I've just read a story of a Japanese-American couple . The Campbell family has been separated due to glitch in immigration law(terrible!) and i was sad to read their story as I'm also dealing with this terrible US visa policies almost a year.
But at the same time, I was happy to see their family photos and it is very encouraging that the husband and wife never be defeated by such an unjustice that US government committed. Usually we have belief that our country is there supposed to help and protect us but this is not true as you see from thousands of foreign-American couples including my case and Akiko's. Even in the case that Akiko can go back home some time in the future, there's no one who takes responsibility for the family's lost time. But i could tell the strong family has been victorious throughout the years of separation and they will win the final victory.
So will I :D
If you are interested, please visit Campbell family and read more on following website www.BringAkikoHome.com
2007/06/10
Stories of J-1 visa waiver confusion (Part 2)
II. Visited Boston USCIS office
After thorough search on USCIS website, I found infopass page where you can make appointment with immigrant officer in local USCIS office.
So my fiance set the appointment a couple of days later coz i couldn't be there physically. (I really wished i could show up to the office myself becoz my fiance didn't still get the whole idea about the visa processes- it's that complicated even to a smart man I have ever seen before)
On the interview day, he visited local USCIS office at 9 am. Although the cellphone reception was poor in the building, he was on the phone to let me know the real-time situation and participate the interview.
There was 2nd confusion- The local immigrant officer told him that there was no problem with the mailing address in my case as he asked her about the accident we had w/ Vermont Service Ctr.
According to what she said, a reasoning by syllogism is possible.
1) My J-1 visa waiver case was registered in USCIS database at that time
2) My mailing address was correct
3) Therefore, so I should be able to check my case status.
III. Called USCIS Vermont Service Ctr again
Still confused, we called USCIS Vermont office again. This time a immigrant officer with manly and kind voice answered.
After we described all historical facts regarding my case all over again, he answered that unless i filed a J-1 waiver case directly to USCIS based on (some kinda application named) 212, 612 or 601 we wouldn't be able to check the case and not applying for those docs means that my J-1 waiver case doesn't exist in USCIS. So we asked "what about visa waiver recommendation from DOS? what's it used for?" He answered , if i had the waiver recommendation from DOS, it should be enough to use as J-1 visa waiver proof in US embassy Korea but we have to check w/ the embassy again on the document exactly that they want.
So now what? We ought to call the US embassy again.
Back to the starting point.
To be continued...
After thorough search on USCIS website, I found infopass page where you can make appointment with immigrant officer in local USCIS office.
So my fiance set the appointment a couple of days later coz i couldn't be there physically. (I really wished i could show up to the office myself becoz my fiance didn't still get the whole idea about the visa processes- it's that complicated even to a smart man I have ever seen before)
On the interview day, he visited local USCIS office at 9 am. Although the cellphone reception was poor in the building, he was on the phone to let me know the real-time situation and participate the interview.
There was 2nd confusion- The local immigrant officer told him that there was no problem with the mailing address in my case as he asked her about the accident we had w/ Vermont Service Ctr.
According to what she said, a reasoning by syllogism is possible.
1) My J-1 visa waiver case was registered in USCIS database at that time
2) My mailing address was correct
3) Therefore, so I should be able to check my case status.
III. Called USCIS Vermont Service Ctr again
Still confused, we called USCIS Vermont office again. This time a immigrant officer with manly and kind voice answered.
After we described all historical facts regarding my case all over again, he answered that unless i filed a J-1 waiver case directly to USCIS based on (some kinda application named) 212, 612 or 601 we wouldn't be able to check the case and not applying for those docs means that my J-1 waiver case doesn't exist in USCIS. So we asked "what about visa waiver recommendation from DOS? what's it used for?" He answered , if i had the waiver recommendation from DOS, it should be enough to use as J-1 visa waiver proof in US embassy Korea but we have to check w/ the embassy again on the document exactly that they want.
So now what? We ought to call the US embassy again.
