Thread: Personal Story

I have an internet "friend" that I occasionally chat with. She lives in Uraguay, and recently visited the US. I didn't see her or email her while she was here, but when she got back home I asked her how her trip was.

She told me she asked for a 3 month Visa, but they gave her 6 months.

She has an advanced education, she teaches at a college level, and wouldn't be picking tomatoes for $16 an hour. She is considering moving here permanantly, but wants to come legally, and made some initial inquiries about how that would be possible.

Get this! They told her that immigration wouldn't even look for her. Mainly they crack down on lower income workers, and because "we need" people who can teach at a college level, it was improbable that immigration would ever bother to come pick her up.

She had no idea that my mouth was dropping open when I read that...

Who told her that? Someone is cynically encouraging her to lower her ethical standards.


If she were working as a freelance tutor she probably could get away with working while on a visitors visa. It might not be the best thing however unfortunately it is probably true.

Why am I not surprised

I would question where she got her information from and strongly encourage her NOT to overstay her visa and come in legally.

She needs to be STRONGLY encouraged to do it RIGHT the FIRST time by doing it LEGALLY!

Yes, she is going to come legally if she comes. She was just frustrated that the information she got from the government was essentially "don't worry about it," when she knows full well that the anti-illegal movement is very active.

AngelaTC wrote:

Get this! They told her that immigration wouldn't even look for her. Mainly they crack down on lower income workers, and because "we need" people who can teach at a college level, it was improbable that immigration would ever bother to come pick her up.

Didn't you ask her who "they" is? Something about this story doesn't sound right. I'm not questioning your part of it, however, I am questioning what your friend told you, especially if she wouldn't tell you who "they" is. I believe most governmental agency incoming calls are subject to being recorded. Now, would a governmental employee be stupid enough to encourage someone to break the law knowing the call may be recorded?

I applaud your friend for wanting to come here legally and encourage her to do so and not to overstay her visa. Also you should tell her to talk to other officials in immigration and tell them what she was told previously.