subba
02-05 12:40 PM
I have the same case and per my lawyer they should stamp for both I797's.
We will only know when for sure when the consulate actually does that as usual :-)
We will only know when for sure when the consulate actually does that as usual :-)
wallpaper dad happy birthday cards
hopefulgc
08-27 01:33 PM
i have been hearing that my case has been with an officer since last month (yes i said last month .. july).
I have no idea :
who these officers are,
why they are sitting on a case for weeks together without doing anything,
whether they have the copy of the latest bulletin,
whether they are still employed by NSC,
whether they are still alive.
noooo idea..... whatsoever.
my file has been with officer since aug 1...no news ..and now the #'s are all gone....
I have no idea :
who these officers are,
why they are sitting on a case for weeks together without doing anything,
whether they have the copy of the latest bulletin,
whether they are still employed by NSC,
whether they are still alive.
noooo idea..... whatsoever.
my file has been with officer since aug 1...no news ..and now the #'s are all gone....
arnab221
04-14 05:55 PM
Immigration: 'Birth Tourism' Industry Markets U.S. Citizenship Abroad - ABC News (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/birth-tourism-industry-markets-us-citizenship-abroad/story?id=10359956&partner=yahoo)
A New Baby Boom? Foreign 'Birth Tourists' Seek U.S. Citizenship for Children
More Foreign Mothers Live Abroad to Give Birth on U.S. Soil, Debate Over 14th Amendment
Millions of foreign tourists visit the United States every year, and a growing number return home with a brand new U.S. citizen in tow. housands of legal immigrants, who do not permanently reside in the United States but give birth here, have given their children the gift of citizenship, which the U.S. grants to anyone born on its soil.
The number of U.S. births to non-resident mothers rose 53 percent between 2000 and 2006, according to the most recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Total births rose 5 percent in the same period.
Among the foreigners who have given birth here, including international travelers passing through and foreign students studying at U.S. universities, are "birth tourists," women who travel to the United States with the explicit purpose of obtaining citizenship for their child.
Catering to the women is a nascent industry of travel agencies and hotel chains seeking to profit from the business. The Marmara Manhattan, a Turkish-owned luxury hotel on New York's City Upper East Side, markets birth tourism packages to expectant mothers abroad, luring more than a dozen pregnant guests and their families to the United States to give birth last year alone.
"What we offer is simply a one-bedroom suite accommodation for $7,750, plus taxes, for a month, with airport transfer, baby cradle and a gift set for the mother," Marmara Hotel spokeswoman Alexandra Ballantine said.
The hotel estimates the total cost of the package at $45,000.
Most women stay for two months, Ballantine said, and they make medical arrangements on their own. "Guests arrange and pay for these by themselves," she said of hospital costs that can approach $30,000.
For those with the means to pay, it's a small price to give a child the full benefits of U.S. citizenship, including the ability to travel freely to and from the United States, easy access to a U.S. education and a chance to start a life here.
"We found a company on the Internet and decided to go to Austin [Texas] for our child's birth," Turkish mother Selin Burcuoglu told Istanbul's Hurriyet Daily News. "I don't want [my daughter] to deal with visa issues. American citizenship has so many advantages."
The greatest of those advantages may be the ability of the citizen child to later sponsor the legal immigration of his or her entire family permanently to this country, experts say.
The "birth tourism" industry, which is difficult to track and remains largely anecdotal, has been on the rise for years, according to government and participants reports. Of the 4,273,225 live births in the United States in 2006, the most recent data gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics, 7,670 were children born to mothers who said they do not live here.
Many, but not all, of those mothers could be "birth tourists," experts say, although it is difficult to know for sure. The government does not track the reasons non-resident mothers are in the United States at the time of the birth or their citizenship, meaning births to illegal immigrants who live in the United States are counted in the overall total.
In recent years, many women have come from Mexico, South Korea, China and Taiwan, but the trend now extends to countries in Eastern Europe, such as Turkey, where as many as 12,000 children were born in the United States to Turkish parents since 2003 by one estimate.
The business of birth tourism is perfectly legal as long as immigrants are able to pay their own way.
The State Department and Department of Homeland Security have no specific regulations banning pregnant foreigners from entering the United States. But officials say they can and do turn away pregnant women with obvious designs on coming to the United States to take advantage of free medical care. "When determining if an individual will be allowed to enter the U.S., Customs and Border Protection officers take into consideration the date the child is due for delivery and the length of time the individual intends to stay in the U.S.," a Department of Homeland Security spokesman said.
Still, critics say the practice largely goes unchecked and exploits the true meaning of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, enacted after the Civil War to grant citizenship to descendants of slaves.
