Anything that involves the gov't is a PITB

[JohnT]

I'm in the process of trying get my son's driver instruction permit, and I've never seen so much red tape and jumping through hoops in my life. It's easier for someone to sneak into this country and become assimilated into society than it is to get a simple instruction permit for a natural-born citizen. It's crazy. They have got to streamline this process. Got to the DPS office nice and early only to find out that I didn't have the "right" birth certificate (parent version). I have to spend $23 to get the vital signs birth cert. And then there's all the forms.

Feeling rather frustrated at this point.

[pippin]

It was easier for me to get my instruction permit than what it was to get into the country.

Done both. I'm still not done with the immigration process.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by pippin

I'm still not done with the immigration process.

Doesn't that take something like seven years?

[pippin]

5 years technically.

Had to file for my I129F (fiancee visa) - which took eleven months. Fingerprinted, and medical tests
When I got to the US, I had three months to get married.
Once I got married I had to file a change of status - fingerprinted again.
Then I had to apply for a work permit and social security card
Then I had to apply for permanent residency - fingerprinted again, new photos, and medical tests (again)
After the permanent residency was approved, I was on a conditional residency - couldn't really leave the country without approval from the government, and needed to apply if i was going to be gone longer than a year out of the country or my status could be revoked (during this time if I were to divorce my residency would be revoked).

Two years of the conditional residency you could then file for a change of status to get the conditions removed (work permit, travel restrictions etc).

That was three years ago. Now I have to file for Alien change of address since we just moved.

Next form will be the application for intention to apply for naturalization. So I have to apply just to see if I get approved to fill out the form for naturalization. If that gets approved I can then apply for change of status from permanent resident to naturalization.

And then its up to the government to see if I'm approved to be naturalized, and then take the citizenship exam which involved a civics test, US history test and an english test. And the application process between the time at which we file to the time they give us approval or rejection for the naturalization is about 6 months average. But that also depends on the service center. The california one takes about twice as long as say nebraska or vermont.

All through this process (which started in 2002 by the way) the INS has changed their name three times. Which also included new paperwork. Multiple times I've been told at my interview (like in australia) the forms have changed and I need to fill the new ones out because the old ones are no longer valid.

Its a HUGE PITA.

Getting my driver's license was a breeze compared to what I'm still going through. And cheaper too lol

[JohnT]

Well, shoot, Lisa. That makes my complaining seem so insignificant. Makes me want to delete my post. LOL

Good luck in becoming a naturalized citizen soon.

[pippin]

now john - just putting things in perspective. Don't get offended.

Just like when my friend got a speeding ticket I went to court with him. I was nice and relaxed and he was getting all pissy about the entire situation. I just laughed at him. One person's ticked expired the week before and he was yelling and carrying on about not being able to pay the ticket. Then there were the people with the wrong information.

Watch parking wars on A&E. I just laugh at it all. Government red tape at their best :).

But still, the instruction permit fiasco is still a pita. I had issues. But I've had my fair share of government red tape. Like that in australia also :)

I'm all for a smaller government all around lol.

[Hanky]

Originally Posted by pippin

It was easier for me to get my instruction permit than what it was to get into the country.

Done both. I'm still not done with the immigration process.

I wanted to fly my Lady friend over from the Ukraine for a 2 week visit.
No way.

[pippin]

and we did it the 'proper' way.

If you marry and then go back to your country and then file for a greencard, it takes much much longer.

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by pippin

now john - just putting things in perspective. Don't get offended.

I was being serious. No offense taken.

[ttusa]

Sounds very frustrating. Yeah illegal immigrants seem to gain access to certain things easier than U.S. citizens

[MicWayWal]

Hey John,

This is the streamlined process. You should have seen it before.

[Breezy]

Hope you get it all worked out soon

[pippin]

Originally Posted by MicWayWal

Hey John,

This is the streamlined process. You should have seen it before.

what, for the DL or my immigration?

Either way the government enjoys getting as much effort out of us as possible (as well as money lol)