Back to the starting point.
To be continued...
2007/06/06
Stories of J-1 visa waiver confusion (Part 1)
I. Called Vermont Service Center to find out mailing address error
On May 23rd, my fiance and I called Vermont Service Ctr., USCIS at 800-375-5283 to check the status of my J-1 visa waiver case.
On our first trial, we failed to talk to immigration officer but just got opereator's answer that she can't help us as I didn't have USCIS case number (of course i don't have coz i didn't file USCIS case myself but DOS filed USCIS case for me!).
The next day we called them again and fortunately the operator passed us into immigration officer. The officer kindly answered to our questions and was patient in her attitude. She asked my name, date of birth and address as personal verification process. I told her my name, birthday and my fiance's address coz that was mailing address i used to get all the responses in my application for J1 visa waiver. But she said because the address is not correct she couldn't help us anymore to check case status.
Being puzzled i tried every possible address that i've ever used in documents (my home address, my address in US-although unlikely the one what they want- etc.), but none worked. She gave us hint that all other information (name and birthday) is correct and she said even in verifying address there's is minor differnce. What a nonsense!
As I was sure that i wrote correct address of my fiance, that couldn't be possible unless someone in the DOS or USCIS made mistake in transcripting the address during communication between the two parties.
We started to get worried really :-(
To be continued...
On May 23rd, my fiance and I called Vermont Service Ctr., USCIS at 800-375-5283 to check the status of my J-1 visa waiver case.
On our first trial, we failed to talk to immigration officer but just got opereator's answer that she can't help us as I didn't have USCIS case number (of course i don't have coz i didn't file USCIS case myself but DOS filed USCIS case for me!).
The next day we called them again and fortunately the operator passed us into immigration officer. The officer kindly answered to our questions and was patient in her attitude. She asked my name, date of birth and address as personal verification process. I told her my name, birthday and my fiance's address coz that was mailing address i used to get all the responses in my application for J1 visa waiver. But she said because the address is not correct she couldn't help us anymore to check case status.
Being puzzled i tried every possible address that i've ever used in documents (my home address, my address in US-although unlikely the one what they want- etc.), but none worked. She gave us hint that all other information (name and birthday) is correct and she said even in verifying address there's is minor differnce. What a nonsense!
As I was sure that i wrote correct address of my fiance, that couldn't be possible unless someone in the DOS or USCIS made mistake in transcripting the address during communication between the two parties.
We started to get worried really :-(
To be continued...
2007/06/05
Time frame: Fiancee visa(K-1) and J-1 visa waiver
Jan~ May, 2006 | I was attending exchange program at a |
| September 19, 2006 | Started document works for I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiance(e) |
| Oct 17, 2006 | Received 3-page "notice of action" from USCIS about incomplete documentation- i.e. USCIS required my fiance to prove our relationship by sending them any proof that we had been going out within past 2 years |
| Oct 29, 2006 | Send required documents(i.e. our photos in US and in |
| November 30, 2006 | Received Notice of Action(I-797) indicating that we have to start K-1 visa process in |
| January 25, 2007 | Visa interview day K-1 visa was rejected by |
| February 1, 2007 | Sent required document to J-1 visa waiver application to Korea Embassy in Washington D.C and Department of States |
| February 23, 2007 | J-1 visa waiver application was received by DOS |
| March 5, 2007 | No Objection Statement (issued by Korean government, i.e. Korean embassy in D.C.) was received by DOS |
| April 5, 2007 | Waiver recommendation letter was sent to Vermont Service Ctr., USCIS and we are waiting for final approval of waiver by the office |
2007/06/02
Daily Encouragement 6/2
SGI President Ikeda's Daily Encouragement for June 2
No matter where we go, we cannot escape from the sufferings that are part and parcel of life. If we cannot avoid these sufferings, then our only choice is to overcome them. And since we have no choice but to overcome them, then we might as well live joyfully and vigorously while doing so.