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside," the amendment reads.
"It's really an incorrect interpretation of the 14th Amendment," said Jerome Corsi, a conservative author and columnist who has studied the issue of birth tourism. "Birthright citizenship is a loophole � [and] as it expands into a business for entrepreneurs in foreign countries who offer birth tourism packages, it markets the loophole to attract additional mothers to the U.S."
Lino Graglia of the University of Texas law school wrote in the Jan. 11 Texas Review of Law & Politics that the authors of the 14th Amendment never would have imagined their words bestowing citizenship to illegal or visiting immigrants.
"It is difficult to imagine a more irrational and self-defeating legal system than one which makes unauthorized entry into this country a criminal offense and simultaneously provides perhaps the greatest possible inducement to illegal entry," Graglia wrote of birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court has only addressed the issue once, ruling in 1898 that citizenship applies to U.S.-born children of legal immigrants who have yet to become citizens.
Some legislators, including U.S. Rep. Gary Miller, R-Calif., have called for revising the Constitution to forbid citizenship by birth alone and thereby end the attraction of birth tourists. But other politicos, from both sides of the aisle, say such an approach is politically unrealistic, not to mention unnecessary. "You just turn people down for being pregnant," said Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies. "That should be the default position and then there'd have to be some very good reason for an exception."
Krikorian acknowledged that some people might find a ban on pregnant visitors "outrageous," but questions the rationality of the alternative.
"Do you really think that's right that somebody here visiting Disneyland should have their children be U.S. citizens, which they'll then inevitably use to get access to the U.S.?" he asked.
Krikorian and others call the offspring of birth tourists "anchor babies," because they can serve as a foothold for future legal immigration of an entire family.
Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, said he sees the debate about birth tourists in a different light, however, noting that arguments about citizenship of children ignore a fundamental question of humanity.
"If we're a country that cares about families and family values, then why are we blaming the children for a decision the parents made. Their only decision was to take a first breath," he said.
"What is the State Department going to do? To fill out a visa application have a woman pee on a stick?"
The United States is one of the few remaining countries to grant citizenship to all children born on its soil. The United Kingdom, Ireland, India and Australia, among others, have since revised their birthright laws, no longer allowing every child born on their soil to get citizenship.
A New Baby Boom? Foreign 'Birth Tourists' Seek U.S. Citizenship for Children
More Foreign Mothers Live Abroad to Give Birth on U.S. Soil, Debate Over 14th Amendment
Millions of foreign tourists visit the United States every year, and a growing number return home with a brand new U.S. citizen in tow. housands of legal immigrants, who do not permanently reside in the United States but give birth here, have given their children the gift of citizenship, which the U.S. grants to anyone born on its soil.
The number of U.S. births to non-resident mothers rose 53 percent between 2000 and 2006, according to the most recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics. Total births rose 5 percent in the same period.
Among the foreigners who have given birth here, including international travelers passing through and foreign students studying at U.S. universities, are "birth tourists," women who travel to the United States with the explicit purpose of obtaining citizenship for their child.
Catering to the women is a nascent industry of travel agencies and hotel chains seeking to profit from the business. The Marmara Manhattan, a Turkish-owned luxury hotel on New York's City Upper East Side, markets birth tourism packages to expectant mothers abroad, luring more than a dozen pregnant guests and their families to the United States to give birth last year alone.
"What we offer is simply a one-bedroom suite accommodation for $7,750, plus taxes, for a month, with airport transfer, baby cradle and a gift set for the mother," Marmara Hotel spokeswoman Alexandra Ballantine said.
The hotel estimates the total cost of the package at $45,000.
Most women stay for two months, Ballantine said, and they make medical arrangements on their own. "Guests arrange and pay for these by themselves," she said of hospital costs that can approach $30,000.
For those with the means to pay, it's a small price to give a child the full benefits of U.S. citizenship, including the ability to travel freely to and from the United States, easy access to a U.S. education and a chance to start a life here.
"We found a company on the Internet and decided to go to Austin [Texas] for our child's birth," Turkish mother Selin Burcuoglu told Istanbul's Hurriyet Daily News. "I don't want [my daughter] to deal with visa issues. American citizenship has so many advantages."
The greatest of those advantages may be the ability of the citizen child to later sponsor the legal immigration of his or her entire family permanently to this country, experts say.
The "birth tourism" industry, which is difficult to track and remains largely anecdotal, has been on the rise for years, according to government and participants reports. Of the 4,273,225 live births in the United States in 2006, the most recent data gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics, 7,670 were children born to mothers who said they do not live here.
