Unending wait of 17 years for gaining US citizenship
by Harleen Kaur - June 17, 2010
United States, 17th June: In what could be termed as a long tale of unending woes for getting US citizenship, a 45-year old Indian has been unable to convince US immigration officials about the genuineness of his marriage with a US woman.
The marriage which took place nearly 17 years ago was not meant as a means to get a US green card, says Inderjit Singh. A car service driver by profession, Singh married Shari Feldman and came into the US in 1992 through illegal means. He is entitled to US spousal green card as per the US immigration rules for those having married prior to May 2001.
Singh’s story is a clear indication of immediate need for making regulation of wedding through immigration rules in the US.
The marriage certificate of Ms. Feldman and Inderjit Singh is too old and but their love is intact as ever. It has survived five marriage interviews and three petitions that have been unsuccessful to convince the US immigration officials.
It was in the year 2009 that the couple filed for another application seeking the services of a new advocate. However, the USCIS(United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) flatly refused to question the couple once more citing vague reasons like unconvincing answers to the queries asked by the immigration officials about the wedding dress worn by Mr. Singh.
The agony of this couple in the US is not the only case. In fact, there are several others like them who are seeking approval of their applications for US green cards for their foreign better-halves.
According to official figures, in the year 2009, a total of 20,507 petitions for US citizenship were denied by the US immigration officials. Out of these, just 506 were actually sham marriages while the remaining were not granted approval by US immigration officials for reasons like missing interviews or not giving appropriate answers.
Although, the couple has made an appeal, however, their worst fear is the imminent deportation of Mr. Singh. Their case reflects a conflict between regulation of marriages through immigration legislations and protection of marriages from interference of federal authorities.
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