Immigration Blues
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
The Back-story; “Fats Man, Lemme tell you mah story, Man…”
I met my wife about fourteen years ago. I was definitely not ready for marriage, and I was kind of disillusioned with the world in general at the time. I was more or less resigned to resigning from the whole thing. The plan was to eat, drink, smoke, and be merry until early death came… looking back, and just thinking, “let me tell you my story” this image above, from Weird Science always comes to me! (and it makes me smile)
But then, I met the Lady, and it was like – no choice. It had to be. There was just nothing for it; it had to be. She felt it. I felt it. Everyone around us could feel it. So, despite some resistance from each of us – it happened. Marriage.
But there was a little bitty complication. See, she is Japanese, and I am American (meaning USA). And in 2011 there was this big-ass earthquake (among other things), that paved the way for us to move our burgeoning family from Tokyo to Utah.
Enter the process of USA Immigration.
Dah-Duh-Daaaaaahhh!!!
But first, a word from our sponsor…
My friend and mentor Desmond Soon (also my sponsor) has advised that I should share some of my story, in case it can help anyone else. Our mutual friend Raymond Jornd is also going through immigration for his love – so this post is like for him and others like us who have, or will have to, do the fire-hoop-jumping and two-step-tangoing of torture!
Allow me to share some basics. I’ll give you background, the key tips I think are most valuable, tie it all in with life and business, and leave you with my final thoughts. If you want more – just leave me comments. I’ll share whatever I can!
BURECRACY,… ALSO KNOWN AS “HELL ON EARTH”
If you have not applied for immigration for anyone to the USA, it is quite the process – one that needs a lot of very professional help! I mean that they need professional help! It is one of those situations where the only, ONLY reason it still survives at all is because it is ‘government’ and no one can fire it for being incompetent!
Though I did meet one nice person during the whole process – one human, the rest of it reminded me of that somewhat short-lived TV show Reaper, where the local Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) was the gates of hell. I mean some of the process had me seriously thinking, “This is a joke right?!”
At the time I went through the process we dealt with both United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and National Visa Center (NVC), and it looks like the process is still largely the same. The key pages you will want to reference start with:
And,
2) http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/nvc.html
***you will also be sending any fees to a lock-box facility; the location of the lock box varies with where you live. They keep the money and the documents separate for a multitude of reasons***
There are many pages out there that say they can help, but they are not backed by the government, so when push-comes-to-shove, they have no authority. No leverage. So what’s the point?
Be ready for a lot of paper! Forms to fill in, forms to tell you how to fill in other forms, forms to tell you what you did wrong, forms to confirm the form they sent you last week! Forms, Forms, FORMS!
Stick to the official government pages for all forms, and as a primary source for advice on filling in the forms. 
Additionally, I mention it from later too: the online pages are considered as the most up-to-date resources. Printed materials may have expired. Check everything with what is on the web-page. Even the folks on the phone will usually refer you back to there!
On a related thought, you may find that some of the federal agents are not too keen to vouch for anything one way nor the other. They are practicing a bit of healthy CYA, because things can change that fast (like with the printed matter). What they are sure is correct procedure today, can be wrong tomorrow. So of course, they can’t make you too many promises of any kind.
True Story: I once asked the SLC office people to look at my papers to verify if they were filled out correctly, and they said that they could not. But the way they said it made it sound like they just didn’t want to be bothered. I called the phone number listed on the government pages and let them know my plight. I said something like, “Shouldn’t they be able to check my papers.” I was told that the person did the right thing. That (against all reason) different offices within USCIS and NVC function according to different expectations; therefore, no one should ever (on record) deviate from the policies and procedures indicated on the official web pages. –I did ask for her to repeat that bit about different offices doing things differently, but she went schtum!
Let me just share some tips here, that should remain applicable for some time to come. If you have any more specific questions, just leave them in the comments with your best e-mail. I will get back to you.
But, Before Anything Else….
THE PRE-TIP: In all things, Stay in touch with God, Your Higher-Power, You Is or Am, or whatever you call It.
Be grateful for whatever you do have / get!
Keep positive, be hopeful. Get your energies in balance, and direct your attention towards positivity!
Think words like ‘diligence’ – do everything within your power.
Think words like ‘grace’ – for after you have done all you can.
Now, Let’s Go!
TIP #1: UNLESS MONEY IS NO OBJECT- DO IT ALL YOURSELF!
If you have money to burn, maybe solicit the assistance of an immigration lawyer – just to have another pair of eyes going over all the papers. But only spend the money like this if you really are totally flush! They cost a lot, and they cannot change the actual speed of the process at all; and be warned: a lot of scammers are out there!
Otherwise, just do it yourself.
With those immigration web-sites and attorneys,… those people cannot do anything to speed up the process. If they are specialists, they may be more familiar with the paperwork and the language used, but you can do it all on your own. They will happily take your money… but if you are willing to be cautious and read, AND follow, all instructions… save your money!
Stay sober and clear headed. Read everything carefully. Use a dictionary and the help phone line as much as need to. If the language is a trouble, you can get free help on reading the documents sometimes from libraries, churches, and many communities have free assistance. Use whatever is free!
There are many web-pages that attempt to help explain some of the forms, but all are not sponsored nor supported by the government. Refer to them, but do not trust them.
Fill out all forms neatly and exactly as the directions on the government-issued web pages tell you to.
* NOTE * Be wary of some of the printed material; it may be out of date, yet still proudly displayed at the government offices. Don’t complain about this; you’ll just end up drawing negative attention to yourself.
TIP #1a: Local political help. 