Many, but not all, of those mothers could be "birth tourists," experts say, although it is difficult to know for sure. The government does not track the reasons non-resident mothers are in the United States at the time of the birth or their citizenship, meaning births to illegal immigrants who live in the United States are counted in the overall total.
In recent years, many women have come from Mexico, South Korea, China and Taiwan, but the trend now extends to countries in Eastern Europe, such as Turkey, where as many as 12,000 children were born in the United States to Turkish parents since 2003 by one estimate.
The business of birth tourism is perfectly legal as long as immigrants are able to pay their own way.
The State Department and Department of Homeland Security have no specific regulations banning pregnant foreigners from entering the United States. But officials say they can and do turn away pregnant women with obvious designs on coming to the United States to take advantage of free medical care. "When determining if an individual will be allowed to enter the U.S., Customs and Border Protection officers take into consideration the date the child is due for delivery and the length of time the individual intends to stay in the U.S.," a Department of Homeland Security spokesman said.
Still, critics say the practice largely goes unchecked and exploits the true meaning of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, enacted after the Civil War to grant citizenship to descendants of slaves.
"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside," the amendment reads.
"It's really an incorrect interpretation of the 14th Amendment," said Jerome Corsi, a conservative author and columnist who has studied the issue of birth tourism. "Birthright citizenship is a loophole � [and] as it expands into a business for entrepreneurs in foreign countries who offer birth tourism packages, it markets the loophole to attract additional mothers to the U.S."
Lino Graglia of the University of Texas law school wrote in the Jan. 11 Texas Review of Law & Politics that the authors of the 14th Amendment never would have imagined their words bestowing citizenship to illegal or visiting immigrants.
"It is difficult to imagine a more irrational and self-defeating legal system than one which makes unauthorized entry into this country a criminal offense and simultaneously provides perhaps the greatest possible inducement to illegal entry," Graglia wrote of birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court has only addressed the issue once, ruling in 1898 that citizenship applies to U.S.-born children of legal immigrants who have yet to become citizens.
Some legislators, including U.S. Rep. Gary Miller, R-Calif., have called for revising the Constitution to forbid citizenship by birth alone and thereby end the attraction of birth tourists. But other politicos, from both sides of the aisle, say such an approach is politically unrealistic, not to mention unnecessary. "You just turn people down for being pregnant," said Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies. "That should be the default position and then there'd have to be some very good reason for an exception."
Krikorian acknowledged that some people might find a ban on pregnant visitors "outrageous," but questions the rationality of the alternative.
"Do you really think that's right that somebody here visiting Disneyland should have their children be U.S. citizens, which they'll then inevitably use to get access to the U.S.?" he asked.
Krikorian and others call the offspring of birth tourists "anchor babies," because they can serve as a foothold for future legal immigration of an entire family.
Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, said he sees the debate about birth tourists in a different light, however, noting that arguments about citizenship of children ignore a fundamental question of humanity.
"If we're a country that cares about families and family values, then why are we blaming the children for a decision the parents made. Their only decision was to take a first breath," he said.
"What is the State Department going to do? To fill out a visa application have a woman pee on a stick?"
The United States is one of the few remaining countries to grant citizenship to all children born on its soil. The United Kingdom, Ireland, India and Australia, among others, have since revised their birthright laws, no longer allowing every child born on their soil to get citizenship.
2011 house Happy Birthday, Dad!
WeldonSprings
05-28 12:55 PM
Is your application pending at TSC or NSC?
e-filed on 19th April and got the confirmation receipt by post on 23nd April. After that no updates. Anyone facing this issue?
e-filed on 19th April and got the confirmation receipt by post on 23nd April. After that no updates. Anyone facing this issue?
more...
gc_on_demand
09-22 01:18 PM
Let us keep Optimism and keep trying. So think positive and hope for results to be positive also.
I dont see same info at given link ? did they take it out ?
I dont see same info at given link ? did they take it out ?
go_gc_way
06-22 03:41 PM
I agree .. this should be tried. I do not know heard about this minister before,
my apologies but by title of Ministry he seems to be a appropriate to apprach
for help.
my apologies but by title of Ministry he seems to be a appropriate to apprach
for help.
more...
GCmaniac
03-27 10:56 AM
Hi Breddy2000,
Was your attorney from your company very much expert or you hired top rated attorney like Murthy or someother same category lawyer?
I am in same disstress as you were, please respond ASAP, becaue I am not getting the feel from my company lawyer, so thinking of not to take a chance and go for high-end attorney.
Thanks In advance
Was your attorney from your company very much expert or you hired top rated attorney like Murthy or someother same category lawyer?
