A Sister's Love

I have two immigration offices; one in Danbury, CT and one in Port Chester, NY.  We have been serving clients from all over the world for over 30 years.  Naturalization is the final stage in the immigration process.  The following is inspired by true stories.

Charlie was born the youngest of five children, to a family in Ecuador.  His father, Esteban, worked hard on various farms, trying to earn a living to support his family, but when Charlie was born mentally challenged, his father decided to travel to the United States to find a better life, and to be able to bring his family to the US so that Charlie could get the medical treatment he needed. 

Esteban traveled by bus, and on foot, and eventually crossed the Rio Grande River, traveling across the desert to take a plane to Connecticut.  He worked at whatever odd jobs he could find as a day laborer, living in a small room that he rented, and sending money home to his family.  He worked very hard and was eager to learn as much as he could.  One of the builders noticed Esteban’s work ethic and was impressed.  Together they came to my office to find out if this builder could sponsor Esteban to become legal in the US.  The process took over 6 years, during which time, Esteban missed his family terribly.  There were days that he thought he would not be able to endure the separation. 

After more than 6 years, the process was finally almost at an end, and Esteban had his personal interview with the Immigration Office in Hartford, CT and received his “green card” in the mail shortly after his interview.  The day he received his green card in the mail, he cried.

Next, we started the papers to bring his wife and family to the US. The papers took another 1 ½ years more, but finally his wife and family had their personal interviews at the US Consulate in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and they were handed packets to take to the airport for their trip to JFK International Airport in New York.  When the family saw Esteban waiting for them in the International Arrivals Terminal, they ran to him.  They each received their green cards in the mail shortly after their arrival at JFK.

They all had to wait another 5 years before they could apply for naturalization or US citizenship.  They were eager to become US citizens.  To qualify for citizenship, they had to meet certain criteria.  They had to have their green cards and be permanent residents for 5 years, they had to have been physically present in the US for at least half that time, they couldn’t have any major criminal convictions, the young male children had to show that they registered for Selective Service, they had to be able to speak, read and write in English and pass a US history/civics exam. 

They all passed, and became US citizens, except Charlie.  Charlie could speak and understand English because he attended school in the US.  But Charlie couldn’t write very well and he couldn’t understand the history exam at all.  Charlie was mentally challenged.

The family thought about having Charlie remain a “green card holder” or permanent resident forever.  But, when they traveled to visit their grandparents back in Ecuador, Charlie always had to stand in a different line from the US citizens, and Charlie got scared.

Charlie’s sister, Olivia, decided that her New Year’s Resolution would be to help Charlie become a US citizen. 

We asked a physician to complete a Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions and filed a Request for a Disability Waiver, claiming that Charlie had a disability or impairment that we believe qualified him for a Waiver of the English and US Government and history tests. 

Charlie was scheduled again for his personal interview.  Olivia could not come into the interview room with Charlie.  The Immigration Officer reviewed the information and decided to approve our Request for a Waiver.  The only item remaining was that Charlie had to understand that he was becoming a US citizen.

The Immigration Officer asked Charlie if he wanted to be a US citizen.  Charlie just looked at him blankly.  The Officer tried again, “Charlie, do you want to live in the United States or in Ecuador?” 

“Ecuador!” stated Charlie. “I like Ecuador.  I visit my grandma in Ecuador and she cooks for me and I don’t have to go to work there!”  Charlie was very pleased with himself. 

The Officer tried several more times, and each time, Charlie answered that he wanted to go live in Ecuador because he was on vacation there and didn’t have to go to work when he was on vacation.

The Officer could not approve naturalization for Charlie. 

We went out to the waiting room and explained to Olivia what had happened.  Charlie couldn’t understand what he had done wrong.  We kept telling him that he had done just fine.

Olivia took Charlie home and practiced and practiced with him.  It took us 2 more times scheduling Charlie’s interviews in Hartford, but Olivia had made a promise to Charlie, and she intended to abide by her resolution.  She reviewed the questions with Charlie over and over, trying to help him understand.

The third time we traveled up to Hartford, the Immigration Officer asked Charlie if he wanted to be a US citizen.

“Yes!”  proclaimed Charlie.  “I want to live in the United States with my family and I only want to go on vacation to Ecuador!” 

Charlie understood.  Charlie became a US citizen.