native country and my grandfather was awfully sick. It had been almost 10 years since I last saw my family and I felt like they were going through a lot and needed support. So I had to choose between hoping for a miracle to happen and wait if I could find a way to residence or leave and start a new life over some place else.

Feeling hopeless in the U.S and sadden by my family's situation, I decided to buy a plane ticket and leave the U.S. hoping to escape from so much pressure back in 2008. I left friends and my main support, mom and sisters. I left what I considered my home to look for a place where I could show what I'm capable of.

Now that the Dream Act is being considered, I see hope shine once again, but I also feel regret of not being there to take advantage of this great opportunity. I would've applied, but I no longer live in the U.S. It's hope really lost for me?

Yes I believe so because you have to have lived continuously for 5 years or more. & if you left you are not here. I think that you are disqualified because you left that's what I've heard of what would disqualify you. But ask someone else since i am unsure.

No. It doesn't apply to you anymore. UNLESS, it doesn't pass this time, and you come back, and Congress reconsiders and passes it in 5 years. You have to be present in the country at least for 5 years before the date of enactment. I sometimes think of going back to the country I was born in, but then I think it would suck if it passes and i'm not in the U.S. I believe most Dreamers have this fear also.

i think you have to be in the U.S when the bill is passed and i think in the bill it says for 5 consecutive years but if out of the country during that period it shouldn't accumulate over certain amount of days... But if u r not eligible for the dream act, as long as you are not banned you can maybe see if an old friend of yours will sponsor you through marriage or something like that. There is always a way you just need to find it.

No.

You need to be physically present in US for 5 years before the bills enactment (meaning that if the act would get signed on dec 15th you would need to be present in US for each day between dec 15 2005 and dec 15 2010). Since you left 2 years ago you do not qualify.

Yea, I see now. It's unfortunate really, but that's how's it's gotta be. Good luck to everyone.

Even then I would doubt he would be able to apply for the DREAM Act as he would be returning to the United States as an adult.

But still... I can relate to you and this is perhaps one of the biggest shames of the lack of immigration reform for those of us that came at a young age. I basically stayed in this country while cousins, uncles and grandparents died without me being able to even see them or have seen them in such a long time that they are just hard to remember memories from the long ago past, specially for those of us that came at even younger ages.

How are they going to find out if he's been physically here in the US for 5 years?

he bought a plane ticket, I am assuming the only document he could get was his foreign passport and was most likely processed at his destination.

Now, if he left the country illegally, and entered back illegally, then that might be hard for the US to prove, but its also becoming more challenging to come into this country illegally, and the risks are increasing with a war between cartels.

Just saw a documentary on free speech t.v. (channel 348 if you have HD DirecTV) talking about wetbacks and focusing primarily on the double and triple wetbacks that come as EWI from countries further to the south. Its not easy to come as an EWI.