I tried to work with local governors, and reached out to senators. I was dismayed to find some harsh treatment by the local governor who was apparently anti-immigration. And when I reached out to other politicians, they all said that the best they could do was to “bird-dog” the process. Which means they can only observe the process, but can do nothing to push it through. With the senators, I was politely told that since I was not on a list of contributors, that there was a long list of non-contributors waiting for an ‘audience’, and that they would take my name down, but promise nothing. Yes, the political system is THAT blatantly corrupt!
TIP #2: ALWAYS BE POLITE, NO MATTER WHAT!
A kind gentleman at the Salt Lake City Immigration Office told me that in hushed tones from the get go.
He said, “No matter what happens, no matter what, never get angry, never get mad, never complain. They will put your paperwork on the bottom of the pile again and again, forever!” I will do him the dignity of no mentioning his name. It was startling that he felt he had to lean in and whisper this kind of info… like he was being watched by some evil bureaucracy-demon.
With the good help of that gentleman. I was able to keep my head, and never got black-listed.
I have made the acquaintance of a few people who, unfortunately for them, made the mistake of venting some justified frustrations. They did have their say – and are still waiting for their paperwork to be processed… ten years later!
Always be polite. You may contemplate murder all you want in your head – but leave it there in your head! Don’t bitch in writing, such as a well-crafted and APA-approved formatted letter. Don’t say anything on social media (at least not while the process is ongoing). Don’t even make a ‘clever’ aside to a federal employee who seems to be ‘cool’. Don’t do it.
Be freaking James Bond polite!
TIP #3: EXPECT DELAYS
A vast majority of online resources will all tell you the same. That nice guy from the SLC Immigration Office, said the same. “Expect Delays”
The process, can take as little as six months, when everything goes perfect. BUT, that happens very infrequently.
On average, the process will take between one and two years. No matter what else you may read, or heard from a friend,… the reality is that it is best to think ‘two-years’ so that if it any less, it is something to rejoice over. And if it takes two years (give or take ¼ of a year), just think, “Well, that’s what Tommy D said…”
How can you possibly minimize the time it all takes?… Tip #4!
TIP #4: FOLLOW THE INSTRUSTIONS EXPLICITLY!
Do this without any distraction, complaints, pissing, moaning – that negative energy will mess you up when you are filling out the very detailed papers. You need to keep your mind and your energies all focused on the positive.
There is nothing that will contribute to getting a resolution faster than following all instructions (with a positive and hopeful mind and hear) to the “T”.
If they say, use a black pen – use a black pen!
If they say to use a “-“ instead of a “/”, use the “-“!
If they say “Leave no blanks”, then leave no blanks!
If they say “money order” do a money order, not a personal check.
No matter how minor a thing seems, or redundant, or illogical – just follow their rules.
If you ever have questions, they do have online help, and different phone numbers you can call depending on what stage of the process you are at.
Now, some of y’all reading this might be thinking, “Tommy D, you are not telling me anything new.”
You don’t say!?! Well, yeah, I have learned through hard experience that even with otherwise very intelligent people… common sense isn’t common, folks will push the button that says “Do NoT PusH!“… and that clear and simple instructions are often ignored unless they come with a bit of a show.
I am trying to actually save you trouble and time, and not give you any false hopes. You should stick to the government pages. The instructions are verbose, and sometimes seem contradictory, but in those cases – call the HELP line and be ready to reference the exact places that seem contradictory. If you have done all your part – they will help you.
And in all things, I cannot emphasize this enough… be polite, speak your highest level English! They do not want to help the ignorant, lazy, or ungrateful to immigrate. Show your worth, and you will be rewarded.
TODAY’S TAKE AWAY… Pt2
The Pt1 take away is all the stuff before here. I hope that was obvious.
The Pt2 here is a reminder for myself and others who are looking to work their blog into their business or as their business.
There are clear paths that have been set before by our leaders and mentors. The same as with the immigration paperwork, Follow The Direction / Instruction!
If you are not following the instruction and not making it, well, you just answered any question you might pose as to ‘why’ you aren’t making it.
If, for whatever real reason, you cannot do everything advised, see if there is a solid bare minimum. You may have to start there in order to build momentum. But then follow that bare minimum in every detail.
All of us in any kind of entrepreneurship or business are looking to expand. If you are not looking to expand, you are not in business – you are doing something else. Maybe a hobby or something.
There are people who have gone before, and especially in Empower Network, they are very open and willing to help you to up your own production, and thereby your potential! The more you do, the more you can do! But, do the basics first – and stick with it. Not two weeks, two months… half a year. Just stick with it. Show The Universe how bad you want the Success. The universe can be persuaded by proof – so prove it!
If you, reading this are in Empower Network – you know what you should be doing (even if it is only going into the back office to find out what you should be doing). If you are not in Empower, think about your competitors – the ones who are killing it. Study them, and copy what is good and works. Learn also where they have lost money – and don’t copy that!
Whatever you are doing, get a mentor! I have several! My most direct mentor would be Desmond Soon, and he has Matthew Locicero, and both of them consult with Tracey Walker, and all three of them will consult with a host of others. So, if you want my help (and thereby, their help) get on in. I’ll help you with all the resources at my hands.
Final Notes:
1) Get your mind and heart right. With yourself (personal integrity), with God (higher-power, etc).
1a) If you want to receive, give. It’s a Universal Law – God obeys it too!
1b) In all your actions, be grateful for whatever you have and whatever is going on.
2) Hold Yourself Accountable for Your Life.
3) Always be positive and polite.
4) Expect Delays.
5) Follow The Instructions.
6) These tips hold true in daily life, and in business – chew these thoughts and make them your own!
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