I am in same disstress as you were, please respond ASAP, becaue I am not getting the feel from my company lawyer, so thinking of not to take a chance and go for high-end attorney.
Thanks In advance
2010 Happy Birthday - Dad
mrane1
08-25 01:10 AM
Tell your parents to get an agent who does these things. They normally sit outside the registration office. You might have to give extra money, apart from their regular "fees" but you can get it done! Heck with enuff money you can get a marraige certificate for George and Laura Bush!:D
more...
manderson
11-07 02:19 PM
also, i think u may need to maintain some sort of residence and retain proof of it (rent lease, utility bills, etc.) to show ur intention to stay here. even though technically GC is for a future job, an absence (even if its not continuous) of 5 yrs will eventually raise red flag(s)
or better yet... u can avoid all this adjucation crap and convert to consular processing (from ur home country) -- find out from a good lawyer to see if conversion is possible. if u r going to be out of US for 5 yrs, why would want to continuously renew EADs and APs anyway?
or better yet... u can avoid all this adjucation crap and convert to consular processing (from ur home country) -- find out from a good lawyer to see if conversion is possible. if u r going to be out of US for 5 yrs, why would want to continuously renew EADs and APs anyway?
hair Gallery Birthday Cards (Father
pappu
10-05 10:48 AM
I vaguely remember a discussion several months ago on the forum about people that have gone back to their home countries after having waited for their green cards.
We have a media interview opportunity and need to find such examples. I remember an instance about a person going back to Bombay after he had immigration issues. He had set up his company there. Such people who could have helped US economy and growth will make a compelling story.
Pls. let me know urgently of any such cases and I will follow it up. This is required today and we have a short time window.
---
after doing a search on the forum I found someone posting here
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1008&page=3
We have a media interview opportunity and need to find such examples. I remember an instance about a person going back to Bombay after he had immigration issues. He had set up his company there. Such people who could have helped US economy and growth will make a compelling story.
Pls. let me know urgently of any such cases and I will follow it up. This is required today and we have a short time window.
---
after doing a search on the forum I found someone posting here
http://immigrationvoice.org/forum/showthread.php?t=1008&page=3
more...
GCAmigo
01-24 12:51 PM
contributions have to be voluntary.. finger pointing would be of no good & on the contrary will be counter-productive..
hot handmade card quot;MY DAD happy
lifestrikes
02-08 02:33 PM
Every credit reporting company has option to put freeze on your account. They will assign you a security key for the freeze.
Search for "experian freeze"
You can manage your freeze account online. So, when someone wants to run your credit report, it will be denied. You would have to manually lift the freeze for anyone to access your credit report.
Search for "experian freeze"
You can manage your freeze account online. So, when someone wants to run your credit report, it will be denied. You would have to manually lift the freeze for anyone to access your credit report.
more...
house irthday cards for dad from
nonimmi
05-22 03:10 PM
Wish they had one!!
tattoo happy birthday card for dad
go_gc_way
06-22 03:41 PM
I agree .. this should be tried. I do not know heard about this minister before,
my apologies but by title of Ministry he seems to be a appropriate to apprach
for help.
my apologies but by title of Ministry he seems to be a appropriate to apprach
for help.
more...
pictures Categories: Dad#39;s Birthday
knnmbd
01-24 08:50 PM
Thank you for the replies, I think I won't do anything further for the I140. I will try to get my H1B first. I am wondering in my case, will my H1B application be rejected due to the "I140 filed when F1"?
Thanks again for the help!
You have already violated your F1 status. You can not have a company apply for PERM & i140 while on F1 status, period. All that stuff of "it�s for a future position" or "you did not authorize the company to apply for I 140" is B.S. The only thing that matters is that F1 is not a dual intent visa, and initiating a immigrant process in your name (yes the PERM and I140 applications have your name on it meaning you authorized it) means you violated F1 status. You need to consult an attorney before you file for H1.
Thanks again for the help!
You have already violated your F1 status. You can not have a company apply for PERM & i140 while on F1 status, period. All that stuff of "it�s for a future position" or "you did not authorize the company to apply for I 140" is B.S. The only thing that matters is that F1 is not a dual intent visa, and initiating a immigrant process in your name (yes the PERM and I140 applications have your name on it meaning you authorized it) means you violated F1 status. You need to consult an attorney before you file for H1.
dresses Making Birthday Cards 18
tikka
07-05 11:11 AM
articles in the media drive please.
That ways everything is in one place...
good find
That ways everything is in one place...
good find
more...
makeup The card on your irthday,
sanju
04-04 02:09 PM
sanju, you said that right man.
