The System Breaks Down

My previous blog post described a nocturnal visit by three supernatural beings I described as angels. I didn't know that for a fact, but I thought it was the likeliest explanation. I ended my blog post by asking, "Angels are supposed to be messengers. So what was the message?"  I may now have an answer.

Yesterday Nuria received a letter from Customs and Immigration. Her application for a green card has been denied and she has 33 days to leave the country.

Nuria has been completing and filing immigratioin forms for three years. We paid a Chicago law firm $5000 to assist us. And now she is denied residency.

The denial is based on an error. The government is basing it on their perception that Nuria served on a jury while she lived in Roanoke, Virginia. But that is not true. The fact is that Nuria was summoned for jury duty and by state law she had to go to court or face a fine and/or jail time. But Nuria never served on the jury. She appeared in court at the specified time and the judge asked her some questions. When the judge discovered that Nuria not only knew but was a friend of the key witness in the case, the judge dismissed Nuria and she went home. Nuria was never a juror on that or any other case.

This denial might be possible to unravel, given enough time and money for legal expenses. But there is uncertainty. I won't live long without Nuria. My health is getting poorer. Nuria's help has been keeping me alive. Without her, I will give up quickly.

Work three years on paperwork, spend $5000 on lawyers, and get turned away by a mistake in the system. Welcome to America, Nuria.