Numbers

Two years, I would say to myself. Two years until I finish my Master’s and can go back for a visit. I thought single entry visas works that way, you have to wait for the expiration of the visa and then you are good to go back. When I realized that’s not the case, I told myself “Ok, that’s fine, I’ll wait till I get my H1B visa, that would be another year or so, and then I can go back.” My fiancé’s aunt had told me she knew someone from her company who often goes back to Iran on H1B. I scratched all my calculations, “Ok, one year after getting my job and I can go back.” Our company’s lawyer thought otherwise:

You might actually encounter more delays when applying for your H-1B visa stamp because you will have to apply for an H-1B visa at the Consulate before entering the U.S. instead of entering on an existing visa stamp. There is the chance your visa could get held up in administrative processing while the Consulate runs additional security checks. Unfortunately, travel to and from Iran in any status at this current time may result in delays and potential problems.

“All right!” I said to myself patiently, “The good news is that my company applies for my Green Card one year after my start date.” And on average, the Green Card process takes a year or so. But this time I wanted to be sure, so I asked our HR to email me the exact time frame for each stage:

Stage 1:

PERM Process- 2-3 months

Recruitment Campaign- 3 months

PERM application- 3-6 months

Stage 2 and 3 (completed together) (5-8 months):

I-140 petition- Immigration and USCIS are looking at the position

I-485 petition- Immigration and USCIS are looking at you, background, medical and criminal history, etc.

I picked a sticky note and added the numbers. 2+3+3+5 = 13 months in the best-case scenario and 3+3+6+8 = 20 months in the worst case. 20 months… but that’s the worst-case scenario. No need to worry about that now.

            A day later, my French colleague, who is one year in his Green Card process texts me: “Ughh, the green card process is gonna take longer than expected… kill meeeeee”. He says they told him that his case would take at least another year. “Immigration is so slow, steps that should take 2 months max are taking 6-8 months.” And then he adds “I know it’s even trickier for you”. I look at my phone screen, “scratch all your calculations” I say to myself. “It may take another two years, or even more. Who knows?”

 Why should I decide between going home and staying here, where I had built my second home? I don’t want to lose my job, to leave my apartment which I love, which I decorated every single corner with passion. At the same time, I don’t want to not see my family, my brother who can’t leave Iran due to his military service, my cousins, my aunts and uncles for another two years. I’m trapped.