Now you will see this thread die down as people who were complaining will simple stop posting in this thread and as always, our brother in arms will not participate by calling lawmakers. It seems that they are scared as if as soon as they would dial the lawmaker�s phone number, the cops standing outside their office will simple arrest them to deport before tonight. People, open your eye, we are in AMERICA. This is Democracy, you are expected to tell the lawmakers about your definition of fairness and how you have been treated unfairly. It is our responsibility to tell lawmakers about what is �unfair�. 100+435 men/women in DC want to listen, the only problem is we don't want to speak to them. Most of our fellow forum members think that simply whining on the forums will make the problem go away.
Now you will see this thread die down as people who were complaining will simple stop posting in this thread and as always, our brother in arms will not participate by calling lawmakers. It seems that they are scared as if as soon as they would dial the lawmaker�s phone number, the cops standing outside their office will simple arrest them to deport before tonight. People, open your eye, we are in AMERICA. This is Democracy, you are expected to tell the lawmakers about your definition of fairness and how you have been treated unfairly. It is our responsibility to tell lawmakers about what is �unfair�. 100+435 men/women in DC want to listen, the only problem is we don't want to speak to them. Most of our fellow forum members think that simply whining on the forums will make the problem go away.
girlfriend Happy+irthday+dad+cards
immigrant2007
08-20 12:41 AM
Mil gaya to nariyal phodunga... bas aur kya bolu?
(If I get it, I will break a coconut, what else can I say?)
Amen
(If I get it, I will break a coconut, what else can I say?)
Amen
hairstyles dad birthday cards free
paskal
09-22 12:01 PM
there remains a sliver of hope- its called the lame duck session when a lot of such measures are passed. post election, everyone feels "safer".
a marked up bill, ready for the house, could sneak through in the post election season. we have to keep trying!
a marked up bill, ready for the house, could sneak through in the post election season. we have to keep trying!
WeShallOvercome
07-19 03:04 PM
It is in the bottom of the first page of I-485 application form. It says "Fill in box if G-28 is attached to represent the applicant"
Your employer or lawyer can certainly fill it in but they would need your signatures on the G-28 form. Without your signatures, no one can represent you as it is YOUR application.
I filled the 485 forms my self.
Where is the box in the right bottom in 485 which says I will be represented by attorney?? In 485 I see two locations for signature (one for applicant) and other for representative?
Can my employer sign it now (without me sending G-28??)
Your employer or lawyer can certainly fill it in but they would need your signatures on the G-28 form. Without your signatures, no one can represent you as it is YOUR application.
I filled the 485 forms my self.
Where is the box in the right bottom in 485 which says I will be represented by attorney?? In 485 I see two locations for signature (one for applicant) and other for representative?
Can my employer sign it now (without me sending G-28??)
sai
02-27 09:49 AM
I just received this article from one of my friend and it�s the reality for most of us. This is not to discourage any one. Just thought to share it with you all.
I dont know the author of this article.
************************************************** ****
ONE BEDROOM FLAT... AN INDIAN SOFTWARE ENGINEER'S LIFE...- A Bitter Reality
As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Software Engineer and joined a company based in USA, the land of braves and opportunity. *When I arrived in the USA, it was as if a dream had come true.
Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India.
My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat.
I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.
Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. *If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.
In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbours to look after them, we returned to USA.
My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing. After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.
Every year I decide to go to India. But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India. The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.
After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA.
My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India. My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife *
I would be back for good after two years.
Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in USA. I decided that had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India. I had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom flat in a well-developed locality.
Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode.
Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in India, had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.
I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.
Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me.
Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbours again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them. But the question still remains 'was all this worth it?'
I am still searching for an answer................!!!!
* * * * * * *--- By an Indian SE who was in US.
I dont know the author of this article.
************************************************** ****
ONE BEDROOM FLAT... AN INDIAN SOFTWARE ENGINEER'S LIFE...- A Bitter Reality
As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Software Engineer and joined a company based in USA, the land of braves and opportunity. *When I arrived in the USA, it was as if a dream had come true.
Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India.
My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat.
I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.
Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. *If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.
In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbours to look after them, we returned to USA.
My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing. After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.
Every year I decide to go to India. But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India. The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.
After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA.
My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India. My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife *
I would be back for good after two years.
Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in USA. I decided that had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India. I had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom flat in a well-developed locality.
Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode.
Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even after staying in India, had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.
I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.
Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me.
Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbours again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them. But the question still remains 'was all this worth it?'
I am still searching for an answer................!!!!
* * * * * * *--- By an Indian SE who was in US.
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