TJ is a Hindu who came to the United States in search of opportunity in 2013 along with his parents Sundhir and Punita, who were proud when they received the news that their son TJ would be moving into the freshman dorms at UC Berkeley, however, this news was overshadowed by a problem with the United States immigration system.
Sudhir works for a private consulting firm and holds an H1B visa, while his wife, Punita, and son, TJ, hold H4 visas, which are issued for dependent relatives who are not permitted to work in the United States. TJ is a junior chemical engineering student at CAL and needs an internship to gain more knowledge that will make him more competitive with his classmates and help him secure a job after graduation.
TJ needs his H4 visa converted to an F1 visa. The family filed the paperwork for the change in July 2020. «A process that usually takes about six to seven months is still underway right now,» Sudhir said. «So, it’s been over a year.» «Unfortunately, this happens to a lot of people, and I think it’s been happening more in recent years,» said Ann Block, senior special projects attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC).
In addition to the delays, TJ's case has also been further hampered by existing immigration delays due to Covid-19. However, the situation is further aggravated because TJ risks losing his H4 visa, meaning he cannot remain in the U.S. once he turns 21, and he is currently 20.
«If he gets older, then he needs an alternative visa like the F1, which is already being processed, or he has to leave the country,» Sudhir said. If TJ is forced to leave the U.S., he wouldn’t be able to complete his senior year at UC Berkeley. Like TJ, many other families face similar problems and lack the resources to cover the costs of immigration proceedings.
This news story was created from ABC News: https://abc7ne.ws/3FBrF3i