Getting a visa to enter the United States legally
By FabGrandma
@FabGrandma (54)
United States
May 2, 2007 12:15pm CST
My son is a citizen of the United States and has been in the Air Force for 13 years. He served for the last 7 years in England, where he met his wife. They were transferred to Maryland in January of this year.
She is 19 weeks pregnant, and had to fly back to England alone last week because she does not have her visa yet. They started the application process in October of last year, the week after they got married. She has to go to an interview, and have a medical exam to be approved for the visa, and she has to submit tons of paperwork.
My question is, do you think that spouses of those people who are serving in the military of the United States should have to go through such a rigorous screening to get approved for a visa to immigrate here? I think there should be some sort of special "fast track" system for them, or just the fact that they are married to an enlisted person should give them the right to get a visa without having to jump through all those hoops.
My
3 responses
@sweetpea5375 (18)
• United States
11 May 07
I have to say I agree with the other comments. I love my brother very much and want his wife to be home with him, but the Government has it's process for a reason. I do not believe the have teh greatest processes, but we must all abide by them. There should not be exceptions made for anyone- military or political. :)
@Married2aMarine (1273)
• United States
2 May 07
I'm also a foreigner married to a US Marine. My visa application was also long and tedious. TONS of paperwork, interviews, medical exams, backgrounds checks, etc. I even had FBI checked me out while we were just dating!! Yes, all this was a big pain and most of it seemed redundant but I know they are only doing all that to protect their military personnel and also US soil. As much as I hate having to endure all the that, I do appreciate the fact that they are doing all they can to keep US safe.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
2 May 07
I totally respect those in the military, but I don't know that their spouses should get special treatment like that...for all the goverment knows, the person could have married someone into the military just to get an easy pass into the U.S. I think they should try to speed up the process, but not just for people married to military.