Useful? US visa sites
Following websites are the main sources you get Visa info although the quality of information is not guaranteed. 5 to 6 times out of 10(a few seconds back i changed the scale from 7~8 coz i don't want to exaggerate), you'd be better off by asking anonimous at unofficial websites dealing visa issues.
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US embassy in Korea
(in case you're Korean citizen like me or living in Korea)
(Korean) http://korean.seoul.usembassy.gov/importance_notices.html
(English) http://korea.usembassy.gov/
Korea Embassy in US
http://www.koreaembassyusa.org
Department of States
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
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US embassy in Korea
(in case you're Korean citizen like me or living in Korea)
(Korean) http://korean.seoul.usembassy.gov/importance_notices.html
(English) http://korea.usembassy.gov/
Korea Embassy in US
http://www.koreaembassyusa.org
Department of States
- National Visa Center
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1309.html - J-1 visa waiver recommendation
https://j1visawaiverrecommendation.state.gov/
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
Preview: US Visa talk
My journey to get US fiancee visa has started in Sept 2006 and has not finished yet.
You might say "what a long journey..!" So is my story on US visa. My American faince and I have been challenged by so many difficulties and finally got sick of inefficiency of US immigration policy.
After painful 9 months, I decided to share my experiences: mostly unpleasant but some important lessons were learnt throughout those days.
If you are in similar position as i'm now, you can share your stories by writing short replies or by sending trackbacks to my postings. This is important becoz as more people around the world express their idea on US immigration policy and build network among them, there will be more chances that those brave pple can help others in desperation and more importantly make US policy makers take a serious look at the causes their irrational policies made to the whole world (except the Great United States).
As the focus of my writings here is on fiancee(K-1) visa and J-1 visa waiver, it might have limited information to help all the people in all kinds of situation, but that's why it's important to have more people to tell their stories and links to each other's.
I believe as long as we don't lose hope for the bright future, finally my boyfriend and i will be together and all kinds of negative experiences that we got from US embassy in Korea, USCIS, US Department of States and the-like agencies will be turn out to be valuable lessons in our life.
You might say "what a long journey..!" So is my story on US visa. My American faince and I have been challenged by so many difficulties and finally got sick of inefficiency of US immigration policy.
After painful 9 months, I decided to share my experiences: mostly unpleasant but some important lessons were learnt throughout those days.
If you are in similar position as i'm now, you can share your stories by writing short replies or by sending trackbacks to my postings. This is important becoz as more people around the world express their idea on US immigration policy and build network among them, there will be more chances that those brave pple can help others in desperation and more importantly make US policy makers take a serious look at the causes their irrational policies made to the whole world (except the Great United States).
As the focus of my writings here is on fiancee(K-1) visa and J-1 visa waiver, it might have limited information to help all the people in all kinds of situation, but that's why it's important to have more people to tell their stories and links to each other's.
I believe as long as we don't lose hope for the bright future, finally my boyfriend and i will be together and all kinds of negative experiences that we got from US embassy in Korea, USCIS, US Department of States and the-like agencies will be turn out to be valuable lessons in our life.
2007/05/27
A HUMAN REVOLUTION- Transforming our way of living
It was honorable moment to read my mentor's inspiring column on the Japan Times while i was visiting Tokyo.
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Thursday, April 12, 2007
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Thursday, April 12, 2007
A HUMAN REVOLUTION
Transforming our way of living
This year, the Doomsday Clock devised by the Chicago-based Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was advanced two minutes, for the first time in five years. It now stands at 11:55 p.m., just five minutes away from the "midnight" of human annihilation. This change not only reflects last year's nuclear test by North Korea and uncertainties regarding Iran's nuclear development goals; it is also a reflection of the impact of environmental degradation and climate change.
This "clock" was established in 1947 at a time when nuclear weapons were understood to be the greatest threat to human survival. Today, the global ecological crisis casts a stark shadow over the future, one that demands immediate action.
