alt Hacker NewsI received my green card in 2023 and I have mixed emotions.
On one hand, I'm so relieved that I have been able to dodge everything that the administration has been throwing at immigrant (legal and illegal alike), trying to see what sticks, like mass deportations, border wall expansion, visa restrictions, asylum crackdown, H-1B cuts, and chain Migration Ban.
On the other hand, we cannot apply for citizenship for 3 more years, even though me and my wife have been in the US for combined 25+ years, and paid over $100,000 in taxes last year alone, and it's jarring to imagine what the administration will come up with next to make the process less straightforward than it seems.
Most disturbing is the fact that a lot of people I know who climbed the same ladder will go out and cheer what the administration is doing.
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> and paid over $100,000 in taxes last year alone
Genuinely curious, what does taxes have to do with it? Everyone pays taxes, legal or illegal in some form.
I don’t think paying your dues should make you more likely to get through the pipeline. After all, you paid those taxes because you made good money, which is what people come here for.
Have you tried being white? The trump admin is rolling out the red carpet for white south Africans.
I'm being facetious of course. I hate what maga is doing to our wonderful melting pot.
I got mine in 2019 and feel the same way. I'm actually in the process of applying for citizenship and my application seems to have stalled - it's been nearly 10 months when the USCIS processing times page says I should expect 7 (it was 5-6 when I applied). There's been some articles that the government is going to force everyone to retake fingerprints again although there's been nothing official about that yet. I really wish I had applied for citizenship as soon as I was eligible.
I was approved 2 weeks ago. The process took 4 years end to end. I've been updating my paperwork (SSN, Global Entry and CA DL). I saw this news and immediately thought that it would've impacted me and I wouldn't've been able to maintain my job until a consular interview.
Also a consular interview has no appeal process. A denial stands unlike AOS.
If it makes you feel any better, and I’m sure it won’t. There are US citizens outraged by this as well. And I’m one of them.
What's with tax thing? Is it only paid in US? Are they not supposed to pay taxes when they have taxable income?
If one paid 100K+ in taxes I assume one had opportunities to make such high income by being in US which one can be thankful for.
> On the other hand, we cannot apply for citizenship for 3 more years, ...
I am sorry but I am just seeing too much of an entitlement here.
"Most disturbing is the fact that a lot of people I know who climbed the same ladder will go out and cheer what the administration is doing."
I always joke that all naturalized (citizens) immigrants automatically become republican. I say it in earnest because effectively all naturalized people who I know side with anti-immigration, except agaisnt people they know, but none of them take my "joke" seriously.
I am paying taxes in US for over 20 years, don't hold a green card, not interested in ever getting one and not complaining that I don't have the right to vote. How are these things related?
Not entirely safe even if you naturalize as they are now making noise about stripping citizenship[1]
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/trump-administr...
I’m An immigrant, so I can relate. Not in the US.
I left my home country for a better life.
If the country I moved to was going downhill, I’d be looking to move again. I already did it, so I know it’s worthwhile.
> me and my wife have been in the US for combined 25+ years, and paid over $100,000 in
Sounds like you may be a good candidate for Trump's gold card.
I'm being fecitious of course, but I'm just pointing out that thinking of citizenship worthiness in monetary terms is something the president has already considered.
I received mine in 2020 and have decided to move back home. The uncertainty in general just keeps me up at night. Feels like the goalposts could move at any moment. I know I'm likely overreacting but it is what it is.