Citizenship Exam!?

» Majbritt13 - The US Government won't let me leave...

I know that this hasn't exactly to do with your subject, but I am reaching out wherever I can with this matter...
I am a 28-years old girl from Denmark. Having been living here in the states on and off for the past 1 1/2 years.
I have gotten all my paper work; visa, work permit, drivers license, etc and am just waiting to get my travel documents so I can leave the country and come back again with no problems. These papers take about 3 months to arrive. I have only been waiting for one months by now.
This pass weekend I get a call from a hospital back home in Denmark telling me that my mom is terminally ill and that it's only a matter of time when she will go into a come and that they would advise me to come home ASAP. I get my mom on the phone and she doesn't even recognize me. Talks about being busy at the office and that she has to go now..... She had been talking about life after death, that she was scared of dying, afraid of not seeng us all again and was even asking for me.
Now, I went to my lawyer to called the INS and made them rush my paper work because of the emergency. I was told that I could come and pick them up today. I went there this morning,- and they wouldn't even let me in the door!!!! Without an appointment they wouldn't do nothing for me! Well, I did have an appointment. My lawyer had made one for me,- but without a written proof they wouldn't let me in. My lawyer calle dthem again and made an officer come out to see me. He said that he doubted that he would let me leave but that I could come back tomorrow with 4 new pics, a new letter from my mom's doctor and $98,- on top of $500 which we have already paid them to do this paper work for me...
I don't get it; they have already approved me. I can stay here, work here, live here,- but I cannot leave to see my dying mom...!!! What is up with that!!! If I leave I can't come back and I have my life here now; a fiancee, all my things, my dog, job, etc,- and nothing back in Denmark that I wanna stay there for right now....
I have no idea what to do. I am so scared,- about to break down. How can they aprrove of me to be cool to stay and become an 'American',- but mot to leave for this emergency?????

-- posted by Majbritt13

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» lappe - Re: The US Government won't let me leave...

In response to message posted by Majbritt13:

Majbritt,
I read your e-mail and had to answer. I went through a similar thing about 6 years ago. My father died suddenly 3 weeks before my green card interview. I had no choice but to leave and never got the permission from the INS, but I talked to an immigration lawyer before and he assured me that they would have to let me back in because my husband was an American citizen. I'm not sure if your fiance is American, but I would take the chance. Upon my return to the US I was kept for 3 hours, they took fingerprints, my passport was taken and they were really nasty, but they did let me go. Bring back doctor forms and anything else that can prove your urgency to leave .
The immigration officers also told me that I could not go to my interview. I did anyway, and the immigration officer at the INS in New York was nice enough to let me reapply on the spot and I received my green card a month later. He also told me that I could have just pretend to come in as a tourist or on my at that time still current student visa. I just tried to do the right thing and got punished for it. One part of immigration does not seem to know what the other part is doing. Very strange place.
I also don't know where you are flying from, but I leave form New York and always found that the immigration officers are horrible at JFK, but much nicer at Newark airport. Maybe it's just my impression, but I have been back and forth a lot and it always seems to be that way.

I wish you good luck, it's a horrible feeling and I hope you get to see your mom.

Gabriele

-- posted by lappe

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