It is now 35 years since The Club of Rome issued their initial report on the global environment, "The Limits to Growth." Three years later, in 1975, I met with the club's founder, Aurelio Peccei. He expressed his deep concern that, unless we change direction, the 21st century could see the Earth become a barren planet, with both nature and humanity in ruin. Despite the severity of the crisis, leaders in the business, political and other fields were failing to focus earnestly on the search for solutions; they were more preoccupied with short-term gain, with little thought for future generations.
Discussing these realities, Peccei and I concurred that nothing was more crucial than a revolutionary change within human beings themselves.
Humanity has experienced many revolutionary changes over the course of history: revolutions in agriculture, in science, industrial production, as well as numerous political revolutions. But these have all been limited to the external aspects of our individual and collective lives.
In other words, while we have made great leaps forward in our technological capacity to control and shape the world around us, we have not achieved a correspondingly dramatic expansion and elevation of the human spirit. As a result, we end up at the mercy of the very forces we have unleashed.
For millenniums humanity has pursued the goal of obtaining the material necessities of our survival. Yet, as Mahatma Gandhi stated, the Earth can produce enough to satisfy everyone's need, but not everyone's greed.
If it continues to be driven by the unrestrained impulses of desire, our materialistic culture will completely escape our control. Even now, it threatens to consume and exhaust the Earth itself, undermining the life systems that support our existence.
Ultimately, all human activities have as their goal the realization of happiness. Why, then, have we ended up producing the opposite result? Could the underlying cause be our failure to correctly understand the true nature of happiness?
The gratification of desire is not happiness. If it were, as Socrates noted, a person who spends his life scratching an itch would have to be considered happy. Genuine happiness can only be achieved when we transform our way of life from the unthinking pursuit of pleasure to one committed to enriching our inner lives, when we focus on "being more" rather than simply having more.
Our own lives are most effectively enhanced and fulfilled when we seek the kind of happiness that is not limited to ourselves, but includes the welfare of others. I further believe that a commitment to the happiness of others holds the key to the achievement of peaceful coexistence among people and between people and the natural world.
In the Buddhist tradition, the pursuit of such an ideal is embodied by the bodhisattva. Bodhisattvas are described as seeking not simply their own release from suffering. Rather, they are prepared to risk everything in order to take action on behalf of those who suffer. For the bodhisattva, there is a profound harmonization of the interests of self and other; wholehearted efforts on behalf of others are the greatest source of benefit and joy. Bodhisattvas are said to fear the loss of the altruistic spirit more than the torments of hell itself; for to lose the spirit of altruism is to lose the very reason for one's being.
While I have used the specifically Buddhist term bodhisattva, this is not to imply the existence of a special kind of person, somehow different or better. Rather, the capacity for altruism is something inherent in every human heart. The term describes anyone -- of whatever culture or religion -- who acts for the sake of others.
Working for people's happiness is something everyone can do, regardless of circumstances. It requires no special titles or qualifications. In the end, it comes down to the effort to engage with and encourage others. But this encouragement is not something offered at arm's length, keeping oneself at a safe distance. Real encouragement is conveyed only in the process of sharing the reality of life's sufferings and challenges.
Making the effort to live this way amid the corruptions and humiliations of society, striving to offer the gifts of courage and hope, brings out the inner radiance of our lives. Encouraging others enables us to fully grasp the meaning of our lives and experience enduring happiness.
The transformation from a self-centered, self-involved way of life to one dedicated to the well-being of others is the process of "human revolution."
Even in the face of the severe crisis confronting humanity today, I cannot side with the advocates of apocalypse. Rather than the spurs and promptings of fear, we can best negotiate the challenges we face when guided by a vision of hope.
The inner transformation resulting from even a single person's human revolution holds just such a hope. This is a revolution open to all, one that does not demand the sacrifice of a single life.
When this process achieves a critical momentum -- with waves of positive change spreading from one person to another -- global society itself will be dramatically transformed.
