I came of age in the late 1970s, when the US laws about immigration were perhaps the most open, and liberties of all kinds seemed to be increasing. I do know that citizenship has never been automatic, but it was definitely easier then. Certainly I never heard horror stories about spouses being banned for 10 years.
Section 245(i) allowed spouses who were already in the US to stay while papers were processed for their green card. That no longer applies to people who arrived after 2001. And if a spouse is already in the states and leaves the country for any reason, they can be banned from re-entry for 10 years. Now, that may or may not have been the case in the 1970s, but in previous administrations, common sense existed and could allow ‘compassionate waivers’. Now, there is no compassion, zero, in this administration. Individuals don’t matter.
Differing bureaucracy: US citizen spouses from Mexico have longer wait times to get an interview for a spousal green card - over 2 years. A couple married for 3 years living in Mexico waited 2 years for theirs — the first year to apply, the second to get an interview.
Then there’s the cost. They’ve just raised the fees. It used to be less than $100 for citizenship application. Now it takes at least $3,000 just for a green card, up to $10,000 if you use a lawyer, plus $760 for citizenship application if you get to that point.
And the Trump administration just announced a $4,500 “apprehension fee” for anyone apprehended at the border. The way they are mistreating people, this means that the mere attempt to enter the US with your new spouse comes with a risk of incurring another $4,500 fee…
Life happens, and there’s no breathing room in any of this for weddings, funerals, illness, or support for each other in times of crisis. Sad.
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