This is a revolution that starts here, now -- in the heart of every one of us.
Daisaku Ikeda is president of Soka Gakkai International, and founder of Soka University and the Toda Institute for Global Peace and Policy Research. This column is the last in a one-year series.
(Original article) http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20070412a1.html
Daily Encouragement 5/27
SGI President Ikeda's Daily Encouragement for May 27
Forward! Always forward! This is a basic spirit of Buddhism. Nichiren Daishonin's teaching is the Buddhism of true cause. We live with our gaze fixed on the future, not hung up on the past. To advance eternally-this is the essence of life and the essence of what it means to be a practitioner of the Daishonin's Buddhism.
--------------------------------mi says: This is what i really wanted to hear thru my whole day. determined no matter what major obstacles blocks my way, i would only look forward and strive for victory with 'tiny ripples of hope'.
2007/05/25
A Tiny Ripple of Hope
A Tiny Ripple of Hope
"Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation... It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."
- Robert F. Kennedy, June 6, 1966, Cape Town, South Africa
"Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation... It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."
- Robert F. Kennedy, June 6, 1966, Cape Town, South Africa
Daily Encouragement 3/27
SGI President Ikeda's Daily Encouragement for March 27
While controlling your mind, which is at once both extremely subtle and solemnly profound, you should strive to elevate your faith with freshness and vigor. When you do so, both your life and your surroundings will open wide before you and every action you take will become a source of benefit. Understanding the subtle workings of one's mind is the key to faith and attaining Buddhahood in this lifetime.
병고에 시달릴때 - 격려의 지도 from Y.I. Kim
" 이 병은 부처의 계책이신가 그 까닭은 정명경 열반경에는 병이 있는 사람은 부처가 된다는 뜻이 설해져 있소이다. 병에 의해서 도심은 일어납니다." (Gosho 1480pp.)2007/03/27
Emcouragement from Kim Y.I.
메세지로 날아온 그녀의 격려.. Thanks
성불이란 언젠가 본과의 정상에 오르는 수행이 아니라, 항상 그리고 순간순간
자신의 흉중에 법성을 열 것인가 무명에 지배당하는가 라는 싸움.
끊임없이 자신의 생명연마가 불도수행의 본질이 됩니다.
2007/03/23
Daily Encouragement for January 30
SGI President Ikeda's Daily Encouragement for January 30
Buddhism teaches that "all phenomena in the universe are manifestations of the Law" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 564). I hope you will, with this understanding, engage yourselves in broad-ranging studies with vigor and determination. Your brains have a potential as vast and boundless as the universe. How then do we manifest the brain's full creative powers? There is only one way to bring out our full intellectual capacity: by constantly putting our minds to work.
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two cents: let's get my brain work hard!
Daily Encouragement 12/8
SGI President Ikeda's Daily Encouragement for December 8
Joy is not simply your personal, egoistic happiness. Nor is it making others happy at the expense of your own happiness. You and others delighting together, you and others becoming happy together-this is the Mystic Law and the wondrous thing about our realm of kosen-rufu. The Daishonin states, "Joy means that both oneself and others have wisdom and compassion" (Gosho Zenshu, p. 761).
Daily Encouragement 12/7
SGI President Ikeda's Daily Encouragement for December 7
It is our hearts that change others' hearts. Friendship changes people. Travelers who pull their capes over their shoulders and brace themselves determinedly against the cold wind naturally relax and change their outlook and actions when warmed by the sun.
Daily Encouragement 12/6
SGI President Ikeda's Daily Encouragement for December 6
Where can we find the royal road to reformation and change? Emerson declared:
"Not he is great who can alter matter, but he who can alter my state of mind."He strongly urged us to undergo an inner reformation. I want you to be assured that the challenge to which we set ourselves day after day-that of our human revolution-is the royal road to bringing about a reformation in our families, local regions and societies. An inner revolution is the most fundamental and at the same time the ultimate revolution for engendering change in all things.
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